The Ephesians Family

29/06/2025

FATHERHOOD!

31/05/2025

It's time to begin to build a biblical view of all social issues that challenge marriage and family life. Partner with us in promoting Bible centered marriages and family life. Blessings!!

On Sunday, June 1, 2025, we will be celebrating International Children's Day. I see this day as an opportunity for us to reflect on family life and to start building or continuing to strengthen a Biblical perspective on family life. While we do this, let us not forget all barren women in our society...

30/05/2025

Barrenness - The Biblical View On Sunday, June 1, 2025, we will be celebrating International Children's Day. I see this day as an opportunity for us to reflect on family life and to start building or continuing to strengthen a Biblical perspective on family life. While we do this, let us not forget all barren women in our society who day and night desire that God may bless them with a child....

Barrenness - The Biblical View On Sunday, June 1, 2025, we will be celebrating International Children's Day. I see this day as an opportunity for us to reflect on family life and to start building or continuing to strengthen a Biblical perspective on family life. While we do this, let us not forget....

25/10/2024

Congratulations, Santos Antonio Paiva, on your graduation! I won't be present at your graduation, but I want you to know that I am proud of you. We always hope for better things for you in the Lord. More blessings await you in Christ! Congratulations!!

24/10/2024

A Happy INDEPENDENCE DAY to all fellow Zambians!

Let this day serve as a reminder of the importance of peace in our lives. One thing I am sure of is that one will never be at peace until you are at peace with God. You will never enjoy true LIBERTY until you are set free by the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." Romans 5:1, 10. ESV.

“,...If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:31, 32, 36.

John 8:36

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

22/10/2024

FAMILY DEVOTIONALS

THE GENESIS FAMILY (By Dr. Clifton F. Morris), CHAPTER 2

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

THEY SHALL BE ONE

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:18-25.

Dr. Cliff explains in the second chapter of THE GENESIS FAMILY that Genesis repeatedly shows us that God had a design for marriage and the family, and our challenge is to discover and apply His precepts within our homes. Jesus used the words of Genesis to stress the unity of marriage and its permanence (Matthew 19:5-6). In Ephesians 5:31-32, Paul emphasized the nature of the marriage relationship as it reflects Christ's relationship with us as believers. What does the Bible mean when it says that “they shall be one flesh”?
God chose to create Eve from a part of Adam rather than simply coming up with a new creation. God’s method of creating the first woman serves to reinforce the concept that husbands and wives are not just partners. They are one! Dr. Cliff explains that four words from this text add to our understanding of the “one flesh” principle, and the first two come as a pair.

LEAVE AND CLEAVE

“…a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife…”

The Hebrew word for leave means “to depart, to forsake, or to lose.” There is a letting go of something, which in this context refers to the primary loyalty a man has to his parents. The passage refers to the man doing the leaving, but the process applies to both the husband and wife. The word translated “be joined to” or “cleave” carries the sense of clinging to someone in affection and loyalty. In leaving and cleaving, a husband and wife are transferring their loyalties away from their parents and to each other. The intent is to show that a new household is beginning in the new marriage, and the man and woman become primarily accountable to each other and to God. Dr. Cliff points out that while we are called to forever love and honor our parents, the Bible indicates that a man’s first human loyalty must be to his wife, and the wife’s first human loyalty is in turn directed back to her own husband.
It should also be said that the “leave and cleave” principle is essentially emotional and spiritual in its application. It is quite possible for a young man and a young woman to marry and move halfway around the world, and yet fail to “leave and cleave.” At the same time multi-generational families can sometimes live under the same roof and accomplish this fully. It has more to do with attitude than geography. It centers on the understanding that God is joining a couple together in a way that elevates their relationship above all other human ties.
The word “one” translates the Hebrew “ECHAD,” which is used of God in Deuteronomy 6:4, pointing us toward the unity within the oneness of the Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In marriage, there is to be a oneness which still acknowledges the diversity of the husband and wife. Dr. Cliff mentions five areas where a marriage is most likely to encounter conflict in building oneness. He testifies that these areas have served him well for many years as an outline for premarital counseling and family conflict resolution. The list includes family financial issues, religion, the physical relationship, parenting, and dealing with parents and in-laws. The overwhelming majority of failed or struggling marriages can look back and identify significant conflict in one or more of these areas, but even in healthy homes this list serves as an outline for considering how to grow in oneness.

ONENESS IN STEWARDSHIP

Dr. Cliff explains that the area of marriage where most couples most often face conflict is money management.

“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many a pang.” 1 Timothy 6:10 – NASB.

It is no money that is the problem, but the love of money. It concerns an attitude one can have about material things. Wrong attitudes about financial matters lead to unwise decisions in the home, and the inevitable result is conflict for married couples.
The subject of family finance begins with the obvious concerns for basic provision for the needs of the home. Paul extends to Timothy a word of caution about faithfulness in this most basic area of financial matters.

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8.

Dr. Cliff explains that most couples’ financial arguments are not related to the level of income, but has more to do with values, priorities, and spending habits. Citing 1 Timothy 6:6 (“But godliness with contentment is great gain,”), Dr. Cliff advises couples to focus on first godliness that promotes stewardship in the home. The idea of stewardship involves managing financial resources as though they all belong to God and our mission is to use money for His glory. Instead of dividing the home, money begins to unite the husband and wife as they draw together to manage their income and assets in a way that honors God. Serving becomes far more important that being served, and giving becomes far more important than getting. In a godly home the husband and wife, and perhaps even children, are unselfishly united in new goals that have to do with their stewardship or management of what they have.
So how is money management going at your home? Is it unifying factor in your marriage? As surely as Adam and Eve were called to oneness in their role of dominion over the earth, you and your spouse are called to unselfish stewardship that brings blessing to your home!

PHYSICAL ONENESS

When Genesis spoke of leaving, cleaving, and becoming one flesh, that obviously included the natural physical relationship of a husband and wife. While our text does not elaborate on this subject, we are told that Adam and Eve “…were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” The physical relationship was clearly ordained by God, both for the bearing of children and a special oneness that was to be reserved for marriage, yet fallen man has tragically corrupted that which was a gift from God.

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 ESV).

When it comes to the physical relationship, Dr. Cliff’s counsel for couples is that the husband must be first concerned with the happiness and the well-being of his wife, and let the wife be primarily concerned with the happiness and well-being of her husband. As each comes to the relationship with an unselfish attitude of trying to please the other, then the needs of both will be met and this aspect of shared life will enhance the marriage

ONENESS WITH THE EXTENDED FAMILY

When a man and woman come together in marriage there is a sense in which each of them “marries” the family of the other. Dr. Cliff points out that the influence of parents and in-laws is always felt in the marriage. They possess tremendous potential for encouraging in a positive way their children and those their children marry, but for this to occur it is essential for both generations to understand the “leave and cleave” principle presented by Genesis. From birth on parents are faced with the task of training their children, while at the same time going through the process of gradually letting go and releasing them to the Lord and to themselves to live their own lives. Even though their intentions may be good, parents fail in their most important task if they do not release their children and allow them to assume growing responsibility, even if that will include some mistakes along the way.
Going into marriage, both a husband and wife need to understand and accept each other’s families, realizing that we are all products of the home environments in which we were raised. We inherit physical traits, but also receive much of what we are from the influence of our parents in our formative years of life. Part of establishing a successful marriage is gleaning the positive from the past, while also overlooking many past or present differences. In a healthy marriage there is an appreciation of in-laws and an ongoing respect for parents. Parents, on the other hand, should give space to allow children the opportunity to establish their own homes.
On the same subject, Dr. Cliff emphasizes that couples need to avoid the “run home” mentality in moments of conflict. At the first sign of trouble, one might be inclined to “run home” to one’s mom and dad. Parents must not be the first place one should turn to for help in marital conflict. Young married couples can usually iron out most of their problems on their own. If parents are quickly brought into a conflict, the difficulties can be compounded. Parents have a hard time forgetting those occasions when they feel like their children have been wronged in life. Important conflict resolution skills are not developed in couples who have the “running home” mentality. Couples need to learn to communicate with each other at all times, especially when life’s stresses come along. Part of leaving and cleaving is being willing to work out problems through good communication, a willingness to forgive, and a strong commitment to unconditional love. Part of growing toward maturity is solving, with the Lord’s help, most of your own problems.

ONENESS IN PARENTING

In the first chapter of Genesis, God blessed man and said “…Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth…” That replenishing certainly refers to the bearing of children who would fill the earth and glorify God. In the second chapter of Genesis the man and his wife become “one flesh,” and Dr. Cliff suggests at least a double significance to that phrase at this point. They very literally become one as their children are physically made up of the family lines of both parents. Beyond this, however, is a oneness that is more emotional and spiritual. As a husband and wife share in the physical relationship and share responsibilities of parenting children once they are born, there naturally follows a bonding between these two who have come together to produce new life in their own children. We live in a time in which the bearing of children has been devalued in the thinking of some but consider the promise of blessing the Bible shares.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” (Psalm 127:3-5 ESV).

Children and the process of parenting are to be viewed as being special gifts from God that bring great blessing to those involved.
Dr. Cliff mentions that though parenting is a very major aspect of oneness in marriage, it is surprising how many young couples approach marriage without having given serious consideration to this whole area of shared life. Disagreement on this issue can become a huge obstacle to oneness in marriage. Young people involved in any relationship that could lead to marriage should be asking questions like, “Do we agree about the value of children? Would we see eye to eye on how children should be brought up, and what kind of parent would he or she make for my children?”
Once children are brought into the world, Dr. Cliff emphasized that there must be a strong oneness of values and commitment to involvement if a husband and wife are to successfully share in the challenge of parenting. Having children, or even considering having children, can pull a weak marriage apart, but oneness in this area strengthens the relationship.

ONENESS IN FAITH

The last, and Dr. Cliff suggests the most important of these five areas of oneness in marriage has to do with faith or religious commitment. Peter begins his second epistle with a reference to a common bond that Christians share.

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Peter 1:1 ESV.

Peter in this verse is concerned with giving the church a sense of unity based on a common spiritual bond in Christ. When we speak of faith in marriage, we are referring to the spiritual bond that ties a husband and wife to a common commitment to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus said in the Matthew 19 passage, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” If a man and woman do not share a common faith in Christ, their understanding of the nature of the relationship which God intends for them will be confused. They will not comprehend that they are, through marriage, entering into a covenant relationship involving God, and they will not share a commitment to the Bible’s principles for family life. In writing to the Corinthians, Paul gave a clear warning that should be heard by those planning to marry.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 ESV.

The truth is that a married couple that includes a Christian and an unbeliever will likely have many things in common, but they will not share the foundation needed in facing the great issues of family life. The inevitable stresses of life will challenge the overall direction of a marriage. Faith in Christ is he glue which holds a Christian home together, but if that is not present, a couple is headed for disaster. Our faith and the direction of God’s Word give solutions to the difficulties of life. When a man and woman come to marriage divided over the Christian faith, the greatest solution to all their problems even becomes a point of contention itself.
Paul repeats his caution about spiritually divided homes when he writes to the Corinthians about the issue of remarriage of widows.

' A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. '
1 Corinthians 7:39 ESV.

Again, the Biblical directive is that Christians are only to marry other Christians. If a believer is already married to an unbeliever, then the rules change. What would not have been God’s will then become His will, and the Christian is called upon to make the most of the relationship. The ultimate goal then becomes the winning of one’s spouse to the Lord.
Dr. Cliff laments that it is surprising how many Christian young people will find themselves engaged and planning a wedding without first planning for the spiritual dimension of the home they are trying to begin. It is a major mistake to count one’s new spouse having a change of heart after a marriage has begun. Dr. Cliff encourages young people who are planning on marriage to seriously consider where that potential partner is in terms of spiritual maturity and willingness to serve God, for it is possible for a committed Christian to be unequally yoked, even with another Christian.
When a man and a woman share a common faith in Jesus Christ they are prepared to face all the difficulties of life, while at the same time, they are able to develop the full potential of their shared lives. Christ is Lord of the home when He is the Lord of the individuals who have come together in the marriage relationship. It is certain that challenges and adversity will come to each marriage and home, and those times of crisis usually come more quickly than expected and are greater than expected. The greatest advance preparation for marriage is the pursuit of a growing and shared commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and the clear principles of family living laid down in Scripture.

Feel free to leave your questions and comments below.

Pastor Lubinda Kapuyi
Igreja Ministerio Tocando O Mundo Com Evangelho
https://www.facebook.com/mitomue

14/10/2024

FAMILY DEVOTIONALS – DAY 1

Monday, October 14, 2024.

INTRODUCTION

In his book, “THE GENESIS FAMILY: Family Life Lessons, From the Garden to Goshen,” Dr. Cliff mentions that the book of Genesis is, among other things, a book about family life. Beginning with Adam and continuing down to Joseph and his sons, Genesis gives us a remarkable account of one family. In Genesis, we can see the daily issues we face today in family life. The family life lessons learned by the earliest generations of our faith family are timeless, and great is the benefit of observing the experiences our forefathers had in finding direction and purpose in life. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we are absolutely sure that God is concerned about our family life because in Genesis he has spoken to us about marriage and parenting.
In Genesis, we see the learning process lived out in the lives of those who found victory in family life through faith. They are our forefathers, and in their lives, we see so much of ourselves. The lessons they learned along the way they here pass on to us. Wisdom compels us to benefit from their experiences so that we might build our own homes on the foundation of faith that has been presented to us. Though the members of the Genesis family lived in a technologically simper age, they wrestled with the same timeless root sins and wrong attitudes that are a part of every generation. Those of them who sought God found salvation by grace through faith. We will meet The Genesis Family, and in so doing we will find ourselves! Come let us learn from the experiences of those who have gone before!

IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ' Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day (Genesis 1:1, 26-28, 31).

Narrowing our focus to the subject of family in the verses above, we have two questions to ponder. First, what is the significance of “us” and “our” in the words God speaks in this context? Second, What is the meaning of the phrases “in our image” and “in the image of God?” This biblical text presents to us a picture of the Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit preparing for the creation of the human race. The fact that God made us in his image gives us an intellectual, emotional, and psychological basis for our understanding of who we are. We are made to relate to God in a way that none of the other created beings do. To understand better our relationships in family life, we need first to understand and value the relationship we have with God.
In his book, Dr. Cliff mentions that the average person today is dealing with tremendously emotional issues surrounding family life. Typical day-to-day questions people would ask him as a pastor include:
1. “Pastor, I want to get married, but my boyfriend isn’t a Christian. What do you think I should do?”
2. “My husband and I just don’t seem to have much to talk about anymore. What can we do about it?”
3. “All I ever do with my children anymore is argue. How can I make it better?”
4. “After all these years my wife is leaving me. Can you help me?”
5. “My teenage daughter is pregnant. What do you think our options are?”
6. “My parents have been dead for years, so why do I still resent what they did and said long ago? Why am I making some of the same mistakes with my children?”
7. “All we do at our house is argue over money. How can we ever change our financial picture?”

Today, even in the Church, people are struggling with debt, career stress, communication problems with children, concerns for aging parents, rebellious children, abortion, marital infidelity, divorce, and a host of other common concerns. These issues the family is facing today are historically the same right from Genesis, the first marriage and the first family. Dr. Cliff suggests four key realities flowing from this first chapter of Genesis which are foundational to our study of family life.

PURPOSE

Our purpose comes from the one who made us. Dr. Cliff makes it clear that the abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10 refers to a purposeful life. God has a great purpose for our families. If we desire to glorify God in our personal lives, our homes must be the best place where the name of Christ is lifted high. Jesus must be preached through the way we live out our relationships in our families. Parents must lead their children in the direction of honoring God. Husbands have the opportunity to preach Christ through the way they treat their wives (Ephesians 5:25). In the Biblical home, each day takes on a sense of mission as the whole family grows toward God’s will, understanding that the relationships within the home are instruments God uses to accomplish His perfect purposes and to bring glory to His name.
The other purpose for man that we see in the text is dominion over creation. Adam and Eve were blessed to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, and subdue it. A central purpose of marriage is the filling of the earth with those who will glorify God. It is through the family that this commission is fulfilled down through the generations. People must come to a saving knowledge of the Lord with the support of a Christian home (Ephesians 6:4).
Is there a sense of purpose in your home today? Do the members of your family face each new day seriously considering God’s will, and does your home facilitate progress toward that will? Is it the desire of your heart to see your household used by God to make a significant difference in the world in which you live? A major part of a study of The Genesis Family is observing how men and women of old purposed in their hearts to honor God in their individual lives and in the relationships of their families.

DESIGN

The fact that man bears the image of God shows that God, as Creator, has brought mankind into existence with exceptional design. First, both man and woman carry the image of God equally (Galatians 3:28). Though husband and wife are equally valuable to God, there is diversity and roles within God’s design for mankind (Ephesians 5, 1 Peter 3). Husbands and wives are “heirs together of the grace” of God, but a husband is called to respond to his wife in an understanding way (1 Peter 3:7). This is not because a woman is inferior but because she is designed differently.
Are you tuned in to God’s design in your marriage and your home today? Are you living daily with an awareness that the God who created you and gave you life is also the author of marriage and family life?

SANCTITY of LIFE

In his book, Dr. Cliff mentions that most “sanctity of life” discussions in recent years have revolved around the subject of abortion, which is a good place to begin to consider this point. Every abortion necessarily involves a father, a mother, and of course, a child. When an abortion occurs, the life of a child is taken, and that child bears the image of God. That child is precious in God’s sight, and those who are godly will rejoice over that life and seek to protect it. In the Biblical home, where a husband and wife love each other and love the Lord, every child is a wanted child. They may not be expected. They may be expensive. They may even complicate life considerably, but when their presence is known they are to be accepted as gifts from God. Each has a valuable contribution to make to society, but each is first of all a valued member of his or her own family.
Sure, Jeremiah was sanctified before birth and ordained to be a mighty prophet of God (Jeremiah 1:5), but what about all those other children? They too were formed by a sovereign God, and they too have been ordained to some special purpose. Abortion is a family issue, for it threatens and destroys God’s design for the family. The society that takes life lightly and sees children as disposable has rejected the image of God in man, and in so doing it has rejected God.
From the Biblical perspective abortion is a tragic evil, but we must also quickly say that it is a forgivable sin. Our message to those who have taken life through abortion is that in Jesus Christ there is forgiveness and cleansing. Those who have fathered children and walked away from responsibility can be forgiven. Mothers who have taken the lives of their own children can be forgiven. A society that has failed to protect its most innocent lives can be forgiven and restored, but that forgiveness comes in response to genuine repentance and sorrow over sin. When life is seen as coming from God, then it is both protected and treasured. In terms of family life, this means that every individual is seen as being of great worth, regardless of his or her health, age, or anything else that is distinguishable.
In a Biblical family, an aging grandfather or grandmother must be viewed as a family treasure whose every God-ordained day has a special purpose and worth. Our culture today has denied itself the joy of having generations of families sharing life together, and we suffer loss when we do not benefit from the wisdom and experiences of those who have gone before. One of the valuable contributions of the Book of Genesis is the picture it gives of men and women of God passing their blessing, their faith, and their wisdom on to their children and their children’s children. When we fail to value the most senior members of our families, we deprive ourselves of God’s intended blessings. Each generation is blessed by the regular interaction of those of all ages. That is true in our churches, and it is certainly true in our families.
Dr. Cliff mentions that the other dimension of the sanctity of life is destructive speech. The respect of God’s image in others drops down to even the simplest routines in our homes. Just as James warns about it (James 3:8-10), seldom does turmoil in our homes and families include harmful physical action, but without exception, the problems of the family involve critical attitudes and destructive speech. In a household that honors God, we are called to respond appropriately to those we should love most dearly and encourage most regularly. It is a matter of seeing the God-given worth of those in our families and responding, in word and deed, in a way that builds the home and glorifies God (Ephesians 5:33).
Our homes are to be characterized by love and respect, and both of those flow from a right attitude about the value of others. They are reflections of loving and respecting God Himself. So how are people treating each other at your house? What kind of words are spoken there, and what is the present level of respect there between husband and wife, and parents and children? As James says, we have the power to curse and to bless. With God’s help, in the light of His Word, let us carefully choose the latter!

ACCOUNTABILITY

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil (2 Corinthians 5:10).

As believers, we all know that we are saved by grace alone through our faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Nevertheless, we must know that we will answer for what we do with the years the Lord grants us in this life. We will be held accountable for the time, resources, and opportunities entrusted to us. Since we are talking about family, we must know that we will indeed give an answer to the Lord for what went on in our homes. He will review our lives, and we will answer for our words and deeds. If you were to stand today before the judgment seat of the awesome Creator God of Genesis, would you feel good about your household? Would you be prepared to answer for how you have treated your spouse? Have you been careful to respect and honor your parents? Have you systematically trained your children in the ways of the Lord, and have you stood by them in the challenges of growing up in a difficult world? If you find yourself responding negatively to these types of questions, then you need to plead the grace of God, finding forgiveness in Christ and fresh direction from His Word.

PRAYER

Lord, we stand amazed at the wonder of your creation, and we give thanks and praise to you for the gift of life itself. We ask that you would forgive us for the times we have taken life lightly and failed to pursue your perfect purposes. We seek your direction now, and we ask you not just to bless our homes, but to also guide each of us as we endeavor to establish our families according to your perfect design. May our marriages be enriched by your presence and your guiding hand. May each child, regardless of age, be renewed in a commitment to honor parents, and may each parent be more devoted than ever to the challenging role of passing on a rich heritage of faith to the generations that follow. May it be that when we do stand before you, we will have fulfilled our responsibilities in the family. May it be that our homes are blessed, not because of our merit, but because Jesus Christ is Lord of those homes! Amen.

From the book: “THE GENESIS FAMILY”
Chapter 1

Morris, F. Clifton, “The Genesis Family: Family Life Lessons, From the Garden to Goshen”. Fernandina Beach: Wolfe Publishing, 2001.