Who wants to read about self-discipline these days? Where’s the grace in self-discipline? What a restricting way to live – right? It is okay to live without boundaries since we are free in Christ. Let’s talk about grace – only grace – and forget obedience and self-control.

Isn’t that what most want to read and the way they want to be encouraged? Yet, all we have to do is look around and observe the “fruit” of that sort of life: diabetes, divorce, obesity, spiritual bankruptcy, heart disease, out-of-control children, and nothing accomplished at the end of a day or of a life. 

Recall the last time you heard someone complain because they had too much temperance (self-discipline)? What – you never heard anyone complain about having too much self-disciple? Neither have I. Make your “best friend” a disciplined life under the control of the Holy Spirit. Learn to make difficult decisions and then execute them. Have consistent daily Bible times, bedtime, wakeup time, study, exercise, and say “No” to temptations. Don’t be like the guy who could say “No” to everything but, temptation. There are lots of “reasons” why most choose to be average – not one of them is good.  Be a great example for your children.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Steve

Whenever we traveled in a bus, we were extremely careful when crossing railroad tracks. Crossings are often higher than the approach and exit of the road, and since the bus had a low clearance, there was significant risk of “high-centering.” The modern-day equivalent of the saying “run-up-on-a-stump” is to be high-centered on a railroad track crossing. It is to be avoided at all costs.

If you picture a bus stuck on a crossing, you are picturing the danger some families may be headed toward. I wonder how many families are “cruising” along in life and are not careful of high-centering on a crossing. They do not think it could happen to them because, after all, they homeschool and they are Christians.

The world expects their children to go the way of the world, but believing families have higher hopes for a better future—and rightfully so. We must be constantly on guard.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Steve

Do you comply with the new mandated safety standards for gasoline? My understanding is that the mandated containers are more for the protection of the environment than for the protection of people. Common sense and caution are still required because gasoline is flammable and poisonous.

Lye, a chemical (sodium hydroxide) used in making soap, is found in many homes. Lye is possibly even more dangerous to people than gasoline. I know two families in which children added water to a dry, empty cup that had previously been used to transfer lye and took a drink. Immediately upon drinking the water, they began screaming in pain as their throats were “burned.” Though both children lived, they had serious health challenges for years afterward.

Tragically, many families today often ignore an even greater danger. A child’s mind is a container that deserves the greatest care as to what is put into it, because what goes into a mind can NEVER be removed. Although it may be difficult at times to find something you might want to retrieve from your mind, you cannot remove what is there. 🙂

What you put into a child’s mind can be either tremendously beneficial or disastrous to the child’s future. Are we being responsible parents by regulating what goes into our children’s minds? Are we instilling in them the need for great caution in what they allow in?

“For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” (Romans 16:19)

Steve

I could not find the person to credit with this saying, but I love the quote: “If you’re on time, you’re late, and if you are five minutes early, you are on time.” Implementing this shows love and respect for others.

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Galatians 5:14)

Steve