Choosing to have Spiritual Training in the home

If we were to evaluate time, money and energy spent on you child, what would you be spending it on? Sports, Academics, Music, Video games, computers, anything to keep them out of your hair? Did you even think about their spiritual lives? If each one of us spent as much time, money and energy on our children's spiritual training as we do on other things for them, what would this next generation be like?

"4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9

In the movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", the main character talked about how she never was a girl scout because she had to go to Greek school. She was immersed in her Greek heritage. Maybe we should be a little more like the crazy dad and use every opportunity to teach and train in God's Word. It should be the most important thing to us as parents.

Kids start at a younger age in athletics, dance and music training. Parents start their three year old in it so by the time they are seven maybe they will be an all star or first string in high school. What if we choose to make their spiritual training important from the start so they will be prepared when they get in upper elementary and definitely prepared for the teen years. If God's truth has not been impressed on them, it will make those years difficult.

We have to choose from a young age to schedule time and provide the resources to train our child(ren). If you have not chosen it in the past, you must choose to start now. It cannot wait anymore. It is not an option. You have to choose to schedule time to be home together so you can train them. You have to choose to make this more important than homework and extra curricular activities. You have to choose to show you care about the most important part of your child's future, their relationship with Christ.

Think a minute about your own childhood. Did you have any spiritual training? Was your training being dropped off at the church? Did you have to get yourself to church? Did you even know your parents cared about your spiritual training? Was dinner time the only time you prayed as a family? Do you wish someone would have made your relationship with Christ the most important thing? Do you wish it would have been impressed on you from a very young age?

You can choose to start a cycle of being a Deuteronomy 6 parent. You can choose to make your child's walk with Christ the most important thing in their life. But you have to choose to make it a priority with your time (schedule), money and energy.

1. Choose to schedule a daily time of praying and reading an age appropriate devotional.

Read it to them or as they get older let them read it and discuss it.

2. Choose to provide materiel for their training.

You can purchase books, go online or buy cd's.

www.biblegateway.com is perfect for a teen who lives on the computer. It is a bible online and even has a mobile phone version.

Preschool and early elementary: "My Very First Devotional Bible", "Sweet Dreams Princess", God's Little Princess Devotional Bible" (I think there is one for boys too.)

Older Elem: Bible Magazines have great reading plans and devotionals, "Mean Girls"

Teenagers: "7 Minutes With God" (there are more in the series), Every Young Man's (or young Woman's) Battle

Check to see if your church's curriculum had resources for parents to buy to supplement at home.

3.Choose to sit down at home to pray and talk about God.

We all want our child to be the next great athlete, musician or genius. But please want most of all for your child to have an active, growing relationship with Christ.

4. Choose to free up your schedule so you can train your child.

You may have to give up a TV show, only have one extra curricular activity for your child or yourself. You have to choose to schedule around school; why would their spiritual training be any less.

5. Choose to do the most important thing for your child.

You want to... now choose to.

Choosing to make your kitchen a place of refuge, teaching and service

I love our kitchen. It is a place where so much happens. It is a place of fun, laughing, conversations, prayer, teaching and serving. It all happens while preparing a meal, sitting down to eat as a family and during clean up. Some of my favorite conversations have happened while boiling noodles.

If you are not having a sit down family meal, you are truly missing out. It is a choice I beg of you to make as much as possible during the week and/or the weekends. It may be the only time you have each others undivided attention. It is a choice that will impact you and your family. It is a choice that brings you together with your family. Once you choose to have a sit down dinner, you then choose to make the most of that time.

1. Choose to make your kitchen table a place of refuge
Taking time to sit, talk and eat together can bring a calmness to a hectic day. It provides a time to talk about the silly and serious subjects of the day. It lets each member of the family know that he/she will have a time to speak and be listened to. The kitchen table becomes a safe zone of communication. And if your family schedule is too busy to sit down and eat together, do not scratch the family dinner off your list each night. Find at least three times to sit down together and eat. Rearrange your schedule around the dinner even if you have to pick up food to eat occasionally. Please just choose to sit down at your table and eat together.

2. Choose to make your kitchen a place to teach and serve
The kitchen is the perfect classroom. You can teach matching, counting, etiquette, addition, subtraction, cooking, measuring, etc.
No matter what the age, you can have quality time with each other while dinner is being prepared. Even the littlest one can count out the forks and napkins. It is a perfect opportunity to have quality time with your child. You can choose to fix dinner and still enjoy your child. Depending on their age they can count out napkins, set the table to help prepare the food. If a child realizes they can have that one on one time with a parent, they will be there to help often and will chase others away. It is another opportunity to talk in a safe place. It is a fun way to bond and teach skills they need.
The kitchen is the best place to serve together. It is so important our children learn to care for their family and that the family can work together. When dinner is over it is not time for everyone to go their separate ways. Keep conversations going while you clear the table, rinse or wash the dishes, wipe the table and sweep up the floor. According to age split up the clean up and work together. It doesn't have to seem like a chore instead make it an extension of your family dinner by cleaning up together. You get to finish important conversations, teach the importance of a family working together and have a clean kitchen all in one. In the beginning teenagers may fuss, but once they realize you are still listening to them it doesn't seem like such a big deal to help out.

We only have a short amount of time with our children. They grow up quickly. Choosing to teach and talk to them as much as possible is very important. Creating a place safe for them to talk is very important. Choosing to let them know you listen is crucial. No matter what age they are, we can choose to open the door to communication. So choose to sit down, eat, laugh talk and listen at your kitchen table. Your child may not be the only one learning something.

Homework
1. Look at scripture and see how often Jesus spoke and taught at the dinner table.
2. Schedule family dinners, breakfast or brunch
3. Start talking to a member of your family while preparing dinner and then ask them to help you (but keep talking)
4. Talk, listen and pray at dinner
5. Keep conversations going while getting everyone to help clean up.
6. Choose to make your home a place of refuge, teaching and service.

A place of refuge: Choosing to control the stuff in your home

6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:6-10

It may not be a love of money, but it seems many have a love of stuff. We have bigger houses and either use our garage or a storage unit to store all the stuff that will not fit into our house. Closets are getting bigger to store all our clothes and shoes. (I even know of one that has a spiral stair case in the closet.) And we have so much stuff it drives us crazy because we have to pick it up or clean it. We have chosen to be stuck in this endless cycle. Another part of that cycle is instead of getting rid of anything or stop buying more stuff, we buy bigger houses so we can get more stuff. And the funniest part is we cannot take any of it with us when we die. It is time we choose to simplify our lives and homes. We must choose to simplify not just for us but for the next generation also. We must choose to stop the cycle.

Maybe a single guy who only has one plate, one fork, one knife, one spoon, one bowl and one cup is right. Just have what you need. Use it and wash it for the next time that way you don’t have a lot of dishes to wash. Keep it simple and you will not get overwhelmed. When you do not get overwhelmed you have less stress.

Before, we talked about the purpose of our homes. If we look at those purposes and choose to use them then our home becomes a place it should be.

If our home is a place of refuge…

1. We must choose to set it up as a place of refuge not a museum.

If your home is to be a place where your family and friends can come together then do not waste money on expensive items that you worry about something happening to. Decorate your house, but do it for comfort and fellowship not for show. People are going to remember your home as place that welcomed them not by the expensive painting.

2. We must choose to keep the laundry pile out of the living room and bedroom.

Why do we let the laundry control us? Most people's houses are ran by their laundry. A couple cannot enjoy their bedroom because the laundry has overtaken it. After a long day you cannot come home and sit because the laundry is already chilling on the couch.

Whether you stay at home, work or go to school, you can gain control of your laundry. You need to schedule your laundry and use a schedule that works with your personality. If you lose focus easily, don’t try to do all your laundry in one day. Here are a few options:

A. Schedule a daily load

This one is great if you work or can only focus for a short time. Pick an evening to sort all the dirty laundry. Make a schedule to do a different load each night. Throw the load in at night and either throw it in the dryer when done or the next morning on the way out the door. When you get home, you can put up the one load or assign it as a chore if you have kids. Repeat the next load the same way. It is simple. Wash while you sleep, dry while you work, put up one load when you get home. It is so simple to put up one load at a time instead of all laundry.

B. Tackle It All

If you are not focused this will not work for you. If you stay at home or have a day to devote to laundry, this one works. Sort all laundry, start with your smallest and quickest to dry load. Wash all your loads, saving biggest and longest to dry for last. If you arrange your loads correctly, you will save time and get done faster. As it comes out of the dryer, sort the laundry by person, closet or cabinet. Once all the laundry is done and sorted, put up one closet at a time. If the occupier of the closet is old enough have them put up their own clothes. It creates a nice flow and keeps it nice and organized.

C. Short on time or really behind

If you are really behind or have a really busy week you may need to do a one time trip to the laundry mat and get it all done quickly. One trip will get you caught up and then you can choose a laundry routine.

Just like everything else, we cannot try to get to our laundry. We will never want to do our laundry. We have to choose to schedule it and stick to a schedule that works for you.

We have a lot to cover over the next couple of days. But we will take it one step at a time.

Homework

1. Is your home a museum or refuge?

2. How can you make your home more of a refuge?

3. Choose to win the battle of the laundry.

4. Choose a laundry schedule that works for you.

If you need help scheduling, please let me know. I will help you find a schedule that works for you.

Reviewing Our Choices

I want to take a moment and review before we go any further. Are you still using the excuse that you are trying? Have you admitted that each day it is a choice? If you make a poor choice one day, do you give up or the next day do you make the wise choice? I want you to take this day by day. There are going to be days we make a bad choice. But the next day, the next hour, the next minute, we can make a better choice. We are changing our mind set from trying to I will choose. Stop and look back over your choices. Go back and reread any blog that you still struggle with making the wise choice.

1. Stop trying and choose
2. Choose God (put Him first)
3. Choose to be Physically Prepared (exercise, sleep, eat well)
4. Choose to make your home a place of worship, refuge, teaching and a place to serve.
5. Choose to make God your priority in your life, health and home.
6. Choose to let God influence your purpose in life
7. Choose to see who you are in Christ and that you are made in His image.
8. Choose to make your home a place of refuge by not filling it with the world
9. Choose Joy
10. Choose to be a godly influence with our lives, health and in our homes.

You can choose to change your life or stay stuck in the same old rut.

I look forward to continuing on this journey with you. We will be looking at some choices that have made our homes a mess over the next few days and what choices we need to make to clean up the mess.

Blog 7 Sec C: You cannot choose to be an influence, You are.

Yesterday I had a seventeen year old tell me he was too stupid to go to college. The reason he had come to this conclusion is because no one else in his family had even graduated high school. He will not even look at college because he believes and has been told by his own family they are not smart enough. His future was set from the beginning because of the influence of his family.

Today, I have two Algebra II classes. The first class has collectively decided to have a bad attitude and all did poorly on the test. One starts blaming the teacher and they all agree. The next class is doing well or striving to do well. They see fellow classmates succeeding so they all want to succeed.

Attitudes and futures are influenced by those we are with everyday. My question today: What influence are you having in your home on others in their spiritual life? Do they just hear the occasional talk of God or do they see faith in action? Is the only positive influence when you show up to church on Sunday mornings? Does your life reflect obedience to God or disobedience? What we do, how we act, and the attitudes we choose will influence them. What we choose to do in our homes has a daily impact on those in and by our homes. How will you choose to impact and influence?
Are you teaching them how to worship, how to pray, how to serve by your actions? Are you teaching them God’s word by discussion and by your walk? Are you even choosing to hold yourself accountable in your own walk so you are a godly influence?

I am going to be blunt. Taking your child to someone else at church every Sunday and Wednesday is not enough of an influence. Important, but not enough. Inviting your neighbor to church is not enough. Important, but not enough. Where we put God in our lives and homes are influencing those around us and the next generation.

We have to stop talking about praying and choose to pray in the moment and together. We have to choose to stop just going to worship and start worshiping in our homes. We have to stop talking about serving and start choosing to serve one another in our homes and together. We have to stop just talking about God’s word and start choosing to live according to it.

Think for a moment about your child or a child you may know. They are bombarded with peer pressure, TV, internet, video games for how many hours in a week? A couple of hours of church cannot compete with the influence of the world and individuals in it. As followers of Christ, whether you are a parent or not, we have got to be a positive influence on those in our homes and neighborhoods. We can no longer be quiet about our God in our homes.

“5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deut 6:5-8 (memorize this scripture. I will keep using it)

1. We must choose to pray together out loud and for one another.
We cannot just recite bedtime prayers. We need to pray out loud with those in our homes. We must encourage them to pray out loud too. Prayers may start short but as you pray together, and for one another, you will be amazed at even the youngest child’s prayer. Even if your teenager resists, they must at least pray a couple of sentences. Eventually they will become more comfortable.

2. We must choose to study God’s word together.
Individually we must do our own study. You can also do one as a family together or each person can discuss what they are learning in their own personal study. Also share what God is doing and how you see him working. It will help your child learn to see God, too.

"7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deut 6:7

3. We must choose to worship together.
Please start your day in your house and car worshiping. Let them see you worship. Most of the time in your church the kids have their own worship and teenagers sit with friends. You must worship together in the home. The young ones will love it. Teenagers may resist but the words will be entering their minds and you will probably see them keeping with the music.
You can also quote scriptures of praise together or just shout out in the car things you are thankful for each day. They need to see you praising God on good and bad days.

"Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs." Psalm 100:2

4. We must choose to serve one another and serve others together.
Some things don’t just need to be chores. We need, by example and teaching, to show our children how to serve those in their own family and the importance of it. It is as simple as cleaning up from dinner together or picking up the house together. As a family we need to care for another.
We also need to stop dropping off our children for a service project or going by ourselves to one. We need to serve together. The holidays are a great time to start. You can take a meal to someone or go decorate someone’s house for Christmas who does not have the money or is not physically able. It will bring your family together and demonstrate the importance of caring for others.

"13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14

"35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:35-40

5. We must choose to live according to God’s word.
We can talk and talk about doing what is right, but if we are not demonstrating it…well it is a waste of breath. I might offend you for a moment, but know there our things in my own life I have to change also. We cannot ask our children to show respect and love to others when we ourselves show disrespect and hatred to others. We cannot ask our children not to curse if we choose not to do the same. We cannot ask our children to fill their minds with things of God when we fill our own with too much junk. We cannot ask our children to refrain from sex if as a single parent you do not choose the same. We cannot tell our children not to get drunk if we choose to get drunk. We have to realize the things we do may cause them to stumble. We are responsible for our actions and for training up our children.

"3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:3-6

"9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him." 1 John 2:9-11

"31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:31-33

6. We must choose to admit when we stumble.
If and when we do not live according to God’s word, then we must admit it. We may need to seek their forgiveness at times. If our mistakes are in the past, we may need to share the consequences of our own bad choices instead of saying, "because I said so." Imagine the impact if we talk about our mistakes, how God forgave us and what we learned or what we faced because of it.

Homework
1. Reread this again.
2. Confess your own sins as you read it.
3. Be honest about your walk with Christ.
4. Accept His forgiveness.
5. Cry out to Him.
6. Thank Him for those He has given you to influence.
7. Choose to put Christ first in your home.

Blog 7 Sec B: You can't choose to be an influence, You are

Many frustrations are shared on the news or talk shows that magazines are displaying images of females that are impossible for teenage girls to obtain. Many are frustrated that professional athletes use steroids and set a bad an example for our children. Some parents now choose not to let their daughters play with Barbies because it gives girls an unrealistic view of body image. While we have a right to be concerned, we cannot put responsibility on them. How are you influencing others, especially the next generation, on physical health? Keeping them from Barbies and magazines is not enough. We must set the example.


Again, I want to clarify that I am not talking just about weight and appearance. If your weight, whether too low or too much, is affecting your health then please seek professional help. Your life is too precious to God.


Whether you realize it or not, your eating habits, your exercise habits and your sleep habits are being watched. It may be your own child, a friend or a student in your class. Now, if your habits are so bad, they may choose to be healthier because they see the effects of your poor choices. But I think we would all whether choose to be an example of healthy eating, exercise and a good night's sleep.

Have you chosen to eat healthy except for the occasional fast food? Do you choose to sit down and eat or is the car your dinner table? Do you choose to get exercise in some form at least three days a week? Do you choose to get a full nights rest or function on as little sleep as possible? Do you choose to even notice the example and habits you are setting?


We have a problem in this world. Our next generation is at unhealthy weights before they finish elementary school. Our generation has chosen to influence and allow our children to form unhealthy habits. The next generation also has a huge body image issue. Girls are a size double zero and feel fat. They are skipping lunch at school. Today as I sub here at a high school, I will witness several girls not eat their lunch. We can no longer choose to do nothing, not only for our own health, but for the next generation's health. We have a responsibility as Christians to nurture and train those around us. Will you choose to be an example for the next generation?

It doesn't matter whether you have exercised a day in your life. It doesn't matter if you have eaten a fruit or veggie this week. It doesn't matter if you have been living on four hours of sleep. Today and each day after, you can choose to be an example.


If you struggle with food, whether it is over eating or under eating, you will have to make choices to correct those habits. If you struggle with doing anything but sitting on the couch after a long day, then you will have to make choices to get up and move. If you choose to stay up way too late, then you will have to choose to look at changing your schedule. And if you will not make changes for yourself, then choose to make these changes for those around you. Make them for that little blond haired, blue eyed kid who loves you and wants to be just like you.



1. Choose to sit down and eat.
Make dinner a time to sit and eat. Even if you have had a crazy, busy day, you need to stop and eat. On days I just do not feel like cooking or the schedule does not allow it, I may pick up something to eat. But I just get the main course and I take it home and pull out some fresh veggies, salad or fruit to go with it. We also drink something healthier at home. One, it saves money, but we still get the nutrients even on a crazy day.



2. Choose to keep junk out of the house.
I love chocolate. I have a severe weakness for it. I have to limit the amount I bring into the home because I will eat it. Choose to keep snacks that have some benefit to them and not keep on hand the things that will cause you to munch when you are stressed.



3. Choose to get moving and have fun.

Play tag outside with your kids, go for a walk, jump rope, go for a bike ride, sit on the floor and do exercises while watching TV. Just move and move with others so it is more fun. We have to find a way to enjoy exercise so others will want to enjoy it too.



4. Choose to schedule your sleep.
Give everyone in your house a bedtime including yourself. You know what time you have to get up. You know what has to be done before you go to bed. Schedule it and get the rest you need.



If we make choices to be healthier, we become better people. We are happier because we feel better with rest and the right nutrients. We are not only setting examples to be healthy but it is a lot easier to be joyful and loving when you are rested and healthy.

I could go in more detail about exercise and eating habits. But I know you probably know what you need to do. I just want to encourage you to choose to be a healthy example. If you need encouragement, just look at those younger ones around you; even the ones you do not know. As we set an example for others, they set an example for someone else. Your choice to be healthy may influence someone you do not know or that great great grandchild you may never know. Your choice can influence generations to come. So please choose to be healthy and have healthy habits not just for you but for others. Let's not gripe anymore about other influences, let's choose to become the influence.



Homework
1. Take time to notice who you are influencing

2. Look at changes you need to make to become a better influence

3. Choose to eat well today

4. Choose to exercise

5. Choose to go to bed and get a good night's rest.

Blog 7 Sec A: You can't choose to be an influence

We know we are influenced by the world around us. But my question is: "Do you realize who you are influencing?" Being an influence or setting an example is not a choice. We influence and set examples for those around us all the time. It is not a choice, but the kind of influence and examples you make are choices. So, will your life be an example of joy and peace or an example of complete mess and a lot of stress? Will your influence bless the next generation or cause it to stay in a cycle of sin?

(Before we go any further, I do not want you to condemn yourself for anything you have done or are doing. I want you to be sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. No matter what kind of influence you or I have been, we can make a choice to be a godly influence. Just look at Abraham, he is known for his faith and generations were blessed. But he made mistakes and made some poor choices like telling Pharaoh his wife was his sister. Yet, he is an example of faith in God. David is an example of someone who was a man after God's own heart. But he too made bad choices like adultery. Their bad choices did not stop them from being examples in faith or keep them from having a love for God. So no matter what choices you have made, you can choose to make the wise choices and be an example for Christ.)

Choosing to be an example in our personal walk with Christ

I love the story of my husband and his mom. Her influence and example on him came from things she did. He remembers as a young child when he would wake up early, his mom would be at the kitchen table reading her Bible. He saw his mom serve faithfully in the church his entire life. He witnessed her quiet and submissive spirit. He heard of God's faithfulness because her prayers for him started three years before he was born. He saw her faith in God when he had his diving accident. His mother was a godly example for him and his sisters. It was her personal relationship with Christ that influenced them.

If we are not choosing to put God as a priority in our own lives then we will never influence others to do the same. If we are not choosing God then we start to choose things that are not of God. Our influence becomes no different than the worlds. If we choose to carry all the burdens and stress on our own shoulders then we are not choosing to show others how God will take those burdens away. If we choose to live stressed out lives then our example keeps others from believing there is peace and hope in Christ.

We have got to choose to put God first and choose to have an active relationship with Him. We have to choose to hold ourselves accountable in our walk with Christ and in our daily lives. We are called to be a light in this world. It is time to choose to be one.

"13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Mathew 5:13-16

I want to make sure I am clear on one thing. I am not saying that you spend your five-ten minutes with God and then go tell everyone you did. We are not just supposed to go around talking about what we read or prayed or how many things we do at the church. I am talking about choosing to have such a close relationship with Christ that it is reflected to those around you.

This will not be easy, but let's be honest. If we were to ask family, friends, neighbors and most importantly our own children, what would they say about you, your personality, you attitude? Would they describe you as loving, forgiving, patient, kind, gentle, peaceful, and faithful? If we were to ask them about your priorities in life, would they even mention your love for Christ? Would your relationship to Christ only be connected with your busyness at church and maybe even the stress of that busyness? For those who are a parent, would your biggest influence be in your child's spiritual growth, education or extra curricular activities? Is the only influence on your neighbors you choosing not to even know them? What influence did you have on the checkout clerk that was having a bad day? A couple of those things make me swallow hard. Now, again, please do not condemn yourself. Do not let the enemy condemn you. Be willing to acknowledge the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but remember Christ does not condemn.

I do not know about you, but I am ready to stop this cycle of influence and start a cycle of Godly influence. I want generations to be blessed because I choose to not only follow Christ, but to be like Him.

How do we change the influence we have on others? How do we realize the influence we have on others?

1. Choose to have an active, growing relationship with Christ. (You can't be a godly influence without God in your life.)

2. Choose to hold your actions accountable. (These scriptures are a great starting place)

"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

"43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. " Matthew 5:43-48

"37Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-39

3. Choose to be aware of those around you, even those you do not know. Someone is watching.

4. Choose to immediately repent and seek forgiveness when you stumble.

5. Choose to remember you are an influence everywhere you go.

6. Choose daily to be light in this dark world.

7. Choose to remember that one day you want to hear God say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

8. Choose to give God all your burdens and stress so you can be a light for Him.

"19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. " Psalm 68:19

9. Choose to let the trials bring glory to God by trusting and being faithful to Him.

"2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything...12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. " James 1:1-4,12

10. Choose to put this somewhere as a daily reminder.

We have been chosen by God. We will be like Christ or the world. We will influence others to choose Christ or the world. Others watching us, it is not an option. Our choice is the type of influence we will be to them. Let's make the wise choice

Homework

1. Reflect on those you know you have influenced.


2. Think about those you may have not realized you were influencing.


3. Seek and accept forgiveness for the poor influences.


4. Praise God for choosing you.


5. Choose to watch the way you influence today.