The Good Parent

 We didn't choose our parents--they chose us. They invited us to share their home, their lives, taking responsibility for training us to build good, wise, strong adults who can make intelligent choices for their lives. 

Some parents choose to ignore their duty in this regard; they figure the "universe" will teach their unfortunate children to avoid repeating mistakes through conflicts and lost battles with someone stronger, often resulting in bitter, unhappy people who learn to fight for everything they want.

Some doting parents want their children to have all the finer things they themselves never had, everything they want; the parent will sacrifice themselves to indulge every craving, creating disillusioned immature adults who will believe the world owes them whatever they want, when they want it--with no effort from themselves. Their goal becomes more, more, more! 

Blessed are the children of wise, dedicated parents who try to instill in their children self-respect and respect for others, teaching them the balance between privilege and responsibility. In short, these parents are more concerned that others will respect their children than whether their children will love them. They strive to instill a moral compass leading to the child choosing the wiser path for their future. 

Would the wise parent let a 5-year-old play in the street, dodging traffic? Would he buy a 14-year-old a car?  Is it cruel to deny his child such fun when they see other kids with those playthings?  A wise parent sees farther ahead than his child can visualize. A wise child raised in love can trust that his parent knows things he himself cannot fathom.

God tells us He is our Loving Father, and proved it through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus for our sin and rebirth. If He could sacrifice His beloved Son in our behalf, would He be petty enough to deny us anything we desire, unless He knew (as we do not) what great harm would befall us if He allowed it.

Why do we have problems? Exercise and effort build muscles. Problems build spiritual strength and faith--same thing. Our lives are spent experiencing problems, leaning to overcome them and learning from them how to trust our Father more every day. Want to know your future? He says, "No way!  Know, trust Who holds your future!"

    “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

 2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.          James 1: 2-4

Bad News

Queen Latifa once made a movie about receiving bad news--the worst news--death just around the corner, she didn't take it well. In fact, she blew all her savings on one last extravaganza party, using all her assets for nothing of permanent value--a marathon of fun. Of course, the happy ending eventually proved the doctor wrong, she saw the error of her ways and had a wonderful happy ending.

But in fact, all of us have a day like that in our future and there is no guarantee of a happy ending. Who and what you are will have a bearing on your outcome on that fateful day. Unless you prepare for it, you may spend your handful of days on this earth striving for fame or fortune, leaving you alone, empty-handed, to face the God you have learned so little about, and unprepared to enter the paradise you may have heard of, leaving you to pay the cost of your self-serving past, the hard way. 

Following examples of wealthy, successful people you admire, perhaps you wisely invested income for rainy days ahead to guard against hard times, and bought life insurance, but that will only protect loved ones you leave behind--what insures your future on that judgment day, which comes to us all? Oh, yeah, back when you were going to church every Sunday or so, you probably took out "fire insurance"--Remember that? You'll be okay, no problem, but what about those around you? 

Your mama raised you to be polite when you enter someone's home--always take a little gift for your host or hostess--at least flowers or?  But what can you give to the Creator of All There Is?  When you were younger, you told yourself once you learned a little more and had time to plan, you would give more time and money to the church. Someday you would make Him proud. Someday. 

Someday is now! One day. Will you meet Him empty-handed, remembering the friend you kept promising yourself to bring to church, the empty offering basket you kept promising to fill "next time"? Or will you greet friends who are there because you introduced them to His perfect love?   

One day is all we have. Invest in leisure and self or invest in Eternity?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”(Matthew 6:19-20)

 

WHAT IF..........?

TODAY IS ALL YOU HAVE

Stop!!! Breathe. It's got to be a joke--or nightmare! But it's written on your mirror. Boldly. In huge letters. But who would have, who could have done it? What if----? 

Okay, think. Just in case, cancel today's game of golf, or was it tennis? Think of something very special, a great day of fun to look back on and rem- but wait, if it's true, you won't be around to remember it! Your heart is beating hard and fast at the thought.

Something great, a big splash, a party for your friends to remember you for. You would never feel their gratitude, your reputation for your past will be what folks will remember about you. That surely won't improve your future.

Reputation? Tucked away you surely have a list of good deeds you would someday do, to make up, perhaps, for any sorrows you ever caused friends or family. Oh, yeah, you remember a few--dozen! But they can't be done in one day. You've gotta make the most of today, no time for self-pity.

You could have thought about improving your reputation by doing a few good things for the world around you. You are lost. No hope?

Oh, yeah. whenever anyone asked, you always said, "Sure, someday I'll go to church with you. I'll change my ways."  And you were going to, but first you wanted to have your fill of good times and enjoy yourself before getting serious.

Well, you did that for sure. but the clock is ticking; the sun is racing toward the horizon--and you'll never see it again!!! You're alone now--your good-time friends are off having fun so ---- Will you disappear totally in a puff of smoke? Go somewhere horrific to spend your time in regret and loneliness? God forbid!        God?

We're not promised tomorrow--Today is the only day you have, Tomorrow may vanish as a puff of smoke.

Sunset of your day comes without warning. Will you face it alone?

You might try this "God, I avoided You, denied Your role in my life, my existence, denied Your right to my life and obedience, denied Your great love. I give whatever moments are left of my life to You, as pitiful as it is, nothing held back.

              "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7).

              "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin"                                 (Hebrews 4:15).

             “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20)