Family
“All the
ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all
the families of the nations will worship before You." Psalm
22:27, NAS
Sitting on the back porch of my brother Tom Martin’s house in Cedar Falls, Iowa, as the sun rises in the east, brings back memories of our days growing up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, just north up the road on Hwy. 218 an hour or so.
Tom
and I, along with our little brother Rob, had five sisters between us. Sue,
Mary, Colleen, Janet, and Lynn completed the sibling count of eight. Dad and
Mom raised a good Catholic family during the 1950s and 1960s.
Family and the memories they bring can be a solid foundation for each of us. Though some are happy to get on with life, leaving their childhood years behind with all the trauma and conflict that went with it, the Lord desires His children to be raised in a good family, with a loving Dad and Mom in the home, and children that honor, respect, and cherish their parents, brothers and sisters.
"Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. Honor your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, “so you will live well and have a long life.” Ephesians 6:2-3, The Message
I
could speak on the problems destroying family life today, as there are many,
but I choose to consider the blessings that do come when men and women have
families, seeking to follow the Lord and His ways.
There are good families in our society these days. There are those who have committed themselves to know the Lord Jesus (Yeshua) and walk in His ways, as He intended.
The man and woman who come together, in godly marriage as set by the Creator, will in turn give themselves, in sacrifice, to have children, with the full intent of raising them to know and fear the Lord.
They will seek to forgo worldly pleasures, to lay down their needs and wants for the sake of the ones the Lord has given into their care.
These men and women believe that children are a blessing from God. They “go without”, as my parents did, to give more to the boys and girls they have in their care, so they too learn the purpose of family and the love it expresses from the Father’s heart.
A society with strong families has the strength to resist ungodly principles, withstand attacks from unruly individuals, and the fortitude to stand firm when forces rise against them from all sides.
I am always encouraged when I see young Israeli families walking the streets of Jerusalem, carriages being pushed by fathers, mothers walking alongside in their place of dignity, honor, and love for all.
This is the intent of our heavenly Father, who looks down with pleasure and enjoyment Himself on those who choose to walk in His plans and purposes.
For those of us in our later years, we can encourage the younger generations to give themselves to having families, as the Lord purposed. To live for others whom He would place in their care. To reveal His heart to the nations, through the prime example of godly families.
I also want to thank you, who are now grandparents, for the tremendous sacrifices you made years ago, giving of yourselves for your children, and who now enjoy the fruit of your labor as your grandchildren rise up among you.
“Well done, good and faithful servants!”
Ahava and Shalom,
P.S.
Laurie and I are volunteering in Jerusalem, Israel, with Christian Friends of
Israel for three months, Oct. 15, 2025 – Jan. 12, 2026. Read all about it! Steve & Laurie - Time Coming for Jerusalem Volunteers.
We welcome your prayers and support as we together bless Israel and His people in their Land.
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Message #9 in my new series (2025): "Family" July 27, 2025
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