Believe

We've all heard of Doubting Thomas, right?

He stated that he would not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he placed his finger in His nail scared hands. Jesus gave him the chance to do that very thing.... just so Thomas would stop doubting and start believing.

But there is more to Thomas than the story of him doubting. There's another story about him that isn't mentioned nearly as much. Maybe it's because we, as humans, are more prone to recount failures than victories. We're prone to do it to ourselves, and we're prone to do it to others... if we're not careful.

In John 11, Lazarus was sick. Actually, he even died. Jesus wanted to go to him but the disciples tried to discourage Him from doing so on the account the Jewish leaders of that area were desperately trying to kill Jesus. Jesus wanted to go anyway. Danger or no danger.

And here is the shining moment: "Thomas, nicked named the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let's go, too - and die with Jesus'." (John 11:16)

Thomas, who had shown such weakness in his doubting, had at one time displayed so much faith that he was willing to die for Jesus. Wow! What faith. What commitment. What sacrifice. And all he is known for is doubting?

Why?

I think it is because we hate to stumble. We hate it in oursleves and we hate it in others. The problem is we all stumble. We're all a bit like Thomas:

We withstand things we never thought we could.... just to crumble over things that don't really matter.
We say the just right thing, at the just right time... and then catch ourselves saying things we never should.
We believe so strongly... then catch ourselves doubting everything.

Jesus provided for Thomas' unbelief. He visited the very issue that was making Thomas stumble. He appeared in the midst of Thomas' unbelief, put out his nail scared hands and reminded him to believe.

Jesus isn't just the Author of our faith. He is the Perfecter of our faith, as well. He invites us to believe Him and then He teaches us how to keep believing... because He doesn't want us to be known as "doubters". He wants us to be known as "believers".

So, let's remember our true potential.... and let's keep believing.

Repeating Yourself?

One of the things I battled a lot in the beginning of my parenting years was frustration. It was always poking out its ugly head and it always looked a lot like me, but uglier. Of course I cried out to the Lord about it, and of course, the Lord would always provide a way of escape. Here is one of the things He showed me that transformed me into a much more lovely person.

He showed me that if I use more than "just words" to address my children then they'll be more responsive and I'll fore go the frustration that repeating oneself again and again and again always brings.

What do I mean you ask?

Well, the Lord showed me that I liked to parent with mere words (probably b/c I am prone to be lazy). He reminded of the Bible verse, "They honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me." Well, come to find out God isn't the only one who knows when we're just giving lip service - our kids know it too. Children have an incredible sense to discern when mom and/or dad really mean what they say. Do you know what I think the most effective signal we can give to show that our expectations are sincere? It isn't yelling. It's stopping whatever we are doing and going to them directly. This shows that we're really invested (with our whole bodies) in seeing the issue out.

When children see that we are distracted when we address them I have found, at least with my children, that makes them feel they have a safety parameter for disobedience. When I am ready to give them my full attention I see that I have more of theirs.

Since I know that my children are more responsive when I am more attentive I have developed the discipline to be more hands on in parenting. I try to communicate to my children with more than just words. Our bodies are talking to our children as much as our mouths are. We want our body language to match our parenting language. When we say "I mean it" with our mouth, we don't want our body language to say, "I'm really distracted on the computer right now but when I finish this, then I'll mean it".

And we don't ever want to give our childen the impression that we really only mean what we say when we raise our voice. If that was the case our children would tune us out until we become physically upset, turning various shades of red and yelling things that would land us on the Oprah show featuring scary moms. There has to be a better way, right?

Well, children have a radar that picks up sincerity better than a hound can sniff out a critter. If children truly believe that we are serious then they will be more likely to respond with obedience. The more children learn to be responsive when we speak to them, the easier our job gets. The key thing is we, as parents, have to be consistent if we want to equip our children to be respond appropriately to a calm voice.

Another plus to hands on parenting is that you are not waiting for frustration to prompt you to move. You move based upon need, not emotion. When we aren't frustrated when we address our children then we're more effective. When we use self-control we know that we are training our children to take action as opposed to scaring them to.

Moms, if there are any topics of parenting you would like me to address in this blog please submit questions. And on each topic that is discussed please contribute what you have learned on the subject because there are moms who need to hear what you have to say.

Teenagers!

We can speak to our children's ears but only God can speak to their hearts.

I got a call from a mother I absolutely adore. A good mother. A great mother. And she told me about what she had been facing with her teenage daughter. Hard stuff. Especially because I know this teenager. And as hard as her behavior is on her parents, I know it's just as hard on her because she truly expects more from herself. What she is doing is not who she really wants to be because she knows it is not who she really is.

A lot of her behavior has been hateful. The words that have come out of her mouth could be considered nothing less. It's hard to understand how someone so sweet can suddenly act so uncaring, heartless and rude. Well, I think I may have a clue. The Bible says in Proverbs that if you rebuke a mocker, they will hate you.

Hate you? Yes, hate you.

Sadly, the world in which we live tends to teach our children to belittle correction. It is painted as unnecessary, foolish, a waste of time and a waste of breath. They mock it because they feel they don't need it, so they don't want it. They don't realize that "belittling attitude" compels their heart to step into a world of hateful behavior, whether they want to go there or not.

Just as dropping a ball sends it bouncing, mocking what a parent has to say will cause feelings of hate to come pounding on the door of the mocker's heart. Unfortunately, the abundance of the heart is what the mouth will speak. It's cause and effect and helps explain how a teen's sweetness can sour so quickly.

In unheated moments, when conversation is more fluid, there are some things we can do to help our children navigate around some of these destructive pitfalls.

1. For starters we can tell them to count on correction coming. No, it's not fun being "lectured" but it's part of life. Helping our teens be aware of this common fact braces them for such encounters and can help eliminate unnecessary drama.

2. We need to communicate to our teens what we desire their posture to be while being corrected. Parents have expectations regarding body language, words, tone of voice and response. Relating to them our expectations teaches our teens how to communicate effectively even while being corrected. Personally, I ask that my children be attentive to me when I am addressing them and ask that they use a gentle tone of voice. I often end a time of correction with a hug to communicate to my teen that my correction is meant to strengthen them, not hurt them.

3. Often teens mistakenly feel correction will last for infinity. Because they don't see hope on the horizon they succumb to impatience rather quickly. Allowing teens to know that correction, minus drama, lasts only minutes will help them to endure. As parents we need to be mindful not to get too repetitive. Once we make an effective point we need to end it there and not be tempted to keep dragging it on. As much as we would love to solve all the problems we'll face with our teen in one conversation - it just isn't going to happen.

4. When being corrected our teens need to be prepared to see our body language and tone of voice take on a serious note. Yelling is something that SHOULD NOT be done but there are situations that require a more serious stance. When rather serious situations arise, teens often get offended by our intense body language. Preparing them what to expect from us will help them to see a serious tone is nothing more than a parent's concern about a serious situation. * Note serious tone does not mean we correct our teen outside the guidelines of love. Love (which always believes, never keeps scores of wrong and isn't irritable) is a must or we ARE wasting our breath.

5. Defuse some frustration by being realistic about what raising a teen may look like. Like I said they probably won't master everything we want them to get in one conversation. Parents have to be in this for the long haul. It may take hundreds of conversations but eventually they'll get it. At least allow yourself to believe they will because our teens will pick up on what we believe about them. When we believe in them it fills them with an inner confidence. That confidence lends them the very strength they'll need to overcome foolish behaviors. Never view having to correct your teen as something negative. It is a great thing that they have someone to come alongside of them in life. Not everyone has that. Be glad your kid does.

Like I said we can speak to their ears but only God can speak to their hearts. God can touch places of their heart that the world's best surgeons can't reach. It is good to teach our children wisdom, but only God can cause them to love wisdom.

There is a promise in the Bible that says if we will draw close to God, then He will draw close to us. Since we need Him, let's draw close to Him. Never look at going to church, praying or reading your Bible as a mundane thing. Those are a few things we can do to let God know that we want more than just human effort working in our children's lives. We want Him to do what all men are powerless to do... which is change a heart.

Temptations Gone

When children come into our home I notice something. They tend not to struggle with bad behavior. I've seen children who are the roughest of the roughest turn into the sweetest things ever. Why do you think that is?

I'm not certain why but I am so glad. I hate to see a child struggle. And I know the world in which they reside in presents struggles. Hard ones. If I provide any shelter to them from life's storms then I am eternally grateful.

In the Bible Jesus exhorts us to pray like this: lead us not into temptation.

I think that has a lot to do with the level of victory a child, or any person for that matter, will experience. How much temptation are they having to face in life?

Every child has potential. Potential to stumble. Potential to excel. I believe their environment will greatly influence what the results will be.

In Proverbs it tells us that a wise woman build up her home, while a foolish woman tears it apart with her own hands. I want to build wisely. I want my home to be a shelter FROM life's storms, not a home that mimics the very storms I'm trying to protect my children from.

The Kingdom of God isn't a matter of words. It's a matter of peace, righteousness and joy. And when we allow those things to be found in our midst we'll find ourselves not stumbling nearly so often. And not just us, but our children as well.

Friends and Gates

Today I am taking the children to the pool. Four of my children and two of their friends. Two of my children are at camp at Precept Ministries.

Let's talk about their friends.

One friends is Miss Faithful. She loved us when she met us and she just seems to keep right on doing it. Love people who can love long. That's the kind of friend I want to be and teach my children to be. I always tell my children once a friend ALWAYS a friend. No matter what. Sure there will be seasons of life that people will enter and that people will exit. It's the re-entering part that intrigues me. I've had people who've exited my life reappear and I tend to like fresh starts. Cause time always allows us opportunity to learn how to do life better.... and that works on both sides.

The other friend was a promise. I promised this child that he could come over. Let me share a little bit of his life with you. He is one of five brothers that live in a motel room. His mother is seeking help in rehab right now. I told him he could come over when my son got back from camp. I've known him for a year now through church and he is a sweet, sweet boy. He's the kind of kid that turns you into a "yes mom". Whatever he wants, you want to give him.

There is something about opening your life and home to the poor that makes living good. Real good. There is a depth of goodness that can only be experienced when one is mindful of another's need.

I was thinking about the story of Lazarus in the Bible. Lazarus was poor. He sat outside the rich man's gate and longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. It doesn't say he ate the rich man's crumbs. It said he longed to.

I realized that we all have gates. And we all have someone sitting outside of them longing for something we have the means to give them. Some people long to hear someone sing. Others long to read something one writes. One may long to be included in your circle of friends. The list is endless.

I don't have people longing to hear me sing or begging me to write something. I don't even have a lot of people asking me for money or for me to cook them a meal. But I do have children who long to be apart of our lives. They want to see what a home looks like, how a mother behaves and witness proof of a happy marriage. They long for vision and the comfort being apart of a family provides.

Some people are afraid of doing too much for people. We should be more afraid of doing too little. If Mother Teresa is in heaven right this minute being rebuked for doing too much I would be surprised. Yes, wisdom is a constant need. But so often I think we mistake fear for wisdom. When we fear we'll find that all we've accomplished is keeping our gates securely locked.

Who is outside your gate? Is there anything you can do to help?

Starting Point

Well, it’s finally started. For years I knew it was coming but I didn’t know when. I didn’t even really know what. All I knew is it had something to do with God. An important job He had for me and was using my entire life to prepare me for.

Now I’ve been a busy person in this waiting period, very busy. I was married at eighteen and went on to have six children in our first nine years of marriage. Use your imagination here and know that my hands have been fastened to the plow of hard labor. Not to mention I am a sucker for volunteering. I am addicted to the needy so my hand hasn’t been idle. But in all of that busyness I knew “it” still hadn’t happened.

Many of the things I was doing were noble and lofty things. I dare to say they were. So much so, that no one seemed to understand why I carried an excessive need to begin this other, mysterious work. People scratched their heads in wonderment, thinking I was already doing my part. How could it be I was still waiting to do something of significance? All I know is that from the time I became a Christian at the age of eighteen, that my heart was bound and pulled by invisible stings - though strings seem too insufficient a word to describe the strength of it. The power had an intensity that mimicked God. It led me to a firm belief that God Himself had a very important work for me to obtain to. And I was filled with an obsessive determination and longing to see that it was accomplished.

I just didn’t know what “it” was.

The joy of it, and it did carry a joy, was a force of power on its own. It was as if every setback I encountered in life was sealed in a promise that it too would be used to accomplish this purpose to which I was called. The bumps on the road became more bearable and my faith more steady. That is the strength that hope lends. And even though time ticked by without any visible trace of an emerging promise, I became even more confident that such a promise existed for me.

And then it happened.

And it wasn’t what I thought it would be. And I didn’t even recognize its approaching on the horizon. But when my life touched it, I knew. Just as much as not knowing can be a mystery, so it is with knowing. When it happens you can’t always explain the hows and the whys. You just know when something is missing and you know when it’s been found.

And do you know what it was? It was a bunch of children.

Ironically, I have been surrounded, and I mean surrounded, by children for the last sixteen years. I am a child magnet and being a stay at home mom means you help out with all the kids whose mother’s are at work. Twelve kids in my home? No problem. I’ve been a second mom to countless kids. So why didn’t I see this coming?

It began with a death of a young girl, thirteen years old to be exact. She lived two doors down from my mother in law. I would see her outside almost every time I took my children to visit their Nana. She intrigued me. I noticed the same poverty that had plagued so many years of my own life seemed to linger over hers as well. I felt compelled to go speak with her. I wondered about her life. What she wanted to be when she grew up. I wondered if she ever visited that church right behind her house. I thought maybe I should encourage her to do so. Her unknown potential always mesmerized me and I felt maybe, just maybe, I could somehow inspire her.
But then she died.

She was killed in a car accident days before her fourteenth birthday. It was like a punch in the gut to me because I know I never took those few steps over into her yard. I never had any of the conversations I had imagined us having. I didn’t seize the moment before me, and a few blinks later the moment was gone.
But I have found that death often sparks life. And I knew that if I would allow it, the significance of her loss would compel me to significant action. And that really is how I met all the children.

No longer could I just allow myself to pass by all the needy children roaming the streets. I needed to know their stories and contribute whatever I could to make sure their stories all had good endings. In an effort to connect with them, my family and some of our friends decided to put together Friday Fun Night every Friday night in the gym of our church.

Each week we raised the money to buy hotdogs, chili, nachos, cheese, drinks, cotton candy and ice cream…enough to feed a small army. We put up the volleyball net, brought out the basketballs and blew up the big bouncy house. Then I would jump in the church van and go hunt for kids to invite. The first week I found one kid. But that connection was Providence. The following week that kid showed up with his adult friend named Cheryl.
Sometimes when you’re telling a story, you have to stop to tell another story. Well, this is one of those moments. It’s about Cheryl. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to do so. Surely, my entry is one of longest ones submitted to which I apologize but in all fairness there was no word limit.

Let’s get back to Cheryl. Cheryl has cerebral palsy. I don’t know the extent of all her disabilities but she is much like a young child in a thirty three year olds body. She has no awareness of people’s personal space. She’ll hug you to an inch of your life. And she’s a gift person. If you’ve known her for longer than twenty-four hours, chances are she’s given you something. The last gift she gave me was a framed picture of no other but Cheryl herself. The best gift to date though has to be my birthday gifts. And, yes, that is plural.

Cheryl showed up on the second Friday Fun Night. The first one we had a great turn out of volunteers but the second one it seemed most people had already lost their steam. I was a wee bit discouraged about this and because I had been dealing with some crazy personal issues I felt like a failure. Cheryl made all the gray skies disappear. Her energy matched a team of horses and she was bent on helping me find some children.

It was Cheryl’s suggestion that I go to the Lodge. And that’s really when “it” happened. The Lodge is what we call the motel a few blocks from the church. It is filled with drifters and impoverished people who pay by the week or day, fighting tooth and nail not to be kicked out onto the streets. But many are. At one time I opened my home to a young girl for this very reason. She became homeless and was pregnant and it felt like the right thing to do. And it was the right thing. No regrets, give God praise because anyone would know opening your home to a homeless person you barely know can be….well, a lot of things besides good. But miracles happen so it was good and it stayed good.

So even though I had been to the Lodge before I didn’t realize it was flooded with children. Lots and lots of children. And when I saw them I instinctively knew this was the place casting directors should go when filling rolls for their movies. It’s where NBA coaches should scout for their next world renowned player. These are talented children. These are beautiful children who could grace the cover of any magazine but instead are immersed in poverty, neglect and all the woes those imposters usher in.

Anyone with any perception at all would recognize an encounter with these children, is an encounter with the heartbeat of God. No one upon the earth has had the pleasure of seeing God smile, but whenever you’re with these kids you can feel His smile. There’s an absolute knowledge that when I am treating these children well, I am treating God well and He in return will treat me well. It’s much like living a scene out of the Bible. Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven. When you’re working with these children, the Lodge Kids is what we call them, that’s exactly what you feel like you’re doing - amassing treasures untold in the heavenlies. And the pleasure of it transcends heaven and falls upon our hearts.

When my heart touched their potential everything clicked. Their depth of need seemed to match my depth of desire to serve. The unknown became the known and I realized I was encountering the very thing I waited my entire life for. Their vast problems were overshadowed by the overwhelmingly obvious treasures each child possessed within them. And I was compelled into action for our mutual benefit and pleasure.

It was as if I birthed another fifty children in a single day. And all the concerns and plans I had for my own children were transferred to them as well. This is where the goals/conflicts arise:

Getting them to come to church was rather easy. Getting enough adults to be there to spend time with them was tougher. Now I understand why Jesus said the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Challenge: Learn how to recruit good volunteers.

Many of the children have lice and bed bug issues. Boy has my world changed. My family home schools for crying out loud but we have had lice four times since working with these children. We need to set up regularly scheduled lice inspections at least once a month and TREAT children with lice shampoo and pull out nits for them because many of their parents aren’t willing to do it. And we need to educate them about bed bugs and encourage them to report bed bug infestations to the proper authorities.

Transportation is tough. Many lodge kids have moved or invited other children to Friday Fun Night so it takes about two hours to pick everyone up and another two hours to drop them off. The same thing happens on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights and Wednesday nights because a lot of the Lodge Kids have also begun to attend church. Since I already have six children it is tough for me to take the children out on special outings because I need a larger vehicle. Challenge: We need more vehicles that seat at least fifteen passengers.

I am concerned about the children doing well in school. I would like to set up after school accountability and help with school work. I would like retired teachers and college kids to get involved. I want to set up these outreaches in churches close to the schools the kids are attending. I want to call it T.A.P. Tap Another’s Potential.

I would also like to begin working with summer camps across the nation, asking them to host children based upon their needs, gifts, talents and abilities. Meaning, I would like to be able to place a child who’s good in basketball at a basketball camp, etc. Again, this is to reinforce positive direction and help the children develop their potential.

Any momma, and that includes me, wants to expose her children to beautiful things and places. I have that same desire for these children. I would like to take large groups on outings, mission trips and general fun things around town. Money is an issue because most of these children can’t afford to do much, if anything at all.

These are some of my dreams for the lodge kids. We'll see what God does.

Let's Hurry!!!

It use to be that I didn't enjoy myself very much. Everything I had to do as a mother seemed like a big CHORE. I was always wanting rest and rest was always eluding me. The needs of my children (at the time there were two) seemed unending, so every time there was a need it always took me off guard. AGAIN? I would say to myself. I JUST.... fill in the gap. My little blessings had turned into burdens and I didn't even recognize the fact that I had succumbed to that conclusion.

I specifically remember going to Target one day. The children had to use the restroom. Of course. I didn't want to go to the restroom. I hate public restrooms. I immediately went into "let's hurry mode". My plan was to get in and out of there as quickly as possible so I could move on with life - which was trying to get out of Target as quickly as possible.

NOTE: Torment= A mother with small children trying to hurry. Period.

Anyway, I was in a hurry. They used the restroom which was an ordeal in itself, always was. When they were washing their hands they wanted to get the soap themselves. I wanted to get the soap for them so we could HURRY. Then they wanted to get their own paper towel. I told them no. We were in a HURRY. Then the Lord spoke to me. "Why are you in such a hurry all the time? Is the president waiting for you? Is there some important engagement?" Actually, my schedule was pretty much open. I was a stay at home mother. I actually had nothing to do. Most of my day I fought boredom.

The Lord then challenged me. "Why not enjoy your children? Why not let them get their own soap? Their own paper towel? So little makes them so happy. That in itself is a gift that only lasts a short time." I realized one day pulling the paper towel lever won't be such a big thing. Maybe I should enjoy it now.

That day life began to change for me. I resisted the silly and even pointless urge to always hurry through life. I decided I was going to stop and smell the flowers and let everything I do be fun with my children - even the WORK they required. God has honored that desire and the burdens I felt when parenting my children are overshadowed by the blessings I am now experiencing.

Children are A LOT of work but think of all the EXERCISE we're getting! If I could just sit all day would I really want that? No! God is true to His Word. He wasn't lying when He said children were a blessing. When life beats us down and we begin to look at them as burdens, then we can cry out to God and He can change our perspective. I have never had God leave the prayer of, "Help me to love and ENJOY my children" unanswered. Not only can He help me to enjoy them, He can even help me enjoy pulling a paper towel lever.... and enjoying our children will cause our peace to flow like a river.

Slowing down to enjoy everyday life with my children is one of the greatest lessons I have learned as a mom. A mom once told me she saw me leave Wal-Mart with five children and she noticed I was having the best time and smiling. And, yes, I did say Wal-Mart. She thought it was because I was a great mother. It was really because I serve a great God who pointed out to me the source of much of my frustration and lack of joy. He taught me how to relish in my life's work. My God taught me to smell the roses....even in public restrooms. And even when the roses look a lot like paper towels.

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him." Psalms 127:3