Christmas

Thanks-Giving

Wow, after this Thanksgiving holiday we feel full from all the food, happy to see family (at least most of us) and the cold winter chill starting up.

On the day of turkey-feasting, we sit around the table waiting to eat and glancing around to see who is going to pray for our meal. The prayers are sometimes heartfelt and sincere, and sometimes even humorous for those who thrive on attention. At the end of the day we go to bed with a full tummy and happy thoughts. Unfortunately, there is one huge problem we are passing on to our children.

We focus on the day’s busyness and not much on God. Why? Well for most of us traditions are passed down, and we do things just because they have been done that way. So I want to challenge you this holiday season with a thought, and something I hope and pray you add to your holiday traditions.

Being a children’s pastor I see kids pray all the time, and the one thing I see the most is that our kids do not pray in a thankful way. They usually start with what they want and need and sometimes a pray for mom or dad, just in hopes that it will get God (and maybe mom and dad) to get them what they want. They hardly ever start with giving thanks for what they do have and the great blessings they’ve received from God.

Maybe if we began with thanks in our prayers, we would start to influence their prayers. Plus, they might start appreciating what they already have so much of. I believe we need to start all our prayers in submission to our awesome King with the thanks giving He deserves.

Obedience

Tired

Today I am tired. Not just physically tired but mentally tired. I know in my flesh when I am exhausted I just want to slip away into “my space” and relax. However, that is not reality. There is my family that needs me, and checking out is not always the best option.

The times I decide to stay in the game, I receive abundant blessings from my family. You see, I used to be a person who checked out when I became tired. I thought it best for me, because when I am drained I tend to develop a short temperament.

For most of us when we are pooped (like I am right now), we start thinking of ourselves, putting ourselves first and what we need to do to take care of me. We tend to rationalize that this type of selfishness saying that it is what’s best for others. Well let me tell you, you may be wrong and missing out on some amazing blessings.

But things changed for me when I began to communicate to my family my levels of exhaustion. I decide to not check out, and they decided to be patient with me.

When I do this, the most awesome blessings come my way. My wife offers to rub my feet, my daughter asks me what she can do to help me and my son, well he is my hero, because when I sit on the couch he finds the remote for the TV and places it next to me.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of how my family so richly blesses and honors me. What are you missing out on? It is okay to be tired, but do not forget to communicate that to your family. Don’t decide to check out, because your family may just do the same to you.

It is amazing when they start to honor and bless you. I love my family and the way they honor me through the little things in life.

Here is a short video that is a great example of how we all feel sometimes.

Stop!

It is interesting when we are driving and see a sign that says stop, we stop. If we do not stop there are possible consequences. We could receive a ticket, collide into an accident or hit someone crossing the street. Because of the consequences, we obey the sign. We are trained to know that if we do not stop, we can potentially suffer. Unfortunately, this tends to characterize our lives. We stop for stop signs, but continually move forward in everything else. As a Christian how does this apply to us?


Okay, let me ask you a question: how many times has God asked you to stop? Did you listen? Well, let me be up front with you. This is a problem for me. I become so busy with life I tend not to stop and look around at what God has blessed me with: my wife, my kids and the most awesome church ever. Sometimes the only way God can stop me is to physically shut me down. At that point I finally look up and say, “Okay God, my attention is all yours.”

Growing as a man and as Christian I have learned I need to take time to slow down, STOP, look up and realize that I our glorious king wants to talk to me. Yes me. Wow, what an awesome king. And when He speaks it is some of the most profound moments in my life. If I never stopped to look up and listen, I would never be the man I am today.

Is God throwing stop signs in front of you? Are you listening for his words? Are you ignoring stop signs from God? And how many wonderful moments had been missed with your creator who just wanted to spend time with you, yes you. On God’s behalf I say to you: “STOP.” It will be worth every moment.

Parenting

What is parenting? What does a parent look like? And why does it hurt so much? These are a few of the questions I receive from parents who are struggling through each day. They attempt to maintain a bit of sanity to remind themselves they have to do this parenting thing all over again tomorrow. 

     
Here is what I want you to do: STOP. Stop everything bouncing around your mind and block out all the sound around you. Take a deep breath and close your eyes as you prepare to continue reading. Okay, you have cleared your mind, and now I need you to focus on what I will share with you. 

     
Our first question: “What is parenting?” Parenting is about the struggle of whether or not you made the right decision, said the right things or had been the parent your child needed. Sometimes you may ask yourself, “Am I even a good parent?" You made the best decisions you could, and you are an awesome parent. Just by reading this you obviously care about your child and want to be a great parent. That is what parenting is all about. It is about searching and struggling for the right answers and the right direction for your kid. 

     
It is now time to stand up, look in a mirror and truly search within you. I will still be here when you return…leave now. All right, now that you are settled back in, the second question had been, “What does a parent look like?” When you looked in the mirror, you saw what a parent looked liked. God has given you his most precious gift to care for, and you are now qualified to be a parent. Parenting is based upon our decisions, and at times we can make poor decisions that our children suffer for. However, parenting isn’t about perfect choices. It’s about doing your best with what God has given you. So smile and know you are on the right track. 

     
Now to the more daunting question, “Why does it hurt so much?” Wow, this is a tough question to answer, but I will attempt to put you at ease. Parenting can hurt a great deal from the poor decisions we make, the poor decisions our children make and the pressure we place on ourselves wanting our child not to make mistakes. First, you will make mistakes, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”(Romans 3:23, NIV). Second, your kid will make mistakes as they find their way in this world. Third, we tend to set the bar so high for ourselves as parents we position ourselves for failure right out of the gate.

     
Why is this self-imposed bar so high? Maybe we are worried about what others think more than allowing our child to fail and receive a teaching moment. Or maybe we do not want our kid to relive our childhood. Whatever the reason, it is something we need to take a reality check. Take a breath, relax and know you are a great parent. Worrying is part of the job. It will not go away, but you can alleviate the burdens by gaining perspective on things.

     
To close, I want to say something that is not said too often: you are the perfect parent. God chose you to be your child’s parent, and the God I know, does not make mistakes. What an honor. I want you to know that I am so proud of you. To care about your child and to want to be a better parent makes you a hero. Yes, a hero. Stay the course. Now turn off your computer, hug your child in your arms and feel a little less burdened.               

EXAMPLE!

Example. What a huge word with many implications. However, in the Christian community this word is becoming less and less effective. The word example becomes subdued by the word action. Yes, our actions. We are called to be an example of Christ, but then our actions speak differently. So often when I am sharing with a non-believer they will point out to me someone they know who says they are a Christian, but lives a life contradictory.

Why claim to be a Christian, and then live a life completely different? Were we not put here to be an example of Christ? Does not the word “Christian” have the word “Christ” in it? Why do we live outside of what God wants for us and make a mockery of the Christian faith?

At times, we desire to live our lives by our standards and not God’s. We place ourselves in front of Christ, and when we do this we prove that we cannot trust ourselves. How could we ever live a life sold-out for Christ? How are we to trust Christ, if our misplaced trust is in ourselves?

If we feel our needs are greater than His, then He will always lose. This is what others, specifically non-believers, see of Christians. This is the example we are leaving for those who are searching for the truth. It is ultimately our decision to trust in Christ and truly step out in faith.

Now the real problem: children. It is the little ones who look up to us for guidance, strength and what it means to be a Christian, become disillusioned. I see it every week in the children who come to Shepherd of the Hills Church. I hear words, see actions, receive questions and witness children only growing in their faith from being at church, when they should be growing more in the home. It is a tragedy that this is the path we are leaving for our children.

Example. How does this word fit into you and your family? Are your actions overtaking the example we are commanded to set for our kids? Do not get me wrong, we are going to struggle. However, how we handle that struggle will speak volumes into our kids and neighbors lives.

Let me go out on a limb here. Try taking the next month to live entirely sold-out for Jesus Christ, and see what happens to you and your family. It will not be easy at first, and furthermore, the enemy will not be happy. But living for Christ will strengthen you and your family and create a change for generations to come. For those of you who are living as an example, thank you, well done, and stay the course.              

At the end of the day our actions must reflect that of a person who is wholly sold-out for Jesus Christ. There is no option in this, only action.