tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68141665674112274602024-02-18T22:15:06.352-05:00Raising God's RewardsKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-4811434587950989242018-06-17T14:04:00.002-04:002018-06-17T14:04:51.404-04:00The Heart of a Father
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I believe that the
reason why children are a <i>reward </i>from God is because children help us to
experientially know the heart of Father God like no other parable can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Having children is compared to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">arrows in the hand of a warrior</i> (Psalm
127.4). When you send an arrow out to hit its mark, you release it, and you
need to let go of it in order for it to fly towards its intended target.
Continuing the parable of life to enable you to know the heart of God better,
after you send out your arrows, it is you and your bride or bridegroom again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The same is true spiritually. You
are given <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">spiritual</i> children that you
help along life’s road too. Training both your physical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and </i>your spiritual children helps you to know the heart of God
better. You stay connected to the Lord by seeking Him as you seek to train
those that are under your care. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">For example, God’s
desire is to give us, His children, His power to work <i>within us,</i> and to</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif;">
do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think
[infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]...</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #010f18; font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> God will generously provide all you
need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to
share with others</span></i><span style="color: #010f18; font-family: "Cambria",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Cor 9.8 NLT).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif;">As
parents, having been freely loved, we are free to love.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Having been forgiven much,
we are free to forgive.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Having learned to follow,
we are equipped to lead.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Having been given things
so freely, we are free to give.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_edn4" name="_ednref4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> We are ready to look out
not only for ourselves, but also for the good of others,<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_edn5" name="_ednref5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> as we sacrificially
demonstrate the love that God has for us.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_edn6" name="_ednref6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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When you release both your
physical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">or </i>spiritual children, you
release them into the hands of God. You may see your arrows hit their mark. You
may experience the heart of the Father of the prodigal son as you watch wayward
children make mistakes and go down wrong roads. Through it all, you depend upon
the Lord and the parable of your life spurs you to connect and relate to your
Lord even more as you trust Him with the welfare of your most loved
possessions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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That is why no matter what you
sacrifice to raise children, they always give more back to you, because they
compel you to know the heart of God in an unselfish way that only a parent can
know. You begin to see that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Human life is
as short-lived as grass…</i> (Psalm 103.15), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">…but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his
life abides (remains) forever. </i>(1 John 2.17) God <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">has put a sense of eternity in people’s minds </i>(Ecclesiastes 3.11). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>And
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this is the real and eternal life: That
[we] know… [t]he one and only true God, [a]nd Jesus Christ… </i>(John 17.3)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;">Don’t let the wise brag of
their wisdom. Don’t let heroes brag of their exploits. Don’t let the rich brag
of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand
and know me. I’m GOD, and I act in loyal love. I do what’s right and set things
right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my
trademarks. </span></i><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;">(Jeremiah
9.23-24 MSG)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Excerpt from soon to be released book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How to Build Children With Integrity, </i>by Karen Budzinski, © WestBow
Press and Karen Budzinski.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
1 John 4<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Ephesians 4.32; Colossians 3.13; Matthew 18.21-35<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn3" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
1 Corinthians 11.1<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn4" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_ednref4" name="_edn4" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Matthew 10.8<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="edn5" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_ednref5" name="_edn5" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Philippians 2.4<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div id="edn6" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_ednref6" name="_edn6" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
John 3.16; Romans 8.32<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-51579474099340990182017-03-20T10:26:00.000-04:002017-03-20T10:26:24.009-04:00When Sharing ISN'T Caring...<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
(This is an excerpt from a book I am writing on raising children. It is from the chapter, "It Doesn't Always Have to be About ME!")</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
While
in Florida recently, it was so fun to observe the young moms in the pool with
their little children and their children’s belongings. Every day a child would
take something that wasn’t theirs, the child whose belongings were taken would
freak out, and the other child would often gloat in their possessing something
in such high demand. The moms would then jump in: the mom of the “borrower”
trying to wrest the toy from her child to return it, and the other mom saying,
“no my child has ENOUGH toys: he/she can SHARE!” This happened almost every day
with different children and different toys! Moms want to raise kids that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">share</i>, a noble and needed character
quality to have.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
There’s
a new saying around town to support these efforts: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sharing is CARING!</i> Well, my experience has shown me that sharing is
NOT ALWAYS caring. Here are some things to keep in mind when teaching your
children to share:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">Every person, whether adult or child, needs a space
to call <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">their own.</i> </li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As your children get older, they begin to
work with legos, craft things, games and puzzles that are age appropriate for
them, but all the younger ones can do with those things is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">destroy!</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You will find that if you give each
child their “space” and teach them to respect each others “space,” they will
not be fighting as much to maintain something (their space) they already have.
You will also be better equipping your children for the real world where they
can’t just reach over to their neighbor’s desk and use their crayons or
markers, or jump into the next guy’s cubicle and use their computer or office equipment. <o:p></o:p>I don’t share everything I own, so why would I expect my children to? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Entitlement starts at age 2. Your 2
year old is not entitled to what your 7 year old owns, nor the other way
around. This is more important training than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sharing.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">Personal possessions should be personal
possessions. </li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When my children wanted to use my
computer, I was quick to inform that that PC stood for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">PERSONAL </i>computer! If I own something, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">own </i>it, and it should be up to me whether or not I want to share
it! I would tell my children, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This ISN’T
a socialist house and EVERY THING doesn’t belong to EVERY ONE in it!</i> We are
not doing our children any favors to think they are entitled to what other’s
have, even if it is their sibling, cousin or friend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">Not everything has to be shared with every one. </li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I have a group meeting at my
home, it is ok to put some of my child’s favorite things away so that all the
children aren’t playing with things that can be easily ruined. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no way</i> I would have a group over to use my sewing machines! I take
such good care of them, and they are so easily broken, and they are very
important to me. I waited a long time to get the sewing machines I have, and I
don’t intend on having things go wrong with them unless I am the one
responsible. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">When I realize I am going to share things with
others, I will get enough to pass around.</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you know your child has a lot of
cousins or friends or family, when you anticipate them sharing something, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prepare </i>for it. Tell your son, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My friends are coming over today and they
are bringing their children. I got extra crayons and color books so we can
share, and I got this fun puzzle to put together. I’ll put them here with our <u>sharing
toys.</u> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i>Now
your seven year old doesn’t have to watch your friends 2-year olds break and
eat their crayons and scribble all over their favorite coloring book. He
doesn’t have to worry about his favorite puzzle if someone starts to eat a
piece or throw them in the air because they don’t know how to make puzzles.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When my friends come over, I may not
offer my secret stash of Godiva praline truffles, but I will get special
chocolates to put out for them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sharing</i>
is defined as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">giving a portion;</i>
don’t expect your children to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">give
it all.</i> </li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When my children had extra things, I
taught them to give to those in need. I didn’t force them to give their
possessions to their siblings <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in GREED,</i>
but to share their extras with those <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in
NEED.</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">Sometimes parents can teach MORE to their
children by teaching siblings to respect their other siblings’ personal
belongings and space than by teaching them they have a right to them. </li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I taught my children that their home
was their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">safe place.</i> No one was
entitled to the other’s space or personal possessions. If Daniel started
building a 200-page K’Nex merry go round or Jesse was building a 5,000 piece
Lego city, they could leave their things there and I trained my other children
not to go near those things because they didn’t belong to them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When the girls had their craft room,
the boys had no entry. When each child received presents, prizes, or gifts that
the others didn’t get, I taught the others to be happy for that child and not
to expect ownership of any of it. I feel I raised some of the most extravagant
givers I know. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
These
concepts don’t teach children to be selfish, but to be secure enough in owning
things so that they were equipped to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">share</i>
and not feel guilty when they didn’t want to. There are things your children
will work for and take care of and cherish as they get older, and they
shouldn’t have to feel that if they don’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">share
</i>everything they are selfish and unkind. They are being wise stewards of
what they have. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">Open your circle and let someone in: how to train
your children to be extravagant givers.</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Teach your children to share time
with others, kind words, acts of kindness, and their “common area” toys. Show
them how happy you are when you give to others, and let them help you make
baked goods or meals for those in need. Take them to visit the elderly and the
hurting with you. Wrap up boxes of extra toys for the homeless shelter and let
them accompany you to give the boxes away. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
There
will be a lot more ideas of teaching sharing in my upcoming book on raising
children! I’ll keep you posted!<o:p></o:p></div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-36155904074262660912016-08-05T17:08:00.000-04:002016-08-05T17:08:37.903-04:00Training Children to be Socially Acceptable<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
As
soon as your little cherub turns about 15 months old, they begin to see that
their behavior has an impact on their world. They learn that they have an
opinion on what they like and don’t, and what the want to do and don’t do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they enter into the “terrific twos” they
love the impact they can make on their world! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
This
is an exciting time for you and them. But hidden beneath the surface are a lot
of dangers if you do not help your little toddler keep things in the proper
perspective.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
This
is one of the most important times of parenting because if you fail to train
your child correctly during this stage, it can open the door for a host of
problems in their future and yours:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*When
respect for parental authority is not enforced when you hover above them in
size and control, it will be much more difficult if not almost impossible to
enforce when they are as tall or taller than you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*When
you don’t teach your children discipline at this early age, they may run away
from you when you call or argue with you in the wrong place or at the wrong
time or not put something down in time and get hurt badly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*When
they go to daycare, preschool or kindergarten or other church programs, they
will be expected to sit on the square, raise their hand, and other disciplines
that are best started in the home for effective training.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*At
school and elsewhere they are not in charge of the schedule and it is best if
their world doesn’t crumble when they realize that because they have learned it
at home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*No
one will be able to or desire watch your undisciplined child or have them over
to their house or to your appointments or shopping.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Here
are five simple rules to remember for this stage of the game:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>You are in charge</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most important things children
need to learn is that they can have a voice and even an opinion but they are
not in charge and their voice and opinion aren’t always going to be listened
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in early childcare, children
are expected to listen to those in charge. It is important that they learn this
skill at home. It is also hugely important as children grow up that they
respect their parents’ authority. It will make it easier for them to later
respect other authorities without challenging every rule and every decision.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You can give your young children
choices on some things, but little children should not be able to choose
everything. The best option is to give them a few choices: do you want to wear <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i>? Leaving everything up to your children is not wise because
then they are led to believe that they can pick everything.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I play with my grandchildren,
observers may believe me to be selfish when I insist that I get to pick the
game sometimes, or when I refuse to let my grandchildren tell me how to run the
ponies I am in charge of. The reason I do this with them, and did it with my
children, is that they need to learn that they do not always get to be in
charge of everything. They need to learn to play well with others at home! They
will not learn consideration for others and to think of others unless they
learn it at home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
2.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>Watch your words</u>. I know that
God will never give me a command that He doesn’t equip me to obey. I know when
God gives me a command He expects me to obey. When I worked, I also knew as an
employee that the boss gave <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">commands,</i>
not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">options.</i> That is what makes a
good employee. As a student, I knew the teacher gave <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">commands, </i>and not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">options. </i>That
made me a good student.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You are not doing your children any
favors by telling them to do something without following through. Worse yet is
changing your mind when they throw a temper tantrum. You have then taught them
that “no” means “no” only if they don’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">freak
out, </i>then it may change to a “yes” for them if the freak out is crazy
enough. Not a great routine to train them into. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You need to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">train</i> your children and not just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">watch</i> them. They need to learn to do what you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">expect</i> from them: what is reasonable and realistic for their age,
or <u>even a little beyond their age</u>! They are way smarter than you think.
If you say, “Sarah will never stay in her high chair!” she <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">understands what you are saying </i>and so will live up to that
expectation. Better to say, “Sarah <u>needs</u> to stay in her high chair until
she is done eating!” She hears that too, and will realize that it is what is
expected of her. Training children will result in your having a <u>much easier</u>
time when you go to someone’s house or a restaurant and Sarah needs to stay in
the high chair. Some things are not an option. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Speak life and speak positively to
and about your children. Believe me, they hear what you say about them to
others and will live up to that. Also, be sure if you tell them something,
follow through. Make sure they have habits of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">obeying</i> you and not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ignoring</i>
you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
3.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>Raise your expectations</u>. I love
the movie <u>The Miracle Worker.</u> It is a tribute to Anne Sullivan, who was
Helen Keller’s Teacher. Helen Keller was blind and deaf, and they believed her
to be “dumb.” She did whatever she wanted without intervention. She was turning
into a barbarian, going around the dinner table eating with her hands off
everyone’s plate. Anne Sullivan refused to give in to her and taught her to
read, write, and behave civilly. Helen Keller became a well-known speaker and
writer and much of her success was because Ann Sullivan <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>trained</u></i> her rather than watch her do whatever she wanted.
She equipped Helen for society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Even before children are age two
they are trainable. They know when they are whining, begging, pulling on you,
etc. When my children were one I trained them that if they were whining and
crying it was in their crib. They could come out when happy. They learned the
concept! Little children are to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trained.</i>
Ironically, if you need ideas often the information on training <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">puppies</b> can be used! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You need to train children who are
able to go to others’ homes without thinking they have the right to open every
cupboard and drawer and take things out and throw things around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At home, put a lot of things your children are
allowed to touch and go into, and keep things that are “no” – when children learn
boundaries at home, when they go out they are not crossing boundaries others
have.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
4.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>See the bigger picture</u>. You may
not mind picking up all the crumbs and fingerprints and drips your child leaves
as they travel around your house with their crumbly donuts and juice. But
others will, I assure you. Get your child trained so they have snack times at
certain times (not just all day), and that they sit down to enjoy their food
and drink and not just wander around with them. Healthier attitude towards food;
AND, when you visit others, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">their</i>
furnishings, cupboards and windows don’t have to take a beating!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You may not mind if your children
break their toys or crayons or throw things. But at school and playing with
others, no one is going to appreciate your lack of training.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
5.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>Practice, practice, practice</u>! Remember,
children take a lot longer to train than baby birds: that is why they are with
you 18-20 years and not just a season! Be patient! Enjoy the process!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you are having problems with your
children coming when called, practice practice practice at home! Call them and
make them come: 50 times, 100 times, until they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">get it. </i>It is for their good! Keep at it! Remember… it takes a LOT
of time to TRAIN children!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If they aren’t sleeping at night,
practice practice practice. Consistency is the key. Get tips from mothers that
have walked the path before you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">effectively.</i>
Use the ones that work with your child and their personality and your
situations; <u>discard the others</u>. Many well meaning moms have tips that
won’t be useful to you! You’ll know which is which!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sometimes you will see the biggest
issues your child is going to deal with. It is great if you can train them to
be victorious in those areas. I had a child that couldn’t concentrate because
so many things were going on in their head at the same time. I taught them to
picture “drawers” and close all the drawers except the one thing they needed to
concentrate on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work on the things your
child deals with!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If your child asks inappropriately,
sasses or yells, turn the timer on starting with how many minutes for how old
they are, and then allow them to ask again. Then if they do it again the same
day, set the timer for the original minutes +1 and keep doing that until they
get it right.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-54514039020950179532016-06-24T10:18:00.002-04:002016-06-24T11:13:27.206-04:00When You Can't "Do It All"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw9WAp_8vKbKGMfDUwV3iZukWhEDVYrZSic4Mle1Z3w9sdRz4S2FPVr31Z0_KGHgUQ7vQRRH75MJXuF2fQoIJwWlOUdJ0odFJL7l3NaMhbWSGIEh2D2K6QNzIJ_cHRWVLFkBrkraKi63a/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw9WAp_8vKbKGMfDUwV3iZukWhEDVYrZSic4Mle1Z3w9sdRz4S2FPVr31Z0_KGHgUQ7vQRRH75MJXuF2fQoIJwWlOUdJ0odFJL7l3NaMhbWSGIEh2D2K6QNzIJ_cHRWVLFkBrkraKi63a/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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As a mother of five children inside 5-1/2 years, with a husband that was gone pretty much at least Monday - Friday each week working out of state (or country), I knew the feeling that I couldn't "do it all." I homeschooled, each of my children had music lessons and various activities, we had a lot of family events, I volunteered at Gilda's Club (a cancer support community), and was involved in a number of ministries at our Church. To make extra money, I also worked late at night for an attorney, then became a Unit Manager for Creative Memories, a scrapbooking sales company. Here are a few things I learned along the way:</div>
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1. Be reasonable and realistic with your schedule. Remember what Matthew 11.28-30 says when you are "tired from carrying heavy loads" (GW). Walk with Jesus, <i>watch how [He does] it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. [He] won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with [Him] and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.</i> (MSG) Another version says, <i>My yoke is easy and My burden is light. </i>(GW)</div>
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So if HIS yoke is easy and what HE wants you to do is a <i>light burden</i> why all the stress? Because you are trying to accomplish way more than is reasonable and realistic, and way more than He expects of you. Take a look at all you are doing and pare down what is not necessary. A juggler has to let go of some balls to grab others. Look at what you need to drop off your schedule at certain times and say "no" to things (which really is saying "yes" to other things!). Be sure you live out your priorities. I'm so glad I said "no" to enough things to give me lazy summer days of visiting parks and playscapes and visiting grandparents and great-grandparents with my children. Create your schedule to give you the best memories and the least crazies possible.</div>
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2. Embrace the season you are in. Sometimes your priority will be feeding bottle after bottle. It only lasts a season so enjoy it. Other seasons where you are able to play "doctor" and "house" and Hi Ho Cherry O only last for a few short years. Embrace those seasons. Live out the season you are in 100%. You don't want your children's memories to be of you sitting on your phone looking at other's lives on Facebook while you aren't throwing yourself into your own season of life. Learn to be mentally where your body is as much as possible.</div>
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3. Run your own race and don't look at other's lives. Your friend that has sanguine children will never understand why you have to stay at home for a month to train your strong-willed children who are exhibiting temper tantrums every time you go out in public. Don't expect others to understand the decisions you make. You may be trying to pay your house off to be financially free, and choose not to spend money for a season so need to say "no" to pricey weekend get-aways or events. Make your goals and live them out without looking for a bunch of people to understand. Chances are if you are choosing extraordinary results, they will be <i>extraordinary</i> and many will not be able to understand anyways. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
4. Be creative in finding help. That doesn't mean that for YOU to get help you LOAD down your husband. When I found I wasn't able to do everything, I enlisted help by having mother's helpers (younger girls in the neighborhood to come and occupy my kids so I could get things done), babysitters (have a list of at LEAST 7 at all times), family and friends. I often took my children with me for errands, which forced me to train them socially and helped them to know things off-limits which in the end was a huge benefit. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When getting help, keep in mind that you are the one that is still responsible for the training of your children. When you delegate that responsibility, be sure you are delegating it to the person who will do it the most like you would. That means that sometimes it <u>won't</u> be your husband. If your husband is like mine and is a high-powered executive used to saying something and things happen right away, they may not be the right person to have the patience to put your 1- or 2-year old to bed if you have children that aren't always cooperative. Many times I had a babysitter put my children to bed even when my husband was home just to relieve my husband from undue pressure at the end of his crazy days, to relieve my children of having their frustrated dad to deal with, and to relieve myself of hearing the house falling in on top of me when I was in the basement trying to work.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the same note, many people are in an uproar over gender-neutral policies (rightly so), yet in an obscure way we are trying to eliminate gender roles in our homes. Just as when prayer was taken out of the schools and our recourse was to strengthen it in our homes, so now we need to live out stronger gender roles in our homes if our children are going to see the difference between males and females. I would counsel to start with recognizing that men aren't necessarily the best replacement for mothers during meals and bedtimes. If you are going to need help during those times, enlist the help of a female caregiver who would be more like you would be in the patience area (unless you have an unusual husband who has a gift for patience and long-suffering). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
5. Remember that "guilt" is a function of your emotions; "conviction" is a function of your spirit. Know the difference: embrace conviction and repel "guilt." Many times I was convicted to see a need for change in my life and made the changes necessary for the betterment of my family. Just as many times <i>if not more </i>I had to <u>not accept</u> the feeling of "guilt" when I couldn't do all <u>I</u> expected to do. Sometimes guilt comes from the fact you are away from your children for longer than you want. If you are leaving your children with delegated help that is doing closely with what you would do, and if you are not putting undue pressure on your spouse and taking away your home being his "safe place," do not accept the feeling of guilt. Guilt is a horrible feeling that has to be balanced with <u style="font-style: italic;">blame</u>. If you find yourself blaming, look at if you have accepted feelings of guilt. If you need to work outside your home, and then want to go to dinner with your spouse or a friend, that event doesn't determine if you are a "good" mother. "Guilt" will direct you to wrong choices, usually not resulting in change but in over-compensating. When you are doing things to strengthen your marriage or to help others, or to work to help your family, do not allow "guilty" feelings about not being with your children to incite you to over-compensate or make wrong choices in other areas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you are going to be convicted about something that is good to change for the betterment of you and your family, start with looking at the time you are spending in the Word of God both alone and with your children. Being convicted about this is better placed than feeling guilty that you didn't get to put your children to bed because you were at (another) wedding.<br />
<br />
I needed a chance to get out and look around and get my workout in. Many times when finances were really tight, I made a way for a babysitter to come over before school, after school, or whenever it could work out for me to go running. I often thought of the air masks that they tell you will fall in the airplanes if there is a problem: the parent is to put the air mask on first so they will be able to think clearly to help their children. Maybe you have some things that are an "air mask" to you that you need in order to function better. Make room for it. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
6. When faced with choices, do the things that will matter the most in the end. Many choices are made <i>for </i>us and we don't have too much control over (work schedules, baby feedings, unexpected illness in the family, etc.) When you <u>do</u> have a choice, exercise it wisely and make your choices for the things that will matter most in the end. Time management skills are critical with the unending demands placed on us. Juggle wisely! What ever you need to do, don't use it as an excuse to put other things out of whack. For example, if you need to work outside your home, don't use it as an excuse to hurt your marriage or to take away your husband's ability to have a time to recoup from his day. If you are a stay-at-home mom, don't use it as an excuse to hurt your marriage or to place demands on your husband when he gets home because you have been home all day.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
7. Enjoy your life. Today is a <i>gift;</i> that is why we call it the <i>present.</i> Get things in line so you can enjoy the life God has given you and maximize your impact and opportunities where He has placed you! </div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-30656552221314267752016-06-24T10:18:00.001-04:002016-06-24T11:05:52.876-04:00When You Can't "Do It All"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw9WAp_8vKbKGMfDUwV3iZukWhEDVYrZSic4Mle1Z3w9sdRz4S2FPVr31Z0_KGHgUQ7vQRRH75MJXuF2fQoIJwWlOUdJ0odFJL7l3NaMhbWSGIEh2D2K6QNzIJ_cHRWVLFkBrkraKi63a/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw9WAp_8vKbKGMfDUwV3iZukWhEDVYrZSic4Mle1Z3w9sdRz4S2FPVr31Z0_KGHgUQ7vQRRH75MJXuF2fQoIJwWlOUdJ0odFJL7l3NaMhbWSGIEh2D2K6QNzIJ_cHRWVLFkBrkraKi63a/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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As a mother of five children inside 5-1/2 years, with a husband that was gone pretty much at least Monday - Friday each week working out of state (or country), I knew the feeling that I couldn't "do it all." I homeschooled, each of my children had music lessons and various activities, we had a lot of family events, I volunteered at Gilda's Club (a cancer support community), and was involved in a number of ministries at our Church. To make extra money, I also worked late at night for an attorney, then became a Unit Manager for Creative Memories, a scrapbooking sales company. Here are a few things I learned along the way:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
1. Be reasonable and realistic with your schedule. Remember what Matthew 11.28-30 says when you are "tired from carrying heavy loads" (GW). Walk with Jesus, <i>watch how [He does] it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. [He] won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with [Him] and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.</i> (MSG) Another version says, <i>My yoke is easy and My burden is light. </i>(GW)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So if HIS yoke is easy and what HE wants you to do is a <i>light burden</i> why all the stress? Because you are trying to accomplish way more than is reasonable and realistic, and way more than He expects of you. Take a look at all you are doing and pare down what is not necessary. A juggler has to let go of some balls to grab others. Look at what you need to drop off your schedule at certain times and say "no" to things (which really is saying "yes" to other things!). Be sure you live out your priorities. I'm so glad I said "no" to enough things to give me lazy summer days of visiting parks and playscapes and visiting grandparents and great-grandparents with my children. Create your schedule to give you the best memories and the least crazies possible.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
2. Embrace the season you are in. Sometimes your priority will be feeding bottle after bottle. It only lasts a season so enjoy it. Other seasons where you are able to play "doctor" and "house" and Hi Ho Cherry O only last for a few short years. Embrace those seasons. Live out the season you are in 100%. You don't want your children's memories to be of you sitting on your phone looking at other's lives on Facebook while you aren't throwing yourself into your own season of life. Learn to be mentally where your body is as much as possible.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
3. Run your own race and don't look at other's lives. Your friend that has sanguine children will never understand why you have to stay at home for a month to train your strong-willed children who are exhibiting temper tantrums every time you go out in public. Don't expect others to understand the decisions you make. You may be trying to pay your house off to be financially free, and choose not to spend money for a season so need to say "no" to pricey weekend get-aways or events. Make your goals and live them out without looking for a bunch of people to understand. Chances are if you are choosing extraordinary results, they will be <i>extraordinary</i> and many will not be able to understand anyways. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
4. Be creative in finding help. That doesn't mean that for YOU to get help you LOAD down your husband. When I found I wasn't able to do everything, I enlisted help by having mother's helpers (younger girls in the neighborhood to come and occupy my kids so I could get things done), babysitters (have a list of at LEAST 7 at all times), family and friends. I often took my children with me for errands, which forced me to train them socially and helped them to know things off-limits which in the end was a huge benefit. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When getting help, keep in mind that you are the one that is still responsible for the training of your children. When you delegate that responsibility, be sure you are delegating it to the person who will do it the most like you would. That means that sometimes it <u>won't</u> be your husband. If your husband is like mine and is a high-powered executive used to saying something and things happen right away, they may not be the right person to have the patience to put your 1- or 2-year old to bed if you have children that aren't always cooperative. Many times I had a babysitter put my children to bed even when my husband was home just to relieve my husband from undue pressure at the end of his crazy days, to relieve my children of having their frustrated dad to deal with, and to relieve myself of hearing the house falling in on top of me when I was in the basement trying to work.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the same note, many people are in an uproar over gender-neutral policies (rightly so), yet in an obscure way we are trying to eliminate gender roles in our homes. Just as when prayer was taken out of the schools and our recourse was to strengthen it in our homes, so now we need to live out stronger gender roles in our homes if our children are going to see the difference between males and females. I would counsel to start with recognizing that men aren't necessarily the best replacement for mothers during meals and bedtimes. If you are going to need help during those times, enlist the help of a female caregiver who would be more like you would be in the patience area (unless you have an unusual husband who has a gift for patience and long-suffering). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
5. Remember that "guilt" is a function of your emotions; "conviction" is a function of your spirit. Know the difference: embrace conviction and repel "guilt." Many times I was convicted to see a need for change in my life and made the changes necessary for the betterment of my family. Just as many times <i>if not more </i>I had to <u>not accept</u> the feeling of "guilt" when I couldn't do all <u>I</u> expected to do. Sometimes guilt comes from the fact you are away from your children for longer than you want. If you are leaving your children with delegated help that is doing closely with what you would do, and if you are not putting undue pressure on your spouse and taking away your home being his "safe place," do not accept the feeling of guilt. Guilt is a horrible feeling that has to be balanced with <u style="font-style: italic;">blame</u>. If you find yourself blaming, look at if you have accepted feelings of guilt. If you need to work outside your home, and then want to go to dinner with your spouse or a friend, that event doesn't determine if you are a "good" mother. "Guilt" will direct you to wrong choices, usually not resulting in change but in over-compensating. When you are doing things to strengthen your marriage or to help others, or to work to help your family, do not allow "guilty" feelings about not being with your children to incite you to over-compensate or make wrong choices in other areas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you are going to be convicted about something that is good to change for the betterment of you and your family, start with looking at the time you are spending in the Word of God both alone and with your children. Being convicted about this is better placed than feeling guilty that you didn't get to put your children to bed because you were at (another) wedding.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
6. When faced with choices, do the things that will matter the most in the end. Many choices are made <i>for </i>us and we don't have too much control over (work schedules, baby feedings, unexpected illness in the family, etc.) When you <u>do</u> have a choice, exercise it wisely and make your choices for the things that will matter most in the end. Time management skills are critical with the unending demands placed on us. Juggle wisely! What ever you need to do, don't use it as an excuse to put other things out of whack. For example, if you need to work outside your home, don't use it as an excuse to hurt your marriage or to take away your husband's ability to have a time to recoup from his day. If you are a stay-at-home mom, don't use it as an excuse to hurt your marriage or to place demands on your husband when he gets home because you have been home all day.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
7. Enjoy your life. Today is a <i>gift;</i> that is why we call it the <i>present.</i> Get things in line so you can enjoy the life God has given you and maximize your impact and opportunities where He has placed you! </div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-42048020049407420492016-03-13T07:30:00.003-04:002016-03-13T07:32:05.867-04:00Part 2 – Roles of Father, Mother and Children in God’s Awesome Plan for Our Families<div class="MsoNormal">
We looked at:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day 1 – God’s Plan for Our Homes and Families and How that
Plan is Accomplished<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today we will look at:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day 2 – Roles of Father, Mother, and Children in that Plan<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t miss next post when we will look at the reason that
God’s plan for families isn’t being realized and lived out:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day 3 – The Destruction of Our Family and the Abomination
that Works Desolation in our Homes and Families<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and then what to do about it all:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day 4 – How to Break Free from the Enemy’s Grips to Get back
to God’s Plan for our Homes and Families<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Take the time to read through the BOLD OUTLINE and WORDS at
least so you know what is destroying our families from the inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a culmination of a 10+ year Bible
study on this and I know you will love it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Part 2 – Roles of Father, Mother and<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Children in God’s Awesome Plan for Our Families<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fathers</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Are
to train, correct and discipline (reproves, warns, instructs) their children.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“And have you [completely]
forgotten the divine word of appeal <i>and</i> encouragement in which <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you are reasoned with <i>and</i> addressed
as sons</b>? My son, do not think lightly <i>or</i> scorn to submit to the
correction <i>and</i> discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage <i>and</i> give
up <i>and</i> faint when you are reproved <i>or</i> corrected by Him; For the
Lord corrects <i>and</i> disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes,
even scourges, every son whom He accepts <i>and</i> welcomes to His heart <i>and</i>
cherishes. You must submit to <i>and</i> endure [correction] for discipline;
God is dealing with you as with sons. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">For
what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train <i>and</i> correct <i>and</i>
discipline</b>? Now <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">if you are exempt
from correction <i>and</i> left without discipline in which all [of God’s
children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring <i>and</i> not true sons
[at all].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Moreover, we have had <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">earthly fathers who disciplined us and we
yielded [to them] <i>and</i> respected [them for training us]</b>. Shall we not
much more cheerfully submit to the Father of spirits and so [truly] live? For
[our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time <i>and</i>
chastised us as seemed proper <i>and</i> good to them; but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">He disciplines us for our certain good</b>, that we may become sharers
in His own holiness. For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems
grievous <i>and</i> painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which
consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and
action, resulting in right living and right standing with God]. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hebrews 12:5–11 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“He who spares the rod hates his son, but
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">he who loves him is careful to
discipline (reproof warning correction instructs) him</b>”. (Proverbs 13:24
NIV)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“Whoever refuses to spank his son hates
him, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">whoever loves his son
disciplines (reproof warning correction instructs) him from early on</b>”.
(Proverbs 13:24 GW)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">1Th. 2:11</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">
For you know how, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">as a father [dealing
with] his children</b>, we used to exhort each of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you personally, stimulating <i>and</i> encouraging and charging you.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>B.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Has
compassion (loves; has mercy) for his children</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Psa. 103:13</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">As a father has compassion for his children</b>,
so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Col. 3:21</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fathers, do not provoke <i>or</i>
irritate <i>or</i> fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them</b>],
lest they become discouraged <i>and</i> sullen <i>and</i> morose <i>and</i>
feel inferior <i>and</i> frustrated. [<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Do
not break their spirit</b>.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>C.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joys in his children; raises wise children<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Prov. 23:24</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">
The father of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing
with God) shall greatly rejoice, and he who becomes the father of a wise child
shall have joy in him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>D.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Manages
the household well, and knows how to keep his children under control with
dignity that commands respect<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">1Tim. 3:12</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">
Let deacons be the husbands of but one wife, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">let them manage [their] children and their own households wel</b>l.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">1Tim. 3:4</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">
He must <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">rule his own household well,
keeping his children under control, with true dignity, commanding their respect
in every way <i>and</i> keeping them respectful</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For if a man does not know how to rule his
own household, how is he to take care of the church of God?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>E.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prioritizes
his family and knows the irreplaceable role they play in their everyday lives.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">9 Important Ways <b>Dads
Impact The Lives Of Their Children</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Despite all of society’s advances over the past century,
men are still -- too often -- viewed by some as their own children’s
“babysitters”; when in actuality, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">research
supports the irreplaceable role they play in their everyday lives.</b></span><span style="color: #0e0e0e; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">We partnered with Johnson & Johnson to share
findings from the report on global fatherhood, as well as from several other studies
that examine the powerful and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">enduring
influence fathers can have on their children</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Their kids play well with others<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their partners and babies are healthier<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their children are more prepared for school…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And go on to be more successful academically<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">5.
Their children start speaking earlier and are more verbally expressive<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their children grow up less prone to
depression<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">7.
Their sons are less likely to be in trouble<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">8.
Their daughters are more ambitious in their careers<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #262626; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">9.
…and have a more positive self-image<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Fathers
play an important -- and sometimes overlooked -- role in the development of
their children. From their role in prenatal care, to how they play, communicate
and act as role-models for their kids, loving, engaged dads have been shown to
have a tremendous impact on how a child grows up. They are truly irreplaceable.
Johnson & Johnson celebrates dads and all parents for the incredible role
they play in in making the world a better, more caring place for their children.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/29/why-dads-matter-state-of-fatherhood-report_n_7785938.html)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
II.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mothers<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Train
Their Children</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Prov. 29:15</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">
The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left undisciplined (without </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">reproof warning
correction instruction) </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">brings
his mother to shame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>B.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Comfort
Their Children<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Is. 66:13</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">As one whom his mother comforts</b>, so
will I comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Correction
and discipline (reproof warning correction instruction ) are good for children</b>.
If they have their own way, they will make their mothers ashamed of them”.
(Proverbs 29:15 GNB)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>C.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Comes
Alongside Their Children</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a child left <i>to himself</i> bringeth his
mother to shame</b>”. (Proverbs 29:15 KJV)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
III.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Parents<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Discipline
and Train Their Children without Over-Indulging Them</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Prov. 13:24 (MSG)</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(reproving warning
correcting instructing) </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Prov. 19:18 (MSG)</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Discipline (reprove warn correct and
instruct) your children while you still have the chance</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">indulging them destroys them</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“All children are foolish, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">but firm correction will make them change</b>”.
(Proverbs 22:15 CEV)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Discipline
(</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">reprove
warn correct and instruct) </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">your children while they are young enough to learn</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you don't, you are helping
them destroy themselves</b>”. (Proverbs 19:18 GNB)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -48.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chasten
thy son while there is hope</b>, and let not thy soul spare for his crying”.
(Proverbs 19:18 KJV)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -48.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Correct
your children before it's too late</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">if
you don't punish them, you are destroying them</b>”. (Proverbs 19:18 CEV)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
IV.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Children</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Must
be trained to honor and regard and respect their parents<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and
mother</b>, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(Exodus 20:12 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>B.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Must
be trained to obey their parents<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Children, do what your parents tell you</b>. This is only right. “Honor
your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise attached to
it, namely, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">so you will live well and
have a long life.</b>” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ephesians 6:1–3 MESSAGE)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CHILDREN, OBEY your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for
this is just and right. Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and
your mother—this is the first commandment with a promise—That all may be well
with you and that you may live long on the earth.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(Ephesians 6:1–3 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-22008689110281156042016-03-09T16:45:00.000-05:002016-03-09T16:45:59.516-05:00Part 1 – God’s Plan for Our Homes and Families and How that Plan is Accomplished<div class="MsoNormal">
I.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God’s Plan for Our Homes and Our Children<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That your days may be multiplied, and the
days of your children, </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give
them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.</span></i><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">
(Deut 11.21)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>[Therefore
shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them
for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And
ye shall teach them to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>your children</u></b>,
speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the
way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them
upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That <u>your days may
be multiplied</u>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>and the days of
your children</u></b>, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to
give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. Deut 11.18-21]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“Know this well, then. Take it to heart right
now: GOD is in Heaven above; GOD is on Earth below. He’s the only God there is.
Obediently live by his rules and commands which I’m giving you today <u>so that
you’ll live well</u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>and your
children after you</u></b>—oh, you’ll live a long time in the land that GOD,
your God, is giving you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Deuteronomy
4:39–40 MESSAGE)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>B.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That your family be for signs and
wonders!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b>Is.
8:18</b> Behold, I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>and the children</u></b>
whom the Lord has given me are signs and wonders [that are to take place] in
Israel from the Lord of hosts, Who dwells on Mount Zion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>C.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He desires you to have godly
descendants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>46 times it is written
“according to their families”; 44 times it is written “after their families”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“Didn’t
˻God˼ make you one? Your flesh and spirit belong to him. And what does the same
˻God˼ look for but godly descendants? So be careful not to be unfaithful to the
wife of your youth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">“I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel. “I hate the
person who covers himself with violence,” says the LORD of Armies. “Be careful
not to be unfaithful.”” (Malachi 2:15–16 GWORD)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>D.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He wants to fill your houses with
wisdom, understanding and knowledge of Him by turning the hearts of the fathers
to their children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b>Luke
1:17</b> And he will [himself] go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient <i>and</i>
incredulous <i>and</i> unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright [which is the
knowledge and holy love of the will of God]—in order to make ready for the Lord
a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, adjusted and disposed and placed in
the right moral state].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><span style="color: #010f18; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Proverbs
24.3-4:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By wisdom a house is built, And
by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled, With
all precious and pleasant riches.</span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">II.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How God’s Plan for Our Homes and Our
Children is Accomplished<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">A.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By you loving Him with all your heart,
soul and might.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That His words be in our
heart, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And thou shalt teach them
diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine
house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when
thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they
shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>B.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That when the Lord brings you into the
land of promise and you have houses full of all good things He provides,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Then</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the
land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his
name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ye shall not go after other gods,
of the gods of the people which <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">are</span>
round about you;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(For the LORD thy God<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> is</span> a jealous God among you) lest the
anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off
the face of the earth. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>[<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with
all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these
words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>teach them diligently unto thy children</u></b>,
and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest
by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt
bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between
thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy
gates. And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the
land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to
give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of
all good<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> things</span>, which thou
filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive
trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Then</span> beware lest thou forget the
LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of
bondage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thou shalt fear the LORD thy
God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods
of the people which <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">are</span> round
about you;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(For the LORD thy God<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> is</span> a jealous God among you) lest the
anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off
the face of the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>(Deuteronomy
6:5–15 KJV)]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>C.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That you teach and command your
children to keep the ways of the Lord so He can bring you what He promised
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His plan isn’t just to give YOU a
great life but it is specifically for YOUR CHILDREN!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>[<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For I
have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>may teach <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">and</span> command his children and the sons of his house</u></b> after
him to keep the way of the Lord and to do what is just and righteous, so that
the Lord may bring Abraham what He has promised him</i>. (Genesis 18:19 AMP)]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“Behold, children are a heritage from the
Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. As arrows are in the hand of a warrior,
so are the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>children</u></b> of one’s
youth. Happy, blessed, <i>and</i> fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled
with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries
[in gatherings] at the [city’s] gate.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalms
127:3–5 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“A good man <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his
children’s children</u></b>, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way
eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(Proverbs 13:22 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“…or as the days of a tree, so shall be the
days of My people, and My chosen <i>and</i> elect shall long make use of <i>and</i>
enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bring forth
[children] for sudden terror <i>or</i> calamity; for <u>they shall be the
descendants of the blessed of the Lord</u>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>and their offspring with them</u></b>. And it shall be that before
they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear.”(Isaiah
65:22–24 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“To
you it was shown, that you might realize <i>and</i> have personal knowledge
that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him. Out of heaven He made you
hear His voice, that He might correct, discipline, <i>and</i> admonish you; and
on earth He made you see His great fire, and you heard His words out of the
midst of the fire. And because He loved your fathers, He chose their
descendants after them, and brought you out from Egypt with His own Presence,
by His mighty power, Driving out nations from before you, greater and mightier
than yourselves, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as
it is this day; Know, recognize, <i>and</i> understand therefore this day and
turn your [mind and] heart to it that the Lord is God in the heavens above and
upon the earth beneath; there is no other. Therefore you shall keep His
statutes and His commandments, which I command you this day, <u>that it may go
well with you</u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>and your children
after you</u></b> and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord
your God gives you forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(Deuteronomy 4:35–40 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“You will be able to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>tell your children and grandchildren</u></b> exactly how I treated
the Egyptians and what miraculous signs I did among them. This is how you will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>all </u></b><u>know</u> that I am the
LORD.””<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Exodus 10:2 GWORD)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>D.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Serving
the Lord in your house, and <u>training</u> your children to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>And
if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom
you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of
the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me
and my house, we will serve the Lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(Joshua 24:15 AMP)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>[<b>Prov.
22:6</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Train up a child</u></b> in
the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and
when he is old he will not depart from it.<span style="mso-text-raise: 4.0pt; position: relative; top: -4.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Eph.
6:4</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> Fathers, do not irritate <i>and</i>
provoke your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>children</u></b> to
anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the <u>training
<i>and</i> discipline and the counsel <i>and</i> admonition of the Lord</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2Tim.
1:5</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> I am calling up memories of
your sincere <i>and</i> unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire
personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power,
wisdom, and goodness), [a faith] that first lived permanently in [the heart of]
your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] persuaded,
[dwells] in you also.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>E.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By
telling the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord and His might
and the works He performed, SO THAT <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>the generation to come</u></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> might know them, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>that the children still to be born might arise and recount them to
their children</u></b>, That they might set their hope in God and not forget
the works of God, but might keep His commandments. And might not be as their
fathers—a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that set not their
hearts aright <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">nor</span> prepared
their hearts to know God, and whose spirits were not steadfast <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">and</span> faithful to God.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">[<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">GIVE EAR, O my
people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open
my mouth in a parable (in instruction by numerous examples); I will utter dark
sayings of old [that hide important truth]—Which we have heard and known, and
our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but we
will tell to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, and His
might, and the wonderful works that He has performed. For He established a
testimony (an express precept) in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>, commanding our fathers that they
should make [the great facts of God’s dealings with Israel] known to their
children</u></b>, That the generation to come might know them, that the
children still to be born might arise and recount them to their children, That
they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but might
keep His commandments. And might not be as their fathers—a stubborn and
rebellious generation, a generation that set not their hearts aright <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">nor</span> prepared their hearts to know
God, and whose spirits were not steadfast <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">and</span> faithful to God.</i> (Psalms 78:0–8 AMP)]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>F.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Train
train train…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Make sure you tell your children, and
your children tell their children, And their children <i>their</i> children</u></b>.
Don’t let this message die out.” (Joel 1:3 MESSAGE)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“My
son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not <i>nor</i> forsake the
teaching of your mother. For they are a [victor’s] chaplet (garland) of grace
upon your head and chains <i>and</i> pendants [of gold worn by kings] for your
neck.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(Proverbs 1:8–9 AMP)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“HEAR,
MY sons, the instruction of a father, and pay attention in order to gain <i>and</i>
to know intelligent discernment, comprehension, <i>and</i> interpretation [of
spiritual matters].”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Proverbs 4:1 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“My
son, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>keep your father’s [God-given]
commandment</u></b> and forsake not the law of [God] your mother [taught you].
Bind them continually upon your heart and tie them about your neck. When you
go, they [the words of your parents’ God] shall lead you; when you sleep, they
shall keep you; and when you waken, they shall talk with you. For the
commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and
reproofs of discipline are the way of life,…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Proverbs 6:20–23 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b>Is.
38:19</b> The living, the living—they shall thank <i>and</i> praise You, as I
do this day; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>the father shall make
known to the children</u></b> Your faithfulness <i>and</i> Your truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“And
what large <i>and</i> important nation has statutes and ordinances so upright <i>and</i>
just as all this law which I set before you today? Only take heed, and guard
your life diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and
lest they depart from your [mind and] heart all the days of your life. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Teach them to your children and your
children’s children—</u></b>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">(Deuteronomy 4:8–9 AMP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-28892280001958802592015-12-12T23:36:00.001-05:002015-12-12T23:36:27.333-05:00Servanthood: the Path to Greatness<br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">
<a href="http://kellyneedham.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/img_7099.jpg" style="color: #416ed2;"><img alt="IMG_7099" class="auxiliary float right" height="210" originalh="210" originalw="210" scale="2" src-orig="http://kellyneedham.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/img_7099.jpg?w=210&h=210" src="http://kellyneedham.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/img_7099.jpg?w=420&h=420" style="border: 1px inset rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392); color: #9b9b9b; font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, sans-serif; width: 210px;" width="210" /></a>Almost 7 months ago, we welcomed our 2nd daughter, Sophia, into the world! And with the joy of her arrival, God ushered in a new season of my life: one of servanthood.</div>
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I cannot tell you the joy and the honor it is for me to spend my day taking care of children. (Those of you who know <a href="http://kellyneedham.com/2010/07/18/faith-in-difficult-times/" style="color: #416ed2;">my story</a> can understand the depth of appreciation I have for the gift of motherhood.) But the arrival of a second baby resulted in a loss of my free time, my rest, and my energy. Amidst the joy of finally holding this sweet new baby I was often frustrated that I was not able to do the things I wanted to do.</div>
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At the time, I had been reading through Matthew and a couple of passages caught my attention:</div>
<blockquote style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039); font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px; margin: 1em 30px;">
“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled ; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12<br />
“Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">
What a backwards thing to say! The first shall be your slave, the greatest shall be your servant. This goes against the grain of every natural inclination in me. It is my default to see how I can climb the ladder of greatness, whether in the realm of motherhood, the world of blogging, or within my own circles of friends. I often find myself trying to become “greater” without even realizing it. It is just the subtle current of my sin-inflicted heart to drift toward self-exaltation and self-promotion.</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">
But here, Jesus just gave me a glimpse into a greater reality: in the Kingdom of God, the greatest are those that are servants to all. The way up is down. The way to greatness is lowliness. And this is because Jesus Himself modeled this:</div>
<blockquote style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039); font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px; margin: 1em 30px;">
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:<br />Who, being in very nature God,<br />did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,<br />but made himself nothing,<br />taking the very nature of <strong>a servant</strong>,<br />being made in human likeness.<br />And being found in appearance as a man,<br />he humbled himself<br />and became obedient to death<br />even death on a cross!<br />Therefore God exalted him to the highest place<br />and gave him the name that is above every name,<br />that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,<br />in heaven and on earth and under the earth,<br />and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,<br />to the glory of God the Father.”<br />Philippians 2:5-11</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">
Jesus’ own path to exaltation began in laying aside His rights and choosing the lowly path of servanthood, even to the point of death. Why would His Kingdom operate any differently?</div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">
While pondering these things, I realized I had a golden opportunity. This season of endless diaper changes, overflowing dishes and sleepless nights was actually an opportunity to learn about true greatness. To meditate on the reality that in following Jesus I am called, like Him, to give up everything I am entitled to and choose the path of servant. Except, unlike Jesus, I am not <em>actually</em> entitled to anything.</div>
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I began to ponder what it really means to be a servant and a slave. What would life be like for servants or slaves in a household? I could imagine they would feel tired and sore at the end of the day. That any free time they had for themselves would be seen as a gift. That they wouldn’t expect to be thanked and congratulated for their service because they are only doing what is expected of them. As Jesus shared, the right response of a servant is: “We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.” (Luke 17:9-10)</div>
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To take up this call to servanthood changed my outlook entirely. My entitlement was replaced with gratitude. My complaining turned to rejoicing. My need for a pat on the back was substituted with a thankfulness to become more like Jesus.</div>
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Ironically, I have sometimes resented the call of motherhood and servanthood because it seems to keep me from doing “something greater or more important.” Truthfully, I usually desire to do those “greater, more important things” so that I can feel good about myself or feel that I have some value and standing among my peers. It is really self-exaltation in disguise. The Word tells me how to be great and how to be important VERY PLAINLY: be a servant. It is not confusing, subtle, or said only once. Evidently, Jesus found it necessary to emphasize to our stubborn hearts that He really did mean that the first shall be last.</div>
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I must quote one of my favorite books here:</div>
<blockquote style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039); font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px; margin: 1em 30px;">
“Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” Would God [help us believe] that Jesus means this! We all know what the character of a faithful servant or slave implies. Devotion to the master’s interests, thoughtful study and care to please him, delight in his prosperity and honor and happiness. There are servants on earth in whom these dispositions have been seen, and to whom the name of servant has never been anything but a glory. To how many of us has it not been a new joy in the Christian life to know that we may yield ourselves as servants, as slaves to God, and to find that His service is our highest liberty,-the liberty from sin and self? We need now to learn another lesson,-that Jesus calls us to be servants of one another, and that, as we accept it heartily, this service too will be a most blessed one, a new and fuller liberty too from sin and self. At first it may appear hard; this is only because of the pride which still counts itself something. <strong>If once we learn that to be nothing before God is the glory of the creature, the spirit of Jesus, the joy of heaven, we shall welcome with our whole heart the discipline we may have in serving even those who try to vex us.</strong> When our own heart is set upon this, the true sanctification, we shall study each word of Jesus on self-abasement with new zest, and no place will be too low, and no stooping too deep, and no service too mean or too long continued, if we may but share and prove the fellowship with Him who spake, “I am among you as he that serveth”.<br />~Andrew Murray, “Humility”</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">
May I always be CONVINCED that Jesus truly meant what He said: that servanthood is the path to greatness. May I always jump at the chance to serve others and consider their needs as more important than my own. For this is the way in which my Savior lived and I seek to emulate Him in all ways.</div>
<blockquote style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039); font-family: Georgia, Palatino, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px; margin: 1em 30px;">
<em>“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”</em></blockquote>
<br />
This is from <a href="http://kellyneedham.com/2013/03/25/servanthood-the-path-to-greatness/">http://kellyneedham.com/2013/03/25/servanthood-the-path-to-greatness/</a><br />
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-21977973698417519592015-09-25T15:14:00.000-04:002015-09-25T15:14:04.548-04:00Keeping Your Eyes on the Destination<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
It
would seem foolish for you to jump in your car, fill up your gas tank, and jump
on a freeway not knowing where you are headed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Yet
that is how a lot of well meaning people train their children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Without
a destination in mind, it is difficult to plan the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without knowing where you want to end up, it
is not possible to go around the roadblocks, construction and obstacles that
will hinder the path there.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I
have had many parents of teens come to me not able to understand why their
teenager is so selfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you start
looking at their family habits, however, it would be difficult for the teen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> to believe the world revolves around
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
At
birth, your little cherub is placed into your arms and you know your life is
forever changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that point on,
every decision you make should have that little life in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to do all you can for your child, of
course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you don’t really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have a destination</i> and make a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">calculated plan,</i> it is very easy to have
a child-centered home which results in growing a narcissistic teen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>The Problem<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rise of Narcissism<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Narcissism
is alive and well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">narcissism</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It comes from Greek mythology: Narcissus, who
was a son of the river god and known for his good looks, was drawn to a pool by
his enemy Nemesis (which means something causing misery or death).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Narcissus saw his reflection in the
water he wasn’t able to realize it was just an image, he became absorbed and
unable to leave that image and he drowned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Narcissism starts with that kind of fixation on yourself, and your image
and appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Beginning
in the 70’s with the self-image movement, many people focused on building
self-esteem in order to fuel success in their children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t correct misspelled words; it may crush
a child’s spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t give someone a
prize based on performance because the others may feel badly; give <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">every one </i>a prize.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The
findings, however, have been constant:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>self-esteem building <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not based on
actual personal</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">achievement or
positive behavior is not necessarily a healthy thing.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By not rewarding achievement and hard work,
we have fueled passivity and entitlement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By not recognizing children’s strengths, we have taken away the ability
to recognize that each person has different strengths and weaknesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By not focusing on personal achievements, we
have made it easier for our children to pit themselves against each other in
comparisons rather than achieving personal bests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Feeding
on image-centered social media, “selfies” reign where every one else is
literally out of the picture except <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Following many beautiful looking young people on Facebook and Instagram,
in tracking their vacations and events of life, it often appears they are the
only ones there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or at least they are
the only ones being focused on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rise of Depression Amongst Young People<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Eleven
percent of adolescents have a clinical depressive disorder by the age of 18
according to the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suicide is the third leading cause of death
for 15- to 24-year olds and the sixth leading cause of death for 5- to 14-year
olds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the next 24 hours, 15,006 teens
will use drugs for the first time, and 3,506 teens will run away.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>The Solution<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
If
you see the statistics and problems ahead, you need to strategically plan how
to get around those things to make it to your destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>several things parents can <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">do</b>,
beginning with training toddlers, that can contribute to raising teenagers able
to overcome the obstacles that will face them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>REMEMBER:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>children will model
your behavior and will often learn from the way they see you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">live</i> even more than from the things you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">say.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is a reason in itself to walk in victory and maturity so your
children can learn to be empowered to do the same without excuses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pursue Excellence Not
Perfection<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
There
is a small dividing line between raising children who know they are special,
have certain gifts and talents, and can make an impact on their world in a way
that only <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they </i>can, and raising
children who believe they need to feel good about themselves and create
themselves to be something based on others’ admiration of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pursuing excellence and being a perfectionist
are two different things:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one is based
on being the best you can be; the other is based on people’s opinion of who you
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One noticeable difference is where
you put your focus and where you train your children to put their focus:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is it on recognizing the value of other
people and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">their</i> achievements or is
it on undermining others in order to elevate yourself?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Some
of the things to pay attention to in raising children who pursue excellence vs.
perfection (examining yourself first since you can’t teach what you haven’t
learned):<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Be
sure that they are more worried about having good character than looking of being
“cool.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Don’t
belittle others in order to make them feel good (“Look at you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You ran faster than Jane!” or “You got more
goals than John!”)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Help
them applaud and recognize others’ achievements, even in sports and
competitions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Help
them establish value by who they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i>
and not just what they can <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Help
them meet high standards that are within reach, and just be the best they can
be versus striving for impossible goals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Help
them keep going despite disappointment, and learn from failure without being
devastated by it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Help
them correct mistakes and learn from them rather than dwelling on them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Help
them be happy not coming in first, as long as they know they’ve done their
best.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Help
them accept positive criticism without falling apart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Don’t
make everything be about achievements; make time for creative play and times to
just enjoy life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Help
them be comfortable with who they are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i>
as well as with who they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Become “Other People Conscious” Rather than
“Self Conscious”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
When
I became more “God conscious” than “self conscious,” I learned to live my life <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
more
concerned with what God thought than with what I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you train your children to be more “God
conscious” and “other people conscious” than “self conscious,” you can give
them habits that will detract from them believing the world revolves around
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Some
of the things to pay attention to in raising children to become more “God
conscious” and “other people conscious” than “self conscious” (examining
yourself first since you can’t teach what you haven’t learned):<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Teach
them that some of their free time should be devoted to giving to others and not
just spent on their own hobbies and pursuits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Teach them the joy of giving time and efforts to others and how good it
makes them feel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Make
your children consider others’ choices in games to play, movie to watch etc.
and not just get their own way all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Train
your children to be more concerned about other people than their own
comfort:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>train them to encourage
handicapped people and to have compassion on those who have lost loved ones,
are ill, or have special needs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Train
your children to spend one lunch time or recess period at school with someone
who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">needs</i> a friend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Train
your children to wait before interrupting a conversation when they come into
the room, and to be considerate of others.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Train
your children to respect and be patient with the elderly and those needing
patience. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
*Let
your children see you let other cars into your lane, allow others to go first,
and hold the door open and be considerate of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as they are old enough, teach them to
do the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teach Your Children What Success Means and
What Makes Their Lives Meaningful<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
In
Proverbs 30.15 (Msg) it says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Leech has
twin daughters named “Gimme” and “Gimme more.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A leech can suck the life out of you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, by pummeling our children with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">things,</i> we can produce “Gimme” and
“Gimme more” and they will never have enough things to satisfy them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t play into the materialism and greed of
our society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In what I call the “Lindsay
Lohan” principle, you can certainly see the validity of Luke 12:15: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">He
told the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. <u>Life
is not about having a lot of material possessions</u>.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">If
you measure success by the amount of things you own, hear the perspective of
the parable to one who spent his life for what he would leave behind:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“But
God said to him, <u>‘You fool</u>! I will demand your life from you tonight!
Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in
his relationship with God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">What is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your</i>
definition of success?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have all been
entrusted with different gifts and talents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Success to me will be at the end of my life on earth to hear the Lord
say, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful… enter into the joy of your Lord!”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Success is not being everything I envision myself to be
or what I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wish</i> I could be, but
refusing to be anything less than what God made me to be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And using all I am to make a difference for
now and eternally in the lives around me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Some
of the things to pay attention to in raising children to define “success” and
make their lives meaningful (examining yourself first since you can’t teach
what you haven’t learned):<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">*From a
very young age, let your children help you serve others and recognize the joy
it gives them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">*Don’t give
your children too many gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Refuse to
take away the joy of working to earn something and then enjoying what you have
earned by allowing them to want things for awhile, making money and waiting for
the reward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">*Keep
Christmas and birthdays simple in the gift-giving arena and focus more on time
together and relationships (see my blog on ideas: <a href="http://www.raisinggodsrewards.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-is-important-to-remember-when.html">http://www.raisinggodsrewards.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-is-important-to-remember-when.html</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">*Make a
mission statement with your children every year to focus on what they can do in
their little growing worlds to “make a difference” in the lives of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">*Teach your
children how to respond in difficult situations such as illness, death, and
disability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">*Give your
children chores at an early age and allow them to see how much of a difference
they can make by contributing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">*Keep television and computer times to a minimum, focusing instead on
being of service and developing gifts and talents.</span><span style="color: #131313; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Although physicians usually recommend no
more than two hours of screen time per day, teens report spending approximately
7.5 hours per day using entertainment media, according to the Kaiser Family
Foundation.</i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Keep Your Child Training On An Offensive
Path as Much as Possible<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
As
in football, in training children you can take on an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">offensive</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">defensive</i>
position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the offense, you have the
ball, are in control of the ball, and are in a position to score points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the defense, you are trying to prevent the
offense from scoring.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
If
you see personality traits and tendencies that are heading for trouble, <u>take
the offensive approach.</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start
training your child early on how to overcome those obstacles to score!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t wait until your 14 year old is having
social and emotional problems to have a court order “community service.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start with your children as soon as they are
toddlers to be focused on “community service,” and you are parenting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">offensively.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
With
a little thought and strategy, you can see like no one else can see where your
child could be headed for trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Train them to be strong </i>in those areas!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
And <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">keep your eyes on the destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>If you aim for nothing you will hit it
every time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Decide where you want to be
headed, and focus your energies on taking you down the roads you need to travel
to get there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy the journey!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6814166567411227460#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> http://aspeneducation.crchealth.com/article-too-much-self-esteem/<o:p></o:p></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-55200203895613839372015-05-07T20:06:00.001-04:002015-05-07T20:06:53.098-04:00Too Much Too Soon...When my little toddlers were ages 2 and 3, I couldn't WAIT to give them a kitchen set! My husband and I saved and we purchased a Fisher Price kitchen set, complete with pots and pans and a dish set and even groceries. It was a big purchase for us, and their Christmas gift had to be combined. I remember Christmas morning when they woke up. They were totally disinterested in the kitchen set after the big hoopla my husband and I threw over it. <br />
<br />
At that moment the realization hit me that I would never again give my children something that they didn't even know they wanted. I never wanted to take away the feeling of <i>wanting something,</i> working towards it or looking forward to it with anticipation for awhile, and then <i>finally</i> being able to have it!<br />
<br />
Without realizing it, parents take joy and anticipation away from their children, often leaving them nothing to look forward to. Everything becomes commonplace and not too much to look forward to any more! Nothing to work for or towards; nothing left to impress...<br />
<br />
I'm at Disney World, and it amazes me to see little toddler girls walking around with hair, makeup and nails professionally done at at a children's boutique beauty shop, with complete princess costume costing almost $200 for the experience! When my girls were in high school, I limited their monetary expenditures for Homecoming and Prom to less than this amount! I wanted them to "save" some of the big boutique things like nails, hair and fancy dresses for their weddings! I wouldn't let them rent a limo (although many parents were renting limos for their children!), telling them that they could rent a limo when they got married. My girls shopped around and could choose hair, nails or fancy dress but not ALL of them. I told them it was <i>way too much money</i> to blow in one evening, for a dress you would take off after a few hours for the after party, and hair you would take down at the end of the night. After all, they had more important things they were saving money towards that mattered more: their car and their every day clothing, which we weren't <b>handing to them </b>so they could carelessly spend the money my husband exchanged his life to get! Consequently, I have very practical girls who balance their expenditures on whether a short-term purchase is worth not having things they need every day. <br />
<br />
I am proud of my son and daughter-in-law who just took their 3 year old to Disney and had them spray glitter on her hair and called it a day. She was just as excited and they were able to spend the $200 elsewhere! At least if you are going to do something like that, make it something they look forward to for a <i>long time</i> and are old enough to realize what a big deal it is. Or go for <i>part</i> of it and forego the hair extensions or some of it, teaching a more moderate approach...<br />
<br />
It makes me so sad to see little toddlers hauling around a $100+ American Girl doll with her $150 accessories and clothes that cost more than their own clothes! It is absolutely RIDICULOUS! When my girls were younger, they loved and read all the American Girl books. I never bought them a doll. I am not criticizing those who do, but encouraging you to make them look <i>forward </i>to it and long for it for awhile and then make a <i>big deal</i> about it. I admire one of my friends who waited until her granddaughter was old enough to have wanted an American Girl doll for quite awhile and then took her to get one for her 7th birthday, making it a huge deal. <br />
<br />
This is <i>not</i> about the children; but it is a lack of good parenting. Parenting that supposes that <i>more</i> is better and <i>success</i> is equivalent to <i>achievements.</i> The sad part is that teens lack purpose and drive more than ever. <br />
<br />
In his book, <i>Confident Parents, Exceptional Teens,</i> Ted Haggard writes that in order to <i style="font-weight: bold;">impart</i> purpose you need to first:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Know your own purpose.</li>
<li>Write a Family Mission Statement.</li>
<li>Know the power of your words</li>
<li>Enjoy the purpose of the present.</li>
</ul>
Haggard says, <i>Every one of us needs to develop the habit of regularly pausing and thinking about our purpose. Why did God create mankind? What is His plan for our lives? What is His plan for my life? Does He have one? Am I fulfilling it? The point is that if we can answer those questions we will know exactly how to live.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>People who have lived well know that purpose not only directs your future, but also gives value to the present.</b> Purpose lets you stop and breath, love and embrace, and look lovingly into a child's eyes. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>We are so busy during our twenties preparing to be thirty that we don't value our twenties until they are gone. Then, when we are in our thirties we feel a little old, and we're starting to get a little fat, so we wish we were in our twenties again, but we're too busy to do much about it because we're preparing for our forties. When our forties come, we've got to make a lot of money to pay for college expenses for our kids and retirement expenses for us, and now we have reading glasses and our knees ache a little, so we long for our thirties, but have to eat right to prepare for our fifties. On and on the cycle goes. Soon, we find ourselves old, tired, and lonely, wondering where life went and expecting to find a list of accomplishments or travels to justify our lives.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>But that rationale misses the point. Life isn't just going somewhere and doing something. Life is relationships. It is enjoying the day, working and laughing with a friend. Shut off the television and stop wasting life by watching others live - get out and live life yourself. Breathe, smell, gaze at the sky, listen to the birds. As a parent, this means embracing your children while they are young. Enjoying the spilled milk, the late night fevers, the children sleeping in your bed because they are scared...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Purpose cannot be discovered or defined for our futures until we can do it now. <b>Right now.</b> In this moment, this hour, this day. By being content with the great things and the little things. once we're <b>content, </b>then we can project into the future and decide why we are here and where we are going. But if we don't stop and live, life will be stolen from us by urgent matters.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>What does this have to do with being a confident parent? Everything. It is worth our time to learn the secrets of enjoying parenthood. Not only will we be happier but we will create a mood in our home of freshness, security and trust. Our kids will love seeing us laugh easily, they will enjoy sharing their lives with us, and they will be free to discover the wonderful purpose for their lives. </i>(Taken from Confident Parents, Exceptional Teens: Creating a Teen-Friendly Family by Ted Haggard and John Bolin)<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">To have purpose we need to <b>simplify. </b>“Many of today’s behavioral issues come from children having too much stuff and living a life that is too fast. I would visit from breakfast to bedtime, I helped the parents simplify their routines and lives and very often the parents see an improvement<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>their child’s behavior within days,” says <span style="background-color: white;">internationally recognized author and counselor counselor Kim John Payne</span>.</span></div>
<div style="color: #300f00; font-family: GOTHIC; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Payne asserts that many of today’s child behavior problems comes from TMS – Too Much Stuff. “All children are quirky, that’s what makes them lovable, who they are. But these cumulative stresses slide those quirks along the behavior spectrum into disorders – the dreaded “Ds”. Simplicity Parenting is a way to slide the child back down the spectrum. They go from having a label back to being lovable and quirky.”</div>
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Payne has traveled through Asia and Africa helping families devastated by AIDS or war. He says children in western countries have many of the same stresses – but for the opposite reasons. “There is not a lot of difference between how kids over stressed are acting in parts of Asia and Africa. “The children in the developing world often have had negative sensory overwhelm, and we give our children sensory overwhelm here – too many trinkets, too many choices, too much information – and this causes a cumulative stress issue in kids that leads to behavioral disorders.” “Our children are living in the undeclared war on childhood.”</div>
<div style="color: #300f00; font-family: GOTHIC; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“It’s about warmth and connecting… everything becomes easier.”</strong></div>
<div style="color: #300f00; font-family: GOTHIC; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
Payne will help parents at the talk create their own Simplicity Menu for their family, breaking it down into five layers: Simplify the environment (books, toys etc), meal times and food, schedules and information. He asks that parents see childhood as an unfolding experience, not an enrichment opportunity. “<b>If it is an enrichment opportunity, then we’re in an arms race, trying to get the most for our child. This is fundamentally a con, and not healthy."</b></div>
<div style="color: #300f00; font-family: GOTHIC; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
He adds that children respond well to this approach. “You choose whatever fits naturally in your family life. When a family simplifies, the kids love it. It’s not a battle. We think kids will put up resistance but they don’t; they like it.”</div>
<div style="color: #300f00; font-family: GOTHIC; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
“It’s about warmth and connecting. In simplifying parenting we get closer to our children, they no longer have to fight for our attention, everything becomes easier and it is actually achieved by doing less," Payne says. </div>
<div style="color: #300f00; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Parents who take steps along this pathway to simplify their homes and their schedules, to introduce more predictable rhythms and to filter out concerns which children are not yet able to cope with, find that their children:</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #300f00; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">• Are calmer and happier<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />• Do better socially and emotionally<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />• Are more focused at school<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />• Find it easier to comply with family rules<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />• Become less picky eaters</span></div>
<div style="color: #300f00; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">These parents also find that they themselves:</span></div>
<div style="color: #300f00; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">• To have a clearer picture of what they value as parents<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />• Are more united with each other in their parenting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">• Have more time and energy for connection, relaxation, and fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: GOTHIC;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: GOTHIC;">(http://www.simplicityparenting.com)</span></div>
<div style="color: #300f00; font-family: GOTHIC; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
Challenge: Know your purpose and live it and give more value to your present. Help your family know and realize their purpose as well. Avoid the TMS (too much stuff) syndrome! Simplify the environment (even putting some toys away for awhile and then switching groups of toys so there aren't so many choices!). Don't allow your child to make so many choices or give them too much information too soon. Keep their schedules and their lives simple and predictable and enjoyable! Learn to say "NO" to the overload! Don't give your children stuff before they even <i>want</i> it; better yet, give them opportunities to work for and towards getting things they would like! </div>
<div style="color: #300f00; font-family: GOTHIC; line-height: 17.549999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-50275555615812007282014-04-27T08:22:00.001-04:002014-04-27T08:23:13.720-04:00Ability to Handle Disabilities<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I have found is that children are an
excellent source of encouragement when people are down and out. I
delighted taking my children with me when I volunteered at senior residents
homes and at the cancer group support center, as well as when I went to funeral
homes and to visit the sick. I taught my children from a young age to be
comfortable around people who were </span><span style="font-family: Cambria;">different</span><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> and
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria;">hurting.</span><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> It IS scary
for children to be around seniors in a home sometimes, because children need to
learn that seniors often try to hold onto them, are very loud, sometimes say
strange things, etc. I taught my children how to ask them questions and
how to talk to them. A few awkward situations which resulted in learning
experiences, and my children were off and running.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When someone had a handicap of some sort,
whether an obvious burn, in a wheel chair, some sort of disfigurement, I taught
my children to be comfortable talking to them about it and trying to relate to
people with disabilities. We read a story together about a little girl
that had cerebral palsy, to teach them empathy for children and others with
disabilities. We often went out of our way to help someone or talk to
someone who was obviously disabled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I went to a shoe store recently, and a child came in with an obvious handicap. He was a handful for his mom, who patiently tried to keep him calm while they waited for a sales person. He would should out and was physically overstimulated so she had to try to hold him tightly to settle him down. I was with my granddaughter and my daughter. Rather than ignore them, I smiled at the woman and said, "You are doing such a great job. You are an inspiration to me. Sometimes I think it's difficult to go shoe shopping with a child, and look at <i>you.</i> You are really a hero!" She broke down crying, telling me that so many people stop and stare at her and don't understand. She thanked me. It took a few minutes to encourage a beautiful mom dealing with incredible obstacles. I was blessed beyond measure when she told me that I couldn't possibly realize what my comments had done for her. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A common thing I've heard from volunteering at
the cancer group and from those with disabilities is that people avoid them or
are not comfortable talking to them or looking at them. I know that I
have put a dent in that problem by teaching and training my children to be able
to relate and talk to those with handicaps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Challenge: Teach your children why other
people may look or act different, and whenever possible teach them how to relate to the handicapped. Encourage them to talk to children in wheelchairs or with disabilities. Read them a
story about someone who is handicapped. If you have a chance, ask someone
about their experience who is handicapped, showing true interest and asking
questions that show how you honor them for all the extra effort they have to
expend just to do normal activities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Finally, all [of
you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with
one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate
and courteous (tenderhearted and humble).” </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(1Pet 3:8
AMP)</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-51861863083551352982013-12-30T16:23:00.003-05:002013-12-30T16:23:42.212-05:00What is Important to Remember When Raising Children at Christmastime… <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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In a brief phone conversation the other day, one of my
siblings said to me: We’ve been
talking about</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
the best things about Christmas and not ONCE have you mentioned
what you GOT for Christmas!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, even as when my children were little and growing up, I
still love to focus on the GIVING at Christmas and not the GETTING. I am so happy to see some of my
children repeating my tradition of keeping Christmas as simple as possible and
focusing on family and giving instead.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of the ways I did this and still do this: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make a way to visit lonely people over the holidays to make
them feel special.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Deny yourself to give to others. Instead of giving more gifts to people who don’t need them,
adopt a family in need and focus on giving to them. One of my favorite things to do at Christmas is help a
family through tough times by getting together with them and giving them gifts
to give each other. Involve the
youngest family members in this:
this year Tessa (only a few weeks old!) and Alivia (8 months old) were
involved!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let children hand out gifts and not just grab ONTO
them! They need to learn the JOY
of giving and will never learn that joy by taking taking taking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Keep things simple!
Too much Christmas can ruin a child and turn him/her into a
MONSTER! Knowing my family was
large and that my children would get way too many gifts without my help, I
tried to keep my gifts very simple and geared towards “experiences”: I would give a ticket to the Ice
Capades in March for example, which allowed us to get together in March but
didn’t add to the commercial over-indulgences of Christmas. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Give a magazine subscription to young children that will
give throughout the year instead of having more gifts to open. Give them a ticket to a show. Make gingerbread houses. DO something instead of stacking
presents!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If your child has gotten way too many things from others,
hide them away and bring a few out every month to avoid getting your child used
to having way too much stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The WORST thing you can do with little children is making
them think that Christmas is supposed to be STACKS of presents for them. Good luck when they’re teens and their
list is a little different! Try to
keep the gift list to three gifts:
as the wise men did! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you truly believe it when the Bible says in Acts 20.35
that it is more <i>blessed to give than
receive</i>, then make SURE that you are giving WAY MORE than receiving at
Christmas time. Even MORE
importantly, be sure your CHILDREN are giving WAY MORE than receiving at
Christmas time! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Children are learning from how <i>your</i> focus is! Raise
and train children who will be contributors and not <i>takers</i> but teaching them early on! Unfortunately too many parents have the wrong focus and then
pass it on to the next generation…
I love to remember that the best gifts Jesus gives His children are
things that we can give AWAY: all
the fruit of the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit are things we GIVE! He knows what makes His children more
beautiful!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take time to give extra toys away to children in need. Go through your child’s things with
him/her and wrap a big bag of extra toys to bring to a shelter, hospital or
group in need. Let your child be
part of sharing their overabundance of things.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Challenge:
Avoid materialism in your children starting at a very young age by focusing
on things that are more important at Christmas time and throughout the year. Fight back by focusing on people
and events instead of THINGS! </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-24775776135279023592012-02-04T08:47:00.000-05:002012-02-04T08:47:00.685-05:00Recipe for a Happy Home, Part 3<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Utensils and equipment: The Word of God (DAILY &
TOGETHER) and prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">When taking a French cooking lesson with my girls, we were amazed at what using the right equipment can result in. It's all in the "tools" of the trade! Well, in the same way, if the Lord doesn't build our house, we labour in vain. We need to know that the Word of God has all we need for this life and godliness. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Word is a light and lamp (Prov 6.23); it cleanses us, keeps us from sin, gives
us hope and comfort, quickens us in the way of righteousness, gives us
understanding (Ps 119); it makes us wise unto salvation and is profitable (2
Tim 3.15-16); it stands forever (Is 40.8); will judge us (John 12.28); is the Word of truth (Eph 1.16; John
17.16-7; 1 Pet 1.23; 2 Cor 6.7; Col 1.15; 2 Tim 2.15; James 1.18); the Word of
life (1 John 1.1); the Word of power upholding all things (Heb 1.3); the law of
liberty (James 1.25); is not bound (2 Tim 2.9); it is committed to us as the
Word of reconciliation (2 Cor 5.19); it is our offensive weapon against the
enemy (Eph 6.17); it endures forever (1 Pet 1.25; Matt 24.35;
Mark 13.31 and Luke 21.33); it works effectually in you (1 Thess 2.13); it is
our healing and deliverance (Ps 107.20; Matt 8.16); the Word made flesh is
Jesus Himself (John 1.14), and it </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will never return void (Is 45.23; 55.11);</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Psalms 127:1 - Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Job 23:12 …I
have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> food</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pour out into other vessels in order to “make
something”!</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Your batter does NO GOOD sitting
in the bowl! -- it needs to be poured out into other vessels. Train your children continually to "pour out" into the lives of others. Look for opportunities continually -- remember that all you have is what you give away. Teach to give out of your lack and not just from your abundance. Teach your children to be </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">COMFORTABLE with
being UNCOMFORTABLE – must cost you something to give!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Sam 24.24) Teach them to communicate and encourage the handicapped and the hurting. Even just a sentence can help them learn to encourage people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Heat up the oven!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just as when you cook you need
to heat things up, have EXCITEMENT & FUN permeate your home.<span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Colossians 3:16
Let the Word of Christ—the Message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty
of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense.
And sing, sing your hearts out to God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Make sure your home is FILLED TO THE BRIM with fun, excitement, zest for life and laughter. It should be because when you love what is right and shun what is evil, you WILL have so much JOY: (Hebrews 1.9) - You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong. That is why God, your God, anointed you, rather than your companions, with the oil of joy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">End result:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>life of purpose</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Let your family, your home, and each person in it reflect and live a life of purpose. As you see all the little tiny things you did take root and grow and bear fruit, you can know that you were not deceived, and you truly will reap all you have sown. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Galatians 6.7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God
hath before ordained that we should walk in them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Matthew 5:</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">16 Let your light so shine before men that they may
see your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a</i>moral excellence <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> your praiseworthy, noble, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> good deeds and recognize <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> honor <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> praise <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> glorify
your Father Who is in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">2
Corinthians 9:8:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And God is able
to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance,
so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need, be
self sufficient (possession enough to require no aid or support and furnished
in abundance for every good work and charitable donation).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Philippians
1:9-10:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this I pray that your
love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in
knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater
depth of acquaintance and mere comprehensive discernment], So that you may
surely learn to sense what is of real value [recognizing the highest and the
best and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted
and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain
and unsullied, you may approach the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing
others to stumble].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Eph
3.20:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now to Him Who, by (in
consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to
[carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we
[dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts,
hopes, or dreams], To HIM be glory…!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Isaiah 8:18
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts,
which dwelleth in mount Zion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Isaiah
59:19:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the enemy shall come
in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall LIFT UP a standard against
him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>62:10b …gather out the
stones; lift UP a standard for the people!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;">Children Learn What They Live (1969)</span></b><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">BY DOROTHY LAW NOLTE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with criticism,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns to condemn.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with hostility,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns to fight.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with ridicule,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns to be shy.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with shame,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns to feel guilty.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with tolerance,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns to be patient.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with encouragement,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns confidence.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with praise,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns to appreciate.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with fairness,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns justice.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with security,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns to have faith.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with approval,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns to like himself.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">He learns to find love in the world.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-38364885808339526132012-02-03T11:56:00.001-05:002012-02-03T11:56:29.190-05:00Recipe for a Happy Home, Part 2<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">INGREDIENTS: What you get out of it depends on what you put into it!</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">For Christmas I
was making a special skyscraper red velvet cheesecake and my son asked me why I
had to sift the flour, and why I had to use cake flour. He wanted to know if it really made a
difference. I said that of COURSE
it does – otherwise I wouldn’t do those extra steps!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Just like in
making a special recipe, when putting together an out of the ordinary home
life, an exceptional home, you are going to have to make special efforts to put
special things into it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">What are some
of the necessary ingredients for a happy home? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">The Bible gives us some
clear guidelines for what ingredients make people happy:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Happy are people saved by
the Lord, when the Lord is their help (Deut 33.29, Ps 146.5), happy are people
God corrects (Job 5.17), happy are those that have many children (Ps 127.5),
happy are those who walk in the ways of the Lord and do what they know is right
(Ps 128.2, Ps 144.15, Prov 29.18, John 13.17, Rom 14.22), happy are those who
are wise (Prov 3.1, 3.18), who trust the Lord (Prov 16.20), that have mercy on
the poor (Prov 14.21), and happy are those that endure (James 5.11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">What are some
of the things that detract from a truly happy home? Consider the list of the top five reasons
for divorce: Financial Issues,
Excessive Arguing and Poor Communication, Infidelity, Lack of Commitment,
Substance Abuse. Interestingly
enough, if you are applying the things that the Bible tells us make up
happiness in our lives, these things cannot become issues! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Some of the
things I knew were important to put into my family’s recipe for happiness have
yielded amazing results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*A sense of purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">This is what holds it all
together, like the butter does in a recipe.<span style="color: black;"> This is
what many teenagers and even parents don’t have that leads to depression. Here are a few ways we have developed a
sense of purpose from a very young age that you can expand on and develop in
your own homes and circumstances:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Mission Statement – Every year or so we redid our
mission statement of what our family’s mission was as a group. We accepted input from the children and
made a small laminated card and gave it to each family member. We had things in our mission statement
like “Helping those in need”, “Visiting the sick” and things we purposed to do
as a family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> Part of a group – at
home – at church. We did projects
like puzzles showing how each piece is an important part and what happens when
you lose that last piece. We worked
together at home and at church.
Even at a young age the children helped me bring meals to the sick,
visit people in mourning, and visit senior residents’ homes to pass out cookies
and make a difference. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> Able to make a
difference: We purposed that
people would miss them when they were not there: their teachers, coaches, Sunday School teachers, etc.,
incorporating ways that they could be a blessing so they’d BE missed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> Their role – NOT the
sun!!! We taught them to consider
others. The world did not revolve
around THEM. They were not the
sun, and their parents and everyone else the planets. They could not walk into the room talking and
interrupt. We would put names in a
jar and when we had a free day it wasn’t always “Let’s see where we can take
our little idols” – it was more like “Who needs us to be a blessing to them
today??” We trained them at
how GOOD they felt when they helped others. My favorite memories today aren’t the ones where I was
taking my children to the circus (although those were fun times too), but when
Jesse was 8 years old mowing his great-bobcia’s lawn with an electric lawn
mower while the girls “edged” the lawn with scissors!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> It IS more blessed
to give than receive (Acts 20.35).
Know this: children do NOT
learn to give by TAKING. You MUST
train your children to know the joys of giving by GIVING. This will take planning and dedicated
energy and sacrifice that will pay huge dividends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Accountability and authority.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">When you are
making a cake, you can’t just go dump any kind of flour into it: Using regular or bread flour will not
allow the cake to be crumbly enough because of the amount of protein in the
flour: instead it will be hard as
a rock. You have to use just the
right ingredients to produce the desired results. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Too much
control or misuse of authority can bring hardness too…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Deuteronomy
6:5-9 (MESSAGE) Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all
that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! Write these commandments that I’ve
given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside
your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in
the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you
fall into bed at night. Tie them
on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of
your homes and on your city gates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;"> Teach
your children respect for authority.
How do WE respond to authority?
How do your children see you respond when you don’t agree? When we disagree is most important. This starts with respect for God and
His commandments. Then it filters
down to other authorities in our life.
Without realizing it many parents set themselves up for DISASTER by
teaching their children that if you don’t agree with authorities you can
discount or distain their input into your life. Without realizing it, you are teaching your child that when
they become teens and don’t agree with YOU they can discount YOUR input into
their lives! Teach them to RESPECT
and HONOR authorities even if they don’t agree. I taught my children that the umpire’s/referee’s opinion may
not even be CORRECT, but it IS part of the game and needs to be honored and
respected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;"> By
the rules and standards you lay down, teach them the WHY’s – so they trust that
the rules and standards are for their own good. I used to tell the children stories about Suzy Sleepless who
begged her mom not to make her go to sleep then she fell asleep and fell into
her soup and then off the swing!
Do little projects to teach them the importance of obedience and respect
and support the WHYS of your house rules.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Discipline
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">We have to
realize that every good recipe has ingredients that may not be palatable in
themselves, but together make an amazing creation! My son has learned to ask me if what is in a bowl is “good”
before he licks the beaters: he
has once too often grabbed an egg white beater thinking it was whipping
cream! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">For example,
baking powder and soda are important leavening agents that cause batters to
rise, neutralize acids to add tenderness, and cause a reaction which first
produces carbon dioxide then expands causing the batter to rise and become
light and airy. Too much of either
can cause the batter to be bitter tasting or to rise too rapidly and then
collapse; yet too little can result in a tough cake with poor volume and crumb
or soapy tasting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Even so, what
we mix into our families may not seem good until it is all mixed together. We need balance to produce the desired
result. God created each family to have a distinct impact on His world. You will gain specific things that your
family will need at different times.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Matthew 16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
man</i> will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">1 Corinthians
9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it</i>
into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should be a castaway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Teach your
children DISCIPLINE – ways to be quiet (at libraries, funeral homes, etc.) –
ways to wait to talk, etc. – that discipline will come into play as they become
DISCIPLES! We’d take walks and
learn to not walk on others’ lawns.
We would read books and every child would have a small smarties stick,
and then who talked would lose a smartie.
At the end whoever had the most smarties got the “taken” ones! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Too many
children have ZERO restrictions from birth til about age 10, then their parents
literally pull their hair out trying to teach discipline and self control to an
out-of-control child. Playpens are
OK! You can have your child in a
restricted area to play while you cook, even in your sight. I’d play games and sing songs with them
but they’d be in their playpens while I had to get things done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Let your baby
sit in the highchair until the family is done eating. Too many parents don’t even sit their child down until THEY
are going to eat, and then as soon as they are done, off they go before every
one else if finished. NO
restriction, no discipline, just the world revolving around their schedule. These little things will help your
child make self control and discipline and consideration for others a part of
their every day lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">As they get
older, never take away from them the ability to WORK towards a goal and achieve
it. Let them earn the things they
want. When younger, use stickers
and when they achieve so many make a big deal about taking a trip to the dollar
store and letting them pick something out! As they get older, they will love working towards goals and
you will find they will value the things they work for way more than things set
before them that they didn’t even realize they wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Humility<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Vanilla</span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Tahoma;"> is used to
flavor, sweeten and provide aroma when </span><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">baking, </span></b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">like</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">
humility in our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Psalms 103:1
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bless</i> his holy name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Successes
failures, ups downs, victories defeats, goods bads, all can turn out to bless
the Lord. We need to teach our
child that we don’t have to be “everything” to be “something” and to rejoice in
their gifts AND in others’ gifts knowing that we ALL possess unique strengths
and weaknesses and experience successes and failures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">With high
priorities in our homes, we can’t make our children feel they need to be
“perfect” to “earn” God’s love or favour.
Sometimes they can be harder on themselves than God is! Teach redemption/repentance/change
too! Let ALL that is within you:;
strengths/weaknesses; joy/sorrow:
bless His name!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">What are some of the ways
to come against pride in your children and in yourself? I’d let my children know I loved them
the same whether they were obedient or disobedient, but when they were
disobedient it stopped me from giving them the blessings and rewards I could
when they listened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Don’t start dressing your
babies and toddlers in designer clothing so they look like they can be on the
cover of a magazine and expect that they will be humble teenagers if their self
image is based upon their clothes!
My rule of thumb was if it wouldn’t be cute for a teenager, don’t
practice it on your little ones and train them that way! Teach humility: which is knowing who you ARE as well as
who you AREN’T. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">*Add generous portions of Love<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">When sugar is used in baking its role becomes more
complex as it also adds volume, tenderness, texture, color, and acts as a
preservative. Hence, recipes that contain a high sugar content produce a baked
good with a more tender crumb Second, because not as much gluten is
formed, the batter will be lighter. When baked, the batter will be able to rise
more and the result will be a baked good with more volume. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Tahoma;">Sugar also makes bakery goodies taste
sweet which makes us want to eat them.
Sugar is like love in our homes.
You can’t live ONLY on it, but without it nothing is very sweet!</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Make sure that LOVE
PREVAILS in your home. Know that no
one goes out shopping for something they already have in the house! Your children need to know they are
accepted and loved at home so they don’t seek it elsewhere! Same with your spouses!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Look for ways to serve one
another and show your love to each other.
We had bank account booklets which showed how you invested in each other!!! Have “Secret Santas or Angels” where
you do little things for each other.
God so loved the world He GAVE – love is not easily provoked – if your
children are provoked with one another they haven’t “given” enough to that
person. Have them practice jobs
together or play games together!!!
Start first with harmony at home and THEN add other people. If they can’t get along with each
other, curtail other activities until they can!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">*Fun! – the extras!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Cookies need
SOMETHING to make them special – chocolate chips, nuts, sprinkles,
something! So our families need
fun traditions that make them special:
things they can count on, look forward to and celebrate as a family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Make as MANY
special days, traditions, recipes, and hobbies as you can together. Keep laughter alive and well in your
home… <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Remember, you cannot give what you do
not have: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">If I don’t have
certain ingredients in my home, I have to go and GET THEM. If you are lacking in any of these
areas of parenting, ask for wisdom from people that have families you want to
emulate and that have gone before you.
Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson have a four part series “Let’s Make a
Memory” including Special Times with Special People, Making Ordinary Days
Extraordinary, Hiding the Word in your Heart, and Creating Family
Traditions. You can order them
here: <a href="http://store.gaither.com/kids/let-s-make-a-memory-4-pack.html">http://store.gaither.com/kids/let-s-make-a-memory-4-pack.html</a>.
They are a valuable tool, and
there are many tools you can utilize to help you in areas you lack as you
parent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">Daniel 12:3 And
they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that
turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. STARS – can navigate by
them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">2Peter 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pertain</i> unto life and godliness, through
the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;">NEXT: Recipe for a Happy Home, Part 3: Utensils and Equipment, and the End
Result!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-19060040487559970002012-02-02T11:10:00.000-05:002012-02-02T11:34:23.503-05:00Recipe for a Happy Home, Part 1<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recipe for a Happy Home, Part 1</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was privileged to share this message with the Eastpointe MOPS group, and thought some of you may be interested in it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. The RECIPE: Know what you want the end result to be.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you were at a party and tasted something you thought was distasteful, would you ask for the recipe? NO! However, if you tasted something "out of this world" you would ask for the recipe, so that you could duplicate the recipe in your own home for your own loved ones... Sadly, many families see and realize the futility and unsuccessful results of many homes, yet without realizing it they follow the same "recipe" -- almost guaranteeing the same distasteful results! We have to begin with the end in mind, so...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What defines a "happy home" to you? One without problems? Not realistic! One where every one gets their own way? Not possible! One where you own a lot of <i>things</i>? The Bible gives us a clear foresight on that in Luke 12.15: <i>Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth"</i>! And we can surely see from the lives of Hollywood and public personalities that money does not buy happiness; usually it is quite the opposite and rather a deterrence and obstruction to happiness!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Proverbs 16.25 tells us <i>There is a way
that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Isaiah 55.9 - </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Just as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my
thoughts are higher than your thoughts.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So exactly WHAT is GOD's plan for our homes???</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Deut 11.21 -<i> That your days
may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD
sware unto your fathers to give them, <b>as the days of heaven upon the earth</b>.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So why aren't our home lives "as the days of heaven upon the earth"? We aren't following the recipe the Lord GAVE us to achieve that end result! Remember:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #dd0806;"><i>The thief
cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Jesus] am come that they
might have life, and that they might have
it more abundantly. </i> </span><span style="color: #262626;">John 10:10<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #262626;">Other versions put it this way: They will have everything they need,
they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever
dreamed of, they may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance (to the full,
till it overflows).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626;">We are going to look at the recipe we need to follow to achieve this result.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span">For now, list some of the things you desire your homes to be, knowing that just as y</span></span>ou
can’t just sit on the couch and get up and expect a fully baked cake to be
coming out of the oven, it will
take purpose, planning, work, focus and dedicated effort to the finished
product!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next blogger: INGREDIENTS: What you get out of it depends on what you put into it!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Challenge: Make a list of what defines a "happy home" to you. Make a list of what you desire your home to be! Then commit to do what it takes to get you there! You may have to GET some of the ingredients you don't already have. You may have to do a lot of work, put in some ingredients not USUAL, plan, work, focus and dedicate yourself BUT the finished product will be worth it!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-64474047233641425212011-11-02T22:24:00.002-04:002011-11-02T22:48:13.924-04:00Teaching the "WHYS"When raising my children, my husband and I adopted many different traditions, strategies, and rules strategically for a certain purpose. One of my desires was to see my children <i>want</i> to obey, and not just obey. Knowing that the Lord institutes <i>His</i> statutes, precepts and judgments for our good makes it so much easier for me to trust Him and want to obey Him. That is the reason I took the time in training my children to let them know <i>why</i> they had certain rules and <i>why</i> we did things a certain way. <div><br /></div><div>The downside to this is that you find yourself doing a lot of explaining; however, your children learn that your rules for the home are designed with <i>their </i>best interests in mind, and consider other members of the family as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Often children feel so privy to this information that they may feel that they are entitled to make rules themselves, change rules, or contribute their own reasoning to the rules of the home. This is something that needs to be guarded against. More importantly than children understanding the <i>whys</i> is their concept of authority and honor. If you fail to teach your children to honor you, it will <i>not </i>go well with them. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">(<i>Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. </i>) </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div>Sadly, too many children don't learn obedience to authority at home, and then they have to learn it a more difficult way at school, at work, or with other authorities. Teaching your children at a very young age to obey you even when they don't agree is helping them train their will. It is so important that you begin this process at a very young age. When your children obey you when it is difficult for them and obey with the right attitude, verbalize how proud you are of them that you know it wasn't easy but they had the strength of character to obey you regardless. </div><div><br /></div><div>As our children grew older, we instituted a process for them to give us "further information" in the form of an "appeal" process to a rule. For example, if their curfew was 11:00 p.m., they would ask "may I appeal" and then give us some information that could be considered to change the standard rule. They may say something like "we are watching a movie with my friend's family, and the movie won't be done until 11:15." At that point, my husband and I could consider the information and make an exception, or stay with the regular rules. It worked about half and half because we tried to consider the appeals while keeping the lines in place we knew would result in strong family and home values. After the first "appeal" the appeal process was done: we didn't want the process to escalate into a clash of wills and reasons!</div><div><br /></div><div>Another thing to consider in making rules for your children as they grow older and are driving: we learned to make curfew the time you <i>left</i> someplace and not the time you arrived home. They would have to call us as they were getting into their cars to tell us they were leaving. That way, they didn't leave somewhere late and be speeding to get home on time.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Challenge: Tell your children the "whys" of your standards so they see the good in the rules! Institute an "appeal" process: sometimes there are exceptions to the rules! Give your children a good understanding of authority in the home, at school and in the workplace: these are lessons that will guide them through their entire lives! </span></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-20730666488280708802011-06-25T06:32:00.003-04:002011-06-25T09:11:24.478-04:00Personality Adjustments<div>I love gardening. The many parables relating to sowing and reaping and fields and harvests speak to me in the garden. When you first plant your seedlings, you have to keep a most watchful eye on them to ensure they take root firmly and grow uprightly. In addition to keeping away harmful elements that will hinder their growth, often you need to put in a stake next to the little plant and tie the little plant onto it to be sure that the plant grows and is pointing in the right direction!~ (Many times with my children I used the example of the stake... if I saw that any of my children were growing in the "wrong direction" I would become the stake and invisibly "tie" that child to me to hang around with me long enough to know they were standing uprightly enough that they could stand on their own again!)</div><div><br /></div>Early on in life, your children begin to exhibit character tendencies that will be a part of their personalities. Left unchallenged, some of these tendencies can be destructive for them, and need to be adjusted so it can become a positive part of their life instead of a negative. <div><br /></div><div>There are many personalities that just need to be <i>adjusted</i>... strengths that could become weaknesses if you are not on guard. I have realized this in my own life. Knowing that your greatest strength can become your greatest weakness, I make sure that I look at some of the characteristics and personality traits that govern me, and make adjustments to be sure that those traits aren't expressed in their negative way. I learn to tweak my weaknesses to work with them and express them in a positive way rather than to be overcome and unduly focus on them.</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, one of my children would tend to isolate herself when she was hurt or upset. If she had something to say, she usually didn't want to say it. She didn't even want family members watching her open presents on her birthday, much less was she able to interact with someone she didn't know! I began to make some personality adjustments: When she was hurt or upset, I would train her to "let someone in" to her pain. I did projects with her that showed her how important it was when there was a heavy load to have someone take part of it in order to lift it. I did projects to enforce the strength of a bundle of sticks that can't be broken vs. one stick that is broken easily. I gently talked to her about casting her cares on the Lord rather than carrying them, giving word pictures to show her how to put things in the hands of the Lord and leave knowing He can work all things out when we can't. We went over the importance and value of her input into others' lives, and how to step out of her comfort zone. We did experiments on going "way outside" of her box to be overly friendly to others and see their responses. We did "self conscious" vs "other people conscious" comparisons in how we express ourselves. We went to a senior residents home and cancer group to help monthly, and I made sure my children learned "conversation starters" for each time so they could interact and communicate with people they didn't know. I made time and energy to devote to her expressing some of the things she was very talented in so she had a strong sense of the things she did well and her special gifts and talents. We did many many projects, demonstrations and studies on differences in people and how important each talent and gift was to the equation -- learning that we never have to be <i>everything, </i>and we are always <i>something... </i>that we only need to contribute what we are and have, not be stifled because someone else contributes or is something else. Today my daughter is in a profession that involves intense interaction with people, and she loves it. She expresses herself in situations and has learned so many communication skills that it has become her strength. She is able to handle difficult situations as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another child was an obsessive personality that could not stand imperfection. It was just part of her personality. She didn't drop any food on her bib, and she didn't like a drop of anything in her diaper and was potty trained by age 2. She complained and whined, which I saw was becoming part of her personality. I began to integrate many different project and studies and challenges to be sure that she would get outside of <i>her </i>box to enjoy living in an imperfect world and being joyful in imperfect circumstances. We learned differences of striving for perfection vs. perfectionism. We learned that our confidence comes from the Lord and not from our achievements, and the importance to know the difference because our achievements can't always be 100%. I taught her the value of people and stressed the importance of relationships so she didn't get lost in books and studies. We concentrated on balance in our lives vs. extremism. This daughter is in a profession where her constant quest for excellence is what makes her excel; however, her life is balanced with other important relationships and interests, ensuring that she does not have the same propensity to burn out as many others in her profession do. Her JOY is contagious, despite living in an imperfect world, and her joy spills over to any one near her!</div><div><br /></div><div>I did this with each of my children. Not to be exhaustive, I will make a short note of a few of the other traits for examples so you can more firmly identify with this principle:</div><div><br /></div><div>*One child became frustrated very easily. We learned to take all that energy and turn it to a constructive force. We learned to break large projects into smaller pieces. We learned to concentrate on one thing at a time. We learned the value of interruptions and how to handle them and keep on track. We did experiments to exhibit the negative forces of "blowups" by building volcanos and seeing the destruction of tornados, and concentrated on the positive forces of lasers when energy is focused. We played games to build self control in being silent. We learned and discussed how what you say impacts another person. This person is a very successful professional that uses all of his energy to multi-task in amazing ways and accomplish incredible things.</div><div><br /></div><div>*Another child was so intense, he began telling me what he thought under no uncertain circumstances before he could even put <i>words </i>to the expression, and his intense baby talk was intensely humorous. Even as a toddler he would stumble over all the words he needed to get out! As he grew older, his intensity became more exhibited: he would snap his fingers and ask me "ok, what am I doing next Wednesday... what about Friday... what do I need to get to bring to the birthday party..." I began to challenge him to accept delays in his fast paced mind, to accept interruptions as he built his 60-page lego structures at age 9, to go outside his box to realize as a shortstop baseball player there was <i>not </i>an imaginary line where he was responsible for the ball, but he had to back up other players and they could actually grab a ball that might have been defined as "his." I taught him to train his mind about what he could think about and when, and tried to help him learn to relax his constantly-going mind. I taught him the value of balance and how everything he did didn't necessarily have to "produce" something but relationships, which require a huge time investment, are just as important. I also taught him the value of "puzzles" -- how others' perspectives balance ours, and the importance of others' input into his life. As a young man now, he makes himself incredibly accountable as he is mentored by Godly, amazing people; he values and considers others' perspectives. His greatest assets are his passion for people and his relationships, and he directs his passions with balance in his life. </div><div><br /></div><div>*Another little toddler showed at an early age that she had no patience for anything that disrupted her schedule. This very positive organizational trait began to express itself negatively as temper tantrums when things didn't go as she had planned. Realizing the value of the positive side of her strong will, I began to train her for disruptions in our schedules in life. I helped her to realize her part in the plan, but to still realize unexpected disruptions can re-direct, postpone, or even have us abandon plans for other ones. I helped her learn to make lemons from lemonades with disruptions, and which disruptions we could control and which we couldn't and how to handle them differently. I taught her how to plan and schedule people into her planner. I taught her many techniques on handling stress, and how to avoid and know when she took on too many things. This daughter's organizational skills have enabled her to excel in her profession while balancing unbelievable things in her life. Her flexibility and understanding for unexpected delays <b>still </b>helps her avoid stress breakdowns when "life happens" to interrupt!<br /><div><br /></div><div>Challenge: What character traits are your child demonstrating that need a stake put alongside to help that trait demonstrate itself more uprightly and positively? What are some projects, studies or parables you can use to demonstrate the positive side of the trait? How can you train your child to express their personality strengths consistently but without making that strength become a weakness by allowing it to be unbridled? </div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-15061911608012961962011-06-19T13:42:00.003-04:002012-02-02T11:37:02.784-05:00A Tribute to my Daddy...<div class="MsoNormal">
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To My Daddy</div>
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Father’s Day, 2011</div>
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God speaks to us in parables,</div>
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So we learn of Him, it’s true.</div>
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And when God calls Himself my Father</div>
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I can understand because of you.</div>
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As a little girl, I remember being in awe:</div>
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Your power and strength was easy to see</div>
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I couldn’t wait for when you came from work to home</div>
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Because you lived for your family.</div>
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We knew that when you came through the door</div>
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That you were exactly where you wanted to be.</div>
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You kicked in - doing whatever it took </div>
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Investing 200% energy.</div>
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We all remember how much you did</div>
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Working yourself to the bone!</div>
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Inexhaustibly you fixed things, played with us and cleaned</div>
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Making sure that everything got done.</div>
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Winter picnics, ice rinks, lists and games</div>
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Everything together as a team with heart.</div>
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You taught us that work or play, whatever the season,</div>
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Our value together was far greater than apart.</div>
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We went through frustrations and learned how to deal </div>
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With different personalities and thoughts and trends.</div>
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We learned the value of family by all chipping in –</div>
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The value of relationships that will never end.</div>
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Traditions and values, with joy and through pain</div>
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You sacrificed task after task.</div>
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No matter how you felt, busy morning til night – </div>
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The hardest thing to do was relax!!!</div>
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You may not remember the countless things you you’ve done</div>
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Showing us how only an amazing Dad can love</div>
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It was minute by minute the way that you lived</div>
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That showed us love on earth AND from above.</div>
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The greatest things your life taught me about the love of a Father – both from you AND from my Heavenly Father: </div>
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1. That my Father loves and cherishes me for who I am despite who I am</div>
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and who I am not; and my Father delights in me!!!</div>
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2. That my Father wants to be involved with my life, even at times where I </div>
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am not giving him all the attention!</div>
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3. That my Father gives me all his resources of time, talents and money,</div>
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without reservation, freely and without expectation, only hoping that </div>
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I will use them for my good and to better my life and achieve my goals.</div>
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4. That my Father sacrificed to give me a family to buffet the storms and</div>
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enhance the joys of life. </div>
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5. That my Father made sure I knew I am a significant part of our family for a </div>
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particular purpose, and that my role is important and cannot be filled by</div>
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any other person.</div>
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6. That my Father is interested and proud of what I do, regardless of whether</div>
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those things changed year to year; he was a 100% participant in the things</div>
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I was enthusiastic about. </div>
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7. That my Father wants me to make decisions responsibly, because they</div>
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affect not just me but my entire family.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p>8. That my Father wanted me to learn from my mistakes for one reason: so</div>
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I wouldn’t repeat them and get hurt again.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p>9. That my Father’s plans for me were always for my good and never for</div>
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his gain.</div>
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10. That my Dad would do anything to prevent me from pain or from making</div>
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a mistake if he could, and that he felt every pain I felt.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-34067396332822017762010-12-18T11:26:00.002-05:002010-12-18T11:29:08.872-05:00Great Expectations, or Feeding the Monsters of Discontentment<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">My special memories of Christmas were simple memories:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>times of togetherness with my family; outdoor picnics; a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows with our "secret family recipe"; gifts my Uncle Santi would send us, usually a brush set or something K-Mart style…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I take such great pleasure in simple memories that I wanted my children to have them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I tried to keep Christmas simple and focus on simple joys in every day life as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now, when my children and their friends and spouses watch videos from the past, they laugh at some of the "simple" joys we focused on.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Godliness with contentment is great gain, 1 Timothy 6.6 tells us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"Contentment" – sufficiency – it is enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is "great gain" because people are so discontent!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our society feeds discontentment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do we purposefully ward against discontentment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Here are several ways I tried to incorporate the joys of contentment into my life and into the lives of my family:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Take time to appreciate the "little things" in life – be verbal in expressing joy over a cup of coffee together, simple "regular" things – a bowl of popcorn, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In order words, be a "commercial" in expressing delight over little things!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Make little fun traditions:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>set out a bowl of nuts and nutcrackers to sit around and share memories while you crack nuts together!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do cooking projects with loved ones; light a fire and make some popcorn and watch a cheesy Christmas or old movie.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Give SIMPLE gifts to each other!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I used to give my children their "own" scotch tape and glue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A new toothbrush was something to get excited about!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(I STILL love getting a new toothbrush!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A fun stapler (ha – actually Gary just got ME a fun stapler for our last anniversary gift - hehe).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A new color book and crayons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Keep little things special and you will always delight in them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Don't just rush out and buy the latest and greatest things and charge them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>SAVE for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Put up a chart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Open a special account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Work extra hours and put the money towards things; give up your Starbucks or a dinner out and put the money towards things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Teach your children to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I can guarantee you that you will appreciate the things you work towards WAY MORE than the things you just go and buy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And you will be way more content too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Don't want everything you see.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Colossians 3.5 tells us to put to DEATH and deprive of power worthless desire and covetousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Remember, everything you get you need to take care of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Be content with less and you'll have less maintenance too!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Enjoy others' possessions without wanting them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I LOVED when my children were little that I was able to go to a good friend's house and enjoy her pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was also glad that I didn't have to maintain a pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was always happy to enjoy ponds at other places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When we purchased a house that had a pond, I began to realize what FREEDOM it was to enjoy ponds other places – our pond required constant maintenance and financial investment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Avoid having the latest and greatest of everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Wait a few new versions before you update your technical toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make sure you need what the newest versions offer before you spend money to update things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Deny yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make these things part of your daily life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Look for opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Your life doesn't consist in the abundance of things you possess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Let your moderation be known to all men!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Don't "set yourself up" that everything has to be done in such grandiose fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You don't have to go to New York to sit in a restaurant or go to a shopping area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If you are in a restaurant in New York, you don't even realize it anyways!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Just go to a LOCAL restaurant and enjoy it like a "special vacation" without the costs of leaving the state!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make LOCAL places little "vacation" spots!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Delight in little things:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a walk together; a cup of coffee at a local coffee place; a local playhouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Stop and watch the leaves chase each other, the snow fall, the lightning flash!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Delight in creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Visit your local library and see what's happening there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Visit your local park and take a walk there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Don't be "hung up" on "name brands."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Force yourself to get a "copycat" and be satisfied (and use the extra money to pay off your credit card debt from having to have the "real" stuff).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Learn the contentment a close friend of mine who is blind told me about:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"If every one lived like every one else is blind, they wouldn't be buying all the things they think give them 'status quo' from others looking at their possessions."</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Delight in whatever season you're in:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>watch the birds outside your window; make snow angels and have a snowball fight; make a snowman by yourself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Support your local artists by going to a concert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Be creative; think creatively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There are so many little things for you to enjoy right in your own back yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Stop looking for the MAGNIFICANT and train yourself to delight in simple pleasures.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You will start to see so MUCH beauty and purpose and life around you!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Make people your focus instead of THINGS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Visit a neighbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Call someone in your family that doesn't get a lot of phone calls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Visit someone going through a difficult time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Play a retro game you used to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Marbles.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Dominoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Backgammon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Play a party game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make a puzzle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Play War or Fish or pinochole.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Go to the craft store and get a craft to do together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Even a crazy one!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make FUN and AMAZING times doing simple things!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Focus and talk about the blessings you can NOT see: the IMPORTANT stuff like compassion, forgiveness, redemption, restoration, reconciliation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make these things topics of conversation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Challenge:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>STOP waiting and looking for the "spectacular" and learn to delight in the little things in life that make every day living so meaningful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Learn to be content with less and focus on the things that matter more than material possessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make it a point to enjoy the world at your fingertips instead of longing for what is outside your reach!</p> <!--EndFragment-->Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-21466344191150789882010-12-08T22:48:00.003-05:002010-12-08T22:59:04.510-05:00The Sun and the Planets or Doesn't the World Revolve Around Me?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">One of the things I am so thankful that I learned from my Mom is the importance of teaching your children at a young age that the world does not revolve around them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have had a lot of mothers, when their children get to the age of 14-18, come to me in despair seeking help for their teenagers because their teenagers feel that the world revolves around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is no surprise.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When you have children, you feel your world DOES suddenly revolve around them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You need to change their diapers and feed them, most people believe on demand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They fall down as they start to walk; you need to catch them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As they start gymboree, reading and other toddler programs, you arrange your days around those times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When school starts, you virtually have an hour-by-hour schedule to follow.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here are some of the tips I've used in my life for teaching my children, beginning at a VERY young age, that they are <i>not </i><span style="font-style:normal">the sun, and I am </span><i>not </i><span style="font-style:normal">the planet, and that my world and everyone else's world does </span><i>not </i><span style="font-style:normal">actually revolve around them.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Do not be afraid to integrate patterns to teach your infant routine and scheduling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At birth, you can have a certain place for your baby to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As they get older, keep the routine of putting them into their bedroom at night, and as the many little naps in the living area give way to a morning and an afternoon nap, be thinking ahead of cutting the morning one eventually to make it one long afternoon nap.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did this by keeping my baby in the living area for the morning nap, and then making the afternoon nap in their bedroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That way when the regular nighttime becomes more established, you will be able to know that the morning will involve a little nap (which you may have to cut short as they get older), then the longer one, then dinner then bedtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*I worked towards an 8-12-4-8-12-4 schedule as soon as I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That way, I eventually worked towards an 8 (breakfast), 12 (lunch), 4 (dinner) as they got older, dropping the nighttime feedings.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*As your baby starts dropping those naps, have a pack n play or playpen in your living area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When you have to go get a load of laundry to fold or prepare dinner, your child can have fun safely in their protected area with special toys there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Still within sight of you and communicating with you, your baby will learn to be content there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As they get older, or another baby comes along, this will be a big help to know that if you need to tend to a baby, change a diaper, etc., your crawling or toddling baby isn't poking their fingers into an electric socket or getting into mischief…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Make designated "reading" or "quiet" times where your children cannot interrupt you, but need to stay quiet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*I used to put a pile of smarties in front of each child as I read them a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If they interrupted they lost a smartie, and at the end the person with the most got the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Teach them self control.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*I would put a quarter on the dash when we waited for someone's piano lesson to finish to see who could stay quiet the longest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Never look at "boundaries," "limits," "restrictions," "discipline," or "schedule" as bad words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Rather, teach your children to delight in knowing where the boundaries or limits are, what the restrictions are to encourage knowing what they are free to do, to enjoy the results of discipline – bring out areas that TAKE discipline to achieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Explain schedules:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>how buses leave at a certain time, whether we took longer or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Teach them to EXPECT schedules and discipline as they get older, and to appreciate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Remember, my mom says children are like mustangs running wild:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they don't stop running til they get to the fence!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Set up your fences early!</p> *Know your children don't learn to give by watching YOU give to them... they learn to give by learning the JOYS of giving sacrificially themselves. Make a big deal in how wonderful they FEEL when they give to others and help them repeat the positive experiences of giving rather than taking. <br /> <p class="MsoNormal">*Discipline means "activity, exercise or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training."<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Be sure you incorporate it into daily life when your children are young; it will pay big dividends when they are older!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Discipline means "a set or system of rules and regulations."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Your child will soon be going to school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Start early to teach them that they need to act in accordance with schedules and consider others.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Discipline also means "to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If you want children you can bring to public places that are in a state of order, it begins in your home.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Have your older toddlers take a time to responsibly interact with their siblings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This will develop the skill of taking responsibility for others and caring for others.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Teach your children that some things are "off limits" to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Children can play with their toys and certain things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Children should not expect that nothing is off limits to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They should know that telephones, electronics, adult possessions, and even toys that belong to other children are not "open game" for them to get into.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>"No, we don't touch that – your brother is building something!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"No, that is Daddy's cell phone:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you can play with your TOY phone!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Train them to know this at home and you and others will be able to enjoy your children in public. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> *Keep your holidays SIMPLE. A FEW needed gifts. START THIS YOUNG -- you do NOT need a bunch of teenagers expecting piles of presents. Give a FEW things... include mittens, scarves, things they NEED. Before Christmas have them go through their things and give things away to bless others. Help a needy family at Christmas and have everyone participate in donating money and going and blessing them personally so they can feel the joy. Many times we shopped with family members for other family members and split up and then came back and wrapped the gifts and sent them home with the people. We started this when my children were about 3 and 4 years old. Sometimes we bought things for other families that my children didn't have themselves!<br /> <p class="MsoNormal">*When your husband comes home, teach your children that your husband is #1 in the home, and not them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Take time to sit with your husband and make them not interrupt. Get a hold of the Burger King crown and keep it there and when your husband comes home, proclaim, "Daddy is the KING, and you are the prince (or princess), so I have to listen to him FIRST!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This will teach your children authority and timing and how to wait their turn and respect people with authority over them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*When company comes, train your children not to just run into the room talking and interrupt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Teach them to walk into a room, assess, and come over and stand by you and put their hand on your should until you address them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That trains your children that when they walk into the room, everything is not just waiting for them to appear to revolve around them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Teach your children to make time in their day for others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Have a list of people that you need to call, send a note to or cheer up, and every day pull a name and do one of those things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Visit people in the hospital together, make time to stop in at funeral homes when someone dies and train them to say "I'm so sorry about your loss."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Let them help you bring meals or flowers or groceries to people in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Teach them compassion towards others in difficult circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Let them know that we need to take responsibility to help others every day, and that we can not live unto ourselves, but must take time in our busy schedules to do things for others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That way your children will learn to revolve their lives around others in need.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Have your children write thank you notes on Christmas cards and bring gifts to their teachers – yes even if there are 6 of them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Teach your children to be grateful for the people that are pouring into their lives, and to recognize the sacrifices they make and what they have to put up with to do so.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Teach your children that there are some places that are not appropriate for children:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>it is "adult time".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Whether it is a little break to run, go to the gym, have a cup of coffee with a friend, attend an event, or go to a work function with your husband, train your children early that everything doesn't include them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Teach your children respect for authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If their teacher says they went outside the lines, don't disagree with their teacher and side with your child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If your child tells you their teacher or coach has something against them without a cause, do not take the side of your child against their teacher or coach.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Instead, go with your child and have them learn to approach their teacher/coach and see how they can do better and how their teacher/coach sees them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Teach your child to change THEIR behavior for the teacher/coach and not expect it the other way around.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Make sure your holiday traditions and daily habits always are more about others than serving just your own family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Adopt a nursing home once a month, go to a cancer group, adopt a child from another country, foster children.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Read your children management books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By age 5, my children were being read "How to Win Friends and Influence People," "Seven Habits for Highly Effective People," then "Seven Habits for Highly Effective Families," and "The 8<sup>th</sup> Habit."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We read books about children with diseases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I brought the books to their level and they learned so much that way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Bring your children to management and leadership seminars when you can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We brought children as young as 8 years old to leadership training programs when we could get special permission.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Never deny your child the opportunity to want something for a long time before getting it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Do not give things to your children before they even know they want it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make them want something, save for it, wait for it, shop prices, and then get it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If you want to help them, pay PART of it but never all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Even for their first bike, sit down and let them know they have to put SOMETHING towards it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That gives them ownership.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It gives them an opportunity to sacrifice things to get something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It gives them the joy of working towards something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Don't take that away from your children!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Teach your child to give every opportunity they can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Every time an offering is taken, put SOMETHING in – even a nickel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If the Salvation Army is collecting, donate SOMETHING – even a coin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Put SOMETHING in to good causes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This teaches them to put INTO their world and not just draw FROM it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*Teach your children the value of putting into their family's lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We made "bank books" and showed that you need to "put something in" to each other's bank books, because when the time came that you needed to draw out, there had to be something there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make it fun to demonstrate real life successful living and how it all works.</p><p class="MsoNormal">*Don't ever do chores alone. Put the timer on and have everyone chip in. Have everyone take responsibility for something. Work together as a team. Enlist help for anything you do if a child is around. Make it pleasant and a team effort. </p><p class="MsoNormal">*Don't hand your child luxury items -- make them earn them. They'll work towards them, appreciate them more, and take better care of them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*When your child (eventually, believe me, this happens!) turns 14, sit them down and explain they have two summers to earn money to buy a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Match what they earn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make them work towards it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Some of mine had to work an extra year to get a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now they tell me this is another thing that taught them so much and that they are so grateful I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was so blessed to work for a millionaire lawyer who worked with other lawyers that all gave their children everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My boss made his children work for everything, and I could clearly see the difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I decided to raise my children the way my boss did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am grateful for his example.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Think of other creative ways to encourage discipline, respect for authority, compassion, guidelines, honor for others, respect, diligence, self-control, and respect for rules.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Talk to your children about how things would be if everyone ran red lights, or threw garbage, etc., and encourage them to appreciate order and structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This will help you train your children into young adulthood with more of a conscientiousness of others and what their purpose in life is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Too many parents realize too late that their children are bored and disinterested in life because their only purpose in life is to amuse themselves and have others do for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That is why depression is at an all-time high with teenagers:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they do not have purpose in their lives and cannot operate within the structure of society.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Challenge:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Think of creative ways to integrate lessons into your children's lives that display and incorporate the benefits of rules, regulations, self-control, discipline and character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Look at effective teams and explain to your children how important it is that they learn to adhere to rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Teach your children to respect and care for others; that it is NOT all about them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Teach your children to sacrifice, and save, and deny themselves things for the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Make productive citizens in the future who are not of the current persuasion that they are the sun and everyone else the planets!</p> <!--EndFragment-->Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-52050240899242013612010-10-13T08:51:00.002-04:002010-10-13T09:07:06.823-04:00Teaching Your Children About Friendships<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Here are some wise things that parents can do when their children are young to teach them about friendship:</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Know that God has set you as an authority over your children's associations, and teach them to honor you in that role (see Hebrews 13.17). It is you that must give account for their souls (mind/will/emotions). It is a responsibility God gave you as a parent to allow or disallow wrong friendships. See the many times in Proverbs about parents' direction; what happened to Eli for not disciplining his older offspring; and the blessings of Abraham because God could count on him ("</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">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)</span></span></i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span style="font-family: BookmanOldStyle; "><span style="font-family: BookmanOldStyle; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Teach your children to discern character. Teach them the value of character. Instill character in them. Define it and aspire to it. We had resources to play games and do projects to reinforce building character.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Teach your children to pray for right friendships. Teach them the value of their family as friends. Teach them the dangers of foolish alliances. Train them to not seek a multitude of associations, but a few good friends.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: medium; ">*As noted earlier, I have always taught my children the wisdom of different levels of friendships. There were many "school friends" where I encouraged my children to be a part of encouraging and being a friend to people at school, however my children were not allowed to develop intimate friendships or go to homes with certain "friends" or "associations" from school where harmful friendships could be developed or where our training and teaching would be negated or undermined.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Teach your child what makes a good friend. Teach them what to LOOK for in a good friend, and how to BE a good friend. Scripture has a lot to say about what a good friend should be, including: </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>one who keeps a confidence (Proverbs 11.13); </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>one who overlooks mistakes (Proverbs 17.9); </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>one who stands by you when you are in trouble (Proverbs 17.17); </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>someone not short-tempered (Proverbs 22.24); </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>someone honest (Proverbs 27.6); </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>someone who helps you when you are down (Ecclesiastes 4.9-10); </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>someone walking the same path as you (Amos 3.3). </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>A good friend rejoices with you and weeps with you and is interested in helping you be the BEST you<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>can be.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Show your children by your friendships the dynamics of amazing friendships. Your children will see more from how you conduct yourself with your friends than from what they hear you say. Are you willing to go out of your way for your friends in helping them be the best they can be? Do your friends help you be a better person? Are you willing to take a stand when your friends choose something to do or be involved in that would violate your character, morals or principles? Finally, a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">re you willing to walk away from friendships that could lead you down the wrong path? Many times my husband and I have had to stand alone and not be involved in going places or doing things that would diminish the excellence we have chosen in our lives. We have never been sorry. </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*As your children get older, be involved but gradually watch as they choose their friends and reinforce the principles you taught them. "Is that person going to make you a better person?" "Is this friend on the same road as you?" If Jesus is NOT Lord, the person will live an entire different set of values, because God's ways are NOT our ways, and He puts a great difference between those that follow Him and those who don't. Is the person growing spiritually? 2 Cor 3.18 tells us we are to go from "glory to glory". Wrong friendships can negatively impact spiritual growth and direction. </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*As long as your offspring live in your home, you need to have input into their friendships. After all, if their friends are coming over, or if your children are going off to meet them, it is ultimately your home that will be negatively or positively impacted by those associations. (Joshua 24.15 - "<i>...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!</i>)</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Make your home a center for your children's activities, so that you can have input in their friendships. We made sure we invested in making our home an awesome place for everyone to hang around! Also we never allowed our children to go into other homes all night. We would pick them up later in the evening, and even drop them off early in the morning for something if necessary, but we knew that a lot of bad decisions are made in the middle of the night by adolescents with hormones raging, and we started early by not allowing it. We took stewardship of our children very seriously, and we could not attest to what happened at other homes. </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">*Train your children to have a heart for others even if they make mistakes. Teach them the wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ as He died on the cross and was able with His heart towards the people He loved to say, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" in Luke 23.34. The Greek word "do" is <i>poleo,</i> which amazingly shows us that Jesus was not saying they did not realize what they were doing to <i>Him, </i>but He was asking the Father's forgiveness because the people didn't realize what they were doing to <i>themselves</i>! The same word is translated or means: <i>ordaining, making, causing, bringing forth. </i>We need to teach our families the same heart of Jesus that asks God to forgive others because they don't know the seeds they are sowing and what those seeds will bring forth in <i>their </i>lives that will be so hurtful to them! Powerful!</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">CHALLENGE: Train your children to be a good friend. Train them what it means to find good friends. Use the Word of God to teach them what the "salt of the earth" is, how not to "hide their light under a bushel," what a "sheep among wolves" is, how to shine their light in the "midst of a crooked and perverse generation". Love love love <b>all</b> but be wise who you <b>yoke yourself together</b> with and teach your children that wisdom.</span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></div></span>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-29075597004254080532010-10-12T11:11:00.006-04:002010-10-13T09:10:35.462-04:00The Importance of Choosing Friends Wisely<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One of the areas where many Christian families err is in separating the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">value</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">worth</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> of </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">all </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">people from the wisdom of developing close associations or friendships with every one.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have always taught my </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">children</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> the wisdom of different levels of friendships. There were many "school friends" where I encouraged my children to be a part of encouraging and being a friend to people at school, however my children were not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities with certain "friends" or "associations" from school.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Although it is necessary to teach your children the value and worth of all people, and the importance of making people feel special, you also need to teach them the importance of whom we develop close friendships with. A lot of times I would use </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">myself</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> as an example and demonstrate to them how because I picked my friends wisely I was able to pursue excellence unhindered. I explained how if I had picked my friends unwisely, I would have been headed down different paths.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It amazes me at how many parents are unaware of the importance of who to develop close associations with. Many parents fill their homes with the wrong kind of friends, and then are surprised when their daughter marries a person who is not living the same values as she is. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Bible has a lot to say about differentiating between associations and friendships, about wisdom in how you choose your close friendships, and about the dangers of choosing friendships with those who are headed down wrong paths or have wrong morals... And interestingly enough the Greek word for "evil" with regards to people is "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;">harmful in effect or influence" - THAT is what makes someone or something EVIL - if it can harm you!</span></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1Corinthians 15:33 Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. (God's Word)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1Corinthians 15:33 Do not be so deceived </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and</span></span></i></span><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and</span></span></i></span><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> deprave good manners </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and</span></span></i></span><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> morals </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and</span></span></i></span><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> character. </span></span></span><span style="color:#DD0806;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2 Corinthians 6:14 Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Psalms 26:4 I do not sit with false persons, nor fellowship with pretenders;...</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Proverbs 9:6 Leave off, simple ones [forsake the foolish and simpleminded] and live! And walk in the way of insight and understanding. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Proverbs 13:20 He who walks [as a companion] with wise men is wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools is [a fool himself and] shall smart for it.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><!--StartFragment--></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Challenge: Train your children to know the difference of being a friend to all and yet the wisdom God gives us regard our closest friends? (Read the next post regarding how to teach your children to choose their friends wisely.)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><!--EndFragment--><!--EndFragment--> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></span><p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-71085078508855687382009-10-26T22:26:00.010-04:002022-10-25T08:06:01.047-04:00Can you Serve God and Celebrate Satan's Holy Day? Has the Church been DUPED?<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(255 , 255 , 255)" style="font-family: "times"; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaQ-iJah8DouR53nSLcHxs83UW3odJKCE_GFvl6feEiGTm706twb_ADQ7AuJz7mnxdmw1QXv-kCtn6CZTTtLeld72fPQ8wBgw5b4jmTIaFk7p7SD_0JacyjV7D-0AqMeOGpLQjsqUDUnd94dK4h0ozAanWqnJAW8qSGMAMwNKDUdLClrOh0gJhg3IvQ/s526/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-25%20at%208.04.08%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="526" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaQ-iJah8DouR53nSLcHxs83UW3odJKCE_GFvl6feEiGTm706twb_ADQ7AuJz7mnxdmw1QXv-kCtn6CZTTtLeld72fPQ8wBgw5b4jmTIaFk7p7SD_0JacyjV7D-0AqMeOGpLQjsqUDUnd94dK4h0ozAanWqnJAW8qSGMAMwNKDUdLClrOh0gJhg3IvQ/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-25%20at%208.04.08%20AM.png" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQTW7mlnK84EBOQB-jvuh8r255YyCEV1zWuvUWvoJt9wC-UhVqiOxOYi-Bw2qCgNMiXgNJbppxCiB3RZ5SH97qH3KGmbVbAhHGiTZmPV74T1KG0sJKny16SGRAGxbZmkEahizbeyyPmuSIq_3nUHzqHaSuVteejKXqKTUrhS02PcE2Qn1A_5IzP6uRQ/s304/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-25%20at%208.03.29%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="222" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQTW7mlnK84EBOQB-jvuh8r255YyCEV1zWuvUWvoJt9wC-UhVqiOxOYi-Bw2qCgNMiXgNJbppxCiB3RZ5SH97qH3KGmbVbAhHGiTZmPV74T1KG0sJKny16SGRAGxbZmkEahizbeyyPmuSIq_3nUHzqHaSuVteejKXqKTUrhS02PcE2Qn1A_5IzP6uRQ/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-25%20at%208.03.29%20AM.png" width="222" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsTTTbU7stGqYPeYsuEXJcDCYG-UDU8K-1iCU4vosU8E5FApUWOyrYsjW_t6u6v8e1nKQnp51wqDHhBTVJNuogU1XrXTLg820nZoibVRBQOrRH8AE04pTSIyrIGAvIejw8gs7jD7l5uYwqctruwKuqEXr7w8NRFMtSmm_EuwRx2PGcuf_8a-vCKdfxQ/s306/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-25%20at%208.03.18%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="230" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsTTTbU7stGqYPeYsuEXJcDCYG-UDU8K-1iCU4vosU8E5FApUWOyrYsjW_t6u6v8e1nKQnp51wqDHhBTVJNuogU1XrXTLg820nZoibVRBQOrRH8AE04pTSIyrIGAvIejw8gs7jD7l5uYwqctruwKuqEXr7w8NRFMtSmm_EuwRx2PGcuf_8a-vCKdfxQ/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-25%20at%208.03.18%20AM.png" width="230" /></a></div><div class="post_title" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="post_title" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(255 , 255 , 255)" style="font-family: "times"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">People need to seriously pray about, read and consider this message. It is a heartfelt cry against the works of darkness... </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(255 , 255 , 255)" style="font-family: "times"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I am at a loss to understand why people can say they serve God, Who sent His Son Jesus to die to free us and set us free from darkness and the devil, Who is in an ongoing war with Satan and the powers of hell, on the one hand, and yet celebrate "Halloween" on the other hand. "Christian Halloween parties" are not even possible. This is serious stuff...</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(255 , 255 , 255)" style="font-family: "times"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(255 , 255 , 255)" style="font-family: "times" , "helvetica";"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(255 , 255 , 255)" style="font-family: "times"; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Whether you "agree" or not, whether you portend ignorance or not, whether you try to make it cute or not, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Halloween is adored by practitioners of both Wicca and Satanism alike. The witches, of both white and black magic, hold the day in high esteem. Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan, said:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span color="rgb(128 , 0 , 64)" style="font: 10px helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Call it black, call it white, call it what you will, it's all evil, and it all gets its power from the source of hell." </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One cannot deny that Satanism's influence today is strengthened by the observance of Halloween:</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"After one's own birthday, the two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht (May 1st) and Halloween (or All Hallow's Eve)." </span></b><span color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font: 10px arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- </span></span><span color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font: 10px times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Satanic Bible by Anton Levey page 96, section on Religious Holidays</span></span><span color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font: 10px "times new roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div>
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<span color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font: 10px arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But Gods Holy Word, says: 1 Corinthians 10:21 </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.</span></b></div>
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do you really think God is going to wink at and overlook the fact that someone who proclaims that Jesus is LORD can actually have parties on Satan's highest holiday? Do you really not believe that Jesus and the devil are at war? Do you really think that acting as if the occult and things of darkness that Jesus died to set us free from are trivial and not important, making light of fellowshipping with such things, focusing on love stories with vampires and creatures of darkness, and having ANYTHING to do with the "unfruitful works of darkness" that you are SUPPOSED to be reproving is going to be okay with the Lord who is at WAR with these things? I guess everyone has a "line", a "boundary". It is interesting to see where "Christians" want to put their own boundary lines in playing around with and trivializing occult and demonic practices verses even when GOD has different boundary lines for His children in dealing with the same things.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It is SOOOO obvious! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""helvetica" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The apostle Paul said Witchcraft is one of the acts of the sinful nature and those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God but have their part in the Lake that burns with Fire. </span></b><span style="font: 10px Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(See Galatians 5:16-21; see also Revelation 22:15).</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Any serious study of Biblical demonology will reveal Satan as the power behind false religion, witchcraft, idolatry and the occult. The Word of God makes it clear that these are all to be shunned as dangerous. There were many superstitions and false concepts in ancient Israel about which the Bible is silent. However, occultism, in any form, was punishable by death! Why?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The spiritual power and reality behind idols involves demons. The Bible commands us to shun occult practices. Mediums and spiritists are expressly prohibited. Nowhere are such practices acceptable. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You cannot serve God and Satan. You cannot watch TWILIGHT and occultic movies that make light of vampires and creatures of darkness. Some Churches actually HAVE Halloween Parties!!! There is nothing hidden: some of the atrocities on people's homes promoting death, gore, and destruction would be considered illegal... decapitated heads, demons, skeletons, witches (who now practice openly since they have made so many INROADS into our culture by way of Halloween and other accepted practices). More and more evil and occult laden things are being promoted and no one blinks an eye. Meanwhile laws are being pushed that allow Satanists and witches the "right" to offer child sacrifices and other things going along with their anti-Christ religion. The devil is having his way, and the church is BLINDED to the WARFARE going on. I don't get it. The fact is that we cannot be deceived: what we sow we will surely reap. You canNOT sow seeds of partaking in the devil's high holiday, whether through ignorance or not, and not reap any repercussions from it. I have had people say to me, "Do you really think it is a SIN to dress up on Halloween or have a Halloween party?" That ALONE scares me because they are looking for a 'do' and 'don't' list rather than relating to the heart of God and what He would say about something. Satan CANNOT TOUCH YOU - He is UNDER YOUR FEET if you have the RIGHTEOUS of Christ. Christ DESTROYED Satan and his works of darkness at the Cross. But YOU can INVITE Satan in -- and you can CHOOSE to serve Satan by celebrating those things that represent him -- those things clearly evidence on "Halloween." If we are to avoid the appearance of evil and not cause our brothers to stumble, why would you participate in Halloween, which is obviously Satan's territory, and to try to make it cute and overlook it? When you choose to "believe a lie" it is the beginning of deception.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><div class="post_title" style="font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><br /></div></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">It is today what it has always been - a day dedicated to the devil. What Should Our Position as A Christian Be? The most common complaints about anyone taking a stand against Halloween is (#1) - “You’re trying to take all the fun out of little children’s lives,” and (#2) - “You’re trying to make something out of nothing, because we don’t believe in that stuff.” Now listen! Just because you don’t believe in something does not mean that it’s not real. What you choose to believe or not believe does NOT change the FACTS. Facts are facts regardless of what some people choose to believe.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="post_title" style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Three hundred years before Jesus was born, a civilization of people called the Celtics lived throughout the British Isles, Scandinavia, and Western Europe. They were a common group, much like many segments of society today, but they were controlled by a secret society of priests and pagans called the Druids. The Druids were satanists who worshipped and served the demonic god of death - Samhain (pronounced Sa-man). These satanic priests literally controlled people’s lives through the mechanism of fear, and much death, disease, and destruction came upon the Celtics as a result of the Druids and their practices. Each year on October 31, the Druids celebrated the eve of the Celtic new year in honor of their pagan god, Samhain. The “Festival of Samhain,” more assuredly called “The Festival of Death,” was officially known, and is still recognized today by all satanists, occultists, and devil worshippers as the eve of the new year for witchcrafts. Anton Lavey, author of “The Satanic Bible” and high priest of The Church of Satan, says there are three important days to satanists: 1) their birthday, 2) April 30, and 3) THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY - HALLOWEEN. Lavey says it is on this night that satanic, occult, and witchcraft powers are at their highest potency level, and any witch or occultist who has been having difficulty with a spell or curse can usually achieve success on October 31st because Satan and his powers are at their best that night. October 31st, Halloween, is the eve of the new year for witchcraft. The World Book Encyclopedia says it is the beginning of all that is “cold, dark, and dead!” When you send your little children out to go “trick-or-treating”, you’re actually telling them to celebrate all that is cold, dark, and dead! Trick-or-Treat The Druid priests would go from house to house demanding all sorts of strange foods for their own consumption and to offer later to “Lord Samhain” at The Festival of Death. If the village people would not give them the foods demanded, they would speak a demonic curse over the home, and history claims that someone in that family would die within the year. Thus you have “trick-or-treat”! The Druids would carry with them a large turnip, which they had hollowed out on the inside and carved a face on the front, to represent the demonic spirit they depended upon for their power and knowledge. This spirit is called “a familiar spirit”. (See Acts 16:16-18) The turnip, lighted by a candle from within, was used as a lantern for the Druids as they went from house to house at night. Now, it was believed by the Druids that their familiar spirit would inhabit these turnips and assist them in carrying out the spells spoken over the homes and lives of those refusing the Druids’ demands. When this practice came to America in the 8th and 19th centuries, turnips weren’t that prominent, but we did have a vegetable native to this country that was soon substituted for the turnips. That’s right - the pumpkin. The name given to the spirit which inhabited the turnip was “Jock,” and upon arriving in America it became “Jack, who lives in the lantern” or “Jack-O Lantern”. As you can clearly see, there is NOTHING Christian about Halloween. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="post_title" style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just because you don’t visualize Halloween as “really” demonic and as something dangerous to your life, does not keep you or your children from Satan’s intended desire which is to instill FEAR!, DEATH!, and DESTRUCTION! into people’s minds. Think about it. What is Halloween besides fear, horror, ghosts, witches, goblins, and devils? Just because you don’t “worship Satan,” does that give you the right to train your children to serve him one night out of the year in the name of fun? That’s what we do if we allow our families to participate in common Halloween practices. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="post_title" style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) How can we righteously instruct our children in the ways of Halloween when everything about Halloween is of the devil? The Bible says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) It further states, “Perfect love casteth out fear.” (I John 4:18) Does Halloween cause our children to be at peace, or does it cause them to become terribly afraid? Remember going through the “house of horror” at the Halloween carnival at our school or church when we were growing up and the fear that gripped us as we felt and heard all kinds of mysterious things? As adults today, maybe it’s funny, but to a little child it’s terror that causes nightmares and very unpleasant memories when alone or in the darkness of night.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="post_title" style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Bible says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a Believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are temples of the Living God. As God has said, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord, ‘touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)</span></span></span></span></div><div class="post_title" style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why should Christians not honor Halloween? Because it is paying homage to the devil. It’s the spirit behind Halloween which makes it wrong. “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them”. (Ephesians 5:11) “Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. (Psalm 139:21-24) “Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17) “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) If we really desire to honor the Lord in our lives and family, then we must teach our children concerning the truth about Halloween, and provide them with an alternative to “trick-or treating”. Don’t just take away the bad, give them something to take it’s place that will honor the Lord instead of honoring the devil.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="post_title" style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I like to dress up cute too! Have a masquerade party or something -- you don't have to dress yourself or your children up on the day that the Satanic Bible DECLARES to be Satan's BIG DAY!!!! What are we THINKING??</span></span></span></span></div><div class="post_title" style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">God desires for children of all ages to have fun, but fun at the expense of serving the devil is not fun at all. </span></span></span></span></div><div class="post_title" style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How Did It Get Into The Church? When Constantine became Emperor of Rome, he made a law declaring Christianity (which was Catholicism at this particular time in history) to be the official state religion. Having been recently converted by a tremendous martyr of that time, Constantine was zealous in his new- found faith and demanded as emperor that everyone become a Christian or face the penalty of death. This was the old “throw them to the lions” that the Christians had been facing for years. Well, you can imagine what happened. The church was flooded with pagans. Not converts, but rather pagan people forced to join the Catholic Church or lose their lives for defying the Emperor. As this happened, the priests and especially the Pope faced some serious problems. These people were bringing all their pagan practices and ideas into the church including “The Festival of Samhain”. They wanted - no, demanded - that this festival remain a part of their lives. Since the church was unsuccessful in getting the pagan practices out of the people, it was decided to sanctify some of them. Especially this October 31st ritual called “The Festival of Samhain”. In the 9th century, the Pope declared a new day to be celebrated by the church on November 1st, called All Saint’s Day. This day is in honor of all the martyred saints of the church, and October 31st became the eve of All Saint’s Day. Now, the church contended, the people could still have festival on October 31st because November 1st was a holy day. The Mass said on All Saint’s Day is the “All hallowmas” and over the years the evening before became known as “All Hallow’s Eve - All Hallowed Eve - All Hallow E’en - and finally Halloween. But, the problem was that nothing changed. The people didn’t lay down their pagan rites and worship of devils for this “new eve” established by the church. They didn’t have prayer meetings or worship services to thank Almighty God for the saints already gone. What it was in the beginning, it now still is. Halloween is a day that honors and promotes all that is cold, dark, and dead. When you start making preparations for a “Halloween Party,” you don’t go to the store and purchase pictures of Joan of Arc, the disciples of Jesus, or any other Christian saint. You look for ghosts, witches, black cats, ghouls, etc. Halloween is a day for devils - not saints. What the Pope attempted to do in the AD 800’s backfired, because in making “All hallowmas” holy, Halloween became recognized by the church as a religious holiday, and nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, all Halloween is and ever will be is “The Festival of Samhain,” the Lord of Death. Halloween has no roots in the Church, but is firmly rooted in the occult, witchcraft, and satanism.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="post_title" style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Scriptures inform us that Satan is a real spirit being who is bent on preventing our ever becoming spirit beings (by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior) by using any and every deception he can. Satan's plan includes the widespread dabbling of people into the supernatural powers, including the occult, accompanied by a great revival of spirit-ism.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="post_title" style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(68 , 68 , 68)" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Recently, especially in the last 30 years, the occult has moved into the mainstream of America - in books (such as Harry Potter which has become the greatest seller in England even outselling the Bible), television (such as the TV series Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, etc. as well as Psychic programs), movies (such as Practical Magic, Bewitched, I married a Witch, Season of the Witch, The Craft, etc, etc), magazines (such as Circle, Sage Woman, New Witch, Pan-Gaia, as well as articles and ads in more general popular magazines), and video games (countless). Universities offer courses on witchcraft and magic - usually the so-called "white" variety or Wicca and grade schools teach spells and occult practices ·yet our children can? pray to the Christian God in schools.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One might complain and say “My kids are just having fun and getting free candy! We are not worshipping evil forces or making God angry.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font: 10px Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A Catholic may even assume they do honor God and saints that day with prayers for the dead. </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What does God think? Does God say that it is alright to observe the pagan festivals such as Halloween even if we say we are honoring </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Him? </span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Notice carefully what he said to the Israelites before they entered the promised land:</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font: 10px arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Deuteronomy 12:29-32 </span></span><span style="font: 10px Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, </span></b><span style="font: 10px Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.</span></b></div><div style="color: #020080; font: 10px helvetica; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.· [ </span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Deuteronomy 18:10-14 ]</span></span></div><div color="#020080" style="font: 10px arial; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Doreen Irving, the </span><span style="font: 10px Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">former ruling witch </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">of Western Europe and the British Isles, and also </span><span style="font: 10px Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the mistress of the area's high priest of Satan</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, who later </span><span style="font: 10px Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">became a Christian</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, said: </span><span style="font: 10px Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"</span></b></span><span style="color: #800040; font: 10px helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If Christian parents had any idea of what Halloween really is, they wouldn't even mention the word around their children." </span></b></span><span style="font: 10px Helvetica;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[source: Halloween: A Celebration of Devils (David N. Taylor) p5]</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You might still say “Does it really matter?” “Does God really care about such things?” “They seem so trivial.” Remember that God is a Father who requires our willing obedience. Sin entered the world because of one man’s disobedience to God </span><span style="font: 10px Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">over something to eat (a treat)</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. [See Genesis 3]</span></div><div style="font: 10px arial; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christians are to be a light to the world and not partake of things that smack of evil. </span><span style="color: #020080; font: 10px helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[Ephesians 5:11] We should consider Gods words and lean not to our own understanding.</span></div><div style="font: 10px arial; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font: 10px Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A Believer and worshipper of the one true Creator God should not practice holidays with pagan roots and trappings. If we love God we show it by obeying Him. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Reject Halloween and all pagan-originated holidays and practices. The apostle Paul said Witchcraft is one of the acts of the sinful nature and those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God but have their part in the Lake that burns with Fire. </span></b><span style="font: 10px Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(See Galatians 5:16-21; see also Revelation 22:15).</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="font: 10px Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font: 10px arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2 Corinthians 6:14-18 </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? </span></b><span style="font: 10px Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ye are the temple of the living God</span></b><span style="font: 10px Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Encyclopedia Britannica says: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Halloween, also called </span><span style="font: 10px Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All Hallows' Eve </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">or </span><span style="font: 10px Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All Hallows' Evening, </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a holy or hallowed evening observed on October 31, the eve of All Saints' Day. In modern times, it is the occasion for pranks and for children requesting treats or threatening tricks. In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic festival of Samhain eve was observed on October 31, at the end of summer. This date was also the eve of the new year in both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon times and was the occasion for one of the ancient fire festivals when huge bonfires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits. The date was connected with the return of herds from pasture, and laws and land tenures were renewed. The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divinations concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. </span><span style="font: 10px Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes.·</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" face=""helvetica" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" color="rgb(0 , 0 , 0)" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Hate evil-don’t delight in it. God views witchcraft and all other occult activities as evil:<br /><br />“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.” Ex. 22:18<br /><br />“Give no regards to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God .” Lev 19:31<br /><br />“And the person who turns after mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set my face against that person, and cut him off from His people.” Lev 20:6<br /><br />“....he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.” 2 Chron 33:6<br /><br />“Now the works of the flesh of evident, which are ......idolatry, sorcery, hatred.... and the like.......that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal 5:20</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.eaec.org/bibleanswers/halloween2.htm">http://www.eaec.org/bibleanswers/halloween2.htm</a></span></div>
</span>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-59902109633821016272009-10-17T09:06:00.000-04:002009-10-17T09:07:48.663-04:00Personal Best or Personal Beast?!<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">I realized quickly when my children were younger that sports and activities have the power to do much DAMAGE or much GOOD depending on your ATTITUDE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When my children began organized sports and even non-competitive hobbies, it was not uncommon for parents to accuse coaches, refs, and umps, and get very upset if their children had calls against them or didn't get asked to start or play certain positions, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They openly compared their children with the other children (right in front of them I might add!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>LOVE sports because of the GOOD it can do for us and our children; however, if you are not careful, it can do JUST AS MUCH DAMAGE AS GOOD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">Here are just a FEW things we teach our children by our attitude concerning sports WE are involved in AND they are involved in:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">*Respect for authorities' perceptions, whether we agree or NOT.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">*How to accept themselves if they give their best, regardless of whether they are "all stars" or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">*How to have fun doing a variety of things even if you AREN'T "all star" material in all things!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">*How to encourage others to do their best and NOT COMPARE our performance against them to make them feel inferior OR superior (there will ALWAYS be someone BETTER than you and someone WORSE than you – the fun in your performance should NOT be to push it in someone's face that they finished behind you or lift them up because they finished in front of you!)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">*How to work as a team.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">*How to support people in "healthy competition".<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">*Play the best you can without making your self image based on performance.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">*Have fun working out!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">Be careful you don't use sports and activities to COMPARE yourself with another person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is detrimental to good character and healthy self image to feel that your performance is based on how you exceed your friends' OR to feel that others are measuring their performance on how they compare to you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(2Cor 10:12 KJVS)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black">“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(Prov 27:2 KJVS)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:black"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', serif; ">“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(Rom 12:9-10 MESSAGE)</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black">“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” (Rom 14:13 KJVS)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black">“Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(Gal 5:26 AMP)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black">“That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(Gal 5:26 MESSAGE)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black">Challenge:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>BE CAREFUL of your attitude while participating in sports and activities YOURSELF or when your children do!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Be sure you are feeding attitudes for a healthy self image and having FUN and NOT to "measure yourself" or your children against others!</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6814166567411227460.post-63666392490102306942009-09-01T09:41:00.014-04:002009-09-01T11:16:32.604-04:00Better With You<div>Each day we make "deposits" into the lives of others, and often we make "withdrawals" as well... </div><div><br /></div>During one of our "projects" when we each had "bank account books" and we had to note when someone made a "deposit" and someone made a "withdrawal", I started to tangibly reinforce the importance of putting more INTO someone's life than "taking FROM" someone's life (or energy).<div><br /></div><div>We all know that there are "energy givers" and "energy takers" in this life, both people-wise and situational. I wanted each of my children to realize the importance of being an energy GIVER. To GIVE more than TAKE from someone. To make others' lives better because they were there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I could never understand how some people make it easier to live WITHOUT them than to live WITH them, and I wanted to embed that into my children's minds so that they would WANT to ALWAYS be a PLUS and not a MINUS.</div><div><br /></div><div>With the bank deposit books, they could see that when someone required patience, to put up with some shortcoming, to even attend different events or make accommodations for them, if there was nothing to "draw from" because that person had made no "deposits" it wasn't going to work --</div><div><br /></div><div>Even at school, I asked them how they made the day better for their teachers. I constantly reinforced that I did NOT want their teachers to think "so and so is absent today: THANK GOD!!!" but it would be better if everyone said "so and so is absent today and it just was HORRIBLE without them here!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Challenge: Constantly reinforce your children being a "PLUS SIGN" instead of a "MINUS SIGN" -- get <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">creative</span></span> with it! Help them to make sure life is BETTER when they are around and not HARDER. And GROW with it yourself -- many adults need to learn this lesson too! Make sure that WHEREVER YOU GO you make your world and the situations are are involved with and the people you live with BETTER because YOU ARE THERE!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzdmPylK9zictttBYqvK_Lr9QqLS7ACmh15l57R0tPHdKDYxsczpSHK6viITKkFBiJnH8N_DU8YEYM6r0Rgag' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16460894801560971449noreply@blogger.com1