Always Tell the Truth

     
'You desire truth in the inward parts...' Psalm 51:6 NKJV

I love this picture of our little dog Shaggy because it says really? Our boys went into our little pool one day and they decided that Shaggy would love to swim. Truth be told little Shaggy really didn't want to swim and as he was taking his breath he looked up at me and I snapped this shot. It's getting harder and harder to know what the truth is any more. How as a believer can you walk in truth? How can we desire truth in our inward spirits? The Bible says, '...Nor was any deceit in [Christ's] mouth.' (Isaiah 53:9 NIV) Gods desire for us is no have deceit, and if he has His way with us, none will be found in us either. We can't disguise the truth because God already knows us. God doesn't seek to minimise our deception, but to eliminate it altogether. He is blunt about dishonesty. 'No one who is dishonest will live in My house...' (Psalm 101:7 NCV) Paul lists the types of people who will not inherit the Kingdom of God - those who sin sexually, worship idols, get drunk, rob people, and - lie about others (1 Corinthians 6:910). 'You mean my fibbing and flattering stir the same heavenly anger as adultery and aggravated assault?' Apparently so. God views fudging on income tax in the same way as He views kneeling before idols. 'Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.' (Proverbs 12:22 NKJV) Why the tough stance? Because dishonesty is absolutely contrary to the character of God (Hebrews 6:18). It's not that God won't lie, or has chosen not to lie, but that He cannot lie. A dog can't fly, and at this point I know little Shaggy wanted to, but God can't lie. When He makes a covenant, He keeps it. When He makes a statement, He means it. When He proclaims the truth, we can believe it. Even, 'if we are not faithful, [God] remains faithful, because He cannot be false to Himself.' (2 Timothy 2:13 GNT) With God, the truth is not a grey area, it's black and white. So if you're serious about walking with Him and pleasing Him, you must commit to 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.' By the way, I rescued Shaggy and took him out of his misery, and in a since, he did fly away...lol You are loved!

The Most Important Skill You Can Teach Your Child (4)

  

'... [There is] a time to be silent and a time to speak.' Ecclesiastes 3:7 NAS

   

 

 

The hardest lesson to learn in life is when to speak and not to speak. Solomon was a man who asked for wisdom and God granted it to him. In Ecclesiastes 3:7 NAS Solomon wrote, '... [There is] a time to be silent and a time to speak.' How do we take this vital lesson that was being taught to adults and apply it in our children's lives? Begin by teaching your child to ask: (1) 'Is this the best time to make this decision?' Decisions made in haste are often regretted. 'There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.' Poor decisions are situationally driven, caused by momentary stress, peer pressure, mood swings and temporary emotions like loneliness etc. When the situation changes, our feelings change and our decisions often look doubtful. Can the decision be made later, reducing or eliminating the risk? One of things that my father did was apply a lot of pressure on me and in the end the result was opposite of what he wanted. Think about this for a moment; pressuring children often increases their desperation and leads to premature decisions, but assuring them that time is on their side lowers both their reactivity and the likelihood of future regret. Helping them see that God '...has made everything appropriate in its time...' (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NAS) offers them space to think wisely about their options, allowing for God's guidance. (2) 'If I were advising a friend (John or Susie), would I suggest they take this same option?' Shifting perspective often broadens the perceptions of our options. When emotionally influenced, our children often narrow their perspective, excluding many important possibilities. Often adults as my dad did in my life press logical, rational thinking on kids, meeting resistance. But by bringing 'John' or 'Susie' into the equation we open their perspective up. And one more thought: it's beneficial to 'debrief' with your child, helping them to evaluate the effectiveness of their decisionmaking process. This was a tough one with our own children. When something had happened and they didn't want to talk about it; well you know it's like pulling teeth to get anything out of them. But don't give up. Talk through how they handled the situation. Ask, 'How do you feel about that result?' If they're pleased, compliment them; if not, say, 'I'm sorry about that. Any idea what you'll change next time?' Instead of judging their failure, reward their success. If you do you're leading your children on a awesome journey with God and with you! Your loved...

The Most Important Skill You Can Teach Your Child (3)

 

 '...Your thoughts...are the source of true life.' Proverbs 4:23 CEV  

             


Thanks team for a wonderful day yesterday @CFW. I love when you come prepared to worship and hear the word. I was talking with Dave this morning and we agreed on something very special: the Spirit is ready to move! My prayer is that you are too...I am continuing this morning looking at ways you can help your children in life. As I shared yesterday in my message raising your children to be in personal relationship with Christ means you actually have to lay a path for them to follow. So here are some more spiritual things to Teach your child to ask themselves: (1) 'How will I feel afterwards?' What outlasts our decisions are the subsequent feelings of selfrespect versus shame, and positive selfworth versus negative selfworth. Our actions ultimately become history, but our thoughts about them continue to shape our future. 'Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.' Children with selfrespect are much less likely to indulge in promiscuous sex, drugs, drinking, antisocial and illegal behaviors. Selfrespect and selfworth are internal standards which we are loathed to violate. Giving in to selfish choices is like abandoning the moral core of our being - the sacred soul God gave us. (2) 'How will the people I value feel about me after this decision?' The trust and respect of others is always needed to succeed. Reputation trumps money, even in the secular marketplace. 'Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.' (Proverbs 22:1 NLT) Poor decisionmaking can earn us a reputation that'll haunt our prospects indefinitely. 'A person who plans (chooses) evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.' (Proverbs 24:8 NLT) When you get a negative reputation, it's hard to recover from it (Proverbs 25:10). The shortterm benefits of making poor decisions lead to long term losses and regrets. The person God blesses must '...exercise selfcontrol, live wisely, and have a good reputation...' (1 Timothy 3:2 NLT) You are loved!

The Most Important Skill You Can Teach Your Child (2)

 

'...A man reaps what he sows.' Galatians 6:7 NIV   

             


It's said, 'Yard by yard life is hard, inch by inch life's a cinch!' I don't know if you've ever heard that before but in some ways it makes since. As you prepare your children for life, our hope and prayers is that it would go right. In this process of raising and training children something must happen on their part, they must learn to think right. So teach them to ask: (1) 'What are my options in this situation?' But do it with the right attitude. If your face is like thunder when you talk to them, they'll run for cover. Brainstorm with them, writing down every option that's offered. Tell them that no answers are wrong and no idea will be judged as silly; all suggestions are accepted and valued. You're priming their creative pump, encouraging them to think for themselves. (2) 'What benefits come from each option?' The goal is not to coerce them, but for them to discover and embrace the truth for themselves. And that comes through patience, not pressure. Ask them to list which benefits seem most important to them. (3) 'What negative consequences come from each option?' Children can be brutally honest. That's ok; it's just part of learning God's cause-and-effect law of sowing and reaping. Indeed, many adult regrets could have been avoided by following this law. Don't preach or rant about how terrible the consequences are. Teach them to question themselves, 'Am I willing to accept the consequences? How would they change my life?' (4) 'What personal values are involved in this decision?' Values  based decisions call us to the high road rather than the path of least resistance. Suggest some godly values as primers, such as truthfulness, trustworthiness, loyalty, responsibility, compassion, friendship, selfdenial, courage, honor, faith etc. Break it down small for younger children, but don't miss your opportunity that is always there to make them into what God desire them to be. You are loved!

The Most Important Skill You Can Teach Your Child (1)

  

 '...Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...' Joshua 24:15 NIV  

As I was praying for our church families this morning God reminded me what a job it is sometimes to raise kids. I have to remind myself just because our boys are now men, that we still have a spiritual battle for little minds going on and that moms and dads need all the help they can get. So I pray you will take heart to what God gives me the next few days. Good decision-making is the key to a happy life in your family. But good decision-making is not a skill some of us are naturally blessed with, while poor decision-making is a handicap others seem to be born with. Courage, education or the ageing process doesn't automatically produce better decision-makers. Spending time with good decision-makers is wise, but it doesn't necessarily rub off on you. And the earlier you teach this skill to your children, the better (Proverbs 22:6). So teach your children the following principles: (1) The consequences you get are the result of the choices you make. Let your children know it's not their circumstances, but decisions they make about them, that govern their lives. You may think your children know this, but they don't. Their 'wiring problem' makes 'cause and effect' difficult to connect until their brain reaches late adolescence. Asking, 'What were you thinking about?' will just invite the famous shoulder shrug and blank stare. They're not stupid - they just need guidance. (2) You will always have options. Children commonly feel powerless and hopeless when reacting to negative circumstances. They tend to be 'either/or' thinkers, concluding that things are either all good or all bad. Teach them 'both/and' thinking, because things can be bad yet you can choose to make good decisions about them. 'Either/or' thinking frequently produces children who become pessimistic, disempowered, easily manipulated, depressed adults. Knowing they always have good options prevents circumstances from dictating their lives. I hope you will pray about these things and ask God how you can use these thoughts and implement them in your child's life? If you do it will be a great learning process as your child gets older. You are loved!

Prayer Thoughts (2)

 

'Be still, and know that I am God...' Psalm 46:10 NIV

         

             

Yesterday I shared about making sure you have that everyday connection with God; however that may look like in your life. Today I want to take it to another level. To be still as the scripture suggests takes focus. Ask yourself the question: How am I giving God my thoughts and prayers to Him everyday? Throughout the centuries, Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers. These are prayers that can be whispered anywhere, in any setting. Some have sought unbroken communion with God by asking Him questions. Every two or three minutes they would pray, 'Am I in Your will, Lord? Am I pleasing You, Lord?' Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God. By the time your life is over, you will have spent six months at traffic lights, eight months opening junk mail, a year and a half looking for lost stuff, and a whopping five years standing waiting in various venues. What if you were give these moments to God? By giving Him your whispering thoughts, the common becomes uncommon. Simple phrases such as 'Thank You, Father,' or 'I stand on Your Word,' or 'My desire is to please You,' can turn a commute into a pilgrimage. You needn't leave your office or kneel in your kitchen. Just pray where you are. Let the kitchen become a cathedral and the classroom a chapel. Give God your waning thoughts. At the end of the day, let your mind settle on Him. Conclude the day as you began it - talking to God. Thank Him for the good parts. Question Him about the hard parts. Seek His mercy. Seek His strength. As you close your eyes, take assurance in the promise, 'He who watches over [you] will neither slumber nor sleep.' (Psalm 121:4 NIV) If you fall asleep as you pray, don't worry. What better place to doze off than in the arms of your Father? You are loved!

Prayer Thoughts (1)

  

'...Every morning, I tell you what I need, and I wait for your answer.' Psalm 5:3 NCV   

             

I'm still considering what God did yesterday in our services. As I was in prayer today I was reminded by God of the fact that He does hear us and we can trust in His word. The Scripture in John 14 is powerful if we will believe. The tough part is actually talking to God on a regular basis so we get familiar with Him. Consider a Shepard and his sheep. It takes time, but eventually sheep grow familiar with the voice of their shepherd and learn to trust him for everything they need. So how can you become equally familiar with the voice of God? Here are a few ideas: (1) Give God your waking thoughts... With your head on your pillow and your eyes still closed, offer God the first seconds of your day. Say, 'Thank You for a night's rest. Today I belong to You.' CS Lewis wrote: 'The moment you wake up each morning...all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.' (2) Give God your waiting thoughts... The mature married couple has learned the treasure of shared silence; they don't need to fill the air with constant chatter. Just being together is sufficient. Try being silent with God. 'Be still, and know that I am God...' (Psalm 46:10 NIV) Awareness of God is the result of stillness before God. Jesus prayed, 'That [they] may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe...' (John 17:21 NIV) Let me ask a few questions to get the ball rolling... When are you most deeply aware of Christ's presence 'in you' as He promised? To what degree have you consciously invited Him to be more and more at home in your heart? How has your practice of intimacy with God developed in the last few years? If you will ask yourself those questions and be honest with God and yourself; it will be the first steps in your new found belief system...you are loved!