Love ❤️ at Home: God Cares for Single Parents: The Widow of Zerephath, Blessings Lost and Blessings restored.

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

GOD RECOGNIZES SINGLE PARENTS WHO ARE FAITHFULL TO HIM. JESUS COMMENDED THE WIDOW OF ZEREPHATH FOR FEEDING ELIJAH YET SHE WAS NOT SPARED OF CALAMITY EVEN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PROPHET

Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬.

“But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.”

‭‭

CALAMITIES ALSO STRIKE GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD OF SIN. THE SINGLE PARENT WHO FED THE PROPHET MET WITH A TERRIBLE CALAMITY THE DEATH OF HER ONLY SON. THE DEVIL WARS AGAINST GOD’S PEOPLE.

Ephesians 6:11-12

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Revelation 12:17

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

1 Kings 17:17-22

And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 18And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. 20And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. 22And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

SOMETIMES IN THIS LIFE WE LOSE THE BLESSINGS GOD HAS GIVEN US BUT GOD HAS CAPACITY TO RESTORE THAT WHICH IS LOST, BE IT THROUGH CALAMITIES, SICKNESS, DEATH OR WICKED PEOPLE!

2 Chronicles 25:9

And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.

Haggai 2:8

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

Psalm 50:10-12

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

Joel 2:25-27

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

WHAT HAVE YOU LOST IN LIFE? TURN TO GOD HE HAS POWER AND CAPACITY TO RESTORE. THOSE THAT CALL ON HIM WILL NEVER BE ASHAMED

Romans 10:11-13

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Love ❤️ at Home: God Cares for Single Parents: Be a Generous Single Parent! Widow of Zarephath

IN THE STRUGGLES OF SINGLE PARENTS TO MAKE ENDS MEET, THEY MUST PUT GOD FIRST FOR LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT.

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

1 Kings 17:13-6

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

The widow of Zarephath shared her morsel with Elijah, and in return her life and that of her son were preserved. And to all who, in time of trial and want, give sympathy and assistance to others more needy, God has promised great blessing. He has not changed. His power is no less now than in the days of Elijah. No less sure now than when spoken by our Saviour is the promise, “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward.” Matthew 10:41. – {Prophets and Kings p.131.5}

Proverbs 3:9-10

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

FAILURE TO PUT GOD FIRST WILL MAKE US LOSE GOD’S BLESSINGS ON OUR INCOME

Haggai‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV

“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”‬

Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me...”

If professing Christians would faithfully bring to God their tithes and offerings, His treasury would be full. There would then be no occasion to resort to fairs, lotteries, or parties of pleasure to secure funds for the support of the gospel. – {Acts of Apostles p. 338.1}

Men are tempted to use their means in self-indulgence, in the gratification of appetite, in personal adornment, or in the embellishment of their homes. For these objects many church members do not hesitate to spend freely and even extravagantly. But when asked to give to the Lord’s treasury, to carry forward His work in the earth, they demur. Perhaps, feeling that they cannot well do otherwise, they dole out a sum far smaller than they often spend for needless indulgence. They manifest no real love for Christ’s service, no earnest interest in the salvation of souls. What marvel that the Christian life of such ones is but a dwarfed, sickly existence! – {Acts of the Apostles p. 338.2}

NOBODY SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO GIVE IT MUST WILLINGLY FROM A HEART THAT LOVES THE LORD. GOD SO LOVED AND GAVE. WE TOO IF WE LOVE WE WILL GIVE TO GOD AND OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

God does not compel men to give. All that they give must be voluntary. He will not have His treasury replenished with unwilling offerings. – {Counsels on Stewardship p. 69.2}

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

‭‭

Love ❤️ at Home: God Cares Single Parents: Be a Generous Single Parent! The Widow’s Mite

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

Psalms‬ ‭146‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.”

‭‭

EVEN WITH SUCH PRECIOUS PROMISES OF DIVINE HELP, AT TIMES SINGLE PARENTS TEND TO BE STINGY BECAUSE THEY THINK EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THEM ALONE. THEY DO NOT PUT GOD IN THE PICTURE. DON’T MISS OUT ON THE BLESSINGS OF GIVING

Acts 20:35

I showed you all things, that working in this way we ought to help those being weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE RICH IN ORDER TO BE GENEROUS. GENEROSITY IS A HEART ISSUE NOT AN AMOUNT ISSUE

Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭41‬-‭44‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

When Jesus said of the widow, She “hath cast in more than they all,” His words were true, not only of the motive, but of the results of her gift. The “two mites which make a farthing” have brought to God’s treasury an amount of money far greater than the contributions of those rich Jews. The influence of that little gift has been like a stream, small in its beginning, but widening and deepening as it flowed down through the ages. In a thousand ways it has contributed to the relief of the poor and the spread of the gospel. Her example of self-sacrifice has acted and reacted upon thousands of hearts in every land and in every age. It has appealed to both the rich and the poor, and their offerings have swelled the value of her gift. God’s blessing upon the widow’s mite has made it the source of great results. So with every gift bestowed and every act performed with a sincere desire for God’s glory. It is linked with the purposes of Omnipotence. Its results for good no man can measure. – {Desire of Ages p. 616.1}

Proverbs 11:24-25

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Proverbs 19:17

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

GOD MARKS AND REMEMBERS NOT ONLY OUR PRAYERS BUT ALSO OUR ACTS OF GENEROSITY

Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”

Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Love ❤️ at Home: God Cares Single Parents: The Widow with only a Pot of Oil (Part 2)

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

Psalm 121:1

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

WHATEVER THE CAUSE OF YOUR SINGLE PARENTHOOD GOD LOVES ❤️ YOU AND CARES FOR YOU, ONLY TRUST HIM! HE IS THE HELPER OF THE HELPLESS AS THE SONG SAYS

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide!

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Jeremiah 49:11

Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.

Jeremiah 17:6-8

Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

THE INSTRUCTIONS OF ELISHA TO THE WIDOW WITH ONLY A POT OF OIL

2 Kings 4:4-5

And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

GOD WILL BLESS BUSY HANDS NOT IDLE HANDS 🙌 BOTH THE CHILDREN AND THE SINGLE PARENT HAD TO WORK!

Proverbs 6:6-11

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Proverbs 31:27

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

2 Thessalonians 4:11-12

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

GOD HAS PROMISED TO BLESS THE WORKS OF OUR HANDS

Deuteronomy 28:12 NIV

The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.

Love ❤️ at Home: God Cares Single Parents: The Widow with only a Pot of Oil (Part 1)

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

PEOPLE CAN BE SINGLE PARENTS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS! IT COULD BE THROUGH DEATH OF A SPOUSE, DIVORCE, DELINQUENT SPOUSE, ABUSE etc. WHATEVER THE CASE GOD LOVES ❤️ YOU AND CARES FOR YOU!

1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬

“A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.”

2 Kings 4:1

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

LET YOUR TEARS BE SEEN BY GOD NOT EVERYONE

Psalm 58:8-9

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? 9When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

No tears are shed that God does not notice. There is no smile that He does not mark. – {Steps to Christ p. 85.4}

If we would but fully believe this, all undue anxieties would be dismissed. Our lives would not be so filled with disappointment as now; for everything, whether great or small, would be left in the hands of God, who is not perplexed by the multiplicity of cares, or overwhelmed by their weight. We should then enjoy a rest of soul to which many have long been strangers. – {Steps to Christ p. 86.1}

GOD CAN BLESS YOU FROM THE LITTLE YOU HAVE. WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE! MOSES HAD ONLY A ROD IN HIS HAND AND GOD USED IT TO FREE ISRAEL. THIS SINGLE MOTHER HAD ONLY A POT OF OIL

Exodus 4:2-5

And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 5That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

Exodus 4:17

And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

Exodus 14:16

But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

2 Kings 4:2-3

And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

TURN TO GOD OH SINGLE PARENT AND STOP ❌ LAMENTING 🥲 WHAT YOU DO NOT HAVE. USE WHAT YOU HAVE AND GOD WILL BLESS IT

DEUTERONOMY 28:1-7

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

Your Family is your Priority in Life‼️ Don’t Give Up on Nasty Relatives, Joseph

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭5‬

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

GOD CAN MAKE YOU FRUITFUL AMIDST RELATIVES THAT HATE YOU, EVEN FOR THINGS NOT OF YOUR OWN MAKING

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭52‬

“The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭3‬-‭4‬

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭8‬

“And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”

JOSEPH SOUGHT THE WELFARE OF THE BROTHERS WHO HATED HIM! DO GOOD TO NASTY RELATIVES EVEN IF THEY EVEN TREAT YOU WORSE AFTER YOU DO THEM GOOD

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭13‬-‭14‬

“And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.” Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭17‬-‭21‬

“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭18‬-‭20‬

“Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬-‭24‬

“So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭28‬

“Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.”

THE TRIALS WE ENDURE FROM NASTY RELATIVES ARE ALLOWED BY GOD FOR THE PERFECTION OF OUR CHARACTERS

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭71‬

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭17‬-‭22‬

“He sent a man before them— Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free. He made him Lord of his house, And ruler of all his possessions, To bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.”

Genesis‬ ‭50‬:‭20‬-‭21‬

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”

Love ❤️ at Home: When you have No Children you can be a Blessing to Underprivileged Children

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

AT TIMES THOSE NOT BLESSED WITH CHILDREN END UP BEING BITTER AND SELFISH WHEREAS THEY CAN BE A BLESSING TO MANY BY PROVIDING A HOME FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN

Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”

Many who have no children of their own could do a good work in caring for the children of others. Instead of giving attention to pets, lavishing affection upon dumb animals, let them give their attention to little children, whose characters they may fashion after the divine similitude. Place your love upon the homeless members of the human family. See how many of these children you can bring up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Many would thus be greatly benefited themselves. – {Ministry of Healing p. 203.4}

Job‬ ‭31‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭

“If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it (But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow);”

Job‬ ‭31‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.”

MORDECAI PROVIDE A HOME FOR THE OPHAN CHILD ESTHER

Esther 1:5-7

Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; 6Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

ESTHER WHO WAS TAUGHT BY MORDECAI TO FAST AND PRAY SAVED THE JEWISH PEOPLE FROM ANNIHILATION.

Esther 4:15-17

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. 17So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

The crisis that Esther faced demanded quick, earnest action; but both she and Mordecai realized that unless God should work mightily in their behalf, their own efforts would be unavailing. So Esther took time for communion with God, the source of her strength. – {Prophets and Kings p. 601.3}

ESTHER AND HER FOSTER FATHER ESTABLISHED THE FEAST OF PURIM WHICH IS CELEBRATED BY THE JEWS TO THIS DAY‼️ YOU TOO CAN RAISE AN ESTHER, THOUGH NOT YOUR BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER

Esther 9:31-32

To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry. 32And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

INSTEAD OF LAMENTING YOUR CONDITION AND DEVELOPING SELF-PITY, BE A BLESSING TO THE LESS FORTUNATE AND GOD WILL REWARD YOU WHEN HE COMES

Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭34‬-‭36‬ ‭NKJV‬

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry...

Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭40‬ ‭NKJV‬

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

Love ❤️ at Home: Childlessness Doesn’t Justify Divorce

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

HAVING NO CHILDREN IS NO SUFFICIENT BIBLICAL GROUND FOR DIVORCE

Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬

“And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

A woman may be legally divorced from her husband by the laws of the land and yet not divorced in the sight of God and according to the higher law. There is only one sin, which is adultery, which can place the husband or wife in a position where they can be free from the marriage vow in the sight of God. Although the laws of the land may grant a divorce, yet they are husband and wife still in the Bible light, according to the laws of God. – {Adventist Home p. 344.2}

Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

GOD HATES MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS AND DIVORCE ‼️

Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NASB‬

“This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.”

Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭NASB

“For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the Lord of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”

COMPANIONSHIP IS THE FIRST AND FOR MOST IMPORTANT BLESSING OF MARRIAGE. CHILDREN ARE AN ADDITIONAL BLESSING THAT MUST NOT ECLIPSE COMPANIONSHIP IN MARRIAGE ‼️

Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭GNT‬

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him.”

God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided “an help meet for him”—a helper corresponding to him—one who was fitted to be his companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. – {Adventist Home p. 25.3}

‭‭‬CHILDREN OR NO CHILDREN REJOICE WITH THE WIFE OF THY YOUTH. IF THERE BE ANY PROBLEMS IN MARRIAGE TAKE THEM TO THE LORD IN PRAYER 🙏

Proverbs 5:18

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”