Thursdays in the Truth: It's Summer, You Want Me to Do What?

So, it’s officially summer break at my house.  That means our normal schedule and routine are out the window.  Yay for not having to fight with the kids to wake them up and get them ready for school.  If I let them, their days would consist of sleeping in and staying up late, watching movies and brainless TV.  No chore would get done.  No reading would happen.  Nothing.

My kids who are used to lots of time commitments between school and extracurriculars are now looking at me for entertainment.  I love the time I get to spend with them over the summer but we always seem to have an adjustment period before we get to the fun part.  Please tell me I’m not the only one fighting this battle.  I have struggled with this as a working mom and a stay-at-home mom.  The thing they don’t realize is that I would also love to stay up late and sleep in and just hang out with them just being.  I’d rather not have to work or do the chores.  Don’t they know that if they just helped with the chores right off the bat, then we would have more time to just hang out?  And that if I didn’t have to fuss at them to help out, I wouldn’t look like the lunatic they frequently see when they look at me.

I am encouraged, as usual, after reading my Bible.  Proverbs 19:18 says “Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.”  I don’t think I’m the only one who immediately thinks of punishment when we talk about discipline.  However, in this verse I think we can broaden the meaning to include teaching them the right way to behave in all situations.  And in this case, that means teaching them that they must do the work before they can play.  And why shouldn’t we teach our kids that?  It’s the way the world works. If we want to go on vacation, we have to do the work first to earn the money to afford it.  If we want to eat a delicious snack, we have to make it first (or if you are like me, go to the store and buy it).  It even follows the concept of tithing: give your first fruits to the Lord and the rest is yours to manage. 

So this summer, I encourage your family to follow this principal as well.  We have things that must be done before we can sit and stare blankly at the screen or invite friends over or whatever it is that they want to do this summer.  Whether they are home with you all day or with a sitter or at daycare, we still have to be reminded to be disciplined.  Work and chores and, yes, even some studying must get done before we can run off willy-nilly and do absolutely nothing.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not run from it.”  Proverbs 22:6

“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace, they will bring you the delights you desire.”  Proverbs 29:17

Parenting is hard work, all the time.  These verses from Proverbs are encouraging in that they remind us that the hard work is hardest at the beginning.  With the right amount of discipline in the beginning you can reap the rewards of your hard work.  It might not be fun and they probably won’t be thanking you right away but there will be a reward in the end.

Of course, if you are like me with older children, you may think you’ve missed that opportunity with those older children and now they are destined to be the laziest people on the face of the earth.  Be encouraged that even one lesson plants a seed.  And consistency is the key.  If you pick this path, don’t waver from it. 

With that being said, we can survive this season of wacky schedules! When all else fails, lean on the Lord.  He will direct you to the support you need to be strong again.  Call on your Sisters-in-Christ to lend advice or provide the mommy-time-out you may desperately need.  On the flip side, if you feel like you’ve got a good handle on this discipline thing, pray to be a support for another mom who may be feeling overwhelmed. 

Thursday's in the Truth- WANTED! Dead or Alive

Textbooks often describe the Wild West towns of the early 1800’s as charismatic time periods of our American history.  As I prayed and continued to wonder why it was God spoke this ever so distant era upon my heart to rely His message, it was revealed to me almost as if I had traveled back in time. I closed my eyes and pictured myself walking down one of the dusty, dirty, searing hot town streets. I couldn’t help but to notice the numerous Wanted signs displayed on post office windows, saloon entrances and most vibrantly exposed within the town jails. You would’ve been able to stare straight into the eyes of those who were pictured here. These were the worst of the worst, the most notorious criminals that posed the greatest threat to society. Their capture was imperative and often times a reward was offered to entice any information that would lead to an arrest……dead or alive.

As Christians, our very belief poses a threat to Satan and his legions of demons. However, belief alone is only half of it. We are told that even the demons know the power in which God holds as James 2: 19-20 so accurately describes. “Do you still think it’s enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?”

 Do you have a reputation in hell? Is there a Wanted sign circulating with your name on it? Do you pose a threat to the forces of darkness so great that a bounty has been issued for you? In Ephesians 6:12 Paul writes to the church in Ephesus “ For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.”

 Often times, it’s easy to become stagnant in our faith, not making any real impact on the kingdom because we allow ourselves to observe from the sidelines without ever making an effort to get in the game. I truly believe that it’s not for a lack of desiring to, but more about how we perceive what it should look like. Each one of us has already been equipped with the spiritual gifts we need to get the job done. Did you get that? God has ALREADY given YOU the tools to succeed. There isn’t a course exam to pass or training seminar to attend.  1 Corinthians 12 describes what spiritual gifts are about, and focuses on the importance of being a unified body of Christ. We all have a purpose and a place. Together, we are able to maximize the effect of our combined gifts for kingdom power. I encourage you to meditate on the words Paul writes throughout this chapter and truly listen to what it is God is trying to speak to you.   

Is there a co-worker in the office who is at risk of salvation because you dare to speak truth and life into them? What about that mom at the PTA meeting who just moved here and is looking for fellowship? And you know that neighbor who keeps asking you over for coffee but you just don’t have “the time”, what you don’t know is that she really just needs an ear to listen. She feels trapped in a loveless marriage and doesn’t know where to turn. Until you realize that you don’t need a biblical degree or an auditorium full of listening ears to make an impact for God’s kingdom, you will miss the everyday opportunities to touch humanity, and that my friends is what the enemy desires most.

My prayer for all of you today is that you will STOP listening to the lies the enemy offers you and START believing in what it is God has in store for you.  It’s one thing to hear His word; I pray that each of you continues to find ways to use His word. Wake up each day with the honor of knowing that there is a picture of your face in hell with a Wanted sign on it.

Are you ready to become a force to be reckoned with? If so, make sure you smile for the camera!

Stef

 

 

Thursdays in the Truth: The Greatest Commandments (and Dad's words)

I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a Christian household.  My parents were good Christians and are both believers. We weren’t the most committed family - we would go to church here and there, and sometimes Dad would bring out his bible and read it to us. And in spite of our loose definition of being Christians, it was known that our family believed in the bible and God, and we needed to believe in Jesus and His death and resurrection as our ticket to heaven.

Often, I look back on my childhood and there are some little wisdoms, or reoccurring phrases, that replay in my mind.  One of my mother’s phrases that she often repeated to me was: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” I’m sure this was in response to my horrible habit of procrastination! And I wish that after all these years I could say that I’ve learned to listen to my mother’s advice, but sadly, I have not. In fact, I am writing this post exactly one day before it is due; I have known about it for a month!

I can also hear my dad when I look back at my childhood. Over and over he would tell my sister and me: “Girls, there are two things that matter in life, your relationship with God, and your relationship with other people.”  As snotty teenagers, we would often go to our parents looking for some teenage empathy and he would always give this wisdom to us instead. I’m sure I must have rolled my eyes and obnoxiously mouthed the words as he repeated them.

I accepted Christ at a very young age, but I didn’t even start reading my bible until after I was married. Sure, I attended Sunday school and a youth event every now and then, but I didn’t dedicate my life to following God and the teachings of Jesus until I was baptized in the spring of 2005. I later joined a “small group,” dusted off the bible that had been sitting on my bookshelf, and began reading through the gospels. One day I came across this passage in Matthew 22:

“34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

DING! DING! DING! The light bulb went off in my head – my dad had been right!! These were the very words he had been saying to me all these years. These are RED letters - Jesus’ own words; and these words would also later be repeated in Luke and Mark.

These verses are my life’s words. In everything I do, I try to take Jesus’ wisdom (and Dad’s words) into account. I am FAR from perfect. I make mistakes. A LOT of them! But I try to live by Jesus’s own words: Love God, and love people. That’s it.

How much different would your life be if you reminded yourself of that daily? Jesus said these are the greatest commandments. Number one is to love God. Love Him BIG with all your heart, soul and mind. Let Him in every crevice of your life and in every part of you. Don’t just love Him on Sundays or Wednesdays at bible study. Love Him big. ALL. THE. TIME.

Number two is to love people. Love HIS people. God created everyone - that boss you can’t stand, that jerk that lives next door, that lady that annoys you, the road-rage driver that cut you off, that one mom at the school, and the friend you are fighting with. Fill in the blank with whomever. Jesus said we must love our neighbor, whoever that may be.  

So I encourage you today, wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, to LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE.

Thursday's in the Truth: Are you Faking It?

For the last few months, I have been wrestling with this idea of faking it.  One thing you need to know about me is I am a straight shooter.  What you see is what you get.  I don’t dance around issues; I get straight to the point.  If you ask me a question, I will tell you my honest answer.  I am like that with people too.  I am not good at faking my excitement to see someone, or putting on that happy face to make everyone think everything is good.  Yet I look around and see so many who are.  I know for a fact some of them are faking it, and so I have been wondering lately, am I wrong?  Should I be better at faking it when people are around?  It never seemed right to me.  I couldn’t wrap my head around why God would want me to put on a show.  I certainly didn’t want to fake it, I was perfectly happy being me.  But it still kept nagging at me.  What was I missing?  And then I came across these verses:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12: 9-18

And then I got it.  I was asking the wrong question; I was going about it the wrong way.  It was a love issue.  Am I loving people well?  Am I devoted to them?  Am I sincere?  Am I doing everything in MY POWER to live at peace with them?  We aren’t called to be fake.  We aren’t called to have it all together.  We are called to love sincerely.  Yes, we see this all through Scripture, it is the Great Commandment after all.  But it usually takes me a little longer to get it.  My question has now changed to am I loving people well?  Am I loving people the way God would have me love people?  Am I approaching the situation in love?  My prayer has changed to, “God, help me to love your people.  Love people THROUGH me.  They need YOUR love, not my own and the best love they can get will come from you, so love them THROUGH me.”

So are you faking it?  Are you just trying to be nice to someone to get through the day? Are you putting on a show?  Or do you need to start loving someone sincerely?  Unfortunately, I haven’t found any easy answer to this, love is hard, but I am striving to love people better, to see people through God’s eyes and not my own and to love them sincerely.