Doris Neal - Excerpts and recent presentation topics

EXCERPT: SOMEONE HAS TO SOW THE SEED

SCRIPTURE:
Old Testament Genesis 8:22
New Testament Matthew 13: 1-9, 18, 23

The family is the corner stone of society. Someone has to plant the seed of God’s word in the family. Our nation is in deep moral decline because Satan has disarmed us. The churches in our nation will be no stronger than the prayer power that’s in our homes. Satan has disarmed our homes. No more family devotion time together. Mothers and fathers are on drugs. The television and VCR are our babysitters. Designer clothes, education, and wealth are the gods in who we trust. Altars have been replace with bars.

Our nation is in deep moral decline because Satan has disarmed our schools. The highest court in the land has ruled the reading of God’s word and prayer in our schools unconstitutional. We have replaced Bible reading and prayer with drugs, alcohol, violence and teen pregnancy, knives and guns. The power of the Word of God and the power of prayer are the weapons of defense that God has given us to defeat Satan.

I thought about the statement the senator from Oregon made following the high school massacre in Springfield, Oregon. He said, “The solution to the problems that exist in our society lies within the hearts and homes of our society.” If Jesus is not in our hearts, we cannot impart the truth of God’s word in our homes.

I recall one day, a young lady who didn’t know Christ, was brought to my home by her sister. The young lady’s name was Jessica. I shared with her the need for her to invite Jesus Christ into her heart, not only for her own sake but also for the sake of her lovely little children. She looked at me and said, “ I’ll just wait until my children are grown and let them make that choice for themselves.” Wrong, wrong, wrong – years later, the result was a son being killed while laying in bed, another child in prison, and the obligation of raising three grandchildren – her unwed daughter’s children.

Upon leaving my home that day, she commented on my lovely bed of marigolds. After saying goodbye to her, I started back past the same marigold bed. God gently spoke to me. “Somebody had to plant the seed.” The seed of God’s Word and the seeds of prayer are linked together. To wait until your children are grown, you have waited to late. The work of God declares in Proverb 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.

I heard a message by Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, the former Secretary of Health and Human services. He was speaking on strong families. He stated that there are seven things that work in strong families.

1. A sense of community
2. Good communications
3. Appreciation (Ephesians 4:15, 25, 29) show appreciation for each other
4. Making time (not quality but quantity time)
5. Spiritual wellness – this is a quality found in strong families
6. Having a strong sense of purpose in life.
7. Corrective therapy (Proverbs 22:15) foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him.

Dr. Sullivan stated it is important to understand that strong families make strong churches. Strong churches make strong communities. Strong communities make strong states. Strong states make strong nations. Strong nations make a strong world. I want to say to all parents, the first mission field is your family. We as parents should be the first to tell our children about Jesus.

The Seeds we plant today, will be the fruit of tomorrow.