When Lambs Cry Director's Weekly

The Constitution of the Home

2010-09-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

A constitution is the act or process of composing, setting up, or establishing. We are all familiar with the Constitution of the United States of America. It is composed of a system of fundamental laws and principles that prescribes the nature, functions, and limits of our government. The Constitution protects our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The first 10 Amendments of the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. These are personal rights guaranteed to U.S. citizens that are protected by the highest court of the country, the Supreme Court.

There also exists the Constitution of the Home that is biblically based. Just as the Constitution of the U.S.A. have Bill of Rights, so does the Constitution of the Home. If these rights are protected and adhered to, harmony is guaranteed in the home. What are these rights:

Children’s Bill of Rights
1. The right to be loved without having earned it
2. The right to be protected without having deserved it
3. The right to feel valuable even if you came into the world with nothing
4. The right to be listened to without having to be interesting
5. The right to an education
6. The right to be thought of as adorable
7. The right to be disciplined even if it seems harsh at the time

Parent’s Bill of Rights
1. The right to be obeyed
2. The right to be respected and honored at all time

Wife’s Bill of Rights (if applicable)
1. The right to be loved as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her

Husband’s Bill of Rights (if applicable)
1. The right to be submitted to as to the Lord

If we find a home in chaos, confusion, and disharmony, it is almost certain to be related to the violation of a right that a child has, parent has, wife has or husband has. Let us all do our part to honor the rights of other and build stronger families and homes.

Faithful Friends

2010-07-20T21:28:00.003-05:00

As our children prepare to begin school, one of the first choices they are going to be faced with is who will be their friends. Many times, children look at the outward appearance to determine who they will hang out with. Friendship is based on superficial things like the type of clothes a person wears or how tall, short, cute, or pretty a person is. Sometimes children want to hang out with the most popular.

But there’s a list of characteristics of a faithful friend that a classroom of students 8-12 years-old gave that I think is worth sharing. I will share the characteristics and their definition:
1. Loyal – Unwavering devotion to friend
2. Good Listener – Hearer; someone who listens attentively
3. Patient – Enduring trying circumstances with even temper
4. Helpful – Providing assistance
5. Trustworthy – Reliable; worthy of trust
6. Friendly – Inclined to help or support
7. Dependable – Consistent
8. Truthful – Honest; always telling the truth
9. Nice – Pleasant
10. Lovable – Inspiring love and affection
11. Christian – Following the ways of Christ

We can help our children in choosing their friends, not by dictating who they can and cannot see, but by sharing the characteristics above. These are traits that not only our children should heed, but we as adults should heed the same.

21st Century Slavery

2010-07-06T20:48:00.002-05:00

Slavery in the United States was a form of unfree labor which existed as a legal institution on American soil. Slavery primarily existed in the south as plantation owners needed man-power to work the cotton fields. The more cotton crops and cotton pickers there were, the richer the owners became. There were two ways the owners increased their revenue. The either bought more slaves or required the “overseers” to be very efficient and very harsh towards the slaves to force increased productivity.

In the 21st Century, we have another form of slavery that is a legal institution on American soil. This form of slavery is transparent to the casual observer. But if you take a closer look, you will see the obvious.

In 2008, it was reported that 68 billion dollars were spent on corrections at the local, state, and federal levels. The criminal justice system is a very profitable industry. The more people are jailed, the more profitable. To date, there is an obvious disparity regarding the races that are incarcerated. Just as black men were the primary resource during slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries, they are so in the 21st century as well. See some of the statistics below.

(2007) "The custody incarceration rate for black males was 4,618 per 100,000. Hispanic males were incarcerated at a rate of 1,747 per 100,000. Compared to the estimated numbers of black, white, and Hispanic males in the U.S. resident population, black males (6 times) and Hispanic males (a little more than 2 times) were more likely to be held in custody than white males. At midyear 2007 the estimated incarceration rate of white males was 773 per 100,000.

"Across all age categories, black males were incarcerated at higher rates than white or Hispanic males. Black males ages 30 to 34 had the highest custody incarceration rate of any race, age, or gender group at midyear 2007."

Source: Sabol, William J., PhD, and Couture, Heather, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prison Inmates at Midyear 2007 (Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, June 2008), NCJ221944, p. 7.

(2003, 2004) "The racial disparities in the rates of drug arrests culminate in dramatic racial disproportions among incarcerated drug offenders. At least two-thirds of drug arrests result in a criminal conviction. Many convicted drug offenders are sentenced to incarceration: an estimated 67 percent of convicted felony drug defendants are sentenced to jail or prison. The likelihood of incarceration increases if the defendant has a prior conviction. Since blacks are more likely to be arrested than whites on drug charges, they are more likely to acquire the convictions that ultimately lead to higher rates of incarceration. Although the data in this backgrounder indicate that blacks represent about one-third of drug arrests, they constitute 46 percent of persons convicted of drug felonies in state courts. Among black defendants convicted of drug offenses, 71 percent received sentences to incarceration in contrast to 63 percent of convicted white drug offenders. Human Rights Watch’s analysis of prison admission data for 2003revealed that relative to population, blacks are 10.1 times more likely than whites to be sent to prison for drug offenses."

Source: Fellner, Jamie, "Decades of Disparity: Drug Arrests and Race in the United States," Human Rights Watch (New York, NY: March 2009), p. 16.

(1998 - racial disparities) "Because of their extraordinary rate of incarceration, one in every 20 black men over the age of 18 is in a state or federal prison, compared to one in every 180 whites." In five states, between one in 13 and one in 14black men are in prison.

Source: Human Rights Watch, "Racial Disparities in the War on Drugs" (Washington, DC: Human Rights Watch, 2000).

Back in the plantation days, in order for owners to increase their profits they increased the number of slaves working in the fields. Today, in order to keep this corrections industry profitable, the number of blacks is jailed disproportionately compared to whites.

The other way to keep the corrections industry profitable is to institute harsher penalties for certain offenses. Extending the sentences for offenders keep the jail cells occupied and increase the need for additional correction facilities. Unfortunately, the longer the offenders are in jail, the less likely they are to have an impact on their children. As a result, the probability is high that the offenders’ children are going to follow the path of their fathers and become additional supply for the corrections industry.

(1999) "Of the Nation's 72.3 million minor children in 1999, 2.1% had a parent in State or Federal prison. Black children (7.0%) were nearly 9 times more likely to have a parent in prison than white children (0.8%). Hispanic children (2.6%) were 3 times as likely as white children to have an inmate parent."

Source: Mumola, Christopher J., US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, Incarcerated Parents and Their Children (Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, August 2000), p. 2.

One in every 3 Black males born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime.

Source: Mauer and King; Uneven Justice: State Rates of Incarceration by Race and Ethnicity; The Sentencing Project, 2007,

There are a number of organizations fighting for the rights of the black man. However, there are others who have many more resources who are fighting to keep things as they are. In the meantime, what can we do? I propose 3 simple things:

1. We can visit the prisons and attempt to equip the inmates for a different life after they are released.
2. We can invest in organizations and companies that will provide offenders who are released with means of earning honest wages.
3. We can reach out to the community of single parents and assist them in training and nurturing our young boys to enable them to reach their god-given potential and become positive citizens.

Proposal 3 is the most viable and least costly. It is less expensive to prevent a problem than to fix one. Let’s save our future generations.

Disappointments

2010-06-22T21:38:00.002-05:00

Disappointments are unavoidable in life. If we rely on someone or something to consistently come through for us, we are going to be let down. Disappointment results from unmet expectations. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment if they are not fulfilled. Unfortunately, we sometimes don’t know how to handle disappointments and as a result, we are angered and lash out at whomever or whatever is closest to us. Usually it is our children who catch the brunt of our disappointment. They are closest to us but have nothing to do with us not receiving what we expect.

I recently went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic’s. The primary purpose of the trip was to conduct vacation Bible school in four local communities throughout the city of Sosua. Once we visited a small community called Redemption Village. Redemption Village is one of the poorest, most desperate communities in the city. As we were setting up for VBS, the anticipation and expectations of the villagers were high because they did not know what was going on. Parents brought their children in hopes that the children would receive something of value. The area where we set up was packed with close to 200 kids and some adults. As we began the VBS program, the anticipation and excitement of the adults and many of the children dissipated and many left.

As we were closing out the program, I did a final check around the building we were using to ensure all the children were inside. What a saw around the corner of the building just broke my heart. There stood a parent with some form of a switch, whipping a baby who had no clothes or diaper on. He was no more than 18 months old. As the baby screamed, the mother continued whipping him for what seemed like forever.

I’m certain the baby had not done anything that warranted such a beating, but because of the level of disappointment of the parent, she lashed out at whoever was closest to her, the baby. The parent was weary, wounded and sad and had high hopes. She handled the letdown the best way she knew how.

Parents, I want to encourage you with these words, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV) My God is able and He cares for you.

Standards

2010-05-24T19:19:00.004-05:00

Parents, have you allowed society to dictate what should be going on in your household and when events should occur? In other words, at a certain period in your life, you should have such and such saved up in the bank. You should be thus far in your career and making a certain amount of money. At a certain point, your children should be behaving a certain way. If they are not speaking at a certain age, something is wrong. If they are not socializing or involved in certain activities as a teenager, something is wrong.

As a result, we look at our lives and criticize our accomplishments because they are not up to par with society's standards. We worry about our children because their developmental stages are not in synch with the childhood development chart. We spend hundreds of dollars on counseling and many hours worried for our teens because, according to society, they are abnormal. But the reality of the matter is that if we surrender our households to God, He will set standards outside of society's standards. The fact of the matter is that every child is marvelously and uniquely made by God. And God's time and wisdom regarding the development of our households and our children are not driven by what society says or thinks.

In Exodus 23:30, the Lord told the children of Israel, "Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land." I'm certain the children of Israel wanted to take possession of all the Promised Land immediately, but God knew better. He knew the land would become desolate and the wild animals would be too numerous for them. It mattered not to God what people thought about the children of Israel and how the Israelites looked to the other nations. What mattered to Him was that they were successful in taking possession of the land. God's approach was little by little.

Let us not listen to the deceitfulness of the devil in saying our families are dysfunctional because they do not meet the standards of society. Take a good look at society today. All the standards that society sets before us fall short of building homes close to those glorified by a touch from God. Surrender your home unto God who will provide you with the wisdom you need to establish a successful, prosperous and happy home, little by little.

Graduation

2010-05-11T20:32:00.002-05:00

This is a special season for a number of parents. It is graduation time. All the hard work of moms and dads across the nation are about to bear fruit, good fruit, in the form of a diploma or degree. Many parents will wonder what their baby boy or girl will do next. Will they succeed in college as they leave home and step into the world of independence? Will they find a job that will make use of their degree? The most important questions is, will my child reverence God enough to seek His will for their lives? How many parents prepare our children to pursue such wisdom?

The Word says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” It is God’s desire that we teach our children to seek wisdom from Him as to what they should do with their lives. For it is God and God alone who knows the plan He has for each of us, plans to prospers us and not to harm us. He has plans to give us hope and a future. No eye has seen, not ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God has already planned in advance for us to do.

What a waste it would be for our children to spend their whole lives pursuing their “dreams” without fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives. Everything done outside the will of God is vanity, a chasing after the wind. At the end of the pursuit, you have nothing. What a joy it would be to cap off the graduation celebration with a commitment from our children that they will seek the will of God and be all that He has called for them to be.

Let Your Light Shine

2010-04-27T22:14:00.002-05:00

Crime is running rampant in our neighborhoods. The mayor, councilmen, city officials, and community leaders are frantically trying to find a "fix-all" solution. There is not enough money, social programs, etc. in the world that can resolve the crime problem. The solution can only be found in the Word of God. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:13,14, NIV) The community can only be saved by Christians. But if we Christians have lost our saltiness and our lights are too dim to see, then we become a part of the problem rather than the solution.

You may say, "It's not my problem." You may be right. We don't make it a part of our business until it's our daughter who has been violently raped or our son who has been shot down like an animal. It's not our business until a relative has been robbed and physically harmed at the same time. Darkness is prevalent in our community because of indifference and apathy. You may think that you are safe, but crime and violence is lurking around every corner. Instead of saying that there's no hope and putting a shade over your Christian light, let the light shine brighter than ever and pray. There is always hope. "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) We can make the difference.

That the next generation my know God…

Fathers

2010-04-19T20:57:00.003-05:00

Mothers, what comes to mind when you think about your children's fathers? Are they pleasant thoughts or thoughts of hatred? Do the thoughts make you angry? If the father is in the home, do you wish he was gone? If he is not in the home, do you hope he stays gone?

The role of the father is so significant in the lives of our children especially those who have accepted Jesus as Savior. If you really think about it, the relationship that our children have with their earthly fathers have a bearing on the extent of their relationship with God the Father. If a father never keeps his promise, never communicates, never shows compassion, never hugs, never protects, never is around, and never shows any love, then a child's perception of a father is going to be messed up. So when Jesus tells the children to pray by saying, "Our Father…", it is difficult because when children think of a father, they think of their earthly father and see God the Father through the image of the earthly father. Fathers can help the situation by loving their children unconditionally as God so loved the world. Then, as they grow older, they will understand more clearly that nothing can separate them from the love of the Father in heaven because His love, just as earthly fathers' love, has no strings attached.

Unfortunately, in many cases the father plays only a small role in the lives of our young boys and girls. What has happened is that many of the fathers are not living in the same homes with their children and the mothers are playing both the role of both father and mother. And in some cases, the father is in the home, but the mother still has to play dual roles. So as our children pray or consider the image of God, their view is somewhat distorted because of the absence or inactivity of their fathers in the homes.

Mothers, I want you to consider the role you are playing in the involvement of your children's fathers in their lives. Are you being an obstacle or stumbling block? Are you keeping your sons and daughters from getting to know their fathers because of unforgiveness or bitterness because of how you have been mistreated?

Fathers, are you ignoring the pleas from your children's mothers to get involved in their lives while they are young? Are you sitting on your hands and not lifting a finger to physically, emotionally, and spiritually provide for your children? Are you the cause for the distorted perception of our Father in heaven because of your inactivity in the lives of your children?

Whatever the case may be, it's time parents for us to lay aside our disagreements, dislikes, and dissatisfaction for the salvation of the next generation. It does not matter if you are living under the same roof or under separate roofs. Our children need both a mother figure and father figure in their lives. And biological fathers, you have the sole responsibility to train up your children. Don't give it up to a grandfather, uncle, cousin, preacher or deacon. No one can give a child the assurance they need like the unconditional love of a father. That is what many of our children missing and searching for but yet are falling short.

Fathers, let's step up.

That the next generation will know God...

A Successful Plan

2010-04-13T19:50:00.003-05:00

Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." How often do we willfully submit our plans over to the Lord? Usually we make plans, execute plans, and measure the success/failure of the plan based on our expectations. God does want us to make plans and even execute plans, but He wants us to leave the outcome to Him. If we leave the consequences to God, our plans will always succeed even though they may not meet our expectations. Our expectations would not be a part of the equation. Proverbs 16:4 says, "The Lord works out everything for His own end." If we allow this truth to sink deep in our hearts, we will experience truly abundant and successful lives.

To turn our plans over to the Lord requires trust. That requires a personal and intimate relationship with Him. Psalm 37:5 says, "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." What an awesome example we can be before our children if in everything we do we acknowledge God to direct our path.

That the next generation will know God…

We Have the Victory

2010-04-05T21:58:00.001-05:00

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:55b-57 that "Death has been swallowed up in victory. 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (NIV) We should reflect on the sacrifice our Lord made on Calvary for our sins. Jesus' sacrifice not only gives us victory over death but it also gives us victory in life.

There is absolutely, positively, nothing that the world can do to us to harm us who are in Christ. "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV) When our eyes are set on the temporary, be it money, jobs, houses, cars, fashion, fame, fortune, and other temporal stuff, we see ourselves as losers, failures, and unsuccessful based on the world's standards. But if we look at our circumstances from God's point of view, we will realize that none of that stuff matters, only a personal relationship with the Lord. Then and only then will we be able to experience victory in life and live the abundant life that our Lord promised in John 10:10.

A victorious life is determined by whether our lives are fixed on the temporal or eternal. And the life we live will be the model that our children are likely to follow. WE HAVE THE VICTORY!!! LIVE THE VICTORY!!!

That next generation will know God…

Preventive Maintenance

2010-03-29T18:39:00.004-05:00

When we purchase a new car, a manual comes with the car with instructions on how to maintain it. There is usually a schedule to follow as to what needs to be checked and when. If we follow the schedule, there is a high probability that our car will outlast our car payments. Also, there is a low probability that anything major and costly will occur unexpectedly. However, if we ignore the instructions and don't practice preventive maintenance, problems will arise with our car that will be very costly to repair. So, which is the wisest practice? Preventive maintenance, though it may cause slight inconvenience? Or neglect? Preventive maintenance, of course.

The same holds true with our children. There is a manual that came with our children who we brought into this world. That manual is the Word of God. Everything that pertains to life and godliness is in this manual. If we follow this manual, there is a high probability that our children will follow the training they received at home and become good citizens in society. Also, there is a low probability that anything foolish and off-the-wall will occur unexpectedly. However, if we ignore the instructions of the Lord and don't practice preventive maintenance while our children are under our roof, problems will arise in their teen and young adult lives that will bring sorrow to our hearts. So, which is the wisest practice? Preventive maintenance, though it may call for self-sacrifice on our part? Or neglect? Preventive maintenance, of course.

Parents, let us take out the manual, the Bible, to help bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and begin the process of preventive maintenance. It's never too late to start. Even with a car, though you may have neglected the car for a period and it may cost a little extra to get it up to par, from that point, you can begin preventive maintenance. And so it is with our children. Though we may have neglected our children for a period and it may cost a little more time to build them up to par, from that point, we can begin preventive maintenance.

That the next generation may know God...

Brokenness

2010-01-19T17:39:00.002-06:00

Have you ever experienced broken relationships in your life? It is usually our naturally tendency to try to mend the broken parts back together again. Unfortunately, in our valiant attempt to put the pieces back together, we make matters worse or they remain the same. Nothing gets better. Just as all the king’s horses and all the king’s men could not put Humpty Dumpty back together, we do not have the adequate wisdom and knowledge to put relationships between husband and wife or parents and children back together. In vain, we determine in our hearts that we will get things back the way they were if it is the last thing we do. Maybe it is not a good thing for things to go back to the way they were.

Sometimes God allows certain brokenness in our lives, not for us to get things back like they were before but for us to allow Him to do the mending and shape our relationships the way He desires them to be. In other words, if the relationship between you and your spouse is a broken circle, though you might try to fix the circle, allow God to handle it because He might want you to have an oval of a relationship. The same goes with the relationship with your children. We need to let go, surrender unto God, and allow Him to reshape each of our broken relationships that they might become better than ever, regain even greater peace and joy in our relationships. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6,7)

That the next generation will know God...

Protect Your Soul from Sin by Reading God’s Word in 2010

2010-01-05T19:15:00.001-06:00

Introduction

We all eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner or our bodies will grow weak and tired.
When we miss one of these meals, we let someone know that we are hungry.
Sometimes we get angry when we don’t get food in time. Sometimes we get very irritated. Sometimes when we are weak, diseases and viruses attack our bodies and make us sick. Food for our physical bodies is very important to us.

We also have inside of us a soul that will one day spend forever with God. Our souls need meals each day just like our physical bodies.

Explanation

When we become a Christian, our souls are born again and become babies in God’s family. God gives us instructions on what to do as babies in God’s family. 1 Peter 2:2 says, “Like babies that were just born, you should long for the pure milk of God’s word. It will help you grow up as believers.”

Just as a newborn physical baby needs milk, so does a newborn spiritual baby. If a newborn baby is not fed when she is hungry, she will scream and cry until her mom or dad feeds her. If our souls are not fed the Word of God, they will scream and cry until they are fed. We call these screams and cries SIN.

But we don’t stay physically babies forever. God does not want our souls to stay babies either. We can grow stronger by feeding our hungry souls more of God’s Word and “study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Application

Why is it important to feed our souls? Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden Your word in my heart so that I won’t sin against You.”

If we don’t feed our souls God’s Word, we will not know what makes Him happy and what makes Him sad. We will not know how much He truly loves us and wants us to have the best Christian life ever.

Conclusion

There are 1440 minutes in a day, can we take just one of those minutes and feed our souls by reading the scripture. Encourage your children to do the same or do it together. Protect your soul from sin by reading God’s Word in 2010.

That the next generation will know God...

The Best Christmas Ever

2009-12-22T15:02:00.001-06:00

This is the season for exchanging gifts. Many of us will be elated, others overjoyed, and others just ecstatic because of giving and receiving. Christmas Day will be a exciting day for millions of children. But the glory of Christmas Day will slowly fade away and eventually become an afterthought. The items we’ve bought will soon after Christmas be tossed in the corner, break, or become boring. But there is one gift we can extend to our children that is free, that will last for many years and the children will never forget. That gift is unconditional love. Our children want love more than they desire any toy. It’s a gift we can extend before, on, and after Christmas and never have to worry about running out.

What is this love? It is patient. It is kind. It is not easily angered. Instead of cussing our children out when we are inconvenienced, let us bless them. Instead of hitting our children every time we are angered, let’s hug them. Instead of putting our children down because of disappointments, let’s encourage them. If we do so, we and our children will have the best Christmas ever.

That the next generation will know God...

Just One Minute

2009-12-15T14:31:00.001-06:00

There are 1440 minutes in a day. There are so many things we do during the day to please our physical needs or desires. We sleep, we eat, we socialize, we work, and we exercise. Can we take one minute out of the 1440 to read God’s Word and feed the soul? You can read at least 3-4 verses in 1 minute. Those 60 seconds can truly bless your soul. That leaves you with 1439 minutes to fulfill your other needs or pleasures.

There is no reason why we can’t feed our soul with 60 seconds a day. The 60 seconds of feeding will taste so good that you will eventually want to go back for seconds. Let’s stop making excuses and know what God’s will is by reading His Word and being a model for our children.

That the next generation will know God...

Spiritual Molestation

2009-12-09T12:08:00.001-06:00

How would you feel if you found out that someone had exposed your child to sexual molestation? What would you want to do to that person? The fact is that Christian or non-Christian, you would want to take the life of the person who subjected your child to such. What if you found out it has been done over and over again right under your nose? An uncontrollable rage would probably overtake you and somebody would pay dearly. It is interesting that we feel so passionate about such things when it comes to our children’s bodies. But daily we welcome molesters and pedophiles into our living rooms and dens and allow them to have a field day with our children’s souls and invite them to return the next day.

Molestation is the act of subjecting someone to unwanted or improper sexual advances or activity. Molestation of the child’s soul happens in different ways. We as parents may not be guilty of molesting our children’s souls but we allow tools like the TV, music, and internet to do so. When we allow our children to sit back and enjoy sitcoms that condone homosexuality, pre-marital sex, dirty jokes, and the like, we are allowing our children’s souls to be violated by a stranger. When we neglect to supervise the internet or limit access to certain types of sites, we open the door for our children’s souls to be molested by a stranger. When we don’t take the time to listen to the lyrics of the music our children enjoy, we subject our children’s souls to improper sexual activity. When we allow our children to have a TV with cable or satellite hook-up or a computer with internet access in the privacy of their bedrooms, we open the door for a pedophile to come in and molest the soul of our children. We are vigilant when it comes to the safety of our children’s physical body and that is good. But what about their souls?

You may say, “I don’t want my child to live a sheltered life.” If we allow the devil to freely use these tools to harm our children’s hearts, souls, minds, and spirits, there will come a day when our children will make a mockery of Christianity and spit in God’s face. That’s spiritual death. Just like if you ignore the fact that your child is physically being sexually abused that can lead to physical death by suicide, so can ignoring the fact that our children are spiritually molested lead to spiritual death. Both are bad but eternal damnation is worse. Let’s own up to our responsibility as protectors of our children’s minds, bodies and souls.

That the next generation will know God...

Why Do We Wait?

2009-11-30T17:55:00.000-06:00

As we come to the close of a year, we all reflect on the past year and list all our accomplishments as well as our failures. It’s interesting that even though we may have failed in accomplishing a particular goal early in the year, we did not get back up and try again. When we got off track with our diet and exercise, we threw in the towel and are 3 times worse off than we would have been had we tried to get back on track. We started out this year being patient and understanding with our children. Then our children did something foolish and we went off. We’ve been going off on our children since then. And the list goes on and on. We’ve decided that there was no use in getting back on track. We’ve made plans to make certain things a part of our New Year’s resolution.

Why do we wait? The Lord says, “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15,16) Evil does not take a day off. It can steal your health. It can steal your children. It can destroy your marriage. I can ruin your finances. The longer we wait, the more foothold we give the devil. “The thief comes but to steal, kill, and destroy.” Stop putting off for tomorrow what you can start or start over today. Your child might be one step from ruining his life and bringing heartache to the family. Your marriage might be one step from the divorce court. You might be one step from being diabetic or forming some heart disease. You might be one step from being broke and on the streets. Don’t allow Satan to deceive you. He is a liar and the father of all lies. Everything is not alright and things definitely won’t get right while you wait.

Let’s not wait. Let’s pick up the pieces and be the models our children need so when they face failure, they don’t stay down.

That the next generation will know God...

Fathers

2009-11-16T09:08:00.002-06:00

The role of the father is so significant in the lives of our children, especially those who have accepted Jesus as Savior. If you really think about it, the relationship that our children have with their earthly fathers has a bearing on the extent of their relationship with God the Father. If a father never keeps his promise, never communicates, never shows compassion, never hugs, never protects, never is around, and never shows any love, then a child's perception of a father is going to be messed up. So when Jesus tells the children to pray by saying, "Our Father…", it is difficult because when children think of a father, they think of their earthly father and see God the Father through the image of the earthly father. Fathers can help the situation by loving their children unconditionally as God so loved the world. Then, as they grow older, they will understand more clearly that nothing can separate them from the love of the Father in heaven because His love, just as earthly fathers' love, has no strings attached.

Unfortunately, in many cases the father plays only a small role in the lives of our young boys and girls. What has happened is that many of the fathers are not living in the same homes with their children and the mothers are playing the role of both father and mother. And in some cases, the father is in the home, but the mother still has to play dual roles. So as our children pray or consider the image of God, their view is somewhat distorted because of the absence or inactivity of their fathers in the homes.

Mothers, I want you to consider the role you are playing in the involvement of your children's fathers in their lives. Are you being an obstacle or stumbling block? Are you keeping your sons and daughters from getting to know their fathers because of unforgiveness or bitterness because of how you have been mistreated?

Fathers, are you ignoring the pleas from your children's mothers to get involved in their lives while they are young? Are you sitting on your hands and not lifting a finger to physically, emotionally, and spiritually provide for your children? Are you the cause for the distorted perception of our Father in heaven because of your inactivity in the lives of your children?

Whatever the case may be, it's time for us to lay aside our disagreements, dislikes, and dissatisfaction for the salvation of the next generation. It does not matter if you are living under the same roof or under separate roofs. Our children need both a mother figure and father figure in their lives. And biological fathers, you have the sole responsibility to train up your children. Don't give it up to a grandfather, uncle, cousin, preacher or deacon. No one can give a child the assurance they need like the unconditional love of a father. That is what many of our children are missing and searching for but yet are falling short.

Fathers, let's step up.

That the next generation will know God...

You are worth His time. You are worth His touch.

2009-11-02T18:51:00.002-06:00

We may have come to a stage in our lives where we think we have reached the lowest of low and there is no way out. We feel no one cares and we are not worth the time of day. We take the attitude that if we have done this much damage and ruined our lives and the lives of others, there's no way we can be restored.

I want to encourage you with these words. Though man will give up on you and even glory in your infirmities and troubles, there is a Savior who loves you just as you are. But He refuses to watch you stay in your mess without giving you time and a special touch. You are worth it to Jesus.

You are not the only one going through. People were going through all sorts of trials, tribulations, sicknesses and diseases in biblical days and many are going through some stuff right now. While Jesus dwelt among the people, He always took the time to heal their broken bodies and their spirits. And He is able to do the same for you today.

You are worth His time. You are worth His touch.
Explanation
The bible says in Mark 1:38-42 "Jesus replied, 'Let us go somewhere else-to the nearby villages-so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.' So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean.' Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured."
Mark 1:38,39 tells us that Jesus was very busy in the ministry preaching from town to town. V. 39 tells us that He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and casting out demons.
In V.40, "A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean.'"
Leprosy was an ugly disease. It ranges from white patches on skin to running sores to the loss of digits on the fingers and toes. For the Hebrews, it was a disease which rendered its victim ceremonially unclean and unfit to worship God. Lepers were isolated from the rest of the community so that the members of the community could maintain their status as worshippers. There was no cure for leprosy. If you fell victim, you died with it. The lepers were considered untouchable. And absolutely no one had time for them.
The man was in what seemed like a hopeless situation. After he begged that the Lord make him clean, Jesus, "Filled with compassion, reached out His hand and touched the man and said 'I am willing. Be Clean!'"
Jesus had a busy schedule preaching and teaching. He could have spoken the word from a distance, "Be clean!" and simply kept on trucking. Also, anyone who touched a person with leprosy was considered unclean. But Jesus did not see clean vs. unclean. He knew and taught that it is not the outward appearance that makes a man clean or unclean but the heart.
And being moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand, touched the pale skin with running sores. He touched a man who probably had not been touched for years. Jesus sent a message to the leper and is sending a message to you and me.
The message is, "You are worth my time, dear leper. You are my creation. I love you. No infirmity will be able to separate you from my love and my touch. Not life nor death, not angels nor principalities nor powers, not things present nor things to come, not height nor depth, not any created thing can separate you from the love of God."
Parents, turn over whatever is hindering you and causing you not to be all you've been called to be. Your circumstances and even your sins are not unique. Jesus is your only hope. You are worth His time! You are worth His touch!

That the next generation will know God...

Under Pressure

2009-10-27T08:40:00.003-05:00

There's a word in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 - It reads, "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us."

There are many pressures of life that we all face each day. They may be financial. They may be marital. They may be work related or health related. They may be community related. They may be family related. We cannot avoid the pressure. But if we don't know how to handle the pressure, it can become so intense that we can literally destroy our physical, spiritual, and mental well being.

But it is our Lord's desire that we don't focus on the pressures of this life but to focus on Him. Because the pressures of this life will choke to death any seeds of God's will and purpose for our lives leaving us barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Explanation
Paul teaches us a valuable lesson on pressure.
The scripture says that he and those who were with him were under great pressure. They lacked the strength to endure. They despaired even of life. They felt the sentence of death. In other words, Paul and his crew thought they were goners. There was no doubt in their minds that they were going to die. Now that is pressure.

And life can send any of us such a curve ball of pressure at any time. But I think the message that Paul wants to convey is that we don’t have to go through what he and the others went through when facing such pressures in life.

You see, V. 9 says that this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. After learning the lesson, Paul said in V. 10 that on God we set our hope that He will continue to deliver us.

Trust in God from the start, depend on Him and rely on His strength.
That is what David did with Goliath. He did not see the great giant Goliath, but His focus was on God.

How many have some Goliaths in their lives right now? Focus NOT on the Goliaths but on God.

That is what King Jehoshaphat did when the Moabites came to destroy Judah. He prayed to Almighty God. And the Lord told him not the fret. The battle is not his but God's.

How many are battling some issues right now? Pray unto the Almighty God. Don't focus on the battle. You don't have the strength to endure.

That is what Nehemiah did when he built the walls of Jerusalem. When the enemy came to distract him from his purpose, he did not spend time worrying but prayed unto God and restored the walls of Jerusalem and the people in 52 days.

How many of you are distracted right now? You are fruitless in the kingdom plan and purpose because the distractions have choked the seed of fruitfulness. Pray unto the Lord and work towards your destiny and purpose.

These men of God did not allow the pressures of life to keep them from fulfilling God's plan and destiny for their lives. They saw the pressure but focused on the Protector. Their strength was not in themselves but in the Lord.

Application
Though pressure is unavoidable in our lives, we can keep it in check that it does not destroy our lives. Hope in the Lord. Trust in Him for strength. Live out the words, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Don’t let the pressure tear you down. Seize it as an opportunity to see the might power of the Almighty God.

Jesus said "Come unto meet all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." For you who are trying the live under unbearable pressure, relief is right around the corner. Give it over to the Lord.

Your health, give it over. Your finances, give it over. Your family, give it over.Your job, give it over. Your companionship, give it over. Your loneliness of heart, give it over.

Be free right now. Rely no longer on self, but on God who will continually deliver you from any pressure you may be experiencing right now.

Conclusion
I talk about pressure because it's the pressures and burdens of this life that are weighing us down and pulling us away from our particular call as godly parents. If we are facing Goliaths every day in our own strength, we won't have any energy to nurture our children. If we are facing battles that we know we are losing, we will be too discouraged to encourage our children. If we are facing distractions all day long, we can't focus on what truly matters in life. Let go that we can focus on saving the next generation.

That the next generation will know God...

How Salty is Your Salt?

2009-10-05T13:40:00.000-05:00

Parents, have we lost our saltiness at home? Does the wisdom from our mouths fall upon deaf ears of our children? How strong is our testimony in our homes? It is critical that our children listen to us and follow our guidance. However, telling them one thing and living another way negates the effectiveness of our words. In other words, when salt loses it's saltiness, it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men. (Matthew 5:13)

Sometimes we wonder why our children are not listening to us. Maybe a quick self-examination is in order. We have a tendency of pointing the finger to the children as being hard-headed and stubborn. But in reality, our children are going to do as we do and NOT as we say.

Parents, if your child is listening even a little, that means you have not lost all your saltiness. Enhance the flavor of your salt by turning away from sin and turning to Jesus.

That the children will see and know God...

The Next Generation

2009-09-28T22:39:00.001-05:00

Sometimes it is difficult to stick with something when you won't see the results of your labor for 10-15 years from now. Why should we sacrifice our precious time and money for something that may turn out bad anyway? Unfortunately, that is the attitude of many parents towards the next generation. "They are going to do whatever they want to anyway. Why should I worry myself to the grave? I have a life to live too." The parents with such attitudes don’t realize that they are not only forfeiting blessings from God now, but also setting themselves up for heartache and pain later.

Why such an attitude? To do as God desires in bringing up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, we parents must make some self-sacrifices. To bring up a child God's way means that we parents must be walking in God's will. Many of us are not ready to give up all the pleasures of our old life in order to be the Christian model God desires us to be. Therefore, we half-heartedly raise the next generation and hope they turn out alright when they step out on their own. We might not realize it but because we have not surrendered all to God, our lives are chaotic, confusing, miserable, and hopeless. Some of us do realize it.

We all know right from wrong and good versus evil. Why not commit right now to deny self, take up your cross daily (parenting is one form of a cross because it requires self-sacrifice) and do what is necessary to save the next generation.

That they may know God...

Give You a Hope and a Future

2009-09-23T06:40:00.001-05:00

It is natural for us as parents to desire great things for our children as they grow into adulthood. We lead and guide our children the way we think is best for them based on their physiques, their talents, their looks, and their personalities. But it is the Almighty God who molded and shaped our children in the mothers' wombs, who predetermined before the beginning of time His plan and purpose for their lives. It is God who has already planned in advanced what He desires of them for His holy purpose. But we as parents have leaned on our own understanding and not trusted in the Lord to bring to pass His desires.

Please follow this carefully. Every child that has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord has the Spirit of God dwelling inside of him. And the Spirit of God knows the mind of God. Now God said in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (NKJV) If God has thoughts and plans for our children and the Holy Spirit of God knows the mind of God, who is it that can best reveal God's future plan for our children? Parents or the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 2:9, 10 says, "But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God." I believe with all my heart that if our children ask the Lord His plan and purpose for their lives, God will answer. Not only will He answer, but He will begin transforming the hearts of our children that they will have a strong passion and desire for the purpose of God. And every move they make and every action they take will lead them closer to their destiny in Christ Jesus.

I challenge us as parents to sit down and seriously discuss with our children, who have accepted Jesus as Savior, God's plan and purpose for their lives. Encourage them to pray and sincerely ask God to reveal to them His plan and purpose for their lives. Teach them to listen. Discuss with them your testimony when you decided to pursue God's plan and purpose in your life instead of your own. And pray for the children as well that the Lord will make all things clear to the children that they won't waste time but understand what the will of the Lord is. Parents, this goes for us also. If you are uncertain your purpose, you can tap into the true source of the mind of God and start today living a more fulfilling life than ever before.

Consistency

2009-09-15T06:14:00.000-05:00

If you are an advent baker, you understand the importance of consistency. When kneading the dough, one does not stop to bake the dough unless it has enough consistency throughout. In other words, the dough must hold together and retain its shape. Otherwise, the results will be unpredictable and sometimes disastrous. One way to test the consistency of the dough is to take a fist and punch the center of the dough. If the fist returns sticky, then more flour may be required.

And so it is with our children. As we press on them the goodness of the Lord and attempt to shape them into the image of Jesus Christ, we must continue to strain forward until there is consistency throughout the child's heart. If we know our children will not hold together under diverse temptations or retain their integrity under peer pressure, we must add some more flour of love, admonishment, counseling, and patience until consistency is achieved.

"And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4, NKJV)

That the next generation will know God...

The Model

2009-09-08T08:47:00.004-05:00

Once I had to sit in the lobby of a dental office because all the seats were taken in the office. As I sat there, I met a little boy named Sammy. Sammy was pretty quiet. Later, Sammy's mom came out of another office and sat next to Sammy. She had a 4-year-old girl with her. The 4-year-old was pretty disruptive. She could not speak because of an operation to her throat. Also she was acting like a 1-year-old. The mom took the 4-year-old outside because she was getting very loud. In the meantime, I asked the Lord, "What is it you want me to see?" The Spirit said, "When the mom comes back with the 4-year-old, make conversation with her." So I sat in the lobby even though seats were available in the office. The mom came back inside. The dentist called for Sammy and the mom pointed him in the direction he should go.

So the conversation began. I asked the mom if this was Sammy's first time at the dentist. She said no. I asked her how old he was and she said 10. I asked her how old her daughter was and she said 4. Then she began sharing her/their story. She had at one time been a foster parent to the children. However, because of their conditions and the fact that no one else would love them like she did, she adopted them. You see, Sammy is severely mentally retarded and is HIV positive. Also, his leg was broken somehow and never healed correctly. As a result, he drags his foot as he walks. The mom finally found a doctor to allow Sammy to receive a brace to hopefully straighten out his leg. The 4-year-old daughter was left in ICU at 10-months-old with no one to love her or take her in. She had different types of machines hooked to her body to keep her alive. She is also severely mentally retarded. The child's condition is so severe that she has a special place at the adoptive mother's home. When she is hooked to certain machines, no air conditioner or heater can be on. One or the other has to be off at all times. In the lobby, I also noticed an umbrella stroller. The stroller was for the 4-year-old to tie her down when the adoptive mother simply got tired.

As I watched the adoptive mother cuddle and care for the 4-year-old, I saw a whole lot of true love and patience. As the 4-year-old misbehaved, the mother did not curse her but blessed her. The mother did not hit her but hugged her. She did not put down the 4-year-old with cruel words but lifted her in her arms. I saw the love of Christ through this mother. "And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:16, NKJV)

The mother showed unconditional love at its best. There was nothing the kids could give back or nothing the mother required of them for the children to receive her love and the best care she could provide.

Do we extend our love as such or do we put conditions on it? Let us love as God first loved us.

That the next generation will know God...

Poor Folks

2009-09-01T08:57:00.001-05:00

Many of us grew up poor folks back in the day. We were cared for by our parents who did the best they could to keep food on the tables, a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs. Just as there were poor folks back in the day, there are millions living in poverty today. I looked up the common definition of poverty and found it to be "a condition in which a person or community is deprived of, or lacks the essentials for, a minimum standard of well being and life."

Over 35% of black children live in poor families. All forms of policies and programs have been implemented or plan to be implemented in an effort to reduce this high percentage. In the meantime, many of our children go daily without food to eat, adequate clothing to wear, or a safe and comfortable place to lay their heads.

But I believe with all my heart that poverty in Christian households can be totally eliminated by simply standing on the promise of God. No child of God should be living in poverty as defined in the above-mentioned paragraph. Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all theses things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV)

You may say that you know a whole lot of "good" Christian folks who are living in poverty. Do you know the WHOLE story? Are you a spectator on the outside looking in. God looks at the heart. He knows who has Him first in their lives and are daily seeking His face.

Parents, none of our children need to live in poverty. It is up to us to change our priorities and begin serving God as He desires. He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. Lastly, we may be able to fool our neighbors but God knows the intent of the heart and will bless accordingly. Are we willing to surrender all?

That the next generation will know God...

Destiny

2009-08-25T19:51:00.000-05:00

What is a destiny? It's an event (or course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future. We who are called by God have a destiny. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (NKJV) Our Lord has already paved the way that He desires us to go. Many of us have settled down as if we've reached our destination. If you are one of the many who think such, you are mistaken and are missing out on true abundant living. "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, the He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29, NKJV)

Let's take another step closer to our destiny so our children may witness the wonders of God in our lives and get excited about surrendering their all to Him.

That the next generation will know God...

Unleashed Power

2009-08-17T06:44:00.000-05:00

We are all pretty familiar with the story of the woman with the flow of blood and her faith. For 12 years, she suffered. She spent all she had in hopes of a remedy. No one could figure out her issue. One day, she heard about a man named Jesus. Jesus was in the vicinity going to Jarius' house to heal his daughter. She saw Jesus for a moment but because of the multitude, she had to struggled to reach Him. The lady thought it was now or never. She had heard and probably seen the miracles of Jesus. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus could heal her. As a matter of fact, her faith was so strong, she said to herself, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." (Mark 5:28, NKJV) She reached Him, touched Him and her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

Though many people were touching Jesus, it was not until this woman touch Him that He took notice. Why? Because Jesus knew that power had gone out of Him. He turned and looked for who had touched Him. The lady confessed to what she had done. Jesus told her that her FAITH had made her well.

I share this story because we of little or no faith have yet to see the power of God unleashed. Did you know that each time we "truly" put our faith in Jesus, when we touch His clothes, we unleash His awesome power. Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Let the power of God be unleashed in your personal life, in your home, at your job, in the ministry. Wherever you are suffering an affliction, touch the hem of Jesus's garment and be made whole. He is ever-present to unleash His power upon your FAITH. Touch today...

That the next generation will know God...

A Purpose Driven Life

2009-08-10T22:39:00.000-05:00

There are so many Christians who live the same basic routine every day bearing little if any fruit. They get up, go to work, go home, go to bed, and start all over again. Those who have kids have a little different routine. But each routine is not driven by purpose. If a brother or sister in Christ were asked their purpose, they would likely respond, "I'm just trying to make it." Make it where? How will you know you have made it? Purpose is defined as an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions.

Did you know that God has an anticipated outcome planned specifically for you? "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV) We were not created to live to ourselves. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

Break the routine. Add some excitement in your life and in your family's life. Surrender unto the Lord each morning that you wake up and watch Him work in your life and through your life to be a blessing to others. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5,6, NKJV) Step with purpose.

That the next generation will know God...

Don't Settle For What You Get If It Is Not What You Asked

2009-08-03T08:41:00.000-05:00

How many times have we settled for whatever our children do even though it's not what we've asked? We ask them to wash the dishes and empty the trash. They wash the dishes and we settle. We tell them no games or TV before homework. They attempt their homework late that night AFTER their favorite show and we settle. We encourage them to read their Bible regularly. They take their Bible to church on Sunday and we settle. We expect them to bring home A's, B's and maybe a C. They bring home D's or F's and we settle. Why do we settle? Is it fear that we are not going to get anything? Is it a lack of faith? All we are doing is short-changing our children from reaching their full potential.

There's a story in the Bible about a blind man who was brought to Jesus. Jesus spat on the man's eyes and put His hands on the man and ask if he saw anything. The man said he saw men like trees walking around. At that time, the man could have settled for partial sight/blindness. AT LEAST he could almost see clearly. But when the man came to Jesus, he knew Jesus was able to make him whole. So he waited for what he asked. Jesus put His hand on the man's eyes again and the man saw everyone clearly. (Mark 8:22-26)

When we lower our expectations to meet what we get, we do ourselves and our children a disservice. Sometimes we get tired of telling our children over and over again what we expect of them and cop the "I don't care anymore" attitude. Unfortunately, many of our children are not living a life of mediocrity because we have settled. Don't settle for what you get if it is not what you asked.

That the next generation will know God...

Pass It On

2009-07-20T23:27:00.001-05:00

The Lord did such a wonderful work in freeing the children of Israel from bondage and leading them into the promised land. However, in between the freedom and the promise, they had a desert experience. It was during this experience that the Lord impressed upon the parents to pass on the goodness of the Lord so that the next generation would know Him. Why was this so significant? The Lord did not want the younger generation to enter into the promised land thinking they can do all things in their own power. He wanted them to trust in Him. God said in Deuteronomy 8:11, 12, and 14, "Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statues which I command you lest - when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them;...when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage." He told the children of Israel specifically to tell their children, "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; and the Lord showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household. Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers." (Deuteronomy 6:21-23)

We all have or will go through desert experiences in our lives. But if we take the time to look back over our lives and consider all the wonderful works God has done for us, to us and through us, we have enough to share with our children the goodness of the Lord. If we spend our time praising God and speaking of His goodness only during the good times, what will that do to our children's faith in God. Who will they trust when the Lord says "wait for a dry period?" Will they praise God anyhow or will they try to accomplish whatever on their own? Let us pass on the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord to our children.

That the next generation will know God...

Hope and a Future

2009-07-14T07:42:00.000-05:00

Have you given up hope? Hope for your family? Hope for your neighborhood? Hope for politics? Hope for the Church? Why have so many thrown in thetowel? One reason is that we sometimes allow our present circumstances to dictate our future outcome. As a result, family doesn't matter. Safeneighborhoods don't matter. Politics don't matter. Even the Church doesn't matter. Things "seem" to be getting worse no matter how hard we try. Weget stuck in such a mindset and we simply live to die.

But God has been thinking about you. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you afuture and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV) God has a plan for you. God has a plan for your family. God has never lied. Don't throw in the towel on hopeand a future. For when you lose hope and a future, you lose purpose. And your hopelessness trickles down to your children. And we all see the resultsof children who have lost all hope and see no future. Let's keep hope alive.

That the next generation will know God...

How Do You Spell Love?

2009-07-07T09:34:00.001-05:00

We all express love towards our kids in many ways. Some go all out with extravagant gifts. The bigger the gift, the greater the love. I would say that the greatest expression of love we can show towards our children is by giving them T.I.M.E. When our children grow older, they are going to forget about all the gifts, many lost, broken, toss in the trash, or given away. But the time we spend with them will be written upon their hearts. And the most wonderful thing about this gift is that it is free! Let's show our children some love. Give them some T.I.M.E.

That the next generation will know God...

Family Reunion

2009-06-29T15:12:00.000-05:00

One of the most difficult challenges we face in life is discussing spiritual matters with our relatives. We speak with ease to complete strangers and doso with compassion and concern. But when it come to our relatives, we shy away. We simply watch them destroy their lives and their families.

I would like to offer a simple challenge. If you receive a message or words of encouragement that dramatically change your life, share it with family asyou get together for reunions and other gatherings. Don't keep the good news to yourself. If you win the lottery or a new car, you won't hesitate to leteveryone know the you have been "blessed." If you can do it for the temporary stuff, try doing it for the eternal. Just as the Word has been freely and generously given to you, pass it on not only to strangers but also to family.

That the next generation will know God...

Facing the Giants

2009-06-15T23:20:00.000-05:00

We all have giants in our lives that we face on a daily basis. They can be overwhelming at times, especially if we attempt to cut them down to size with our own strength. And most of the time, when all of our attention and energy is focused on the giants, we neglect our children because we can't see or supply their needs.

We can learn a lesson from the story of David and Goliath. The odds of David defeating the giant were zero. It was practically impossible for David to defeat the giant Goliath. But David did not take much thought to Goliath, Goliath's size, or Goliath's war experience. David's attention and energy was focused on God, God's size, and God's war experience. The battle did not belong to David but to the Lord. Because of the fact that David focused on God and not the giant, David succeeded in conquering the giant with little strength or energy of his own.

We can accomplish the same. Our giants may be related to heallth, finances, marriage, our jobs, or anything that's a major attention getter. If the giants be our focus, we are guaranteed to fail. But if God is our focus, He will destroy the giants for us, leaving us refreshed, renewed, and high-spirited to attend to our children.

That the next generation will know God...

Will We Ever Learn?

2009-06-08T22:42:00.001-05:00

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that violent crimes are up nationwide. The FBI is frantically researching the reason why this trend has been recurring every year for the past several years. They also stated that the criminals are getting younger and more violent. I will say this. It was maybe 5, 10, 15 years ago that these young criminals were children under the roof of parents. If parents did nothing to train and nurture the children, if parents reneged on their obligation to lead and guide the children, we are now reaping the consequence. These young criminals that we see daily on the news were once a part of a sweet and innocent generation. Because parents did not provide the proper nourishments for healthy development of their children, the children are now vicious criminals who do not value their lives nor ours.

We as a people are going to have to live with the consequences of our past failures. But if we learn from the past, we can make a difference in our young children's lives right now so that 5, 10, 15 years from now, they will have a more positive impact on society than the present generation. When are we Christian parents going to step up, step out and be the light of the world and more importantly, the light to our children?

That the next generation will know God...

Spiritual Adolescence

2009-06-02T21:43:00.001-05:00

We've all seen the consequence of a teenager trying to raise a child. The majority of teens fail as parents. There are some exceptions, but they are few and far between. Spiritually, we are seeing the same failure rates between Christian parents and their children. Our children are babies in Christ and need the sincere milk of the Word. We as Christian parents are to feed the babies. Unfortunately, some Christian parents are stuck in the adolescence stage of spiritual growth and have a difficult time caring for their spiritual babies. If the truth be told, some Christian parents have not grown beyond the baby stage themselves. As a result, you have either a spiritual baby or spiritual adolescent trying to raise a spiritual baby. Failure is sure to follow.

Paul said, "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly." (1 Corinthians 3:1-3a, NIV) It is practically impossible for us to model Christ when we have not grown spiritually. Our children are going to follow our footsteps. If we act as spiritual babies and worldly, they are going to do the same. Let us grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The next generation will know God.

Sundae Delight

2009-05-25T15:21:00.002-05:00

What does "delight" mean? It's a feeling of extreme pleasure or satisfaction. Just the thought of our favorite ice-cream or cake or our favorite dinner causes our mouths to water. Some of us are involved in certain hobbies that bring the same type of pleasure or satisfaction. We would jump through all kinds of hoops to experience the delight that comes from food or events. It is interesting that most of the stuff that brings us this pleasure is very costly and not good for us, but we make the necessary sacrifices to obtain it anyway.

We spend a lot of resources to bring delight to our flesh but spend little to bring delight to our souls. I'm talking about delight to the soul that doesn't cost a dime and has eternal benefits. David said in Psalms 37:4 to "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." The feeling of extreme satisfaction we get when pleasing the flesh is what the Lord wants us to feel when obeying His commands. Just as we can't get enough of ice-cream sundaes, chocolate cake, yams, fried chicken, collared greens, or our favorite sports or hobbies, we should feel the same way about the Word of God. As we read the Word and it speaks to our heart, we should be anxious to taste the Word by obeying it. We just can't get enough of God's Word. Delighting ourselves in the Lord also comes with promise for now and in the hereafter.

You may notice that whatever excites us, excites our children. It can be food, hobbies, sports, etc. Imagine showing our excitement about discovering a commandment of God and changing our ways to obey in the presence of our kids. We may not see immediate change of attitude about the Word from our kids, but eventually they are going to desire the Word too. "If it tastes that good to Mom and Dad, I want some too." We are our children's models. They will delight in what we delight in.

The next generation will know God.

Idle In The Summertime

2009-05-18T21:28:00.001-05:00

What does idle mean? It's means "not in action or at work." During the summer, there will be many hands, hearts, and heads that are not in action or at work. I'm speaking of our children. Nurturing and guiding our kids is a year around job, not just during the school year. Parents, we need to seriously consider the activities of our children over the summer. Seek wisdom from God. He knows what is best for your family. Upon receiving the wisdom, obey.

I am reminded of the story of David and Bathsheba in 1 Samuel 11. David was "not in action or at work" and got caught up in major mess. Over a few days, he became an adulterer and murderer and later his child died. All this resulted from the simple fact that David's hands, heart, and head were not active and therefore gave room for the devil. The same happens to our children every summer. Let's make the necessary sacrifices this summer for the sake of our children.

That the next generation will know God...

Help Is Just A Call Away

2009-05-11T22:07:00.002-05:00

Have you ever called 911 for an emergency, and when the police, ambulance or fire truck arrived, you turned them away at the door? More than likely you met them before they reached the door and explained the situation in hopes that the situation would be quickly resolved. When situations arise that threatens our physical well being, we press for a resolution with a sense of urgency. However, when it comes to the psychological or emotional well being of ourselves or our families, we have time. We wait until another day.

On a regular basis, we receive signs and warnings from others regarding the behavior of our children. We even witness the warnings ourselves. There are many agencies and organizations available to assist before the damage becomes irreparable, but we turn them away at the door. It could be for many different reasons. We don’t want to know the damage already done. We don’t want to be burdened with the process of restoring our children. We don’t want to hear that we are a part of the problem, a major part of the problem. We just don’t want to deal with it right now.

As a result of our reluctance to face reality, our children are lost. Then we ask, “What has happened to my baby? It’s just not like him/her to be acting like that.” Then it becomes a state of emergency. The world must stop and fix your problem. It will be too little too late.

Parents, let’s not put off or turn away help that is readily available, especially for our children. Let us lay aside our selfishness and pride. As they grow older, the choices of available resources become more limited. Right now, Juvenile Detention is becoming a common “solution” to address issues that go far beyond the crime that they commit. Help is available. Accept it. Use it.

That the next generation will know God ...

Don't Push My Button!

2009-05-04T21:26:00.002-05:00

It is our goal as parents to build up our children to be godly and Christ-like boys and girls and ultimately, godly men and women. One critical success factor in our achieving such an ambitious but feasible goal is our communication or conversation with them, to them, or towards them. It is our conversation with our children that helps to build a solid spiritual foundation for them to build their lives upon. If the foundation is weak, flawed, and neglected, then is it highly likely that our children’s lives are going to result in shambles.

I believe that is why the Lord says in Colossians 4:6 to “Let our conversation be ALWAYS full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (NIV) He also says in Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (NIV) Regrettably, we all have probably said some hurtful things to our children. Such things weaken their spiritual foundation instead of solidifying it. But if we can start speaking blessings upon our children, saying those things that make them better and conveying messages that build them up instead of tearing them down, we will succeed in establishing a foundation in our children’s lives that pleases God and will last throughout adulthood.

Admittedly, it is difficult to speak blessings, to build up, and to make better while in the heat of battle with our children. And there is no simple solution. But if we are sincere in training the next generation, the Lord will make a way. To start, one suggestion is not to react to our children’s negative behaviors, attitudes, and demeanor. Reaction comes without much thought. The last things on our minds if we react are blessings and goodness towards the child. But if we respond, we will have time to listen and not get angry so quickly. I think that is why the Lord tells us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19, NIV) We can only accomplish this through the power of the Holy Spirit because one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control and another is patience. Without the Spirit dwelling in us and ruling our hearts, we will always react. But I guarantee that if we allow the Spirit to rule our tongue and emotion, we will respond in such a way that something positive will come out of even the most negative situation or conflict that we and our child are going through.

I challenge us as parents to start practicing responding instead of reacting when our children push our buttons. The button will be pushed. Conflict will occur. It is up to us to determine the outcome as we consider the spiritual foundation we want to help build before our children leave from under our wings into the world of independence.

That the next generation will know God ...

Who Do They See?

2009-04-28T06:11:00.002-05:00

Who do they see? If we seek the face of God, we will find it only if we seek Him diligently. To see God's face though, we must draw near to Him. Interestingly, the closer we get to God, the more transparent we become because His perfect light exposes everything about us. We begin to see things about ourselves that are displeasing to the Lord. If we desire to draw even closer, we must turn from those displeasing ways. The closer we draw to the Lord, the more we have to conform to the image of Jesus. After a while, our children will no longer see moms and dads, but they will see Jesus Christ who lives in us and will desire to draw closer to the Lord themselves. The question remains. Who do our children see today? Do they see Jesus or do they see moms and dads? We may have a way to go but let us press on towards our destiny. "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29, NIV)

That the next generation will know God ...

Termite Inspection

2009-04-20T21:52:00.002-05:00

Satan can be like termites. If we are not careful, he can destroy the very core of our homes and when we discover it, the damage has been done. And the costs to repair can be unimaginable. Have you had a "termite" inspection lately? Get one today. To conduct a self-inspection, here are a few items to look for:

1. Are the kids mumbling and complaining under their breath more frequent than in the past?

2. Are the kids lying more than they are telling the truth?

3. Are the kids boldly talking back in your face?

4. Are the kids watching more shows that have a rating of L,S,V,D? 5. Are you watching more shows that have a rating of L,S,V,D?

6. Are the kids complaining about going to church?

7. Are the kids reading more magazines than the Bible or school books?

8. Are the kids choice of friends concerning you?

9. Are the kids surfing the web when you are not around?

10. Has the kids attitude towards God, church, school, authority, etc. changed for the worse?

Sometimes we simply ignore the threat of "termites" and put off doing an inspection until a later date. We don't see anything wrong with the list mentioned above. In the meantime, Satan eats away at the very fiber of our homes, our hearts. And before you know it, not only do we accept the list above as normal, but we begin accepting even more destructive "termites." Please do a self-inspection. If you find any "termites", call the exterminator whose name is Jesus and in His name, begin treatment without delay.

That the next generation will know God ...

Having a Form of Godliness

2009-04-13T18:19:00.001-05:00

The Bible says in the last days there will be terrible times. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. (2 Timothy 3:2-5) This scripture unfortunately describes the people of the Church. All these areas impact the lives of our children in some form or fashion. The one I think impacts them more than the others is "having a form of godliness but denying its power."

There are different forms of godliness.

1. Attending church - Hebrews 10:25 - "Let us not give up meeting together..."
2. Ministry - Romans 12:13 - "Share with God's people who are in need..."
3. Baptism - Romans 6:3 - "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?"
4. Communion - 1 Corinthians 11:26 - "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes."
5. Preaching - 2 Timothy 4:2 - "Preach the Word..."
6. Teaching - Matthew 28:20 - "and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..."

These are all forms of godliness that we all participate in in one way or another. Our children watch us as we participate. But more importantly, they see us after we attend church, we participate in ministry, we are baptized, we partake of communion, we hear the preached word, we attend Bible study.

When our children see us attend church but instead of seeing us spurring others on to love and good deeds, they hear us talk about others and put them down, the children question the power and purpose of attending church.

When our children see us participate in ministry but instead of seeing excitement about being the hands, feet, and mouth of Jesus to spread His love, they hear us complain all the time, they wonder about the point of serving others.

When our children witness us being baptized, but instead of seeing a new creation living a new Christian lifestyle, they see us doing the same things we were doing before baptism, they don't take baptism seriously.

When our children see us partake of the Lord's Supper, but the night before, they saw us drinking real wine and acting weird, they see the Lord's Supper as just another ritual that can be taken regardless of our spiritual condition.

When our children hear the preacher say something against what they know we are involved in, but instead of seeing change, we ignore the word, they are going to be just as selective and not turn from wrongdoing.

When our children hear about the importance of studying the Word of God, but instead of seeing us open our Bibles on a regular basis but on Sundays only, they are not going to search the Word for instructions but look for instructions elsewhere.

In other words, parents, our children see us participating in a form of godliness but denying its power. Such is called being hypocritical. Our children do not see change in us but pretension and are turned off to the Word of God and the cause of Christ. This is what's happening in the Church today and unfortunately our homes are not transforming. What should we do? Surrender to the Holy Spirit in us because it is through Him that we have power. "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being." (Ephesians 3:16) Experience the power. Live the power. Stop denying the power of the different forms of godliness.

That the next generation will know God ...

More Than Enough

2009-04-06T19:57:00.000-05:00

In the book of Exodus, as the Israelites were preparing to build the tabernacle of the Lord, they were asked to provide silver, gold, linen, and other material. As a matter of fact, they gave so much that Moses had to command them to stop giving for the tabernacle "because they already had more than enough to do all the work." (Exodus 36:7, NIV) The Israelites willingly and generously gave of their material possession but before then and afterwards they did not give to God what truly mattered, their hearts.

And what about us? Do we give our children everything their little hearts desire until they have more than enough? At the end of the day, are they still unsatisfied and unhappy? Why? Maybe because we haven't given them what truly matters, our hearts.

That the next generation will know God ...

Disappointed? Get used to it.

2009-03-30T16:54:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been disappointed in something your child did or said or did not do? Depending on how often you are disappointed, you might become discouraged or even fearful of what's going to become of your child. I want to let you know that disappointments are going to happen in all our lives, even in our children. Get used to it. However, discouragement and fear are tools of the devil. Satan would love for us to throw in the towel on our children and leave them alone because we see them as a lost cause. That gives him free reign. Satan also would love it if we put our children in bondage out of fear of what could potentially happen to them.

Let us not allow the devil to take hold of our children. When disappointments occur, count it all joy because such a trial will test our faith in God and make us more mature. Ask the Lord for wisdom if you don't see the benefit in the disappointment. But please do not allow the disappointments in your children to cause you to give the devil the upper hand in your family.

That the next generation will know God ...

Inspiration Without Transformation

2009-03-23T22:02:00.001-05:00

There is a disease that is spreading in the Body of Christ at epidemic proportions. It is the disease of "inspiration without transformation." Week after week, Sunday after Sunday, we gather together at the local churches to hear an inspiring word. The inspiring word's intent is to motivate saints of God to change, to turn from their wicked ways, to surrender all unto Jesus and make Him the "Head of our lives." When our children hear us talk about the inspiring message on the way home from "church" but see us revert to our old ways and bad habits as soon as we pull in the drive-way, why should we expect the children to change. We as parents then blame the "church" for not training our children. Training starts at home. Deuteronomy 6:6,7 says "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

Parents, we must no longer be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds if we want to see change in our children.

That the next generation will know God ...

What About John?

2009-03-08T20:36:00.000-05:00

Have you ever received instructions but instead of trying to grasp an understanding, you became distracted by what others were going to be doing? That's what happened with Peter before the ascension of Jesus. "Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, 'Follow me!' Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. When Peter saw him, he asked, 'Lord, what about him?' Jesus answered, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.' (John 21:19-22)

Isn't that like us? We receive clear and simple instructions on how to get our lives and houses in order, but we refuse to follow because so and so are not required to do the same thing. There is not a single household that is going through the exact same situations and circumstances. Just because you and another family have both spouses in the home and 2 girls and 1 boy does not mean the needs are the same. Peter almost fell in the trap of missing his calling and purpose because of his concern about what amounted to nothing.

Have you fallen in the trap? Are you questioning your calling and purpose because you are distracted by what's going on with your neighbor? Many of our children are abused and neglected by parents because of the frustrations that come with worrying about the business of our neighbors. Let's follow the will of God regarding our children regardless of the state of our neighbors' homes.

That the next generation will know God ...

Heed the Warnings!

2009-03-02T08:16:00.002-06:00

When we see a sign that says "Caution, Slippery Floor," we avoid the spot that is slippery. If we hear on the radio that there is a traffic jam at a particular location on the interstate, we go another route. If we receive a tornado warning and are told to take cover for safety, we take cover. Why do we honor such warnings? We do so because there could be negative consequences if we ignore them.

We even ensure that our children heed certain warnings as well. If a school is on lock-down for some reason, we encourage our children to stay put and do as the teacher or principal says. If we get progress reports from school that warns us that our children are about to fail, we ensure that our children study harder, stay off the phone, and even cut back on extra-curricular activities. Why do we honor such warnings? If we don't, there could be negative consequences that could have long-term effects.

We even warn our children of certain things. We warn them about chatting with strangers on the internet. We warn them to stay away from gangs because of the violence and crime that are associated with gangs.

The majority of these warnings are to protect us in some physical nature. Why don't we heed the warnings regarding our souls and our children's souls? Why do we allow our children to watch rated "R" movies when the warning is clear that there will be sex, bad language, and violence in them? Why do we allow our children to listen to music that is labeled "Explicit Lyrics" or for mature audiences only? Why do we buy our children video games that are beyond their maturity level when the label clearly warns us of the content? Why do we allow movies, music, and video games to molest our children's souls over and over again?

Why do we ignore the warnings? Is it because these things do not affect us? If each of us would honestly take a good look at ourselves, we would find the negative effect of ignoring the warnings. When was the last time we took a self-examination regarding our personal relationship with God? The warnings that we ignore do not draw us closer to God but pushes us farther away. Many of us have been deceived by the lie of the devil. Ignoring the warnings has had a negative effect on us and is having a negative effect on our children. Heed the warnings.

That the next generation will know God ...

Wait On The Lord

2009-02-23T11:14:00.002-06:00

Sometimes we get discouraged when our prayers are not answered immediately or in our time. Jesus taught His disciples to pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1-8) Be persistent and wait. And if we get weary and anxious, trust and wait. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31) We cannot simply throw up a prayer to God and hope our circumstances change immediately. We must pray to God. We must trust in God. We must wait for God. We all can probably count the times when God's timing was off based on our calendar, and we stepped in to answer our own prayers. Unfortunately, we made matters worse and are beating ourselves up because we did not wait. Parents, your circumstances may not be ideal at home, at work, or even at church. If you have sincerely prayed unto God, I encourage you not to give up and wait on the Lord.

That the next generation will know God ...

Parents Won't Listen

2009-02-16T12:28:00.002-06:00

It was once said of a non-profit organization that reaches out to children the "parents won't listen." There is some truth behind such a statement. We as parents take pride in what goes on in our households. Nobody can tell us anything. It does not matter if the information given is right and slaps us in the face. We simply toss the information to the side because the informer does not understand.

Unfortunately, many of our homes are in ruin or headed that way because we don't want to listen. We are too proud to admit that we have misstepped and need help. Parents, please start listening. That is the first step to transforming our homes to what God desires them to be.

That the next generation will know God...

Action Results in Change

2009-02-09T06:20:00.004-06:00

Assessing what changes are needed around the house to please God and discussing them with others are good steps towards transforming our households. But if no action is taken, no change will occur.

There is a story in the Bible about a man born blind. The disciples did an assessment and determined the man was born blind. They asked Jesus who had sinned to cause the man's blindness. Jesus replied, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned." Afterwards, Jesus made mud with His saliva and put it on the man's eyes and told the blind man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam.

The assessment did not give the man sight. Jesus told the man to go and wash, but that did not give the man sight. It was not until the blind man took action. "So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." (John 9:1-7) Not only did the blind man receive a physical blessing, but later, he was healed of spiritual blindness. (John 9:35-41) That is where the true blessing lies. Because the blind man took action, he was abundantly blessed.

Brothers and sisters, if you take one simple action to better your household, be it stopping or starting something according to God's will, you will experience an external blessing almost immediately. And over time, if you are consistent, you will see the Spirit of the Lord begin to transform your household into a more godly family leading towards the salvation of the next generation. That is where the true blessing lies. Take action now.

That the next generation will know God...

The Next Generation

2009-02-02T12:35:00.002-06:00

Sometimes it is difficult to stick with something when you won't see the results of your labor for 10-15 years from now. Why should we sacrifice our precious time and money for something that may turn out bad anyway? Unfortunately, that is the attitude of many parents towards the next generation. "They are going to do whatever they want to anyway. Why should I worry myself to the grave? I have a life to live too." Parents with such attitudes forfeit blessings from God now, and also set themselves up for heartache and pain later.

Why such an attitude? To do as God desires in bringing up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, we as parents must make some sacrifices. To bring up a child God's way means that we as parents must walk in God's will. Many of us are not ready to give up all the pleasures of our old life in order to be the Christian model God desires us to be. Therefore, we half-heartedly raise the next generation and hope they turn out alright when they step out on their own.

Parents, we all know right from wrong and good from evil. We know when we are stepping out on God and the negative influence it has on our children. But we still go ahead and do it. Will the day ever come when we will deny our selfish pleasures and think about the well-being of our children? Our children are in desperate need of our attention. Let's give up a little more.

That the next generation will know God...

A Love Letter

2009-01-26T08:59:00.000-06:00

Back in the day, we all either wrote a love letter or received one from someone else. The letters were probably filled with loving, encouraging and convincing words that expressed our true feelings towards another or someone's feelings towards us. We cherished those letters. We meditated on each word and tried to find meaning in each. The love letters were filled with promises, desires, likes and dislikes, and sometimes future plans. A great deal of effort was put into love letters because we had only one chance to impress and capture the heart of the other party.

God has written a very special love letter to us. We carry it around with us, especially on Sunday. It's the Bible. It is filled with loving, encouraging, and convincing words that express God's feelings towards us. Just as we meditate on the words of our other letters, God's desire is that we meditate on His Word as we try to find meaning in each verse. God's love letter is filled with God's desires, likes and dislikes, and His future plans. He put forth a great deal of effort to put His love letter together by sacrificing His one and only Son and sealing the letter with His Son's blood. Why did God write this love letter? He understood the importance of impressing and capturing the hearts and souls of those lost in the world.

Back in the 2nd Grade, the most common love letter went something like this. "I love you. Do you love me? Yes or No " If "Yes" was circled, the other party considered it a commitment. If the other party thought the commitment was violated, they got pretty upset. And so it is with God. A part of His love letter is found in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." When we believed, we said "Yes" to God. God considered it a commitment. God is a jealous God.

So when we step out on God after making a commitment, He gets pretty upset and speaks His mind. "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, 'The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously'?"

Parents, it is God's desire that we share His love letter with our children. It is also His expectation that if we have said "Yes" to His letter that we model Christlike commitment in our relationship with God. Are our children confused regarding the love letter of God? Are they only seeing us open up the letter on Sunday or maybe Wednesday? Do they hear complaining about how burdensome and hard God's sweet, tender and encouraging words are? Share God's love letter with your children. Show them through example what true love and commitment is.

That the next generation will know God...

Welcome to When Lambs Cry Weekly-Read First

2009-01-19T23:48:00.000-06:00

My name is Jeff Jackson, and I am an ordained minister at Brown Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi, under the leadership of Senior Pastor Bartholomew Orr. My call into the ministry is to reach the next generation with the gospel of Christ. My primary call at Brown Baptist Church includes Children's Ministries Leader, AWANA Game Coordinator, and Children's Church Worship Leader. I also lead a ministry called Living Waters Community Fellowship at an apartment complex in Southaven, where we hold AWANA club meetings on a weekly basis.

In January, 2006, my heart was pierced by the atrocities that were happening to children, especially at the hands of their own parents or guardians. I felt a calling to begin a Bible-based outreach to parents to bring about the awareness of the abuse that we inflict upon our children, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual. WhenLambsCry™ was initiated from this call.

In my workshops, I speak candidly about my own childhood and how the physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse carried over into adulthood. My mission is to make us aware as parents that we must:

Recognize - Recognize and resolve our own issues of life before we can start reclaiming the next generation.

Relate - Build a more personal relationship with God before achieving successful reclamation of the next generation.

Realize - Come to the realization that God values children and we should do the same.

Reclaim - Honestly assess our households, announce changes, and act in faith if we are to reclaim the next generation.

Reach - We must reach out to one another as parents, support one another through prayer, fellowship, and personal involvement to enable all parents a chance at success in raising a godly generation.

It is my prayer that When Lambs Cry will be a tool to help parents raise a godly generation.