Kid Smart

Kids are smarter than us adults in many ways. Where adults are content to live in hypocrisy and empty religious practices, our kids see right through such facades. I have realized over the years that it is difficult to pass on to my children a passion for Jesus if I myself am not walking in and living with such passion. How do I expect them to live for God more zealous than I, when as the leader of the home I live out a lukewarm, compromising lifestyle?

I can tell when I am not hungry for God. When my heart isn't burning for Him. When I try to teach or encourage my kids in the things of God in those times, it's like my words have no life in them, they are empty, because Daddy isn't living what he is preaching.

How do I encourage them to make Jesus everything, when He isn't everything to me? How do I exhort them to have one love, one passion, when my heart is is in love with the allurements of the world or caught up in the distractions of life?

Kids will see right through such illusions. Give it time - a lifestyle of hypocritical living, I believe, will be exposed to our children. And thank God for that. It should concern me that if my life doesn't match up with my words, my kids will see through it, and their walk with God could be and most likely will be negatively affected as a result of my hypocrisy. And at the same time, it should challenge me to the core of my being to live a life of integrity and passion before the Lord, as I well should.

A pastor friend of mine said that integrity is when our thoughts, words and actions all line up as one. And ultimately, they should line up with the Word of God. And so it is with us... Are we living lives of integrity and godly character before our children? Are we modeling for them lives of passion and love for Jesus? Or are our words falling on closed ears because they cant hear us over the noise our hypocritical actions?

And so we must repent, resolving to keep the fire for God burning in our hearts, forsaking the world and it's allurements, for the sake of our children, and His great Name.

State of the Union

I read an article in Charisma News this morning regarding sexual indoctrination in the public schools of California. Though I am aware in many ways of the morally declining state of US, this still surprised me.

This is where we are at as a nation (though there is a deeper root problem - learn more). What is sin to God is being promoted as good to the next generation, no to mention with no supposed concern to whether or not a parent would want their child being taught such things. I am reminded of Paul's letter to the Romans where he mentioned that though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

I have many thoughts swirling through my mind regarding this topic, our necessary response as Christians, etc. I would encourage you to take the time to read the article (link below). I have heard of similar things happening in a public school of upstate New York where I grew up, and I am sure they are not the only school experiencing the pressure to "educate" the next generation on these sinful lifestyles.

I will not be silent, I will speak.

To read the article, click here.

Lead Me

One of the most tall and challenging tasks I face as a man is leading my family. The Bible says to love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. We are also to teach our children His ways, when we lie down, when we walk, when we are about doing life together. I am the example of the Father heart of God to my kids.

This task is too tall for me. To grand for me to accomplish... on my own.

I woke up this morning with the song "Lead Me" by Sanctus Real in my head. It's another reminder of the great task that lies before us as men, and the fact that we need God's help to accomplish it.

If you haven't heard the song, or even if you have, give it a listen today and be reminded and encouraged as I was.

No Fear

I tweet. I enjoy it. I get to follow the people I chose that I have an interest in, a relationship with, or who add value to my life through the 140 characters they have to write their thoughts.

One person I recently started following was Taffi Dollar, wife of Creflo Dollar of Creflo Dollar Ministries. I know little of the Dollars, though, I am amused by their last name, and I have enjoyed some of their tweets. One in particular caught my attention the other day that I found beneficial and spoke into my life. Mrs. Dollar's tweet said this:

"TaffiDollar: Pray for your children. No fear! Shut the door on fear with faith. Live the fearless life. Fear robs you & robs them of their peace."

So true.

I struggle with fear when it comes to my children. When I give into that fear I am giving into sin. God commands us to not be afraid. Nor did He give us a spirit of fear, rather perfect love casts out fear. God through His Word has made it clear that we are to live a "fearless life," but the reality of my life right now is that I allow myself to live with fear. I have allowed fear to creep in, not only in regards to my children, but other areas of life as well.

And so I chose, today, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live a life without fear. I chose, instead, to live a life of faith.