The Need for Family

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I like to watch cooking shows and I am especially drawn to ones like “Pioneer Woman” that have a real “homeiness” about them. What I mean is you can see that there is a strong bond and a real love between Ree and her children and her husband and other family members. Her cooking is a way that she expresses her love for them and interacts with them. I think this is the reason why “The Brady Bunch”, “Duck Dynasty” and other similar shows were so popular. Besides the comedy and fun they had together, it was the strong family bonds, the love they had for each other and in the case of Ree Drummond and the Duck Dynasty family members, they are Christians who have raised their children in such a way that they have passed on their faith and values to them.

A family is meant to nurture, love, support and encourage each other, but I see so much pain and dysfunction in families today, so much drug abuse, etc. (used to numb the pain), neglect of or abuse of children, etc. I believe the world is crying out to be loved, to be healed and made whole of the pain and dysfunction and to have a sense that they are forgiven and considered worthy to be loved and that is the desire of our Heavenly Father; to bring healing and restoration and the knowledge that we are so loved and valued by Him, so much that He was willing to give His only son to die in our place, for our sins, so that we could be reconciled to Him (John 3:16).

He created Adam and Eve and placed them in a perfect environment, where there was no sin or dysfunction, until they listened to Satan and chose sin, thereby giving him authority to bring evil into the world, but Jesus said in John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (superabundance, excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough), (New Spirit-Filled Life Bible).

The enemy continues to lie to people and make them think that if they surrender their life to Christ that it will be too hard, they will have to give up too much, etc., when the truth is, all they will be giving up is their sin, pain, dysfunction, etc. When you invite Jesus Christ to come into your heart and forgive you of your sins, He gives you a new nature, He changes your desires and helps you to become an over-comer. Not everything will change instantly, but little by little, as you renew your mind with the word of God (Romans 12:1-2), you learn God’s ways and you become more like Him. As you continue to yield to Him, the Holy Spirit will begin to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life, which is: love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Lord can and will bring healing and restoration to our broken relationships, as we allow Him to transform our lives and teach us His ways and even if those around you (your relatives, etc.) don’t want Him or they don’t want to change, He becomes your Father and the body of Christ becomes your family. There is a kinship and a common bond that comes with people of like faith that often supercedes even what you may experience with family, because it is the love of God that you share. So, if you’ve never invited Jesus Christ to come into your heart or you feel that you need to re-dedicate your life to Him, I welcome you to do so. I invite you into the family of God. God bless you all. Kelly Evans Rowe