God has not called you to implement your agenda, but his. Anger is an indication that your desires and your agenda have become too important. Human anger must not characterize your discipline. If it does, you have made discipline about satisfying your requirements. As a parent you are granted authority to enforce God’s commands, not your own preferences. Your authority is derived, not earned. Human anger and biblical discipline do not mix. Man’s anger will not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:20) The key phrase is the righteous life that God desires. God did not give you your children so that you could teach them to follow your desires and wishes. When you make parenting about […]
Monthly Archives: November 2016
To rejoice in judgment seems a strange idea. Normally judgment carries the idea of revenge or retribution for evil. For those who have done wrong judgment is something to fear. And as we examine our own hearts, even though we may attempt to avoid the thought, we know judgment is coming. Then as we look around our neighborhoods, our cities, our country, our world what is good is overshadowed by what is evil. Even the creation itself suffers under godless disregard for the treasure that it is. Judgment is inevitable. So, again, why rejoice in judgement? If you or I were to judge, there would be no reason to rejoice. If the judicial system in our country were the ultimate […]
This past week, Cubs fans across the country were aglow with joy over the World Series victory. There was light in their eyes! How many things bring light to your eyes? One of those things should be the Bible, specifically the commands of the Bible. The psalmist describes it this way: The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:8 This is stunning – God’s commands bringing joy to the heart and light to the eyes. Is this your experience? Are God’s commands radiant to you? This week there was no difficulty in identifying “Cubbies”, they were easy to spot. But finding people […]
After all the maneuvers, plots, polls and intrigue, next week God will raise up his choice to be president. Daniel 2:20-21 and Colossians 1:15-20 make this much clear. You will then be commanded by the Holy Spirit to be in thankful prayer for his choice whether you voted for the winner or not. God has work for his people to do. Because he is the one raises up and disposes human leaders as he pleases there is nothing that will be happen in this election that will prevent you from following Christ. Your job remains the same: be a light for the gospel! If you want to have a positive impact on the next election, begin to live out the […]
Three thousand years ago a father urged his son to get wisdom at any cost. Both his father and mother cherished him. The young boy was God’s gift to his parents after his older brother died in infancy. This father, with the events of the loss of his son, with the words of God’s prophet indelibly etched in his memory, made a passionate appeal to his son to embrace God’s wisdom. His message: “Love wisdom above all else.” This conversation so impacted his son that he repeated it to his own son. The words of the grandfather were handed down to the next generation. Read the power of these words: Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep […]