So You Want The Proverbs 31 Woman For A Wife?

It is quite interesting how many men will love to marry a wife like the Proverbs 31 woman. What an irony to discover that very few of these men really know the qualities of the Proverbs 31 woman.

It is rather sad that in the 21st century, some men still see women as personal properties. They still believe that women have nothing valuable to contribute to the society. As such, their place should be in the kitchen, labor room and that’s all.

You marry a woman who is a professional, and then you want to stop her from practicing her profession because “she is your wife”. My question to such men is: why did you marry her in the first place knowing she is a hard worker and a career woman? There are so many ladies out there in the streets doing nothing, just looking for a man that can provide for them and make them their wives. I guess you should look in that direction instead of going after a woman fulfilling her purpose and get bent on stopping her after marriage.

It is even more depressing to see this happen not only in the Muslim world but also among Christians that are supposed to be the light of the world. It might interest you to know that many churches today, even as I write this article, still do not believe that women should hold any position of leadership in church, talk more of pastoring.


You don’t want your wife to work, pursue her calling, fulfill her purpose and yet you want a Proverbs 31 woman for wife.  Have you ever read Proverbs 31:10-31? I doubt, because if you have read it, you will know that the woman described in this Scripture was a business woman, home keeper and a hard worker. She had a ministry to the poor and needy. You can call her a philanthropist in our today’s English language.

Because of her and the fruits of her hands, her husband is known in the gates of the (city). She brings honor to her husband and children from her achievements. She buys properties with her own money, not the money of her husband- Proverb 31:16. (Well this one is for the ladies who do not want to work hard and are busy hunting for rich men to marry and yet you want to be called a Proverbs 31 woman).

For the men who cannot stand the great achievements of women and their wives, I have a special advice for you; you do not need the Proverbs 31 woman for a wife. We sing the praises of the Proverbs 31 woman, yet we do not encourage our women to be that woman because of pride, arrogance, selfishness and poor mindset.

So many women have lost their life purpose, passion, callings and visions in life just because they are married. They are married to men who believe they are properties that belong to them and the kitchen, to meet their every need and help in fulfilling their dreams while their dreams are not given a chance to be expressed, talk more of being fulfilled.

Marriage is partnership. It is not meant to be parasitic but mutualistic. My dear ladies, before you say “I do” to any man, be very sure he is ready to help you or at least allow you to pursue your calling and purpose in life. “Marriage is not a do-or-die affair”. You don’t need marriage to fulfill your calling or purpose in life, neither is marriage a ticket to Heaven. Don’t sell out your God-given purpose just because you want to be “Mrs. Somebody”.

My dear women, and to the men who love them, encourage your wives to be the best they were created to be. Help them to fulfill their purpose and callings in life. Be a source of motivation to your wife and not discouragement and she will bring honor, respect, and dignity to you all the days of your life. Because of her, you shall be known in the city and be celebrated by all when you sit among the elders. #Proverbs31Woman.

Check To See How The Disciples Were Martyred.

HOW THE APOSTLES DIED.

1. Matthew
Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, Killed by a sword wound.

2. Mark
Died in Alexandria, Egypt , after being dragged by Horses through the streets until he was dead.

3. Luke
Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous Preaching to the lost.

4. John
Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge Basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered From death.
John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos . The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve As Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey . He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully

5. Peter
He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross.
According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

6. James
The leader of the church in Jerusalem , was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his
enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.
* This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.

7. James the Son of Zebedee,
was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was   beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer Walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and Knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.

8. Bartholomew
Also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.

9. Andrew
Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors For two days until he expired.

10. Thomas
Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Sub-continent.

11. Jude
Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.

12. Matthias
The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.

13. Paul
Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many
epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.

Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles and disciples during their times For the sake of the Faith. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: But he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Pass on to encourage other Christians
Why Do we feel sleepy in Prayer,
But stay awake through a 3 hour movie?
Why are we so bored when we look at the HOLY BOOK,
But find it easy to read other books?
Why is it so easy to ignore a msg about God,
Yet we forward the nasty ones?
Why are Prayers getting smaller,
But bars and clubs are expanding
Why is it so easy to worship a celebrity,
But very difficult to engage with God?
Think about it, are you going to forward this?
Are you going to ignore it, cause you think you will get laughed at?
Forward this to all your friends.

Sunday Adelaja: He Left His Home Country As A Teen And Now Has The Largest Church In Europe.

Sunday Sunkanmi Adelaja was born in the village of Idomila Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria. His name Adelaja means "the King settled this fight" in Yoruba.[3] He was raised by his grandmother and became Christian in March 1986 just before graduating from high school. After graduation Adelaja left Nigeria because he received a scholarship to study journalism at the Belarusian State University in Minsk, Byelorussian SSR. He claims he was threatened there by authorities for having a picture of Jesus in his house, but nevertheless, he began Christian activities in Belarus during his studies.[4] He married and took a job in Kiev, where he eventually founded and became pastor of the Embassy of God church, initially with only a handful of fellow African students.[5] Today he plays an active role in the political and social life of Ukraine and was an influencing factor the Ukrainian Orange Revolution. Sunday speaks, preaches and teaches fluently in Russian.

By age 33, he had built the largest charismatic church in Europe, having started with only a few followers in a small apartment in downtown Kiev in 1994. Since then his church has grown to more than 700 churches in over 45 countries and has been instrumental in starting over 300 rehab centers for drug addicts and alcoholics, situated all over Ukraine and Russia

We need REVIVAL!

Read me please!!!!!
At A Time When The Church Has Become A Ground For Entertainment...
We Need Revival.

At A time When A Music Minister Competes And Compares Himself With Secular Musician,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When The Altar Of God Is Used For Comedy,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When A Successful Minister Of The Gospel Is Measured By How Rich He Is And Not How Much Impact He Is Making,
We Need Revival.

At A Time, When Passion For Souls Have Been Replaced With Fashion Parade In The Church,
We Need Revival.

 At A Time When Motivational Speaking Has Replaced Biblical Preaching,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When You Really Cannot Differentiate Between A Daughter Of Zion And An Harlot,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When Pastors Kill Each Other For Posting And Higher Position,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When Modern Preachers Now Tell Us That JESUS Is Not Coming Soon,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When Packaging And Special Effect Has Replaced The Beauty Of God's Glory,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When Sexual Sin Is Referred To As Weakness And The Grace Of God Is Taken For Granted,
 We Need Revival.

At A Time When Prophets Prophesy; Using Demonic Powers As Livelihood,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When The Church Does Not Know The Difference Between Witchcraft Spirit And The Holy Spirit,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When Filling The Seats In Our Place Of Worship Has Become A Priority Than Raising Disciples Of Jesus,
We Need Revival.

 At A Time When Sinners Feel Comfortable In Our Churches And Saints Feel No Sense Of Urgency To Preach The Good News To The Lost,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When Pastors Are More Concerned About How Much Money Members Give Than How Much The Members Truly Love The LORD,
We Need Revival.

At A Time When The Word Of God Is Scarce And The Fire On The Altar Is Going Out, And The Priests Have Become Blind, The Watchmen Sleeping, And Holiness Is No Longer Our Standard,
We Need Revival.

 We Need Revival Not A Programme. We Need Reawakening Of Our Souls And A New Awareness Of The Power Of God. We Do Not Need Another Jamboree But True Repentance Coupled With A Changed Life.
We Do Not Need Another Noise, We Need A Shaking And A Mighty Rushing Wind.

We Do Not Need Another Movement, We Need A Reformation.
We Need The Lord To Come Again And Restore Us Unto Himself.
We Need The Lord To Open Our Eyes Again That We May See Him.
We Want To See His Holiness Again That We May See Our Depravity.

We Need A Genuine Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit, We Are Tired Of Speaking In Tongues And Not Living Christ-Like.

There Is No Other Desire That We Have Than To Hear Again The Same Voice That Spoke In The Valley Of Dry Bones To Bring Us Back To life. Our Nations Are In Darkness, Yet We Are The Light.

We Cannot Pretend Anymore, We Need To Activate The Power Of Holy Ghost And He Will Reawaken Us.

He Will Revive Us Again Because We Do Not See Our Signs And Wonders As Done By The Apostles Of JESUS,
There Are Only Few JESUS Prophets In Churches, Some Are Not Even Recognized.

Let Us Pray That God Should Have Mercy Upon Us! And Revive Us Again!

 Please Forward To Others, Peace Be Unto You. Revival Must Hit The Earth In This Last Day Please Be Prepared
Share the post please!!!

Is There Hope For The Female Gender: At Only 23, Ava Roberts Becomes Youngest Female Black Doctor

Ava Roberts (23) just became the youngest African-American female doctor in the world! While news of this accomplishment has unfortunately been minimal, French site Pelea reports that after a gifted childhood, Roberts quickly excelled through medical school and became a force to be reckoned with.

The first black doctor in history was James McCune Smith, who received his medical degree in 1837 and was the first African-American to own and operate a pharmacy in the United States. In 1864, Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African-American woman to receive a medical degree. It’s about time another record is broken!

Do stories like this inspire you? Be sure to share this inspirational news with your friends on Facebook!

While Spending Time With God Don't Do These:

Here are just five of the many common mistakes that we make when spending time with God that we have to stop doing ASAP.


1. Multi-task.
Nowadays, multi-tasking has become the norm for many people. We’re doing reports while having meetings. When we’re eating, we’re cutting steak while drinking out of a straw.

I’m not a big fan of multi-tasking. I believe that multi-tasking while spending time with God is most ineffective. When it’s time to talk to God, it’s time to talk to God.

2. Rush through it.
I know we can get really busy at times, and it can feel like we can rush ourselves through God’s Word and presence. But, think about it: We never rush through a movie, rush through our favourite ball game, or rush through a date. So why do we rush through our time with God? If we really knew how much our time with Jesus meant, we’d probably do it all day if we could.

3. Depend solely on materials of others.
Commentaries, devotional guides, podcasts and books are great, but they are not your source of spiritual growth. The true source of spiritual growth is your interaction and experience with the Holy Spirit, and we get most of that with our own personal revelations. Read through as many books, commentaries and devotional guides as you want, they won’t hurt. But make sure you still get a good dose of actual time with God, not with authors.

4. Project revelations on others.
When we read our Bible it can be tempting to think “Oh yeah, so-and-so should really read this.” Don’t read the Bible and talk to God for the sake of others. Do it for your own sake because you need God just as much as anyone.

5. Treat it as a chore.
To many, devotions are already a part of a checklist that we do for the sake of having it there. It can be good to switch it up, change schedules, or do something special with God every so often so we can get out of the boring rudimentary chore of mere reading. Your devotionals are meant to be dates with God, not religious traditions to keep.


Patrick Mabilog

People You Need To Stay Away From To Attain Success

Everyone has an opinion, and if you’re like me, you can get focused on keeping people happy, which is always a critical leadership mistake. Your church or your organization isn’t for everyone.

Usually, the discussion at the leadership table will end up with someone saying:

Look, we can’t afford to lose people.

Sometimes that’s true.

Often, it’s simply not.

In fact, often the opposite is true.

The people you are most afraid of losing are the people you most need to lose.

Truthfully, you can’t afford to keep them.




Who You Can’t Afford to Keep
So who can you not afford to keep if you want your mission to move forward?

1. You can’t afford to keep perpetual critics.

2. You can’t afford to keep people who are opposed to everything.

3. You can’t afford to keep people who drain the energy and health out of a church or organization.

4. You can’t afford to keep people who contribute nothing and criticize everything.

5. You can’t afford to keep people who have no vision of what the future should be, only a vision for what the future shouldn’t be.

6. You can’t afford to keep people who put their own preferences ahead of your organization’s principles.

7. You can’t afford to keep people who always resist change.

Your mission is just too important.

So next time you face critics who are threatening to walk out the door, don’t ask yourself if you can afford to lose them.

Ask if you can afford to keep them.

It might completely change your approach … and your decisions.

by Carey Nieuwhof

At Just 17 Years Old Thessalonika Arzu-Embry is About to Earn Her PhD

Nationwide — Thessalonika Arzu-Embry, a teen prodigy with an IQ of 199, is a sought-after, influential role model for inspiring, mentoring, and empowering others. She graduated high school at age 11, earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology at the age of 14, an MBA at the age of 16, and is set to earn a PhD. at 17 years old.

She is also an author
As an author, Thessalonika has encouraged many with her five best-selling books covering topics from expediting the completion of college, securing justice, to financial investing. Her titles include The Genius Race: What do I Gain for Being Wise?, In the Future, Jump the Education Barrier, Settled: Justice for All, and Perspicacious Investing: High Risk Hedge Fund Methods Revealed.

She also created a program called JUMP that helps students complete college, as quickly as possible, so they can enter society and do the most good.

How in the world did she do all this at such a young age?

It’s simple! While most young girls were attending sleepovers and playing video games, Thessalonika was busy studying. She says her high IQ is only one part of her myriad of talents; She’s also very determined, ambitious and curious.

She says that at an early age, she was always interested in studying, and so her mom started giving her college textbooks. She also feels a sense of responsibility to use her intellect in a helpful way to the world’s progress. She comments, “I’ve been placed in a position to help society in deep ways and in as many ways as possible.”

Why she wants a doctorate degree

Thessalonika says that a doctorate degree in aviation psychology will give her the knowledge to work for aviation companiesm and reduce what she calls “human factor errors” – the types of problems that typically cause plane crashes. “Using psychology to recognize when a pilot is agitated, is dealing with stress or is having other issues that negatively affect job performance can help a company avoid potentially deadly mistakes in the air,” she says. “That’s really a blend of psychology and business.”

She is already a licensed pilot.

Source: theblackhomeschool.com

Does God Care About the Presidential Election? Billy Graham’s Answer.

Election season is in full swing, and the first presidential debate kicks off tonight. But, even this close to November—many are still unsure of who to vote for. Maybe that’s you, or maybe you don’t plan to vote at all. Let Billy Graham’s answer about voting and politics encourage you.

Q: I know the elections are still many months away, but I’m already tired of all the name-calling and the overblown rhetoric. I’ve decided just to shut my mind to it all. I don’t think God really cares about politics anyway, does He?


A: God cares about everything that affects our lives—including who our leaders will be and how our society will be governed. That’s one reason why He commanded us to pray for our government and its leaders. Would He have told us to do this if He didn’t care about good government? Of course not. The Bible says, “I urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made … for kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Many readers probably can sympathize with your attitude toward too much rhetoric or too many ads. But don’t let these blind you to the importance of our elections, or cause you to shut your mind to our nation’s need for honest and able leaders. Our system may not be perfect—but it’s far better than that in many other nations.

Pray for our nation, especially as we look forward to elections a year from now. Pray especially that God will raise up leaders who will stand for justice and morality, and will seek God’s will in all they do.

Pray too that our nation will turn to God, and that we may experience true spiritual revival. Increasingly we seem to be pushing God out of our lives as a nation—and this will have tragic consequences. Don’t let this happen to you, but make sure of your commitment to Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. The Bible’s standard is still true: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

It Might Be Hard to Succeed Without This +

An aging King realized that if he died he has no one to take over the throne. He decided to adopt a son.

He launched a competition and 10 boys made it to the top. The King said to them, "I have one last test and whoever comes top will become my adopted son and heir to my throne".

He gave each boy a seed of corn and told them to take the seed home, plant and nurture it for 3 weeks. The 10 boys took their seeds and ran home to plant their seeds.

In one home, the boy and his parents were sad when the seed failed to sprout. The boy had done everything but he failed.

His friends advised him to buy a seed and plant it but his God fearing parents who had always taught him honesty refused.

The day came and the 10 boys went to the palace. All the 9 boys were successful.

The King went to each boy asking – “Is that what came out of the seed I gave you?" And each boy said "Yes, your majesty". The King would nod and move down the line until the last boy in the line who was shaking with fear.

The King asked him - "What did you do with the seed I gave you?" The boy said "I planted it and cared for it your majesty but it failed to sprout." The King went to the throne with the boy and said, "I gave these boys boiled seeds and a boiled seed cannot sprout.

If a King must have one quality, it must be honesty and only this boy passed the test.” We live in a society where people will do anything for success.

God sometimes does not give us things because He wants to teach us a lesson.

How many people out there have achieved success the wrong way? How many people send their children to expensive schools and build houses, buy expensive cars with stolen money?

How many people are occupying top positions yet they stole the certificates? How many people are successful out there at all costs?

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE CROWNED AS KINGS IN HEAVEN FOR BEING FAITHFUL UNTIL THE END? I PRAY THAT I BE FAITHFUL TILL THE END!!!

Please be faithful to God no matter what life throws at you, even if life gives you boiled seed.

It pays to be Honest.

Trusting In God: Time to give up or don't give up

Our God is More Than Enough to Bragg With:

One day, a local evangelist bragged during a
crusade that his God was more able than all the
other gods in the town and the powers of the
universe that the villagers worshiped put
together.

Just then, rainstorm sounds started
sounding overhead, threatening the progress of
the crusade. The evangelist lifted up his voice
and declared with confidence that if the rains fell,
then he wasn't a man of God; he would stop
preaching!
Before he could finish his bluff, the rains began to
hit the crusade grounds so vehemently,
apparently in disregard to his declarations.

The
whole town left the crusade grounds to their
houses, shaking their heads in disappointment
and dismay.
The evangelist, so distraught and angry, packed
his belongings and left the town the next day. On
his way through the next town, he checked into a
local drinking spot and drank himself to stupor.

As he laid on the ground cursing God, an old
seedy looking man tapped him gently on the
shoulder.
"Man of God", the old man began. But the
evangelist quickly cut in, "don't mention the name
of God to me. He is fake. He is unreliable. I am
no longer a believer in this God.

"A God who chooses to disgrace his servants. Leave me alone!"
But the old man would not let him be. He
continued,"I am the fetish priest in the village you just preached at. During your one week stay in that village, you destroyed all the charms i had made on the people for 45 years. Your prayers
and your words always came with some fearful
fire and power. I tried so many times to eliminate
you but i couldn't.

My last chance came
yesterday. I had loaded my gun with gun powder
lying wait on the mountaintop where i had a very
clear view of you. My plan was to shoot you from
a distance since i couldn't get close enough to
you due to the fire around you. But just when i
lifted the gun, the rains came from nowhere,
wetting my gunpowder and covering you in a
cloud so that i couldn't even see you. All i saw
was a bright man holding a sword in front of you.
I was so terrified.

I concluded that your God was
indeed all powerful and Almighty. That is why i've
been looking for you since then. I want to follow
this your God!"
The ex-evangelist bowed his head in shame!

Dear friends, sometimes, it is just wise for us to
believe that our Father knows the way He is
taking us. We should just trust His leading.

Let
our boast be in the Lord, not in ourselves. If we
decree a thing and it doesn't happen, let us not
see it as disappointment or dishonor from the
Father. Let us just believe that the Father wants
his perfect will to be done in all things.

Share if you think it worth sharing. I was so motivated.

Nigerian Anglican Church Refuses To Join The Rest To Approve Gay Marriage and Consecration of Gay Bishops

The Anglican Church of Nigeria has pleaded for “special status” in the worldwide church to allow it to maintain its stance on homosexuality.

Nigeria has also announced it is to boycott the next meeting of Anglican Church leaders, further deepening the split over homosexuality.



The Nigerian primate, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, said the province, the largest in the worldwide Anglican Communion, will boycott next month’s Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Lusaka, Zambia.


The Nigerians are angry that delegates from The Episcopal Church plan to attend the meeting and vote, in spite of having “consequences” imposed by the recent Primates Meeting over their approval of gay marriage and consecration of gay bishops.

In his strongly-worded statement, Archbishop Okoh pleads for a “special status” within the Anglican Communion for provinces that continue to uphold the traditional biblical standard on marriage and homosexuality.

He compares it to Prime Minister David Cameron’s request for “special status” in the European Union for the United Kingdom.

And he accuses liberal provinces of using “subtle blackmail” to “coerce” conservative provinces such as his into joining the “straitjacket of the revisionists”. He says: “Somehow, they are succeeding!”



Nigeria was one of the provinces that protested against the consecration of the gay American bishop Gene Robinson, that boycotted the 2008 Lambeth Conference and helped set up the Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem that same year.

Nigeria has also broken communion with Canada and the United States over the issue, but attended the January Primates meeting in Canterbury in the hope of seeing discipline imposed on liberal provinces.

However, although some voting rights were withdrawn from the US church, Archbishop Okoh says the restrictions had turned out to be “hollow”.

He says in the statement: “During the Canterbury meeting itself, the way and manner in which those who hold the orthodox view of human sexuality and marriage were spoken of by the authorities, and denounced as ‘homophobic’, left none in doubt that we were in the wrong place. In fact, the authorities believe that patience was being exercised to enable the communion to bring up the scripture-believers gradually to embrace the homosexual doctrine.”

He said the future for the orthodox was as a result uncertain.

“In summary, as long as we are now candidates for whom every opportunity in the Anglican Communion should be explored to gradually teach us to embrace the new sex culture, it will be unwise to deliberately walk into a well-prepared camp of recruitment, blackmail, indoctrination and toxic relationship.”




EX: Christianpost

King Solomon’s Palace Discovered In Israel Proving yet Again That Bible Events Are True.

Solid evidence has once again been unearthed proving that passages from the Bible were based on actual historical events.

A team of archaeologists has discovered a palatial building in Gezer, Israel, which the discoverers named “Solomon’s Palace,” according to New Historian.

The spectacular building was constructed over 3,000 years ago, in the tenth century BCE, according to the archaeologists. Although they could not tell yet which king, if any, lived in the palace, they believe it was likely built during the reign of King Solomon.


Their conjecture was based on Philistine pottery discovered at the site. According to the Bible, Philistines lived in Gezer until the city was vanquished by Solomon’s father, King David.

According to the Bible, King Solomon was the driving force behind the creation of Israel.
Excavation co-director Professor Steve Ortiz, from the Tandy Museum of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Fort Worth, Texas, told Haaretz that the structure was significantly larger than the size of normal houses of the time, which suggests that it was home to someone of great importance.

The Old Testament states that the city of Gezer, which is situated on a crossroads in a pass leading from the coast to Jerusalem, was given by the Pharaoh of Egypt as a dowry to Solomon’s wife. Solomon then rebuilt the city during the late tenth century BCE.

The archaeologists said the palace complex they’ve unearthed could only have been built by a king with substantial resources, one like Solomon.

The archaeologists also found evidence of destruction within the rooms in the complex, which they said could be associated with the Shishak invasion in 925 BCE, when the Pharaoh launched an invasion of Israel and Judah—another event described in the Old Testament.

This was not the first high-profile archaeological discovery in Israel this year that showed evidence of the events written in the Bible, according to the Christian Post.

Last month, a team uncovered a first century AD era synagogue at a site called Tel Rechesh, which is located near Mount Tabor.

The find confirmed the Bible’s New Testament narrative about the preaching Jesus Christ did in synagogues, a leading archaeologist said.

“This is the first synagogue discovered in the rural part of the Galilee and it confirms historical information we have about the New Testament, which says that Jesus preached at synagogues in Galilean villages,” said Dr. Motti Aviam, a senior researcher at the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archeology, as quoted by CBN News.

Matthew chapter four records how Jesus went throughout the Galilee teaching and preaching. A similar account is found in Matthew chapter nine verse 35 which says, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”

According to experts, the walls of the synagogue room are “lined with benches constructed from skillfully hewn limestone.”

Israeli news site Ynet reports that the synagogue was discovered just four inches underground and reportedly measures 29 feet long and 26 feet wide.

Source: Christiantoday

If You Want A Rich Husband, Be A Rich Wife.

Have you ever had that saying, likes attracts likes? Well I believe we should all be very conversant with this saying. But very few people pay attention to the depth of it. In other words, be everything you will want in your spouse.

I am tired of seeing, hearing and reading about women suffering in all kinds of unhealthy relationships. I am sick of young women reducing themselves to a piece of cake just because they want to get married. I am offended at the rate of pressure the society, especially the African society puts on young women concerning marriage. As if marriage was a license for success, highest achievement or ticket to heaven. My heart bleeds when I see young women running after men and taking all sorts of maltreatment from “these so called men” just because they want to be married.

It borders me to see so many potentials wasting, young women not developing themselves, building their carrier or adding value to themselves but rather jumping from one unhealthy relationship to the other, “husband hurting” with no sense of direction or purpose.


It is even more alarming, how young women are brain washed to believe that the way to riches, is to find a rich man to marry. No wonder these sets of women are no longer interested in working hard, adding value to their lives, pursuing purpose and living their dreams. The only area they are concerned about is on their looks. The physical appearance is their only area of investment. They can go to any length just to wear the latest cloths, bags, shoes and carry the latest gadgets.

This is how the society has succeeded in reducing people into mere existing and not living. Pursuing frivolities without goals or having a purpose for their lives. What happens to you making your own money, what happens to you creating your own wealth, what happens to you living in financial freedom as a woman? Wake up to the hard reality starring at you my dear ladies, nobody wants a liability for a wife.

For you to be anything significant in life, you have to learn to say no to the pressure from the society. You have to be able to know what you want and pursue it without allowing yourself to be affected by the naysayers. You are the one accountable for your life, so you have to stay in charge of it. Don’t let anyone dictate what you should make out of your life. Life is in phases and stages. Do not allow anyone to push you into jumping any phase of life just because you have to be accepted by the society. The society should not be the one to decide when you get married, who you get married to, when you have kids, the carrier you pursue, how you live your life etc.

You have to plan your life yourself and follow through your life plan. Develop yourself, add value to your life and fulfill purpose. If you want a rich man for a husband be a rich woman. Being rich does not necessary have to do with money, physical cash, even though that is of essence. When I am talking about being rich, is far more than money and what money can buy. You have to be rich in values, love, purpose, visions, dreams, hard-work, disciple character, dignity etc.

Be the best you can be, make the most of your life. Invest in self-development and invest in others. You have so much potential untapped. Harness your potentials, put your talents to work and let’s make our world a better place. YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE!!!

By Dr. Bien Sufficient
Dr. Bien Sufficient is a Medical Doctor, Pastor, Writer and a Public Speaker.President @Kingdom Lifestyle Movement.

Queen Elizabeth Says She Won’t Support Gay Marriage Because It Is Against Her Christian Faith

Queen Elizabeth II opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage in England because of her deeply held Christian values, a close friend has reportedly told a London-based newspaper.


The UK Daily Mail published a story Sunday which claimed that the queen, who is also head of the Church of England, secretly opposed gay marriage but was in favor of civil partnerships. The unnamed “friend” said the monarch was frustrated by the fact that she could only “advise and warn” on the issue



“It was the ‘marriage’ thing that she thought was wrong, because marriage ought to be sacrosanct between a man and a woman,” said the friend, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail also stated that the reported revelation of her views on the definition of marriage was part of an overall series of stories about the queen as she nears her 90th birthday.

“Following extensive interviews with courtiers past and present, friends of the queen and family members, we can also reveal one of her most senior former aides believes it was a mistake not to lower the Buckingham Palace flag after Princess Diana’s death — and that he is convinced the queen now shares this view,”

In March of 2014, England and Wales legalized gay marriage, one month after Scotland did the same. Northern Ireland is the only member nation of the U.K. that has not done likewise.


“Those in civil partnerships can choose to convert their relationships to marriage, via a procedure expected to be in place by the end of the year, but are under no obligation to do so,” reported the BBC.

“The law prohibits the Church of England from performing same-sex weddings, and allows other religious organisations to refuse to perform them.”

The Daily Mail’s story about the queen opposing the legalization of gay marriage has not gone unchallenged, as The Daily Beast published an article Monday rejecting the U.K. publication’s claim.
Authored by Tom Sykes, the rebuttal piece quotes and cites unnamed senior personnel from Buckingham Palace, with one staffer as saying, “It seems unlikely that one of her friends would pass on her thoughts to The Mail,” and another calling the piece “spurious and unsubstantiated.”

“Palace staff — many of whom are gay — are hamstrung by the fact that the queen maintains strict political neutrality and would never publicly comment either way about issues such as same-sex marriage,” The Daily Best reported"

Source: Christian Post

15 Ways To Defeat Lust

It is almost impossible in the Western world to escape sensuality. Sex is on the television, in the movies and in our music, on the side of buses, during halftime shows, in our books and in glossy close-ups at supermarket check-out. Sex is all around us in the mall, dripping off every beer commercial, and two stories high on our billboards. Sexual sin is walking around our high schools, flaunted across our universities, and hiding in our churches.

And of course, sex is on the Internet. Pornography and sex-related sites make up 60 percent of daily web traffic. Of Internet users in the U.S., 40 percent visit porn sites at least once a month, and that number increases to 70 percent when the audience is 18- to 34-year-old males. Half of hotel room patrons purchase pornography from their rooms. Ninety percent of 8- to 16-year-olds with Internet access have viewed pornography online, and the average age of exposure is 11.

The seventh commandment is not just broken in this country; it’s being smashed to pieces.




And sexual sin is not just an “out there” problem. Any pastor will tell you stories about how sexual sin has destroyed people in his congregation. None of us are immune from the dangers of sexual immorality. In a Christianity Today study from several years ago, 40 percent of clergy acknowledged visiting pornographic websites. Another survey found that 21 percent visit regularly. Yet another survey at Pastors.com found that 50 percent of pastors reported to viewing pornography in the previous year. And then there’s the underlying issue of the heart. The seventh commandment doesn’t just forbid adultery and pornography. It forbids every action, look, conversation, thought or desire that incites lust and uncleanness.

So how in the world, in this world we live in, and with our sex-saturated hearts, can we obey the seventh commandment?

Let me suggest 15 passages of Scripture that can help us fight lust and the temptation to sexual immorality.

1) Proverbs 5:18-19 “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.” This may seem a strange text for fighting sexual temptation, but married couples need to know they have delight at their lawful disposal. We need to know that sex is good, intimacy is good, bodies together in marriage are good. Good, glorious sex is spiritual warfare for the married couple.

2) Lamentations 3:25-27 “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” This a verse is for singles. Granted, this passage isn’t talking about waiting for a spouse. It’s about waiting on the Lord. But that’s the point: The Lord is good to those who wait for him. He knows what you need. The preceding verses tell us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.” Don’t think, “How can I live without sex for another year or decade or two decades.” Think about today. The Lord has given you grace for this day and he will give you grace for every subsequent day in which you follow God in the midst of unmet desires.

3) 1 Peter 3:15 “In your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” Before you take a second look or dress yourself so that others will, think: “Will this make me more ready to talk to someone about Jesus?” Sensuality deadens the spiritual senses and makes us less courageous and effective witnesses for Christ.

4) 2 Peter 3:10-14“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief … Therefore … be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” Do you want to be cheating on your husband, masturbating or watching Game of Thrones when Christ returns?

5)James 1:14-15“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This passage helps us understand how temptation works and reminds us that feeling tempted is not necessarily the same as sinning. Temptation beckons us to do what we should not do. That’s not sin. When the desire is nurtured it conceives and gives birth to sin (sin in the flesh or sin in the mind). Sin then grows and matures and leads to death. It is not lust to be attracted to someone or notice he or she is good looking. It is not lust to have a strong desire for sex. It is not lust to be excited about sex in marriage. It is not lust to inadvertently notice a woman bathing on the roof. It is sin to keep noticing and start scheming. Stoke the fires of this lustful passion and it will bring forth death. Just ask King David.

6)Hebrews 2:17-18“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Jesus was tempted, not as we are from a sinful nature. But there were external voices calling him to sin. Let us not underestimate the real nature of his temptations and undercut his sympathy and his ability to help. Jesus was hungry in the wilderness. He had a desire, a want. He was enticed to make the stones bread so he could enjoy the pleasure of food. But he told the devil, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Matt. 4:1-3). In our moments of sexual temptation, we need to think, “Flesh does not sustain me. Jesus does.”




7) Romans 14:21 “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.” As Christians, we want to help each other avoid sin, not lead one another into it with flirting, coarse joking and immodest dress.

8)Matthew 5:27-30“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” We are not good fighters. We make excuses. We don’t get radical. We pray a few prayers, feel bad all the time, tell a friend to ask how we’re doing once in awhile and that’s it. We need more decisive action than that. Avoid the movies, get rid of your Internet connection, don’t kiss before marriage, throw out your t.v., tear out your eye—whatever it takes to battle lust. There are too many whole-bodied people going to hell and not enough spiritual amputees going to heaven.

9)Galatians 6:7“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” There are often temporal consequences for disobedience. It could be STDs, baggage in marriage, a guilty conscience, getting mired in a deeper addiction, distraction at work, a pornography fetish you pass on to your children, destroying your family, your marriage or your ministry. There are also eternal consequences if you give yourself over to this sin. Galatians 6:8 “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

10)1 Cor 6:15-20“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! … Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” We need a theology of the body: The body is good, but it’s not yours. Jesus didn’t just die to ransom our souls. He also died for your body. It belongs to God. It is a member of Christ’s body now. Surely, we don’t want to employ Christ’s body in some sexual escapade or his eyes in viewing pornography or his mind in sensual fantasy.

11)2 Corinthians 5:17“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Cultural liberalism says, “Just be yourself.” Self-help doctrine says, “You can find a better you if you just dig deep enough.” Moralism says, “Be a better person.” The Bible says, “You are a new person by God’s grace, now live like it.” “Be who you are” is the gospel motivation for holiness.

12)Hebrews 10:24-25“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” No one fights a war by himself, and no one will have victory over sexual sin on his own. You need to talk to others about your struggles and listen just as well. Be honest. Ask good questions. Don’t just confess and feel better. Repent and change. Don’t just sympathize; admonish. Follow up with your brothers and sisters. Pray and remind each other of the gospel.

13) James 4:6“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” God always gives more grace. So keep coming to him with your sin and all your commandment violations. Confess like David in Psalm 51 that you have sinned against God. Confess that God is the most offended party as a result of your sin. And then believe like David in Psalm 32: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity.” We will never experience growing victory over sin unless we are quick to turn to Christ all the times we fail.

14) Matthew 5:8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This has been the most helpful verse for me in fighting lust and the temptation to sexual immorality. We need to fight desire with desire. Satan tempts us by holding out something that will be pleasurable to us. We aren’t tempted to gorge ourselves on liverwurst, because for most of us, it doesn’t hold out the promise of great pleasure. But sex does. Pornography does. A second look does. The Bible gives us many weapons to fight temptation. We can tell ourselves it is wrong, it is sinful, it will lead to bad things, it isn’t what I should do as a Christian. All of those are helpful. But the one weapon we rarely use is more pleasure. We need to fight the fleeting pleasure of sexual sin with the far greater, more abiding pleasure of knowing God. The fight for sexual purity is the fight of faith. It may sound like nothing but hard work and gritting your teeth—the very opposite of faith. But faith is at the heart of this struggle. Do we believe that a glimpse of God is better than a glimpse of skin? Do we believe that God’s steadfast love is better than life (Psalm 63:3)? We’d probably sin less if we spent less time thinking about our sins, sexual or otherwise, and more time meditating on the love and holiness of God.

15) Ephesians 1:19-21 “… and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” The great power that created the world, and saved us, and raised Jesus from the dead—that same power is now at work in you. We must believe that God is stronger than sexual temptation, sin and addiction. If you believe that God brought a dead man back to life, you should believe that you can change. Not overnight usually, but from one degree of glory to the next. Work out your salvation from sexual sin with fear and trembling, for God’s power is already at work within you.




By Kevin DeYoung

5 Scriptures to Stand On for Your Dreams to Come to Pass

Are you ready to walk in your dreams? Are you ready to see the deep desires of your heart come to pass—financial blessings, a godly spouse, a healthy family, career success, fulfilled ministry calling? If so, here are five scriptures and confessions to get you started as you begin standing on God’s Word for your dreams.




1. “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” –Ephesians 4:1
Confession:I am a servant of God, and I have been called by God to [insert dream]. I lead a life worthy of that calling!

2. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  –Romans 10:17 (KJV)
Confession: I have faith to live out my dreams because I continually hear the Word of God and what it says is possible for my life. I do not believe anything else!

3. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” –Jeremiah 29:11
Confession: The Lord has good plans for my life! They are not plans for disaster, but they give me a future and a hope!

4. “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.” –Romans 11:29
Confession: Thank You, God, that You have gifted me and called me to [insert purpose/dreams]. I already have everything I need to accomplish it. I praise You because You never take away the purpose of my life nor the gifts to fulfill it.

5. “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.” –1 Corinthians 1:26-28
Confession: Thank You, God, that You have chosen me, and You can use me in this world to do good and fulfill Your purposes. I will show the world Your glory and how good You are to Your children as I live out my dreams and fulfill my purpose.

By: Kenneth Copland.

Marriage Is Like Climbing Mountains, You Must Surrender to God

For a climber, being "snow blind" on a mountain top is never a good thing, and being snow blind atop Mt. Everest, the tallest peak in the world, is as bad as it gets. But that's exactly what happened to Christian mountain climber Brian Dickinson who survived what is considered "the death zone" against all odds.

"[In] My struggle on Everest where I was blind and alone, I could have given up and became a permanent fixture on the mountain," Dickinson said in an interview with The Christian Post.

Snow blindness is a condition in which the surface of the eye, or cornea, is burned, which usually happens at high altitudes on highly reflective snow fields. After Dickinson's snow goggles cracked during a fall, his eyes were exposed, ultimately leading to his snow blindness.

In dire weather conditions at the death zone, Dickinson attempted to descend Mt. Everest, his every step was truly one of blind faith. But giving up would mean freezing to death.

Hand over hand, relying on senses other than sight, Dickinson's descent to reach high camp took more than double the time it should have, and some in the camp feared the worst.

"On my way down I never once felt alone," said Dickinson to CP. "I felt a calming presence around me. I now know it was the Holy Spirit. I eventually ran out of oxygen, and after 33 hours of climbing — from the day prior to that point — I dropped to my knees and surrendered to God. It was then that I witnessed a miracle, which got me down the mountain to safety."

Dickinson's frightening experience is "an extraordinary story of faith," said Jeremy Wiles, CEO of KingdomWorks Studios, which is producing an 11-minute documentary feature on the climber who's also a former six-year Navy rescue swimmer.

The documentary short was recently filmed using a crew embedded with Dickinson along a 40-mile trek into remote British Columbia to Mount Waddington supplied with equipment and survival gear.

Wiles told CP that Dickinson's story is about "Getting up and trusting God with your next step without knowing what lies ahead. God can move mountains, but many times He gives us the strength to climb."

Dickinson said his struggles on Everest can be likened to the challenges many couples face in their marriages.



"In marriage, most people tend to take a self-centered approach. On Everest I tried so hard to do it myself. It took me reaching my breaking point to finally surrender and give it to God," He told CP.

"It's the same in marriage. Rather than focusing on our needs, we need to take a Christ-centered approach. When a man and woman put their selfish needs aside and align on a common goal of Christ, they begin to gel and walk out the life God created them to live," Dickinson continued.

"Through my moment of survival, crawling down from the highest point on Earth with no vision, it was the Holy Spirit leading me down. I overcame obstacles, which should have easily killed me, but I was being led to safety."

"In marriage we are faced with obstacles every day and so many human behaviors get in the way of our progress," he said. "God equips us with the necessary tools to overcome any earthly obstacle, but we have to be willing to listen and follow the will of the Lord. Even if it's not our desire, it's His will and it will lead to a stable and satisfying marriage.

The mountain climber is happily married to his wife, JoAnna. The couple has two children, Jordan and Emily. The family lives in Snoqualmie, Washington.

KingdomWorks told CP that "Dickinson's story of making it down from Everest reminds us that we have a God who is bigger than any mountain that we might face, whether it is physically being stuck on the top of the highest mountain in the world, or feeling stuck in our marriage and unsure of how we will ever make it through.

"Even if we can't see the path ahead, we can trust that God will guide us every step of the way. Such a powerful reminder of Jesus' Words in Matthew 19:26: 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"

Dickinson concurred, adding, "Many marriages struggle because of all the [challenges] that are presented, and too many people give up. Many hope that God will move the mountain for them, but God actually gives them the strength to get over the mountain. We just have to trust in Him."

Anne Graham Lotz: How I Saved My Marriage After 'Love Ran Out'

Evangelist Anne Graham Lotz, Billy Graham's daughter, shares what she did when love between her and her late husband, Danny Lotz, ran out and she felt "trapped" in the marriage, and how other Christians can also save their marriage just as she did.

Lotz married Danny, son of a pastor of a New York City church and who practiced dentistry full time, when she was 18, and they had three children within 10 years of their marriage, she recalls in an article published in Charisma News.

"Without my noticing it, the busyness had overtaken me, and I awoke one morning to the realization that I was in a marriage in which the love had run out!" she writes. "I will never forget the panicked, trapped feeling I had as I knelt in prayer, desperately pleading with the Lord for help."

However, she adds, "If you feel trapped in a marriage where the love has run out, praise God! There is hope for you just as there was hope for me."

The healing process begins with inviting Jesus into your marriage, she recommends.

Referring to John chapter 2, about Jesus attending a wedding in Cana of Galilee, Lotz points out, "What a simple yet profound blessing it is to know that the first time the 'curtains' parted and Jesus' glory was revealed was in a home as He celebrated a wedding!"

A Christian couple can witness a miracle amid a crisis in their marriage by inviting Jesus into their relationship, she writes, referring to the crisis that occurred at the wedding ceremony Jesus attended — the wine ran out.

"In that culture and time, running out of wine would cause the newlyweds such humiliation that they would never be able to lift their heads in public again," she explains. "This was a marriage in trouble almost from the moment it began… The loss of love can occur gradually, similar to the way I expect that the wine ran out at the wedding in Cana – one glass at a time until it was gone."

Lotz points out that Jesus' mother, Mary, placed total control of the situation at the wedding in His hands, knowing that He cares.

"Have you placed your marriage and your situation under His authority?" she asks. "Maybe one reason He has allowed you to be in your present crisis is to bring you to the point of complete submission to His will."


That's what happened in her life, she recalls. "I remember getting up early one morning, slipping down on my knees and tearfully asking God once more how I could fix my relationship with Danny."

Referring to 1 John 4, which she read at the time, Lotz says God laid out three very basic principles about her love for Danny. "Love comes from God. Those who are able to love others, including their spouses, are those who have been born of God. Those who are able to love others, even when the love runs out, are those who not only are born of God but also know God."

In that passage, she knew she had been given "the key for changing my marriage – for turning water into wine."

"The key was not to focus on my relationship with Danny but to focus on my relationship with God!" she stresses.

She concludes, "Jesus makes change possible even when the love has run out. He invites you to taste and enjoy the 'new wine' as you thank God from your heart for giving you Jesus!"

Danny, a former basketball player, died last August, after 49 years of marriage. He was found unconscious in the swimming pool of the family's Raleigh home in North Carolina, and after two days of intensive care in the hospital, passed away.

He was remembered as "God's gladiator" for his strong faith.

In July, Lotz recalled the horrible shock she suffered with the death of her husband. "The shock was horrific. But even during the days that followed, I knew that God had not been caught by surprise," she wrote in a blog post.

"Danny's move was not an accident — at least from Heaven's perspective. So I began to look for God's blessings. They were easy to find because He showered them down in abundance, and is still doing so today. But I have had to choose to open my eyes and focus on the blessings instead of on the pain and grief."

10 Keys To A Strong Family

There are many family counselors and books on relationships, but do those resources offer the best advice for building and maintaining a strong family? Many people do not realize that the Bible is God’s resource to us and has much to say about relationships.

According to the most authoritative word on the matter, the Bible, the keys to a prosperous family are:

1. Fear (holy reverence) of the Lord.
Providing for your family by working.
Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

Psalm 128:1-4, NKJV

2. A prudent wife—one who is cautious and careful, wise, and gives attention to her family.
Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Proverbs 19:14, NKJV

3. A virtuous wife—one who has strength (in character, emotions, and mental) and who works with efficiency in all things, so as not to waste resources, like time and money. She is also kind, speaks only words of wisdom (not complaints), and is good (pleasant and agreeable).
Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil … And willingly works with her hands. She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household … She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

Proverbs 31:10-13, 15, 26–28, NKJV

4. Husband and wife who are affectionate to one another.
Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

I Corinthians 7:3, NKJV

5. Wives who submit to their husbands—allowing the husband to lead the family by setting a godly example through his demeanor, words, and actions.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Ephesians 5:22-24, NKJV

6. Husbands who love their wives as themselves, and wives who respect their husbands.
So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself . . . and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:28, 33

7. Husbands who honor their wives by reacting to their needs with understanding and gentleness.
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

I Peter 3:7

8. Children who obey their parents, and parents who teach them according to the Word of God.
9. 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. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-4

10. Fathers who console, comfort, encourage, and strengthen their children.
As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charge every one of you, as a father does his own children,

I Thessalonians 2:11

Say this faith declaration out loud: Father, just as my family is important to me, I know that they are important to You. Please bless and strengthen my family, that we may be a strong, cohesive unit—one that follows Your ways, and prospers in everything we do.

By Pastor Morris Cerullo