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Future Family Week 7: The Echo; Father's Day Message

Message by:
Pastor Terry Carwford
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV

Your decisions will shape others and your life will be a snapshot to your future family generations.

Genesis 37
Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.” “Very well,” he replied. So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. When Joseph arrived at Shechem, a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?” He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?” “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’ ”So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it. As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?” Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.” He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.” Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him. Meanwhile, the Midianitesc sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.

Genesis 41:16
"I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

Genesis 42:5-6
So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also. Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.

Our clearest messages are sent in times of crisis.

Genesis 33:1-3
Then Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. He put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Genesis 45:3-7
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. “Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. “For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

What can I do with today’s message?

Keep Micah 6:8 close to you this week and let it be a reminder to you?

Pray for your family and people you influence, that they will be able to do Micah 6:8 now and in future generations?

If you are not walking with God, if you have never given your mind and heart to Christ, would you do that today?

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Professional Ballplayer Explains Why Skipping Games to Attend Son’s Birth Was a No-Brainer

This article is from the The Daily Signal

@DailySignal

I wanted to post this with Father's Day coming up. It is good to know that there are men out there even in sports who care more about their family than their careers.

Professional Ballplayer Explains Why Skipping Games to Attend Son’s Birth Was a No-Brainer

Second baseman for the New York Mets, Daniel Murphy. (Photo: Keith Allison)

Daniel Murphy, second basemen for the New York Mets, decided that skipping the first two games of the regular season to witness the birth of his son was more important than being on the field. He defended that decision yesterday when he spoke at the White House Working Families Summit:

When Noah asks me one day, ‘What happened? What was it like when I was born?’ I could have answered ‘Well, Stephen Strasburg hung me a breaking ball that day, son, and I slammed it into the right-field corner.’ But I think it’s going to go so much further in that I’m the one who cut his umbilical cord. And long after they tell me that I’m not good enough to play professional baseball anymore, I’ll be a father. And I’ll be a husband. So that was a reason on the front end that I wanted to be there for my wife and for my son.

Some in the the New York media criticized Murphy for missing the games. Sports radio host Mike Francesa griped, “You’re a Major League Baseball player. You can hire a nurse to take care of the baby if your wife needs help.”

But Murphy said his teammates and manager were all supportive of his decision to take advantage of a relatively new baseball rule that allows players to go on paternity leave for three days.

“We try to take Jesus Christ and we try to put him in the center of everything,” Murphy said. “So instead of OK, I’m a father; I’m a husband; I’m a baseball player, I just try to take Jesus, put him right in the middle.”

Murphy is not the first player to miss games for family reasons. In 1987, Mark McGwire set the rookie record for home runs with 49. But he missed the last two games of the season—and chance for an even 50 home runs—to witness the birth of his first child. In 1965, Dodgers ace Sandy Koufax opted not to pitch the first game of the 1965 World Series to observe the Jewish high holiday of Yom Kippur.

The Dodgers won the 1965 World Series against the Twins, Mark McGwire had a long, celebrated career that has since been mired in controversy, and based on his performance, Daniel Murphy is on pace to have a standout year.

@ToddThurman

Todd Thurman

Todd Thurman is a senior digital media associate for The Heritage Foundation.

Future Family Week 6: 9 Strategies For Effective Parenting

Message by:
Rev. Bob Gerstmyer
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV

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

1. Be the kind of person you want your child to be.

Proverbs 20:7
The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.

2. Keep your child safe.

Proverbs 4: 10-17
Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

3. Create a warm, caring, supportive family

Proverbs 24:3-4
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

4. Set boundaries and high expectations.

Proverbs 29:17

Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.

Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Proverbs 19:18
Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Proverbs 22:15
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Proverbs23:13-14
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.

5. Maintain open, honest communication.

Proverbs 25:11-12
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

6. Empower your kids to contribute.

Proverbs 14:31
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

7. Connect your kids to other caring, responsible adults.

Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

8. Get involved in your kid’s education.

Proverbs 1:8-9
Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

 

9. Get to know your kid’s friends.

Proverbs 23:19-21
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags

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Bergdahl Released, What about U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi?

“In this case when you’re the commander in chief and you’re sitting at your desk and you are dealing with the question of the life and safety of an individual who has served our country in the military, you make choices,” State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

What about U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi?

A Marine who made a simple mistake and turned the wrong way and end up in a no-way out situation, crossing the U.S. / Mexico border. His is a story of life and death. His first night in prison his life was threatened. Then he was shackled at a four points for 30 days. This is a Marine that does not have a questionable back ground. He was promoted in the field, which is an honor.


Our so called Commander in Chief needs to stand up and get our Marine back. Obama is not afraid to spew out “I have a pen and a phone.” Let him put that phone to good use and call Mexico and demand the release of U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi.

Future Family Week 5: How to Make Your Marriage Last

How to Make Your Marriage Last

Message by:
Rev. Bob Gerstmyer
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV

Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Proverbs 21:21
He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

What is love?

1. Love is Action. - How do I show it?

a. Spend time together each day.

Proverbs 12:14
From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things, as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.

b. Affirm something your spouse said or did.

Proverbs 15:30
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones.

c. Be kind to one another.

Proverbs 11: 16-17
A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. 17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

2. Love is Affection.

a. Kiss your spouse often.

Proverbs 24:26
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

b. Say I Love You.

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

c. Do something caring and romantic for your spouse.

Proverbs 18:16
A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.

d. Laugh together.

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

3. Love is unconditional acceptance.

a. Don’t try to change your spouse.

Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.

b. Fight Fair.

Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15:1, 18, 23; 19:13
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (15:1), A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. (15:18), A person finds joy in giving an apt reply-- and how good is a timely word! (15:23), A foolish child is a father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof. (19:13)

c. Be willing to forgive.

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

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