"Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust" - Psalm 40:4

David, in this psalm, had just explained the "pit" he had been in prior to his trusting the Lord.  We're not sure exactly what that pit was (he had a few!) but it was a desperate and hopeless place.  Have you ever been there?

I just finished working through PARENTING BY THE BOOK by John Rosemond and found it to be very stimulating.  Psalm 40:4 was the opening scripture and reminds me how important it is in parenting to have the Lord be your guide.  A few of the helps he gives when we find ourselves in a pit raising children:

1.  If it's a two parent home, husband and wife should act as "one flesh", in other words "in one accord", together. (Genesis 2:24)

2.  As the parent, live your life according to Biblical principles (Deu. 6:6-7).

3.  Stay focused on the big picture - raising responsible, charitable, compassionate citizens.  Don't get bogged down in the day-to-day issues or short-sighted in your focus (Prov. 22:6).

4.  Be who you need to be in the child's particular season of life and then "let them fly" (my words).
(Ecc. 3:1)  Mark Harris wrote "Find Your Wings" and he sang:

                 "I'm here for you whatever this life brings
                 So let my love give you roots
                 And help you find your wings."

It seems more stressful to raise children today than when we were kids (what did we know?#!), but the Bible is the same and it holds valuable insight for us as parents or grandparents.  Our children are a gift and we are given guidance from the Lord as to how to train them up.  My desire and my prayer is that our sons will be Godly influences in the world in spite of what we may or may not have done right.

For further study:  Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 30:19-20, Proverbs 3:12, 20:11, 29:17,  Romans 1:22, 25, Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:20, 1 Tim 3:4-5, Titus 2:4-5, Hebrews 12:11

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

Love,
Holly

INVESTMENT ADVICE - 2 Peter 1:1-11

HAPPY SPRING!  I have missed you so much...I was out of town for 3 weeks and I'm just getting back in the sewing room.  I'll have new pillows starting next week, but today I just want to share a word from today's message in "Our Daily Bread".

We all seem very interested in the stock market, portfolios, 401ks, etc.  But Peter warns us to invest wisely in our "spiritual accounts" as well:

                         "...make every effort to add to your faith goodness...
                         knowledge...self-control...perseverance...godliness...
                         kindness...love..."

Do you know why?  Verse 8 says "...to keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ".  Ugh...I often feel ineffective and unproductive and now I know why!!!  The word for "add" is epichoregeo - to contribute or fully supply.  Think about the things we work so hard to "fully supply":

                      --our bank accounts
                      --our bodies
                      --our closets
                      --our children
                      --our resumes
                      --our gardens

Anne Cetas says: "Investing money in retirement funds can be profitable, but investing in our spiritual lives offers the best kind of return for our future".

For further study: Psalm 1:3, Proverbs 11:30, Ecc. 2:10-11, Ezekiel 47:1-12, Jonah 2:8,  Matthew 7:16-20, John 15:8, 16, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:10-12.

A special "shout out" to a new friend of HSP, Giovanni S. in Naples, Italy!  How fun to meet brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world!

May you be blessed in your understanding of God's word!

Love,
Holly