HONOR AND TRAINING

Have you noticed the disrespect that parents are treated with by many of the young people of our era? A friend said to me yesterday that she just wished she could be in the same room with her grandchildren for more than 10 minutes without wishing they would leave. When I asked why, she told me they were just rude.

God instructs us in Ephesians 6:1-4 (NIV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth". Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

It seems a lot of parents today want their kids to know about the first part of this where they get honor, but do they recognize the part about not exasperating their children.

I looked up the word exasperate and this is what it said: to irritate intensely; infuriate.

Here is a list of was to exasperate your children:

1.) Telling them God's Word for their lives but not applying it to your own.
2.) Yelling about everything they do.
3.) Never giving them credit for being good.
4.) Not being the adult in a situation.
5.) Arguing with your child.
6.) Calling them names (that you would be offended if someone called you).
7.) Teasing beyond it being fun for them.
8.) Calling attention to their failures in front of other adults.
9.) Making promises you break (not just on good things, but even on punishments)
Matthew 5:37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
10.) Forgetting what they tell you.

The interesting thing is that none of us would take these things from someone else, but I have seen lots of parents do them to their children. Maybe, if we did not exasperate our children, they could grow up showing more honor and would thereby have a long enjoyable life on earth.

Think about it, pray about it. If the shoe fits, wear it, if not.......Praise God!

TOXIC WASTE

When my children were small, they heard frequently from me the term.."Trash in, trash out!" The term originated with the early computers and meant that what you put into the computer is what you were going to get out (still applies today)! The statement to my children was concerning the tv shows they watched, the books they read and even the people they would 'hang' with.
Today you can't turn on the tv, read most books on the shelves for the general public, or for that matter go out in public without hearing words that make you wonder what happened to polite society, let alone Christianity.
The Bible admonishes us in James 3:7-12 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bare figs? Neither then can a salt spring produce fresh water.
As Christians it is our responsibility to bear fruit, not just with our deeds, but with our words. If we are spewing toxic words from our mouths, we will put to waste our children, grandchildren and the children next door. We also put to waste our Christian witness; we insult the Lord that loved us enough to die to save us.
Consider your words today BEFORE you use them. Don't allow toxic waste to come out of your mouth, we have enough of it on the planet already!

ARE YOU AN A.H.?

Through the years I have met many professing Christian people who just can't let go of things, especially when it comes to being hurt by others. I have to admit at times I fit that category. These people can be called an A. H. Now before you get too offended, A.H. in my terminology stands for ANGER HOLDER (you thought it was something else didn't you?).
All throughout the Bible God reminds us that He is in charge of the retribution for those who harm us, but for some reason we can't let go of dwelling on even the smallest of offenses, let alone the really big ones. Each one of us can analyze why we do it until we are blue, but if we really look closely, a question arises:
DO YOU TRUST GOD?
Ok, I feel you bristling again... "Well of course I trust God!", you say.
What is trust? I looked it up for you:
(a) a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something
(b) acceptance without evidence or investigation.
Now think for a moment about the anger you are holding and I will ask you the question again, "Do you trust God?"
If your answer is yes than you must put your belief in the reliability, truth and strength of His Word, and yes with no evidence or investigation into the situation, you need to accept that God will take care of whatever you are willing to put into His hands.
The key word here is trust. The Word says in Proverbs 3:5-6 (5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) acknowledge him in all your ways and He will direct your paths.
When we hold anger, we are working in our own understanding and acknowledging ourselves not Him.
So remember, if anyone accuses you today of being an A.H., tell them you are a child of God and you are trusting Him in whatever situation you come into.