One of Us

Have you ever had an awesome idea, and you went into action to make it happen?  You poured tons of energy, thought, and care into this idea.  It became a part of you.  And then...something went wrong.  It didn’t turn out the way you planned...and hoped.  In fact, it took a nosedive, and ended up being the opposite of what you had dreamed.  What sacrifices would you make to turn it around, and make it happen the way you had envisioned?

Our Father God had an awesome idea—us!  When He supernaturally created us as human beings, we were perfect, and in a perfect love relationship with Him.  Then...we blew it.  We took a nosedive and ended up in a broken relationship apart from Him.  We tried all kinds of ways to repair that break...but nothing worked...until...

“He (Jesus) had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion...” to repair the break, and join us to Him once again.  [Phil 2:6-8a (Message)]

Jesus loved us so much, that He left His home to come to us on earth.  He limited Himself when He became completely human.  He took off His divine attributes—like being able to see everything, know everything, and be everywhere at once.  He went through the same process of humanity that we do—beginning with fertilization, going through birth, and growing up with parents and multiple siblings (brothers and sisters).  He grew from an infant to a toddler, to a young child, to a teenager, and finally to an adult.  He went to school, did chores, played with friends in the neighborhood, may have had a pet, told funny stories, laughed, ate good food, celebrated holidays and special occasions with cousins and other family, had good days and bad days, and experienced loss (his earthly dad died sometime when he was a child or young adult).  He was fully human...from His first breath to His last.  He did not give up on being human.  He did not change His mind and rely on His divine attributes.  He lived completely human.  Totally human.  Just like us.  Because of this, “our high priest (Jesus) is able to understand our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it.”  Hebrews 4:15-16 (NCV)  

He knows what it’s like to be in our shoes, experiencing everything we do, yet not giving in, or giving up.  He has enough mercy and grace to help us when we need it.

As you go through your day, think of what it must have been like for Jesus to grow up as a human.  He knew what we needed, so He became one of us, to be with us.  How can we enter into our neighbor’s world to fully, humanly love in the same way?

In Everything...Give Thanks

“In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  I Thess. 5:18

How many times have I asked Jesus, “What is your will?”  Here is his answer—give thanks in everything.   

E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.  How is that possible... when life doesn’t go the way I want it to? when discouragement sets in? when frustration won’t leave? when life is overwhelming?  How can I say, “Thank you, Jesus, for _________”?  (another dirty diaper, spilled milk, a screaming child, another sleep-deprived night, a broken dish, a sick child, a dirty house, lost keys, sibling fights, tense moments with hubby, etc.)  James says some enlightening words in chapter 1--

^“2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. ^5-8 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help.”

So, thank Jesus for your “gifts”!  Hang in there.  Stick it out.  Go through it ... there is a satisfaction and deep joy in knowing that God loves me, he’s with me, and he knows what he is doing in the midst of the yucky stuff.  There’s a spiritual exchange that happens when I give Jesus thanks regardless of how I feel---he gives me JOY regardless of my circumstances.  And on the other side I know him better, and myself too.

I have the capability of deciding to be thankful.  When I do, it changes my vision—I see Jesus more clearly, and rest in his faithfulness.

And when life is good—remember to give Jesus honor by thanking him for his goodness...because it is his gift to us.   Happy Thanksgiving!

Dedicated to God

When I finally reached the “letting-go” stage of parenting, I thought, “I’ve done my job of parenting.  Now my girls can go out into the world and live wonderful lives!”  As they stepped into adulthood, though, there were hard issues they needed to face and grapple with, difficult relationships, conflict, decisions, pressures, etc.  When this initially started happening, I was on my knees, praying for each daughter, every day.  It was then I remembered that Dave and I had dedicated them to God when they were babies.  That prayer was not only meant for them right then, as a baby, but also for the rest of their lives.  I hunted and scrounged around to find the “prayer of dedication” that we prayed for them.  When I finally found it, it reminded me that no matter what happens, they are in God’s hands.  They belong to Him, He is their Father.  He is their Creator, and knows them through and through, and He loves them more than even Dave and I love them.  And He will never leave them. 

This prayer reminded me that I could trust God.  I could trust my daughters in His hands.  I could breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that I dedicated them to him as a child, and I still dedicate them to Him.  Their life is not based on how good of a parent I was or am, but on how big God is, and his faithfulness.

The reality of this dedication was not only giving our daughters to God, but giving ourselves, as parents, to God.  This dedication was a reference point so often during our child-raising years.  It kept me going during difficult times.   

If you haven’t dedicated your child to the Lord, it’s not too late.  Put a stake in the ground of committing them to God, and dedicating yourself to Him as Spirit-filled parents, raising and instructing your children in God’s word and His ways.  The “prayer of dedication” is not a magic prayer, shielding our children from any harm or bad in their life, but it is a reference point of Who they belong to, and are loved by.

If you have dedicated your child to the Lord, take a moment to remind yourself of that prayer.

I finally found the “prayer of dedication” we prayed for our daughters—here it is:

We do, on this day, before God and these witnesses, as Sarah’s, Ruthi’s, Rebekah’s, and Deborah’s parents, dedicate them to God, for Him to use as He, in His goodness and purpose, sovereignly chooses.  And we do dedicate ourselves to God, that we may be filled with His Spirit, and obedient to His Word, that we may instruct them in God’s Word and ways, and that we will be an example to them in words and deeds, that they will be molded into the likeness of Jesus Christ, that they may know Him as Savior and Lord, and that they may enjoy the Lord forever, and be a blessing to others.   In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Discipline (wk 5) -- Preparing Your Child for Adulthood

Your children are most likely many years from being “adults”—age 18 (even though they think they are adults by the time they are teenagers.)  But I’d like to challenge you to make it your goal to help your child become as mature as possible by that time in their life.  Why?  Because anything they do not learn while growing up, will become lessons to learn as an adult.  Discipline does not end when they become an adult and independent from you.  As they are growing up, you and God are working together to train and discipline your child in the most loving and effective way possible.  When they become adults, you are no longer the “disciplinarian”.   Yet, God continues working, teaching, and disciplining them... because they are a work in progress their entire life, until they see Jesus face to face.  All of us are a work in progress!  But wouldn’t it be so helpful for our children if they can learn lessons as they are growing up, rather than having to learn them as an adult, when it could be much more difficult?

Think of a child who wants what they want, when they want it, how they want it.  If they don’t learn as a child to take control of their desires and be content with what they have, they will most likely struggle with overspending and debt as an adult...when the stakes are much higher.  Any sin that a child deals with becomes a much bigger issue as an adult (lying can ruin a relationship, dishonesty can cost a job, etc.)  Give them a picture of God's desire for them.  Utilize others' stories as examples of what to do/not to do.

“Discipline your child while there is still hope...”  Proverbs 19:18

If your children learn to manage their emotions and desires, keeping their heart in check with their Father God, they will be steps ahead as they enter adulthood.