A New Year

The Lord’s “mercies are new every morning,” Jeremiah tells us (Lamentations 3:23).   As we turn the calendar at midnight tonight to 2018, we receive a gift of 365 mornings of new mercies to explore and enjoy in the coming year.  Like many of you, I have some goals for the new year. Despite all my past failures, a new year on the calendar always inspires me to try again!  

I am learning at this time in my life that when my list is full of myself and my own efforts, I turn my life into a performance.  

But the Christian life is not a performance.  

There is no stage here on earth for you and me.  We are not here to show anyone how good, talented, popular, busy, generous, and virtuous we can be.  Our lives are GOD’S stage, where we hand the microphone over to Jesus and let Him use our circumstances, talents, and opportunities to demonstrate how great HE is.  And that only happens through Christ-dependence.  

Twelve years ago (2005) was the year the selfie-stick was invented.  Maybe 2018 can be the year we put away the selfie-stick and aim our cameras to the only One Who truly deserves praise!  John the Baptist said, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.”  As I look over my list of goals for 2018, I want the first resolution of all to be this:  Christ dependence.  May I accomplish my goals and meet my challenges this year through Christ--in His power, with His blessing, and to His glory!  

 

Shaping the Future

When I was about twelve years old, I was assigned the job of dusting the living room. As I removed each item from end tables and shelves, I came across my mom’s Bible, sitting where she read it in the living room each morning. I paused in my dusting to thumb through it—the pages worn and marked. Outlines and reminders spilled over each page; definitions and highlights and remarks from helpful sermons crowded the small margins. The cover of the Bible had a crease from being opened so often. My mom didn’t even know that day that her Bible was preaching a sermon to me. Over the years, my mom taught junior high English, worked at a restaurant, and even recorded short readings at a local Christian radio station. But I tend to think the mark she left from a worn Bible on an end table was her most noble achievement. It changed my life.

Ever since Creation, we women have sought to be heard. History records the stories of noble heroines who protested (Rosa Parks), engaged in war efforts (“Rosie the Riveter”), and even lay down their lives (Joan of Arc). As courageous and admirable as each of these heroines were, we as women have often shortchanged ourselves when it came to our most important voice. We have the power to change the world—not just from marches on Washington and posters on our lawns, but first and foremost from our homes, simply by proving to those who watch us what we love most.

I wonder what my kids would say if they were asked what I love most. Would they run to show you my laptop? Would they have to fish around the sofa cushions for the TV remote? Would they tell you about the jar of peanut butter and contraband chocolate chips I keep stashed in the kitchen cupboard?

Moms, the future is ours—in the form of a sticky-faced little creature who peeks around the corner each morning as we pray and read our Bibles. We shape the future by what we love today.   

The Gospel

What is the Gospel?

I Corinthians 15:3 - 4 uses the word "gospel" this way:

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."

The true gospel (literally "good news") is that Jesus died and rose again on our behalf.  This is only good news if you are familiar with the bad news:  We are all sinners, born with a death sentence upon us because of the original sin of Adam passed on to each of us.

Sinful people cannot rescue themselves through righteous acts because even "our righteousnesses are as filthy rags"  (Isaiah 64:6).  We taint even our most noble efforts with pride, selfishness, false motives, comparison, and entitlement.  We cannot contribute even an iota to our salvation because our contributions, embedded with sin, would only add to the debt, not the remedy.  In other words, we can only make it worse.  We don't need assistance getting to heaven.  We need an all-out rescue!

The gospel--the story of heaven's rescue of hell-worthy sinners--is woven throughout all sixty-six books of the Bible.  One way of understanding the gospel is through a helpful compilation of verses from the book of Romans.  This list is not exhaustive, nor is it exclusive.  There are many other ways to explain the gospel from the Scriptures.  But many have been helped by this list.  

1. Romans 3:10, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one.”

2. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

3. Romans 6:23a, “For the wages of sin is death.”

4. Romans 5:19, “For as by one man’s disobedience, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

5. Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth (showed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

6. Romans 6:23b, “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

7. Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

8. Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”


How do we "call upon the name of the Lord" to be saved?

Jesus taught a parable in Luke 18, describing the prayers of two men in the temple. The Pharisee, overflowing with good works in his impressive resume of public righteousness, prayed, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers . . ." On and on he droned, reciting his good works to God in heaven.  Jesus editorializes his prayer in verse 11:  "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself."  His prayer never made it past the ceiling.

Meanwhile, across the room from the Pharisee, crouched a publican.  Bowed down with guilt, he "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner.'"

And Jesus narrates the story:  "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other."

Book Recommendation: Bible Doctrines for Today by Michael Bere

~book recommendation~

One of the smallest books of the Bible contains one of its strongest commands: “ . . . earnestly contend for the faith.” (Jude, verse 3)

How do we contend for our faith? How do we effectively defend our Christian doctrines with Scripture and not man’s opinion?

An excellent resource for every Christian home is a book called Bible Doctrines for Today by Michael Bere (Pensacola, FL). This book is published by A Beka Book, and our own children use it as a textbook in their 10^th grade Bible class in homeschool. It is moderately easy to read (high school level), full of Scripture, and rich with well-stated explanations for each of the nine basic doctrines of our faith.

Some topics that are especially helpful in Bible Doctrines for Today include the following:

●How do we know that our Bible is truly inspired?

●Is there any evidence that Jesus truly rose from the dead?

●How can we argue effectively against the false teaching of evolution?

●Why do we believe in the Rapture of the church?

●What is “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit”?

●Do babies go to heaven if they die?

●What is our attitude to be toward hostile human government?

●Does the Bible really state that Jesus Christ is God?

These, and many other important topics, are covered thoroughly in this 343-page book. It is not meant to be read in a day, but it is a valuable time investment for anyone who wants to defend his faith with more than just opinion. Our greatest resource as Christians is the confidence with which we can rest in “Thus saith the Lord”!

The book can be ordered online from A Beka Book. It is also easily available second-hand through ebay, Amazon, and Christianbook.com. 

The value of a mid-week prayer service

So, were your ears itching this week?

Earlier this year, the Lord laid it on Pastor Valentin’s heart to begin putting every single person from our church onto our weekly prayer sheet. The prayer sheet is divided up into five lists, and when we gather into small groups to pray on Wednesday evenings, we take turns praying for the different lists. By the time our prayer service has finished, every single person who attends our church, as well as each of our missionaries and government officials, has been prayed for! Sometimes we don’t know what to pray for specifically, but as we mention your names for prayer, God is able to answer the specific needs in your life. If your ears were itching this week, it’s because you were being talked about—to God!

Although we are a small group that meets, I take great comfort in Jesus’ promise, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) The power of our prayer meeting is not in ourselves, but rather is found in the smallest word of that verse: “I.” God is so faithful to answer our prayers, and it is His power that we seek when we bring each of your names to Him.

If you have never been a part of a weekly prayer meeting, would you consider praying that God would make a way for you to come join us? A mid-week service can be difficult to schedule around work, school activities, sports, and just the fatigue that hits all of us on Wednesday. Maybe the first prayer that God wants to answer is just the prayer that you could come pray with us.   

Encouragement for Students

It was my first day of second grade, and I was happily playing on the school playground during recess when one of my former teachers, Mrs. Miller, frantically came to me at the monkey bars with a jolting question:

“Kristie, where is your brother?”

Of course, I had no idea! Our school was located up the hill from a dangerous highway and directly across the parking lot from a busy shopping mall. The horrible possibilities for a brand new kindergartener seemed endless!

It turns out that Brian had just decided he’d had enough of playing outside on a noisy playground with strangers. Without being noticed, he had slipped back inside to sit alone in the quiet darkness of an empty classroom. I’m sure his refreshing moments of solitude came to an abrupt halt when a very panicked Mrs. Miller finally tracked him down!

The first days of school can be very overwhelming—and not just for homesick kindergartners! New classes, new teachers, new friend groups, a new schedule, and just the daily challenge to do right can produce anxiety and stress.

We can’t do much about your schedule or your hard classes, but we will be praying for each of you by name as you face this new beginning. Find encouragement in Deuteronomy 31:6,

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

School is a place where many students fear that word fail. But this verse says that God will not fail you. God never gets an F. He is always loving and powerful, “100% A+.” You can trust Him this school year!

Soundtrack of Home

If I had to journal my summer memories from childhood, my page would spill over with short snippets of delightful remembrances: the cool shock of lake water on dry skin; the gentle toss of bedroom curtains from a morning summer breeze; the first candied bite of fresh corn on the cob; the soft crunch of sand between my toes; the sticky joy of peach juice running down to my elbow; and the “noisy calm” of crickets at night, lulling me to sleep.

It may sound funny, but just as vivid as my memories of the lake or the picnic pavilion are my memories of our kitchen radio. For years, it sat faithfully on the counter, tuned to a local Christian radio station from morning to night. It was the sound-track of my childhood, always coloring each memory with Christian songs, children’s stories, Bible verses, and even recorded sermons, broadcast after some of the speakers themselves had gone to heaven. Making chocolate chip cookies at the counter or helping freeze corn at the kitchen table, I became familiar with hymns and Scripture passages through the constant influence of that radio.

The years have flown by, and it’s my kitchen now where kids read the directions on the back of the chocolate chips bag, or color pictures at the kitchen table. And that causes me to ponder: If my kids had to describe the sound-track of their childhood, would my playlists be a place where they learned to love Christ—or a place where their hearts were desensitized to sin? This summer, I have been convicted to be more intentional about what is playing in the background of my children’s growing up years. There is a great opportunity to impact my kids for Christ, and I hope that someday they too can look back and realize that they learned more about Jesus from listening to godly music and teaching—while making cookies, washing dishes, or freezing corn! 

Leading a Child to Christ

Leading a child to Christ

Does the thought of leading a child to the Lord intimidate you? Do you worry that your presentation of the Gospel may be too complicated or confusing? One method that many teachers have used is the “wordless” presentation of the Gospel. The “wordless book” is actually just a small booklet made up of five pieces of colored paper—and no words.

The first page of the book is black, representing the darkness of our sin. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Every person who has ever lived—from moms and dads to boys and girls—is born with sin on their heart.

The second page of the book is red, representing the blood of Jesus. I John 1:7 says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Only the precious blood of Jesus is able to wash away our sin—not works, not church, not baptism.

The third page of the book is white, representing a clean heart that is now free from sin. Psalm 51:7 says, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” When we ask Jesus to wash our sins away, He washes away our past sins as well as our future sins!

The fourth page of the book is gold, representing heaven. Revelation 21:21 says, “And the street of the city (heaven) was pure gold.”

The fifth page of the book is green, representing the importance of growing in Jesus once you ask Him to save you. I Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”  

Thoughts on covetousness

Proverbs 21:25 – 26, “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.”

The tenth commandment seems mundane, compared to the first nine. Situated behind murder, adultery, stealing, and lying, the command not to covet almost seems like an afterthought. Yet Proverbs warns us that the desires of the covetous person actually have a very destructive effect. Coveting is a root sin that results in several ugly fruits, including slothfulness, stubbornness, and selfishness.

Coveting is the sin of strongly desiring anything that God has not permitted us to have. This is different from having goals, such as “I would like to own a car someday.” Coveting runs counter to God’s will for my life, since God’s will varies from person to person. What God allows one person to own may not necessarily be God’s will for another person.

I Timothy 6 covers the issue of covetousness. Verse 8 gives us a great outline for what we should expect in this life: “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” That’s a fairly short list! Food and clothes. Survival and decency.

Covetousness likes to add to the list of things I need in order to be happy. None of these things are necessarily sinful in themselves, and they may even be God’s will for some people. But if God takes them away, it is wrong for me to complain or to expect others to supply them. My job is to pay for the food and raiment and then let God supply the rest if He desires—either through a job or through unexpected gifts. Sometimes it is tempting to make sure the covetous items are paid for, and then let others pay for the food and raiment. But that would be a sin.

Before we call an agency or church asking them to help us cover our necessities, are there any things on this list that we could cut from our monthly budget?

home internet and/or high speed internet

Netflix

cable/other paid TV

processed foods

dessert

soda

meat every day (Have you explored other healthy forms of protein, such as eggs and meat?)

phones for non-working family members

data and long-distance for phones

subscriptions and memberships

pets

restaurants and/or fast-food

entertainment

concerts

new clothes and shoes (Second-hand stores sell gently used items for less than 5% retail cost.)

brand name items

expensive vehicles

college (Explore ways for students to pay their own way and work as they go.)

vacations, time shares

amusement parks

air conditioning (Exception: Oxygen users might require regulated air in their homes to breathe.)

sports/gym memberships/hunting

Commanding Children

It is often said that "babies don't come with an instruction manual!" But . . . we actually do have one. It isn't handed out in the delivery room, but we have many specific instructions about parenting found in Scripture.

Because our culture is quite divorced from the truth of Scripture, many parents feel quite helpless about how to command their children. I recently had a young parent texting me in frustration and weariness because she needed prayer about her defiant middle-schooler. Parents who have not grown up under the umbrella of loving rules and godly reinforcements find themselves begging for cooperation (and usually just retreating) instead of making definitive commands that produce real reformation.

Here are just eleven Scripture verses that may help us to find success in parenting. There is an Instruction Manual!

Positive examples from Scripture

Gen. 18:19, "For I (God) know him (Abraham), that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment . . ."

I Sam. 3:8, "And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me . . ."

II Tim. 3:15, "And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Negative examples from Scripture

I Sam. 2:29, "Why kick ye (Eli) at my (God's) sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honorest thy sons above me . . ."

I Kings 1:6, "And his (Absalam's) father (David) had not displeased him at any time in saying, 'Why hast thou done so? . . ."

Commands from Scriptures

Prov. 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 23:13-14, "Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatest (spanking) him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell."

Proverbs 13:24, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes ('early in life')."

Proverbs 19:18, "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying."

Eph. 6:1 - 2, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise."

James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth ('rebuke or shame') not; and it shall be given him."

Weeping vs. Whining

Fighting a cold today--and therefore, fighting the selfish desire to complain. The Bible calls us to "weep with those who weep," but we are not commanded to "whine with those who whine." 😊 So between kleenexes today, I'm asking myself, "What's the difference?" And, "Can complaining actually be a form of idolotry?"

Weeping can be comforted with genuine kindness, even though there may not be any visible answers. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Whining glories in attention for myself and often resents actual solutions.

Weeping results in brokenness--a profound realization of dependence on God.

Whining seeks to puff myself up with martyrdom and manipulation of others for forced sympathy.

Weeping causes me long for Heaven.

Whining causes me to seek earthly gratification in self.

Weeping finds consolation in being with others of similar trial.

Whining prefers to glory in being "the only one" with my problems. ("Elijah syndrome)

Weeping craves victory: Reading about people who have overcome this illness or hardship; always craving healing and solutions. (Hope!)

Whining seeks negativity. "Hope" threatens that my whining flesh may forfeit the cheap rewards of complaining (guilting my family; talking only of myself; treating my cold with the same status as a genuine tragedy).

And for so many of you who are truly in that "weeping season" right now, battling cancer, recent losses, and other crushing circumstances, I am thankful for your vulnerability in asking for prayer. You give us a mission in our prayer closets, and your courage reminds the rest of us to QUIT OUR WHINING!

Is Jesus Enough?

What you feel you cannot live without (besides basic survival needs--I Tim. 6:8) is your god (or God). It (or He) will drive your decisions and chart the course of your life. "Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone." (Nehemiah 9:6).

financial ease
comfort
friends 
the praise of man
excitement
control (or perceived control)
entertainment
status
relationships
a certain job
possessions
a hobby
goals for the future

Is Jesus enough for you?

The Value of a Praying Friend

With two-going-on-three kids out of our little nest now, I spend a lot of time reflecting on what has helped me as a mom. More and more, I find myself just THANKFUL for the people who have loved my children well.

Young moms, your truest friend might not be your age or your walk of life. But if you have a friend--married, single, experienced, or childless--who dedicates herself to praying for your child to get saved; who cries when your child struggles and never gloats to hear of a failing; who cheers on your child's victories and does not view them as competition to be torn down; who values your child as God made him, not as the world would like to mold him for their own use; who can listen with grace and pray with power and expect great things from God: If you have found such a friend, you are blessed manifold!

I am blessed over and over and over, and I'm so thankful for the many people in my life over the last 20 years who have loved our children so well.

Not of works

Cain represents a most common sinful temptation: To prove our own goodness to God; to find acceptance through our own self-efforts and rituals (Gen.4:1-5). But Titus 3:5 puts up a stop sign in front of this religion of good works: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us . . ."

When I stand before Jesus someday, there will only be one reason why He will allow me into heaven: Because I asked Him to save me from my sins. "Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:9)

Feelings

It was the middle of the night—dark, quiet, and foreboding--and I was eight years old, wide awake in my bed, distressed by suffocating fear. Although I had asked Jesus to be my Savior three years earlier, I still struggled with doubts about my salvation. I thought about the time I had found a purple crayon on the floor at school and drew pictures all over the carpeting in my kindergarten classroom. Surely a “real” Christian would never commit a terrible sin like that! Maybe I wasn’t really saved. Maybe I was hopeless.

The darkness seemed to thicken as my imagination overwhelmed me. Suddenly in the shadows, I thought I detected a figure looming toward me. It must the devil! I was doomed! In panic, I screamed for my Dad. And the shadow disappeared as soon as my Dad appeared.

That night, sitting in the living room on Dad’s lap in our wooden rocker, my Dad explained to me that the devil likes to use our emotions as weapons against us. Since I was a Christian, the devil had lost his battle for my soul. But if I allowed him, the devil could still cripple my effectiveness for God, through my own emotions.

The valuable lesson in the rocking chair has helped me many times since. The devil still tries to use my emotions, watching in smug satisfaction while I struggle under the crush of anxiety, inadequacy, pride, selfishness, comparison, fear, hopelessness, anger, resentment, self-pity, doubt, defensiveness, and other ugly feelings that sap my joy.

But the shadows disappear when our Father appears. Listen to these comforting words of Jesus in John 16:33, and claim them for yourself when Satan tries to defeat you as he often does me:

“These things have I spoken unto you, that in me, ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Not of Men

"Paul, an apostle, (not of men . . .)" Galatians 1:1

Not called of men, nor called to please men. The driving Force in our lives ought only to be Jesus Christ.

A number of years ago, an individual who had faced great hardship early in life told my husband and me that during his difficult circumstances, he had determined never to experience that same hardship again. Although it is reasonable to avoid pain (we all do!), there is a subtle form of idolatry in those promises: "I will never be robbed again." "I will never be hungry again." "I will never be lonely again." "I will never be left out again." "I will never feel ugly again." Those promises become mission statements, dictating the choices we make for the rest of our lives. In other words, they become our gods. And false gods always demand that we become their slaves.

Sometimes we are most inclined to worship what we once could not have. If we face deprivation, we are tempted to become slaves of materialism and overindulgence, promising ourselves we will never be cold, or hungry, or impoverished again. If we felt like outsiders early in life, we may be tempted to become slaves of our peer group--unwilling to do or say anything that might disturb the acceptance of others. If we have been victimized by other people, we can be tempted to lust for power and control. It makes natural sense, but natural sense is often what cuts between us and the perfect will of God.

What if doing right means that you will indeed be vulnerable again? What if choosing to please the Lord means that others might reject you? What if God's will for your life takes you to a season of loneliness? What if standing up for truth means you will have to rebel against the crowd?

What controls your choices? You have just been introduced to your god.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Keep Your Heart

It matters what we think.

"Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? . . . he that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart." (Ps. 15:2)

The other day as I was shoe-shopping with our boys, a song came over the store speaker. Not being a "disciple" of pop culture, I don't know the singer or the song, but the message was that "I'm going to do what I want, and no one is going to tell me what to do." It may sound convincing, but there are more than a few verses that dispute that attitude.

We don't always have control of what comes over a speaker in the mall, but we have options when it comes to what we allow into our minds. JC Penney chose my playlist Tuesday night--but I choose my playlist at home. Music, internet sites, friends, books, and even our own internal dialogue can sway us from speaking the truth in our hearts.

"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness." (I Tim. 4:7)

The wisest man who ever lived--and incidentally, one who experienced catastrophic failure when he stopped taking his own advice--said this:

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Prov. 4:23)

Be the Mom

A parenting thought: Maybe this will encourage young moms who are just beginning their journey of parenting.

A number of years ago, I had a little girl come on the church van from a very difficult home situation. Because her home life had been complicated by drugs and some of its tragic consequences, she was not familiar with the blessing of loving parameters. Instead of trying to listen to the Bible story, she would run around the room or hide under tables. I finally told her one day that if she continued to just get up and run around, she would not be able to play on the swings after church.

As might be expected, she got up and ran around during story time. When we went to the playground after church, I asked her to stand next to me while I supervised the other children playing. She was extremely startled by this "miscarriage of justice," and she began to cry and wail, "PLEASE, PLEASE change your mind!" I just told her that I do not change my mind, and so she and I stood there together the whole time--watching the children swing while she wailed and cried her misfortune.

The following week, I stopped at her house again to pick her up for Sunday school. As she bounced happily into the van, she paused before getting into her seat and announced with a smile, "Hi, Mrs. Valentin! You don't change your mind!" From then on, she worked much harder at trying to stay in her seat, and I do not recall her ever throwing a fit again when I enforced a rule. And once she discovered that she was not in charge of Junior Church, we had a wonderful time. I was sad when she moved away, because she had become a very special student to me.

It is true that there are times we are forced to admit that we have made a rash or ill-advised decision, and we have to change our minds. We are human, and sometimes we make dumb choices that need to be retracted lest we hurt our kids.

But the majority of our decisions as parents need to be thought through ahead of time and then written in marker, not pencil. If we do not respect our own decisions enough to stand by them, why should our children respect our decisions? If we convey to our children that we will cave in if they cry, scream, throw a fit--or wail at the side of a church playground--we can expect to see that exact behavior repeated over, and over, and over again. Kids are smart: They do what works. If whining, screaming, and pestering work, they will continue to do it.

Jesus told His disciples, "But I say unto you, Swear not at all . . . But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay:" (Matthew 5:34-37). We shouldn't have to swear, "I promise!" or "I REALLY mean it this time!" Our word is our honor. When we say "nay" ("no"), it should stick. Parents who keep their word keep their children's trust and respect.

Sometimes parents think it is OK to change their minds on a whim, as long as they add a dose of hostility to go along with their inconsistency. I've seen moms at the store say "no" a dozen times to a screaming toddler who wants a toy--only to put the toy into their cart with an exasperated, "Oh, FINE! But don't ask for anything else! I'm so sick of your screaming!" The child filters out mom's whiny lecture and takes note: He won the toy.

So be the mom who rarely changes her mind.

Summer Soundtrack

If I had to journal my summer memories from childhood, my page would spill over with short snippets of sensory delight: the cool shock of lake water on dry skin; the gentle toss of bedroom curtains from a morning summer breeze; the first candied bite of fresh corn on the cob; the soft crunch of sand between my toes; the sticky joy of peach juice running down to my elbow; and the “noisy calm” of crickets at night, lulling me to sleep.

And just as vivid as my memories of the lake or the picnic pavilion are my memories of our kitchen radio. For years, it sat faithfully on the counter, turned to a local Christian radio station from morning to night. It was the sound-track of my childhood, always coloring each memory with Christian songs, children’s stories, Bible verses, and even recorded sermons, broadcast after some of the speakers themselves had gone to heaven. Making chocolate chip cookies at the counter or helping freeze corn at the kitchen table, I became familiar with hymns and Scripture passages.

The years have flown by, and it’s my kitchen now where kids read the directions on the back of the chocolate chips bag and help freeze summer vegetables. And I have to wonder: If my kids had to describe the sound-track of their childhood, would my playlists be a place where they learned to love Christ—or a place where their hearts were desensitized to sin? This summer, I have been convicted to be more intentional about what is playing in the background of my children’s growing up years. There is a great opportunity to impact my kids for Christ just by paying attention to what is playing in the background of their happy childhoods. I want it to be profitable, so that someday they too can look back and realize that they learned more about Jesus—while making cookies, washing dishes, or freezing corn! 

Leading a Child to Christ

Leading a child to Christ

Does the thought of leading a child to the Lord intimidate you? Do you worry that your presentation of the Gospel may be too complicated or confusing? One method that many teachers have used is the “wordless” presentation of the Gospel. The “wordless book” is actually just a small booklet made up of five pieces of colored paper—and no words.

The first page of the book is black, representing the darkness of our sin. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Every person who has ever lived—from moms and dads to boys and girls—is born with sin on their heart.

The second page of the book is red, representing the blood of Jesus. I John 1:7 says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Only the precious blood of Jesus is able to wash away our sin—not works, not church, not baptism.

The third page of the book is white, representing a clean heart that is now free from sin. Psalm 51:7 says, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” When we ask Jesus to wash our sins away, He washes away our past sins as well as our future sins!

The fourth page of the book is gold, representing heaven. Revelation 21:21 says, “And the street of the city (heaven) was pure gold.”

The fifth page of the book is green, representing the importance of growing in Jesus once you ask Him to save you. I Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Let’s pray for opportunities to lead children to Jesus this week at “Believers Bible Time,” as well as throughout the rest of the year!

Luke 2:52 Summer

As we played “family kickball” last week with aunts, uncles, and cousins, the noisy cicadas in the brush by the creek reminded me that we have reached the mid-point of this favorite season of mine. Summer bursts with life, color, and movement, and I relish every second of it! But more than appreciating the gifts of nature, I really want my summer to be profitable for my kids. Interestingly, the Bible gives us just one verse (Luke 2:52) that offers this sweeping summary of the early childhood of Jesus: “And Jesus increased wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

We have a “Luke 2:52 List” that some of us are starting to work on this summer. Maybe it will be of help for your family as well:

Wisdom: Read a profitable book for 15 minutes a day. Practice music for 30 minutes a day and set goals.

Stature: Choose physical exercises that require at least 30 minutes of your day. Find a new skill you would like to develop this summer.

Favor with God: Have daily devotions. Choose a Scripture passage you would like to learn this summer. Choose a person you will pray to get saved this summer.

Favor with man: Write one note or letter a week that encourages someone. Text or call your long-distance siblings.

Moms, you may also want to pray and ask the Lord for specific direction regarding how to limit (or even eliminate) television, video games, and non-educational internet during the summer months. Creativity and hard work are hard to cultivate in a world where shallow entertainment is too readily available. God will be faithful to lead your family in the way that works best for you.  

Proverbs

Quite a few years ago, one of my summer jobs while I was going to college was to work for my hometown of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio in their “beautification” department. I was looking forward to a summer full of mowing lawns, weeding flower beds, and trimming shrubs.

Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks I soon encountered in my job was that I had to work with some pretty rough guys. Since I was assigned to work at the Electric Department Building from 7:30 – 4:00 each day, I spent 40 hours a week around some of the most profane people I have ever met in my life! Rainy days were the worst, since I could not go outside to mow. I was stuck inside for eight hours a day, organizing the shelves of supplies that the men needed for their bucket trucks, constantly exposed to their crude conversations as they bragged and laughed about cheating on their wives and drinking their weekends away.

But twice a day, I had breaks in the “lounge” (an old sofa in the corner of the ladies’ restroom) where I could retreat and read my Bible. Someone had given me a New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs, and that summer, I fell in love with the book of Proverbs! God’s Word adjusted my perspective back to the truth each day, reminding me that God’s way is the right way, and God always has the last word.

Have you discovered the joy of reading the book of Proverbs? Interestingly, it has 31 chapters—making it the perfect book to read through each month, one chapter a day! The book of Revelation tells us about heaven, but Proverbs (the “book of wisdom”) tells us about earth—and how to live down here God’s way. It covers topics like debt, child discipline, the importance of a good work ethic, sexual purity, alcohol, jealousy, lying, stealing, marriage, and dozens of other practical topics that meet us right where we all live each day.

I hope you will consider adding a “Proverb a day” to your Bible reading habit. Praying for you this week as you serve our King! 

A Dad Who Was There

A Dad Who Was There

He was a dad who was there for his kids as they grew,

Not too busy to be part of all they would do.

Playing catch in the yard or just out for a run,

He was a dad who was there, full of laughter and fun.

He was a dad who was there when they came home at night,

Helping with homework and settling fights.

Setting them straight with a loving, firm hand,

He was a dad who was there, always taking a stand.

He was a dad who was there as they learned to work hard,

Washing the car and out mowing the yard.

They did not cut corners--they knew he would check!

He was a dad who was there to teach them respect.

He was a dad who was there when they learned about Christ,
When they knelt to ask Jesus to enter their lives.

Learning to read through their Bibles and pray,

He was a dad who was there so that they would not stray.

He was a dad who was there when they were all gone,

Finding their futures and venturing on.

Praying and caring, giving advice--

He was a dad who was there as they faced adult life.

He was a dad who was there when they entered the Gate

Of that city called “Heaven.” They knew he would wait.

And for all of eternity, in God’s tender care,

Even in heaven: He was a dad who was there.

~klv

Insecurity

Do you ever struggle with insecurity? It is a common tool of the devil in trying to defeat all of us from time to time. Surprisingly, did you know that self-loathing, self-consciousness, and self-disgust are actually just fruits of the same tree that produces self-absorption, self-promotion, and self-centeredness? They all spring from the tree of pride!

Proverbs 28:25 offers us a glimpse into the tree of pride. Listen carefully to the structure of this proverb:  "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife:  but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat." In other words, the opposite of a proud heart is someone who "putteth his trust in the Lord."  Therefore, pride is "self-trust."  Faith is "God-trust."

The tree of pride has two main branches:  Self-promotion and self-loathing (insecurity).  Self-promotion is when we trust in ourselves and are happy with the results.  "I did it my way!" 
The other branch of pride, insecurity, is when we trust in ourselves and are unhappy with the results.  "I can't do anything right.  I'm a failure. I'm not as good as everyone else."

But faith (Christ-dependence) is a different tree altogether!  Faith recognizes that all abilities are from God.  When God gets all the credit, there is no longer room for self-promotion or self-loathing. We do not get credit for our successes, nor do we take the blame for abilities we may not posses.

The more we trust Christ and depend on Him, bringing every thought into captivity (II Cor. 10:5) and bringing all our needs and hurts to Him in prayer (I Peter 5:7), the more He gives us the victory over the ugly monster of insecurity!

Letter to graduates

Dear Graduate,

There is a little piece of wisdom that is not often included in graduation cards or speeches. Maybe it will strengthen you as you face tomorrow’s challenges. It is simply this:

Set backs are important.

You may struggle in a class in college. Get back up and take it again.

You may experience rejection. Some people have prejudices that affect how they perceive and treat us. Be the most loving person your enemies every hated.

You may experience illness, financial crisis, or an interruption to your plans. Accept God’s grace, and let His strength give you patience and hope.

Graduate, setbacks are the building blocks that courage is built upon. Recovering from life’s interruptions builds the strength of character upon which we lean when life takes its famously unexpected turns: the piercing grief of a stillbirth; a coveted job given to someone else; maltreatment from someone you trusted; a debilitating health crisis. It turns out that those early setbacks of youth are a hidden blessing. They teach us how to wait; how to accept the unexpected; and how to depend on Jesus and let Him be everything we ever needed.

So as you celebrate your laudable achievements today, thank God for the good times—but don’t forget to thank Him for setbacks too. They are both gold.

Our prayers for God’s very best go with you today!

In Christ,

the Valentins

Mother's Day thoughts

 Several weeks ago, Kaitlyn and I took a tour of the Meramec Caverns. While we took our tour, I was nervous because the water on both sides of our walkway seemed exceptionally deep. I had visions of losing my cell phone in it, or of the little toddler in front of me tumbling under the handrail. You could see what appeared to be huge rocky valleys under the surface of the water, plunging hundreds of feet. Toward the end of the tour, our guide explained that the water was actually just a few inches deep. What we were seeing, in the dim light of the cave, was a fantastic optical illusion. Those deep, rocky valleys were actually just a reflection of the top of the cave!

For many of us, the character of God is reflected very vividly in our mothers. When we think of our mothers, we see God’s unconditional love; His patience; His gentleness; His attention to our needs; His provision; and His great sacrifice. But for others, that reflection is missing. Because of the complexities of life, sometimes children feel that their section of the cave floor is dry. They peer down at a muddy floor, and there is no breath-taking reflection looking back up at them. They search for the character of God in a mother, but maybe their mother was taken from them in infancy, or maybe she was absent emotionally, leaving her children wondering if she truly cared.

If your Mother’s Day is complicated by absence, rejection, and disappointment, I want to encourage you with this thought: When the reflection of God’s unconditional love is missing in the people in your life, look up at the original. God’s unconditional love is still spectacular and breath-taking, even when human relationships fail to reflect it properly.

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” Psalm 27:10 

Letting Go and Letting God

Since Kaitlyn will be working at PCC this summer, I won’t get to be with her on her 18^th birthday (August 10^th). So last Saturday, we took a day to celebrate, four months early, and we did something I have not done for over 22 years: We went zip-lining!

It looked so easy on the video. In fact, it even looked fun. But suddenly, there I was, bound by harnesses and locked to a cable above me, ready to step out of a platform high above the parking lot and let a small metal contraption carry me hundreds of feet across the Meramec River into a waiting tower in the woods. Wait—WHAT?!

Sensing my hesitation, Kaitlyn urged me from behind. “Just go, Mom!” I’m sure she suspected that each second of hesitation only increased my chances of backing out. And so I did what my mind shouted never to do: Two stories above a parking lot, I stepped on air.

The harnesses tightened their grip underneath me and secured me to the cable as I flew over vehicles, people, boats on the moving river, and tree tops. My fear turned into exhilaration as my feet dangled helplessly in space. There was nothing to do but ride. My harnesses did their job.

A few months ago, I was searching for the Lord to help me navigate this chapter of my life as I prepare for Kaitlyn to take flight and start college. God gave me this verse (Psalm 16:9): “ . . . my flesh also shall rest in hope.” For me, resting feels like stepping on air. Jesus will do His job. Like a harness underneath, gripping me to the cable that carries me, Jesus does not let go. I can afford to rest from fretting. Oh, I have so much to learn about stepping on air. Letting go and letting God carry me is my daily challenge!