Your flesh tempts you to think love is something that is designed to make you happy, to make you feel good. Yes, it is wonderful when others love us. But you must not live live for those moments. Biblically, love is dying to what you want and living for what brings honor to God. In love, Jesus did not keep his life, but gave it up for you. Paul tells us three things that are not love. Love does not envy. Love does not boast. Love is not proud. I Corinthians 13:4 Envy has a particularly nasty twist with regard to parenting. Envy causes you to crave things that you think will make you happy. You listen to the lustful […]
Monthly Archives: November 2014
21 posts
Patience is often referred to as something that can be lost – as in “you are really causing me to lose my patience.” But how would it sound if you were to say “you are really causing me to lose my love for you?” If love is patient, then “losing” patience can be equated to losing love. Said this way the idea of losing patience is not a pretty one. A working definition of patience is living in the expectation of God’s care. Patience is part of the Spirit’s fruit. Patience is the opposite of frustration. Patience is a sure belief that God will not abandon you. No matter what the circumstance God’s love and care for you is never […]
It is easy to show kindness when your children are respectful and obey quickly with a smile. It is easy to show kindness when they clean the living room without being told. But when they are disrespectful and make a mess instead, being kind seldom enters our minds. But think about this. Suppose God chose to follow our example when he disciplines us for our sinful behavior? I don’t know about you, but that is a thought that terrifies me. Being kind does not mean you don’t discipline or correct. It does not mean you roll over and give your kids control of the house. It does not mean lowering standards. Being kind means that you show God to your […]
For a few days each fall, God’s canvas is covered with warm shades of stunning beauty. Then one morning the brilliant leaves are no more. The forests are bleak once again. Don’t live for what will not last. Any relationship, any endeavor, any hope, any dream that does not find its joy in Christ will fall to the ground and be trampled upon. Only those things which are connected to the purpose and plan of God will endure. Don’t live for what is dying. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (John 2:17)
Focus your attention on greatness! Praising God serves both to honor him and to focus our attention on his greatness. As sinful people, we tend to focus on ourselves and our problems, and lose a biblical perspective. But as God says in Isaiah, “…my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Praising God realigns our perspective and helps to conform our thoughts to his thoughts. Joy differs from praise but is closely related to it. As Jay Adams says,”Joy is a deep-seated attitude of confidence that grows out of dependence on God.”… Thus praise is an action, joy is an attitude. Contemplation of God’s sovereign working in history and in our lives produces in us a […]
James tells the story of two kinds of wisdom. In Chapter 3:13-18, he talks about wisdom from above and contrasts it with “wisdom” that is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. Which of these two forms of wisdom characterize your parenting? How can you tell the difference? The answer is shocking and disarming. If the “wisdom” that you deploy is different that what is described in verse 17 then it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. There is no middle ground. Honestly look at what verse 17 says is wisdom from above. Cry out to God for the courage and faith to show your children this kind of wisdom. Remember, anything else is described by the Holy Spirit as earthly, unspiritual, demonic. But the wisdom […]
Philippians is a book that talks about resolving conflict. In Chapter 2 we find the following admonition: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. From these words we learn that considering others to be more significant than we are is essential to heal the wounds of conflict. Of course, when we do experience conflict, considering the other person as more significant than ourselves is often the last thing on our minds. This is especially true of conflicts with your teenager. So, what does it look like to consider others more significant than yourself? […]
Parents have no problem instructing their children to obey quickly or to be kind to others. There is no dispute about teaching children that they should not hit each other or that they should respect authority. But what about commanding your children to praise God? Does that seem a bit unusual? Let’s think about this for a moment. The statement praise God is not just about saying the words praise God. Psalm 78 exhorts Israel not to hide the praiseworthy deeds of God from their children. As you read the psalm, you see that this is exactly what occurs. God’s deeds are listed so that he can be praised! So, when the scriptures say “Praise God”, it is not an […]
It’s Election Day. All 435 seats of the U.S. House of Representatives are at stake, along with approximately one third of the Senate seats and numerous governorships. The national media is doing its part to add to the drama and anxiety of the moment. Some would even have us think that the fate of our country hangs on the outcome of this election. But this is not accurate. The fate of our country is in the hands of the God of the Bible. No, you will not hear or read any stories that reflect this reality. There will be not exit polls that probe for this factor. But what the news media reports does not change what is true. Don’t […]
In ancient times warriors required powerful, fearless horses to carry them into battle. Before these great creatures could become useful in battle they had to be trained to respond to the will and leading of their riders. Once trained they were just as frightening and powerful as before, but now these warhorses would follow their rider’s commands without question. The word meek was used to describe these horses once they were trained for battle. They were submissive to the will and wishes of their warrior riders! Now they were useful in war. This is not the way we usually think of meekness. But this is often true concerning biblical character qualities. Terms like humility and meekness describe powerful traits. This […]