Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered, “What was God thinking?” I have, and I’ll tell you that’s a very slippery slope. If you allow yourself to indulge those thoughts for long, you will certainly loose your footing . You’ll find yourself driven to become something you’re not, to do things you shouldn’t, to say things you’ll regret and in the end be left with an even greater sense of insignificance and worthlessness.
It comes down to identity and value. Who are you and what are you worth? If you look to the world for those answers, you will never measure up. But if you look to the Word, you will discover your real value and His plan for your life Isaiah 45:9 says, “Woe to him who strives with his maker!…Shall the clay say to him who forms it, What are you making?” Think about that, we are the very works of His hands, and He is pleased with what He has created.
It is especially important that we communicate this message to our children. Why, because the devil has succeeded at creating a pop culture obsessed by appearances with little regard for character and that too is a slippery slope. But remember, it’s hard to lead your children to the solid ground if you are standing on that slope yourself.
You may want to read more in the article, “Reflection in the Mirror.”
God bless you,
Jim Ertel;
God places children in our custody for what now seems to me, far too short a time. When our children were small, it seemed as though they would be with us forever. But now that they’re gone,and even though it’s been more than a decade since we became empty-nesters, we miss the joy, the laughter, the surprise, and yes, even the chaos that children can bring to a home.
I was recently talking with a friend who told me this story. He and his wife were at a restaurant and noticed a man sitting with his little three or four year old daughter. She was eating her pancakes while tugging on his shirt sleeve with her free hand. He was obviously preoccupied on his cell phone. He managed to finish eating and pay the check without a break in his conversation or more than a quick glance at the little girl next to him. They soon stood up, he took her by the hand and walked out, never acknowledging her plea for attention or interrupting his phone call.
I don’t pretend to know the motives of this man’s heart. But if it was what it seemed, then I feel sorry for both of them. A little girl was learning that a stranger on the phone has more value than her and a father was growing indifferent to the needs of his daughter.
I encourage you, take advantage of the short time you have with your children. Give them your full attention when you’re with them, not only your physical presence, but your heart and mind as well. You never know when that tug on the sleeve is really the open door to their heart. And if you close the door often enough, eventually they’ll quit knocking.
Blessings…
I’ve been thinking recently about how I spend time. In taking a personal inventory of the days, week, and months, I must admit, I was not all that pleased. There is certainly a lot of room for improvement, but perhaps not in the way you might think. In my assessment I realized there are many things that are good in life but very few that are essential. And I’ve realized that I have spent far too much time on things that are good at the expense of the things that are essential.
I think this can be especially true where families with children at home are concerned. Parents are being driven, not pulled, in a dozen different directions at once. They are being driven by the expectations that this world has gradually but methodically imposed. Most all of those expectations could be considered good, but unfortunately they often masquerading as essentials.
I encourage you as parents, take an inventory of the time spent with your children. Reconsider what is essential and what is merely good. You be the judge, but make sure you consider it in the light of God’s Word and not in the light of the expectations of this world and the people in it. If you’ll do this with an open heart, you may find that a lot needs to change., I did!
And by the way, if you haven’t figured it out yet, God’s Word is the most important of all the essentials. It is life! It is a light unto your feet! And it is essential that you teach its’ truths to your children.
We love you
A greyhound was once asked, why won’t you race any more? Are you to old? “Oh no”, said the greyhound, “I’m very young as far as greyhounds go.” Well then, won’t your master allow you to race? “Certainly,” he replied. ” My master always wants me to enter the race.” Really, then perhaps you can’t win, is that the problem? He stood to his feet, leaned forward, and posed as though standing in the starting gate. “I’ve won every race I’ve entered,” he said proudly. Then tell me, why won’t you race? The greyhound paused, laid down and sighed as he rested his head across his paw. Looking up with his sad puppy dog eyes, he said, “I just got tired chasing something that wasn’t real.”
Years ago I worked for a major insurance company. All the agents, including myself, were very competitive and the company made sure there was a big enough carrot at the end of the stick to keep the competition red hot. A good friend was in the running for agent of the year. The best from across the country were invited to Montreal for the awards banquet. The invitation alone was considered an honor.
I wasn’t surprised when his name was called to receive the award. But I was surprised at what he said when he sat back down at my table with the check and trophy in hand. I asked, “David, how does it feel to be numero uno?” He rested his chin on one hand and stared at the check he held in the other. Looking up at me with his puppy dog eyes, he sighed and said, “It’s not what I expected, in fact it’s the most empty feeling I have ever experienced.”
What are you chasing? What am I chasing? If it’s not the will of God, then perhaps we too will one day discover that the race we ran was in pursuit of something that wasn’t real.
Think about it!
Love and sacrifice are like inseparable twins. Sacrifice never appears without love and love is always accompanied by sacrifice. This has never been demonstrated in a more profound way than the sacrifice of the life of Jesus Christ. God’s love for us was so great that He gave His only Son as a sacrifice that we could be reconciled to Him for eternity.
The same is true within the microcosm of a family. Show me a man or a woman with great love for their spouse and I will show you a man or a woman who has sacrificed their own wants and desires for the one they love. Or show me a parent who gives all for the sake of their children and I will show you a parent with a deep well of love.
Unfortunately, in our culture many have come to believe, consciously or unconsciously, that love is a fruit of their needs fulfilled. Bless me and I’ll love you may describe it best. But that kind of love is shallow, superficial, and temporary at best. Enduring love is rooted in sacrifice and selflessness and it’s the super glue of a strong family.
I encourage you, read I Corinthians 13, again and again. Allow it to take root like a seed and in time it will produce the fruit of love you have always wanted.
God bless you!
When Shirley and I decided to enroll our children in a private Christian school, one of the common criticisms we heard was this: “Don’t you think you should expose your children to the real world? After all, they’re going to have to live there, aren’t they?”
To that we answered, “We would no more expose our kids to the evil influences of this world knowingly, without first preparing them, than we would throw them into the deep end of a swimming pool without first teaching them to swim.”
Obviously, there is no guarantee that a Christian school or even home schooling will completely protect them. But I encourage you, by any and all means, protect your children in spirit, soul and body. Allow them to keep their innocence for as long as possible. There is more than enought time for them to learn of the evil and degradation of man. Spend your time filling their minds with the knowledge of God. If you’ll do that, evil will stand out to them like an ink spot on a white shirt.
To learn more, read “Contending for the Heart”
We are all guilty of condemning, criticizing, and complaining. But do we realize the power those words have, especially with our spouse and children. Condemnation instills a strong sense of self-judgment and guilt. Criticism destroys initiative and creativity. And complaining magnifies problems, assigns blame and thereby justifies the avoidance of personal responsibility.
I think we could all agree that the the 3C’s aren’t helpful. So what do we do? It’s easier than you might think. The bible says we are to overcome evil with good. When you feel like condemning, speak words of blessing. When your tempted to criticize, encourage instead, and when you want to complain, look for a solution to the problem.
In doing this you will train your soul and become a blessing to other.
