http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eftD5pte6qk
What a cutie!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Wow! It was as if Habakkuk was speaking directly to me about our financial problems, and our determination to always praise God and to have faith through all we go through.
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sink or Swim?
Imagine this scenario: A couple is blessed with a wonderful baby boy. They live near the ocean, so as their son grows up they or their friends bring up the subject of swimming now and then. The parents make the decision that they will not teach their son to swim, and they will not let anyone else teach him. Their friends cannot understand their position, so the parents calmly but firmly explain each time the topic is brought up that they do not want to make such an important decision for their child. They decide to leave it up to their son. If he shows an interest in swimming, they will take him for lessons. If he decides to wait until he is grown to make that decision, they are also fine with that. They believe they cannot make that decision for their son.
Silly you say? Well of course it is. No rational parent, especially one living near a large body of water, would let a child make such an important decision on his own, as it could lead to disaster.
However, many parents say they are leaving an even more important decision to their children. Many parents feel that they should not try to influence their children about religion. They say that they are leaving it for their children to decide for themselves when they are adults. There are two huge flaws in that thinking. The first is that children need guidance in many areas, and that is one of them. Proverbs 22:6 says it best: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (KJV). Our moral values are set at a young age. So expecting a child to grow up without that training, and then to make a decision, is not fair to the child.
The second flaw in that reasoning is that children learn from example. Therefore, whether you intend to or not, you are already teaching your child about religion and moral values. By ignoring the issue, you are teaching your children that it is not important.
So, understand that you are "training up your child." Although I have my beliefs, I am not telling anyone how to train their child. Just understand that you cannot passively stand by and let your child flounder when it comes to faith. Give your child guidance. This does not mean that you are not letting the child think for himself or herself. But if you believe in your values, teach them to your child. Listen and honestly answer any questions your child has. If you do not have an answer that will satisfy his or her need to know, find someone who does.
Don't just stand by and let your child sink.
Silly you say? Well of course it is. No rational parent, especially one living near a large body of water, would let a child make such an important decision on his own, as it could lead to disaster.
However, many parents say they are leaving an even more important decision to their children. Many parents feel that they should not try to influence their children about religion. They say that they are leaving it for their children to decide for themselves when they are adults. There are two huge flaws in that thinking. The first is that children need guidance in many areas, and that is one of them. Proverbs 22:6 says it best: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (KJV). Our moral values are set at a young age. So expecting a child to grow up without that training, and then to make a decision, is not fair to the child.
The second flaw in that reasoning is that children learn from example. Therefore, whether you intend to or not, you are already teaching your child about religion and moral values. By ignoring the issue, you are teaching your children that it is not important.
So, understand that you are "training up your child." Although I have my beliefs, I am not telling anyone how to train their child. Just understand that you cannot passively stand by and let your child flounder when it comes to faith. Give your child guidance. This does not mean that you are not letting the child think for himself or herself. But if you believe in your values, teach them to your child. Listen and honestly answer any questions your child has. If you do not have an answer that will satisfy his or her need to know, find someone who does.
Don't just stand by and let your child sink.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
How Do You Respond to a Cry for Help?
First, you need to listen. Otherwise you may not recognize it as a cry for help.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The "What If" Game
How many times have you said it yourself? "What if I had not been there that day? How would my life be different now?" Or, put another way, "If only I hadn't been there that day?" What if this had happened? What if that hadn't happened? The "What If" Game.
I believe we all ask "What if" now and then--it's only natural. I know some people, though, who let the What If Game rule their lives. If I had to determine who created the What If Game, I would not look toward Parker Brothers or Milton Bradley. I believe the What If Game is planted in our minds by Satan. If he can make us question the past, he might be able to manipulate our future.
Don't let the What If Game rule your life. Yes, things might have been different if events had happened differently, but there is nothing you can do about them by worrying now. There are a lot of things in my life that I might change if I could, but since I can't I go forward from where I am now. I know now that if I had followed God's leading, I would not have made the mistakes I made in the past.
I will continue to make mistakes. I'm human, so that is a certainty. I will continue to try to live the way God wants me to though, so hopefully there won't be so many. When I do make mistakes, I will turn them over to God, ask His forgiveness, and try to move on without any "What ifs."
Right now, before you forget, put your "What If" Game in the box, and hide it away on the highest shelf, in the deepest corner of your attic, then get on with your life. :)
I believe we all ask "What if" now and then--it's only natural. I know some people, though, who let the What If Game rule their lives. If I had to determine who created the What If Game, I would not look toward Parker Brothers or Milton Bradley. I believe the What If Game is planted in our minds by Satan. If he can make us question the past, he might be able to manipulate our future.
Don't let the What If Game rule your life. Yes, things might have been different if events had happened differently, but there is nothing you can do about them by worrying now. There are a lot of things in my life that I might change if I could, but since I can't I go forward from where I am now. I know now that if I had followed God's leading, I would not have made the mistakes I made in the past.
I will continue to make mistakes. I'm human, so that is a certainty. I will continue to try to live the way God wants me to though, so hopefully there won't be so many. When I do make mistakes, I will turn them over to God, ask His forgiveness, and try to move on without any "What ifs."
Right now, before you forget, put your "What If" Game in the box, and hide it away on the highest shelf, in the deepest corner of your attic, then get on with your life. :)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thomas is on the Way!
When we got home from working at Vacation Bible School tonight (around 9:30), I found a message on our answering machine from my sister. I had forgotten after the last power outage to reset the clock on the answering machine, but it was somewhere between 6:00 and 9:30. The message was that Nancy is in the hospital getting ready to give birth. WooHoo! I can't wait to meet Thomas!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Time Flies (When it's Not Dragging Along)
Life has been very hectic the last two or three years. So much has gone on. I graduated from high school and started college, got married, and had a baby. I got divorced, went back to college and became a teacher. I moved a few thousand miles from home, became a grandmother, remarried, and lost my mom way too early. A week or so ago Nancy got remarried, and got pregnant for the 3rd time. Thomas is due in a few minutes. Or a few months. Around Father's Day. Okay, okay, so it wasn't two or three years, or a week or so ago. Everything I mentioned happened in the last 34 years. Looking back though, it seems to have all happened so fast.
I have heard that the length of a minute depends on which side of the bathroom door you are standing. An example I have used is that a minute eating an ice cream cone would seem a lot shorter than a minute being hit on the thumb with a hammer. Even just going about our daily business, some days time seems to drag and others it seems to fly by. The year drags by, but when Christmas and New Year's come we wonder where the year went. I still remember when I first noticed that time seemed to be going faster and faster each year. When I was in the ninth grade time seemingly began to speed up, and it has gotten faster each year since.
This reminds me of two quotes. The first was from Kermit the Frog, "Time's fun when you're having flies." I love it! I don't know who said the second one, and it took me a few minutes to get it the first time, but it is, "Time flies like an Arrow. Fruit flies like a banana."
I have heard that the length of a minute depends on which side of the bathroom door you are standing. An example I have used is that a minute eating an ice cream cone would seem a lot shorter than a minute being hit on the thumb with a hammer. Even just going about our daily business, some days time seems to drag and others it seems to fly by. The year drags by, but when Christmas and New Year's come we wonder where the year went. I still remember when I first noticed that time seemed to be going faster and faster each year. When I was in the ninth grade time seemingly began to speed up, and it has gotten faster each year since.
This reminds me of two quotes. The first was from Kermit the Frog, "Time's fun when you're having flies." I love it! I don't know who said the second one, and it took me a few minutes to get it the first time, but it is, "Time flies like an Arrow. Fruit flies like a banana."
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