What would you call the most important teaching or learning center in Pickens County?
In Pickens County, the most important teaching center, or you may refer to it as a learning center.
I'm going to guess that a lot of people think about public schools in general, maybe a particular school,
maybe a particular level of school like elementary school.
Some people, what came to your mind was the church.
Hopefully this church, if that's what you're thinking.
Well, both certainly are true.
Schools are teaching centers.
Our church is a teaching center.
But I want you to think of this.
Before anyone ever sets foot in any church or school building,
they have spent their earliest and most life-shaping years in a home.
For good or bad,
we,
we all begin,
we all start out in life
in a home
that really is the most
crucial,
most important teaching and learning center
in our lives.
Chuck Swindoll agrees.
He wrote a book on the home called Home,
where life makes up its mind.
Here's how he describes the influence of the home.
Home,
your home,
that unique place where character is developed
and patterns for life are determined.
It is the first and most influential
teaching center
for every child.
And I want to
emphasize,
because a lot of
teachers here
know this better than anyone,
both good and bad.
Today,
I want us to look at the second most important
relationship in the home.
Described in Ephesians chapter 6,
verses 1 through 4,
we're talking about the parent-child relationship.
This is the third and final
in our series on
building a healthy home.
The first two studies
focused on the most important
relationship in the home,
the husband-wife relationship.
The husband-wife relationship
sets the foundation,
sets the tone
for everything that goes on
in a home.
We looked at the husband-wife relationship
as found in Genesis 2, 24
and in Ephesians chapter 5,
verses 21 through 33.
Today,
we're going to look at chapter 6,
verses 1 through 4
at the parent-child relationship.
The second part of the structure
of a healthy home.
Let's read together.
6-1 of Ephesians.
Children,
obey your parents and the Lord,
for this is right.
Honor your father and mother.
This is the first commandment
with a promise,
that it may go well with you
and that you may live long
in the land.
That's recalling the fifth
of the tenth,
of the ten commandments.
Verse 4.
Fathers,
do not provoke your children
to anger,
but bring them up
in the discipline
and instruction
of the Lord.
We're going to begin
the way the passage does.
Verses 1 through 3,
instructions to children.
Now,
I realized
today is children's church.
So,
our little ones,
children,
elementary age and under,
are over there.
I thought about it
toward the end of the week
about maybe
going over there
at the first part of the service
and talking about this
a little bit over there,
but they'd already had
everything planned.
I didn't even bring it up.
And so,
here's what we're going to do.
you,
as parents,
you teach
what they need to hear
from this message.
As part of what we're
going to look at this morning,
that is your responsibility
to teach your children.
So,
I want to encourage you
to listen carefully
and don't just
tell them the parts
that you want them to hear.
Tell them the whole thing
in its context.
Let's look at it.
God's instructions
to children
can be summarized
very simply,
obey and honor your parents.
Obey and honor.
Look at verse one.
God intends for children
to obey their parents.
It's real simple,
isn't it?
Children,
obey your parents
and the Lord
for this is right.
This is a command
that's directed
to children
who live at home.
If you look in verse four,
there are instructions
there about
teaching,
training,
instructing,
disciplining children
in the home.
Children are under
their parents' authority
as long as they live
in their parents' home
and depend on their parents
to provide
for their basic needs.
I want you to understand that.
You older kids here,
teenagers,
there's different ways
that parents
should relate
to their older children
for sure.
But bottom line,
children living
in their parents' home,
children dependent
upon them,
and you are dependent
upon them
by virtue of you
living in their home,
you're under
their authority.
Now,
if you're over 18
and you think
to yourself,
I don't agree
with that.
I don't think
somebody 18 years old
or 20 years old
should have to submit
to their parents'
authority.
We're young adults,
that's true.
But,
if you don't really
want to live
under your parents'
authority
in their home,
there is a good way
for you to become
independent.
move out,
get a job,
take care of
all of your bills.
I'm not joking
here now,
that's what it means
to be on your own.
And if you're not
moved out,
working,
making everything
yourself,
you're not
on your own.
You may not like
the way that sounds,
but that's the reality
that you are living
in right now.
And I don't think
your parents by any
means should make it
a burden,
just hell on earth
to live there.
But don't
misunderstand.
If you're living
under their roof,
you're under
their authority.
Children are
commanded by God
to obey their parents,
but parents
need to teach them
how to do it.
And it needs to start
when they're very young.
You know that.
Children are always
learning
about obedience,
but it may not be
what their parents
want them to learn,
and it may not be
what their parents
are intending to teach.
Some children learn
that they really
don't have to obey
their parents,
because when they
disobey,
there's no consequences.
Some children know,
I'm in charge.
I don't have to do
anything they tell me,
because if I disobey,
they're not going to
do anything about it.
I'm going to get by
with it.
Some children learn
they don't have to
obey their parents
until their parents
just lose control,
yell, get angry.
For an example,
I hope you haven't
been there and done this.
Supper's ready.
Mom or dad?
Johnny,
come to the table.
Supper's ready.
No movement.
No sounds.
Johnny,
did you hear me?
It's time to eat.
This is awful.
Johnny,
I'm going to count
to three.
And then finally,
a lot of us
have been here
and we don't want
to admit this.
If you don't get
your rear end
in that chair
right now,
I'm going to
wear you out.
And then they come.
And what they have
learned is,
I don't have to do
anything until they
are mad, angry,
yelling, and
threatening to hurt me.
And we know as parents,
that's true.
Not a lesson we intend,
but one that they learn.
When it comes to
teaching children to obey,
it is very important
for parents to take
into consideration
the age and maturity
level of their child.
Little children,
they need to learn
or be taught
to obey
just because
it's the right thing
to do.
We're going to talk
about that a little bit
more in a moment.
But little children,
they don't understand
a whole lot
about why you do
this or that.
But little children
just need to know
that if mom and daddy
tells them to do something,
they need to do it
because it's just
the right thing to do
to obey mom
and daddy.
That is where
they learn
to respect
and obey authority.
And that's important.
You should not
have to explain
to your five-year-old
why you tell him
or her to do
this or that.
The fact that you
as a parent
are telling them
should be sufficient.
Now,
a lot of parents
like that.
Some of you say,
oh, that's archaic.
No, that's true.
That's what's right.
If you've listened
to that liberal junk,
I can tell right now
you're already in trouble.
Now,
as children mature,
let's emphasize this.
As children grow up,
they're able to think
and reason
and understand.
They need to learn
why some things
are right and wrong.
They need to learn
some,
they need to learn
reasons why
you don't want them
to do this
and you want them
to do that.
That helps them
to learn
to think,
to reason,
to understand
basic right and wrong
or to understand
rational reasoning.
Children need
to be taught
to be responsible
as they grow up.
That includes
helping them
to think,
to make decisions,
to make choices
and it also includes
also it involves
letting them
sometimes suffer
the consequences
for their bad choices.
And I want to
think here for a moment,
I'm not talking
about sinful choices.
A learning experience
for children
is to suffer consequences
when they're just being
irresponsible,
when they don't think,
when they don't take
things necessary.
If you've got a child
who,
they don't,
they just,
it's like pulling teeth
to get them
to do their homework.
They won't
finish their homework
and put it
in their backpack.
They won't
take the responsibility
day after day
after day
to do the homework,
put it in the backpack
and take it back
to school.
You need to let them
learn some consequences
of not taking
the responsibility
to put it in their backpack
and take it to school.
Let them stay in
at recess some.
Let them suffer
whatever the consequences
are some.
Don't always
help them.
If you've got a child
who's just,
they won't think,
they won't take the time
to be responsible,
and they're always
leaving their coat
here or there
in the wintertime.
let them be cold
some days.
Let them go to school
without a coat
and go out at recess
or go somewhere
without a coat
and freeze themselves
during that time,
and that may
wake them up.
Hey, I better
remember my coat.
And I,
there's all kinds
of situations
here in a room
this size.
The light's gone on
for some of you.
You're bailing
your children out
everywhere you turn.
Teach them
to think,
to make choices,
and be responsible
for their choices.
Now,
this command
to obey.
As children
get older,
especially teenagers
and older teenagers,
it should not
be wrong
in your house
when situations
come up
it shouldn't
be wrong
for a child
to ask why
in a respectful
way because
they'd like to know
what's wrong
with this.
Or they'd like
to know
why I need
to do this.
And they're just
wanting to learn
what I'm talking
about.
They're not being
defiant,
not being disrespectful.
It should not
be wrong
for children
to be able
to enter
into discussions
about
some things.
it's not
rebellious
to ask
questions.
It's not
rebellious
in some
situations
to ask
would you
reconsider?
Is there any
way it could
be different?
I want you
to understand
older
teenagers
and older
teenagers.
it's the way
you go about
it sometimes
that causes
the conflict.
But I want
you to understand
as a parent
as your children
are older
explain things
to them.
Let them
understand
you're being
reasonable
even if they
don't agree.
Even if they
still will not
be happy
about it
have some
give and take.
but it's
important
that everybody
at the table
have a good
attitude.
No disrespect
on either
end.
Ideally
older
teenagers
especially
those who
are college
age
should act
like young
adults
and be
treated like
young adults
at home.
Parents
should have
reasonable
rules of
the house.
when it
comes
especially
to older
people
older
children
living
at home.
And young
adults
should honor
those
reasonable
rules
as a part
of respecting
and honoring
their parents.
I want you
to look at
the reason
why children
obey their
parents.
Children
should obey
their parents
in the Lord
for this
is right.
In the Lord
means
that a child's
obedience is a
part of their
obedience to the
Lord.
If you're a
Christian
as a child
or teenager
one of the
reasons you
ought to obey
your parents
is because
that's what
the Lord
wants you
to do.
If you're
serious about
living a
Christian life
that's a
part of
living a
Christian life
to obey
your parents.
Look at the
last phrase
for this is
right.
This is just
part of God's
created order
for life.
It's just
the way God
made things
to be.
It's been
in every
culture.
Children
are to
obey their
parents.
It's also
how God
intends for
children to
learn discipline
and respect
and authority
as they grow
up and become
mature adults.
There's another
reason though why
children should
obey their
parents.
Really the
main focus
here verses
two and
three God
intends for
children to
honor their
parents.
Honoring
involves more
than obedience
doesn't it?
Honor involves
the right
attitude.
Honor involves
love and
respect.
Let's just
take a little
point here.
Children,
teenagers,
one way to
honor your
parents is
to talk to
them.
Don't act
like they
don't exist.
Do things
with them.
Act like you
are a part
of the
family.
Help around
the house
because you
live there.
Don't
ignore your
parents.
Don't leave
them out of
your life
except when
you want
something.
If you're
doing that
your parents
know they're
not stupid.
They know
that you're
using them
if that's
what you
do.
See some
of you
younger
people
and let's
don't get
too harsh
because a lot
of us
older people
we developed
this well
when we
were young.
Some
younger
people are
kind
artists.
Kind
man,
kind
girl.
Well
a lot
of parents
see through
that and
they know
it.
And I
want you
to understand
when parents
see that
all they
care about
is what
they can
get out
of me.
All they
want to
do is
use me.
I want
you to
know
that
hurts.
Parents
that you
know,
love you,
they've
given much
of themselves
and what
they can
and there's
never anything
in return
in terms
of an
attitude,
a word
or an
action
that hurts
and it
gets old.
You need
to know
that.
There comes
a time
when children
outgrow
the command
to obey
their parents
when they
go out
on their
own,
even as
a single
adult or
as a
married
person.
And that's
good.
I don't
know,
no one
is,
nobody has
ever said
anything to
me in this
church about
this,
but this
might
ought to
be said.
If you
are a
grown
child
living
on your
own,
work,
have your
place,
do your
thing,
married or
not,
you don't
have to
obey your
parents.
You don't
have to
live the way
they tell
you to
live.
You don't
have to
work the
kind of
job they
tell you
to work.
You don't
have to
marry the
person they
tell you
you should
marry.
You don't
have to
quit being
married to
the person
they want
you to
quit being
married to.
And if
you've got
grown
children,
they're on
their own,
leave them
alone.
Don't try to
tell them how
to live their
life.
Don't try to
tell them what
they ought to
do, what
they ought
not do.
Let them be
adults.
Let them have a
positive relationship
with you and
you're no longer
the boss.
children outgrow
the requirement
to obey their
parents but
children never
outgrow God's
command to
honor their
father and
mother.
As adult
children, no
matter what
age we are,
we have a
responsibility to
honor our
parents as long
as they live
and among other
things that means
that we don't
ignore them.
We don't leave
them out of our
lives.
As long as our
parents are alive,
we need to make
sure that we're
honoring them in
the way that we
relate to them,
communicate with
them, help them
if they need it.
You know, the
command to honor
parents also comes
with a motivating
reason.
Look again in
verse 3, that it
may go well with
you and that you
may live long in
the land.
That was spoken
to Israel before
they went into
the promised land,
but that was
never a guarantee
that all children
who honor their
parents will live
a long time and
if you don't honor
your parents,
you'll die early.
This is a general
principle of life.
It's like a
proverb.
Children who
honor and respect
their parents tend
to live longer and
live better lives.
For an example,
the idea is a
child who grows up
and obeys their
parents, honor
their parents.
We're talking
about obeying and
honoring godly
parents in this
context.
And if you've got
Christian parents,
godly parents,
they're going to
try to help you
go in a good
direction in some
of the choices you
make.
And they're going
to try to help
you not go in the
wrong direction and
make some very
foolish, life-altering
choices.
That is the idea.
Proverbs is filled
with such warnings.
Look at some
examples.
He says,
Listen, my son,
accept what I say
and the years of
your life will be
many.
Proverbs 10,
The fear of the
Lord adds length
to life, but the
years of the wicked
are cut short.
Children who
reject the counsel
of their godly
parents will often
follow a path that
ruins their lives
or hurts their
lives, maybe even
cut it short.
If you are a wise
teenager or child,
you'll obey and
honor your parents
for a lot of
reasons.
Number one, God
commands it.
It's the right thing
to do.
But it really will,
as a general way of
life, it really will
work out for the best
for you in the long
run.
Let's turn our
attention quickly now
to verse four.
Instruction to
parents.
Look at it.
Fathers, do not
provoke your children
to anger, but bring
them up in the
discipline and
instruction of the
Lord.
Fathers are taking the
lead in spiritual
teaching.
We know, we've seen
in the other study
from chapter five,
22 through 33,
husbands are the
God-ordained leaders
of the home.
If there's no
father in your
home, or if the
father's not a
Christian, or if he
won't take
responsibility, then
by all means,
mothers take the
lead.
Don't let it slide.
If there is neither
parent a Christian, or
won't take
responsibility,
grandparents, you
step up, aunts and
uncles, family members,
members of this
church, do whatever
you can to help
children who have no
other spiritual
guidance, help them
be a spiritual
influencer in their
life.
Now, from this point
on, I want to refer
to parents, both
mother and dad.
Let's look.
What children don't
need from their
parents, verse four,
the first part,
fathers do not
provoke your children
to anger.
Now, I think it'd be
common sense that you
know that does not
mean you should never
do anything to make
your children angry.
Sometimes just doing
the right thing makes
some children angry.
Sometimes good, healthy,
proper discipline makes
a child angry because
they just got punished.
Sometimes doing what
your child, making your
child do what is right,
or not allowing your
child to do something
that you know is wrong
will make them angry.
That's not what he's
talking about, and I
think common sense helps
us to understand that.
He's talking about the
kind of things that
parents can do that
cause unnecessary,
harmful, resentful anger
in children.
Look at the few things
that Kent Hughes, a
pastor, describes ways to
avoid provoking anger.
Number one, don't have
unreasonable expectations.
Do not have unreasonable
expectations.
Don't expect your five-year-old
to be able to do what a
10-year-old can do.
Don't expect your 10-year-old
to be able to do what, or
think like a 15-year-old.
I can remember when my
oldest, David, was very
young.
I can remember, I don't know
what I did, what I said, but
I remember my dad sort of
standing off to the side
and doing it in a real
positive sort of a smile on
his face, but I remember
him telling me, don't expect
him to be a grown man.
Whatever it was, my dad
thought it was unreasonable.
He just looked at me.
Don't expect him to be a
grown man.
I've never forgot that.
Number two, don't
constantly criticize.
John Newton, the hymn
writer, he wrote Amazing
Grace.
He said he experienced
a difficult childhood.
Here's a statement he made
about his dad.
I know that my father
loved me, but he did not
seem to wish me to see it.
I know my father loved me,
but he just didn't show it
is what he was talking
about.
Don't, number three, don't
be harsh and overly strict.
Don't be harsh and overly
strict.
Don't let no be the
automatic default response
to everything your child
asks you.
You know, our goal as parents,
one of our goal as parents
is prepare our children to
leave home and be
independent adults.
I hope you all know that.
It's a gradual process
throughout life, but when
you take that little baby
home from the hospital,
you're looking at him or
her, their fifth birthday,
their tenth birthday,
fifteenth birthday,
whatever it is, the ultimate
goal in your parenting,
in this, what we're talking
about right here, the ultimate
goal is for you to raise a
child who is mature, who is
independent, who can think for
himself or herself, who has some
wisdom and can go out in this
world on their own and be
productive, be self-sufficient.
The ultimate goal is that they be a
boy or girl, man or woman who has a
close relationship with God and
seeks to know and do his will, but
I'm talking about just in this world
as a human being, our goal is to make
our children self-sufficient,
independent.
Well, that can't start when they're
fifteen.
It's got to be a lifelong process
of increasingly giving them freedom
and responsibility.
Freedom and responsibility.
Let them learn some things.
Don't always say no.
And then number four, don't fail to
give your child your attention.
Don't fail relationally, one-on-one.
Don't fail at FaceTime.
What gets most of your FaceTime?
Your smartphone, iPad, computer, TV,
book, or your child.
Meaningful relationships require
FaceTime, eye contact, listening,
talking.
You see this as well as I do.
Everywhere you go today,
people together, but they're not.
Because even at a restaurant,
people not talking to one another,
not looking at one another, but
looking at an iPhone, scrolling down
the iPhone and avoiding basically one
another.
Not too long ago, I was in a restaurant.
There was a lady about my age,
we'll say, and she obviously had her
mother, who would look to be a sharp,
alert, older lady.
This mother was sitting there,
and her 60-year-old daughter, say,
was sitting beside her with her face in
that phone, flipping through it,
and in completely ignoring her mother.
You see it at every age.
This probably is more like meddling than
preaching, but I'm going to do it anyway.
If I have children,
my children with me at a restaurant,
and they've got an iPhone that I'm paying for,
they will not sit there and ignore me
and look at that phone long,
because I'll take it.
It's mine.
Let me tell you something, kids,
of all ages,
if your mom and daddy is paying for the car,
it's theirs.
If they're paying for the cell phone,
it's theirs.
And I want to encourage parents to be parents
and be in control of some things.
Don't let your children control your life
and your home like so many do today.
And I would not sit there and complain
about a child looking at the phone
instead of looking at me.
If I'm paying for it,
you can take it.
And that's not being overbearing.
That's not being wrong
and going too far.
That's your children being disrespectful of you
and you intervening and not allowing it to happen.
Now, I might need somebody to stand with me
at the door this morning.
Some of you younger people may be mad at me,
but you'll get over it.
Because sooner or later,
you'll know that's right.
You may not know it
until you have your own children
and you're ready to knock that phone
out of their hand
just like your parents are you right now
because of the disrespect.
Nothing wrong with a phone.
I use one every day.
Nothing wrong with computers.
All this technology,
we all use them, enjoy them,
profit by them, work with them.
But they should not rob us
of FaceTime,
personal interaction,
and especially with people
we are the closest to.
What children need from their parents.
Look at the last part,
verse four,
the last part,
but bring them up in the discipline
and instruction of the Lord.
The phrase bring them up.
It could be translated
nourish them up
because that word translated bring,
it's the same word
that you find in verse 29 of chapter five
that is translated nourish.
Paul describes how a husband
should care for his wife
just as he does his own body
and just as Christ cares for the church.
So here in verse four,
the idea is that parents
should bring their children up
in a gentle, caring, and loving way.
That's what a nourishing,
healthy environment is.
Just think for a minute,
how would you describe
the environment of your home right now?
What kind of emotional atmosphere
is there as a general rule?
Is it stressful, harsh, sad, strict,
verbally and or physically abusive?
Or is it truly more nourishing,
more gentle, more joyful,
more loving, open, inviting?
Older children and teenagers,
you've got a responsibility
for helping to make
your home environment this way.
It's got to go both ways,
parents and children.
Number two,
children also need
consistent, loving discipline.
Look at that word there.
The word discipline here
is a strong word.
It means training by discipline.
It can even include
the idea of punishment.
It's the same word
used in Hebrews chapter 12
to describe God's discipline.
The emphasis in Hebrews 12
is that God disciplines
His children out of love for us.
Just as Christian parents
discipline their children
because they love them.
As we talk about discipline,
it is very important.
You can't have a healthy home
without it.
But the way we go about
our discipline as parents,
we need to be careful
that we go about it
the right way.
It's always dangerous
for us to discipline
our child
when we're mad,
when we're hurt,
when we're not in control
of our own emotions.
Martin Lloyd-Jones
made this statement
that all parents
need to take to heart.
He says,
when you discipline a child,
you should have
first control with yourself.
What right have you
to say to your child
that he needs discipline
when you obviously
need it yourself?
Self-control,
the control of temper
is an essential prerequisite
in the control of others.
Children certainly
need discipline.
And spanking
is not abuse.
But we must make sure
we do it the right way.
And it begins
with our own attitude,
our own being in control.
One more.
Children also need
intentional Christian instruction.
instruction.
They need instruction
about the things
of the Lord
tells us here.
Most Christian parents
do take
their children's
instruction
in school
seriously.
Most good parents,
Christian parents,
they make sure
the child goes
to school every day,
they're on time,
they do their homework,
they're prepared
for testing
like we've just gone through
not too long ago.
But let me ask you,
parent,
how much effort
do you put into
your children's
spiritual education
at home
and then at church?
Do you pray with them?
Do you read the Bible
with them
or read Bible stories
when they're little?
Do you encourage them
to read the Bible
themselves?
Do you talk to them
about the things of God?
Do you talk to them
about Jesus?
Do you try to roll,
help them to see
how God's involved
in all of life?
Do you bring them
to Sunday school
regularly,
or wanna regularly,
other things
that we have here?
Do you bring them
here on time?
Is it as important
to come to Sunday school
Bible study on time
as it is to go
to work and school
on time?
That's important.
It's teaching children.
It's tough being a parent.
I think being a parent
is the most difficult thing
I've ever tried to do.
I really do.
But with God's help,
we can be godly parents.
We can do
what we're being instructed
to do.
God has put His Spirit
in us
to equip us,
to give us the desire
and ability to do it.
He's put us in His Word
what to do.
We've just gotta be
faithful
to the best of our ability.
I wanna close this message
with a quote
from Cal Thomas.
He talks about
the responsibility
of parents
when all is said
and done.
Look at it.
Think about it carefully.
He says,
make sure
that at the end
of your life,
regardless of how
your child turns out,
that you can honestly
stand before God
and say,
in a fallen world,
being the sinner
that I am,
I did the best
I could
through the power
you gave me.
If you can't say that,
whatever else
you have accomplished
doesn't matter.
Let's pray together.
Father,
help all of us
to know
how we should respond
to what you have
taught us
in this passage.
Father,
if there are parents
here who've just
failed,
they haven't
put forth
any effort,
they haven't prayed,
they haven't sought
to be
true,
spiritual
examples
and leaders
to their children,
help them
to confess
that as the sin
that it is
and truly
repent of it.
Help them,
Father,
right now
to make a new
commitment
to seek
your help
day by day
to live
a faithful Christian
life before their
children
and then to seek
to be the
spiritual
influence
influence in their
lives that you've
called them to be.
Help them to see,
Father,
that they can't be
perfect parents
and they don't have
perfect children,
but
you will work in them
to help them to guide
and influence their
children in a good way.
Father,
if there are
parents in this
room that while
they know
they've not done
everything right,
they do see
some good signs
in their life,
but they're very
difficult,
they're very
concerned,
they're tired,
they have a lot
of unanswered
questions,
I pray,
Father,
that you will
comfort them,
that you'll
encourage them
not to give up,
not to quit,
but to persevere
in being that
faithful parent,
influencer,
teacher
of their child.
Father,
if there are
children in this
room who are
disobedient,
disrespectful,
they have bad
attitudes,
I pray that you
will convict them
of that sin
right now.
you'll cause
them to not
only seek your
forgiveness,
but seek their
parents'
forgiveness.
Just as,
Father,
you cause
parents to
seek their
child's forgiveness
in addition to
yours.
I pray,
Father,
that you'll just
do the work
in the life
of each parent
and child,
each influencer
of children
in this room
that will
all profit
from what
you've said
to us.
Lord,
help us to
see that
none of us
can do this
on our own.
We need
your help.
Help us to
look to you,
talk to you,
cooperate with
you every day.
and just
in an attitude
of prayer,
you listen
to the Lord
and you obey
Him about
this matter.
If I could
pray with you
during this time,
I'll be happy
to here at the
front.
Amen.