Some of the greatest heartache in the world - I believe - belongs to the parent whose child is in rebellion. I'm not just talking about a little disrespect every now and then. I'm talking about "flat-out" rebellion, where the child despises the teachings of his/her mother and father. That's incredibly sad for me to think about, and yet, in many parent's lives, it is a reality beyond anything I can imagine at this stage of my life.
Maybe you have been affected by this type of "rebellion." Maybe your children have broken your heart many, many, many times over. If so, I pray for you right now to have wisdom in your dealings with your child. I pray that God would grant you peace, in knowing that He cares for your child more than you will ever know, this side of heaven. I pray that God will enable you to have an open line of communication with your child and that your relationship will be restored. I pray that your heart would be pure before your child and before Almighty God. I pray for your tears to cease, and your joy to be restored.
I guess I can't help but write about this, because it's been on my mind lately. I was never really a "rebellious" kid. I did sow some wild oats in my day - 'nuf' said - but I really didn't lash out at my parents in disgust or disrespect. You just didn't do that in my house. You didn't turn away while my parents were talking with you, and you sure didn't roll your eyes when they suggested something that made your heart say, "Really?"
I am so thankful for that teaching. I am so thankful that they ingrained that type of behavior in us when we were younger, because now that I'm older and have kids of my own, I see the bigger picture. I see how rebellion can hurt. I see how a rolling of the eyes and a turning away of the face can damage the parent/child relationship. Sadly, it is the first sign of a rebellious heart. It's a sign that your child's heart is becoming hard...a sign a parent never wants to see.
I have yet to experience that type of total rebellion in my own family. Right now, I have a great relationship with my kids. But I know Someone who has experienced it. I know Someone who has lived life as a parent, only to be rejected, and you do, too: God.
As a parent, He wooed Israel over and over again, back into His arms...back into His safe covering for them. You would think they would have been grateful, and yet, they weren't. You would think that they would hang on His every word, and yet, in Jeremiah 2:27, God says that His children - His beloved - His precious sons and daughters - rebelled. He said, they "say to a tree 'You are my father," and to a stone, "You gave birth to me,' for they have turned their back to Me, and not their face."
Again in Jeremiah, you hear the very hurtful heart of God, the parent, as He makes this statement: "And they have turned to Me the back and not the face; Though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction" (Jer. 32:33).
As a parent, that just makes my heart hurt. The God of creation...the God Who loves passionately and doesn't know how to do it any other way...was rejected by His children. His teachings were scorned. His love was rejected. His passion for them and cries to them, fell on deaf ears. They chose to turn their backs to Him and not their faces. Pretty sad, huh?
But despite the sadness and hurt of being their parent, God didn't give up on His kids. Yes, He disciplined them, but He never gave up on them. He could have wiped them off the face of the earth and started over again, but He didn't. He could have left them completely alone in their misery, but He didn't. He could have disowned and rejected them as His own, but He didn't. Instead, God told them that after their discipline had been completed, He would "gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury and in great wrath. I WILL bring them back to this place, and I WILL cause them to dwell safely. They shall be MY people, and I WILL be their God, then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever; for the good of them and their children after them. And I WILL make an everlasting covenant with them, that I WILL not turn away from doing them good; but I WILL put MY fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I WILL rejoice over them to do them good, and I WILL assuredly plant them in this land, WITH ALL MY HEART AND WITH ALL MY SOUL" (Jer. 32:37-41).
He never gave up on them in their rebellion.
He never gave up on me in my rebellion...and He doesn't give up on me today. Praise be to His Name!
My encouragement today is for you to not give up on your son or daughter in their rebellion. Instead, be passionate about their discipline (designed to restore their relationship with you), but even more passionate about their restoration to God. Pray for them continually. Love them, even in their anger and rejection of you. Be an example of Christ to them. Believe that God will AND CAN change them into who He wants them to be. After all, He says, "I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jer. 32:29).
God wants to do a miracle in your family. He hasn't forgotten you. He wants to show you and others His glory, and while He works, you wait and pray...and wait and pray some more, believing that He hasn't given up on your child...just like He never gives up on you. : )
Father God, help me be a good parent today. Teach me how to pray for my kids...how to love them, as You love them. Help me to know when to open my mouth and when to keep it shut. You, Lord God, are my Creator. You are my Sustainer. You are my Rock and my Shelter. Help me to hide in You today, as I wait to see Your miraculous works in my child's life. I praise You, Jesus. I praise You.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Staying Out of the Belly of a Whale
Now that's different!
I have always heard and thought that Jonah - you know, the whale guy - was disobedient to God, mainly because he was "scared" to go to Nineveh. Well, after reading the book again, I've come to change my thoughts about our run-a-way prophet. I'm sure fear for his own life did play a part in his detour to Tarshish, but for the most part, Jonah was just plain angry about the whole idea of preaching repentance to the Assyrians. After all, the Assyrians...the inhabitants of Nineveh...were Jonah's arch enemies. They had attacked his city over and over again, killing and raiding as they went. So, you can imagine how much Jonah valued the lives of the Ninevites.
I can't say I blame him. In his eyes, preaching repentance to the Ninevites was like throwing a life preserver to those who had made many of his own people - possibly even his family - walk the proverbial "plank."
So when God commanded him to "Go," Jonah said, "No."
I don't think he actually looked up at God and shook his fist while defying Him. Instead, I think he heard God's orders, packed his bags and left, going in the opposite direction.
Jonah wasn't interested in saving the Ninevites. He wanted to see them suffer. He wanted to see their city destroyed. Wouldn't it be better for Israel, if her enemies were wiped off the face of the earth? Jonah wanted judgement - punishment for those who had inflicted so much damage and pain.
I know that because in Jonah chapter 4 (post-whale), when the prophet saw the repentance of the people of Nineveh, Jonah became very angry. His prayer revealed his reasoning for not wanting to go in the first place: "Ah, Lord was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore, I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness; One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live" (vs.1-3).
Before Jonah ever made plans to leave Israel, he knew what would probably happen if he preached repentance to the Ninevites. He knew that God was "a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness; One who relents from doing harm." He knew God was too gracious and merciful not to give them another chance, before He exacted judgement. He knew that God was going to spare Nineveh, so I'm assuming he banked on the fact that God would spare him, as well.
Jonah wasn't dumb. He knew that intentionally disobedience wasn't smart, but he probably rationalized that God, being gracious and merciful...full of lovingkindness and compassion, would be gracious and merciful to him in his disobedience. He figured God would let him get away with rebellion this one time - maybe...
Maybe not.
God IS gracious and merciful. Yes, He is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness. Yes, He is a God who relents from doing harm. But did that give Jonah a reason to willfully sin against the Father and disobey His commands? NO! God told Jonah at the end of the book that the Ninevites didn't know their right hand from their left. They didn't have a clue they were wallowing in sin...but Jonah KNEW better.
I think we are just as guilty as Jonah sometimes. God tells us something that's hard to do...something that takes us out of our comfort zone and like Jonah, we look at Him in our own way and ask Him, "Are you kidding me? I can't forgive him for what He did. I can't forgive her for what she said. There's no way I'm going to even try. They've damaged me far too much. My heart is hard and will remain so. I can't believe You are even asking me to do this, God." And then we count on the fact that He is gracious and merciful. We count on the fact that He is full of lovingkindness and compassion. We bank on the fact that He will overlook this ONE area of rebelliousness in our lives, and we head to Tarshish.
Then, like Jonah, we find ourselves in the belly of a whale - cold, dark, hungry and clueless - wondering why God would allow this to happen.
Oh, Beloved of God...LOVED by God...sometimes the things that God asks us to do in His Word ARE hard. It's not easy to forgive. It's not easy to minister grace and mercy to those who have caused you harm. It's not easy to let go of the anger and allow God to do His work. And it's definitely not easy to watch the results of that work - sometimes being full of grace and compassion. Yet, God calls us to do it - to forgive - to not judge - to not hold grudges - to be more concerned about their souls and their relationship to God, than we are about our own feelings.
Forgive, today. Tell yourself and God that this person has your forgiveness. They are no longer in debt to you, nor are you to them. They are His and He can do whatever He wants with them - whether that be salvation or destruction. Choose to repeat that to yourself - "With God's grace and because of God's lovingkindness to me, I forgive ______________." Then, let God do His work in their lives - even if it includes you.
Dearest Jesus, please help me today to let go of vengeance. Please show me my hidden rebellion...the sin that is keeping me captive. Help me choose to forgive, as you forgive...to love, as You love...to obey, as You were obedient to Your Father. Thank You for being gracious and merciful - full of lovingkindness to me. I love You, Lord. I love you.
I have always heard and thought that Jonah - you know, the whale guy - was disobedient to God, mainly because he was "scared" to go to Nineveh. Well, after reading the book again, I've come to change my thoughts about our run-a-way prophet. I'm sure fear for his own life did play a part in his detour to Tarshish, but for the most part, Jonah was just plain angry about the whole idea of preaching repentance to the Assyrians. After all, the Assyrians...the inhabitants of Nineveh...were Jonah's arch enemies. They had attacked his city over and over again, killing and raiding as they went. So, you can imagine how much Jonah valued the lives of the Ninevites.
I can't say I blame him. In his eyes, preaching repentance to the Ninevites was like throwing a life preserver to those who had made many of his own people - possibly even his family - walk the proverbial "plank."
So when God commanded him to "Go," Jonah said, "No."
I don't think he actually looked up at God and shook his fist while defying Him. Instead, I think he heard God's orders, packed his bags and left, going in the opposite direction.
Jonah wasn't interested in saving the Ninevites. He wanted to see them suffer. He wanted to see their city destroyed. Wouldn't it be better for Israel, if her enemies were wiped off the face of the earth? Jonah wanted judgement - punishment for those who had inflicted so much damage and pain.
I know that because in Jonah chapter 4 (post-whale), when the prophet saw the repentance of the people of Nineveh, Jonah became very angry. His prayer revealed his reasoning for not wanting to go in the first place: "Ah, Lord was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore, I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness; One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live" (vs.1-3).
Before Jonah ever made plans to leave Israel, he knew what would probably happen if he preached repentance to the Ninevites. He knew that God was "a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness; One who relents from doing harm." He knew God was too gracious and merciful not to give them another chance, before He exacted judgement. He knew that God was going to spare Nineveh, so I'm assuming he banked on the fact that God would spare him, as well.
Jonah wasn't dumb. He knew that intentionally disobedience wasn't smart, but he probably rationalized that God, being gracious and merciful...full of lovingkindness and compassion, would be gracious and merciful to him in his disobedience. He figured God would let him get away with rebellion this one time - maybe...
Maybe not.
God IS gracious and merciful. Yes, He is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness. Yes, He is a God who relents from doing harm. But did that give Jonah a reason to willfully sin against the Father and disobey His commands? NO! God told Jonah at the end of the book that the Ninevites didn't know their right hand from their left. They didn't have a clue they were wallowing in sin...but Jonah KNEW better.
I think we are just as guilty as Jonah sometimes. God tells us something that's hard to do...something that takes us out of our comfort zone and like Jonah, we look at Him in our own way and ask Him, "Are you kidding me? I can't forgive him for what He did. I can't forgive her for what she said. There's no way I'm going to even try. They've damaged me far too much. My heart is hard and will remain so. I can't believe You are even asking me to do this, God." And then we count on the fact that He is gracious and merciful. We count on the fact that He is full of lovingkindness and compassion. We bank on the fact that He will overlook this ONE area of rebelliousness in our lives, and we head to Tarshish.
Then, like Jonah, we find ourselves in the belly of a whale - cold, dark, hungry and clueless - wondering why God would allow this to happen.
Oh, Beloved of God...LOVED by God...sometimes the things that God asks us to do in His Word ARE hard. It's not easy to forgive. It's not easy to minister grace and mercy to those who have caused you harm. It's not easy to let go of the anger and allow God to do His work. And it's definitely not easy to watch the results of that work - sometimes being full of grace and compassion. Yet, God calls us to do it - to forgive - to not judge - to not hold grudges - to be more concerned about their souls and their relationship to God, than we are about our own feelings.
Forgive, today. Tell yourself and God that this person has your forgiveness. They are no longer in debt to you, nor are you to them. They are His and He can do whatever He wants with them - whether that be salvation or destruction. Choose to repeat that to yourself - "With God's grace and because of God's lovingkindness to me, I forgive ______________." Then, let God do His work in their lives - even if it includes you.
Dearest Jesus, please help me today to let go of vengeance. Please show me my hidden rebellion...the sin that is keeping me captive. Help me choose to forgive, as you forgive...to love, as You love...to obey, as You were obedient to Your Father. Thank You for being gracious and merciful - full of lovingkindness to me. I love You, Lord. I love you.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Young Earth - Old Earth - What Does It Really Matter???
I just have to tell you this...
The other day my little six-year-old was trying to explain to me how old something was. I can't remember the exact item in question, but I can definitely remember how he used his words to articulate the depth of his seriousness in "dating" this thing. He began by telling me - well, here - let me just quote what he said: "Mom, it's older than you (dramatic pause)...and dad (dramatic pause)...and Grandpa (dramatic pause)...and Papa (dramatic pause)." And then with big eyes and an intensity in his voice that made me know he was as serious as a little boy can get, he said, "Like the 90's."
Now, everything in me wanted to laugh out loud in hysteria, but I didn't want to make light of his "dating process." I did, eventually, tell him that I was born a little earlier than the "90's," but I didn't tell him HOW MUCH earlier.
Seth got his point across. Whatever "it" was...it was OLD. He just had his dates a little confused, which threw everything else into question.
Well, yesterday, we had a Creation Scientist come speak at our church, and I wish you could have been there. Steve Levinson had some things to say about the current way scientists date something (how they tell how old something is), as well as the problems associated with their calculations. You see, they - along with most all the media - say that the earth is millions of years old. Our school textbooks tell our children that. The History Channel tells us that. Even the PBS Channel tells us that. It just has to be true, doesn't it? And even if it's not true, does it really matter if it isn't?
I used to think it wasn't a big deal. In reality, I just never thought about it. I accepted the old age of the earth, just like I accepted the fact that chlorophyll causes plants to turn green. But as I've gotten older and a little more inquisitive, I've come to realize that it really does matter. It really does matter that the earth is NOT millions of years old and that the dating process most scientists now employ is flawed. Want to know HOW it matters? I'm glad you've asked.
As a Christian, who believes the Bible to be the infallible Word of God, the dating of the earth is a HUGE deal. If what the secular scientists say is true - then, the earth is millions of years old, and plants and animals died LONG before man ever came on the scene. How is this "old earth" theory detrimental to my faith? Well, if you remember, the Bible says that before the Fall, there was NO death. Death entered the world, only AFTER Adam and Eve sinned. So, in saying that death occurred BEFORE the Fall of man, these scientists are refuting the Word of God...in essence calling it inaccurate and against science. If that's the case - that Scripture is wrong on the timing of when death entered the world - then Scripture can be wrong about other things. Maybe there was no resurrection...maybe the death of Jesus was all just a hoax...maybe there is no such thing as Heaven and Hell.
Can I scream on this page through ink - NOT!
There is NO error in Scripture. The error is in human abilities.
Another point in question is that if these fossils were millions of years old, then why are scientists finding soft tissues and blood cells encapsulated in T-Rex bones? Surely, science would say that after being baked in the desert for millions of years, those things would have become fossilized themselves or disintegrated...one of the two.
Now, if you think I'm taking this way too far and am way too concerned about this issue, then think about this. Mr. Levinson said yesterday that 85% of our youth who have grown up in church, leave church once they graduate high school and NEVER COME BACK. THEY NEVER COME BACK. If you are a Believer, that should alarm you. Could it be that one day, some professor somewhere told them that their ideas about the Bible account of creation was wrong...that there was error in the Word of God? Could it be that they didn't have the knowledge to give a rebuttal, a defense for why they believed Scripture to be accurate? Could it be that they were never taught how to question science or defend what they believed to be Truth? Could it be that sadly they accepted what they heard from their "wise elders" and tossed away their former belief system?
Could it be?
I hope not, but probably so.
I'm not trying to scare you about science. I love science. I always have. But I am trying to get the message out - just like our friend Mr. Levinson - that we need to open our eyes to the things that secular scientists are feeding us. We need to stop accepting things as truth that are merely speculations or theories, especially if they don't line up with the Word. Instead we need to be able to speak intelligently about scientific things. We need to study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (II Timothy:15). We need to revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (I Peter 3:15).
You know, I still watch those TV channels on occasion, and I still take my kids to the museum. But because of what I've seen in the past couple of years and because I was reminded of it again yesterday, now when we watch those programs and when we see those amazing exhibits, I will be a little more cautious and questioning. I will make more of an intentional effort to ensure that my kids know how to explain science in light of the Truth, and that they know how to defend what they believe scientifically.
I could go on and on all day, but I have got to get out of this chair and fix my family breakfast! So, for those of you who are interested...for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about...or for those of you who want to know more about how to defend your faith by using science, I urge you to visit the Answers in Genesis' website: www. answersingenesis.org. They have great videos and intriguing articles that will keep you updated and informed on the latest discoveries and news in the scientific world, as well as give you information on how this affects you and how to defend your faith in the light of what you know.
Jesus, help me to be passionate about the things You are passionate about. Help me distinguish between Truth and falsehood and to be smart about it. Give me wisdom to study to show myself approved to You...to be a good student of Your Word, as well as a good defender of the faith. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You.
The other day my little six-year-old was trying to explain to me how old something was. I can't remember the exact item in question, but I can definitely remember how he used his words to articulate the depth of his seriousness in "dating" this thing. He began by telling me - well, here - let me just quote what he said: "Mom, it's older than you (dramatic pause)...and dad (dramatic pause)...and Grandpa (dramatic pause)...and Papa (dramatic pause)." And then with big eyes and an intensity in his voice that made me know he was as serious as a little boy can get, he said, "Like the 90's."
Now, everything in me wanted to laugh out loud in hysteria, but I didn't want to make light of his "dating process." I did, eventually, tell him that I was born a little earlier than the "90's," but I didn't tell him HOW MUCH earlier.
Seth got his point across. Whatever "it" was...it was OLD. He just had his dates a little confused, which threw everything else into question.
Well, yesterday, we had a Creation Scientist come speak at our church, and I wish you could have been there. Steve Levinson had some things to say about the current way scientists date something (how they tell how old something is), as well as the problems associated with their calculations. You see, they - along with most all the media - say that the earth is millions of years old. Our school textbooks tell our children that. The History Channel tells us that. Even the PBS Channel tells us that. It just has to be true, doesn't it? And even if it's not true, does it really matter if it isn't?
I used to think it wasn't a big deal. In reality, I just never thought about it. I accepted the old age of the earth, just like I accepted the fact that chlorophyll causes plants to turn green. But as I've gotten older and a little more inquisitive, I've come to realize that it really does matter. It really does matter that the earth is NOT millions of years old and that the dating process most scientists now employ is flawed. Want to know HOW it matters? I'm glad you've asked.
As a Christian, who believes the Bible to be the infallible Word of God, the dating of the earth is a HUGE deal. If what the secular scientists say is true - then, the earth is millions of years old, and plants and animals died LONG before man ever came on the scene. How is this "old earth" theory detrimental to my faith? Well, if you remember, the Bible says that before the Fall, there was NO death. Death entered the world, only AFTER Adam and Eve sinned. So, in saying that death occurred BEFORE the Fall of man, these scientists are refuting the Word of God...in essence calling it inaccurate and against science. If that's the case - that Scripture is wrong on the timing of when death entered the world - then Scripture can be wrong about other things. Maybe there was no resurrection...maybe the death of Jesus was all just a hoax...maybe there is no such thing as Heaven and Hell.
Can I scream on this page through ink - NOT!
There is NO error in Scripture. The error is in human abilities.
Another point in question is that if these fossils were millions of years old, then why are scientists finding soft tissues and blood cells encapsulated in T-Rex bones? Surely, science would say that after being baked in the desert for millions of years, those things would have become fossilized themselves or disintegrated...one of the two.
Now, if you think I'm taking this way too far and am way too concerned about this issue, then think about this. Mr. Levinson said yesterday that 85% of our youth who have grown up in church, leave church once they graduate high school and NEVER COME BACK. THEY NEVER COME BACK. If you are a Believer, that should alarm you. Could it be that one day, some professor somewhere told them that their ideas about the Bible account of creation was wrong...that there was error in the Word of God? Could it be that they didn't have the knowledge to give a rebuttal, a defense for why they believed Scripture to be accurate? Could it be that they were never taught how to question science or defend what they believed to be Truth? Could it be that sadly they accepted what they heard from their "wise elders" and tossed away their former belief system?
Could it be?
I hope not, but probably so.
I'm not trying to scare you about science. I love science. I always have. But I am trying to get the message out - just like our friend Mr. Levinson - that we need to open our eyes to the things that secular scientists are feeding us. We need to stop accepting things as truth that are merely speculations or theories, especially if they don't line up with the Word. Instead we need to be able to speak intelligently about scientific things. We need to study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (II Timothy:15). We need to revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (I Peter 3:15).
You know, I still watch those TV channels on occasion, and I still take my kids to the museum. But because of what I've seen in the past couple of years and because I was reminded of it again yesterday, now when we watch those programs and when we see those amazing exhibits, I will be a little more cautious and questioning. I will make more of an intentional effort to ensure that my kids know how to explain science in light of the Truth, and that they know how to defend what they believe scientifically.
I could go on and on all day, but I have got to get out of this chair and fix my family breakfast! So, for those of you who are interested...for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about...or for those of you who want to know more about how to defend your faith by using science, I urge you to visit the Answers in Genesis' website: www. answersingenesis.org. They have great videos and intriguing articles that will keep you updated and informed on the latest discoveries and news in the scientific world, as well as give you information on how this affects you and how to defend your faith in the light of what you know.
Jesus, help me to be passionate about the things You are passionate about. Help me distinguish between Truth and falsehood and to be smart about it. Give me wisdom to study to show myself approved to You...to be a good student of Your Word, as well as a good defender of the faith. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)