The Question

The judge asks you. “Which do you choose, death by hanging, or a lifetime sentence to the vacation resort of your choice?”  Simple answer.

Next choose one: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” or, “come, enjoy all the fun, entertainment and pleasures (non-sinful of course!) that this world offers.”  For many/most(?) another simple answer.

Notice the choice isn’t between Heaven and hell. It is between Heaven and the world.

Is it any wonder why so many Dads and children choose the world today? “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14).

Steve

It’s Him!

How often do you read something or here a message and think how it applies to a number of guys you know? Maybe someone at church or a friend? We can so quickly dodge the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Oh what good may result if we are willing to be open to the Holy Spirit enough to say “Is it I?”

“And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I” (Matthew 26:21-22)?

Steve

Deeply Concerned

Imagine a family driving down the road when Dad sees a sign that says “Detour – bridge out.” Because the children pressure Dad to hurry home so they won’t miss their favorite TV show, Dad decides not to take the detour. 

Insane? Of course it is. I can’t imagine a dad who would risk the lives of his family because he couldn’t handle pressure from the children.

Now picture a Christian dad who willy-nilly makes decisions. He does not seek the Lord’s direction through prayer and Scripture. When his children pressure him for a decision they favor, he quickly agrees.  He doesn’t take into consideration the eternal value of each soul he has been entrusted with to disciple in the Lord Jesus. Is it any wonder that children are choosing the world over the Lord in droves these days?

What part do you think Dad’s “leadership” (or lack thereof) has on the children’s eternal choice? Are you like Abraham? “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Genesis 18:19).

Steve

Would Your Boss Fire You?

If you had been hired for your job as a mom and homemaker, at your annual review would your boss give you a raise or fire you?

We value our roles as mothers and homemakers, but we also make excuses for what isn’t running smoothly. Usually, we know what we should do, but we choose not to do it. “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8 ). 

Bedtime + Wake up Time

Let’s get specific. If you had a boss, and he asked you to study a book that was vitally applicable to your job for the first 1/2 hour of your work time each day, would you stay up late, come in to work 1/2 hour late, and tell him you didn’t think that assignment was important enough to arrive at work on time? Do we make an excuse like that to our Savior when we don’t go to bed at a time that allows us to get up and be in His Word? “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

If you had a job with an annual salary of $200,000 and you were required to be at work at 6:00 a.m. each day, could you do it? Would you make sure you went to bed early enough to have the sleep you require to be alert for beginning work at 6:00 a.m.? I think so. 

Are we double minded? Do we value money more than our relationship with Jesus and investing in our children? Do we think we can accomplish what God has called us to do without Him?

Home Management

“I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully” (1 Timothy 5:14). If one uses valuable, home-management time for Facebook, TV, movies, or reading novels, are you being a responsible, diligent worker? What does a manager in the workforce think if he comes by an employee’s desk to find him engaged in those activities?

If employees choose to curb time wasters, how much more for us as moms who are servants of the most High God. Don’t we express love for Him and gratitude to Him by faithfully doing what He has called us to do? Discover and eliminate whatever sidetracks you from guiding your home.

Child Interactions

Finally, what about your interactions with your children? If you had a high-level managerial role in a Fortune 500 company, would you express anger at your employees, be impatient with them, or cry over their behavior? 

Here again, it seems we are more motivated by a paycheck to do what we know is right than we are by accountability to God and love for our family. I discovered this when I was a homeschooling mom and told the Lord I couldn’t put off my anger toward my children.

One day the telephone rang when I was angry with my children, but I answered with a calm, sweet voice. That was an effective lesson! “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth” (Colossians 3:8). 

Our Accountability

As stay-at-home moms, we don’t have a physical boss to be accountable to, but we have One to Whom we should care even more if we please. I think we can become lazy and allow our flesh and excuses to rule rather than yielding to Jesus. The “I Can” mom doesn’t live with excuses. She jumps on the path to overcoming whatever excuses stand between her and doing. The “I Can’t” mom listens to and believes her excuses. “I Can” or “I Can’t?”

Trusting in Jesus,
Teri

Posted in: Mom's Corner

Popular Recipe For Disaster

A sure plan for a high consumption, debt-financed lifestyle is to fill your spare time with as much fun and pleasurable activities as possible. “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich” (Proverbs 21:17).

Hmm, on second thought, Scripture has a better plan. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
Steve