Under Construction

As I think about growing up in Salem I can hardly gloss over some of the challenges but can't forget the great times either. From fishing at Montauk with my buddies to getting into fights at the Junior High. These things were all apart of me growing up. The Bible in 1 Samuel 2:21 says "the boy, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord." Growing up comes natural but growing up in "the presence of the Lord" comes by intention. Of course outside of the soverignty of God do I say this but a parent must look to the architect and follow the drawings that have been given. The scriptures teach us in Ps 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Dads we must be very intentional in following the drawings or the plans that the architect has given us for the building of young lives. Why? So that "Christ is formed" in the lives of our children and they grow up in the "presence of God" in our homes. What plans and from what architect are we following in the raising of our children? They are a gift from God, Ps.127:3 says, and are like "arrows" that have to be pointed in the right direction by dads and moms so they will hit the target. Growing up isn't easy but we survived and even the books on our heads couln't stop us from growing. Growing up "in the presence of God" is not something that just happens, it again happens as we are intentional in the raising of our kids.

Who Me?

The blame game has been going on for 5000 years...since Adam and Eve. The "woman" you gave me was Adam's excuse for his actions. After just finishing the book of Judges in the O.T. I have concluded that mankind, me and you, have not changed much since then. Judges 13:1 says "Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the lord..." This wasn't the first time in fact, it happened repeatedly as the text says "again." Again the Israelites did evil...you mean it's not my wife's fault? my boss's fault? my husband's fault? etc. ad nauseam. Nope it's just your fault! I don't like that conclusion but the truth will set us free...help us deal with the real culprit....it will wound us to heal us. Living really begins when we get rid of the victim mentality once and for all. Remember Jesus said to forgive us "our trespasses" before we go looking for others who we may think have wronged us.

The Labor Room

I sure do remember Labor Day 1981. Why? Our oldest son was born on that "LABOR DAY." If I would of had to have the next baby our son would of been an only child! The apostle Paul writes in Gal.4:19 that he was in the "pains of childbirth" for the folks in area of Galatia. They were not were they should of been in their relationship with God. Can you imagine the "labor" in his prayer for them. It sounded like a delivery room at the hospital. Pain and agony on behalf of someone else to be delivered from something to someone...God. Our Wed. night prayer meetings should be believers crying out to God for others. See you Wed. at 7:00. This is going to be an "only God" year because of your labor in prayer for others.

Red Lights in Life

Can you imagine that your born into a home that didn't think they could ever have a baby. Well meet Samson in Judges 13:2,3. Then to top it off, God Himself says that you would be "set apart" for Himself from birth. Expectations galore and a few things God said you should not do all lead to a young man commited to God but a mom who has to say no at times as well. Samson grows up through chapter 17 and obviously didn't listen to God nor his mom and dad more than once. A young man who ran through the red lights in life...one of the those is to listen to your parents. They, almost always, know what's best. As a parent it's our place to stay on our knees and for young people to listen our counsel. So watch out for the red lights in life...if you don't you'll have a head on collision with trouble and problems...you were right mom!