In Flight

I write this as I am sitting on a plane headed back home from a fulfilling week at a conference in Louisville.  (Of course, I posted after I landed J)  Anyway, the routine boarding the plane is pretty much that – routine.  They call your loading zone, they scan your boarding pass, you enter the plane, find your seat, get situated and then wait to take off.  While you are waiting the flight attendant goes over the safety rules.  The first thing that is said is to take out the safety cards to follow along.  As I looked around me, no one took their safety cards out including me.  It is almost an inconvenience to have to sit through the list of instructions.  However, if something was to happen and the safety procedures were needed, we would probably all panic because we weren’t listening when the directions were given.  And of course it would be the airlines fault because we weren’t following along.

I wonder if life isn’t like that.  We have a safety manual.  It is called the Bible.  The safety manual is filled with instructions, hope, promises, wisdom, and so much more; yet, it is an inconvenience for us to open it.  God even gives us “flight attendants” to help us through the instruction manual – AKA – pastors.  But that is an inconvenience too.  We have to make our way to church and sometimes the pastor preaches WAY TO LONG!  Yet, when things go wrong, we panic.  We don’t know where to turn and if only the pastor would have been more helpful or preached on a particular subject we wouldn’t be in this predicament.

It doesn’t have to be this way!  We have a pilot that guides us, comforts us, strengthens us, fills us with wisdom, and has provided us with Hope!  In fact, in Isaiah 30:18  it states, “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you…”  He is waiting for us!  We don’t even have to “get in line” to board!

Don’t miss the flight!  Take time to listen to the “flight attendants” as God uses them to speak to you.  Don’t be afraid to open the safety manual and truly dig into it for it is filled with so much!  Do continue to build your relationship with your “Pilot” because there is no relationship like the one you can have with Him! 

Cheryl

 

Bible Passage for the Week

This week take time to ponder 1 Chronicles 16:11.  "Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His presence continually."

Post this bible passage around your house to remind you that you are to seek Him.  Not only are you to seek Him for strength but seek Him continually, or for everything.  As you talk with your family and friends this week, talk about how the Lord has been your strength.

Cheryl

Actions Speak Louder than Words

Dating – a term that will be used within my house before I know it!  There will come the time that my little girl will be a young lady and will reach the chapter in life entitled” Dating”.  I think the chapter is entitled “Gray Hair” for the parents!  Nevertheless, the chapter will come and as parents we have to take that leap of faith and let them go.  

However, as parents we don’t have to let them go without preparation.  In fact, we shouldn’t let them go without a great deal of preparation.  I know – the kids are rolling their eyes at the thought of talking to you about dating, but despite the rolling they hear you.  It is a step in the preparation of dating.

Talking is one step; action is another step.  There needs to be action behind the words or could I use the phrase “Actions speak louder than words”.  Your actions can teach your son or daughter what dating is all about.  Your actions can teach them what to expect and how to be treated on a date.  Your actions can even bring about a lifetime of memories for your son or daughter.

Dads set the standard for what your daughter should expect on a date.  Schedule a date with your daughter.  Tell her the time and date she needs to be ready.  Ring the doorbell, have a flower in hand to give her when she answers the door, and then take her on a date.  While dating, demonstrate all the things she should expect from a young gentleman.  Don’t just date her once, date her multiple times.  Show her over and over again that she should expect no less than being treated with respect and dignity.

Moms set the standard for how your son should treat a lady as well as show him what kind of lady he should consider dating.  Have your son take you on a date.  Have him get ready for the date, come to the door and ask for you.  He can walk you to the car and open your door.  You should probably drive J  Give him money in advance so he can pay the bill and let him be the “man”.  This too should happen multiple times so he is well prepared when the time of dating transpires.    

While “dating” our children, we are not only teaching them what a date should be we are opening a door to a deeper relationship.  It is an opportunity to have honest conversations that can be light hearted as well as embark upon some tough subjects.  It is a time for our son or daughter to know they hold a special place in our heart.

The instructions given by God for parenting follow the model of talking and taking action too.  In Deuteronomy 6:6-9, the Lord gives His commandments and we are to impress them upon our children.  We are to do that by talking about it all the time.  We are also supposed to take action by tying symbols and writing it out.  In other words, our children are not going to learn by us just talking.  We need to put actions behind our words.   These actions lead to the words in Proverbs 22:6 – “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Cheryl   

Bible Passage for the Week

This week we will focus on 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as well as other scripture that God puts in your life. 

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

As you spend time in scripture this week, what words are being put before you that God is using to teach you?  Share with your loved ones and friends what bible passages have helped you through the hour, day, or week.

Cheryl

God's Magnificient Creation

Take a moment to think about God’s creation…Now that a moment has passed, have you ever really thought about the magnificent detail in God’s creation?  Have you thought about how this big piece of mass floats around in space in perfect unison with all the other planets?  Have you thought about how this big piece of mass is perfectly formed so it can support human life?  Have you thought about how many people are actually on earth?  Have you thought about how animals, people, plants, and insects can all co-exist on one earth?  Have you thought about how our body functions with fine detail so we can live?  Have you thought about the littlest of details such as the bee that comes around to pollinate blossoms so we have apples?  Have you thought about the ant that can carry an immense amount of weight despite the little body it has?

I could ask tons of “Have you thought about” questions.  The last one I want to ask is, have you thought about this magnificent world and all its intricate details being created in 6 days?  Our God is awe-inspiring!  There is not one detail left unturned in His creation.  Genesis 1:31 says, “An God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

What God has made is good!  Yet, we live in a world that doesn’t see the good.  We lose sight of His magnificent beauty as our sinful nature gets in the way.  Our eyes are not on Him; we lose focus.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.  One way to do that is by taking a close look at His beautiful world.   

I have a “photo-a-day” album that sits next to my printer.  I love to take pictures of nature and my kids.  As I fill my “photo-a-day” album I am amazed at how beautiful God’s creation is.  I am amazed at how intricate all the details are in all the things that I take pictures of.  Taking photos has really opened my eyes to His beauty and His presence around me.

Take time this fall with your family, friends, or by yourself to really take a look at His beauty.  If you have children, give them an opportunity to take photos of what they see in God’s creation.  Have a family photo day where you all go out and take photos of God’s beautiful creation.  It will lead to great family discussion as well as an opportunity to see what your kids think is beautiful or unique.  Most of all enjoy the day and relish in God’s beauty and presence that surrounds us!    

Cheryl

Bible Passage for the Week

This week we are going to take a look at Proverbs 22:6.  "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

We need to post this bible passage around the house to remind ourselves that we need to be sharing with the next generation the greatness of our Savior.  Share with each other how you were "trained up" and what you are currently doing to continue to be in His word. 

Cheryl

What Legacy are you Leaving?

During vacation I had the opportunity to visit with my Grandma's and ever since that visit I have had this sense of sadness that I have missed out on something.  You see one of my Grandma's doesn't remember much anymore.  In fact, I think most of the time I spent with her she didn't really know who I was.  This made conversation very difficult.  What she remembered was way back when and I know very little about way back when to carry on a conversation.

I was at a loss and yet I didn't want to give up my time with her.  Our God is always good!  There on her shelf was an old photo book that had pictures I had never seen before.  It was from way back when!  It was an opportunity to talk about things she could remember.  It was an opportunity to see Grandma as a young and vibrant lady that has left a legacy for 86 years and continues to leave a legacy.

As we live each and every day on this earth we are leaving a legacy.  The question is what legacy are we leaving?  Are we leaving one that shares Christ's Victory and Grace or are we leaving one that shows we just existed here on earth?

The legacy my Grandma has left and continues to leave is one that shows what an amazing Savior she has.  Grandma has taught me the value of dedication, forgiveness, hard work, giving to others, using what God has given you, and that is the short list.  Grandma didn't live her life to just exist; she lived it so that her kids and grandkids knew of Christ's love.  Grandma may not remember much anymore, but she still knows her Savior.  She could still share with me Christ's love despite the failing memory. 

The sense of sadness that I left with was due to the fact there were many stories behind the pictures that I will never know because she no longer can tell me.  However, she left me with so much more than those pictures.  This leads me back to the question - what legacy are you leaving?  Leave a legacy that shows Christ amazing power, love, and strength because there is no better legacy to leave than that!

Cheryl    

A Child's Blessing

Letting children know they are a blessing is priceless!  Knowing that we are a blessing in God's eyes is priceless!  Therefore, relaying the blessings that God has given throughout his word to our children is priceless!

Colossians 1:11 notes... "May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy."

Take a moment each day to share God's blessings with your children.  Tuck this verse between the mattresses and pull it out as you tuck them into bed.  What a great thing to hear as you are going to sleep - to be strengthened in His glorious might!

Cheryl

Bible Passage for the Week

Rest and relaxation is always good!  I have had the opportunity to go on vacation and take some time with my family to refresh.  As I was thinking about the bible passage for the week, I wanted it to reflect rest and relaxation and then I came upon Isaiah 40:28.  "Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable."

No matter what we are facing in our daily lives our Savior does not grow faint or weary!  Take this week and seek out how our Lord does not grow weary and faint in our lives.  Share with each other how the Lord is ever-present!

Cheryl