Tag Archives: Psalm 127:1-5

Who’s Your Builder??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #379

24 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Except The Lord build the house..., Faith or Entertainment?, Faithful God--Faithful me!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Fighting With God's Weapons, For Such A Time As This, Giving Thanks to God!, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Trusting Jesus?, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word, Victory IN Jesus!, What does worldliness look like?, What's coming out of your heart., What's coming out of YOUR mouth?, What's The Word?, Where are you leading those following you?, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who will you believe and follow?, Who's following you?, Who's Listening Anyway?, Words Matter

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Who’s Your Builder???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #379

I know some of you are thinking, “I’m not building a house!”; but on the contrary, we are building every day!  We are generally building or tearing down, even when we aren’t even conscious of it.  We are building up our spouse or tearing them down!  We are building up our children or tearing them down (regardless of their age!)!  We can be building up those around us or tearing them down without even being aware of it!  But my friend, we need to be aware—words and attitudes matter!  I want to share a brief Psalm with you this evening, yet one that touches the scope of our lives—our homes, our focus, our family, our attitude toward family, and in our culture, many don’t even consider that a subject to consider.  God says differently through King Solomon.

“Except the LORD build the house,

they labour in vain that build it:

except the LORD keep the city,

the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

to sit up late,

to eat the bread of sorrows:

for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children

are an heritage of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb

is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man

that hath his quiver full of them:

they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak with the enemies

 in the gate.”  Psalm 127:1-5

May we let God speak to our hearts through His Word and I ask Him to tune our heart to His.  May we seek to have God’s viewpoint on all these things.  Toward our spouse!  Toward our children!  Toward having children!  Toward our pursuits!  Toward what really brings happiness!  Toward power, prominence, influence and financial importance!

The main thing I want to point out, is in the first part of verse one; it says it all!  If we are trying to build our house—be it a structure of brick and mortar—be it a family—be it a future–be it a career–be it a godly home—be it a relationship with those around us, we must put God first!  We must, I repeat must, seek God and His ways first and foremost in all our ways.  Let’s consider two of my favorite passages on this subject.  I pray that you will take these simple thoughts before God and ask Him to examine your heart and mine to give us His viewpoint.

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.”  Proverbs 3:5-8

Amen and Amen!!!

If Not Now??? When??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #361

27 Friday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, Living For Jesus, Living TODAY!, Looking Unto Jesus, Love, Love Is Action, Lovest Thou ME?, Speaking, Speaking The Truth In Love, Spiritual Procrastination, TODAY, Today And Tomorrow, Today IS Today!, Too Late To Call?, Touch them while you can?, Train up a child....

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If Not Now???  When???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #361

 

“Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying,

On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,

24 The LORD bless thee,

and keep thee:

25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee,

and be gracious unto thee:

26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee,

and give thee peace.

27 And they shall put my name

upon the children of Israel;

and I will bless them.”  Numbers 6:23-27

God called Moses to call the spiritual leaders of Israel, the Levites, to call God’s blessing over the people.  How much more should we as parents call God’s blessings over our children; not just in our spoken words, but in our life style.  Our children will follow much more of our actions than just our words.  What are you speaking to your children, over them, before them?  Oh, please, my friends, I implore you to not miss today!

My heart has been heavy of late for the words unspoken.  While I often told my children that I loved them, and I still do, how much more time could I have spent putting in positive guidance, and not just being the disciplinarian (and discipline is essential for a well-balanced life!)?  As most of you know, I lost my daughter some five and a half years ago, and it has been heavy on my heart and mind to remind each of you to take advantage of today!

Our children are a blessing from God—be they natural born into our family, adopted, fostered, or just accepting those who are neglected into our circle.  God expects us to share His love with them and count them as a blessing and not a burden.  Enjoy the days that you have—you don’t know what tomorrow holds.

I will simply leave you with a word from God, may you be reminded of the short time we have to influence those precious gifts from God.  Not just in their childhood, but to be a spiritual guide in their lives by example, leading them to the cross.  What kind of heritage are you leaving for those who come after you?

“Except the LORD build the house,

they labour in vain that build it:

except the LORD keep the city,

the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

to sit up late,

to eat the bread of sorrows:

for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man

that hath his quiver full of them:

they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak with the enemies

in the gate.”  Psalm 127:1-5

May you be blessed to hear from God today!  May you spread the love of God and that “peace of God, which that passeth all understanding”; and may you share it, spread it around and don’t let those “I love you’s” go unsaid!  May we spread the love of God as we go—at home, at work, in the store, on errands, even driving!  Have a blessed day my friends, I’m praying for you.

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”  Proverbs 27:1

Amen and Amen!!!

Touch Them While You Can??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 19

03 Sunday Apr 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Advice for the journey, Children, Choices And Consequences, Making a difference, Touch them while you can?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 19   Touch Them While You Can???

“Except the LORD build the house,

they labour in vain that build it:

except the LORD keep the city,

the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you

to rise up early,

to sit up late,

to eat the bread of sorrows:

for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children

are an heritage

of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb

is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man

that hath his quiver full of them:

they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak with the enemies

in the gate.”  Psalm 127:1-5

We are living in a culture that minimalizes, ignores, and even tries to replace the value of children in the home; yet God places great stock in the value of children!  As the Psalmist says above, it is GOD who will “build the house”, “keep the city”, and gives “his beloved sleep”; it is also clear that God speaks clearly to the import of “children” in the home—they are:

“an heritage of the LORD”

“his reward”

“As arrows …. in the hand of a mighty man”!

God also says that children can produce “Happy” men—families!  They present an opportunity to spread the good news of God’s salvation to our posterity, to see faithful successful children following our God, and accomplishing great things for God, for mankind in general, and families!  Spreading the good news, as we teach them God’s truth from The Word of God, rather than entertaining them from the lies of the world.

Paul encouraged Timothy to remember the import, in his own life, of the truth of scripture and the passing on of faith to our children and grandchildren.

“But continue thou in the things

which thou hast learned

and hast been assured of,

knowing of whom

thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child

thou hast known the holy scriptures,

which are able to make thee wise

unto salvation through faith

which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”   2 Timothy 3:14-17

Just as Paul had already credited Timothy’s family for teaching him truth, knowing that faithfulness in truth and righteousness is contagious!

“I thank God,

whom I serve from my forefathers

with pure conscience,

that without ceasing

I have remembrance of thee in my prayers

night and day;

4 Greatly desiring to see thee,

being mindful of thy tears,

that I may be filled with joy;

5 When I call to remembrance

the unfeigned faith

that is in thee,

which dwelt first

in thy grandmother Lois,

and thy mother Eunice;

and I am persuaded that in thee also.

6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance

that thou stir up the gift of God,

which is in thee

by the putting on of my hands.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power,

and of love,

and of a sound mind.”   2 Timothy 1:3-7

The sad thing to my heart is that we are living in a society that is actively sacrificing our children on the altar of popular culture.

We must set our minds to know God’s truth (by digging into the Word of God) and being willing to stand by it with faithful confidence!  Jesus Himself made the priority of children clear.

“Then were there brought unto him little children,

that he should put his hands on them,

and pray:

and the disciples rebuked them.

14 But Jesus said,

Suffer little children,

and forbid them not,

to come unto me:

for of such

is the kingdom of heaven.

15 And he laid his hands on them,

and departed thence.”  Matthew 19:13-15

Paul also reminds us that we are to depend upon the Word of God—it is not only our guide but our assurance in all things.

“Study to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing

the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

Thinking of “rightly dividing”, there is an implication that if we don’t “rightly” divide, we may be guilty of “wrongly” dividing it! One of my favorite passages to ‘divide’ is in the book of Deuteronomy, and I encourage you to read all of chapter 6, but for time and space here, we’ll only look at a portion of the passage that I pray will help us understand the family’s responsibility, especially the father’s, to live, preserve and pass on the ‘Gospel’ by living what we “say” we believe, in order to pass on a godly heritage.  Let’s consider the order:  first the parents must love God and determine to trust and follow HIM faithfully, to live a faithful life of obedience to God, and then see the conclusion of a faithful life in their children asking, “why do we live this way” (Blanche’s paraphrase)? Then we, as parents, are to share our living, active relationship of faith with the God who saves, for our children to observe.

“Hear, O Israel:

The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them

diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them when thou sittest

in thine house,

and when thou walkest

by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them

for a sign upon thine hand,

and they shall be

as frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Our love for God is to be evident in all that we say and do; our children are to see God IN us, in our words and ways.  We are to be a reflection of God’s glory to our children just as importantly (if not more importantly) as to others!

Continuing with Deuteronomy 6:

“And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying,

What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD our God

hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the LORD brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand:

22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders,

great and sore,

upon Egypt,

upon Pharaoh,

and upon all his household,

before our eyes:

23 And he brought us out from thence,

that he might bring us in,

to give us the land

which he sware unto our fathers.

24 And the LORD commanded us

to do all these statutes,

to fear the LORD our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,

as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness,

if we observe to do all these commandments

before the LORD our God,

as he hath commanded us.”   Deuteronomy 6:20-25

What value are you placing on children?  Are they a nuisance or a treasure?  Are they an inconvenience or a blessing?  Are they worthy of the cost of time, energy and money, or is it cheaper to have a “pet” instead? (I have no problem with pets, but I do have a problem with those who diminish the value of children and try to replace human offspring with pets!  No offense intended!). It seems to me that we are oft-times feeding our lusts and offering our offspring on the altar of our own lust, greed, and convenience!  Abortion is promoted, and how sad it must make God that we kill our own children while rescuing trees, whales, and other animals! What has happened to our priorities?

I have a friend who teaches what I call “the littles”, and she and her husband spend their time teaching the “littles” about Jesus; not just entertaining them with frou-frou, movies, and things of the world, but teaching them the word of God, the love of Jesus, what we truly celebrate at “Christmas” and on “Resurrection” Sunday, and how to live according to God’s Word and HIS SON—JESUS (not a man in a red suit or a bunny with eggs)!  These children learn that Jesus saves, and they learn that they can see HIM at work all around them!  She is so blessed to bring these “littles” to the cross, that the parents want to be in her class too!  What are you doing for the “little people” in your life?  Do you have time for them?  Or are we so busy we give them a fist full of money and send them elsewhere?  Will you see them and touch their lives before they are gone, or will you miss your window of opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children?  Believe me it is much better to have a great relationship than a heart full of regret for opportunities missed, and lives ruined by not knowing God, or seeing HIM in the lives of the adults in their lives!

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, if we lose another generation, we may not have a choice or a second chance!

“The fool hath said in his heart,

There is no God.

They are corrupt,

they have done abominable works,

there is none that doeth good.

2 The LORD looked down from heaven

upon the children of men,

to see if there were any

that did understand,

and seek God.”  Psalm 14:1-2

May God help us to see through His eyes and be the example HE intends for us to be!  After all our future is at stake!

“If the foundations be destroyed,

what can the righteous do?

4 The LORD is in his holy temple,

the LORD’S throne is in heaven:

his eyes behold,

his eyelids try,

the children of men.”  Psalm 11:3-4

Amen and Amen!!!

Except The Lord Builds??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #665

08 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Remember, Repentance, Seeing Truth, SIN, Sovereignty

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #665 Except The Lord Builds???

 

“Except the LORD build the house,

they labour in vain

that build it:

except the LORD keep the city,

the watchman waketh

but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

to sit up late,

to eat the bread of sorrows:

for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage

of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb

is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man

that hath his quiver full of them:

they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak

with the enemies in the gate.”   Psalm 127:1-5

I would like us to consider the nature of our “building” activity; for it seems to me that we have become a nation of ‘independent’ builders—doing our own thing—rather than relying on the master builder—The Lord God Almighty!!!

The Psalmist tells us that when we don’t rely upon God’s work, and ‘do our own thing’, so to speak—it is vanity, and even when we set ‘the watchman’ it is vain, if we aren’t relying on God.  It reminds me of the picture that Jesus painted in Matthew 7 about the “wise man” in contrast to the “foolish man”!  The story implies that the houses looked the same on the outside, but the foundation makes the difference between success and failure (heaven and hell)!  If we build on “the rock of my salvation”, Jesus, we can stand fast, because our foundation, Jesus, is sure.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings

of mine, and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings

of mine, and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

We are in a culture war today, and people are choosing to build on the sand—our world has bought the lies of the enemy, and unlike the Psalmist, we (as a nation) don’t want God’s hand in our “stuff”—our world/nation wants to build its own way (on the sand), to reject the ‘master builder’ and set the foxes to guard the hen house, so to speak.  And I find it most interesting how the Psalmist ties the blessing of children into the blessing and gifts of the “master builder”; and that is one of the core issues of the battle we are in today—the value of life; life for the unborn, the old, the infirmed.

I find it interesting that the “land of promise” here in America (and in other prosperous nations) has become the “land of greed’!  We have forgotten that our very own “Declaration of Independence”, didn’t promise wealth, ease, and the promotion of greed, but rather

“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.

The opportunity to work and earn one’s success!  But when we leave God behind—or out completely—we will reap the consequences of our choices!  And I can’t help but believe that we are seeing the vanity of wrong choices all around us!  But my friends, we must stop ignoring the problem and seek our God’s face—His convicting move amongst us—the repentance of God’s people—and the restoration of the ‘light’ and ‘salt’ of HIS people!  After all, remember, that ‘revival’ is for God’s people; and when we will get right with our God, great and mighty things can happen as a result.

In closing, I would simply like to share some words from the scripture for us to ponder!

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts

are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways

my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher

than your ways,

and my thoughts

than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:6-9

“For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion,

and as a young lion to the house of Judah:

I, even I,

will tear

and go away;

I will take away,

and none shall rescue him.

15 I will go and return to my place,

till they acknowledge their offence,

and seek my face:

in their affliction

they will seek me early.”   Hosea 5:14-15

Even Jesus told the people of His day to repent!

“There were present at that season some

that told him of the Galilaeans,

whose blood Pilate had mingled

with their sacrifices.

2 And Jesus answering said unto them,

Suppose ye that these Galilaeans

were sinners above all the Galilaeans,

because they suffered such things?

3 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen,

upon whom the tower in Siloam fell,

and slew them,

think ye that they were sinners

above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?”  Luke 13:1-5

And as we have seen quoted regularly, may we truly hear what God is saying.

“If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.”   2 Chronicles 7:14

God has spoken, He is speaking—if we will but receive His call—and He will accomplish His purpose through HIS SON Jesus Christ our Lord!  HE is coming again!

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue

should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory

of God the Father.”   Philippians 2:8-11

Amen and Amen!!!

Who’s building your ‘world’?

Cups Of Water For The Little Ones!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #584

04 Wednesday Sep 2019

Posted by in Blessed by God, Children, Cups of cold water!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #584   Cups Of Water For The Little Ones!!!

 

“Except the LORD build the house,

they labour in vain that build it:

except the LORD keep the city,

the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you

to rise up early,

to sit up late,

to eat the bread of sorrows:

for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children

are an heritage of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb

is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man

that hath his quiver full of them:

they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak with the enemies

in the gate.”   Psalm 127:1-5

I just want to share a word today about the joy and delight of children!  We live in a culture of death—kill the babies but save the trees, or the whales, or the puppies, just not the babies—where life is without value and oft-times children (born and unborn) have little or no worth to our world.  Yet children are our hope—the hope that God grants perpetually!

Scripture is replete with stories of the dangers that lie in wait for children; Moses and the male babies were in danger of Pharaoh’s sword; King Joash was hidden by his sister from the wicked Athaliah who sought to kill him; even our precious Lord was delivered from the sword of Herod! There have always been those who take no delight in children for various reasons; and it seems that in our culture we regularly sacrifice our children (both the born and the unborn) to the gods of convenience, selfishness, success, eternal youth, and a host of other self-consuming evils.  God reminds us that children are our heritage—how sad that our ‘heritage’ is in such danger in these wicked days.  I don’t mean to be negative, but we all need to be reminded that GOD gives us children as a reminder of His love, His creative power, His design for the home, and His love for us!

We had the privilege of taking one of our young friends on a day of adventure yesterday, and it is such a delight to be around the young—they are so fresh, so open to see new things and learn from us, yet we are so often unaware of opportunities lost to affect the next generation—if we don’t affect them for God, there are other people and things out there seeking to destroy them!  We must take the time, the energy and the love to touch these precious gifts from God. Send a card, hug a child, give a small gift of love, share a story of your life with one of God’s “little people”!  After all God’s greatest gift to us was a “child”—the one born to save us, to love us, to grow us into HIS own image, and HE LOVES children!

“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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the

only begotten Son of God.”    John 3:16-18

Children are important to God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit, even the holy angels of heaven!  Here are just a few excerpts of things Jesus said about these “Little Ones”!  May we make the effort to touch and affect these precious “little ones” for Jesus?

“And whosoever shall give to drink

unto one of these little ones

a cup of cold water …”. Matthew 10:42a

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones

which believe in me,

it were better for him

that a millstone were hanged about his neck,

and that he were drowned

in the depth of the sea…

…10 Take heed that ye despise not

one of these little ones;

for I say unto you, That in heaven

their angels do always behold

the face of my Father which is in heaven.

11 For the Son of man is come

to save that which was lost…

…14 Even so it is not the will

of your Father which is in heaven,

that one of these little ones

should perish.”    Portions of Matthew 18:6-14

Watch out today for that little one whom God may send your way!  Make a difference in the life of a child (regardless of their age!)!  Let’s make a difference in our circle of influence—for we each have a different circle—God gave you yours, just as He has given me mine. Enjoy God, bless others, walk faithfully before our Lord today—spreading a simple “cup of cold water” of HIS love today—it’s all we have!!!  Amen and Amen!!!