Training!

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

This morning I awoke to find our youngest son, Michael, playing his Xbox.  We have a rule about playing video games on Sunday morning - don't!  However, I paused when I noticed the game he was playing...NCAA Football 09 - he was Auburn and the opponent was South Carolina.  When I noticed that he was winning, I replied by using of of my husband's famous quotes, "That's good!  That's good!  South Carolina is having another bad day!"  So I let him continue the game just this once.  Michael then asked if he could wear his Auburn jersey to church this morning.  Although Michael has always liked Auburn, his passion for football - especially Auburn football - has only recently emerged.  Of course this thrills his father and I to death as we are avid Auburn fans and alumni!  And though he liked Auburn because we 'trained' him up - now that he's older he's developed a real passion for Auburn!  All three of our children are 'all in' for the Auburn family...and it feels good as a parent to see this fruit of our labor!

But what's more important to us than our son developing a love for Auburn football, was that our son develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.  We've trained up all of three of our children, planting seeds and tilling soil all of their lives, preparing the ground of their hearts in hopes of fertile soil ready for the Lord.  And though I am thrilled that our youngest has now taken on the full mantle of a true Auburn fan, I'm simply AWED at the results of what God has done and is doing both in and through our children!  They are 'all in' for God!

And whenever I doubt where they stand with Christ and how their relationship with God is, God shows me sweet evidence of their faith in action - the rewards of a lifetime labor of love! 

 I'm not saying I'm perfect - in fact I've been far from the perfect parent.  And I'm not saying my children are perfect - like the rest of the human race they struggle with sin.  But what I am saying is that if we as Christian parents dedicate ourselves to 'training up our children in the way they will go,' NO MATTER WHAT,' the blessing for them is eternal! 

But here is the catch...the responsibility of raising up YOUR child is YOURS!  It is not the church's, the school's, or anyone else's responsibility.  As that child's parent, YOU are the one with this responsibility.  The church is there to help, teach, and support, but realistically our children are only at church for a few hours a week.  As parents, we have the greater influence.  If we aren't teaching God's Truth AT HOME and we are not LIVING it in front of our children, then our children could be derailed in the faith!  The stakes are TOO HIGH for us parents to risk soley relying on others to teach our children God's Truth.  God has clearly made training up children a parental responsibility - not just a church responsibility!

"5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. ⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are AT HOME and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ⁸ Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. ⁹ Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."  Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Just as training is essential to athletes and any successful sports program, so is training up our children in the Lord.  Training our children not only prepares them spiritually, but also prepares them for life.  Training them up in God's ways better equips them to deal with their world - giving them the tools to help them resist peer pressure, drugs, sex, and alcohol.  Training them up shows them how to make the right choices in life - not that they always do,but it shows them positive options.  And if they lose their way, hopefully, one day, that training will kick in and and they will find their way 'home.' 

Teaching our children to rely on God's strength to help them face anything in life is one of the best gifts we can give our children!  But our teaching must also be couched in our own love and reliance upon God that plays out in front of our children.  And that reliance and love for God can be taught best by Christian parents whose words and deeds reflect Christ!

Training up a child in the way they should go isn't always easy.  Some children are harder to train up than others...but hang in there!  Don't give up and certainly DON'T GIVE IN!!!  And remember, as parents, we have God's infinite resources and power to help us train up our children!  

In His Love, Cathy

Mind Games

I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning,

your minds may

 be corrupted from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3

My father-in-law is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.  Though only 70 years old, he was diagnosed about 7 to 8 years ago.  Anyone who has a loved one with this disease knows just how debilitating it can become.  The sufferer can be just as healthy as a horse physically, but their mind is terribly sick.  "Dad," as I warmly call him, has maintained most of his memory for most of the years he's had this disease.  Short term memory is a challenge for him.  He sometimes tell us the same thing over and over again, just within minutes, but he still knows who we all are and he still loves to crack jokes with the best of 'em. 

The sad thing is, Dad knew he had Alzheimer's.  When he was diagnosed, he was very aware of what this  would mean for him - it ran in his family.  His aunt had it.  The disease has very recently worsened.  Since last spring, Dad's condition has radically declined.  An incident occurred in the late spring/early summer that required quick intervention and change of medications.  Dad was slipping faster down the path he had resisted for so long.  Then another major incident occurred a little over a week ago.  It was such a critical situation that Scott and I had to drop all plans and rush to his parents' home.  All was good, but we stayed for hours and are on call 24/7 in case we are needed once again.

There are so many incidents are happening but I don't want to mention them all out of respect to Dad.  But even in the midst of all this, he's still Dad.  We still see glimpses of him.  He's still with us - trying to crack jokes and when he forgets the punchline, he laughs anyway.  He still knows Scott, Bryan, and all of the grandchildren's names.  But I don't think he's called me by my name in a couple of years - he's constantly confusing me with someone from his past.

I can't imagine the mind games this disease is playing in Dad's head.  I couldn't imagine going through what he is going through.  I can't imagine the confusion, despair, and disarray this disease has conjured up in him.  Alzheimer's has disabled our Dad.  My heart hurts from the realization that his condition will become progressively worse.  My heart also aches for Mom, who is trying so hard to care for him at home as long as possible.       

So, when my devotion this morning touched on the challenges of the battlefield of the mind, boy could I could relate!

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand...

 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—Ephesians 6:13-18

 Like the cruel disease that is attacking Dad, our enemy loves to cause us mental distress and anguish.  He plants seeds of strife, causing in us confusion, despair, and disarray.  He ravages our minds, leaving behind mass destruction.  He feeds us with lies designed to disable us, cause confusion, and send us scurrying in defeat!   

Thankfully, God has provided the right armor specifically designed to protect from this type of enemy attack...the Helmet of Salvation! We can be prepared as Christians by taking up this helmet.  The Helmet of Salvation protects us from the mind games of the enemy...reminding us of God's Truth as we fix our thoughts on holiness and righteousness, shielding us from the confusion and mental disorder the enemy tries to inflict!  My devotion put it so succinctly, "The figure of a helmet immediately suggests to us that this is something designed to protect the mind, the intelligence, the ability to think and reason."  Our minds can be settled when this protection is in place, bringing order and God's peace within us! 

In His Love, Cathy

Abandonment

"'I have abandoned my people, my special possession.

I have surrendered my dearest ones to their enemies.

My chosen people have roared at me like a lion of the forest,

so I have treated them with contempt.

My chosen people act like speckled vultures,

but they themselves are surrounded by vultures.

Bring on the wild animals to pick their corpses clean!'"

Jeremiah 12:7–9

"Even as God declares his abandonment of his people, he uses love language. "My people, my special possession, my chosen people"—twice he says this last part. God may punish, but he does it with great grief. Sin is serious, it must be paid for, and it gives God only anguish to express the just part of his nature. If we think there's a conflict between love and justice on God's part, there is! Even within God's own heart. God's dilemma is spelled out in Jeremiah, but it's resolved in Jesus' taking on the punishment for sin. That's our good news!"

—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions

Ever experienced tough love...as the recipient, not the giver of?  God is love...it's His Nature.  And there is no doubt that He loves us...affirmed by the sacrifice of His One and Only Son for our sins.  Yet, at those times where we refuse to let go of our sins or continue to demand our own way, perhaps these are the times God must pull out the 'tough love.'

As a parent, I know first hand how difficult it is to see our children make wrong choices, disobey, and not follow after what they know to be true.  It's difficult to see them fall into the same bad decisions repeatedly and suffer as a result.  However, their are times that we have to dish out the tough love, especially when all other efforts have failed to curb bad behavior and choices.  In some extreme cases this could mean refusing to physically support bad behavior and having the child removed from the home.  Tough love is designed to help the lost child find their way, to correct their bad behavior, to help them learn from the consequences of their mistakes so they are able to make better choices.  Tough love isn't meant to alienate but to eventually restore healthy relationships and teach children how to live a godly life.  Tough love isn't meant to be permanent, but instead is a temporary state designed to discipline. 

Tough love is tough - on both the receiver and the giver.  And though the recipient of tough love feels abandoned and unloved, it is even more difficult emotionally for the giver.  And usually, the giver still loves that wayfaring child.  They are patiently waiting for the time they can be reconciled with the loved one lost to sin. 

God's tough love is perfect.  He LOVES us even during the times our sin causes Him to abandon us.  And though He is the giver of infinite chances, there comes a point where He knows tough love must be applied.  So He allows the consequences of our actions fall upon us full force.

When we feel abandoned by God, perhaps it is because of unconfessed sin in our lives - something that we just won't let God have His way with, something that is deep rooted and we refuse to give up. A feeling of abandonment by God is a critical signal that it's time for self-examination - a sign that we must prayerfully, honestly, and aggressively seek out sin and confess it, seek His forgiveness, and erradicate it from our lives.  Perhaps God wasn't the one to abandon us first, perhaps we were the ones who refused God's admittance into our lives! 

In times of abandonment, we must understand that God hasn't gone anywhere, He's still there beside us - waiting for us to surrender wholly to Him.  We are His special possession...so let's respond by surrendering all to Him and making Him ours! 

In His Love, Cathy

Clothed in Love? Just Call me Grumpy!

Okay, so today started out pretty much like any other normal day of the work week with the usual quiet time, cup of coffee on the patio, a quick check of email and facebook before the mad rush to get ready for work.  I know I could cut out the morning facebook check, but I love wishing my friends happy birthday first thing on facebook and then I usually try to post something positive that will carry me ( and hopefully others) through the day.  So today, I posted a verse from my devotion:

"Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony."

Colossians 3:14

"Clothe yourselves with love," especially struck a chord with me today for some reason.  So I committed myself to treating others with love - after all, I may be the only person in their lives who Christ's love shines through.  Who knows?  So I set about my day with this verse in mind, determined to live it no matter what.  But you know, it's at times like these - the times you are determined to live out a verse's application in your life that you are challenged the most to live it.  And, of course, I was challenged today to clothe myself in love...BIG TIME!

The whole day seemed to be going well until my third block class...my students were not reacting to the lesson as my first two blocks had.  As I taught, I felt the frustration beginning to rise...most of my students not only were disinterested and bored (which I understand in a math class), but some were dozing, not taking notes, and sitting with their arms folded.  (My frustration was with myself for not being able to reach my students.)  So I tried to bust up this streak of boredom by cracking jokes (that had worked in the previous two classes but I guess were lame to those in 3rd block ) and making them stand up and stretch in the middle of the lesson.  I tried but still not a whole lot of improvement.  And although they are a good class, I just couldn't seem to develop the rapport with them as I have in my first two classes - my fault not theirs!

Then came 4th block...now I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my 4th block class.  I've taught many of these same students in a different math class or I've taught their siblings.  They are a joy to teach...that is when they are listening, not sleeping, playing games on the calculator, or joking around when my back was turned thinking I don't know - kind of like they were doing today.  (I mean, come on, they're teens, that's 'how they roll'!)  So I felt that frustration level rising once again. 

Then IT happened! 

IT started slowly... creeping down the right side of my face.  I felt an old familiar numbing feeling - and then -PAIN!  Pain running from the right side of my head into my neck and down to my shoulders!  A full force migraine came out of nowhere!  Really?  I mean really?  Today?  After months of being migraine free, one suddenly decided to show up today!  FYI Mr. Migraine, there is NO RAIN in the forecast!!! Does my brain not know that migraines are NOT allowed unless a front is moving through?   Hellloooo?  Get with the program Mr. Migraine!!!

So, I must confess, as I watched my students secretly laugh, doze off, and completely stare off into outer space, AND ...as my migraine invaded my brain, face and neck...I lost it!  My nice little southern bell composure melted completely away as I ripped through the clothing of love like the Incredible Hulk ripping through a shirt!  The nasty, ugly monster that lay beneath the surface was now exposed!  It was a THROWDOWN!  (Now if I had his muscles maybe students would actually fear me!  LOL!  JK!  But then again, so would my husband!  Hmm...) 

So where was the love? 

Love?  Love? 

There was no love! 

Just grumpiness, grouchiness, and a teacher on the warpath!  I was DONE with this lovey, dovey thing! It was time to bring out the hard core DISCIPLINE - nothing like a good old-fashioned lecture on my expectations of student behavior - yeah, that'll teach them!  (Yes, students will fear my fury!  I will talk you to death as I give you a good lashing of words!  Bwahahahaha!)

Actually...it didn't quite go down like that but I must say, on the inside, this is what I felt like!
So today, I must confess, I FAILED MISERABLY at this love thing! 

But wait, then again, perhaps not.

Perhaps...sometimes, just sometimes, the love we clothe ourselves in must be TOUGH LOVE in order to ultimately achieve that perfect harmony.  Hmm...just sayin'!

Grace and peace!

In His Love, Cathy
PS -BTW...I still LOVE being a teacher...wouldn't trade it for the world  ... AND ... I love my students! 

Self Examination

"So a man should examine himself."

1 Corinthians 11:28

As I read 1 Corinthians 11:28 in my morning devotions, I gave pause to contemplate it's application in my life.  I understand from the context that Paul is admonishing the Corinthian Christians to take an honest look at themselves and their motives.  News of disunity, selfishness, self-centeredness, and self serving among the members of the Corinthian Church had reached Paul.  These Corinthian believers had once eagerly accepted the Gospel, but as time went on, their lives and interactions with other believers only distorted and disfigured the God's Truth.  When they observed the Lord's Supper, they were gluttons and drunkards, shoving their way to the front of the line to ensure they had their fill...not once thinking of others before themselves nor looking out for the poor, the widows, or any other brother or sister in Christ.  These believers were only concerned for themselves, first and foremost!  They had no concern for Christ nor the other members of The Body!  It was all about them!

And though we read about these believers and are so quick to judge their selfish motives, we must also take care to examine ourselves - to take a deeper look, an honest assessment beneath the surface of our own lives.  We must prayerfully consider if there are any hidden issues or shortcomings that we ignore in ourselves, things that we push down deep and avoid dealing with - things that must be recognized, brought to the surface, and laid at the feet of our Lord.  Avoidance of such things isn't an option in the life of a believer.  In ignoring the things in ourselves we don't want to deal with we become Ostrich Christians.  Yet being overly obsessed in self examination isn't good either - especially to the point where our constant self examinations prevent us from moving forward, spur us in to self depreciation and self loathing.  Both avoidance of self examination and an unhealthy obsession with self-depreciation can paralyze us in the faith, making us unfit and unable to be of any good earthly use.  Therefore we must strike a proper, healthy balance of self-examination to achieve spiritual growth. 

A time of soul searching and self examination is necessary for a healthy spiritual life.  We can prayerfully examine ourselves, asking God to reveal to us any sin, shortcomings, or issues that we need to surrender to Him and deal with.  Then let's deal with it, let it go, and MOVE FORWARD in faith!

In His Love, Cathy