When is the last time you ran around outside, went on a swing, slid down a slide, played dodgeball, had a silly relay race, colored a coloring book? When is the last time you did something you enjoyed as a kid?
We let life and the stress of life suck the joy out of it. We get too busy with too many responsibilities. And half the time we think we cannot do anything fun because we spent all our money on bills and debt. It is time you choose to have fun.
Turn off the TV and computer and grab your kids, friends and/or spouse for some fun. Play one of your favorite kid games outside. Enjoy the weather. Enjoy the laughing. Enjoy the exercise. Enjoy freedom from stress. Enjoy the fellowship of others. Choose to spend 20-30 minutes being a kid again.
Choosing to have some fun outside in the sun has so many benefits.
1. You are getting exercise which is great for your heart and health. (Great for stress and depression)
2. You are getting Vitamin D from the sun. (Great for stress and depression)
3. You are smiling and laughing which brings joy to others.
4. You are smiling and laughing which brings joy to your own life.
5. You are bonding and connecting with your children and/or spouse. (If done on a consistent basis can build a relationship that has more open communication.)
6. The memories of your fun will stick with you and bring a smile to your face on a stressful day.
Those benefits are too great too resist, so why not choose to have some fun? Let's schedule fun at least once a week. If you can, schedule 15-20 minutes of fun after school or dinner while the weather is nice outside. It is a choice so simple, so cheap, why not choose fun?
Your homework is easy, go have fun outside. Choose fun instead of dwelling on your worries and stress. Choose to enjoy the blessings of your family and friends by having fun with them.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Choose to Smile
Yesterday I decided we would focus on a simple choice, choosing to smile. This morning at 6:30 a.m., when my family of six was suppose to be leaving for school, our van was completely dead. It was too early and there was really no time to call for help. The six of us piled in our little Chevy Aveo; wheelchair, backpacks and all. So, before the sun rose this morning, I had a choice to make. And I had to choose to smile and almost laugh. (And had a family prayer because four kids touching for 45 minutes in a backseat could be dangerous.)
So why should I choose to smile? I have a right to be frustrated. Would it matter if I was frowning or smiling? My choosing to smile would have these results:
1. My kids, including my teenager, would stay calm and for the most part in pretty good spirits for sharing a little backseat.
2. As I began my day subbing, no one would know I had a bad morning. My smile may make them have a better day.
3. I cannot stay in a bad mood or let my stress take charge of my day if I am finding a reason to smile.
4. If I am going to get wrinkles, I do not want them to be ones from frowning.
5. Nobody wants to hear about an amazing God from someone who always has a frown or a grimace.
6. I should choose to smile because I am a sinner saved by grace and have a Heavenly Father who loves me.
It is Monday. Something will probably happen to ruin your day or week. But this time you will choose to still smile. Your face can show the world your stress or your face can show others the joy you have in Christ. Let's choose to smile :):):):):):):)
This is the passage I read this morning. The key verse was 34:19. It made me smile.
So why should I choose to smile? I have a right to be frustrated. Would it matter if I was frowning or smiling? My choosing to smile would have these results:
1. My kids, including my teenager, would stay calm and for the most part in pretty good spirits for sharing a little backseat.
2. As I began my day subbing, no one would know I had a bad morning. My smile may make them have a better day.
3. I cannot stay in a bad mood or let my stress take charge of my day if I am finding a reason to smile.
4. If I am going to get wrinkles, I do not want them to be ones from frowning.
5. Nobody wants to hear about an amazing God from someone who always has a frown or a grimace.
6. I should choose to smile because I am a sinner saved by grace and have a Heavenly Father who loves me.
It is Monday. Something will probably happen to ruin your day or week. But this time you will choose to still smile. Your face can show the world your stress or your face can show others the joy you have in Christ. Let's choose to smile :):):):):):):)
This is the passage I read this morning. The key verse was 34:19. It made me smile.
"1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems his servants;
22 The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him."
Psalm 34
Friday, October 16, 2009
No Condemnation
To end this week, I want to review one thing. It does not matter how many bad choices you have made or how bad the choice was. God loves you and forgives you.
There is no condemnation in Christ. He will convict you of your sin so you will turn from it. But please, please remember there is no condemnation.
"28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
There is no condemnation in Christ. He will convict you of your sin so you will turn from it. But please, please remember there is no condemnation.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1
"17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" John 3:17
As we talked the other day, you need to confess and repent. Let the blood of Jesus wash you clean. Accept His grace and forgiveness. Please be sensitive to conviction of the Holy Spirit, but let the enemy have no hold by believing his condemnation.
My sweet friend, you are not worthless. You life is not a waste. Your past does not make it too late to live for Christ. Your mistakes do not make you a bad parent or spouse. Yes, you and I may have lost sight of God and His plan and purpose. We have fallen into a trap of worldly desires. We may have even hurt the ones we loved by our choices. But your Father is standing there with open arms. He loves you. He will forgive you. He will take our messes and use them and us to glorify Him. Even if you do not know how to, begin to pray. Just fall on your knees, fall on your face and humble yourself before God.
"26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Romans 8:26-27
My sweet friend, you were chosen by God. You were created in His image. Nothing you do will separate you from Him.
"29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:29-38
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:29-38
Hopefully, you already made the choice to make Christ the Lord of your life. (If not please contact me so we can talk.) Your biggest choice was to accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Now choose to accept that forgiveness. Choose to believe His word. Trust me, I know He can use someone who has made really bad choices. I am a sinner. I made too many bad choices. But I am a daughter of Christ. I have been forgiven. Now what was intended to tear my life apart, God is choosing to use to teach others. He never stopped loving me. He waited for me to return to Him. He is waiting for you. He wants you to choose Him first above everything else. He is not waiting to condemn, but to forgive. Let Him forgive. Let Him love you. Stop running because of the enemy's condemnation. Make the choice to accept forgiveness and live your life for Christ.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19: 7-14
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Choosing to realze your little choices lead to consequences
A fifteen year old boy lies in a hospital bed in critical condition. His body burned and he will be fighting for his life for some time. The five teenage boys who did this to him are pleading not guilty. They made the choice to set him on fire and none of them at any point in time chose to help him. It is obvious that they made a bad choice but their lawyers are saying not guilty. I am a little confused.
A mom is about to have a nervous breakdown. They have more money going out than coming in. Her teenage daughter may be sexually active, but she cannot communicate with her. They have not had a family dinner since school started because of 4 nights a week they have football practice, plus games on Saturdays and another child has soccer three nights a week and games twice a week. She feels sick and weak and has not had a well balanced meal or exercised in several weeks. She does not understand why everything is falling apart. Everything she has done has been for her family. Is she seeing the little choices she made that has led to these consequences?
Let's do a little evaluation of your life. This is not to condemn or to judge. I want you to be able to see the choices you are making and which ones are adding to your stress. If you feel condemnation, remember it is of the devil. The Holy Spirit will convict and you have to be open to listen.
1. Are you starting every day with prayer and giving the day to God before you get out of bed?
2. Are you finding time to be read and study His word? Are you doing it on a consistent basis?
3. Do you exercise at least 3-5 times a week?
4. Are you eating healthy foods? Do you eat veggies, get your protein?
5. Do you have time as a family to pray, worship, eat, relax together?
6. Do you look forward to being home or despise it because the house is such a mess?
7. Do you sit down and eat together and communicate more than three times a week?
8. Are you (and spouse) the main spiritual leader of each other and your children? Or is it the church?
9. Do you spend more money on your kids needs or wants? Do you look for the best deal?
10. By where you spend your time and money, what is the most important priority in your life? your kids?
11. Do you pray with your spouse and/or kids? Do you ask how you can pray for them? Do they know you pray for them?
12.Is your debt because you lost a job or emergency medical expenses? Or is it because you wanted things like a bigger house, more stuff, or just wanted new things?
13. How often do you praise God?
14. How much of your stress is from these choices? Or what stress will you have because of these choices?
Over the past several weeks we have discussed what choices we should be making and how we should be answering these questions. Continuing to make the same choices is going to lead to the same consequences. You have to realize that the same little choice made over and over again has consequences.
One example is your children. If studies are correct, by the time your child is 13 years old, habits and morals are already established. It will be harder to change them. By the time they are eighteen, it is even less likely and harder to change habits and morals. So if you do not start to make choices now that will train your child spiritually, it is going to get harder. And if you think taking them to church is enough, another study says when they go to college they are more likely not to attend church. And I don't think any of us want our child to only turn to God after they hit rock bottom as an adult. Some of us have been there. You have a choice to make spiritual training in your home a priority and your choice will have long term consequences. What will you choose? (And if you are not parent a now, the minute you become one, please start from the day you bring them home by reading the Bible or a devotional to them.)
Another example is your health. If you choose to continue to put off exercise and eating right, you will face consequences. You may already be facing those consequences. Your body will eventually have health complications from the choices you are making. You cannot continue to ignore the consequences that will come form your choices.
Another example is your home. You make the simple choice not pick up at the end of the day or put that load of laundry up. It seems like no big deal. But after several days of that same choice. You are overwhelmed and frustrated because your house is a mess. You get in a bad mood and we know what the consequence is for you family. Choosing to spend 15 minutes picking up or watching TV has consequences.
I could go on and on with examples. But it is very simple, the little choices you make everyday will have consequences. They may start out small, but making those same little choices daily will lead to bigger consequences. You can plead not guilty, but eventually the truth will show in the consequences. Remember, what may be a choice for you is really not an option so choose wisely.
A mom is about to have a nervous breakdown. They have more money going out than coming in. Her teenage daughter may be sexually active, but she cannot communicate with her. They have not had a family dinner since school started because of 4 nights a week they have football practice, plus games on Saturdays and another child has soccer three nights a week and games twice a week. She feels sick and weak and has not had a well balanced meal or exercised in several weeks. She does not understand why everything is falling apart. Everything she has done has been for her family. Is she seeing the little choices she made that has led to these consequences?
Let's do a little evaluation of your life. This is not to condemn or to judge. I want you to be able to see the choices you are making and which ones are adding to your stress. If you feel condemnation, remember it is of the devil. The Holy Spirit will convict and you have to be open to listen.
1. Are you starting every day with prayer and giving the day to God before you get out of bed?
2. Are you finding time to be read and study His word? Are you doing it on a consistent basis?
3. Do you exercise at least 3-5 times a week?
4. Are you eating healthy foods? Do you eat veggies, get your protein?
5. Do you have time as a family to pray, worship, eat, relax together?
6. Do you look forward to being home or despise it because the house is such a mess?
7. Do you sit down and eat together and communicate more than three times a week?
8. Are you (and spouse) the main spiritual leader of each other and your children? Or is it the church?
9. Do you spend more money on your kids needs or wants? Do you look for the best deal?
10. By where you spend your time and money, what is the most important priority in your life? your kids?
11. Do you pray with your spouse and/or kids? Do you ask how you can pray for them? Do they know you pray for them?
12.Is your debt because you lost a job or emergency medical expenses? Or is it because you wanted things like a bigger house, more stuff, or just wanted new things?
13. How often do you praise God?
14. How much of your stress is from these choices? Or what stress will you have because of these choices?
Over the past several weeks we have discussed what choices we should be making and how we should be answering these questions. Continuing to make the same choices is going to lead to the same consequences. You have to realize that the same little choice made over and over again has consequences.
One example is your children. If studies are correct, by the time your child is 13 years old, habits and morals are already established. It will be harder to change them. By the time they are eighteen, it is even less likely and harder to change habits and morals. So if you do not start to make choices now that will train your child spiritually, it is going to get harder. And if you think taking them to church is enough, another study says when they go to college they are more likely not to attend church. And I don't think any of us want our child to only turn to God after they hit rock bottom as an adult. Some of us have been there. You have a choice to make spiritual training in your home a priority and your choice will have long term consequences. What will you choose? (And if you are not parent a now, the minute you become one, please start from the day you bring them home by reading the Bible or a devotional to them.)
Another example is your health. If you choose to continue to put off exercise and eating right, you will face consequences. You may already be facing those consequences. Your body will eventually have health complications from the choices you are making. You cannot continue to ignore the consequences that will come form your choices.
Another example is your home. You make the simple choice not pick up at the end of the day or put that load of laundry up. It seems like no big deal. But after several days of that same choice. You are overwhelmed and frustrated because your house is a mess. You get in a bad mood and we know what the consequence is for you family. Choosing to spend 15 minutes picking up or watching TV has consequences.
I could go on and on with examples. But it is very simple, the little choices you make everyday will have consequences. They may start out small, but making those same little choices daily will lead to bigger consequences. You can plead not guilty, but eventually the truth will show in the consequences. Remember, what may be a choice for you is really not an option so choose wisely.
"4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up....
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up....
13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins....
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
James 4:4-10,13-17; 5:13-20
So, how do we make the right choices and avoid negative consequences? Remember these things as James said:
1. Choose God over the world (in how you spend your time and money)
2. Choose to admit your sins (remember grace)
3. Choose to praise Him (even for the little things)
4. Choose prayer (for yourself and others)
5. Choose to lead others (friends, family, children) to God - not away
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Making choices after a bad choice
So you took a bite of the apple or you at least got a lick, the consequences have started. What do you do now? Do you choose to hide or do you choose to do something?
If you have not already figured it out or are in deep denial, you cannot hide from God or the consequences. Which means choosing to hide is not an option. You cannot hide from your debt, your marriage, your kids, your home, your physical health and especially not God. You will have to face consequences. You now have to make other choices. What should you choose?
1. Choose to repent.
We usually like to justify our bad choices. We like to justify them by putting the blame on others or by saying we did not know better. Don't justify; just repent. Even when others may be partially to blame, you made the choice to act the way you did. You have to choose to admit your wrong doing. You have to repent to God and anyone affected by your bad choice. And if you are a parent, that means asking forgiveness from your child if he/she is affected by the consequences. God will forgive and more than likely your child, your spouse or your friend will forgive a true repentance. It may take time, but they usually will.
2. Choose to accept forgiveness and grace.
This step is harder for me. I can ask for forgiveness a lot easier than I can forgive myself. I know how much God loves me. I know how amazing His grace is. I know His love is unconditional. I know He forgives me. But I let the enemy convince me time and time again how unworthy I am and that I have messed up too much. And I am unworthy. I deserve death for my sins, but Christ already took that punishment. Tears come to my eyes as I think about what He did for me on that cross. So why do I, we, deny ourselves by not accepting His forgives and grace completely? Why do we think what we have done is too bad? The verses, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me," and "Oh how He loves you, Oh how He loves me, Oh how He loves you and me," and "What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus," come to mind right now. Grace has been given to us. He loves you and me. His blood washes away our sins and makes us whole again. I believe it, I know you believe it. Now lets please choose to accept it. Let's not deny the gift that has been given to us. Choose not to believe the lies but the truth.
3. Choose now to make a choice that is in God's will
We made a bad choice. We will face certain consequences. But it is never too late to make a choice and get our lives back in God's will.
If it has been bad financial choices, you must choose to give your finances to God. You give to Him first and make a commitment to get out of debt. You take care of your needs first. Your wants will have to wait until you are out of debt. And even when spending money on needs, please do it wisely. Budget your needs. Spend wisely. Now there are many great biblical studies out there on finances. I encourage you to find one if you need help.
If it's choices that have put your marriage in jeopardy, then please seek biblical counseling. Please choose to pray together. Choose to communicate. Choose to forgive each other. If your spouse is not a believer, you may have to seek counseling alone and pray alone. But choose to do those things.
If it is an addiction to pornography, please seek help and put software on your computer to prevent it. Most importantly get software that lets someone else see what you are doing on the computer and hold you accountable.
If it is choices that have hurt your children, please choose to communicate with your children. Choose to share about God's grace. Choose to pray together. They are smart even when they are little. You can teach them as you learn from your own lessons.
If it is jealousy and meanness that has gotten a hold of you, you have to choose to look at what God has done, is doing and will do for you. You have to choose to put your focus back on God, not on others.
Whatever bad choice you have made, you can repent and give your life to God. Please choose to do so. There is nothing that cannot be forgiven and healed. God forgives. You have to choose to not repeat the bad choices, but make the wise choice and be obedient.
If you have not already figured it out or are in deep denial, you cannot hide from God or the consequences. Which means choosing to hide is not an option. You cannot hide from your debt, your marriage, your kids, your home, your physical health and especially not God. You will have to face consequences. You now have to make other choices. What should you choose?
1. Choose to repent.
We usually like to justify our bad choices. We like to justify them by putting the blame on others or by saying we did not know better. Don't justify; just repent. Even when others may be partially to blame, you made the choice to act the way you did. You have to choose to admit your wrong doing. You have to repent to God and anyone affected by your bad choice. And if you are a parent, that means asking forgiveness from your child if he/she is affected by the consequences. God will forgive and more than likely your child, your spouse or your friend will forgive a true repentance. It may take time, but they usually will.
2. Choose to accept forgiveness and grace.
This step is harder for me. I can ask for forgiveness a lot easier than I can forgive myself. I know how much God loves me. I know how amazing His grace is. I know His love is unconditional. I know He forgives me. But I let the enemy convince me time and time again how unworthy I am and that I have messed up too much. And I am unworthy. I deserve death for my sins, but Christ already took that punishment. Tears come to my eyes as I think about what He did for me on that cross. So why do I, we, deny ourselves by not accepting His forgives and grace completely? Why do we think what we have done is too bad? The verses, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me," and "Oh how He loves you, Oh how He loves me, Oh how He loves you and me," and "What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus," come to mind right now. Grace has been given to us. He loves you and me. His blood washes away our sins and makes us whole again. I believe it, I know you believe it. Now lets please choose to accept it. Let's not deny the gift that has been given to us. Choose not to believe the lies but the truth.
3. Choose now to make a choice that is in God's will
We made a bad choice. We will face certain consequences. But it is never too late to make a choice and get our lives back in God's will.
If it has been bad financial choices, you must choose to give your finances to God. You give to Him first and make a commitment to get out of debt. You take care of your needs first. Your wants will have to wait until you are out of debt. And even when spending money on needs, please do it wisely. Budget your needs. Spend wisely. Now there are many great biblical studies out there on finances. I encourage you to find one if you need help.
If it's choices that have put your marriage in jeopardy, then please seek biblical counseling. Please choose to pray together. Choose to communicate. Choose to forgive each other. If your spouse is not a believer, you may have to seek counseling alone and pray alone. But choose to do those things.
If it is an addiction to pornography, please seek help and put software on your computer to prevent it. Most importantly get software that lets someone else see what you are doing on the computer and hold you accountable.
If it is choices that have hurt your children, please choose to communicate with your children. Choose to share about God's grace. Choose to pray together. They are smart even when they are little. You can teach them as you learn from your own lessons.
If it is jealousy and meanness that has gotten a hold of you, you have to choose to look at what God has done, is doing and will do for you. You have to choose to put your focus back on God, not on others.
Whatever bad choice you have made, you can repent and give your life to God. Please choose to do so. There is nothing that cannot be forgiven and healed. God forgives. You have to choose to not repeat the bad choices, but make the wise choice and be obedient.
"16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:16-21
"11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:11-14
"19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[ Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:19-23
Monday, October 12, 2009
What consequence will your choice have?
Parents cannot qualify for their child's college loan because they have made bad financial choices over the past ten years and have acquired too much debt.
A student refuses to go to church because a bi-vocational pastor/teacher chose to call them stupid because they have a learning disability.
Your teenage daughter becomes sexual activity because you chose to deny that it could happen to your child and chose not to communicate.
Your marriage is falling apart because you chose not to share your true feelings and hurts so they can be resolved.
Sometimes our choices have immediate consequences. Other times the consequence comes later. And at times there are both an immediate consequence and later consequences.
Too much debt is an immediate consequence but other consequences continue to happen as a result.
As a christian, when you choose to talk down to another, they may be hurt but the long term consequence could keep them from knowing Christ because they feel judged by Christians.
Choosing not to have open communication with your child may not have consequences until he/she is a teenager and refuses to talk to you.
Choosing not to let your spouse know that the little things hurt you may not have consequences until you blow up after several years and walk out of your marriage.
The choices you make today will have positive or negative consequences. Some of you may be in the middle of dealing with some unpleasant consequences. You may have a choice to make today. Have you thought about the consequences of that choice?
As I read Facebook statuses I see a lot people looking at buying a house, a new or used car, looking for employment. These are all major choices. First of all, you should pray about any major decision. All these choices have long term consequences. Are you thinking about the immediate positive consequences or are you thinking long term consequences? Is that new house that gives everybody their own space going to hinder you from helping your child go to college or maybe just keep you from having funds to provide for them? In this economy right now, can you choose to be picky about your job choices? Is it better to wait for the ideal job or settle for a lesser job?
What about the choices you make for your children? Are there long term consequences? You have choices on discipline, spiritual development, reading to them, schooling, what they watch, where they go and where they live. What has short and what has long term consequences? I see and listen to many teenagers who are facing consequences of their parents choices. It is really sad at times.
It is so easy to justify our choices or only see the positive side. In this world where it is all about "I", we make choices to make "I" happy. We have become accustomed to it. We have got to put our focus back in the right place before we make choices. We have to start admitting there are consequences for our choices and they not only affect us but others.
1. We go back to the beginning and remember to choose God daily. We most likely will not be sensitive to the Spirits leading if we do not spend time with God.
2. When faced with a choice we must take the time to think of all the consequences and who it affects. (Sometimes God may call your family to pick up and move. It may seem like a negative consequence for your child. But if God is calling, you have to trust Him and teach your child to trust Him.)
3. Pray, pray, pray. I am not talking about asking God to give you a new car or a new house. Bring your needs and wants before God, but be still and listen to Him answer.
4. And remember one simple thing: Does your choice glorify God (personally, physically, in your home or work)?
Eve did not realize choosing to eat that apple would cause all women to have pain in child labor. What choice are you making that might cause pain? Be careful, the enemy is trying to entice you to make a choice that seems yummy, but there will be consequences and possibly not just for you.
A student refuses to go to church because a bi-vocational pastor/teacher chose to call them stupid because they have a learning disability.
Your teenage daughter becomes sexual activity because you chose to deny that it could happen to your child and chose not to communicate.
Your marriage is falling apart because you chose not to share your true feelings and hurts so they can be resolved.
Sometimes our choices have immediate consequences. Other times the consequence comes later. And at times there are both an immediate consequence and later consequences.
Too much debt is an immediate consequence but other consequences continue to happen as a result.
As a christian, when you choose to talk down to another, they may be hurt but the long term consequence could keep them from knowing Christ because they feel judged by Christians.
Choosing not to have open communication with your child may not have consequences until he/she is a teenager and refuses to talk to you.
Choosing not to let your spouse know that the little things hurt you may not have consequences until you blow up after several years and walk out of your marriage.
The choices you make today will have positive or negative consequences. Some of you may be in the middle of dealing with some unpleasant consequences. You may have a choice to make today. Have you thought about the consequences of that choice?
As I read Facebook statuses I see a lot people looking at buying a house, a new or used car, looking for employment. These are all major choices. First of all, you should pray about any major decision. All these choices have long term consequences. Are you thinking about the immediate positive consequences or are you thinking long term consequences? Is that new house that gives everybody their own space going to hinder you from helping your child go to college or maybe just keep you from having funds to provide for them? In this economy right now, can you choose to be picky about your job choices? Is it better to wait for the ideal job or settle for a lesser job?
What about the choices you make for your children? Are there long term consequences? You have choices on discipline, spiritual development, reading to them, schooling, what they watch, where they go and where they live. What has short and what has long term consequences? I see and listen to many teenagers who are facing consequences of their parents choices. It is really sad at times.
It is so easy to justify our choices or only see the positive side. In this world where it is all about "I", we make choices to make "I" happy. We have become accustomed to it. We have got to put our focus back in the right place before we make choices. We have to start admitting there are consequences for our choices and they not only affect us but others.
1. We go back to the beginning and remember to choose God daily. We most likely will not be sensitive to the Spirits leading if we do not spend time with God.
2. When faced with a choice we must take the time to think of all the consequences and who it affects. (Sometimes God may call your family to pick up and move. It may seem like a negative consequence for your child. But if God is calling, you have to trust Him and teach your child to trust Him.)
3. Pray, pray, pray. I am not talking about asking God to give you a new car or a new house. Bring your needs and wants before God, but be still and listen to Him answer.
4. And remember one simple thing: Does your choice glorify God (personally, physically, in your home or work)?
Eve did not realize choosing to eat that apple would cause all women to have pain in child labor. What choice are you making that might cause pain? Be careful, the enemy is trying to entice you to make a choice that seems yummy, but there will be consequences and possibly not just for you.
"1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:1-19
2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:1-19
You will have to make a choice. Will your choice be to be obedient or will you be persuaded by the enemy? And who is affected by that choice? Will you ever really know?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Consequences of Choices
What you choose today will...
Today I listened to my sister speak to junior high and high school students about why they should wait till they are married to have sex. She told them about consequences they never thought about if they choose not to wait.
Last night I watched a drama show how one person's choice can have consequences for so many.
Why is realizing our choices have consequences so hard to learn? Why do we think it won't happen to us? Why do we ignore the fact that our choices have consequences for others too? Why do we blame others for the choices we make? Others may try to influence, but isn't the choice ours?
We have to choose to take responsibility for our choices. We can no longer blame everything on everyone else. Once we admit it was our own choice then we are probably going to be more likely to change and make a better choice next time. You may have had bad parents, you may have had not the best of friends, maybe even your pastor was a bad example for you, but none of them forced you to make your choices. If anything, hopefully their bad choices help you to make better ones for yourself.
Before we go any further in this study, I want you to ask yourself who are you still blaming for your choices? Do you blame your lack of time with God on your kids? Do you blame your marriage problems only on your spouse? Do you blame your bad grade on your teacher? Do you blame your teenagers rebellion on the youth minister?
Take time and look back at the choices we need to make and what you need to do to make those choices. Today choose to take responsibility for your choices and stop blaming something or someone else. You have a choice, what will it be and how will it affect yourself and others? It is your choice; others only influence.
Today I listened to my sister speak to junior high and high school students about why they should wait till they are married to have sex. She told them about consequences they never thought about if they choose not to wait.
Last night I watched a drama show how one person's choice can have consequences for so many.
Why is realizing our choices have consequences so hard to learn? Why do we think it won't happen to us? Why do we ignore the fact that our choices have consequences for others too? Why do we blame others for the choices we make? Others may try to influence, but isn't the choice ours?
We have to choose to take responsibility for our choices. We can no longer blame everything on everyone else. Once we admit it was our own choice then we are probably going to be more likely to change and make a better choice next time. You may have had bad parents, you may have had not the best of friends, maybe even your pastor was a bad example for you, but none of them forced you to make your choices. If anything, hopefully their bad choices help you to make better ones for yourself.
Before we go any further in this study, I want you to ask yourself who are you still blaming for your choices? Do you blame your lack of time with God on your kids? Do you blame your marriage problems only on your spouse? Do you blame your bad grade on your teacher? Do you blame your teenagers rebellion on the youth minister?
Take time and look back at the choices we need to make and what you need to do to make those choices. Today choose to take responsibility for your choices and stop blaming something or someone else. You have a choice, what will it be and how will it affect yourself and others? It is your choice; others only influence.
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