Parenting and Religion

What in the world is wrong with people?
How could this be looked at as anything other than a hate crime?
Oh, right, we are only talking about a white woman. One who stands for making changes in a liberal government where democrats rule.
We are only talking about a woman. One who is a mother, a wife, and a politician who is a threat to socialism.
We are only talking about a depiction of hanging a woman. A white woman. A woman who is a threat to those who would make government everything to everyone.
I wonder…..
How long would it take to make them take it down if it was a black man hanging there; or a homosexual; or even someone who is not a Christian, but may belong to another religious group, like maybe a muslim.
I wonder….
Why is it not considered a hate crime, when it was so obviously hateful?
Let’s call it what it is…a vindictive hate crime depicting murdering a Christian white woman who dares to challenge the Socialisic agenda that is so popular today.

When I was reading the Bible to my kids the other day, we were in John chapter 7. When I read about Jesus’s own brothers not believing in Him, it really stood out to me.
How often do us in the ministry (any kind of ministry) look to others to make us ‘feel’ like we are doing a good job, or the right thing, or even a worth while thing? From personal experience, and from years of being in one type of ministry or another, I would say I am not alone in my neediness and my desire to have others approve what I do for the Lord.
That’s the key… if it is really for the Lord, why do I need the approval or the verbal acceptance of my talents, my gifts, and my ministry to others? Why do we, people in general, have the need to know others are alright with what we are doing?
I think the answer lies in wanting to make everyone happy, all the time. If it is really what God wants, won’t others approve?
NO!
If Jesus was not approved of, what makes us think we will be approved of? Does it really make a difference in whether we will continue to minister?
Sometimes, unfortunately, it can.
What we need to do, is keep our eyes and our minds on what we believe God led us to do, and why He told us to do it. We need to keep in mind that He knew all about the persecution we would face in ministry, and in life in general. He knows first hand all the hurt that can come when our brothers and sisters make light of, make fun of, or even try to tell us how it should be done.
If you are in ministry, and you are in some kind of ministry if you are a Christian, remember Jonh 7:5.
Take it for what it is; God wants to use you, He wants to use your gifts and talents, and He wants to do it in specific ways. If you (and I) are going to let Him use us the way he wants to, and affect the lives He wants to affect through us, we need to decide that it makes no difference if there is any human approval or not. The thing that makes the difference is doing His will, without reservation.
Persecution will come, but Ministry and doing God’s will is stronger- as long as you are doing it in His strength.

On Tuesday nights I take my kids to a church service which is specifically geared to kids. It is in the middle of Utica, right in the section where most of the shootings and violence happens.
The reality is, it is an inner city outreach. To my kids, it is a worship service on their level; made up of things that attract them, and they can easily understand, as well as an opportunity to show kids who may not be as well off, or come from a stable family, the love of God and what true friendship is.
When I first started going, I was amazed at how easily these kids accept the love, mercy, and forgiveness of God. I was surprised at how quick they are to pray for each other, lay hands on each other, and encourage each other.
Last night it dawned on me- why should I be amazed at the faith of children, when Jesus told us adults to be like them?
Sometimes us adults think that we need to teach the children how to worship God. But in all honesty, they are more free to express themselves in worship, than I ever remember being. They are more honest with God, in front of all their friends, than I have been, at times, in private.
I have decided that I want to do Matthew 18:3.
I want to be like a little child, and worship freely, give unreservedly, pray fervently, and not hold back in sharing my faith.
Children may need us to teach them about the truth of God, but we also need them to teach us about how to look at God as our daddy, and how to worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Sometimes it can be difficult to really see the truth. For instance, with all the economic distress in our country and in the world, the truth about some of the important things is not as clear.
With such a big election day looming ahead, it is wise to look at the options without the cloud of all the other problems the country is facing clouding the mind.
Looking at the candidates and all that they represent, all that they have done or not done, all that they have associated with throughout their lives, both personal and political, and all that they are trying to get us not to look at, may be the best thing we can do.
Look beyond the smokescreen of fancy talk, and to the reality of proven track records.
Look beyond the smokescreen of promises, and look at what has been done already.
Look beyond the eloquence of words, and look to the reality of what looms ahead.
Look beyond race and age, and look at the man. Who he is, what he has done, and who his friends are.
Look beyond the idealizing about the best case scenario, and think about who might handle the worse case scenario the best. Not with words, but with action.
Being open to seeing the truth, is the first step to seeing true change. good change.
Looking at the truth may be difficult, and may take some digging, but when you find the truth, you will know what is right.

With so many options for ministry and reaching out to others with the Gospel; helping others with their physical needs, such as food and clothing, giving time to help at a nursing home, doing jail ministry, being a preacher of the Gospel in a church, having a ministry for teens and children that reaches out to the community, offering special services you are gifted in to help others in any way, and always ministering to their needs in a way that displays the love of God to them- that is effective ministry.
So often we in the Christian community think of ministry as one of two choices- either being a Pastor, or being a Missionary in a foreign land.
We need to change the focus of our idea of ministry, and look at the Word of God and the needs of the world around us.
It never really dawned on me that this blog may be a type of ministry to some. As a matter of fact, everything I do as a Christian, and everything you do as a Christian, is a form of ministry whether we intend it to be or not. As ambassadors of the Lord, we are to be His ministers here, where ever here is for us. For me it is here in the Mohawk Valley in NY state. Everyone I come in contact with is supposed to be shown and example of God’s love for them.
Everyone I come in contact with, even on my worst day, will be affected by me in some way. It has become so clear to me that when we represent Christ, we need to always be ready for ministering to someone, and helping them see Him in us. Sometimes, when we are not having a good day so to speak, we may misrepresent Him. His grace can cover our mistakes, and we can have opportunity to make up for it; but our goal should be to let Him work in us and work through us to touch anyone and everyone we come in contact with.
I have been guilty of it, and I’m sure most Christians have, of being selfcentered and forgetting at times that I am His ambassador, carrying His message with me, and that those whose lives I touch, even for a brief moment, may be touched in an eternal sense by how I treat them, how I act, what I say and what I do. Even the smallest thing may be what helps open their eyes to the truth- that God loves them, He made a way for them, and He wants them to call Him “Savior, Lord, and Father”.
That gives a whole new perspective to today, making me more aware that simply being a Christian is being a minister- whether we think we are called to ministry or not. That is what we are- ministers.

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Not the book in the Bible kind of Revalation, but the “I suddenly realized something” kind of Revelation:
My kids are growing up!
I know, they all do, and that’s good. But it is happening too fast.
With my oldest being 22, and my youngest being 6 next month, and five in between, the time is going too fast.
The good thing is, I know I have done the best with the time I have had so far with them, that I knew how to do.
I spend time with them, teach them, play with them, love them, have fun with them, and discipline them. The most important thing I do, is teach them about God.
About the Lord who loves them so much, even more than I do.
About the way of salvation, which is only through Christ Jesus.
About the grace and forgiveness that God offers them when they mess up.
And about how to get up when they fall.
I have tried to show them my humanness, without messing up my witness. I have allowed them to see me when I am not at my best, and how I can strive to do my best even when I don’t feel like it.
I have shown them the love of God in demonstation, and yet they have seen the wrath of mom when angered. They know I am not God, and that they are blessed because I am not God.
They know that I know I am not God, and that I also know how to go on when I make mistakes.
Dan and I have shown them how to have an awesome marriage, and keep the relationship alive. We have shown them how to treat others with respect and how to talk it out, even when not happy.
We have shown them honesty, we have shown them openness. We have shown them love.
The most important thing we have tried to do in everything else, is show them Jesus. When they need something, we show them Jesus. When they want something, we show them Jesus. When they need to change, we show them Jesus. When they need correction, we show them Jesus.
There is nothing better that parents can do, than to show their kids the way to the cross, and the risen Savior.
My kids are growing up.
I hope they all got it, and that they still look for Jesus when there is a need of any kind.
My kids are growing up.
I will keep doing my job. Parenting never ends. Showing them Jesus will go on. Being mom is a forever thing, and I am thankful.