Tag: relationship with God

Honor Your Father and Mother

On By CarmenLeave a comment

We all have heard this since we were young children. Those of us who were brought up in church were taught to memorize this commandment given to the Israelites by God after they left Egypt on their way to the promised land. 

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 
Exodus 20:12

In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul echoes this command in his letter to the church in Ephesus.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 
Ephesians 6:1-3

Did you notice the promise made to those who kept this commandment? It is a blessing of favor and long life from God.

Honoring our parents was not so difficult to do for most of us as a child. I say most of us, because I don’t want to assume that I know or understand everyone’s childhood experiences. When we were children, most of us naturally bonded with our parents and would listen to them, whether or not they were wrong.

I read an online news article that caught my attention—Why So Many Young People Are Cutting Off Their Parents. It was about adult children refusing to have a relationship with their parents and the numbers are alarming. It stated, “The rise in millennials and Gen Zers coming forward to discuss their own crises—the hashtag #ToxicFamily has 1.9 billion views on TikTok—may suggest that American families are severing ties at an all-time high.” It reports the sad reality of how disagreements between parents and adult children lead to a breakdown in the family, which is not pleasing to God.

Again, I want to stress that I understand there were some parents who probably did not treat their children as God instructed. I am not negating the fact that there were children who were abused or neglected, which is not a part of God’s design. My intention is to address the bond between parents and children that was ordained by God.

Parents also have responsibility to God in how they raise their children. 

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. 
Ephesians 6:4


God does not expect obedience from children only. He also expects obedience from parents to Him. He does not want parents to abuse their children and He makes this very clear. Parents must not treat their children unfairly, abuse or neglect them, or just be so hard on them as to make them angry.  

Regarding neglect, God is very clear as well.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 
1 Timothy 5:8

These scripture verses address fathers primarily because fathers are traditionally given the responsibility as providers and disciplinarians for the family. Today for various reasons, some families have mothers as the head of household and these instructions are directed to them as well. God tells us that parents should teach their children His ways so that they will commit in obedience. 

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

This does not mean that children and young adults will be perfect, it just means that when they reach a certain age, they will know how to live their lives and follow through—even if we must hold on to the promise that they will eventually do so.   

What about honoring father and mother when the children are now adults and disagree with their parents?

If an adult child is being disobedient in God’s eyes, it is understandable that the parent(s) would have a disagreement and discussion with their child. This may not be pleasing to the adult child, but it will be an opportunity for restoration. If the child still does not listen, then the parents should pray and ask God for His intervention. This may not be an easy outcome for the disobedient young adult, but you can trust God that He will bring your child around. Remember to continue to pray even if you don’t see changes and it takes a while. God’s word does not return void.

I want to go back to a scripture verse we looked at above in Ephesians. 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 
Ephesians 6:1

Let’s focus on three words in this verse. In the Lord means to obey your parents in the Lord’s ways and instructions. We must obviously continue to honor our parents as adult children. This means to treat them with respect and to be kind and patient with them. This does not mean if their advice to you is opposite of God’s will that you put their will over God’s will. No, as an adult, you must follow God’s will over your parents’ will. I encourage you to know what God’s will is for your life; to study God’s word and commune with Him daily. Having a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, is paramount to knowing God and His will.

What if the adult child is indeed following God, but the parents don’t want to acknowledge that God is bringing about His plan for their child’s life?

Parents, in their own human nature, can be overprotective which can be very stressful for an adult child. Let’s say that this adult child is trying to follow God’s plan for their life. This can be challenging when the parents don’t understand or they may not be following God themselves. Avoiding an argument can be achieved by keeping a calm demeanor and disagreeing politely while explaining what they believe God is showing them in their lives.

Finding Reconciliation:

So what do we do when we cannot come to an agreement and each time we (parents and adult children) are together the tension rises? We are told to pray. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 4:6-7

God hears His children’s prayers. He knows all about our struggles and relationships. Continue to pray until you see God act. He will either change your or your parents’ outlook or maybe even have you both meet somewhere in the middle regarding your disagreement.

My current journey:

As I write this, my relationship with my parents has been somewhat trying lately. First, I will say that I love my parents and have never and will never cut them off. At this time, my concern is for their well-being, especially now that they are both in their eighties and do not live near me. I have other siblings, but I am the adult child they chose to help them navigate their lives now that they are getting older. I visit them during the year for holidays, during the summer, and when they need help with certain issues. My personal wish is that they would come to live with me since they are starting to need more help. My husband and I have offered our home to them with a nice private bedroom/bathroom ensuite. God has blessed us so that we work from home and have plenty of room in our house to share with my parents. They, however, prefer to stay in their own home. I disagree with them on this, but I have to be respectful of their wishes. They know that regardless of our differences in opinion, I will be there for them.

I hold on to God’s word tightly and because I honor my parents I believe I will be blessed immeasurably by God.

I know that one day I will no longer be able to pick up the phone and hear their voices. I want to be able to look back and feel good about how I was willing to respect my parents and reciprocate love, care, and protection at a time when they needed me.

I look forward to receiving your stories about how you have honored your parents.

Below is a beautiful song by Ed Sheeran. It’s entitled “Supermarket Flowers” and it’s a tribute to his maternal grandmother from his mother’s perspective. I was very impressed and touched by this song.  

Why So Many Young People Are Cutting Off Their Parents

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a44178122/family-estrangement-cut-off-parents/

What Does It Mean to Be a Child of God?

On By CarmenLeave a comment

A Child of God Has Eternal Salvation

First, to be a child of God, we must surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind. In His word, Jesus says that He is the only way to God. When we know Jesus, we also know the Father.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

John 14:6-7

In perhaps the most well-known or memorized verse in Scripture, we are again told that we belong to God if we believe in Christ. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Let’s also look at what the verses following John 3:16 say about being surrendered to Jesus Christ.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:17-18

A Child of God Is Granted Forgiveness of Sins 

Once we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we are His! It does not matter what we have done in this life, our sins are forgiven when we repent. Yes, we start over with a blank slate. As far as the east is from the west, our sins are remembered by God no more.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our wrongdoings from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:11-13

I am sure that you have noticed the word “fear” in the above scripture verse. It may cause you concern, but no need to worry. Merriam-Webster has a fitting definition regarding fear of God: Profound reverence and awe especially toward God. If we belong to God, we need not be terrified of Him.

A Child of God Has a Relationship with the Father

God wants a relationship with us and He created us for this very reason. This relationship is unlike any other that we have or have ever had before. It is a relationship with our Creator whom we can depend on and who will never betray us. If we want to have a relationship with Him, we must have a complete surrender of the heart, meaning we walk with Him in obedience. We can tell Him anything. He already knows. He knew from the beginning of time everything about us. And He loves us just as we are. But, He does not want us to stay the way we are; rather He wants us to be more like His Son, Jesus. So, how do we achieve becoming more like Jesus? We remain (abide) in Him—we obey Him. Let’s look at what Jesus says about this.

“Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them in to the fire; and they are burned.”

John 15:4-6

One way that we remain in Christ is to ask Him for wisdom, which we are told to seek. We also get wisdom from reading His word and we are instructed to meditate on it daily. The more we read the Bible, the more we understand. If we continue to read it throughout our lifetime, we will find new treasures each time we read it. We can read God’s word many times over for the rest of our lives and never run out of new revelations. As we read and meditate upon God’s word, the Bible, we should do what it says to do—apply these instructions to our lives. This applying of instruction is abiding in Christ, living according to His will. It is not always easy because Satan will try to deceive us and twist God’s word. As I mentioned in a previous post, “Relationship with God-Part 2,” this is why it is crucial to fellowship with other Christ followers—to help us in our daily walk with God. We need others to help us understand God’s word, pray with and for us, and walk with us through our struggles.

A Child of God Receives Divine Protection

Once we become a child of God, we receive His protection. If you are a parent, you naturally protect your children. You teach your children obedience and when they step out of line, you give them consequences to help them learn that their wrong actions are not good for them. You want the best for them and you will go to any length to protect your child. This is the same for God, except that God is all powerful and thwarts the evil intended by Satan to destroy us. When we walk in God’s precepts, we are divinely protected. 

The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time and forever.

Psalm 121:7-8

There are times when we are blindsighted by circumstances in life that we never saw coming; or even times when we do see trouble on the horizon and we don’t know what to do. God’s children have hope and know that He will intervene and protect us. Today, there are circumstances we see that are a threat to our way of life and even our existence. What would we do if we had no hope? It’s sad to write this, but many people today live life without God and therefore have no hope.

A Child of God Receives Provision

Our very existence depends upon God. We can’t breathe without the oxygen that God has placed into the atmosphere. We can’t eat without the food God has provided for us. We can’t drink without the water that God sends from the heavens. We may acknowledge these facts and understand that all these good things come from God, but do we believe this about everything else? What about our family? mortgage or rent? work? education? transportation? clothes? rest and relaxation? God provides all our needs and even some of our desires as well. In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples to not worry.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow, they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:25-34

Can we agree that God provided for us when we were babies and He is still providing for us today? If so, we can be certain that He will provide for us tomorrow. Our part is to trust Him, no matter how uncomfortable our circumstances may become, for He is with us always.

A Child of God Receives Blessings

The greatest blessing that we could ever receive as a child of God is eternity in Heaven with our Savior Jesus Christ. There will be no evil in heaven; nor will there be tears, worries, or failure. Further, scripture tells us that we, His children, can not fathom what God wants to give us—not only in Heaven, but in the here and now, on this earth.

Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 

There are so many blessings that God gives us just because He loves us. I know many of you have received special blessings that God has given just to you that you cherish and I would like to hear about them.

I will share a few of my blessings from God that I thank Him for lately:

My husband, my parents who are still living in their eighties, my golden retriever Bella, the ability to work from home—and one that I never even thought to ask for—wild blueberries growing in my back yard. When we purchased our home in South Carolina three years ago, one summer day a few months after we moved in, we discovered that we had lots of blackberries in our backyard. I had a true déjà vu moment! It took me back to my childhood in Louisiana where I picked blackberries with my sweet grandmother. I remember the fun we had picking them and then later making a quickie pie with them. All I could think was wow—what an unexpected blessing! It was like a warm, cozy moment that transported me back to my childhood.

As I close, I am reminded of the great sacrifice Jesus made for me. I am a child of God; I am no longer a slave to past sins or failures.

It is my sincere prayer that anyone who reads this blog today and has not yet surrendered their life to Christ Jesus will do so today and become an heir to the throne of Heaven. 

I hope you enjoy the special song below that I have included for your listening pleasure.

“No Longer Slaves” – Jonathan David and Melissa Helser

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

Relationship with God – Part 2

On By Carmen12 Comments

Once you’ve accepted Christ’s invitation to be the Lord and Savior of your life, you will want to strengthen your relationship with Him. The way to do this is to learn about Him, that is to read about Him, to seek Him, to commune with Him. God wants us to know about Him and He wants a relationship with us. He has given us His Word, His Holy Scripture in the form of the Bible.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

THE BIBLE IS A GIFT FROM GOD

Over the years since my salvation in Christ, I have heard and read about Bible reading plans. Some of these include reading the Bible in a year. This will require dedication and time daily to study the Scriptures. You will need to carve out a set time that works best for you based on your work and personal life. Some people (including me) prefer to wake up early in the morning before they start their day with their families and/or work. I like reading the Bible first thing because I have uninterrupted time with God to study His Word and I feel that I start my day off with good news and the ability to meditate on or practice what I learned for that day. Other people may have time to read on their lunch hour, and still others prefer to wait until evening after the children have gone to bed and the chores are done. One factor to consider is whether you are an early riser or a night owl. There have been times that I have read morning, noon, and evening. What’s important is that you read consistently each day. If you miss a day here and there, don’t fret, it happens to all of us. Just start again the next day and keep reading. God is not looking for perfection, He sees our efforts and knows our intentions.

When starting to read the Bible, many wonder where to start. Some say that it is good to start in John in the New Testament. Here you will find John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Everything in the Bible points to Jesus, the gift of God, and promise of salvation. The Old Testament is full of prophecy that points to the promise of our Savior; the New Testament is about the life of Jesus and His redeeming work on the cross; and the last chapter, Revelation, is about His second coming and eternal rule over all the nations. I won’t recommend where you should start, but I have always started in Genesis and read all the way through to the end of Revelation. Each time I read through one version of the Bible I immediately start another version. There are many versions available and the hardest one for me to read was the King James version. I promise you that I read it in its entirety! It took a little more effort, but was completely doable.

Before reading each day, speak with God in prayer and ask Him to show you what He wants you to understand and learn. Also, remember to meditate on what you learned and maybe even practice it for that day or talk to someone else about it who reads the Bible and is a Christ follower. There will be times that you may not understand what you are reading and that’s ok. Perhaps after talking to your friend who is also reading, you may understand better. There have been times that I have searched for online comments by Christian sources that I have followed and trust in their knowledge of the Bible. There are also study Bibles available that explain the context which references the time and customs when the chapter was written. Also, you can reach out to the pastor of the Bible-believing church you will be attending.

FELLOWSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR WALK WITH CHRIST

It is important that you attend a church that teaches from the Bible. You may want to go to several churches before you decide which one is right for you. And remember, ask God to show you where you should attend and He will make it clear to you. When my husband and I moved from Florida to South Carolina, we started searching for a new church home. This was during COVID, so it took some time because some churches were just starting to reopen their doors. We attended many different churches before we decided on one. We would go to one church and then another, until we gravitated toward one church in particular. The primary reason to choose a church is that it teaches from the whole Bible with Jesus as the central theme, and all honor and glory are given to God—not man. There are other attributes that are important such as a youth program, Bible study, the worship ministry, men’s and women’s ministries, financial stability, outreach programs, and for my husband and me—cultural diversity in the membership.

Once you decide on the church that you want to attend, you should attend regularly and get involved. It may take a few weeks before you get to know some of the people, but make it a point to reach out to the members of this church. Remember the old saying, “To make friends, you have to be a friend.” Yes, you must make the effort to get to know people. When you do, soon you will start to be invited to the different programs that the church offers. Make it a point to introduce yourself to the pastor and his wife. They may be busy talking to others after church on occasion, but wait for your opportunity to talk to them. The leadership wants to meet you and know what they can do to help you in your walk with Christ. They will help you get connected in programs that you need or have an interest in. The reason to get connected is not so you will have a social calendar full of events; it is so that you can connect with others that have walked with Christ during both good times and trials. They will be more than happy to help you with your struggles and celebrate your victories.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I remember when I first started attending a new church in Miami many years ago, I made a promise to God (after I surrendered my life to Jesus) that I would do whatever He wanted me to do. I was sincere. It wasn’t but a few weeks later that there was a request at this church for volunteers at a pregnancy center. I felt in my spirit that God wanted me to get involved and I did. I contacted the pregnancy center, signed up for a Saturday orientation class, and became a volunteer at the center closest to my home. I could not have imagined how God would use me in this opportunity to counsel young pregnant women (and sometimes their husbands/boyfriends) on the sanctity of human life. It was a joyful experience for three-and-a-half years to volunteer weekly at this pregnancy center while meeting many who were determined to keep their babies and counseling others who were scared and wanted to make a good choice for their lives. I also gained a few friends that I know were and still are praying for me to reach God’s potential for my life.

I could go on and on about all the doors God opened for me to get involved in this church. There were many and I walked through them as He led me. What I gained in return was far more than I could have ever imagined or asked Him for. He is so good to us! I made so many dear friends and met women who wanted to help me and walk alongside me in my walk with Christ. There were many who were praying for me. Others taught me God’s word, gave me a safe place to talk about my struggles, showed me kindness, invited me into their homes, paid for Christian conferences (that I couldn’t afford and would never have asked for), taught me leadership skills, and gave me opportunities to grow in leadership. God only intends good for us and HE makes the way. We just need to be willing to follow His lead.

A NEW AND MORE JOYFUL LIFE

Jesus promises us that we will have an abundant life while living on this earth. We all want to have deep inner joy and feel like we have purpose in the here and now. As we become a doer (not just a hearer) of God’s word, we will find that our walk with the Lord leads us to a purposeful life. We grow in confidence in Him to achieve goals that we never imagined we could. And when the difficult trials of life come, we learn who our provider is—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we have walked with Him through the storms, we understand that He loves us and cares for us and will never forsake us.

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.”

John 10:9-10

My prayer is that you will allow God to show you His love and mighty hand that will make a way for you. May you also reach your full potential in Christ Jesus and enjoy the abundant life.

Below is a song that I have included for your listening pleasure. Music was and still is a great enjoyment and support that helps me in my walk with Christ. I hope you enjoy it too.

“I Surrender” – Hillsong

See my previous post Relationship with God.

Relationship with God

On By Carmen13 Comments

For those who may be struggling and are looking for a better, joyful life and would like to taste and see the goodness of our Lord Jesus, it is only an ask away. You can ask Him to be Lord of your life, to forgive you of your sins, and to direct your path going forward. 

For He says,


“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

If you surrender your life to Him, He will guide you in the way that you should go and you will indeed have a fuller, more joyful life here on earth and eternal life in heaven. This does not mean that you will not have trials and suffer hardship in this life, but as you trust in Him, you will experience His closeness and power in your life. You will understand true joy and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.

My friends, we are all going to die and pass into eternal life. What’s important is for us to know where we are going. If we know the Lord Jesus, if we surrender our lives to Him and abide in Him, we don’t have to be afraid of dying. In fact, we can look forward to eternal blessings and peace with Him.

His word tells us


For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17

Below is a beautiful song that I want to share with you.

“O Come to the Altar” – Elevation Worship


I pray if you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, that you will today.

Also, see my post Relationship with God – Part 2.

May God bless you.