NOTES OF INSPIRATION

“Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord our God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

This is dedicated to my younger readers. Respect and honor to parents are necessary to receive the promises of God. In this case, God has promised that you live long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. When I was young, I would sit around and try to figure out how long I would live because when I made a mistake, I imagined that I was cutting days and years off of my life. So, I tried to be obedient to them because I wanted to live a long time. I am so glad for the mercy and grace of  God in helping me and teaching me to understand the importance of honor and respect. Obedience is the key to a long and happy life.

Patrice Tankard

“…”Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!…” 1 Chronicles 4:10

In the last 90 days Notes of Inspiration has had over 7,500 visitors from over 50 countries. Our territory is being enlarge! The hand of the Lord is upon us. Our newest staff member, is Elo, our Teen Writer. She is committed to serving the Lord and is happy to be a part of our family. Elo, thanks for ministering to Teens all over the world. We love you.

“It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:5

Be careful when people seem to agree with everything that is going on with you even when you are wrong. If people who are close to you and who say they care about you do not enlighten you when you are going down the wrong path, then it is time to question their motives and loyalty. It is better to heed to the advice of someone who has insight and wisdom especially when the advice is constructive criticism. Being rebuked or disciplined is not a bad thing. Being rebuked is like taking medicine that taste terrible. The medicine may taste horrible, but it is definitely good for you and will heal you and make you well again. Rebuke is just like that. It doesn’t feel good and may even hurt your pride or your feelings, but it will help heal you and make you grow. Even in the word of God it says that God chastens(rebukes) those that he loves. (“The Lord disciplines everyone he loves. He severely disciplines everyone he accepts as his child.” Hebrews 12:6) Your life can grow toward blessings if you allow wisdom and discipline to have a part. But listening to fools who operate in folly will bring you down with devastation. A wise man’s rebuke can save your life.

“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.” Proverbs 10:1

Children are so wonderful and they are a blessing. They may not always make the right decisions but no one is perfect. I want to encourage the youth to honor the Lord by doing the right thing and obeying their parents.  To all children and young  adults, when you walk in obedience and when you kindy respect and honor your parents, you bring such joy to your parents. However, if you do not do these things you bring grief and sorrow to your parents. Do not break your parents’ hearts. The Lord honors and blesses children who honor their parents.

I just want to take the time today to encourage you. No matter what stage of life you are in, and no matter what challenges may appear, just know that God is available to help you through whatever it is that you need help for. As the year comes to an end, I am have taken inventory. I must say that I have learned a lot this year. I have had challenges but the Lord has seen me through all of them. The season has come for me to blossom and he has already started raining down all kinds of blessings and divine surprises. I am excited for you too. Continue to walk in the ways of the Lord and love on him. Continue to thank him, ask for forgiveness and appreciate him. He loves you, and speaking of love, I love you too!

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”  1 Peter 4:7-8

Be encouraged today to stay in your right mind and stay alert. Stay prayerful and love one another. Love does hide the multitude of faults. Loving someone like that means that you over look the flaws, look beyond the faults and see the need. Many times people can be enlightened to be successful in life when they know that someone loves them without judging them. Take the time out today to love on your loved ones without judging, but with gentle encouragment and inspiration.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.” Ephesians 6:1

Children and young adults, be encouraged today and know that if you have parents who love you and nurture you, it is a wonderful blessing. Obey your parents in the Lord. They are here to nurture, love you and help you to grow. Sometimes you may not agree with your parent’s guidance, but if they are trying to teach you and prepare you to live a good life , then please listen and adhere to them. You will be blessed and God’s protection and favor will embrace your life. Love and obey your parents.

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee” Exodus 20:12

It is important to understand that honoring  parents is note worthy in the kingdom of the Lord. We live in a world that some parents do not always look after the welfare of their children and may not always be in tuned to raising their children appropriately. However, this is where trusting the Lord is vitally mandatory. Children and youth should be raised to honor and obey and respect those who have leadership over them, especially the parents. Though parents are not perfect, their job is to raise their children to be positive and contributing human beings in our society. Children should honor their parents and trust the Lord to heal and deliver areas that need it in the lives of the parents and the youth themselves. Children, pray for your parents and ask the Lord to help your family everyday. Be respectful of your parents even if you don’t agree with them. Those of you who have loving and attentive parents, continue to honor and obey them and pray God’s continual blessings upon their lives. Family is worth the effort to trust the Lord for help. Remember, this is one of the commandments and it is the first one with a promise. You are promised to live long if you honor your parents.

“Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit” There is more hope of a fool than of him.”  Proverbs 26:12 

We should always continually trust God for wisdom and for the elements and phases of our lives. No one knows more than God. We need insight from the Lord. There is more hope for a fool than for one who may think that he does not need help and revelation from God.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  2 Corinthians 5:17 

How wonderful it is to know that you can be a new person. No matter what you have done in your life in the past, the Lord can forgive you and renew you. That means that you have another chance. Having another chance is so important. I would not want to live a life where I would have to be perfect from birth to death. However, being in Christ means that all things are passed away and all things become new. Embrace the newness of your new life with joy and happiness. Thank God for another chance.