Lessons learned

You know those days when you would swear your children are not paying attention and you KNOW that nothing is being retained as you talk to them? 

I knew you would.


As a parent, things happen that you don't always want to share...whether it be a mistake you make or a big whopper your kid gets into, sometimes you just want those less appealing moments of parenthood to go away.


Well, I had one a few weeks age but I am going to share because the end result is...well...wonderful!


A few weeks ago, I was taking Ty and Noah somewhere in the van and all of a sudden from the back seat I hear the dreaded words that most parents cringe and dread. "MOM! Noah just stuck up his middle finger at me!"


Okay. So, first, Ty didn't even know what that meant but knew it wasn't nice.
Second, Noah has no clue what it means either. 
Third, one more reason sending your kids to school sucks!


Sorry. I digress.


"What?!?! Noah I can't believe you did that! Why in the world would you do that? You are grounded! Spankings all around."
                          Is what I wanted to say.


"Noah. That isn't nice at all. I don't ever want to see that again." Is how I really responded. 
But his response very nonchalant "k."
 So I said, "I don't think you understand. This is a better-ask-Jesus-to-forgive-me-now kind of bad. So you probably need to pray right now and ask Him to forgive you." And immediately the tears roll. 


Flash forward to this past week. You see, when Donny was younger he cut the tip of his index finger off and when the weather starts to get dryer and cooler, it chaps and cracks. In the van the other day, Donny was messing with the touch screen in the van and used his middle finger to tap on the screen. He said that Noah told him he's not supposed to use that finger and "you'd better not let mom catch you using that finger."


Lesson learned. 


Amen.

Tuesday Morning Thoughts and Ramblings

I have blogged about this topic before but it seems to come around often and rather than brush it under the rug or check it off of the proverbial "to-do" list, I am going to hit it head on.

Again.

Has common sense left our minds? Is character something we are no longer concerned with? 

When did it become okay to act like a fool in public? Or, in today's world, social networking?

As a kid I remember my parents expecting me to be on my best behavior at all times but especially when we walked out of our front door and into the community. Poor behavior and choices were not tolerated. Oh, that word. Don't even get me started on tolerance. My Dad read a quote before (I have no idea where it came from), "A man of tolerance is a man without convictions." But, I digress, that is an entirely different subject altogether. 

Back to the point! I am not perfect and neither are my kids. Do they always behave the way I would like them to? Absolutely not. But I love them enough to tell them when they are out of line and then direct them in the right way. And as a youth pastor, I feel a certain responsibility to my students to do the same. 

So that's what this is about.

Social Networking is not a tool for us to use to bash or tear down others or ourselves. If anything, for those of us who profess Jesus as Lord, it is another tool to be His hands extended! It's another way for us to get The Word out! 

So many people I know who say they are followers of Christ go on Facebook or Twitter and fill their pages with garbage. In this case, the saying of "Garbage In-Garbage Out" is visible. What we fill our lives with, comes out in one way or another. 

You may say you love God and you follow Him but your actions and words must back that up. And let's face it, so many times, that is not the case.

Matthew 7:16-20 says, "You will recognize them^(A) by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷So,^(B) every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ^19(C) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus you will recognize them^(D) by their fruits." (from biblegateway.com, ESV)

We cannot expect to impact the world around us for Jesus if our words are hurtful, angry, bitter, filled with jealousy or malice. And this is most relevant when looking at how we behave online. 

People will know us by the fruit we bear. 

What kind of fruit are you bearing? A nice, juicy Honeycrisp apple or a bitter Crab apple?  Are you sweet grapes from the vine or a stickerburr from the thistle? Do you bring life and hope or death and despair? 

Does everything thing we say need to be a scripture verse? No. But shouldn't those around us know that we are different because we refuse to gossip and belittle those around us? Absolutely! Shouldn't our words and conversation be seasoned with salt in order to preserve life? Of course!

Is the fruit you are bearing from the tree of life or a rotten tree that will be torn down and cast in to the fire?

Proverbs 11:30 English Standard Version (ESV) ³⁰The fruit of the righteous is^(A) a tree of life, and whoever^(B) captures souls is wise.

 

I want to capture souls.
God, may the words of my mouth, or my fingertips on a keyboard, be words of life. Let me be a light for You at all times. Regardless of my circumstances, I want to always be a beacon of hope pointing and leading straight to You.