Children

When you see Me

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John 12:44-46

44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.

As a child, did you ever awaken in the middle of the night after a bad dream and cry out “daddy…daddy I NEED you!?”

Why do we choose to remain alone in the dark when we become adults? Why do we stop crying out to our Father for help?

We refuse to humble ourselves and pray.

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Despite the fact that I realize prayer can eclipse the darkness around- and in me, it’s still not always my first weapon of choice. Instead, I often rely on my superior intellect and abilities to light my candle so that I can find the fastest, easiest way out of the dark.

Case in point:

IMG_0218As our family boarded an Airbus A321 during the wee morning hours last Saturday to travel to our vacation destination, I was once again consumed with worry. “What if there’s another terrorist attack? What if the pilot has mental illness and crashes the plane? What if we hit unexpected turbulence and fall from the sky? What will I do? How will I comfort our children?”

As I tried to rationalize these fears with statistics (you know the one about being more likely to die in a car accident that on an airplane?) I heard the Holy Spirit whisper “I am with you….”

Would I trust Him, or myself?

Thankfully, I chose Him.

But just to make sure that He was on that plane, this daughter cried out “daddy, daddy…I NEED you- please show me where you are!” When I looked towards the center aisle I saw Him (not physically, but in the Spirit) sitting on the floor, with the biggest grin, shouting “this is gonna be FuuuuUN!” I chuckled after I noticed the fighter pilot glasses He was wearing and control yoke He was holding to fly the plane (He looked a bit like Snoopy, aboard his red doghouse!!!).

IMG_0226As we flew south like birds for winter, the light of the sun began to rise and penetrate the darkness inside the aircraft. Simultaneously, the light of the Son began to rise and penetrate the darkness inside my soul. And once again, I was able to know that HE is God, that HE is in control, that HE holds the keys to death and the grave…. and when its time for me to die physically, HE will be with me- and then, then I will spend all of eternity praising the One who sent Him!

In Private

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Matthew 6:1-4

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

The other day, as I was scrubbing the master bath sink, cleaning up toys in the living room, sweeping the kitchen floor and doing yet another load of laundry for our family I wondered “how many times have my good deeds gone unnoticed in this house?” In which the Holy Spirit quickly replied “your Father sees everything you do in private….”

But, oh…how great it feels to do the deeds publically. To serve others with my spiritual gifts and have them respond with gratitude and praise! Blowing my own trumpet feeds my flesh – look what I did for that person in need. How charitable I am. God used ME to pray in unknown languages, discern a spirit, give a word of knowledge, or prophesy. I should receive a reward.

What a hypocrite.

IMG_5709As I talked with my husband about this latest revelation I acknowledged how hard my soul sometimes battles to be a submitted wife and loving mom. They are roles that, when fulfilled the way God intended, require me to be selfless, self-sacrificing and humble….every moment, of every day. Yet, when I constantly surrender my will to the Father, He not only gives me the fruit of His Spirit to love and serve my family, He gives me the gifts of His Spirit to help them when they are in need. And often, one of the rewards He blesses me with is a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with my groom and all four of our children.

He is El Roi, the God who sees me…and sees EVERY thing I do in private – and public. He is the God who loves me and forgives me. He is my greatest reward.

Who is my Mother?

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Matthew 12:46-50

46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.”[a]

48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

IMG_5323Mother’s Day: A National Holiday reminding us to celebrate the woman who carried us in her womb, labored to bring us into the world, and sacrificed 18+ years to teach us the way that we should go.

Exodus 20:12 tells us to honor our mother (& father), not just one day a year, but at all times. To honor is “to highly esteem or respect.” It is required when we are children and when we become adults. Even when we leave and cleave and are no longer under our parent’s authority (commanded by God to obey them), we must value them, as the Lord does.

Jesus honored His mother unto death. His sacrifice gave her, and everyone who believed in Him, eternal life with the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. But I wonder…. how did Mary feel when Jesus grew up and left her to minister to the world? Was she offended that He didn’t spend more time with her? Was she angry that she had to wait to speak with him? Was she feeling jilted because she had to share Him with others?

As children of God we are blessed with LOTS of parents and siblings! Not only do we have the benefit of being born or adopted into our family, we get to be born again into God’s family of believers. As a part of His church, we have the privilege of having a multitude of “mothers and brothers” to teach, encourage, exhort and rebuke us so that our hearts will become like His; fully surrendered to our Heavenly Father.

If we are wise, we will listen to what Jesus said to the crowd in order to ensure that all our family relationships are rightly ordered. Above all others, we are to seek and obey the Father’s will. When we place our mother or brothers (or sisters, children, spouse, friends….) above our relationship with the Creator of the universe we are guilty of worshipping other gods. This was never Gods intention when He created the family.

Fortunately for us, freedom from sin against the Father is always found through His Son. When we confess, repent and receive His forgiveness the Holy Spirit enables us to love God and love all our family members with genuine affection.

Romans 12:10

10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

A Shocking Thing!

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1 Samuel 3:11-14

11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. 12 I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. 13 I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God[a] and he hasn’t disciplined them. 14 So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.”

1 Samuel 2:12 tells us that Eli’s sons were “scoundrels.” During their ministry as priests, they not only stole sacrificial meat offerings made by their fellow Levites, they seduced women who were serving at the entrance of the Tabernacle!

As a parent, I have often felt condemned when our kids behave like “scoundrels.” But, the truth is, I am not guilty for their sin. Each of our children has their own will (some stronger than others!). All of them have the freedom to choose life or death; obedience to God by submitting to their parents or disobedience towards God by rebelling against them. Our three daughters and only son will stand alone before the Judge to give an account of their actions. I won’t be punished for their sin. I will, however, be held accountable for how I failed to discipline them when they disobeyed.

IMG_5056Let me state plainly: I am NOT a perfect parent. Our kids aren’t perfect either. But, I have learned a few important things on this parenthood journey…

1) I must worship God above all others.

Whenever I place my husband, our children, or any person/thing above Him, I am guilty of idolatry and I, and our family will suffer the consequences of my actions.

2) I must submit to my husband, as unto the Lord.

Studies continue to show that kids thrive in families that have a father and mother who honor their marriage covenant, ‘till death. When I love my husband, our children feel loved.

3) I must train our children.

When 1 & 2 are rightly ordered, my life is a living testimony to our children. I don’t have to lecture them relentlessly about what it means to love God and others. They will see it in my actions every day. And when they disobey, I don’t have to take it as a personal attack against who I am in Christ. Instead, I can love them enough to discipline them and assure them that forgiveness…and restoration is always available through repentance.

Eli “may have been an excellent priest, but he was a poor parent. His sons brought him grief and ruin. He lacked two important qualities need for effective parental discipline: firm resolve and corrective action. Eli responded to situations rather than solving them. But even his responses tended to be weak. God pointed out his sons’ error, but Eli did little to correct them.” -Life Application Study Bible

I would hate for the Lord to do a shocking thing in our family because I failed to heed his warnings to correct our children’s behavior. I’d much rather obey His commands to train our children in the way that they should go so that our family may reap His blessings for a thousand generations!

Proverbs 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Exodus 20:6

6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those[a] who love me and obey my commands.

A New Thing

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Isaiah 43:18-19

18 “Forget the former things;
 do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
 Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
 I am making a way in the wilderness
 and streams in the wasteland.

20 The wild animals honor me,
 the jackals and the owls,
 because I provide water in the wilderness
 and streams in the wasteland,
 to give drink to my people, my chosen,

21 the people I formed for myself
 that they may proclaim my praise.

When we began our remodel project a few weeks ago, our youngest daughter began to object verbally and physically to the change. She didn’t want new flooring, cabinets and countertops in the kitchen! Although I tried to assure her that she would come to like the new things, she didn’t believe me. With demo day in full swing I noticed her outside touching, smelling and crying over the old cabinets while talking to her “invisible Friend” (whom she recently clarified is God). Honestly, I thought she was somewhat crazy to be grieving those worn out, paint-peeling boxes of wood.

Having been labeled autistic- as different from “normal” people, I’ve come to realize the lack of social filters in her is in fact, a blessing. What she thinks and feels and senses just comes out! There’s no thought of “am I crazy to feel like this…am I going to offend someone with my opinion?” Even though our daughter bares her own unique image of God, she also resembles a lot of her Mama! As I woke up grumbling about some of the issues I saw in the new floor and cabinets, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a verse I have been studying recently:

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

and so I began to talk, out loud to my invisible Friend, telling Him my worries and frustrations and feelings of grief.IMG_5013

Grief?

Yes. Grief.

Grief over the former things….in our kitchen and in my life.

Then as my mind flashed back to our daughter saying good-bye to our old kitchen, I whispered, “Father, I am grateful that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank you for continuing to do new things in my life, my marriage and my children. Help me to deal with and not dwell on the past so that I can perceive what is springing up in Your Kingdom right NOW. Teach me to trust that You are making streams in the wasteland of my soul. Amen”

Santa, St. Nick, Elf on the Shelf….baby Jesus

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Proverbs 22:6

6 Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.

IMG_4848Every Christmas season I hear and read many passionate parents give their opinions- and judgments about why they- and others should celebrate Santa, St. Nick….baby Jesus.

IMG_4849Many mom’s and dad’s follow the traditions set forth by their parents in order that they can re-live their childhood, and create the same magical memories for their little ones. Others follow their friends or holiday “experts” advice in order to do it all. They spend countless hours decorating, shopping, baking, wrapping, screaming, cussing and drinking too much spiked eggnog after the tree and the demands of the holiday come come crashing down around them on Christmas Eve.

But I wonder…in the hustle and bustle, do we ever stop and ask “why?”

Why do we celebrate the way we do?

Why do we celebrate Santa?

Why do we adopt an Elf on the Shelf?

Why do we go into debt in order to buy all these gifts?

Why do we praise St. Nick?

Why do we celebrate baby Jesus?

Why do we think make-believe is more magical, more fun than reality?

Regardless of our reasons for the answers to these questions, the greater question- the only one that truly matters for all eternity is this:

“God, what do you want my family to celebrate? What do you want me to teach our children during this season?”

John 16:13

13 The Holy Spirit is coming. He will lead you into all truth. He will not speak His Own words. He will speak what He hears. He will tell you of things to come.

Once we’re willing to ask the King of kings – and obey His answer, we can rest….and enjoy this holiday season, knowing that our kids will not turn away from His teaching when they are older.

On the Way

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Exodus 4:24-26

24 On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him. 25 But Moses’ wife, Zipporah, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She touched his feet[a] with the foreskin and said, “Now you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” 26 (When she said “a bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the Lord left him alone.

After having a supernatural burning bush encounter with God, Moses packed up his family and possessions into the minivan (aka: donkey) and headed back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. But on the way to fulfill this HUGE call on his life, the Lord confronted him- and was about to kill him.

What!?!

IMG_4220All of us want to be significant. We want to leave a lasting mark on this earth before we enter into eternal worship of the Father. But sometimes, when we’re flying down the interstate in our minivan or SUV to go fulfill the HUGE call on our life, we fail to obey God in our life, our marriage, and our parenting. Let’s be honest: keeping our covenant with God and our spouse and our children is an unending, self-sacrificing, non-glamorous act of daily obedience. Entire nations aren’t watching us, cheering us on to do what is required. Yet, regardless of the size of the call (btw: every call from God is HUGE and designed for His purposes alone), we must be willing to obey His commands completely in every area of our lives …first. Otherwise, our mind, soul or body may die on the way to that HUGE call.

Growing up sheltered in the palace, then living in Midian, Moses may not have been aware of the covenant God made several hundred years prior with Abraham:

Genesis 17:9-14

9 Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. 10 This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. 11 You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. 13 All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant. 14 Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.”

Still, regardless of his ignorance, or whether or not his wife, Zipporah was opposed to circumcision, God had required it as an outward symbol of His promise to His people. Failure to do so would have literally cut Moses and his family off from Gods power and protection.

On the way to fulfilling the HUGE exodus of God’s people out of slavery, Moses chose to obey God in his life, his marriage and his parenting. I pray that I will do the same.