Why is it so hard to forgive?

When it comes to forgiving, we think with the heart of man instead of the heart of God. But what does the Bible say we are to do when we have been hurt (figuratively and/or physically)? Forgive 70 X 7, which means, every time.

My granddaughter is currently struggling with this issue. She was hurt by her best friend, and refuses to forgive her. Perhaps it has to do with being prideful, and not appearing weak, or appearing willing to “allow” the behavior that hurt her, I don’t know. But even though she and I have talked about what God says about forgiveness, she refuses to forgive her BF(F). The only thing I could share, after telling her what God expects, is that if God forgives us, we should be able to forgive each other, and for her to pray about the issue. I will check with her later to see if she has.

Matthew 18:21-22, Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered,  “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times!” (Or, seventy times seven, depending on the Bible version.)

Are you a buddy to your kids?

Imagine having to play a game, but no one tells you the rules. Every once in a while your team gets mad at you for not doing something right, and sends you off the field. After some time passes they let you back on, only to send you off again because you aren’t following rules that you don’t know. Wow, would that be frustrating!!

I know this is a strange analogy, but I would compare a parent trying to be a “buddy” or “best friend” to their kids, to not teaching them the rules of life. I know too many former students who told me they “hated” their parent(s). When I asked them why, or if their parents were “strict,” the kids who seemed to hate their parents the most were the ones who had no rules, or limits, and could do whatever they wanted.

Now, I know that kids will be prone to exaggerate, especially in front of their peers, but I have also known these kids well enough to believe what they were saying.

Parents can not afford to be a buddy or best friend to their kids. They must be the ones to set and enforce the limits, and especially when those limits are pushed or ignored by their kids.

Kids need limits. They need rules. They will try to break them, yes, but that is because they want to make sure those rules are really the rules. I have read child psychologist’ statements that knowing the rules actually makes it easier for a child to be happier, because they don’t need to constantly test to find the guidelines.

The Bible has a lot to say about raising up our kids. In most verses about child rearing, the Bible uses the term “rod.” I know not everyone believes in spanking, (although it is not illegal, contrary to popular opinion). I believe that if you replace that word with “discipline,” the verses still make sense. I could go on about this for far too long, so I wanted to put in one set of verses.

Ephesians 6: 1-4, Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise – “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

 

Are your kids ready for school?

Well, believe it or not, the heat is still here but for kids summer’s almost over. Are your kids ready? How about praying a special blessing on your kids and their school materials?

The pastors at Sonrise teach about anointing our homes for the Lord, and praying a blessing over everything in our home. This school blessing could be similar, but without the anointing oil, which might cause problems on school materials.

Gather everything your kids need for school (or not, your choice). Sit with your kids’ materials around you, and them, and pray for each object, as well as your childrens’ teacher(s), and school room.

I was guided by God to write this prayer, but pray over your kids and materials as you wish:

Dear Lord Jesus,

Please bless each object here that my child needs for school.  Put your hand on my child (name), and bless him/her each time they use these things. Help them listen attentively, and remember what they have learned. Help them use these materials wisely, and grow in knowledge and wisdom. Most importantly, help them to remember to seek you to guide them in their learning and help them grow, as students, and as Christians.   Bless their school room, and make it a place where concentration and work can happen. Bless their teacher. Grant her/him wisdom and a strong desire to teach and reach every student.    In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

 

Summer Family Fun: Week 8

Hi all! We’re already into August, can you believe it? Pretty soon we’ll be buying Christmas presents! (I know…DON’T say that!)

Soul: 

  • Keep up your family prayer journal. Are you seeing answers? Record them.
  • Also: Memorize 1 verse this week. Young kids learn easy verses, older kids and adults get the more “meaty” verses.
  • Compete to see who can remember the most verses off the top of their head. (Without going back through the Bible to remember them, or practicing first)
  • Make this kid vs. kid and adult vs. adult to be more fair.

Mind:

  • Another “Big Word” game: Use the word “alphabetical” as your big word, write down how many words you can make from it.
  • For older kids, don’t tell them the big word, see if they can figure it out.

Body:

  • Do a family evening walk
  • Could be around your neighborhood, or around your high school track.                   (Remember, don’t do any physical exertion if it is hot outside, or you have compromised health. Check with your physician first, if you aren’t sure about the outside conditions, or your health)

Do we have freedom of speech?

Yes, in this country, we have freedom of speech. But with freedom of speech comes responsibility. Some people might disagree, but we do not have absolute freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is a God given right in this country, but there are people sharing made-up information on social media as though it was fact.  Even my Christian brothers and sisters are sharing it, and believing it.

Absolute freedom of speech destroys people, and ruins lives, because it maintains we can say anything we want to about anyone, especially if we don’t like them, or don’t agree with their views.

How is this Christian? We can not believe everything we see or read in social media! If information sounds silly, ridiculous, or even odd, it is probably a lie. If you aren’t sure if it is true or not – take the time to find out before you share it with others!

Jesus said we are to “Love one another” (John 13:34), and, “We love because He first loved us.” He did not say make sure our side wins. He is in control. In this crazy world, Christians need to be mindful that our job is to be ready to give a reason for the faith that we have,  not to share false information that makes one side sound better than the other.

I Peter 3:15, In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” (Bolding mine)

Can you keep a secret?

(If you think this blog is worth your time, please subscribe. I will be losing the linking ability from my blog to FB as of Aug. 1st, so you won’t see it on FB, unless I find another way to automatically link it. Thanks!)

When you are a parent, you hope and pray that the secrets your kids keep from you are minor issues, not major ones, right? And we, as our kids’ parents/grandparents, try to be the role models for how we want our kids to behave and live as adults, correct?

That doesn’t mean we tell our kids every detail of our lives though. There will be things we have done, and that have happened in our lives, that we may never tell them, or not until they are mature enough to handle or understand the information.

Someone we can’t keep a secret from, however, even though we may want to, is Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 4:13 it states, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

Just as we need to be “real” to our kids, which means sharing some of our weaknesses with them, we need to be completely real to our Lord Jesus. It doesn’t matter if we feel like we want to hide secrets from Him or not, He knows everything about us, and loves us anyway. Continuing with Ephesians 4:14, “For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin.”

Jesus knows, really knows, you. We hide things from friends, coworkers, even our spouse once in awhile, but we can’t hide anything, from what we think, to what we do, from Christ. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Our best role model is Jesus Christ. He is also our kids best role model, but they are going to look to you to lead them and help them grow as Christians. Be the role model your kids need, by closely following your ultimate role model, Jesus. He loves us despite our doubts and weaknesses. His love for us is unending and complete.

Keep the secrets that must be kept from your kids; hide nothing from Jesus.

Psalm 136:26 – “Give thanks to the God of Heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever.”

Summer Family Fun, Week 7

Hi all! I hope this has been a wonderful, rewarding summer for you. I am honestly running out of ideas for the Summer Family Fun lists, but I am using my compilation of things to do that I published on June 10th. (“Ways to Bring Jesus Home, Compilation”). If you can’t think of things to do with your kids on these last days before school restarts, take a look at the compilation of ideas. Hopefully, it will spark some ideas and creativity!

Mind and Soul: 

Eat dinner together (that means at the same time, hopefully at the same table), at least 1 to 2 times this week.

  • Put the dates on your calendar, so you have an “appointment” to have dinner together.
  • Make dinner something that everyone (or most of you) love to eat, or do something different, like having a picnic for dinner.
  • Pray before you eat.
  • NO ELECTRONICS are allowed while anyone is eating!
  • You might pick a topic for discussion before your “dinner date,” but make it something that your family won’t argue about.

Mind:  Game: “Two truths and a lie”

(If you have very young kids, you may want to play a different game {look below})

For “Two truths and a lie”:  This is a very simple game.

(Beforehand…give everyone time to come up with the two truths and one lie about themselves. This can often take some time.)

  • Each person in the family has to think of 2 true facts about themselves, and 1 lie.
  • Usually people come up with things they have done, or something they like, or dislike, that not everyone would know about.
  • Each person takes a turn telling their truths and a lie, and everyone else needs to decide which fact is indeed, a lie.
  • The person who is able to identify the most “lies” is the winner.

Example:

My two truths: I taught Lamaze childbirth for 10 years, and, I have been on TV before.

My lie: I got straight A’s in college.

Most of my grandkids thought that the lie was that I really haven’t been on TV.

For Younger Kids: “I spy with my little eyes, something  (state a color)”

My family plays this when we are on a road trip, but it can be played at home, as well.

  • The object of the game is to locate an object that the person who is “it” has chosen.
  • “It” answers questions about it, without being able to name the object.
  • The person who can identify the object wins.
    • EXAMPLE:
  • To PLAY: The person who is it says, “I spy with my little eyes something blue.”
    • Players look around for something that is blue.
    • First player, “Is it hard or soft?”
    • Next player, “Is it alive or dead?” and so on, until the object can be identified by the answers that the person who is “it” gives.
    • Suggestion: Have the person who is “It” keep their object choice in one room or area that all people have agreed on.

Body: 

Running through the sprinklers with your kids!!! Have you ever actually done that with your kids? Try it this week.

 

Are you a teacher?

(PLEASE subscribe. As of 8/1/18, my posts will no longer go to Facebook!)

One of the biggest reasons many parents don’t spend much time teaching their kids about Christ, or how to grow as a Christian, how to pray, etc., is they just don’t have the time. I totally understand. I see my adult kids trying to fit everything they need to do, both for themselves, and their kids, into their daily routine, and it is tough to get everything done.

But I think there is another way to achieve everything you need to do in a typical day, AS WELL AS spending time teaching your kids about Jesus, God, the Bible, praying, and so on.

The Bible tells us that time spent with and for God will be rewarded (blessed). Matthew 6:33 states: “But seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” By “all these things,” Matthew was talking about what you will eat, wear and drink. Your necessities will be taken care of when you put Jesus first. This includes having to go to work, wash the car, clean the house, and all the other “fun” (ha, ha) things parents have to do besides helping their kids grow as Christians.

Romans 8:28 states: “And we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Again, God wants to bless you, when you put Him first.

It takes faith to make time to teach your kids about God. But He states in these and many other verses about both the importance and blessing He will give you if you do make Him your priority.

You may see you have more time in your day than you anticipated. You may get a break at work you weren’t expecting. You never know exactly how God will bless you, but He will, if you put Him first, and allow time to teach your children about Him.

Hebrews 11:6: Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Do you have a daily quiet time? Do your kids?

Do your kids have a daily quiet time? I am all about parents/grandparents being role models. I know quiet time is usually adult time for individual, quiet, one-on-one with God – but creating a specific time when kids know to pray and read their Bibles can be a wonderful habit for them.

Most kids have time they use for doing homework, right? You, as their parent, have time set aside when your kids know you expect them to complete whatever homework they have brought home.

I know this might be hard to establish, but a morning quiet time can be as simple as reading a Bible verse on a topic, then praying for their day. Since it is still summer, now would be a fantastic time to set aside 10 minutes in the morning to pray for the requests in your family prayer journal, and read one or two verses on a topic you have chosen.

No matter what age, even small kids can learn how to fold their hands, bow their heads and listen while their parents say very short prayers.

To tell the truth, I did devotions with my kids in the evening for about 15 years almost every night, but I never tried to have them do a morning quiet time. It could be difficult during the school year, unless you are doing this with small children, or they have a later school start time, but it could be scheduled into weekends, holidays and summer mornings. Let me know if you try this…I’d like to know how it goes!

Ephesians 6:4,  Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Summer Family Fun, Week 6

I all. I hope you and your family are able to use some of the ideas I have shared for spending time together.  Family time is so important!  Please make it something that you do on a regular basis, no matter what time of year.

Mind-Discussion:

I thought I’d throw this discussion question into our summer ideas because I just did this with my grandkids for my post on faith.

“What is faith?” Even younger kids brought up in the church may have ideas about this. (Maybe 6 or 7 years old).  If they can’t find the words to define it, they might be able to give you an example.

For young kids: “What is praying?” “Why do we pray?”

Don’t expect this discussion to be long, just let it go as long as the kids are comfortable.

Body:

Turn on your favorite music, and DANCE! Kids love to dance, no matter what age they are. Actually, I love watching very young kids moving to the music, because they are so spontaneous and natural.

If you give yourself and your kids 20-30 minutes of dancing, you have done your exercising for the day! And you will have had fun doing it!

Soul:

Check your family prayer journal, or start one. I really believe that our kids need to see Jesus at work through the Holy Spirit. See if you can find prayers in your journal that have been answered, and how.

Another thing I think is super-special to do with kids, is to pray individually  with them and hold both of their hands when you pray. I believe that the kids see this as you giving them one-on-one undivided attention, and shows them the importance and “specialness” of prayer.