Today at Bethlehem, we had a guest pastor, a regular guest, C.J. Mahaney speak about looking for the "evidences of grace" in others, rather than their faults. What he means is, look for the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) and also the gifts of the spirit (teaching, evangelism, leading, mercy, etc) in others---espsecially those in our own households---because it is so darn easy otherwise to see nothing but faults in our spouse or children. I'm guilty of that, for sure.
Well, here's a great one in my oldest son Nicholas and his 5 year old sister Hannah today. I just had to administer a timeout and a session of exhortation to Nicholas about speaking harshly with his sister (gee, I wonder where he get's that from...Hmm, could it be...His Dad?!). And not 2 minutes later, he and his sister collide while carrying milk-glasses to the dinner table...and milk flies EVERYWHERE!! Onto Hannah's dress, her feet, and even into her hair. It was a 1st class mess.
Folks, my kids have all been, at times, so hypersensitive and "touchy" that they have been known to launch into thermonuclear fits if molecule of air lands wrong on their skin. So I expected bucketloads of emotions, anger and tears to come pouring out of this situation. But it never did. Hannah just stood looking stunned, and wondered how the milk would come out of her hair. But as a miracle of God's grace, we all handled it, taking it in stride and moving forward to a quick clean-up and lots of forgiveness and apologies.
Wow! I was stunned at how wonderfully both Nicholas and Hannah (and me too, to be honest) handled the situation and never cried over spilled milk. I rewarded both of them with a little sweet treat and praised them abundantly.
I just had to share this little victory in hopes you find the same evidences of grace in your family this week!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Welcome!
Welcome to PFNNA!
If you struggle with a gap of where you are with your family - and where you would like to be...welcome! If you feel inadequate for the task of parenting...welcome! If you sometimes think your highest hope you can dare to dream for your kids is that they will somehow, by the grace and mercy of God, NOT turn out as non-psychopathic derelicts...welcome! If you often think to yourself, "Wow! I wish I was a little more mature before I started this parenting journey...welcome! And if you sometimes feel at odds with your spouse in your viewpoint and opinion, but still love him/her dearly...welcome!
Finally, this is a place where JESUS CHRIST is proclaimed boldly as LORD and the only Savior. The only one who rescues us from the righteous wrath of God against all sin. This is a place where the bible is believed and proclaimed to be true...even when it contradicts popularly accepted claims of society, or supposed scientific "proof." If these things offend or bother you, I hope you will give us a try. If you think we are flat out wrong in our beliefs, we welcome that...but we're not changing our minds.
So with that being said, let's make ourselves comfortable enough so as to let down our guard with one another, open up with reasonable transparency (while always upholding the dignity and honor of God and our fellow man), and get down to business. But let us not get so comfortable that we lose our watchfulness over our own souls or the souls of our families. Our enemy prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking those he might devour. Let us not grow hardened by sin's deceiptfulness. And let us not grow weary in the meeting together, but encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today.
Peace in Jesus,
dbh
If you struggle with a gap of where you are with your family - and where you would like to be...welcome! If you feel inadequate for the task of parenting...welcome! If you sometimes think your highest hope you can dare to dream for your kids is that they will somehow, by the grace and mercy of God, NOT turn out as non-psychopathic derelicts...welcome! If you often think to yourself, "Wow! I wish I was a little more mature before I started this parenting journey...welcome! And if you sometimes feel at odds with your spouse in your viewpoint and opinion, but still love him/her dearly...welcome!
Finally, this is a place where JESUS CHRIST is proclaimed boldly as LORD and the only Savior. The only one who rescues us from the righteous wrath of God against all sin. This is a place where the bible is believed and proclaimed to be true...even when it contradicts popularly accepted claims of society, or supposed scientific "proof." If these things offend or bother you, I hope you will give us a try. If you think we are flat out wrong in our beliefs, we welcome that...but we're not changing our minds.
So with that being said, let's make ourselves comfortable enough so as to let down our guard with one another, open up with reasonable transparency (while always upholding the dignity and honor of God and our fellow man), and get down to business. But let us not get so comfortable that we lose our watchfulness over our own souls or the souls of our families. Our enemy prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking those he might devour. Let us not grow hardened by sin's deceiptfulness. And let us not grow weary in the meeting together, but encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today.
Peace in Jesus,
dbh
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