"Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverence, and in your perseverence, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."2 Peter 1:5-8
What is self-control? We know we lack it when we eat too much or yell or oversleep. Self-control is discipline of the will. Now, our will is the very last thing that wants to be disciplined. When we want something, we want it all, we want it now! Self-control is internal boundaries that our will has been taught to follow and to not cross. We all know that self-control is really Spirit-control, because by ourselves we can't seem to be consistent. But with the help and guidance and reliance on the Holy Spirit, we can overcome all things!
Self-control is the last fruit in the list of the fruit of the Spirit. Is this because it is usually the last that grows? I think that our walk and relationship with the Lord starts and is continued only through self-control. At first it may be regimen only, then with the regimen comes the daily need and reliance. Look at 2 Peter above. Faith is followed by moral excellence, then knowledge, then self-control. I thought self-control was all about being morally excellent, but apparently not since it comes after that in the list. Faith comes and with it the desire to live right before God. That leads us to the need and desire for knowledge of our God which then makes us realize our need for self-control in all things. So self-control develops out of knowledge of the word of God. When we know how we ought to behave, then we can begin to gain self-control over those areas. When we have self-control, it then leads to perseverence, brotherly kindness, and love.
In my life, I have noticed that the more I practice self-control over an area, the easy it is to continue doing the right thng. That's where perseverence comes in. When I have shown self-control for a period of time and I have persevered in a relationship, then I enter into real brotherly kindness and from that love. Just a reminder: self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. Trying to gain it on our own will fail, but with our roots deep in the word and our arms stretched out in praise and prayer to the Son, we can have and exercise self-control. If it were unattainable, then it would not have been listed here!
Hint of the day: Begin to pray over any area that you need self-control in. Then do what you know to do - get into the word and on your knees. The experts say that any bad habit can be undone by doing it differently for 30 days. This may be so with outward appearances, but the bad habits of the heart take a while longer (sometimes years) to overcome. But with prayer and knowledge you can begin to realize self-control. Persevere and when you look back over the last 2 or 5 or 10 years, the fruit of the Spirit will be evident to you.
Hint of the day 2: Children need to learn good habits and have healthy outward boundaries if they are to have healthy inward boundaries when they are older. Expecting a young child to exercise self-control without parental reminders is crazy! Remember that self-control is a fruit of the spirit even for our children. So don't expect them to exercise self-control without Christ or without growing daily in His word.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Gentleness
"...but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." 1 Peter 3:4
"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5
Boy! God is hitting me between the eyes this morning! I have been angry with a family member and my responses have not been gentle. Therefore, I have a heart problem! "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart." (Matthew 12:34) You can not have a gentle answer until you have a gentle heart. You can try, like with all of the fruits, to train yourself to be soft spoken, but when you get squeezed, out will come the bitterness, anger, and meanness.
Gentleness is not being a doormat. You can have a bold personality and still be gentle of heart and word. Mercy flows from a gentle heart. Grace is the word of a gentle heart. Unselfishness underlies a gentle heart. A gentle heart hears God and speaks His words in love. Gentleness can still judge another, but with a soft word that the other might repent and return to God. Gentleness can rule a kingdom and the subjects will respond with gentleness. Matthew 5:5 says that the gentle shall inherit the earth. This is the regenerated earth of Ezekiel. The gentle shall rule. The gentle have been taught by God and therefore have this fruit of the Spirit.
I am going to go talk with God about my not so gentle heart and words. How about you? Is there a person or an area of your life that you are not being gentle with? Are your words showing a heart of anger or bitterness? If you are not at peace within, then you will not be gentle outwardly. Remember to allow the fruit to grow naturally by digging deep into the word and into time with God.
Hint of the Day: We all occassionally have a bad day or wake up on the wrong side of the bed. When our children would wake up grumpy. We would send them back to bed to literally get out of the other side of the bed - the ungrumpy side. This usually resulted in giggles and tickles. It is hard to be grumpy when you are giggling! Sometimes kids just need some quiet alone time (not punishment, just time to have little stimulation and to be still). Every day after lunch we have an imposed "everyone to their own room (or bed) time". This is an hour when each person can regroup, refresh, and be ready to jump back into the family. This really helped on days when mom needed some alone time! We found that the afternoons always went smoother after we all had this time alone. Some did puzzles, some read, and others fell asleep. I would read a magazine, read my Bible or do a Bible study, or take a bath. ThenI was ready to hit the afternoon with a smile!
"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5
Boy! God is hitting me between the eyes this morning! I have been angry with a family member and my responses have not been gentle. Therefore, I have a heart problem! "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart." (Matthew 12:34) You can not have a gentle answer until you have a gentle heart. You can try, like with all of the fruits, to train yourself to be soft spoken, but when you get squeezed, out will come the bitterness, anger, and meanness.
Gentleness is not being a doormat. You can have a bold personality and still be gentle of heart and word. Mercy flows from a gentle heart. Grace is the word of a gentle heart. Unselfishness underlies a gentle heart. A gentle heart hears God and speaks His words in love. Gentleness can still judge another, but with a soft word that the other might repent and return to God. Gentleness can rule a kingdom and the subjects will respond with gentleness. Matthew 5:5 says that the gentle shall inherit the earth. This is the regenerated earth of Ezekiel. The gentle shall rule. The gentle have been taught by God and therefore have this fruit of the Spirit.
I am going to go talk with God about my not so gentle heart and words. How about you? Is there a person or an area of your life that you are not being gentle with? Are your words showing a heart of anger or bitterness? If you are not at peace within, then you will not be gentle outwardly. Remember to allow the fruit to grow naturally by digging deep into the word and into time with God.
Hint of the Day: We all occassionally have a bad day or wake up on the wrong side of the bed. When our children would wake up grumpy. We would send them back to bed to literally get out of the other side of the bed - the ungrumpy side. This usually resulted in giggles and tickles. It is hard to be grumpy when you are giggling! Sometimes kids just need some quiet alone time (not punishment, just time to have little stimulation and to be still). Every day after lunch we have an imposed "everyone to their own room (or bed) time". This is an hour when each person can regroup, refresh, and be ready to jump back into the family. This really helped on days when mom needed some alone time! We found that the afternoons always went smoother after we all had this time alone. Some did puzzles, some read, and others fell asleep. I would read a magazine, read my Bible or do a Bible study, or take a bath. ThenI was ready to hit the afternoon with a smile!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Faithfulness
"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulaton for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
Faith is listed as a fruit of the Spirit, but also as a gift of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:9) Faith is essential to having a relationship with God, for salvation, and for walking with God. Without faith our beliefs are in vain. A pastor once told it to me this way. He showed me a chair and asked if I believed that the chair would hold me. I said, "Yes." Then he asked me if I had faith that the chair would hold me. I said, "Yes." Then he told me to sit in the chair and exercise that faith. Just knowing that God is there and that He is good is not faith; it is belief. But even the demons believe, and yet they shudder.(James 2:19) Having a belief is not enough. You must exercise that belief, thus turning it into faith by placing yourself into the hands of God and trusting your life to Him through Jesus. Keith Green had a song called "Step Across the Line." The line was the boundary between belief and faith.
So if we have to have faith before we can become a Christian, then how is it a gift or a fruit? First of all, God gives some people an extra dose of faith in the midst of difficult circumstances. Those with this type of faith will walk into a lions' den or fire in the name of Christ. This gift is given at times of great need. This gift may be for a moment or for a life time. But know that if and when you are in need of extra faith, God will give extra grace.
As we exercise the faith that we have, be it small or great, then that faith will begin to grow and thus, is a fruit of the Spirit. It is like a muscle, as we use it, it grows stronger. If we are not using it, it will atrophy! Faith can be as small as a mustard seed, but grow into the biggest tree in the garden. Faith is choosing to believe that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do. This is especially true when your life circumstances are hard and you can't see the hand of God for the moment. Faith says, God is good; He loves me; and He wants the best for me. Even though we might not experience that for a moment, faith says that we will trust anyway because we see through a mirror dimly but God has the eternal forever perspective.
Be careful though! Don't place your faith in what God will do for you, but rather place your faith in God. This difference has shipwrecked many a person who started off with faith in God, but went astray expecting only good things. When life got tough, they felt abandoned by God when really He was standing by waiting to pick them up as they began to exercise their faith. Think of a child learning to walk. If Mom never lets go of their hands, then they will never walk alone. God is there. He said so. I believe it. I will trust in God.
Hint for the Day: You can teach the concept of faith to an elementary aged child by not putting supper on the table one night. They trust you to feed them because you always have. When they ask where dinner is, you let them know that you didn't feel like feeding them tonight so they can go to bed hungry. They will begin to protest! Laugh with them and pull out the pizza! Let them know that they had trusted you to provide for them because you always have. We can trust in God because He is trustworthy as well. Even as the child didn't really believe that you would allow them to go to bed hungry, we don't really believe that God will let us down. So when we feel like God is not there, or God does not care, He does and will provide in the right time.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
Faith is listed as a fruit of the Spirit, but also as a gift of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:9) Faith is essential to having a relationship with God, for salvation, and for walking with God. Without faith our beliefs are in vain. A pastor once told it to me this way. He showed me a chair and asked if I believed that the chair would hold me. I said, "Yes." Then he asked me if I had faith that the chair would hold me. I said, "Yes." Then he told me to sit in the chair and exercise that faith. Just knowing that God is there and that He is good is not faith; it is belief. But even the demons believe, and yet they shudder.(James 2:19) Having a belief is not enough. You must exercise that belief, thus turning it into faith by placing yourself into the hands of God and trusting your life to Him through Jesus. Keith Green had a song called "Step Across the Line." The line was the boundary between belief and faith.
So if we have to have faith before we can become a Christian, then how is it a gift or a fruit? First of all, God gives some people an extra dose of faith in the midst of difficult circumstances. Those with this type of faith will walk into a lions' den or fire in the name of Christ. This gift is given at times of great need. This gift may be for a moment or for a life time. But know that if and when you are in need of extra faith, God will give extra grace.
As we exercise the faith that we have, be it small or great, then that faith will begin to grow and thus, is a fruit of the Spirit. It is like a muscle, as we use it, it grows stronger. If we are not using it, it will atrophy! Faith can be as small as a mustard seed, but grow into the biggest tree in the garden. Faith is choosing to believe that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do. This is especially true when your life circumstances are hard and you can't see the hand of God for the moment. Faith says, God is good; He loves me; and He wants the best for me. Even though we might not experience that for a moment, faith says that we will trust anyway because we see through a mirror dimly but God has the eternal forever perspective.
Be careful though! Don't place your faith in what God will do for you, but rather place your faith in God. This difference has shipwrecked many a person who started off with faith in God, but went astray expecting only good things. When life got tough, they felt abandoned by God when really He was standing by waiting to pick them up as they began to exercise their faith. Think of a child learning to walk. If Mom never lets go of their hands, then they will never walk alone. God is there. He said so. I believe it. I will trust in God.
Hint for the Day: You can teach the concept of faith to an elementary aged child by not putting supper on the table one night. They trust you to feed them because you always have. When they ask where dinner is, you let them know that you didn't feel like feeding them tonight so they can go to bed hungry. They will begin to protest! Laugh with them and pull out the pizza! Let them know that they had trusted you to provide for them because you always have. We can trust in God because He is trustworthy as well. Even as the child didn't really believe that you would allow them to go to bed hungry, we don't really believe that God will let us down. So when we feel like God is not there, or God does not care, He does and will provide in the right time.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Goodness
"To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Goodness is different from kindness. Whereas kindness is an outward exspression, goodness is the state of the heart. Often that goodness is detected because of kind acts, but goodness goes deeper. Goodness is a regenerated heart that loves so greatly and that is so connected to God that the attitude and actions of the body are naturally good. Reactions of forgiveness, actions of kindness, words of encouragement and love, and prayers of intercession are just natural outpouring of a good heart.
When I first married my husband of 27 years, I would get frustrated because he would automatically respond to life's situations with Godly wisdom. I would have to think it through, and often I would need to readjust my attitude or reaction to line up with God's Word. He had become a Christian at age 9 along with his whole family. They talked and taught the Christian faith throughout every day and circumstance. I became a Christian at 13, but other than church attendance, had no influence in my daily walk. As I grew as a Christian, got into God's Word, and spent more time in praise and prayer, biblical thought patterns and reactions became more automatic.
Are you good? Only you can answer that. Only you know the true condition of your heart. If the answer is "sometimes" or "no", then go to God with it and begin to pray that He will make your thoughts and attitudes glorify Him. Notice in the verse above, that goodness and faith comes through and with the power of Jesus and is for His glory. Your goodness will be a witness to others of God's goodness.
Hint of the day: Talk about God's goodness throughout your day with your spouse, kids, coworkers, or friends. Let your conversation be good and encouraging and uplifting. Kindness can be learned, but goodness is a fruit thatmust grow natuarally from your walk with God. Be in the word adn practice the presence of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Goodness is different from kindness. Whereas kindness is an outward exspression, goodness is the state of the heart. Often that goodness is detected because of kind acts, but goodness goes deeper. Goodness is a regenerated heart that loves so greatly and that is so connected to God that the attitude and actions of the body are naturally good. Reactions of forgiveness, actions of kindness, words of encouragement and love, and prayers of intercession are just natural outpouring of a good heart.
When I first married my husband of 27 years, I would get frustrated because he would automatically respond to life's situations with Godly wisdom. I would have to think it through, and often I would need to readjust my attitude or reaction to line up with God's Word. He had become a Christian at age 9 along with his whole family. They talked and taught the Christian faith throughout every day and circumstance. I became a Christian at 13, but other than church attendance, had no influence in my daily walk. As I grew as a Christian, got into God's Word, and spent more time in praise and prayer, biblical thought patterns and reactions became more automatic.
Are you good? Only you can answer that. Only you know the true condition of your heart. If the answer is "sometimes" or "no", then go to God with it and begin to pray that He will make your thoughts and attitudes glorify Him. Notice in the verse above, that goodness and faith comes through and with the power of Jesus and is for His glory. Your goodness will be a witness to others of God's goodness.
Hint of the day: Talk about God's goodness throughout your day with your spouse, kids, coworkers, or friends. Let your conversation be good and encouraging and uplifting. Kindness can be learned, but goodness is a fruit thatmust grow natuarally from your walk with God. Be in the word adn practice the presence of God.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Kindness
"...and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love."
2 Peter 1:7
"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3
Kindness is action. Kindness is reaction. We are responsible for both. Kindness is taking the initiative to do something nice for someone. Kindness is showing love and respect and forgiveness through a smile, a word, or an action. Kindness is seeing a need and filling it. It might be bringing dinner to someone who is sick or planting flowers for someone who is unable. One of the kindest acts ever shown to me was when a friend wanted to come over with her children to visit and I declined because I had too much ironing to do. She showed up with her ironing board and iron and we ironed together for hours and visited along the way!
Kindness is a choice. One must practice being kind. It doesn't come naturally. It, too, is a fruit of the Spirit! Roots in deep, arms raised in praise to the Son! According to 2 Peter 1:7, kindness grows from godliness and leads to love. If you are having a hard time loving someone, try being kind to them. This can lead to love. When we lived in North Dakota, there were two women who were having a hard time with me. I was new, but my husband and I felt an immediate comeraderie with the pastor and his wife and I played piano and taught Sunday School. They went to the pastor with their feelings of jealousy. He suggested that they become my secret sisters. They started being kind through secret acts of giving. Pretty soon, they started to smile at me and initiate conversation. Finally, we became friends because God had changed their hearts to hearts of love.
When the Bible talks about God's kindness it is in regard to Salvation and mercy. "...so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:7. God's kindness grew from His love for us and resulted in being able to have a relationship with us. Kindness is the "magic" pill in any relationship. If you have a difficult person in your life, put on kindness and see what happens! Don't just react to someone's kindness, but initiate kindness even in the midst of anger, jealousy, or indifference.
Hint for the day: Teach your children kindness by your actions. Be kind to them, but also have them help you be kind to others. When we were at seminary, there was a family that was having a hard time financially. The boys helped me grocery shop and then leave the bags of food on their porch, ring, and run! We had such fun and the family was so thankful. At Christmas, we always find a family that is in need and supply anything from Christmas trees to presents. One day when we were engaged, my husband needed to plant flowers at the apartment complex that he managed. My friend and I did some midnight gardening and boy was he surprised when he found his job already done! Find ways to be kind today.
2 Peter 1:7
"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3
Kindness is action. Kindness is reaction. We are responsible for both. Kindness is taking the initiative to do something nice for someone. Kindness is showing love and respect and forgiveness through a smile, a word, or an action. Kindness is seeing a need and filling it. It might be bringing dinner to someone who is sick or planting flowers for someone who is unable. One of the kindest acts ever shown to me was when a friend wanted to come over with her children to visit and I declined because I had too much ironing to do. She showed up with her ironing board and iron and we ironed together for hours and visited along the way!
Kindness is a choice. One must practice being kind. It doesn't come naturally. It, too, is a fruit of the Spirit! Roots in deep, arms raised in praise to the Son! According to 2 Peter 1:7, kindness grows from godliness and leads to love. If you are having a hard time loving someone, try being kind to them. This can lead to love. When we lived in North Dakota, there were two women who were having a hard time with me. I was new, but my husband and I felt an immediate comeraderie with the pastor and his wife and I played piano and taught Sunday School. They went to the pastor with their feelings of jealousy. He suggested that they become my secret sisters. They started being kind through secret acts of giving. Pretty soon, they started to smile at me and initiate conversation. Finally, we became friends because God had changed their hearts to hearts of love.
When the Bible talks about God's kindness it is in regard to Salvation and mercy. "...so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:7. God's kindness grew from His love for us and resulted in being able to have a relationship with us. Kindness is the "magic" pill in any relationship. If you have a difficult person in your life, put on kindness and see what happens! Don't just react to someone's kindness, but initiate kindness even in the midst of anger, jealousy, or indifference.
Hint for the day: Teach your children kindness by your actions. Be kind to them, but also have them help you be kind to others. When we were at seminary, there was a family that was having a hard time financially. The boys helped me grocery shop and then leave the bags of food on their porch, ring, and run! We had such fun and the family was so thankful. At Christmas, we always find a family that is in need and supply anything from Christmas trees to presents. One day when we were engaged, my husband needed to plant flowers at the apartment complex that he managed. My friend and I did some midnight gardening and boy was he surprised when he found his job already done! Find ways to be kind today.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Patience
"...so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience..." Colossians 1:10-11
Then there is the little girl that prays for patience and tells God to hurry up and give it to her! I have been that little girl. Have you? Patience seems to be one of the fruits of the Spirit that is just out of reach. Even when we begin to see the fruit of patience in one area or another, there seems to be other areas where we have no patience - with a particular person or a particular situation. But, once again, we see patience as a fruit that grows from deep roots and Son shine!
Look at the verse above in Colossians. Notice that patience is linked with steadfastness. When we set our eyes on a goal and work diligently and with focus on that goal, not allowing anything to get in our way or draw us aside, then we are steadfast. In that steadfastness comes patience. Think about a college student. Only those who keep their eyes on the goal of graduation will make it. They know that it will take four years of single-focused perseverence to attain that goal. They are patient because they know what is involved and that eventually they will get there if they are steadfast.
As Christians, we too, can know our goals of maturity and closeness with Christ, keep our eyes on Jesus, and move towards the end in confidence that we can obtain it. We have an advantage though! Look again at Colossians. We are strengthened with all power to reach our goal! The Holy Spirit, the word of God, fellowship with other believers, and the presence of God will give us the power to keep moving towards our goal to achieve it!
Patience can be yours! When I was a young mom and struggling not to yell at my kids, I would pray, "God, take this anger from me." I tried memorizing verses, but it wasn't until God told me that I was praying amiss, that I finally overcame this sin. He said that instead of praying that He would take the anger away, that I should be praying, "God fill me up with so much of You that there is no room for anger." As I began to get more serious about being with Him through prayer continuously, the yelling became more and more rare until I no longer yelled. It is the same way with patience. Fill up with God, and know that He is sovereign over all, and that He will work all things for our good in the end, and trust in Him. He will give you patience even with the most irritating person or situation in your life!
Hint of the Day: Kids have a hard time being patient because they don't really understand time. If they are looking forward to an event - a birthday, a return of a parent who has been gone for a time, a visit from a relative, or the start of school, you can help them by giving them a way to mark the time. A basket with as many stones in it as hours in the day, or days until the expected event will help. At the top of each hour or the start of each day, remove a stone. They will see that as the stones disappear, the time is getting closer. One dad was away often on business trips. He would buy little token gifts, wrap them, and put them in the basket. The child could open one a day until the last one. When that one was opened he knew dad was coming home that day!
Then there is the little girl that prays for patience and tells God to hurry up and give it to her! I have been that little girl. Have you? Patience seems to be one of the fruits of the Spirit that is just out of reach. Even when we begin to see the fruit of patience in one area or another, there seems to be other areas where we have no patience - with a particular person or a particular situation. But, once again, we see patience as a fruit that grows from deep roots and Son shine!
Look at the verse above in Colossians. Notice that patience is linked with steadfastness. When we set our eyes on a goal and work diligently and with focus on that goal, not allowing anything to get in our way or draw us aside, then we are steadfast. In that steadfastness comes patience. Think about a college student. Only those who keep their eyes on the goal of graduation will make it. They know that it will take four years of single-focused perseverence to attain that goal. They are patient because they know what is involved and that eventually they will get there if they are steadfast.
As Christians, we too, can know our goals of maturity and closeness with Christ, keep our eyes on Jesus, and move towards the end in confidence that we can obtain it. We have an advantage though! Look again at Colossians. We are strengthened with all power to reach our goal! The Holy Spirit, the word of God, fellowship with other believers, and the presence of God will give us the power to keep moving towards our goal to achieve it!
Patience can be yours! When I was a young mom and struggling not to yell at my kids, I would pray, "God, take this anger from me." I tried memorizing verses, but it wasn't until God told me that I was praying amiss, that I finally overcame this sin. He said that instead of praying that He would take the anger away, that I should be praying, "God fill me up with so much of You that there is no room for anger." As I began to get more serious about being with Him through prayer continuously, the yelling became more and more rare until I no longer yelled. It is the same way with patience. Fill up with God, and know that He is sovereign over all, and that He will work all things for our good in the end, and trust in Him. He will give you patience even with the most irritating person or situation in your life!
Hint of the Day: Kids have a hard time being patient because they don't really understand time. If they are looking forward to an event - a birthday, a return of a parent who has been gone for a time, a visit from a relative, or the start of school, you can help them by giving them a way to mark the time. A basket with as many stones in it as hours in the day, or days until the expected event will help. At the top of each hour or the start of each day, remove a stone. They will see that as the stones disappear, the time is getting closer. One dad was away often on business trips. He would buy little token gifts, wrap them, and put them in the basket. The child could open one a day until the last one. When that one was opened he knew dad was coming home that day!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Peace
"Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three." Luke 12:51-52
"...And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7
"Peace on earth, good will towards men" is our hearts' desire. But Jesus made it clear that this will not occur until after His second coming. We can work together for world peace; we may eliminate aids and cancer, but we can do nothing for the condition of the human heart aside of the full regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
Many non-Christians believe that Christians should be peacemakers and they condemn Christians when their views make them stand in opposition to another. But Jesus made it clear that as Christians we have peace with God and peace within our hearts, but that in this world there will be tribulation. World peace should not be our goal. Peace within with God and encouraging and teaching others about God's peace should be our goals.
Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. This fruit only grows by spending time in the word of God and in the presence of God. If you are a Christian and don't experience God's peace, go to Him, bow before Him, and worship Him. Even in the midst of chaotic circumstances, angry relationships, depressing situations, etc..., you can experience the inner peace of the Spirit.
Romans 12:18 says, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." Check your heart. If your conscience is clear before God and another insists on being at enmity with you, walk in peace knowing that God is in control and responsible for the other person. You can be at peace. Remember to pray for the other and continue to live above reproach.
Hint for the day: Sibling rivalry is tough! Having to be the referee is even harder!! But, as hard as it is, it is very important that the children learn to talk through their differences and issues and come to a resolution. This is important training for success in life. First, talk through the emotions. Encourage the kids to use "I" statements instead of "you" statements. Acknowledge and confirm their rights to those emotions. Secondly, address the issue. Ask them if they can come up with some ways that the issue could have been avoided. How could they have done things differently or reacted differently and Biblically? Lastly, let there be a time of forgiveness and resolution. If punishment needs to be given, now is the time. If you notice that one or the other continues to hold a grudge or not want to play with the other, then it is time to pull that one aside and listen to their heart. Further correction may be needed at this point. (My tendancy, when our boys was young, was to solve it for them, give out consequences, and move on. I have come to realize that this method only allows feelings to fester.)
This works well for older children. If it is a matter of an older child not treating a toddler or infant correctly, then just that child needs to be addressed. If it is two toddlers, then a quick "no", a redirectioning of their interest, or separation may be helpful. And always, an "I'm sorry" is needed.
"...And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7
"Peace on earth, good will towards men" is our hearts' desire. But Jesus made it clear that this will not occur until after His second coming. We can work together for world peace; we may eliminate aids and cancer, but we can do nothing for the condition of the human heart aside of the full regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
Many non-Christians believe that Christians should be peacemakers and they condemn Christians when their views make them stand in opposition to another. But Jesus made it clear that as Christians we have peace with God and peace within our hearts, but that in this world there will be tribulation. World peace should not be our goal. Peace within with God and encouraging and teaching others about God's peace should be our goals.
Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. This fruit only grows by spending time in the word of God and in the presence of God. If you are a Christian and don't experience God's peace, go to Him, bow before Him, and worship Him. Even in the midst of chaotic circumstances, angry relationships, depressing situations, etc..., you can experience the inner peace of the Spirit.
Romans 12:18 says, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." Check your heart. If your conscience is clear before God and another insists on being at enmity with you, walk in peace knowing that God is in control and responsible for the other person. You can be at peace. Remember to pray for the other and continue to live above reproach.
Hint for the day: Sibling rivalry is tough! Having to be the referee is even harder!! But, as hard as it is, it is very important that the children learn to talk through their differences and issues and come to a resolution. This is important training for success in life. First, talk through the emotions. Encourage the kids to use "I" statements instead of "you" statements. Acknowledge and confirm their rights to those emotions. Secondly, address the issue. Ask them if they can come up with some ways that the issue could have been avoided. How could they have done things differently or reacted differently and Biblically? Lastly, let there be a time of forgiveness and resolution. If punishment needs to be given, now is the time. If you notice that one or the other continues to hold a grudge or not want to play with the other, then it is time to pull that one aside and listen to their heart. Further correction may be needed at this point. (My tendancy, when our boys was young, was to solve it for them, give out consequences, and move on. I have come to realize that this method only allows feelings to fester.)
This works well for older children. If it is a matter of an older child not treating a toddler or infant correctly, then just that child needs to be addressed. If it is two toddlers, then a quick "no", a redirectioning of their interest, or separation may be helpful. And always, an "I'm sorry" is needed.
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