During a severe thunderstorm, a mother tucked her child into bed and turned off the light. Frightened by the tempest, he asked, “Mommy, will you sleep with me?” Hugging him, she replied, “I can’t, dear. I have to sleep with Daddy.” Stepping out of the room, she heard, “That big sissy!”
Fear is real and can be good or bad. To fear rejection when no one is rejecting us can be a bad fear. To fear failure so much that we don’t try is a bad fear.
To have a healthy fear of God is a good fear. I remember fearing my earthly father as a boy. I knew he had the ability to really put the hurt on me if I disobeyed. So I followed his rules partly because I didn’t want to disappoint him, and partly because I feared his reaction.
A respectful fear of the Lord was also what King Jehoshaphat desired for his own people. So he made it a priority that they be taught God’s Word. He knew that if the people were in awe of the Almighty, they would humble themselves and obey Him. Doing what was right would bring prosperity to Judah and respect from neighboring countries.
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom (Proverbs 15:33)
Tags: fear
“You must hurry,” friends cried to the teacher as he rushed home from the fields. “The banquet at the home of Halil has already begun. You are late.”
“They are right,” the teacher thought. “If I take time to change clothes, I could miss the entire dinner.” Instead of returning to his home, he proceeded in his work clothes to the home of Halil, the rich man.
When he arrived, the servants at the door refused to allow him to enter because he was not dressed properly. Though he protested, the servants stood firm.
Finally, the teacher walked to the home of a friend who lived nearby. He borrowed a nice coat and quickly returned to the party. He was immediately welcomed and was seated at the banquet table.
When dinner was served, the teacher began to put the food on his coat. He smeared his jacket with vegetables and poured the appetizer in his pocket. All the time he said loudly, “Eat, dear dinner jacket. I hope you enjoy the meal.”
All the guests focused their attention on the teacher’s strange behavior. Finally, Halil asked, “Why are telling your jacket to enjoy the meal?”
“When I arrived in my work clothes,” the teacher explained, “I was refused entrance. It was only when I was accompanied by this fine coat that I was allowed to sit at the table. Naturally I assume it was the jacket, not me, that was invited to your banquet.”
Do we evaluate others by the clothes they wear? Are we right or wrong when we do so?
Tags: judging
Last week Anita and I went to the Grabill Country Fair. We first headed for the Walleyed Fish Sandwich place but found the waiting line half a block long. So we detoured to the Breaded Pork Tenderloin place which was very efficient. Before we got in line for our apple dumpling (a fair tradition for us), we walked through the ‘Merchant Tent’.
Our son and wife, Nathan and Emily, went with us. The Merchant Tent was pretty crowded at that time so I took the lead and lead everyone through the congestion of people. I was pretty proud of my leadership skills until I got to a spacious area and turned around. There my followers were way back there checking out the wares at a fair booth. Old Chinese proverb say: “Who who thinks he leads, but no one follows, is only taking a walk.”
The practical lesson for me is to make sure everyone knows they’re expected to follow the leader. If they don’t know that, everyone becomes their own leader, and we go a dozen directions.
Tags: following, Leadership
In Hemispheres magazine, family counselor John Rosamond wrote that a father plays a unique and crucial role in the lives of his children. It’s not enough just to be present. Dad must be “actively involved” and “a vigorously interested participant in the child-rearing process.”
Rosemond offers six ways to become more involved with your child:
1. Find an activity you and your child can do together and make time for it regularly.
2. Help (but don’t force) your child to develop hobbies and interests.
3. As your child grows through the teen years, become less a disciplinarian and more a mentor.
4. Talk to your child and keep communicating by being a good listener.
5. Love your child’s mother with all your heart, and let your kids see it.
6. Remember, a child is never too old to be told, “I love you.”
Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
How’re you doin’?
Tags: Father's Day
How important is your family?
Former President George H. W. Bush was asked, “What is your greatest accomplishment in life?” He could have replied that as a fighter pilot in World War II, that he was shot down and survived, or that he was US Ambassador to China, or was Vice President of the United States, or that he was President, or won the victory in the Persian Gulf War with few caualties, or had two sons as state governors, or one of his sons became President of the United States.
Yet Bush said, “My children still come home.”
Remember God’s order: Family should be next in line after God, then career and ministry. If your family is out of order, so will everything else in your life, including your service to God.
Tags: Bush, family
A teacher gave her class of second-graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day, in a written test, she included this question: “My name has six letters. The first one is m. I pick up things. What am I?” When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word mother.
Yes, mothers do pick up things. But they are much more than “magnets,” gathering up clothes and picking up toys around the house. As willing as many mothers are to do such chores, they have a higher calling than that.
A good mother loves her family and provides an atmosphere where each member can find acceptance, security, and understanding. She is there when the children need a loving touch on a fevered brow. And for the Christian mother, her greatest joy is in teaching her children to trust and to love Jesus as their Savior.
What would you do for $111,000? Back in 1993 Houston Oilers football player David Williams missed a big game and was docked that amount. What was the big deal? His wife had given birth to their first son, Scot, and David stayed with her through the whole experience. His coach objected and critics said the team should have sent a jet to pick him up for the big game, but Williams thought it was important to stay by his wife.
If David Williams continues to demonstrate this kind of commitment to his family, then Scot too is likely to see the importance of right priorities. In my years of ministry, I have seen many situations when men put their jobs before their children, only to see them rebel against the faith later.
I remember one evening after dinner I was sitting in front of the TV with my young daughter on my lap. I announced that I had to go back to the church for a meeting and she asked why. I told her that I was a pastor and people in the church had to work, and if I wanted to meet with them I needed to go in the evening. In disgust she replied, “I wish you weren’t a preacher!”
That night challenged me. From then on I made every effort to spend more evening time with my family.
God said, “You shall teach these words diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7).
Would you sacrifice $111,000 for your family?
Tags: children, family, priorities