By GARY ANDREWS
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When I was a young boy I had the opportunity of being in the Boy Scouts. It is a tremendous organization. I learned about God and Country and the respect and love I am to give to each one. The slogan “Be Prepared” will forever be etched into my mind and how precious this slogan has been to me over the years.
As I became an adult and went through my military training, the “Be Prepared” slogan meant more to me than I ever thought it would, especially going into a combat or hostile environment half-way around the world. Leaving the military and going into the business world, getting married and raising a family has always given me the opportunity of remembering and using this slogan.
I am an advocate of the scouting programs, boys and girls, and the training and lessons these young people receive from them. Neither program seems to be as popular as they once were because the teachings of these organizations challenge what many facets of this sinful world want. Many immoral and unethical values are being pushed on these programs because Satan is having his way with so many people in the world who look to him instead of God.
Not only are the scouting programs being targeted by these ungodly people, so are our public arenas, government, schools, churches and religious organizations. We as Christians need to always “Be Prepared” because Satan is hurling insults and innuendos at us at every possible opportunity. Jesus tells us in Luke 21:8; “Watch out that you are not deceived…”; then in Luke 21:12; “…they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.”
This passage in Luke is when Jesus is speaking with some of His disciples about the signs of the end of time. People, all we have to do is read God’s Word and our future is foretold. We all need to look ar   ound us and see what is happening in the world. We need to understand that our God given rights and freedoms are being taken away and we, as Christians, are standing around and letting this happen.
I feel that it is very important that we continue boys and girls scouts and allow them to be taught about God and Country. We, as a Christian nation, need to adopt the scout motto of “Be Prepared” because at any given time this world can cease being and our time will be gone for us to accept Jesus as our Savior and live with Him throughout eternity. Are you prepared for what will happen to your soul should Jesus come today?
Prayer: Father thank you for your love. Thank you for saving grace that allows sinners such as I to leave this sinful world and live with you for eternity. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Luke 21:1-19; Monday – Hosea 10:12; Tuesday – 1 Peter 1:13-21; Wednesday – Joshua 3:5; Thursday – Ephesians 6:10-18; Friday – Ecclesiastes – 11:1-6; Saturday – Mark 1:2-8.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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It seems today that the discipline of children has become the topic of everyone. I watched a program on television recently about how a young lady has put a video on the internet about a whipping she received from her dad. The video went all over the world and the news media picked it up as a lead story talking about child abuse.
I definitely agree that some discipline children receive is not necessary and really is child abuse and the parents or adults should be dealt with.  There are too many incidents of this child abuse and unless the law steps in these children have little chance for a good life in society.  Too many of these adults, it is hard to call them parents, treat their children as necessary evils. They bring them into this world; however they do not care about them and certainly hate the responsibility of raising them. The children get in their way of everyday, worldly living.
Then there are loving parents who discipline their children to teach them the difference between right and wrong. My parents did this for my brothers, sister, and me. When we were told to behave, to not do or to do something and we didn’t respond, we were disciplined through a scolding or a whipping. Sometimes it would be with a belt, sometimes a switch, but every time it made impact on us. I, likewise, did the same with my children. Each time I had to discipline my children, either through talking or a spanking, I talked with them and explained why I was treating them this way. After the discipline was given I talked with them again and told them it hurt me to discipline them more than it hurt them, to which they replied, no way. Now that they are married and have children of their own, they have told me they fully understand what I was saying to them.
In the case of the young lady who taped the spanking she received, I have no doubt her father probably went above and beyond good discipline. It bothers me that the media is calling this child abuse when the video shows her being spanked with a belt for her doing something wrong and illegal. They are calling in all type of professionals who clearly think this is child abuse and something should be done to the father. This incident took place several years ago and this young lady has just released it to the internet. What is the gain for her?
In Proverbs 13:24 it says: “He who spares his rode hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”
I despise child abuse and will stand up for any child being mistreated. Many times this comes from an angry parent, who should gather their senses before disciplining their children. I remember one story when a lady spent 30 days in jail because she smacked her teenage son in the mouth because he was cussing her, out loud, in the middle of a department store. Someone took offense to the smack and called the law. What would you have done as the parent or as the bystander?
I stand up for discipline when handled in the correct format. The problem with our society today is that everyone seems to know how to handle your children better than you do. I firmly believe that God allows us to have children so that we will raise them in the way that is pleasing to Him. Our worldly society has taken God out of the public arena and allowed Satan to attack us from all angles and allow the non-discipline type people to create problems when children should be chastised for doing wrong.
My wish is that all parents will consult the Word of God about disciplining their children and stay away from what the world is saying.
Prayer: Father I thank you and praise you for the children you have given Linda and I. They are truly a blessing and I give you all the glory for the lives they are leading now. It is my prayer that all parents will seek your guidance in raising and disciplining the children you have blessed them with. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – 1 Kings 1:5-6; Monday – 1 Corinthians 4:14-21; Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 7:8-9; Wednesday – 2 Chronicles 34:1-7; Thursday – Psalm 127:3-5; Friday – Ezekiel 20:18-21; Saturday – Luke 2:41-52.)A161-11
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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Not long ago I attended a Bible study one of my friends, Paul, held in his home. This was a unique Bible study in that the men attending were not from the church Paul attends. These men came from all walks of life and some of them drove over 30 miles to attend this study, which is held every week.
Paul delivered a message about being in unison with God. Jesus tells us in the gospel of John 17:20-23:  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me, so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Not too many times are we going to hear a sermon on being in unison with God because there are not many of us who are in total unison with God. In most cases it is when we want to be in unison that we say we are in total unity with our Lord and Savior.
God wants us to be in unison with Him in everything we do or say. The problem is that we are so wrapped up in worldly needs and possessions that we don’t stop to think what the Lord wants us to do. We hardly ever discuss with God our intentions through business dealings, social interactions, or family matters.
This is the biggest problem facing us as we live these few days on earth. God wants to be in total control of our life, but we live our life as if He isn’t watching what we do. Many families have gone through divorce because of immoral and unfaithful activities. Lying, deceit, and unethical values have ruined many business dealings. Many of us get so wrapped up in what the world wants instead of us looking to the Lord for guidance and strength.
Our country has a taken a step backward in some of the laws our elected officials have allowed to pass. Our schools are taking on a new look because of the shady teachings we are allowing to be taught. There are many unwed mothers going to high school today because family values are not being taught at home and these wayward parents are allowing our schools to promote values for our children.
How can our young learn to live in unity with each other, much less be in unison with God, when family morals and values, along with government systems, schools, and to some degree, our churches allow worldly ideas and factions to control. Even the upright and outstanding spiritual leaders have been taken to task because of some of their actions and decisions.
Our world, country, state, or cities will never be in complete agreement on everything, and one thing we can all bank on is that there will never be harmony and peace when God is left out of our lives.
We need more in home Bible studies where the truth is taught and the Word of God is revered. God’s people need to come together and become one in total unity with our Lord Savior. Then and only then will be have peace among our families, children, co-workers, cities, nations, etc. Then and only then are we going to see moral values and high ethics once again become the norm.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for allowing us to be in total unity with you. Forgive us for the misguided lives that we live and the distance we have put between our thinking and your desire. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Genesis 13:8; Monday – Ephesians 4:1-6; Tuesday – Ezekiel 37:15-23; Wednesday – Philippians 4:1-9; Thursday – 2 Chronicles 7:14-16; Friday – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24; Saturday – Colossians 3:12-17.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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Over the past few weeks my wife has been going through boxes and boxes of what we have saved from when our four children were in school. She has neatly divided and marked the contents for each one of our children. We have anything from sports memorabilia, newspaper clippings and photos, to report cards, journals they wrote, stuffed animals, etc.
I remember a story I read about an elderly father that was doing the same thing we are. He came across his son’s journal and remembered the journal he kept also. He opened up his journal to a certain date and it read, “Went fishing with my son today. Terrible day, didn’t catch a fish.”
He opened his son’s journal to the same date and read one of the most shocking things he had ever read. His son had written in his journal, “Went fishing with my dad today. One of the best days of my life.”
It is unique that two people can look at the contents of a day, after spending time with each other, and see it totally different. One saw the day as a duty to fulfill and the other saw it as a time to spend with his dad. It is a sad day when we, as adults, look on the time we spend with our children and grandchildren as a duty to fulfill instead of viewing the great joy that they can provide for us and we can provide for them.
My wife and I made a promise to each other that when we were blessed with children that we would grow up with them. We would spend time with them and stay active in their lives.
The Lord has tremendously blessed us and our children. Three out of the four are married and have families of their own. The fourth is a high school counselor and associates with teenage children every day.
Spending time with our children has been most rewarding. They continue to come home and we are invited to their homes. It is a sad day when parents are so involved with themselves, such as jobs, social life, etc., that they have little or no time for their own children. It’s amazing how many nannies, daycares, and others are raising children for families.
Most young marriages require two jobs to make ends meet. This is because the younger generation is always trying to have more than they really need or can afford. My wife was a stay at home mom and this was one of the best decisions we have ever made. She is a certified school teacher but stayed at home with our children until our youngest started school. She then went to work when they went to school and came home when they did.
It was a great day when our daughter announced that she would be staying home with her children. She quit teaching school when her first child was born.
Time is the most precious item we can ever offer our children. Cherish every moment that you have with them because, and you can truly believe me on this one, time waits for no one and tomorrow they will leave you nest empty.
As my wife had compiled the items for each of our children, she came across a school assignment that my son had written. The assignment was to tell about his best friend. When she showed it to me big old tears came into my eyes as I read, “Let me tell you about my dad, my best friend.” Memories such as these can never be lost or replaced.
It’s my wish that all parents could spend more time with their children. Even with all the gifts we offer them and big ticketed items we buy for them, nothing can replace the love or the time we can give them.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the children you have blessed me with. Be with them each and every day and lead them on the path you would have them go. I pray that our parents of today will give more time to their children and raise them to know you and your saving grace. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible reading: Sunday – Mark 10:13-16; Monday – 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Tuesday – Ecclesiastes 6:1-6; Wednesday – Matthew 18:1-6; Thursday – Ephesians 6:1-4; Friday – Titus 1:6; Saturday – 2 Chronicles 24:1-2.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com.