The people of Israel in Judges 2 had been given an anonymous gift. They had been delivered from Egyptian slavery and brought into a land where essentially “they came, they saw, and they conquered.”
However, these stories hadn’t been explained to them. Their parents, who witnessed all these things, died without passing on the who or the why of the event.
As a result, enemies living in the country oppressed the Israelites. An angel of the Lord came and told them that people living in their country would always oppress them. God would use these oppressors to test what was in the Israelites hearts.
Even today, the Israelites have neighbors on all sides and in their midst that hate them. God is still using these people today to test what is in their hearts.
Now I’m not saying that every difficult circumstance is God’s testing to show what is in your heart, but you may find (while reading Judges) that every time the Israelites cried out to God for deliverance, He answered.
I think the most important lesson we can glean from this is the importance of passing on the message of God’s love, mercy and deliverance. Grateful kids are kids who will continue the legacy of obedience to God and living in His blessings and grace.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Puttering Through Life.
The Little Sad Engine that Couldn’t is very sad today. It’s smoking like crazy. It made this ticking noise this morning. I put oil in it because it was really low. I put gas in it because it was almost out. When it dies, I hope it goes peacefully without blowing up.
It’s funny how we nurse things along when all hope is lost. We didn’t drive it over a cliff or sell it for scrap. It still gets us to the store, the post office and to school. So many times, it’s easier to hold onto something that works only so-so instead of ditching it completely.
That’s the problem isn’t it? If I were to ditch the car or any of my little habits that only work so-so, with what would I replace it? I’m not riding my bike to the grocery store to buy milk. I’m not walking to my daughter’s school to pick her up when she’s sick with a sore throat. Subie is still the fastest way to Cheney Middle School from Eastern Washington University when I the where-are-you-Mom-my-concert-is-in-half-an-hour call from the forgotten child during finals week.
This is sort of like some of our habits or behaviors. We know, perhaps, that what we’re doing is not the best way forward, but what should we do instead? What if it’s all we know? As a result, we plow ahead, not knowing when the whole thing will blow up in our faces.
I don’t really have a bottom line here other than this advice: keep an eye on your heat gauge.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Junior Lilac Parade, 2009... Queen of Dystonia, Part II.
Here's some video I found of Sarah. Who is safe being ill with a neurological disorder with a family like ours?
Monday, June 7, 2010
“Leaving a Legacy”—Noel Campbell visits Cheney Faith Center on May 31, 2010.
When Noel Campbell’s oldest child was 12 and youngest was three-and-a-half, his wife was called home to be with the Lord.
The first time Campbell left his house after this event, he stopped at the end of his driveway and looked back to two pairs of eyes peeping out of the window.
In Noel’s mind, they were wondering if he would leave them too, as their mother had. Heartbroken, Campbell heard the “still, quiet voice of the Lord” saying “If you let me, we will raise these children.” Campbell, now 82, says it was his joy.
“If we follow Jesus, we’ll be leaving a legacy our children will want to follow,” he said.
Luke 18:15-17 says, “People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’”
Campbell says that we are either leading children to Him or sending them away.
He said we must have a legacy of
• A love of God that’s unconditional
• A faith in who Jesus is
• A trust in our Lord Jesus and his words in our every day walk of life
• A hope in our Lord God because a home in the world will never bring life.
The key, according to Campbell, is to allow the Lord to fill him with more love and less law. When this happens, children want to please their father.
Campbell quoted "Children Learn What They Live" by Dorothy Law Knolte, PhD:
“If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.”
Then he added his own ending: “If a child lives with Christ, he learns to love God and man.”
Campbell quoted Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
He said there were many ways to lead a child to Jesus and they all seem right in our own understanding, but God’s way works. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”
He wrapped up his message by sharing three proverbs. One was about someone who had taught a child about God by scaring him with the awesome works of God and the child’s reaction of fear and resistance when it was time to meet the Father. The second proverb was about someone so distracted by everything that must be done that when it was finally time to meet the Father, the child was distracted and unable to focus. The last proverb was about someone who followed the child’s lead and interests and not only told stories about the Father, but also listened to the child retell them as well. When it was finally time to meet the Father, the child was overjoyed, and the individual who lead the child stepped back and merely watched as a happy outsider to their relationship.
He recited Psalm 139: 23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” In addition, Noel challenged the congregation to wake every morning and greet God with a “What would you like me to do today?” and listen for an answer from the still, small voice.
The first time Campbell left his house after this event, he stopped at the end of his driveway and looked back to two pairs of eyes peeping out of the window.
In Noel’s mind, they were wondering if he would leave them too, as their mother had. Heartbroken, Campbell heard the “still, quiet voice of the Lord” saying “If you let me, we will raise these children.” Campbell, now 82, says it was his joy.
Sonia Coombs and Noel Campbell
“If we follow Jesus, we’ll be leaving a legacy our children will want to follow,” he said.
Luke 18:15-17 says, “People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’”
Campbell says that we are either leading children to Him or sending them away.
He said we must have a legacy of
• A love of God that’s unconditional
• A faith in who Jesus is
• A trust in our Lord Jesus and his words in our every day walk of life
• A hope in our Lord God because a home in the world will never bring life.
The key, according to Campbell, is to allow the Lord to fill him with more love and less law. When this happens, children want to please their father.
Campbell quoted "Children Learn What They Live" by Dorothy Law Knolte, PhD:
“If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.”
Then he added his own ending: “If a child lives with Christ, he learns to love God and man.”
Campbell quoted Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
He said there were many ways to lead a child to Jesus and they all seem right in our own understanding, but God’s way works. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”
He wrapped up his message by sharing three proverbs. One was about someone who had taught a child about God by scaring him with the awesome works of God and the child’s reaction of fear and resistance when it was time to meet the Father. The second proverb was about someone so distracted by everything that must be done that when it was finally time to meet the Father, the child was distracted and unable to focus. The last proverb was about someone who followed the child’s lead and interests and not only told stories about the Father, but also listened to the child retell them as well. When it was finally time to meet the Father, the child was overjoyed, and the individual who lead the child stepped back and merely watched as a happy outsider to their relationship.
He recited Psalm 139: 23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” In addition, Noel challenged the congregation to wake every morning and greet God with a “What would you like me to do today?” and listen for an answer from the still, small voice.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Why should I lead my child to Christ?
We all have different backgrounds. Some of us grew up in church. Perhaps we went through the motions or were burned by something someone said or a life experience. For some, this pain reaches so deeply, they question God.
As parents, we have to set all this aside. We need to look at our children and understand what sort of legacy we leave them. We may be able to shelter them from hurt in church situations by avoidance, but we can’t shelter them from hurt in the rest of the world. Between school, work, playmates and even our own homes, they will encounter hurts and either learn to grow through them or stagnate and fester.
We want to do everything for our kids. We want them to live in a happy home with the best education and good friends. These desires are universal for good-willed people.
But in the world the way it is, we can’t lay aside enough money, property, security or prosperity for them. Ultimately, all these things prove themselves empty. It’s not bad to earn good money and support your family, but if you look to your bank account for the satisfaction and rest your heart needs, you’ll find it wanting every time. Your kids will experience this too, unless we show them a better way.
Kids need a filter to look at their lives and deaths through. Jesus is that filter that will give persepctive. For those of you who think it a fairy tale, sorry. Better be sure for your kids’ sake. Even with eternal life aside, Christianity and church is the best place to give them the love and support for life. Heartbreaks will come.
And for those of you who had difficulties with the institution of church, you’re grown up now. You have no excuse. Get in there, roll up your sleeves and make things right in the church. When there’s a problem in the family with someone who is dysfunctional, healthy families and healthy family members get to work instead of running away. Trust me on that one.
The best churches today have dynamic youth programs with fun activities and contemporary music. The leadership varies from young to old. Try a few out and keep an open mind, but quit looking for excuses because your kids need more.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Shrek glasses recalled.
McDonald’s has recalled their “Shrek Forever After 3D” glasses because of a cadmium danger. Twelve million of these $2 American glasses were sold between May 2010 and June 2010. Consumers should discontinue use of the glasses and visit www.mcdonalds.com/glasses for refund information.
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