Daily Word and Insight

Mothers are very important people.  Without mothers, there would be no children.  So why do we treat our mothers so shabbily at times? Many today are both mother and father to the children and the difficulty to provide is crucial and depressing, but there are those who continue to provide against the odds. Mothers have a huge responsibility to foster healthy development in their children.  The reason for this is that most times the fathers are away from the homes, trying to make a living for the family. Therefore, whether the children like it or not, mothers have to make a unique contribution to provide a stable and secure environment where children can flourish and feel protected. Many times mothers are criticized , misjudged, ignored, and disrespected by children for doing the moral and God-given commandment to train them in the proper way.  However, in Proverbs 22:6, it says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when He is old, he will not depart ...

Another earthquake again? This time in Taiwan.  When will it end?  the question is being asked by many.  Who will be next? "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matt. 24:6-8, KJV).  The continuing calamities listed in these verses do send a message to us today. They are reminders that we live in a fallen world still awaiting a final redemption (see Rom. 8:19-23), a world in which there are always people who need our help. They are invitations to pray, to seek God in repentance and in intercession for others.  Children, now is the time to go to the altar and pray. Pray for yourself, pray for your brothers and sisters, pray for your neighbors, pray for your friends, pr...

Almighty God, our Father, we have seen you in the changed lives of the disciples, and in growth of the church from eleven men in Jerusalem to a world-wide fellowship; but sometimes we still doubt. In our own day we have seen missionaries leave to follow you, but sometimes we still doubt. We have seen confirmed skeptics changed into compassionate Christians, but sometimes we still doubt.   We have seen the burning joy of men and women who have survived torture and persecution for their faith, but sometimes we still doubt. Father, use each experience of doubt to build up our faith.  You do not call us to blind belief, but to a faith we can prove through the help of your Holy Spirit.  May we persevere in looking for answers in the right places and from the right people; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

There are several causes of suffering, and sometimes it is difficult to classify one's personal troubles.  However, if that suffering drives you toward God rather than away from Him, then the result will be beneficial. If you think that your suffering is the result of disobedience to some basic law, ask God to help you remedy the defect.  If you know it comes from an accident for which you are in no way responsible, pray for patience to bear it, wisdom to understand it, and love to forgive those who caused it. If  what you endure is the result of plotting of evil men, pray that God may turn them from their wicked ways.  Remember that the Bible says, we must rejoice in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer (Romans 12:12). If you believe your troubles are a divine discipline, search your heart for the reason why God is displeased with you.  Then plead for forgiveness and pledge Him your eternal devotion. If you are enduring persecution for...

As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.  They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all; Luke 17:26,27.  This prediction makes it impossible for anyone to mistake the approximate time of Christ second coming.  He has to but watch for a return of conditions similar to those that existed before the flood.  When they reappear he will know that the end is near, even though he cannot tell the day nor the hour that it will occur.  The days of Noah have returned.  Three main charges are made against the antediluvians: 1.  They took them wives of all which they chose.  Evidently there was much divorce and remarriage in those days, and probably outright polygamy. 2.  And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 3....

Countries will fight each other.  Kingdoms will attack one another.  There will be famines and earthquakes everywhere.  All these things are like the first pains of childbirth.  Then you will be arrested and handed over to be punished and be put to death.  All mankind will hate you because of me (Jesus).  Many will give up their faith at that time; they will betray one another and hate one another.  Then many false prophets will appear and fool many people.  Such will be spread of evil that many people's love will grow cold.  But whoever holds out to the end will be saved.  And this Good News about the Kingdom will be preached through all the world for a witness to all mankind; and then the end will come. Read Matthew 24:7-14