Overcoming Bickering

This week our four-year old has off from VPK but joins Matthew (six) and me in a special week learning about the Passion week of Christ (the week before Jesus was crucified).  One of the days we read from Luke 22:7-30 to learn more about “Holy Thursday,” the night of The Last Supper.  We read how our Savior poured out His heart to His disciples, letting them in on the great plan and what they could pass along to other generations to do in remembrance of Jesus.  But during this holy moment His disciples were…BICKERING! 

Does this resonate with real moms out there?!

There you are – in the moment – you just got done saying the last word of an awesome devotion for your kids where you thought they were SO attentive and it REALLY got through…. AND THEN… they start to BICKER!!

But here is where I focused my attention:  What was Jesus’ response?  Did He stand up, bang His hand on the table and yell in frustration at His disciples’ selfishness?! No, He didn’t.  Even with His betrayer RIGHT THERE, He simply responded in love and compassion.  He knows our frailty and tendency to think of ourselves before others.  He had the perfect story on hand for just such an occasion (see vs. 24-30).

Even though it didn’t seem like Jesus really got through to the disciples at that time, it is written in the Bible so WE can learn from His teaching.  And wouldn’t you know I got to use this illustration with our kids as they bickered over Legos not long after we read this awesome Bible story. 

The Lord is good and gracious. 

Thank You, my God for supplying me with what I needed at just the right time.

Mommas, read your Bible out-loud to your kids and ask them questions.  Apply it in their lives so they can relate to the story.  Maybe make hand-puppets out of socks or paper bags and put on a play.  Also, have these stories in your “back pocket” to use in everyday teaching moments.

Emissions Test

What would your emissions test reveal?  Remember those emissions tests we used to have to do for our vehicles?  The other day I was driving behind one of those trucks that would have failed the emissions test down-right if they were still enforced.   Well I got to thinking about what we as Christian mommas leave behind, our aroma…  Are we emitting the Love of Christ or smoke from hell??? Yikes I can’t believe I said that!!

Sometimes I can tell the person in the car ahead of me is a smoker because that’s what I smell coming through my ac.  What am I leaving for the person to “smell” behind me?  What am I leaving for my kids to “smell”?  Am I emitting a confusing message?  Do I yell at them to say loving & kind things to each other?  (read that again, LOL)

Did you ever just listen to your kids talking with each other?  My Matthew sounds A LOT like me.  He talks to his sister sometimes with my words which leaves me thinking, “Yikes, is THAT how I really sound?!

I prayed for my husband to reach his destinations safely the other day when it was raining really hard.  My prayer went something like this:  Lord, I pray that You prepare the road before him as dry ground and that he would leave a trail of milk & honey so people who would follow him (including the contractors he works with) would know how to get to the Promised Land (Salvation through Jesus Christ.)  Then as I prayed, God gave me that verse in Isaiah 30:21, “This is the way, walk in it.”  (It’s so worth reading the verses surrounding too.  Isaiah 30:20-22)

So ladies, are we leaving a trail to Jesus?  Maybe you need to ask Him to give you an emissions test like I did here:  Lord, thank You so much for the blessings you prepared around me, my family, friends, and neighbors.  I pray that you would wash me a fresh today to start out with new mercies and help me be merciful and kind to others as I emit the love of Jesus.  Amen!

 

Deuteronomy 6:2-4  that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!”

Love Is.....

Love is patient, 

love is kind.

 It does not envy,

 it does not boast,

 it is not proud. 

It does not dishonor others,

it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, 

always trusts, 

always hopes, 

always perseveres. 

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Someone once encouraged me to put my name every place, in the above verse, that I saw the word LOVE. It was convicting then...convicting today. Now, as I look at this verse through the eyes of a mom, I realize I need to be praying daily for those character traits of LOVE mentioned above. I want to rightly represent who Christ is (LOVE) to my children who are intently watching all I do. 

Which of the above verses resonated most with you?

Is there a characteristic of love that you need to hone in on this week?

Pray. Christ longs to give us His Spirit and help if we will just reach out and grab the hem of His garment.

Tossed to and fro

Ephesians 4:12-14
"for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,"

As I read Ephesians 4:12-14 I remember hearing Dr. Bob Barnes and radio host RuthieJ talk on Reach FM a while ago about keeping purpose in your kids’ lives.  The advice was simple yet profound.   Here’s what I got from it:  “Every time you drive by the community center sign, the sport of the month is advertised for your kid(s) to get involved.  But take heart - you don’t have to do it all.  Get your kid(s) into one or maybe two focused sports or other activities in an effort to build their confidence and other skills by giving them goals to strive after.  They can apply what they learn from sports to help with their daily walk with Christ as they look forward to heaven, the ultimate goal.”

And if we are ready with the Scriptures to equip these little saints for the work of the ministry to edify the body of Christ, they will be unified in the faith and know Christ and all His fullness.  These kids of ours will be armed with true doctrine so they won't be tossed to and fro, but having confidence knowing what they believe in and their hope of Heaven.

"Parenting Today" with Dr. Bob Barnes Mid-Day with RuthieJ

Playground Encounters

                                        - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

         

My four year old son has a new best friend.....Sveta. She is a sweet girl, about 7 or 8 years old, who we met at a church picnic last week. Sveta really loved and cherished my little boy. She played with him and praised him.  I was so blessed as I watched how loving and accepting she was with my son. Sometimes my son can be difficult as he plays with other kids. Not this time. He sensed she was truly interested in who he was and what made him happy. She made an impact on him. It was a play date that he will not forget. He remembered her name and prayed for her last night all on his own :) She was a great example to my children as they played together.

I am grateful for play dates. Play dates give such great opportunity for growth and learning as we encounter other children. It isn't always easy. Sometimes our children are grumpy and not too friendly or loving. Sometimes kids may not share. But it opens up dialogue with your children that you may not have otherwise. There have been times my boys have been difficult and in those times of adversity it allows me to share who Christ is and what His word says.

About how we are to "love our neighbor as we love ourself" (Luke 10:27).

About  "do not forget to do good and to share with others" (Hebrews 13:16).

About "do not repay evil for evil" (Romans 12:17).

About praising God for friendship and to "love at all times" (Proverbs 17:17).

About praying for those kids having a rough day and to "be a peacemaker" (Matthew 5:9)

About how to "love our enemy" (Matthew 5:44).

Much fruit has come from those times of playing with others. We have to remember to take those moments off to the side or once in the car to explain and talk about the things that you encountered on the playground. We can be so rushed to get the kids in the car, get to the next place, or off to those scheduled events that we miss that small nugget the Lord was hoping to share through us.

So get out. Have fun. Pray ahead of time, in the car, with your kids for opportunities to show Jesus' love on the playground. Talk after. Pray after. Impart truth into the lives of your little ones. Smile. Enjoy those sweet teachable moments He gives you each day. You may be surprised how the Lord teaches you some lessons along the way too :)

What is God saying to you through this blog?
What do you think He wants you to do about it?