How to have poor children.

"He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."  Proverbs 22:8 

This is yet another reason not to inundate our children with thrills and expensive tastes.
  
Pleasures, self indulgence, and fineries of high society are spoken of here.  Many times parents out of affection happily lavish their children with all the thrills, pleasures, self indulgence, and finery possible.  By indulging them in this they create a love for all this in their children thus assuring that their descendants become poor in more ways than one.

Today most people MUST have pleasure, wine, and oil.  And so parents will be misunderstood for protecting their household from this, but give it 20 years or so and others will wish that they would have followed your example, if they even understand at all.

Now I'm not meaning that Dad (or Mom) should be a spoil sport or a grouchy type drill sergeant looking for ways to deny his children of any fun.  Dad should strive to be his family's favorite man in the whole wide world.

But give your children blessing, loyalty, integrity, a work ethic, a fear for God, proper training, a righteous example, self denial, and joy in the home, and they will live a blessed and truly rich life.

May God help us to " lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour."
        -Phillip

Purified to live for God.

Photo credit: Pryaa's Journal

"...Our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."  (Titus 2:13b-14) 

Here God give us the assurance that you can be purified by Him in THIS life.  P.U.R.E.  Cleansed from all sin, so that you may offer up sacrifices of good works for God while yet alive!  You may be one of the purified, the distinct people who are zealous of good works. 

These things speak, and exhort . . . with all authority.  Don't be intimidated when holiness fighters despise you in this.  (Titus 2:15)
    - Phillip