Re.. what?

     The eyes portrayed what I suspected -- confusion.  I'd tried to keep my explanation brief and to the point for his age, but still I could tell I wasn't getting through.  Finally, it came . . .

     "Is what you did right or wrong in God's eyes?" I asked

     "Wrong," came the quiet answer.

     "So when we know something we've done is wrong, we need to tell God we're sorry and change the way we think about it so we'll want to do it right, God's way.  That's repentance."

     I imagine someone may think it foolish to try to explain repentance to a five year old, or maybe it even seems out of style, old-fashioned; but if we are believers in Jesus Christ then not ONE WORD in the Bible can ever become out of date (the translations may change to make it easier to understand but the truths captured within never will)!

     The Message describes repentance as, "changing our ways and turning to God" and I can't think of a more valuable lesson for our children to understand in this day and age. 

     We're surrounded with a culture that believes there are NO absolutes -- that we "do" based on how we "feel".  That is not God's truth.

     It's our job to prepare these young ones of today to be the older ones of tomorrow.  That must include understanding their need for repentance.

     Repentance is not a one time experience when we come to Christ and ask Him to remove our sin . . . it's an ongoing way of life.  Part of a spiritual discipline in our own personal lives that causes us to be continually reflecting on the state of our hearts and asking God to reveal what we need to turn a full 180 degrees, not just 90 degrees, as we may prefer.

     God's been working something out recently in my own life and I've needed to repent of it more than once or twice, BUT I know He will have His way in the end, as I continue to turn it over to Him.  The challenge is that once God graciously helps me work out one thing, He will show me the next thing He would like to help me work on, but I recognize that this is the way it needs to be.

     Don't ever become discouraged with the process -- on this side of eternity, in our imperfect bodies, we need God to keep chipping away at our sin -- so we can move ahead in a rich journey with Him. 

     A promise found in Acts 3 rests within our quest for repentance, it says that we are delivered into times of refreshing . . . I don't know about you, but refreshing is something I know I need to experience on an on-going basis.  Praying that you, too, will experience God's restoring and refreshment no matter where you find yourself today.

"Repent, then, turn to God,

so that your sins may be wiped

out, that times of refreshing may

come from the Lord."

Acts 3:19

   

Time for Tears

     The sparkle left her blue eyes as they clouded over with sadness.  Her mouth pinched together at the sides and evidence of holding in pain become obvious.  Her head rested on her pillow and I, as mom, saw two doors in front of me --

     Door # 1) tuck the blankets around her, give a quick kiss and tell her she'll feel better in the morning (I know it sounds awful now, but come on, you've been at the bedside of your children when all you can think about is how much is left to do)

     OR

     Door # 2) climb up on that top bunk (which just seems to require more effort than it should) and take time for her to unleash the tears and stories

     This time I chose door # 2.

     As I lay beside her, inquiring about why she looked so sad, the first story came out.  Someone had hurt her with their words . . . they were unkind, thoughtless comments that had penetrated deep in her heart.  We talked about truth for that situation, wiped away the tears and shared hugs.  Then another story emerged, tears bubbled up and more talking / listening occurred.  After a lengthy time of listening, snuggling and praying she went to sleep with a smile on her face and in her heart.

     A fine line exists between a child that stalls at bedtime and the same child that needs a loving, listening ear.  Our role, as mom is to differentiate between the two.

     This time my heart affirmed that I'd chosen right, but it doesn't mean there wasn't sacrifice on my part. 

     It's hard to stop the rush of life and focus on that little heart that needs to be heard, when a hundred more responsibilities are screaming for our attention. 

     But that may be one of the most important roles we have as moms, and my guess is that it may become one the traits we're remembered for best someday if we choose to make the time.

     So when that little (or big) one crawls into bed holding back the tears that threaten to flow; stop and listen to your heart -- is this a moment that holds greater worth than the looming dishes, paperwork and dirt?  Chances are, it may be the most important moment of your day . . . and the reward will be evident in the joy on their face when they awake for a new day!

"Those who sow with tears

will reap with songs of joy."

Psalm 126:5



A Furious Squall

     Dollhouses were spread across the living room rug like a sprawling town -- dinky cars were arranged in rows and ready to race at high speeds.  Voices chattered happily while sharing plans of what should happen next in their game, when suddenly an argument erupted in the midst of their pretend town.

     "Give it back!  It's mine."

     "No, it's not, it's mine."

     "I only let you borrow it!"

     My heart fell in sadness.  It's so hard to listen to the ones you love tear each other apart.  And I don't enjoy the energy it requires to rectify the situation either. 

     A verse flashed back from my morning's time in the Word . . . in Mark 4 where we hear the story of Jesus in the boat with His disciples.  Verse 37 sounded like our house, "A furious squall came up."  That's us, I thought, that describes these moments with my children.  But even better, it reminded me of the solution too.

     Only two verses later, we find Jesus standing up, saying, "Quiet! Be still!"  And we're told it became completely calm!

     How do we get that power flowing in our homes and with our children?  To go from furious squalls to complete calm?

     We learn to invite Jesus into the midst of our storms.

     I'll be honest ~  I'm sharing more from failure than success here, but over and over, when He's been invited, I've seen Jesus move in the midst of our stormy seas at home. 

     I need that picture in my mind: Jesus speaking to our tossed boat (house) and watching those waves (arguments) become as calm and quiet as a still night.  Jesus can be that real in our moments of tension and frustration but He MUST BE INVITED!  Come Lord Jesus, into our homes and calm squalls of life.

"Now may the Lord of Peace

Himself give you peace at

ALL times and in EVERY way."

II Thessalonians 3:16

Sour Faces

     “Could you please take out the kitchen garbage?”

     “Could you please dry the lunch dishes?”

     “Could you please pick up the building blocks?”

     Daily, as moms, we’re required to make requests of our children that will make their faces sour and scrunch in dismay -- does that mean we should stop?  No, but we may need to brace ourselves for the inevitable reactions while we DO OUR JOB.

     I dread the high-pitched wails of complaining as much as any other mother, but I refuse to rob our children of the opportunity to contribute to our home.

     But something even greater occurs in these moments of instruction that may go unnoticed at first, but be appreciated later . . . our children learn to obey our voice.  What seems basic and simple when they’re young becomes the stepping stone for God to build on in their lives.

     How will our children know how to obey the voice of God if they haven’t first learned to obey the voice of a parent?

     We resist and dread the natural reactions that come out of our children’s mouths -- we wonder where we went wrong and fail to realize this as a “normal” part of the journey. 

     Instead, we must see the gift we’re giving our children as precious, even though it’s wrapped in paper that isn’t appealing to them.  Keep pressing on with determination inspired from above.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left,

your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,

 ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
Isaiah 30:21