The Word tells us in Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." As parents we are responsible o teach our children the ways of the Lord and to live a life the pleases Him (Deuteronomy 6:7). Essentially we are making disciples for Christ in our families(Matthew 28:18-20). The hope is our children will grow in the ways of the Lord.
After reading this scripture and understanding that if I train my child correctly they will learn the ways of Christ and bring honor to His Name. But as of late this scripture has made think of how I am living my life, if I train my child to follow Christ when they come of age and understand His Word better will my life match God's Word or will I look like a hypocrite to them?
If I teach and train my child to act in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control am I living that life. Or am I opposed to live a life to please Jesus because the word like sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, and orgies are a better description of who I am. I am an example of what it means to follow God's Spirit or am I an example of what it means to follow the devil (Galatians 5:16-26).
These are real life questions that as parents we will have to answer when the time comes. I am not preaching perfection but I am preaching transforming our ways under the Grace of God and by the Strength of His Spirit (Romans 12:2). We can easily dismiss this or pawn it off or we can act as responsible parents and live a life the pleases Jesus in every circumstance and every situation.
When your son asks you "Daddy how did you deal with lust? Did you fight against it or did you give in and say "I am just a man?" Or when your daughter ask, "Mommy how did you submit to you Daddy as the Word tells wives to, did you let him be the spiritual leader, did you encourage him, respect him, or did you stifle his leadership?" When kids asks, "How come you and Uncle Mike don't talk any more, why do you always mock people at church, why Daddy...Why Mommy?" Listen the list can go on and on but if we are truly training our children to follow Jesus we will have answer these tough questions and we can either try to justify our actions or we can humbly admit we wanted to gratify our selfishness as opposed to living for Jesus.
I am not saying we all go back to our parents to question them but I am saying if we call ourselves Christians and we are teaching our children the ways of the Lord, we must look at our own lives in every situation and ask "Our my actions/reactions pleasing to Jesus." Instead of trying to prove our actions as acceptable let's live like people who are dead to sin and alive to Christ (Romans 6:11).
I challenge you as a parent to live a life that reflects Christ and not a life the reflects your opinions because your kids are watching. Stay focused, you can do this!
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable.
http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label Parents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parents. Show all posts
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Sunday, August 3, 2014
"Our Arrows"
Psalm 127 is one of the most awesome chapters in the Bible that teaches us the importance of having God as the center of your family. Verse 1 says "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." It is plain and simple if we are not following the Lord's Direction for our family and we are doing it "our way" we are building on a foundation of sand as opposed to rock (Matthew 7:24-26). This means we must spend time in prayer and seek the Lord on how we are to lead our family because how the Lord tells me to lead my family may not be the way He tells you to lead your family. We can look to each other for encouragement but what works in my household may not work in yours. So as parents we must seek the Lord for the guidance to train our children according to His Word (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Proverbs 22:6).
Verse 2 says "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." True we should work hard to provide for our for our families but if we are more focused on providing a financially comfortable lifestyle for our family then we are on ensuring our family is spiritually sound, we are fighting a losing battle. Focusing solely on providing things will always rob us of sleep because we will never have enough or be content. But when we are focused on the spiritual growth of our families we can teach that it does not matter if we are in need or abounding in much our contentment is in Christ and our possessions (Philippians 4:10-13) and our sleep will be sweet.
Verses 3 states "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. " Our children are a blessing not a curse, and they should be treated as such. It is easy to become annoyed by a child asking 5 million questions about the same thing, the child who struggles to listen, or the kid who just does not understand. But it is in these times we must try our best to quail our temper and not discourage them with a demeaning response because every moment is an opportunity to teach them something about Christ through our words and actions (Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21).
Verse 4 goes on to say "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. " I love this verse because it reminds me that are children are tools that are meant to be used in God's Kingdom. And He uses us to direct them in the way the should go like an archer does with arrows (Proverbs 22:6). Like an arrow has purpose and direction are children have God given purpose but need Godly direction to get achieve it (this is why I cannot support abortion). So this means we must be actively praying for our children and actively involved in their life. Parents bare the primary responsibility to raise their children everyone else plays supportive roles. Some parents depend on the Pastor, Sunday School teachers, school teachers, grand parents, social workers, etc. to raise their children. God has not called the village to raise your children, He has called you. This does not mean you cannot seek out help and support but it does mean you should not put the sole responsibility on your support system and then fault them for children's flaws.
Verse 5 states ends the Psalm with "Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate." Simply put it is an honor to raise children in a Godly manner, and the more the merrier. We often look down on plus size families as if they are crazy. We call it abnormal, mock them, and judge them. But the Lord calls them blessed and has bestowed them with honor. It is an honor and a calling to raise Godly children. We should see the blessing in raising our children and take it serious because it is evident to me that God takes it serious. And what is important to Him should be important to me. When I raise my children in a Godly Manner my family will not be put to shame even if my child strays I have equipped them well enough to know how to get back (Proverbs 22:6). And like an arrow I discipline my child to keep them from going of course (Proverbs 29:15) because when it comes time for them to face the enemy as a mature Christians they will be ready for the fight of faith. Stay focused you can do this!
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable.
http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/
Verse 2 says "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." True we should work hard to provide for our for our families but if we are more focused on providing a financially comfortable lifestyle for our family then we are on ensuring our family is spiritually sound, we are fighting a losing battle. Focusing solely on providing things will always rob us of sleep because we will never have enough or be content. But when we are focused on the spiritual growth of our families we can teach that it does not matter if we are in need or abounding in much our contentment is in Christ and our possessions (Philippians 4:10-13) and our sleep will be sweet.
Verses 3 states "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. " Our children are a blessing not a curse, and they should be treated as such. It is easy to become annoyed by a child asking 5 million questions about the same thing, the child who struggles to listen, or the kid who just does not understand. But it is in these times we must try our best to quail our temper and not discourage them with a demeaning response because every moment is an opportunity to teach them something about Christ through our words and actions (Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21).
Verse 4 goes on to say "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. " I love this verse because it reminds me that are children are tools that are meant to be used in God's Kingdom. And He uses us to direct them in the way the should go like an archer does with arrows (Proverbs 22:6). Like an arrow has purpose and direction are children have God given purpose but need Godly direction to get achieve it (this is why I cannot support abortion). So this means we must be actively praying for our children and actively involved in their life. Parents bare the primary responsibility to raise their children everyone else plays supportive roles. Some parents depend on the Pastor, Sunday School teachers, school teachers, grand parents, social workers, etc. to raise their children. God has not called the village to raise your children, He has called you. This does not mean you cannot seek out help and support but it does mean you should not put the sole responsibility on your support system and then fault them for children's flaws.
Verse 5 states ends the Psalm with "Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate." Simply put it is an honor to raise children in a Godly manner, and the more the merrier. We often look down on plus size families as if they are crazy. We call it abnormal, mock them, and judge them. But the Lord calls them blessed and has bestowed them with honor. It is an honor and a calling to raise Godly children. We should see the blessing in raising our children and take it serious because it is evident to me that God takes it serious. And what is important to Him should be important to me. When I raise my children in a Godly Manner my family will not be put to shame even if my child strays I have equipped them well enough to know how to get back (Proverbs 22:6). And like an arrow I discipline my child to keep them from going of course (Proverbs 29:15) because when it comes time for them to face the enemy as a mature Christians they will be ready for the fight of faith. Stay focused you can do this!
"In His JOY!"
Read the Word, Share the Gospel, Be Accountable.
http://consumedbyjoy.blogspot.com/
Saturday, June 8, 2013
"Wayward Parent"
Luke 15:11-32
The parable of the prodigal son tells of a child who abandoned his family, squandered his inherentice, but later returned and was received home. His father welcomed him back but his older brother resented him.
I find today that story runs true in the lives of many. And it's not so much the child who runs away at times but at times it is the parent. Some fathers run from responsibility and leave a mother to raise a child alone. Some mothers struggle to be there for their child because they have to balance work, daycare, parenting, and make ends meet. And some mothers abandon their child for the love of a man. There are so many scenarios that can play out these are just a few, sometimes it's the mother who leaves and the father who has to raise the child and struggles just the same as mentioned above. So to you single parents I pray God strengthen you for the journey and surround with wisdom and help for the task that is before you.
But what happens when that child whom was raised without knowing their biological father and/or mother finally meets them. It's hard to fight back those raw emotions and questions of why? And I cannot begin to imagine the pain but I look at the prodigal son's father who could have rejected his own flesh and blood and let him feel the guilt of leaving. Instead he welcomed him back with loving arms and expressed to his son that he was forgiven. I am sure it was hard for his father because so much time was lost between his son and him. But I like how the father cherished the time he had now gained with his son and did not waste it on questions and speculation. Not to say if his father were to question his son it would without valid reasons but I appreciate how he spent more time on getting know his son as opposed to being hateful towards him.
For some of us, we are going to play the role of the loving father when our wayward parent returns seeking forgiveness for abandoning us, abusing us, or neglecting us. Now it is important to note the prodigal son lost all his inherentice just like the wayward parent lost some years, maybe respect, or even the right to be called "mommy" or "daddy". But it also important to notice that the father's love for his prodigal son was unconditional and his forgiveness was instant. So if you are the child of a wayward parent I know you have questions and hurts but trust this, God sees those and through all your suffering He was the one healing your wounds, bandaging your scars, and holding you in His arms as you cried. It has always been Him and He will never stop. So when that wayward parent returns don't be like the older brother who resented his brother and was angered by the very presence of his brother. Your wayward parent is more than aware of what they did and they may find the words or courage to say, "I am sorry and I love you." or they may never apologize for what they did. They will never be able to make up for time lost or take back the mistake of hurting you. But remember your forgiveness of their sin is worth more than the apology they owe you. And I know I will never understand how you feel because I grew up in a loving home with good (not perfect) parents. And I am not advocating abandoning or abusing kids nor am I excusing their reckless behavior. However what I am saying is capture what time you can while you can. And if your wayward parent died prior to coming back or you offering them forgiveness find comfort in this. The loving father was waiting on his prodigal son to return not so he could forgive him but to express his forgiveness that he had already granted his son years ago. We will not always have the opportunity to let others know they are forgiven and reconcile but we will always have the chance to forgive in our hearts. I know it's tough but sometimes as Christian this is the weight we bare. But we do not bare it alone, Christ is there with us and He will never abandon us.
Read the Word, Spread the Gospel, Be Accountable.
"In His JOY!"
The parable of the prodigal son tells of a child who abandoned his family, squandered his inherentice, but later returned and was received home. His father welcomed him back but his older brother resented him.
I find today that story runs true in the lives of many. And it's not so much the child who runs away at times but at times it is the parent. Some fathers run from responsibility and leave a mother to raise a child alone. Some mothers struggle to be there for their child because they have to balance work, daycare, parenting, and make ends meet. And some mothers abandon their child for the love of a man. There are so many scenarios that can play out these are just a few, sometimes it's the mother who leaves and the father who has to raise the child and struggles just the same as mentioned above. So to you single parents I pray God strengthen you for the journey and surround with wisdom and help for the task that is before you.
But what happens when that child whom was raised without knowing their biological father and/or mother finally meets them. It's hard to fight back those raw emotions and questions of why? And I cannot begin to imagine the pain but I look at the prodigal son's father who could have rejected his own flesh and blood and let him feel the guilt of leaving. Instead he welcomed him back with loving arms and expressed to his son that he was forgiven. I am sure it was hard for his father because so much time was lost between his son and him. But I like how the father cherished the time he had now gained with his son and did not waste it on questions and speculation. Not to say if his father were to question his son it would without valid reasons but I appreciate how he spent more time on getting know his son as opposed to being hateful towards him.
For some of us, we are going to play the role of the loving father when our wayward parent returns seeking forgiveness for abandoning us, abusing us, or neglecting us. Now it is important to note the prodigal son lost all his inherentice just like the wayward parent lost some years, maybe respect, or even the right to be called "mommy" or "daddy". But it also important to notice that the father's love for his prodigal son was unconditional and his forgiveness was instant. So if you are the child of a wayward parent I know you have questions and hurts but trust this, God sees those and through all your suffering He was the one healing your wounds, bandaging your scars, and holding you in His arms as you cried. It has always been Him and He will never stop. So when that wayward parent returns don't be like the older brother who resented his brother and was angered by the very presence of his brother. Your wayward parent is more than aware of what they did and they may find the words or courage to say, "I am sorry and I love you." or they may never apologize for what they did. They will never be able to make up for time lost or take back the mistake of hurting you. But remember your forgiveness of their sin is worth more than the apology they owe you. And I know I will never understand how you feel because I grew up in a loving home with good (not perfect) parents. And I am not advocating abandoning or abusing kids nor am I excusing their reckless behavior. However what I am saying is capture what time you can while you can. And if your wayward parent died prior to coming back or you offering them forgiveness find comfort in this. The loving father was waiting on his prodigal son to return not so he could forgive him but to express his forgiveness that he had already granted his son years ago. We will not always have the opportunity to let others know they are forgiven and reconcile but we will always have the chance to forgive in our hearts. I know it's tough but sometimes as Christian this is the weight we bare. But we do not bare it alone, Christ is there with us and He will never abandon us.
Read the Word, Spread the Gospel, Be Accountable.
"In His JOY!"
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