Monthly Archives: June 2012

Christian Living, Discipline of children

Well then . . . Picture It!

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Yesterday’s Father’s Day sermon at First Baptist Satsuma was excellent. As the Pastor was reading a particular verse I said ‘how long has that been there?’ Not aloud, of course. However there was some out loud comments – that’s another story. Like I said it was a really good sermon!

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. via Ephesians 6 NASB – Family Relationships – Children, obey – Bible Gateway.

Fathers. And I am pretty sure ABBA means Mothers too. Do not provoke your children to anger. Okay so I’ve known that from day one. However it was like a light coming on in a dark room when I read the rest. The way we provoke our children to anger (wrath as the King James reads) is to refuse to DISCIPLINE them and INSTRUCT them IN the ways of THE LORD.

We now have a world of angry, wrath filled, loud, unruly children and here is the reason.

But here is more indictment that ABBA gave me as I considered this piece to write.

Proverbs 13:24 The Message (MSG)

24 A refusal to correct is a refusal to love;
love your children by disciplining them.
via Proverbs 13:24 MSG – A refusal to correct is a refusal to – Bible Gateway.

So what is discipline anyway?

Is it yelling at them ‘wait till your father comes home’?  Perhaps we don’t do that anymore.

Is it repeatedly saying from the couch, ‘don’t do that again’. And then when again comes, Mom or Dad is still sitting on the couch?

Is it long speeches about how it use to be to the brazen ears of an adolescent? 

And the scenarios could go on and on.

Obviously I am NO expert in the field of discipline but I know Someone who is – James Dobson is close – :) and I am sure he is because he got his information from the ONE. ABBA. Himself.

This is what comes to mind.

Titus 1:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
via Titus 1:2 KJV – In hope of eternal life, which God, – Bible Gateway.

Hebrews 6:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
via Hebrews 6:18 KJV – That by two immutable things, in which – Bible Gateway.

Do you see it? GOD CANNOT LIE. And look what that means to us. Strong consolation. Promises. Refuge. Hope.

Have we considered that when we promise a child discipline for certain behavior and they do not get that discipline, we are LIARS?  And who trusts a liar? DO YOU? Well then . . . let us get off our couches and do what we say. Not only in discipline but everything! The fun and the sad!!

But that is not all!

When we get off that couch (and before we sat down on that couch) have we instructed them in THE LORD? 

Have we prayed with them? Have we memorized Scripture with them? Have we lived out the ways of THE LORD before them?  Well, no wonder they are angry and loud and unruly and crying out NOTICE ME!

Pastor gave a great illustration yesterday. He said that bringing them up is not standing at the top of the mountain yelling down at them to get up here.  But it is being down there on the mountain side with them LEADING them up to the top. Picture it! What a difference!!

It all boiled down to this for me. Do I love them enough to discipline them? Do I love them enough to be inconvenienced by them? Do I love them enough to humble MYSELF before GOD and raise them HIS WAY? And if I don’t they will SURELY be provoked to anger – wrath.

I did not do this well with my daughters and I’ve made mistakes with my GRANDS already. BUT I’m learning because my ABBA though the HOLY SPIRIT is right here on this mountainside with me leading and encouraging me to come to the top with Him.  Picture it! It will make a difference!!

And right now I need to wrap this up because two GRANDS have been very patient and quiet with their Mamaw as I have sat here to write this piece and I am going to reward them hugely!!!  :)

ABBA, thank You. I love you, DADDY GOD. You are FATHER and You are AWESOME.  Thank You. And, HOLY SPIRIT, I pray this offering of writing will be a tool that You can use to help. And this morning is Dori’s surgery and Kerri’s test. I love both these women and I am asking You for miracles for both of them. Miracles of healing and restoration and long lives that will give You glory and turn many many hearts to You for salvation and restoration.  Thank You, ABBA, in JESUS name.  amen and amen.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

Christian Living

Who Am I?

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Passing through the den on my way to the kitchen I heard a line from a pre-approved movie that Baby Girl GRAND was watching.

“And who will I be when this is over?”

Excellent question.

If I give myself to the one goal of mother, as important, as honorable and as good as it is; who will I be when the Babies are grown?

If I give myself to the one goal of wife, as important, as honorable and as good as it is; who will I be if he goes to Heaven before me?

If I give myself to the one goal of my chosen career, as important, as honorable and as good as it is; who will I be when I retire; or heaven forbid I am unable to work anymore?

If I give myself to the one goal of serving in the Church, as important, as honorable and as good as it is; who will I be when someone younger or ????? comes along and takes my place?

See my point? Finding who we are in a function, a title, a career, even the people we love will leave us wondering when the functioning and the people wear old or out.  And we must something!

Goals are a must. If we do not have them, we perish.

Proverbs 29:18 a  21st Century King James Version (KJ21)

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish; . . . via Proverbs 29:17-19 KJ21 – Correct thy son, and he shall give thee – Bible Gateway.

BUT only ONE purpose will last. Only ONE relationship NEVER goes away. Only ONE ministry is forever.

JESUS, The ONE and ONLY

 So how are you doing with this ONE?

Philippians 1:26-28 The Message (MSG)

22-26As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it’s better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues. You can start looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We’ll be praising Christ, enjoying each other. via Philippians 1:26-28 MSG – As long as I’m alive in this body, – Bible Gateway.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

So grateful JESUS that You are the One and Only and that in Your grace You have made Yourself known to us. Thank You for friends who gather here to read and to pray.  I pray for each of us to know who we are in You. Yes because we have that need but foremost because when we are certain that we are in You, when our identity is founded in You then all else is made better. Thank You.  And we bring our sick and afflicted to You as we often do asking that You heal them. And continuing to ask for grace and mercy and space to repent for our wayward ones, our rebellious, and oblivious ones. For Israel we pray for peace and safety, a subduing of Her enemies; for America we pray for mercy and an outpouring of conviction of sin and righteousness for JESUS name sake. Amen and amen.

Celebrations, You Tubes

Birthdays

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Our Bradford Exchange catalog came yesterday. It is a tribute to Thomas Kinkade. It is filled with items displaying his beautiful work.  I have enjoyed Kinkade’s work for many years – I was saddened when he died in April of this year.  But I’m off point.

The catalog is filled with items to purchase and, yes, the promotion of Christmas is predominant. And in all the predominance JESUS gets one page. One page! And whose birthday is Christmas supposed to be? And so I have been singing a song this morning. Let me share it with you.

But today is not Christmas. Today we do not officially celebrate the birth of our Savior – but we should!

In fact, celebrating that JESUS is would make Isabel’s birthday all the more fun!  She is the big 10 today!  So today is a day of celebrating.

For sure. For sure. Each of us has something we can celebrate today.

So today’s challenge: What are you celebrating today?

John 3:16    21st Century King James Version (KJ21)

16 “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.

via John 3:16 KJ21 – “For God so loved the world that – Bible Gateway.

Thank You, JESUS, for coming for me! Thank You for abiding forever for me.  I love You, LORD. And, ABBA, thank You, for ten years ago today. The birth of joy to this family. It is my heart’s desire that all her days she lives to give You glory. That she grows to be a godly woman, a woman with kindness on her lips and deeds of good walked out with feet bearing Your Gospel and hands helping the poor and the lost.  And not just Isabel but all of us who have received You as LORD and Savior. Make it so, LORD. Make it so.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,