Newton said, "To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction".
I think this is a good rule to apply to children. My DH used to often say, 'let the punishment fit the crime'.
1John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins that He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I think this is a good principle to follow as parents. If they confess, we can forgive. However, we can't cleanse them, not their hearts. We can't see repentance in their heart, therefore we have to examine their fruits; Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance/Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
We also have to follow the principles of Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go. Yes, even if they don't want to hear it. For them to protest on any level when dealing with correction, is still rebellion. 1 Pet 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. We must insist that they obey this principle because if they will not submit to us, how could we ever expect that they would submit to God?
Suffice it to say, we can forgive while still enforcing a consequence.
Prov 20:30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
That verse supports some pretty strong consequences! Now for safety's sake- we live in a day and age when you have to be very careful how and where you discipline a child- that said, consequences to bad behavior still must be enforced. For example, if you have told your child, "if you do that again, then I'm gonna...." -you best make sure that if they do THAT again that you enforce that 'gonna'! Don't threaten- take action!
Let me illustrate a little more.
If Mr. and Mrs. Jones gives little teenage Johnny a cell phone for Christmas with a set of rules such as:
-if you ever sneak and use this at night you will lose the phone for 30 days
-if you ever do anything naughty on the phone you will lose it for good.
Then 7 months later, Mrs. Jones gets up at midnight and hears Johnny talking in his room and discovers that he his on his beloved cell phone, then she is wise if she immediately makes good on her promise. Can she forgive him and love him? Yes, certainly but she'd better keep her word or she will take away from her authority in the child's eyes.
Well, 18 months later let's say that Johnny's parents discovers that he has an inappropriate picture on his phone that one of his friends have sent. Well, the parents are still under a contract with the phone! Not to mention little Johnny has football practice and sometimes needs to call them when its time to pick him up. The price of keeping your 'authoritative position' with a child is worth more than the contract will cost on the phone, don't you think?
You see, there must be consequences.
Why? Because God has them too and they are pretty steep!
We are training them to obey Him and understand that His consequences are very real too and He does FOREVER keep His Word.
May God help us to be faithful and press on!
Showing posts with label Sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sin. Show all posts
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Is it possible?
Is it possible for our government to be 'conservative' in a day when the church has gone so liberal?
As much as I want 'political revival', I desire 'spiritual revival' even more.
I find it hard to believe that men can stand against the political evils of this day for long, without the help of the Lord. It seems that ignorance truly is bliss, and once that bliss has taken over one's mind- they can't seem to come back out of it! (Those of you who have tried to 'reason' with a liberal know exactly what I mean.)
We live in a day where the spiritual link is often weak, therefore our morals are weak, which makes us susceptible to cave in to political pressures because those weaknesses are the weapons of choice. Here's how it works:nudity is slapped in a man's face on every corner, his religion is liberal, he falls, those in political power use his moral failure against him. He's done! At least he's done standing for anything since he can't "live what he preaches''- so they say.
Now, one could argue, is a man's political views wrong because he had a moral failure? But that is not my point right now.
My point is the doctrines in the modern church right now. They are weak. They are unBiblical and therefore, they cannot stand nor can they hold one up, because they are not truly God's. God's Word- His real Words are the only source of this kind of strength.
Here is what we are hearing in the church today;
"that Scripture doesn't matter anymore"
"oh, that verse was meant for that day and that culture"
"that's not what that verse (chapter) means"
"this is what so and so teaches"
"this is what *book* says"
"well that's not what seminary teaches"
"in college we learned..."
And the quotes go on and on.
...and the leaders! The leaders are people citing new age teachers! Yes, new age teachers= non-Christians. (Blind leading blind.)
The preachers- TBN- of whom even the world knows is corrupt! The world associates TV preachers with people hustling money out of the gullible. (Every few months there's some new song out in the world or a show on TV that just mocks these manipulators!)
The Christian world seems to HAVE to pick a 'top dog' but this dog is in fact a wolf! Wolf- uhmm Warren. You HAVE to worry about a man who wants to buddy up and have peace talks with the U.N. (He promotes growth and numbers above Salvation and Sanctification!)
What's my point to you? To myself even?
God help us, to pull ourselves away from all of this world and into His Word and not fall for a faith of fashion! I don't want a fashionable, trendy faith! I want a real one, grounded in real truth, fed by the Real Word of God!
I want that for my home, my family. I want that for my husband and my children. How can I help them? How can I encourage them?
Jack Hyles preached a sermon entitled something like; "What more could have been done?"
Is there more I can do to encourage Godliness and purity in my family? How can I help my husband live for Christ and promote the Gospel? How can I train five boys to serve the Lord with all of their heart? How can I teach one little girl how to be a Godly servant for Christ?
And that, is what I leave you with:
Is it possible? Possible to do more? Possible to teach them the fear of God? Possible to impact our homes, children, husband, our world?
Phil 4:13
As much as I want 'political revival', I desire 'spiritual revival' even more.
I find it hard to believe that men can stand against the political evils of this day for long, without the help of the Lord. It seems that ignorance truly is bliss, and once that bliss has taken over one's mind- they can't seem to come back out of it! (Those of you who have tried to 'reason' with a liberal know exactly what I mean.)
We live in a day where the spiritual link is often weak, therefore our morals are weak, which makes us susceptible to cave in to political pressures because those weaknesses are the weapons of choice. Here's how it works:nudity is slapped in a man's face on every corner, his religion is liberal, he falls, those in political power use his moral failure against him. He's done! At least he's done standing for anything since he can't "live what he preaches''- so they say.
Now, one could argue, is a man's political views wrong because he had a moral failure? But that is not my point right now.
My point is the doctrines in the modern church right now. They are weak. They are unBiblical and therefore, they cannot stand nor can they hold one up, because they are not truly God's. God's Word- His real Words are the only source of this kind of strength.
Here is what we are hearing in the church today;
"that Scripture doesn't matter anymore"
"oh, that verse was meant for that day and that culture"
"that's not what that verse (chapter) means"
"this is what so and so teaches"
"this is what *book* says"
"well that's not what seminary teaches"
"in college we learned..."
And the quotes go on and on.
...and the leaders! The leaders are people citing new age teachers! Yes, new age teachers= non-Christians. (Blind leading blind.)
The preachers- TBN- of whom even the world knows is corrupt! The world associates TV preachers with people hustling money out of the gullible. (Every few months there's some new song out in the world or a show on TV that just mocks these manipulators!)
The Christian world seems to HAVE to pick a 'top dog' but this dog is in fact a wolf! Wolf- uhmm Warren. You HAVE to worry about a man who wants to buddy up and have peace talks with the U.N. (He promotes growth and numbers above Salvation and Sanctification!)
What's my point to you? To myself even?
God help us, to pull ourselves away from all of this world and into His Word and not fall for a faith of fashion! I don't want a fashionable, trendy faith! I want a real one, grounded in real truth, fed by the Real Word of God!
I want that for my home, my family. I want that for my husband and my children. How can I help them? How can I encourage them?
Jack Hyles preached a sermon entitled something like; "What more could have been done?"
Is there more I can do to encourage Godliness and purity in my family? How can I help my husband live for Christ and promote the Gospel? How can I train five boys to serve the Lord with all of their heart? How can I teach one little girl how to be a Godly servant for Christ?
And that, is what I leave you with:
Is it possible? Possible to do more? Possible to teach them the fear of God? Possible to impact our homes, children, husband, our world?
Phil 4:13
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
When Children Mess Up...
This is so hard and no parent wants to deal with it, nor admit it, but kids raised 'right' can still do wrong!
I was given a wise warning from a Godly woman many years ago, as we were discussing raising children. I will never forget her words: "Don't fret so much over the child who occasionally gets into mischief, but rather beware of the one who might be thinking 'I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside'". Just brilliant words of wisdom!
The Bible even deals with that kind of a spirit that can get on a child;
1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD....
Josh 22:22 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD,...
I have found all of this true. I have found that the children who are 'rowdy' by nature are not the ones who cause grief later, but rather those that obey outwardly but inwardly are very stubborn.
But what do you do when they mess up? ....Ouch!
Yes, I know, it seems impossible that they EVER would, but what about if and when they do? First, you keep loving them. There can be a temptation to distance yourselves from anyone or anything that causes you any emotional upset- but you would do better to do the opposite. Yes, draw near that child. Talk, listen, and sometimes just sit quietly. ...I heard a story where a father distanced himself so much from his daughter that he became very bitter, even name-calling her. The poor thing grew up and began a very painful 'search for acceptance'- with men. Very sad.
Once the initial shock of offense has worn away, days, maybe weeks- then what do you do? Well, then the child must deal with the consequences AND you must let them! This will be the hard part! Oh to see that child suffer! It will be hard and it will hurt so much, but it will be best.
This is the MOST important Scripture on this:
Prov 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Don't give in to his crying and don't allow an outward bad spirit from that child. You see, he can be angry but he better SIN NOT! My DH says, its okay to feel certain things but its not okay to act on them! He adds to that: You may not always be able to control how you feel but you can control what you do with your feelings!
In the short, they can't take it out on other people! Nor pout!
Teaching that one can control themselves is the high part of the lesson at this time. If a child has done wrong, his lack of self-control is likely what got him into his or her current state. Therefore, part of the lesson from the mistake needs to be that they cannot act out in spite of how they feel. Feelings must be controlled and brought into subjection and submission. Again, this is the height of the lesson! After all, they will have to learn to obey God, whether they feel to or not.
Sin is still sin- whether it feels like it or not.
1 Cor 15:31 ... I die daily.
I was given a wise warning from a Godly woman many years ago, as we were discussing raising children. I will never forget her words: "Don't fret so much over the child who occasionally gets into mischief, but rather beware of the one who might be thinking 'I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside'". Just brilliant words of wisdom!
The Bible even deals with that kind of a spirit that can get on a child;
1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD....
Josh 22:22 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD,...
I have found all of this true. I have found that the children who are 'rowdy' by nature are not the ones who cause grief later, but rather those that obey outwardly but inwardly are very stubborn.
But what do you do when they mess up? ....Ouch!
Yes, I know, it seems impossible that they EVER would, but what about if and when they do? First, you keep loving them. There can be a temptation to distance yourselves from anyone or anything that causes you any emotional upset- but you would do better to do the opposite. Yes, draw near that child. Talk, listen, and sometimes just sit quietly. ...I heard a story where a father distanced himself so much from his daughter that he became very bitter, even name-calling her. The poor thing grew up and began a very painful 'search for acceptance'- with men. Very sad.
Once the initial shock of offense has worn away, days, maybe weeks- then what do you do? Well, then the child must deal with the consequences AND you must let them! This will be the hard part! Oh to see that child suffer! It will be hard and it will hurt so much, but it will be best.
This is the MOST important Scripture on this:
Prov 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Don't give in to his crying and don't allow an outward bad spirit from that child. You see, he can be angry but he better SIN NOT! My DH says, its okay to feel certain things but its not okay to act on them! He adds to that: You may not always be able to control how you feel but you can control what you do with your feelings!
In the short, they can't take it out on other people! Nor pout!
Teaching that one can control themselves is the high part of the lesson at this time. If a child has done wrong, his lack of self-control is likely what got him into his or her current state. Therefore, part of the lesson from the mistake needs to be that they cannot act out in spite of how they feel. Feelings must be controlled and brought into subjection and submission. Again, this is the height of the lesson! After all, they will have to learn to obey God, whether they feel to or not.
Sin is still sin- whether it feels like it or not.
1 Cor 15:31 ... I die daily.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Billy Ray Cyrus should be ashamed!
His daughter, a young and attractive 16 year old, has now been completely bumped up to the next media sex toy!
Her father, whom I understand crafts all of her performances, now has her partially naked* on an ice cream cart, twirling around a pole being seductive.
What is amazing is he knows how men think! (right?) He's pushing his daughter out in front of the WHOLE world as a sex symbol! That means boys, young and old, will be forced to see his daughter in a sexual manner.
Why? Why would a father do this? Not only to his daughter but to men. Men- young and old, trying to live right, trying to keep themselves pure, will now have another young girl's image slammed in their faces on the TV, the internet, the stores, and on the magazine racks at the check out.
Why? Why would a mother allow this? Women, you know the more skin that can be seen, the more lust that will be stirred!?!... We've seen this little girl's belly, back, part of her chest, her arms, and every inch of her legs and thighs! ...Honestly, I don't see that much of my own children's skin!
But, again I ask -why!?!!!?!!
1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
*Is. 47:2-3
Her father, whom I understand crafts all of her performances, now has her partially naked* on an ice cream cart, twirling around a pole being seductive.
What is amazing is he knows how men think! (right?) He's pushing his daughter out in front of the WHOLE world as a sex symbol! That means boys, young and old, will be forced to see his daughter in a sexual manner.
Why? Why would a father do this? Not only to his daughter but to men. Men- young and old, trying to live right, trying to keep themselves pure, will now have another young girl's image slammed in their faces on the TV, the internet, the stores, and on the magazine racks at the check out.
Why? Why would a mother allow this? Women, you know the more skin that can be seen, the more lust that will be stirred!?!... We've seen this little girl's belly, back, part of her chest, her arms, and every inch of her legs and thighs! ...Honestly, I don't see that much of my own children's skin!
But, again I ask -why!?!!!?!!
1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
*Is. 47:2-3
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Digging Up Bones and Other People's Sins
December 13 2006 at 10:25 PM
-----By God? YES! By man??? That is uncertain but unnecessary for the person to be forgiven of God. …
…………I received a forward once that went something like this::::::::::::::::::::::::.
There once was a young man in a church who decided that he wanted to marry a young lady who had been a member of his church for over a year. This young man was strongly reprimanded by the elders of the church for his choice for a bride. During a meeting one night, the young man spoke up and said, “I would like to offer you gentlemen my resignation.” They were all shocked. One man dared to break the silence and asked, “May we ask why you’ve made this decision?” The young man cleared his throat and began, “Well sirs, it has come to my attention that things have changed. You see, I have come to understand that the doctrines that I once believed in and stood for are no longer applicable.” An elder stood and said,” Could we ask what you mean by that?” The young man replied, “I regret to say that it has come to my attention that the cross no longer covers all sins.” “Young man, are you well?” asked another man. While another stood and said, “I think I see what is going on here gentlemen.” A white haired man said, “Well I wish you would explain!” The gentleman began to elaborate, “This young man made an announcement of his future plans to marry a young lady in our congregation. Many of you approached him with strong discouragement. You told him that this woman was simply not good enough for him due to her past. You totally discounted her conversion in Christ. You also threw out her testimony as a member of this church for the past year. Instead, you chose to dwell on the sins of this young lady that are under the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, you nullified the cross and the power of forgiveness of sins.” The men hung their heads, realizing that they had not judged righteously in this matter. And of course, the point was made to all involved……………………
…………….In 1Cor 10:29, Paul ask, “for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?” He was speaking of eating and food in this verse, but this phrase could stand alone. If we are free and forgiven and at “liberty”, why is it right for another to judge us based on their conscience and what they think is right? If a person is saved and forgiven, who are we to judge them by their past and hold them to their past, if they are a new creature in Christ Jesus? We know we are to forgive others as we have been forgiven....
1 Cor 12:25 says, “the members should have the same care one for another”. It goes on to say that if one member suffers, that they all suffer and if one member is honored, they all rejoice. Do we do that? Or do we fuss and backbite and condemn and gossip? We are warned against that here: “Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” And told rather to do this; “Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”………
……..In 1Tim5 we are told, “neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure”. Are we pure when we dig up the sins of others? Are we pure when we make up sins against others based on our suspicions? Are we partakers of their sins when we use the sin of gossip to further the mark and stain of their sin? ...Doesn’t the Bible say; “love covereth all sins”? Yes, and it also says that hatred stirs up strife in the same verse. It is NOT love that digs up sin and strife, it is hatred. 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
-----By God? YES! By man??? That is uncertain but unnecessary for the person to be forgiven of God. …
…………I received a forward once that went something like this::::::::::::::::::::::::.
There once was a young man in a church who decided that he wanted to marry a young lady who had been a member of his church for over a year. This young man was strongly reprimanded by the elders of the church for his choice for a bride. During a meeting one night, the young man spoke up and said, “I would like to offer you gentlemen my resignation.” They were all shocked. One man dared to break the silence and asked, “May we ask why you’ve made this decision?” The young man cleared his throat and began, “Well sirs, it has come to my attention that things have changed. You see, I have come to understand that the doctrines that I once believed in and stood for are no longer applicable.” An elder stood and said,” Could we ask what you mean by that?” The young man replied, “I regret to say that it has come to my attention that the cross no longer covers all sins.” “Young man, are you well?” asked another man. While another stood and said, “I think I see what is going on here gentlemen.” A white haired man said, “Well I wish you would explain!” The gentleman began to elaborate, “This young man made an announcement of his future plans to marry a young lady in our congregation. Many of you approached him with strong discouragement. You told him that this woman was simply not good enough for him due to her past. You totally discounted her conversion in Christ. You also threw out her testimony as a member of this church for the past year. Instead, you chose to dwell on the sins of this young lady that are under the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, you nullified the cross and the power of forgiveness of sins.” The men hung their heads, realizing that they had not judged righteously in this matter. And of course, the point was made to all involved……………………
…………….In 1Cor 10:29, Paul ask, “for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?” He was speaking of eating and food in this verse, but this phrase could stand alone. If we are free and forgiven and at “liberty”, why is it right for another to judge us based on their conscience and what they think is right? If a person is saved and forgiven, who are we to judge them by their past and hold them to their past, if they are a new creature in Christ Jesus? We know we are to forgive others as we have been forgiven....
1 Cor 12:25 says, “the members should have the same care one for another”. It goes on to say that if one member suffers, that they all suffer and if one member is honored, they all rejoice. Do we do that? Or do we fuss and backbite and condemn and gossip? We are warned against that here: “Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” And told rather to do this; “Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”………
……..In 1Tim5 we are told, “neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure”. Are we pure when we dig up the sins of others? Are we pure when we make up sins against others based on our suspicions? Are we partakers of their sins when we use the sin of gossip to further the mark and stain of their sin? ...Doesn’t the Bible say; “love covereth all sins”? Yes, and it also says that hatred stirs up strife in the same verse. It is NOT love that digs up sin and strife, it is hatred. 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
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