Being God's People

With all of the violence demonstrated towards people, we really need God to intervene on our behalves as well as those who have lost loved ones for no apparent reason. "If my people, who are called by my name, would humble themselves and pray; seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal the land" (2nd Chron 7:14). Okay people, it's on us. We, who are called by God, claim His name and heritage, need to seek God's wisdom in all things before we do anything, and turn aside from doing whatever it is we're doing that is not pleasing to Him (stop doing it right now). Then, our Advocate, the risen Savior will speak to the Father on our behalf, forgive our sins and heal the land. What do we have to lose by doing The Word? Are you ready?

Let's pray:

Father, in the name of Jesus, we humbly, but boldly come to You, acknowledging we know nothing and can do nothing without You.  We know You see all things and know all things and hear all things.  We ask You to forgive us our sins and help us to live a life that is pleasing to You.  Speak to our hearts whenever we are about to take the wrong path and keep us on the straight and narrow path.  Look upon Your creation--Your people--whom You said when You had finished, "it is good".  Help us to live up to Your expectations and create in the land a cease-fire from all violence towards all mankind.  We look expectantly for Your abundant blessings in response to this prayer and we do it with confidence in You only.  Comfort the hearts of all those who have lost a loved one to senseless violence and help them reclaim victory in spite of their circumstances.  Provide an opportunity for  a believer to speak a word from You to all those who are responsible for the violent acts and help them to see You through the person speaking to them. Help us all to keep the enemy under our feet, totally ineffective and unable to cause chaos in our lives and in the lives of our loved ones.  In Jesus' name we pray and thank You, Amen.

What Are We Sowing? (Reblogged)

 "Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (Luke 8:8 NIV)

Jesus said, when seed (The Word of God) falls onto good ground, it will yield a crop (growth) a hundred times more than there once was. He also goes on to say, "he who has an ear to hear, let him hear." So why does Jesus relate this parable to his disciples and how does it apply to us today? The point being made here is two-fold; both on a spiritual level, but one pertaining to the wealth that God has entrusted us with and the other, the wealth of souls that God has entrusted to us. If we misunderstand God's intent, we sow discord and doubt into the midst of the congregations and fuel the unbelievers' attempts to thwart the Word of God.

First, we must understand that the resources (money) that God provides to us are to be used as seed to be sown in good ground.  If we are sowing seed (giving money) to churches in which there is no growth and in fact is being used to promote man’s kingdom instead of the kingdom of God, we do God a disservice. We are to be good stewards—weighing carefully how we use the resources God gives us and making sure that our use—will eventually bring glory to God.

We need to make sure that we are wise teachers (sowers) of the Word and our only agenda is to win souls to Christ; not to us. We must make every attempt to fulfill the commission given to us to go out into all the world, teaching the Word, baptizing in Jesus’ name so that all can come into the knowledge of the Truth (God’s truth, not ours).

The flip side of seeing growth and maturity is to see stagnation of both money and people.  Misusing the resources will eventually feel like money placed in pockets with holes—steadily being lost along the way.  Manipulating the Word for selfish gains will eventually see more space and vacant seats in churches as people leave.  For those who have an ear to hear, let them hear.

We must be good stewards of what God has given us.  Are we promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ (salvation, forgiveness, and love) or are we just having church? Are we utilizing the monetary resources to assist the poor and the needy, to promote the Gospel, or are we just having church fundraisers?  Church leaders must be accountable to the Word.  Church members must be accountable to the Word by studying for themselves.  Remember, he/she who wins souls must be wise.  They who anticipate seeing growth/increase must make sure they are sowing (or watering) in good ground.  We must be willing to do deep soul searching and introspection to make sure we are doing everything we can to glory God.  He that has an ear to hear, let him hear.

What are you sowing?  Are you sowing in good ground?  

Parents--It's Not Okay!

It's not okay for parents to think--a child cussing is cute, when they can barely talk and most assuredly cannot use Standard English. It's not okay for parents to think--it's cute for a child to know all the "dirty dancing" moves and not know their alphabet, recognize numbers, parents' names, their address, or phone number. It's not okay for a child to start school and not understand "discipline and structure". It's not okay for a child to not be exposed to printed text before they start school. It's not okay for a child to hit a parent or other adult. It's not okay for pre-school aged children to be allowed to think they run a household and everyone in it. It's not okay for parent's to beat a child for every little thing they do (the punishment should fit the crime).What should be the norm in every home is this:  Parents are godly parents who understand the Word, have a right relationship with God, and know how to instruct their children in godliness, respecting authority, and in doing the right thing. PARENTS--stop cussing in front of your kids and then getting mad with them or thinking it's cute--it's not.  Stop allowing your child to SEE everything you do.  They will mimic your behavior in front of others who will wonder--why kind of parent are you?  Stop being lazy and teach your child everything they need to know BEFORE they start school--so the teacher can teach and not have to discipline.  Stop being ignorant about resources that are available to you and your children to make sure they have a good start in life and can succeed.  Stop blaming everyone else for what you either don't do or know how to do.  Stop making excuses for your addictions--men, drugs, alcohol, gambling, women, whatever it is and get help so your child won't be deprived.  Stop looking at others for solutions and look inside yourself and then seek God for answers that will help you to become a better person and a better person.  Do you really expect the person who sits around drinking, smoking, or gossiping with you to know any more than you know?  Ask yourself this question.  Do they really have your best interest in mind or your child's?  Do they really care about you or are they just flexing nonexistent faux intelligence?  If you really want to know how to raise a child right, Seek the advice of someone who has accomplished the goal, Read the Word, Develop a right relationship with God and He will lead you through it.  The only guidelines that are available for "good parenting" are written in THE WORD, not in the hearts of those who have not demonstrated their intelligence with actual demonstration of what they know.  Seek the Lord--remember that He always uses people to get His job done.  When parents learn to do what they need to do, we will have a better society, educated children, and a prosperous nation.  SEEK THE LORD--Parents and stop thinking your child's misconduct is cute.  It's Not Okay!  "In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path".

Clean Up Your Own Mess!

"Clean up on aisle 6"! There are a number of places where others have to clean up a mess they did not make. Even in life, people live in such opposing ways to God, that somebody else has to "clean up the mess they made". At what point, do we stop cleaning up the mess and hold the person who made it responsible? It's time for people to clean up their own messes and to stop messing up the lives of others with their selfishness and inability to think beyond the moment. In a millisecond of anger, blood rushes to the brain and clouds ones ability to think clearly, if a person is not used to thinking clearly and rationally on a daily basis.  People commit suicide because they cannot think beyond the moment.  Children are abused, neglected, and abandoned because their parents cannot think beyond the moment.  This inability to think beyond the moment, usually leads to a disaster of some sort.  When disaster hits--someone is left with a mess to clean up.  It's time for those who make a mess of out their lives and the lives of unsuspecting children to clean up their own messes.  For the rest of us who have ended up cleaning up messes after people, it's time for us to leave the mess for the ones who made it to clean it up.

We have cleaned up after small children when they couldn't do it for themselves, but as they grew, so did our response to them in teaching them how to clean up their mess.  Now it's time to let it go and in some cases to let them go.  Clean it up or clear them out of your life to learn to clean up again on their own!

Building Christ-like Character

     Psychologists promote ten commandments for character development that appear to be based on The Word. Although the psychologists are more concerned with character development as it relates to persons with personality disorders, their list integrates the Word as we are admonished to have the "mind of Christ". Since I have a desire to understand personality disorders--narcissism as well as character disorders, I will share what I discovered via the Internet. Bear with me, please. I do have a point to make.  First--narcissistic behavior exists in people who:  overreact to criticism, take advantage of other people to achieve their goals, have excessive feelings of self-importance, exaggerate their achievements and talents, disregard the feelings of others, are obsessed with self-interest, and pursue mainly selfish goals.  The solution/treatment most considered is intensive therapy.  The problem with attempting to treat people who are narcissistic behavior is that they don't believe there is anything wrong with them.  Life's problems for them are always caused by someone else.  They will not accept responsibility for their actions and are incapable of rational thinking.  In order to change their character development, the following is offered:
1)  Recognize your impact on the world around you--no man is an island and everything we do impacts others--positively or negatively."defend the rights of the poor and the needy",  "love your neighbor as yourself".
2) Strive to be grateful--there is nothing worse than being around an ungrateful person who believes the world owes them something. "Give thanks always."
3) Maintain a balanced sense of self-worth--"we should not think more highly of ourselves" for when we do, we deceive ourselves only.
4)  Be honest--No one likes a liar--"Satan is the father of liars and the truth is not in him"--Jesus is the truth, the light, and the way--to get into heaven.
5) Live for more than seeking pleasure--"where our heart is lies our treasure".  We cannot accomplish much in the Will of God, if we only live to seek our own enjoyment and pleasure.
6) Think before you act--"Finally my brothers think on these things--honesty, purity, virtue..." Acting impulsively without thinking of the consequences usually leads to a disaster--a mess for someone else to clean up
7) Strive to develop soundness/rightness of will--If you only do the right thing, you never have to worry about doing the wrong thing. To know what's right--think about how you would feel if someone did things to you that you have done to others.  "Seek the Lord, while He yet may be found".
8) Manage your aggressive instincts thoughtfully and constructively--Not everything is about how loud you get or how much profanity you use--this is destructive behavior and serves the best interest of no one.  "Do all things decently and in order".
9) Treat others with civility and positive regard--Keep a civil tongue in your mouth, "a soft answer turns away wrath".
10) Be sincere of heart and purpose--"Do all things as unto the Lord".  Remember whatever a person sows, that and that only is what they will reap.

For truly remarkable character building--get into The Word, allow the Word to get into You, and then you can ask what you will and it will be done unto you (John 15).  "Let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus" .  It is the Word that will build character and negate/nullify personality and character disorders.  Not many who suffer from personality disorders need a psychiatrist--they need Jesus!  Pray for them--that they will allow the truth to permeate their minds and souls that God will truly get the Glory in their new attitudes.

Don't Blame The Teacher

Parents--Own Up to your responsibility. It is not the teacher's job to teach your children BEFORE they start school; it is yours. Teach them--alphabet recognition, appropriate behavior, respect, self-control, number recognition, and how to obey authority. Get them--any medical attention they may need or special services they may need, BEFORE they start school. Have their eyes checked and get glasses, if needed.  Have their hearing checked, and follow the doctor's instructions.  If you suspect any learning disability before they start school, have your child tested--the testing is free and use the services offered.  Their success in school rest upon your shoulders, not the teacher's. Prime their brains to learn, NOW!  Children are a precious commodity--Treat them as such.  Help them to prepare to receive knowledge and motivate them to want to learn.  If you do your job, teachers can do theirs.  It is not the teacher's responsibility to teach your child how: to sit still, stop talking, tie their shoes, get them dressed, be courteous, respect authority and themselves, personal hygiene, getting enough sleep so their brains will function appropriately, or to be good children.  That is your job. Read to your children, listen to your children, teach them to be self-sufficient, and love them enough to allow them to make mistakes without making a mountain out of a mole hill.  We all make mistakes and we should learn from them.  Not every mistake warrants punitive action.  Talk to your children and establish a right relationship with them so communication lines remain open. If you have a right relationship with God, He can and will steer you in the right direction in all things.  Learn to listen to Him by studying His Word.

After they start school--stay involved in their learning.  Participate at the school. Help them with homework.  Show an interest in what they're learning and encourage and motivate higher standards on a daily basis.  Reward them for good grades and good behavior.  Get to know the teachers and the principal.  Learn how to be a better parent than you are, even if you think you're a good one.  There is always room for improvement.  Help the children make this world a better place.  A teacher sees your child for a limited time, five days a week.  You have had unlimited access for the first five years of their life and you alone control their home environment.  Make it a positive one--conducive to learning and success in school.

Silence is Loud, not Golden!

There is an old adage that says "silence is golden" but in reality, when communication is not being made, it is loud.

When people in relationships are not speaking, the silence is deafening and full of negative anticipation.  The negative anticipation ensues because the mind begins to imagine all sorts of things that may or may not be true.  There  is no gold in silence--no value can be attached to it, when we have too much on our minds.

Knowing the above is true for mankind, is it also true with our relationship with God?  When we don't "hear" from God, do our minds start imagining the worst possible scenario?
"He stopped caring about me"
"I've done something wrong"
"Why won't He answer me"

We don't have to think the worst because of the silence.  He may have spoken, but we didn't like what we heard.  Or maybe, He's just giving us time to think about what we said to Him.   At any rate, the silence becomes so loud that it can cloud our thinking and lead to our making mistakes because it was so loud.

Take the time to realize that sometimes, He's just waiting for us to be still and know that He is God.

Hostaged!

        No one gets a chance to choose their family.  The family—chooses them. Sometimes, it works out wonderfully, but sometimes, individuals find themselves in situations that have no resemblance of “family”—enveloped and embraced with love, but are in fact, more like a tapestry woven with threads of malice, deceit, hate,  and jealousy and the more one tries to break the strands that holds it altogether, the tighter the strand becomes, more elastic than ever, constantly rubber-banding one back to the abyss where light is so fused with darkness that one may never understand—true light.

            How does one break-away from the ties that bind, so tightly that breathing is made so difficult that an inhaler is needed to ease the tightness and give room for pure air, not yet contaminated by the environment that one has not chosen, but yet must survive in order to find their rightful place—a place left untainted by the views and choices of others made for them, but will sustain them if found before the elasticated ties strangle and defeat for all eternity?   We acquiesce and conform until we are no longer bound by the strictures that keep us in the environment forced upon us.  We wait for opportunity to escape and find the means to cut through the elasticity—sometimes knowing that once the break is made there is no turning back—to those things that would keep us in a holding pattern, never able to land and complete our appointed destiny on the path—another path, chosen not by our families, but by our Creator, the Only One who truly is capable of loving us and keeping us from being defeated by—our beginnings in which, we had no choice.

If urban school districts are to ever realize viable reform in their areas, they must recognize that attacks/blame against teachers will not produce the reform they seek.  They must acknowledge that true reform will only come when parents are engaged in the process of education, with all other stakeholders.  "If Parents Cared Enough...Johnny and Juaneshia Could Read available now.     maryhall-rayford.com 

This book addresses the needs of true educational reform that will make a difference for our children in the 21st Century.  I encourage you to read and get back to me with any questions that you may have.