Live Life In Him

My daughter recently posted about the benefit of children seeing real, bonafide, genuine faith in Jesus and the Word of God lived out before their eyes in daily measure.

It is inestimable in value if you hope to see your children move into their own real, bonafide, genuine faith in Jesus and the Word of God.

It is what Moses was talking about in Deuteronomy 6:

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 10 When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you--a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant--then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Parents ask me regularly, "What is the secret for guaranteeing that your children will follow God?" "What should I do for devotions, allow for TV, for friendships?" "How did you lead them to Christ? What booklets did you use? Are youth groups necessary? Are they detrimental?"

All those things need to be considered, and one way or another, they will be addressed, either with great care and thought, or with little concern. I suggest care and thought. But let me free you from undue stress regarding these issues.

The above passage from Scripture does not a promote a program or method. Moses was not referring to learning a set of responses from the latest greatest parental guide. He was not suggesting the need to memorize all the right answers according to the leading theologian or Christian psychologist of the day. And get this! He did not even imply that a child's success depended upon wearing the right clothes with every inch accounted for, avoiding the wrong movies, or living untouched by sin (if you figure out how to manage that one, write a book please!)

No, he starts out by saying that God is God, and we should love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. That's the program, the method, and therein lie the answers and responses. Why?

I suggest this: If you love anyone or anything to the fullest extent possible in everyone of the capacities listed, it will absolutely spill over into everything you do, say, and think. It will show, it will be evident, it will effect your every decision. It must. It will. Without a doubt.

And the kids will see that love. They will accept that love. They will learn that love.

They will one day love what you love because they will first see you experiencing the reality of our wonderful Father in Heaven. They will discover that He answers prayer, heals hurts, forgives sin, and restores broken relationships. He is a fount of Wisdom, a tower of strength, a refuge in time of trouble. And soon, He will become to them what they saw Him to be for you.

But it begins by them seeing. You are their example of faith. Your boast of knowing Jesus will either ring true to His glory as they see your daily love for Him, or it will sound as an empty gong.

So do yourself and them a favor. Love Him with all your heart, and soul, and strength. Everyone benefits when you do.

Enough is Enough

Someone walked past my bedroom door. I heard them say the word tables.

Immediately my mind went to black and white letters:

table
stable
bleats
bleat
beats
beat
least
lest
east
eats
teas
tea
seat
seal
beast
bales
bale
ales
ale
lab
labs
slab
slate
slat
late

etc......

And on it went until I exhausted the possibilities.

I see letters in my mind when I close my eyes at night. I pass a sign and create new words. What ever is the problem?

This, my friend, is what comes of playing Word Twist a bit too much. Do you suppose?

The Best Part of It All

Open dress rehearsal is tonight. Open dress rehearsal meaning: the cast members' families are invited for a preview.

Friday and Saturday evening are public performances -- curtain time is 7:30 p.m., in case you didn't know.

So this is the point when my job is on hold for a few days. I sit back and let everyone else do all the work. The costumers dress kids, the hair folks tease and spray, the make crew will dab and brush. Backstage workers hustle to move each piece in time to the music. The singers must exude energy, the orchestra will play their best (which is really good, by the way). Light and sound folks run around to fix last minute blips in the systems. Ticket takers, ushers, and concession stand workers man their posts. And the stage manager? He is probably going crazy keeping everyone on task.

And where will you find me? Sitting in the back row watching the kids do their thing, taking one last set of notes tonight, and then putting the clip board away until next year. Not bad, eh?

Not bad at all.

Just don't ask me today what I will need to be doing next week to put this production to bed once and for all. Right now I will sit back and enjoy these next three nights. I hope you come and enjoy one of them, too!

Snippets -- It's All I've Got

I hope you all plan on coming to Seussical! It will be quite entertaining, I'm sure of that. Fun costumes, whimsical sets, all kinds of music to set your feet dancing -- in other words, SEUSS! Lots of Dr. Seuss! May 15 & 16. 7:30. You'll love it!

*********************

In direct relation to the project above (after all I am directing the thing...) the house is in disarray, the cupboards are bare, no meals have been shared, laundry -- well, I won't even go there. This is always the price. A mountain is created. Ah, well. The sacrifice. ;)

*********************

My daughter and son-in-law in CA are making plans for getting some summer time visitors out their way. My next few months are pretty booked, but I have two younger daughters who happen to be free. It looks like they may get some CA sun this summer. If so, I've already lobbied for field trips preceded with appropriate subject study, then followed by written reports. Might as well make it a learning experience, too!

********************

Spring seems a bit slow on the uptake this year. It just keeps dabbling with warmth instead of pouring that yellow glow generously upon this earth, and more importantly, upon this body. I'm looking forward to baking this last bit of congestion right out of my system. Come on, sun!

*******************

This is a busy birthday month around here with four of my babes having made their debut in May. Sunday my daughter will help me out by hosting a party for my two sons. They share birthday celebrations regularly, one being the 10th and the other the 13th. That leaves two daughters to celebrate later on the 18th and 28th. May has been good to me.

*******************

I will be off momentarily to meet two artists for coffee while we discuss final concepts for the backdrop and various sets. I simply get to tell them what I like and don't like. They come up with the way to do it. I am amazed at the varying talents given to people. And the passions and interests as well. God is wonderful!

******************

Jesus lives and reigns forever. This is my truest delight, my hope forever, my joy each morning, and the strength of my heart. May it be yours today as well!

A Prayer In Season

The Church of God in Christ Jesus, the ones who believe on His Name and have thereby been recipients of His glorious salvation, are called to function as His Body on earth in this day. We should not be doing lesser works, but "greater works than these." (John 14.12-14)

Darkness is deepening. The enemy's strongholds abound and increase. Broken souls, demented minds, youths in rebellion against parents, and all manner of wickedness is manifest in this world. "Professing to be wise, they became fools."

When the world claims wisdom beyond God's they have become fools. That kind of Godless wisdom bears no good fruit. We cannot be looking to them for answers. Our help will not come from them. Our help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. He has the power, the deliverance, the healing and restoration that is needed for this sin-sick world.

Jesus walked this earth bringing such restoration, healing, and deliverance. He Himself said that we will do "greater works than these."

"Lord, the time is now.
The world is ripe with need.
Troubles press them on every side.
Let Your church arise and go forth.

Help me take my place.
Make me ready.
Let me be equipped to do the greater works of which You told.

Oh, make us ready.
In Jesus Holy Name, Amen."