Immediate gratification is the gateway to enslavement. This desire for the immediate is based on two lies. The first is that having what I want will be satisfying and the second is nothing bad will happen if I get what I want. This is the way sin works. If your children believe the lie that getting instant relief from their discomfort or discontent is ultimate, they have been entrapped by sin’s deceitfulness. This pattern, if not stopped, will result in a life dominated by the desire for immediate gratification. Pornography, substance abuse, abusive behavior, all have their roots in the quest for immediate gratification. The fruit of the Spirit is best grown in the soil of self-denial. When you hear […]
Monthly Archives: July 2016
27 posts
Most of us are not very good at asking for help. Asking in a way that humbly acknowledges your need, that shows respect and appreciation for God and others and does so in a way that is not selfish is a life skill that will benefit you and your children. In 2 Chronicles King Asa provides an excellent example of how to ask for help. Asa is faced with doing battle against an army that is significantly larger than the army of Judah. He needs help: Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, […]
You can have confidence in the face of terror and be an encouragement to your family and to those around you. In Matthew 10 Jesus brings gentle encouragement to his followers. He tells them it is God who has the real power over body and soul. Then he tenderly comforts his followers by reminding them that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from their Father’s care. So, don’t fear for you are worth more than many sparrows. The world is not stumbling out of control, even if our leaders are uncertain in their responses to evil. Your loving heavenly father is committed to care for you no matter how serious the threat of terror. Focus on the […]
Courage is doing what must be done, even when I am afraid and I think it is too hard. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9) A Prayer for Courage God, please help me to have courage. It is very hard to do what’s right when people might make fun of me or be angry at me. It’s also hard when I’m afraid I’ll fail. Thank you for Jesus, who had the courage to die on the cross for me. Help me to care about pleasing you more than anything else. In Jesus’ name, Amen. This prayer has rich application for […]
Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 that regardless of whether one is rich or poor, wise or unwise, prepared or unprepared, young or old, the storms of life will come. These storms come in many forms. Last night the storm of terror swept over Nice, France. There is outrage, sadness and fear. Once again, the question is asked: “Why is this happening?” The answer is that we live in a sin-cursed world. We are told we can be safe. Yet we are shocked to find out there is no safety. We believe we can protect ourselves. We believe that we are entitled to safety and peace. But we are being rudely awakened to the reality that these beliefs are a lie. […]
Pokémon Go has done something few electronic games have done: it gets users on the move. Nintendo has merged the real world with the virtual. Users, through the window of their portable gaming device, are out and about hunting for Pokémons, short for pocket monsters. In 1996 Nintendo introduced the Pokémon phenomena in Japan. In 20 years Pokémon has indelibly stamped its impression on the gaming universe. Originally there were 151 of the pocket monsters to find. Today there are 718. The Pokémon home page estimates there are over 20 million daily users of Pokémon Go. There is a popular Pokémon TV cartoon show which has over 800 episodes and counting. Over 21.5 Billion Pokémon Trading Cards have been sold […]
It is easy to pray for good things. You want our loved ones to be healthy and safe. You want the unrest and violence in our country to end. You want your children to follow God. You want those suffering with sickness to be healed. You want joy to be restored in your marriage. These are good things. But do you have the courage to pray for something more? You sell God short when you only ask for things that seem to good to you. In the prayer of our Lord, Christ gives us something better to ask for: he asks that God’s kingdom will come and that his will be done. This request requires trust in God. This is […]
Do you lead your children or do you push them? Leading is born out of love and pushing is born out of frustration. For example, pushing your children towards obedience is evidenced when you tell your children that you demand obedience and speak sharply to them because you love them and only want the best for them. Children are seldom convinced they are loved in this way. It appears to them as if they are being pushed into doing what mom and dad want. In contrast, leading in love means that sharp words are replaced with pleasant words. Demands are replaced with understanding leadership that recognizes the battles with sin are not won by force of will but by dependence on […]
The world is a scary place. You don’t know when or where the next mass killer will strike. You cannot will your children to safety. You cannot wish cancer away. You cannot remove the drunk driver from the road. You cannot force world leaders to be wise and responsible. You cannot stop dangers on the playground or even in your backyard. You cannot stop the hurricane or earthquake. In short, you cannot eliminate the things that bring fear in this life. If this is true, how can you know peace? How can you avoid being dominated by fear? Even in scary times, God calls you to trust him. Here is what the Holy Spirit says to you from Psalm 56:3-4: […]
The Bible is a precious gift. It is tells you about life. It provides perspective in troubled times. If your heart is troubled this morning take refuge in these 185 words. Psalm 37:1-11 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, […]