My Kids -- Your Kids!

A friend of mine once told me that "God speaks to me about my children; He doesn't speak to me about yours!" I have never forgotten it and have often been reminded of it when I see others trying to make rules for other parents.

Having said this (which I firmly believe!) I must also state that there probably are many things that one can see, think, believe, feel regarding another family's childrearing practices and not be sinning.

For example: My son-in-law and daughter have been wonderful in training their six children. I see sad examples in the church of behavior (especially during the worship service) that is shameful. I sit there, a bit proud and nose-in-the-airish, and think "Thank goodness, Ray and Aimee trained their children better than that." But I have often been chastised by the Holy Spirit for such thinking.

True, some of this behavior is due to a differing view on child rearing. Some is due to a complete lack of regard for others; some is due to exhaustion.

I wonder though do we have the right to make excuses for our children's poor behavior? I know that a two year old can sit quietly in church, I have seen it in my six grandchildren. I know that a child once out of diapers can go 'potty' before church and need not go again until the service is over, I have seen it in my six grandchildren. I know a child does not need a snack during church, I have seen it in my six grandchildren. I know a child doesn't need to bring the toy box to church in order to be amused during the worship service, I have seen it in my six grandchildren.

But I know this much: it is a tricky, even forboding, thing to make any attempt to correct anyone else's child . . . even if the kid is running loose during the church service. So we usually just leave well enough alone.

Maybe what we need to do is pray more for each family with little ones; come alongside the exhausted and overwhelmed. Maybe we need to have some sessions on parenting.  I'm not sure what all is necessary, but I am pretty sure the whole nose-in-the-air judgementalism is not the way to go!

Help us Lord to be as kind and patient with little ones as you were (and are). Help us to be helpful. Keep us from sinning against one of these little ones. Show us how to help overwhelmed parents. We need help, Lord Jesus.

I recently had the joy of hostessing our 2:42 group for an Indian dinner party. We enjoyed spicy dishes from the beautiful land of India and it was an interlude of calm and peaceful fellowship— a cheering time for us all.
I was refreshed from this event. And I also realized that apparently we do not fellowship nearly enough with our brothers and sisters in the faith. Dinner parties are one way to do that since the hurried chatting that occurs before and after church hardly qualifies for in-depth fellowship.

The better I get to know our little group the more blessed I feel to be a part of it. And knowing one another on a deeper level produces a longing to pray specifically and a camaraderie that the world knows nothing about.
Hospitality is the key.
And as my dear husband has often said, “It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, honey!” He says that because he knows that I do not have the gift of hospitality—teaching, administration, yes—hospitality no.

So why do I try so hard at this important duty? Because even in areas we are not gifted we must still practice that discipline. If I do not have the gift of mercy, does that mean I need not exercise mercy? I think not!
Hospitality is essential for the growth of love among the brethren. How can we meet the needs of and pray for our church family if we don’t even know them? And one more thing: loving hospitality doesn’t have a thing to do with your house; not one single thing.
When we were first married we lived in a tiny, 800 sq. ft. parsonage. Despite the size of our home we had some wonderful times of fellowship and though our fare was simple, our love was nurtured in those 800 sq. ft.
Hospitality was the key.
And because of our openness and their openness this group of folks (most have gone on to be with Jesus) remain very dear to us and we think and speak of them often. We were in every home and we were there frequently. And because of the extension of hospitality from and to us, we grew into a deeper love and appreciation for this little church body.
Hospitality was the key. It still is the key to long-lasting relationships.
So . . . come on in. Supper’s almost ready!

1000 Gifts

I hesitate to even mention this because as soon as one endorses a book every itsy bitsy section is critiqued and every crank comes out the woodwork to show their superior intellect, dissecting the work into uselessness. Well, I used to think I was an intellect, but God has pretty much cured me of that! So I am going to mention a book that has changed how I think and--dare I say--feel about things...lots of things.
One Thousand Gifts is Ann Voskamp’s journey from teeny weeny thanks giving to gigantic gratitude for ALL things God brings into her life. To sharpen her discovery of how much we have to be grateful for she decided to write in her journal one thousand gifts worthy of gratitude.
I’m almost at 300 on my list. And the more I find to be thankful about the more I am thankful. This attitude changes you and slowly you realize you are not only grateful, but you are filled with joy—deep down, soul-comforting, heart-softening, life-changing joy. For all, even the heart-crushing, breath-stealing sorrows of life.
Mrs. Voskamp found out, as I am finding out, that the thanksgiving and joy resulting from this exercise leave no place for anger, gossip, covetousness, mean-spiritedness, or any of the myriad icky feelings and actions common to man.
And we are found to be filled with so much gratitude to God for everything He brings/allows that even a whispered thanks is possible for the hurts and sorrows of life. Our God is good; He plans all things for good and for His glory.

I saw a trailer for an upcoming sitcom about parenthood. The scene shows an exasperated parent leaning over a crib in which wriggles a screaming infant.


The parent looks at the infant with confusion and vexation and says, “We are on your side! We are for you!” The point? These new parents are wondering why their little darling seems to be fighting them all the way.

I got to thinking about this and how true it is sometimes in relation to our loving heavenly Father. He says many times in His Word that He is on our side, He is for us. Why don’t we believe that?

It boils down to what EE says in Keep a Quiet Heart, “We simply do not believe God.”

He has repeatedly proven His trustworthiness, faithfulness, love and care. Still we live as though we don’t believe His goodness.

What is wrong with us?

I think it boils down to this: We are not intimate with our Savior; we are not practicing His presence; we are not trusting Him.

Dear Lord Jesus, for the sake of Your Glorious Name, help us to trust you with everything.

National Standards Mean National Tests!

This from Truth in American Education—The national standards movement raises grave concerns for private, religious, and homeschool families. These concerns: leads to national curriculum and national test; establishes uneven playing field (tests written from secular worldview perspective and college admissions based on national objectives); normalizes controversial societal issues (no biblical worldview to be sure!); threatens autonomy of homeschools (secular standardized tests and college admission policies); alters the accreditation process (again, national standards=national tests); and restricts parental involvement in children’s education (Am I being repetitive? Yes, national standards=national tests and means no local or parental control.). To read more on this go to: http://truthinamericaneducation.com