Every time I go to visit with my mom and dad I always hear, "I can't find ____" You can fill in the blank with just about anything. My mom doesn't like things laying on the table or the counter. I really don't know why but it seems to bother her. My dad can put something down, turn around, turn back around and it is gone. We have found the box of Eggos in the cupboard, the last banana in the frig and an empty glass in the freezer just to name a few items taken from the table. But then there is the clock that went missing from the wall only to be found on another wall in another room. The best one was the toilet brush. My dad could not find the toilet brush for over 2 weeks. One day I was in the closet in one of the spare rooms for something and there it was clipped to a hanger for pants. Why? Who knows? Actually neither does she.
In the midst of all this putting things away, my mom always looks so innocent and says, "I don't know what you're talking about." as she points to dad to infer that it was he who removed the item. He gets blamed for everything. He wears it well most of the time. On some occasions it gets to him and he looses all patience but very rarely. He simply says, "I know everything is my fault" and then smiles. He takes care of my mom very well. I am so very grateful that he is able to do that. She can be a handful, that's for sure.
My mom moves things and forgets them but I suffer from forgetting to do the right thing. There are times when faced with a circumstance, I forget how to respond in a biblical way. The truth is that I do not need to look far asking the questions, "Where is it?" because the Holy Spirit is within me. I have come to the conclusion that I forget how to respond biblically when I forget He is there.
"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
How can I forget He is with me when He is greater than anything in this world? I get diverted thinking of myself more highly than I ought. When I get caught I may say, "I don't know what you're talking about." My excuses are not good ones. My mom sincerely does not remember but I choose not to remember who I am in Christ.
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." Galatians 2:20a
My mom is going to continue to move things around and we will continue to hunt for them. I am grateful that I never have to hunt for God. He is always with me and will never leave me. (Hebrews 13:5)
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Friday, January 31, 2014
What time are you coming???
Once a month my granddaughter, Addy, and I go to Costco and buy food in order to put together dinners for my dad. My mom has long ago stopped cooking so I make up a type of "TV" dinner that can be popped in the microwave and then eaten. My dad is very happy with them. It is a joy to serve him in this way.
It is also a joy to be with Addy. She loves going and calls me often (even two days after we have gone) to see when the next time will be. We are going today. I have given the time to her dad, her mom and to her oldest brother. This did not stop her from calling me about 1 hour ahead of time to ask, "What time are you coming, Grandma?" She is anxious. But not only her. A few minutes after her call I received a call from her brother, Tristan asking me, "What time are you picking Addy up?"
There is a great anticipation of my arrival and what we will do together. I love that!! I am tempted to become impatient sometimes with the phone calls but then I remember that one day each of my grandchildren will be too busy for me. I don't want to make the mistake of being too busy to answer this anxious question now.
Let's transfer this to my walk with Christ. I have asked myself if I have the same anticipation in waiting for the Lord to return. He is coming back. I know this. I have read it in His Word. There are instructions for us as Followers of Christ to work till He comes. But are we anticipating it? I have to admit that my excitement is seriously lacking.
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." 2 Peter 3:10
"But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13
"Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!" Revelation 16:15
I need to be ready. I need to be anticipating. I need to looking for Him and asking Him about what time He is coming. There is going to be a new heaven and a new earth which will have so much more benefit than Costco does. Costco gives out samples but when the Lord returns, it will be the real thing!! God has given me grandchildren so that I can learn more and more what it is like to be His child.
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:20
What time is He coming? Soon! Get excited with me!! The excitement here over the little things of life is just a little taste of the excitement to come.
It is also a joy to be with Addy. She loves going and calls me often (even two days after we have gone) to see when the next time will be. We are going today. I have given the time to her dad, her mom and to her oldest brother. This did not stop her from calling me about 1 hour ahead of time to ask, "What time are you coming, Grandma?" She is anxious. But not only her. A few minutes after her call I received a call from her brother, Tristan asking me, "What time are you picking Addy up?"
There is a great anticipation of my arrival and what we will do together. I love that!! I am tempted to become impatient sometimes with the phone calls but then I remember that one day each of my grandchildren will be too busy for me. I don't want to make the mistake of being too busy to answer this anxious question now.
Let's transfer this to my walk with Christ. I have asked myself if I have the same anticipation in waiting for the Lord to return. He is coming back. I know this. I have read it in His Word. There are instructions for us as Followers of Christ to work till He comes. But are we anticipating it? I have to admit that my excitement is seriously lacking.
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." 2 Peter 3:10
"But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13
"Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!" Revelation 16:15
I need to be ready. I need to be anticipating. I need to looking for Him and asking Him about what time He is coming. There is going to be a new heaven and a new earth which will have so much more benefit than Costco does. Costco gives out samples but when the Lord returns, it will be the real thing!! God has given me grandchildren so that I can learn more and more what it is like to be His child.
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:20
What time is He coming? Soon! Get excited with me!! The excitement here over the little things of life is just a little taste of the excitement to come.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Best Friend for Life
So I was out and about when I received a text from my 7 year old granddaughter. It read B.F.F.L. and then was immediately followed with that was sopost to go to emma. I sent her back a smiley face not really knowing what all the letters meant. I knew I was missing out on something but not sure what it was.
A few days later I asked my daughter about it and she told me that it meant "best friend for life". Oh really! So I was not to be her best friend for life. It made me really laugh then as to how quickly she told me it was "sopost" to go to Emma. I didn't let it bother me too much. After all, I am 61 years old and she is 7. But being the grandma that I am , I decided to bring it up to her last week.
I put on my sad face and said, "How come I am not your B.F.F.L.?"
She replied, "Because you're my grandma and that is much better."
What she said was perfect!! To be thought of as much better brought a smile to my face if not a tear to my eyes.
We have the longest text message in history from God. It is our Bible. We read about the sacrifice of being a friend. Jesus says, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 Jesus is the friend above all friends who was willing to lay down His life that we might live with Him forever. His life was offered as a sacrifice for our sins and yet He calls us friends. How humbling this statement is for us.
Then He said, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." Jesus calls us to show our friendship to Him by doing what He commands by being obedient to The Word of God. This is not easy for us. We are sinners even as Followers of Christ. Our hearts are wicked and desire what is contrary to God. We want to do things our way so much of the time. But Jesus reminds us that our obedience to Him is proof of our friendship. He has given proof of His friendship in the sacrifice of His own self.
As a Follower of Christ we have friendship with God that would look like this in text: B.F.F.E. He has saved us to be best friends for eternity. Eternity is hard to get our minds around but the time is coming when we will live with God forever. "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:3-4 That is what we have to look forward to!
Being a grandma may be much better than a B.F.F.L. but being a B.F.F.E. tops them both!!
A few days later I asked my daughter about it and she told me that it meant "best friend for life". Oh really! So I was not to be her best friend for life. It made me really laugh then as to how quickly she told me it was "sopost" to go to Emma. I didn't let it bother me too much. After all, I am 61 years old and she is 7. But being the grandma that I am , I decided to bring it up to her last week.
I put on my sad face and said, "How come I am not your B.F.F.L.?"
She replied, "Because you're my grandma and that is much better."
What she said was perfect!! To be thought of as much better brought a smile to my face if not a tear to my eyes.
We have the longest text message in history from God. It is our Bible. We read about the sacrifice of being a friend. Jesus says, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 Jesus is the friend above all friends who was willing to lay down His life that we might live with Him forever. His life was offered as a sacrifice for our sins and yet He calls us friends. How humbling this statement is for us.
Then He said, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." Jesus calls us to show our friendship to Him by doing what He commands by being obedient to The Word of God. This is not easy for us. We are sinners even as Followers of Christ. Our hearts are wicked and desire what is contrary to God. We want to do things our way so much of the time. But Jesus reminds us that our obedience to Him is proof of our friendship. He has given proof of His friendship in the sacrifice of His own self.
As a Follower of Christ we have friendship with God that would look like this in text: B.F.F.E. He has saved us to be best friends for eternity. Eternity is hard to get our minds around but the time is coming when we will live with God forever. "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:3-4 That is what we have to look forward to!
Being a grandma may be much better than a B.F.F.L. but being a B.F.F.E. tops them both!!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Shoes: Who would have thought?
So many things happen in our lives over the years that we cannot possibly remember them all. You would think we would remember the things that were traumatic. We don't always remember those things. As a parent, I can say that my kids remember things I do not. When you are raising kids that is what you are doing. You are busy with the discipline, the homework, the schooling, the taxi driving, the recitals, the games and somewhere in there a shower every now and then. The things that happen on a day to day basis do not always imprint themselves on your brain so that you can recall them again. Mostly you just lay down at night in exhaustion for 6 to 8 hours, just to get up and do it all again.
Now my children are adults. My daughter has four children of her own to see after. She is busy and I am sure the description above is hers as it was mine. But my daughter will bring up something from her childhood that I remember nothing about. She did that a couple of weeks ago. She said, "Remember the blue loafers with the tassels you made me wear?" My mind was scrambling because I couldn't remember any blue shoes at all. I am sure that I just bought them because she needed shoes and I got a good deal but to remember them...nope.
"No, I don't," I replied.
"They were terrible. I was so embarrassed to wear them. I remember standing at the bus stop for school with them on. I didn't want anyone to see them. I didn't want to wear them but you made me" she said.
"Mmmmm, I just don't remember that."
"I even talked to your friend about them and she just told me they were classic."
"She was covering for me, I'm sure," I said.
She kept talking about those shoes and how much she hated them and how much she was embarrassed by them. I began to feel bad for having scarred her with blue tasseled shoes. I apologized saying that I didn't realize how badly they made her feel.
Wow! Our memories are not perfect! Neither are our intentions! We make mistakes along the way as we parent. Sometimes we never realize the many things our kids will remember of which we have no clue. But blue shoes??? Who would have thought???
It is in times like that when I rejoice in my Heavenly Father. He never forgets! He always knows what is best for me! He provides all I need! He hears me! He sees me! He knows me! He disciplines me for my good and His glory! He is God and there is no other! "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!" Galatians 4:6
So what about the shoes my Heavenly Father has provided? "and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:15 My feet are covered by the gospel of peace. They are great shoes. He always knows best! The thing is these shoes are more than classic, they are eternal.
I wonder if He has gospel of peace shoes in blue with tassels???
Now my children are adults. My daughter has four children of her own to see after. She is busy and I am sure the description above is hers as it was mine. But my daughter will bring up something from her childhood that I remember nothing about. She did that a couple of weeks ago. She said, "Remember the blue loafers with the tassels you made me wear?" My mind was scrambling because I couldn't remember any blue shoes at all. I am sure that I just bought them because she needed shoes and I got a good deal but to remember them...nope.
"No, I don't," I replied.
"They were terrible. I was so embarrassed to wear them. I remember standing at the bus stop for school with them on. I didn't want anyone to see them. I didn't want to wear them but you made me" she said.
"Mmmmm, I just don't remember that."
"I even talked to your friend about them and she just told me they were classic."
"She was covering for me, I'm sure," I said.
She kept talking about those shoes and how much she hated them and how much she was embarrassed by them. I began to feel bad for having scarred her with blue tasseled shoes. I apologized saying that I didn't realize how badly they made her feel.
Wow! Our memories are not perfect! Neither are our intentions! We make mistakes along the way as we parent. Sometimes we never realize the many things our kids will remember of which we have no clue. But blue shoes??? Who would have thought???
It is in times like that when I rejoice in my Heavenly Father. He never forgets! He always knows what is best for me! He provides all I need! He hears me! He sees me! He knows me! He disciplines me for my good and His glory! He is God and there is no other! "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!" Galatians 4:6
So what about the shoes my Heavenly Father has provided? "and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:15 My feet are covered by the gospel of peace. They are great shoes. He always knows best! The thing is these shoes are more than classic, they are eternal.
I wonder if He has gospel of peace shoes in blue with tassels???
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
My First Pedicure
A few weeks ago, I was going to be speaking at a one day conference. You know how it is when you are going to be in front of people, you want to look your best. I found these great sandals to wear on that day. Well I knew they would look a whole lot better if I had painted toenails. So I decided to treat myself to my first pedicure. I have always taken care of my toes myself. Part of the reason is that someone else touching my feet makes me cringe a bit. The other part is that I just haven't done it. I was determined to get over the cringe and take the plunge.
The nail salon was very nice. The technician put me at ease right away. She said, "If it has been a long time since your last pedicure, you may want to have the sugar scrub for your feet."
Of course my answer was, "I have never had a pedicure."
She looked at me and said, "Like I said if it has been a long time since your last pedicure, you may want to have the sugar scrub for your feet."
Obviously she wasn't getting it so I said, "You don't understand. I have never had a pedicure."
Her eyes widened and she was speechless. She was probably trying to calculate how old I was. After all, how could a woman get through 60 years and never have a professional pedicure! I was living proof that it can be done.
She did my nails and did a beautiful job. The toes make the shoes!
But after all the work on my nails, it was not my toes that were important at the conference. It was the Word of God. No one really came up to me and said, "Wow! Your toes look great!" Actually I am glad that they didn't. God's Word takes priority over these little pleasures of life. It is far more pleasurable.
At the conference, I spoke on our race of life from Hebrews 12:1-4. We have a race to run that God has laid out for us. We are to run it well. We cannot do that with our feet entangled in sin or if we are carrying an idol in our heart. We run it well when we look at Jesus and how He ran the race before us. It doesn't matter if our toenails are polished or not. We are to run for the glory of God! What's keeping you from running today? I know there are many things I still need to disentangle in my own life but God is patient and compassionate. In that I greatly rejoice!!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." Hebrews 12:1-4
(By the way, I did get the sugar scrub and it was wonderful!!)
The nail salon was very nice. The technician put me at ease right away. She said, "If it has been a long time since your last pedicure, you may want to have the sugar scrub for your feet."
Of course my answer was, "I have never had a pedicure."
She looked at me and said, "Like I said if it has been a long time since your last pedicure, you may want to have the sugar scrub for your feet."
Obviously she wasn't getting it so I said, "You don't understand. I have never had a pedicure."
Her eyes widened and she was speechless. She was probably trying to calculate how old I was. After all, how could a woman get through 60 years and never have a professional pedicure! I was living proof that it can be done.
She did my nails and did a beautiful job. The toes make the shoes!
But after all the work on my nails, it was not my toes that were important at the conference. It was the Word of God. No one really came up to me and said, "Wow! Your toes look great!" Actually I am glad that they didn't. God's Word takes priority over these little pleasures of life. It is far more pleasurable.
At the conference, I spoke on our race of life from Hebrews 12:1-4. We have a race to run that God has laid out for us. We are to run it well. We cannot do that with our feet entangled in sin or if we are carrying an idol in our heart. We run it well when we look at Jesus and how He ran the race before us. It doesn't matter if our toenails are polished or not. We are to run for the glory of God! What's keeping you from running today? I know there are many things I still need to disentangle in my own life but God is patient and compassionate. In that I greatly rejoice!!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." Hebrews 12:1-4
(By the way, I did get the sugar scrub and it was wonderful!!)
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Those Who Left a Legacy
As far back as I can remember church was an important part of my family's life. Before I was born, the Hopewell Baptist church was built on property donated by my paternal grandparents. My grandparents from both sides of my family were founding members of the church. It was in this church I had the privilege of having my Grandmother as my 2nd grade Sunday School Teacher. She gave me my first bible. I learned a great deal from her about being a servant. What a rich heritage!
This continued on in my mother's example to me. She read the scriptures every morning as I was growing up. It was a joy to get up each day and see her in the Word. She made sure that my brothers and I were in church hearing the Word and being involved. What an example!
The Lord brought a couple in my life when I was 11 years old, the Sumners. They saw something in me and began to nurture it. They saw the ability to teach and lead. How they saw that in an 11 year old, I do not know! I am grateful for the opportunities of service that they gave me. I was able to teach in their Junior Department at the age of 14 years. Mr. Sumner was not the greatest teacher but he loved God and he loved God's Word. Mrs. Sumner was quiet and in the background but she was a loving wife who served God and her husband with a gentle spirit. I learned much from the two of them. What a legacy of loving God!
As a teen, I was close to my pastor, Bill Coleman. He was a man who had vision. He wanted to serve the Lord and do so in many different ways. He was never in a rut. He showed me that things can change and God can still bless. He was a man who loved God and lived the gospel He was a goal marker and completer. What a joy to see such service!
Through the years I have had many who have left me a legacy to follow. Just recently I lost my colleague and friend, Patrick McGoldrick. He and I spent a lot of time discussing theology and other things. I shared a personal prayer request with him just after he had been diagnosed with ALS. Patrick told me how he would put a penny in his shoe to remind him to pray for someone all day. It was a few weeks later that he came to my office and gave me a piece of paper that said "Penny in the shoe...praying for you." with a penny taped to it. A few weeks later, he brought me another penny. I still have this paper with the two pennies taped to it in my desk drawer. What a legacy to pray for others!
Now I am led by Bob Johnson II as my pastor, colleague and friend. He has show me what is important in life by teaching me that life is all about God. He reminds me as a shepherd that I need to live my life in line with the Word of God. His life is a reflection of the Savior and I am grateful to see it modeled for me. What a privilege to work with this man who is leaving a legacy to so many!
The challenge is to leave a legacy to those behind me! That is my desire and that is my prayer. What an awesome responsibility!
"Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD" Psalm 102:18
"We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done." Psalm 78:4
This continued on in my mother's example to me. She read the scriptures every morning as I was growing up. It was a joy to get up each day and see her in the Word. She made sure that my brothers and I were in church hearing the Word and being involved. What an example!
The Lord brought a couple in my life when I was 11 years old, the Sumners. They saw something in me and began to nurture it. They saw the ability to teach and lead. How they saw that in an 11 year old, I do not know! I am grateful for the opportunities of service that they gave me. I was able to teach in their Junior Department at the age of 14 years. Mr. Sumner was not the greatest teacher but he loved God and he loved God's Word. Mrs. Sumner was quiet and in the background but she was a loving wife who served God and her husband with a gentle spirit. I learned much from the two of them. What a legacy of loving God!
As a teen, I was close to my pastor, Bill Coleman. He was a man who had vision. He wanted to serve the Lord and do so in many different ways. He was never in a rut. He showed me that things can change and God can still bless. He was a man who loved God and lived the gospel He was a goal marker and completer. What a joy to see such service!
Through the years I have had many who have left me a legacy to follow. Just recently I lost my colleague and friend, Patrick McGoldrick. He and I spent a lot of time discussing theology and other things. I shared a personal prayer request with him just after he had been diagnosed with ALS. Patrick told me how he would put a penny in his shoe to remind him to pray for someone all day. It was a few weeks later that he came to my office and gave me a piece of paper that said "Penny in the shoe...praying for you." with a penny taped to it. A few weeks later, he brought me another penny. I still have this paper with the two pennies taped to it in my desk drawer. What a legacy to pray for others!
Now I am led by Bob Johnson II as my pastor, colleague and friend. He has show me what is important in life by teaching me that life is all about God. He reminds me as a shepherd that I need to live my life in line with the Word of God. His life is a reflection of the Savior and I am grateful to see it modeled for me. What a privilege to work with this man who is leaving a legacy to so many!
The challenge is to leave a legacy to those behind me! That is my desire and that is my prayer. What an awesome responsibility!
"Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD" Psalm 102:18
"We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done." Psalm 78:4
Friday, May 10, 2013
If...Then...
We are all familiar with if-then statements. We say them all the time. Some of those statements are very useful, others are superstitious and others are truth.
If-then statements can really be useful in parenting. These can make it clear to a child what is expected and what the outcome will be if they are not obedient. All questions are answered if things are made clear to children. For instance, "If you do not clean your room, then you cannot go to your friend's house." or "If you choose to be disrespectful in your tone, then you will be cleaning the bathroom tile with a toothbrush.". This makes it clear the choice is the child's to be obedient. Of course, these statements can be used to give rewards as well. These types of if-then statements are useful.
If-then statements can be superstitious. There are many that you have heard. The one that seems to actually come true so often is, "If I wash my car, then it will rain.". Two weeks ago Ronn and I washed the car and it was raining before nightfall. I remember last summer my neighbor came out of his house and yelled at me because I was washing the car. He yelled, "Hey, I don't want it to rain! Stop washing your car!". It rained the next day. :) Of course, this doesn't always happen. It is a fun if-then statement. We certainly don't want to embrace this statement and never wash our car!
The truth is this that our God is not an if-then God. We cannot manipulate Him into doing what we want by saying, "If I promise to do this for you God, then will you get me out of this situation?". That is not the way God operates. He works in His way and in His time. He does not work for us, we work for Him. Our desires will not be fulfilled by God because we bargain with Him. Who are we to bargain with God? We need to take time and remember who God is.
"For I the LORD do not change;..." Malachi 3:6a
"...I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:10b
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
The if-then statements we need to live by are: "If I yield my will to God's then He will bring about spiritual maturity in me." "If I face trials then God will give me the grace to handle them." "If I face trouble then I will be comforted in Christ." There are many, many more which reveal to us the promises of God.
So wash your car and live your life for the glory of God even though you may get wet.
If-then statements can really be useful in parenting. These can make it clear to a child what is expected and what the outcome will be if they are not obedient. All questions are answered if things are made clear to children. For instance, "If you do not clean your room, then you cannot go to your friend's house." or "If you choose to be disrespectful in your tone, then you will be cleaning the bathroom tile with a toothbrush.". This makes it clear the choice is the child's to be obedient. Of course, these statements can be used to give rewards as well. These types of if-then statements are useful.
If-then statements can be superstitious. There are many that you have heard. The one that seems to actually come true so often is, "If I wash my car, then it will rain.". Two weeks ago Ronn and I washed the car and it was raining before nightfall. I remember last summer my neighbor came out of his house and yelled at me because I was washing the car. He yelled, "Hey, I don't want it to rain! Stop washing your car!". It rained the next day. :) Of course, this doesn't always happen. It is a fun if-then statement. We certainly don't want to embrace this statement and never wash our car!
The truth is this that our God is not an if-then God. We cannot manipulate Him into doing what we want by saying, "If I promise to do this for you God, then will you get me out of this situation?". That is not the way God operates. He works in His way and in His time. He does not work for us, we work for Him. Our desires will not be fulfilled by God because we bargain with Him. Who are we to bargain with God? We need to take time and remember who God is.
"For I the LORD do not change;..." Malachi 3:6a
"...I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:10b
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
The if-then statements we need to live by are: "If I yield my will to God's then He will bring about spiritual maturity in me." "If I face trials then God will give me the grace to handle them." "If I face trouble then I will be comforted in Christ." There are many, many more which reveal to us the promises of God.
So wash your car and live your life for the glory of God even though you may get wet.
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