Parenting and Religion

With the things going on in the world right now, there is a lot that we can be fearful of and feel threatened by. That is, we can enter into and allow fear to direct us, if we allow ourselves to.
Wars, economic difficulties, swine flu, and many other threats to our safety and the safety of our children are being thrown at us each minute of each day. I suggest you read Revelation chapter 6, and ask God to show you what is happening.
As far as being threatened and living in faith goes, that is also an each moment of each day thing. The main difference is, we have to build up our faith on purpose, and pray for ourselves, our children, and the rest of our families.
We also have a weapon to use to ward off the threat and the fear that may try to accompany it- the BIBLE!
One great chapter that you can pray over your family is Psalm 91. Take it for yourself, and apply it daily. That will help you stay in faith during a threat.
There are also many other scriptures that can be applied to your life. Finding one that pertains to your situation, whether it be healing, safety, income, salvation, or any other concern, is not difficult. There is even a website that may be just the tool you need to help you find a wod to stand on. http://www.biblegateway.com . It has a search tool that will allow you to look for a keyword that will be applicable.
Standing in faith in the midst of a threat will be what keeps us strong.

So often it can be tempting to hide reality. Nobody wants others to see their flaws. We all know that nobody is perfect, but when it comes to people seeing how imperfect we really are, we will do all we can to hide it.
One thing that has been on my mind lately, is the need in the church (those who call themselves Christians) is that before any of us can effectively minister to others, and that should be what we do, we need to take care of the things that so easily entrap us.
If I’m (we’re) not going to be honest before the Lord, and ask Him to show me (us) where I’m (we’re) missing it, then how can I (we) effectively minister to others?
In order to minister to the needs of others, I have to have my own life in order. I have to at least be willing to recognize and admit my own challenges, downfallings, and imperfections to the Lord, and maybe to some other people, before I can take the steps needed to bring those things into the place where I am having victory over them in my life, and then I can minister to others.
That isn’t to say that I have to be perfect. (Like that will ever happen!..haha) Afterall, I am human.
I do, however, have to realize that I need God to help me, ask for help, and be taking steps to grow in the Lord, and overcome the things that I struggle with.
If I pretend I am doing well, when I’m not at all, then my desire to help others will fail. If I am real, admitting that I don’t have it all together, then I will be able to minister more effectively.
As a parent, this also holds true. Who am I to minister to first?
My family.
Being honest with them about my imperfections, my struggles, and my need for their support must come before I can effectively minister to them.
I’m not saying we have to lay it all out on the table. I am saying that we need to stop playing church, and be real.
We need to stop acting like we have it all together, and realize that the only way we can have it all together is to be together through it all. Be real, be honest, ask for help when needed, ask for prayer, and pray for ourselves.
Ministering the Gospel, whether to our families, or to the world, can only be done with positive results if we take care of being real first.

A comment one of my kids made recently made me stop and really think about something. Am I a copy or an original?
He made the comment on a social networking site that one of the problems in the church, and in the world, at least in his opinion, is that there are many people who think they are Christians because they decide to live and take on the Christian lifestyle. They may never have a true heart change, acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, or even believe they are honestly, eternally saved. They are in turn, a copy (though artificial) of what those who are honestly born again are.
What am I?
As I searched my heart, I came to the conclusion that I am an original. Not because I live a perfect life (believe me, I don’t), and not because I am good enough. I am only an original because of the saving grace that I found in Christ.
That’s what it all comes down to. Being honest and admitting that He is the only reason I am saved….His grace, His mercy, and His death and Resurrection- all so I could be saved from eternal damnation.
As a matter of fact, He did those things for all of us. The difference is, I accepted the forgiveness offered in the sacrifice of His life, and the offer God makes of saving me.
How about you?
Are you an original?
You are a good person, I am sure. But that isn’t good enough. The only way to be saved it through the believing in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that God raised Him from the dead, and the confession of your mouth that He is your Savior. (Romans 10:9). Living the lifestyle is good, but it won’t save your soul. Being born again will….that is the difference.

Integrity.
What does it mean to you? To me it means doing what I say I will do, being honest with others in my personal life and my business life, and being willing to make things right when I know they haven’t been.
I saw a wonderful example of Integrity this week, in one of my children. I saw an example that is inspiring to me, not only as a parent, but as a Christian.
Last summer my son was allowed to go on a trip he really wanted to go on. The deal was that he would pay for it, but that the people who were in charge would put the funds up front for him. There was no real time frame suggested.
He ended up getting a job a few months ago, and began to save his money. Now, he couldn’t remember exactly how much he owed them, but rather than ask them, he gave them above what he knew the minimum would be and told them to keep it as an offering to their ministry.
In the process of taking care of this debt, he told me that he wanted them to know that teens are trustworthy. He wanted to leave them with the impression that they could go on doing things like this for young people, and not be ripped off. He wanted to help them do this again with his offering.
Now, as a parent that makes me proud. As a Christian it actually makes me feel a little convicted about some of the things I haven’t made right, that I need to make right. Not just in the financial end of things, but in other areas.
When I say I will pray for someone, sometimes I honestly forget- especially if I don’t do it right away. That is not being a woman of Integrity.
When I borrow something from someone, I am not usually very fast at returning it.
I am challenged to change.
Learning from the kids is wonderful. Applying it to life will have to be done on purpose.