Parenting for a Purpose

 One of the benefits of being a minister in the same town for over twenty years is seeing generations grow up and begin their own homes. We have celebrated weddings, children being born and then these children growing to love Jesus as well.


My wife and I attended a wonderful wedding on Memorial Day weekend for one of the families we have known for twenty years. The ceremony was spiritual and unique at the same time. The couple exchanged vows on an outside terrace of a hotel in the French Quarter. One of the most unusual sights was hotel guests pressing their faces to the windows to watch the wedding. 


Everyone loves a wedding!


The real celebration was at the reception from 7-10 p.m. Lively conversation between friends and families, great food and drink, live music and dancing! Little wonder Jesus did His first miracle at a wedding. When He turned water into wine it was taking something plain, infusing it with His life to make it something that was tasty, fragrant and intoxicating. He did the same thing when He joined these two young people into one.


As I reflected on the how the parents raised the young woman, the words of this song came to mind. It reflects the greatest goal parents can have for their little girls.


Somewhere in the world today
A little girl will go out to play
All dressed up in mama's clothes
At least the way that I suppose it goes
Somewhere in the world tonight
Before she reaches to turn out the light
She'll be prayin' from a tender heart
A simple prayer that's a work of art

Chorus

And I don't even know her name
But I'm prayin' for her just the same
That the Lord will write His name upon her heart
'Cause somewhere in the course of this life
A little boy will need a godly wife
So hold on to Jesus, baby, wherever you are 
 
Somewhere in the world out there
That little girl's learnin' how to care
She's pickin' up her mamas charms
Or maybe, swingin' 'round in her daddy's arms
Somewhere in the world to be
Though the future's not real clear to me
Their's could be a tender love
Grounded in eternal love above lyrics by Wayne Watson


Parents, we have an awesome opportunity…don’t blow it!

Its about a Person…not a Preference... Priority...Principles

Romans 14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master  that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

WE followers of Jesus Christ get caught up in criticism of others or calling into questions how they pursuee their faith in Jesus.

A key to understanding how to be more tolerant or actually, Christlike with others is in a series of words that begin with the letter “P”.


Preference- in many churches today they are having “worship wars” over style of music and use of instruments.  Many times it seems to be inter-generational.  The older group prefers “the way it was when we grew up” and the younger prefer more lively and praise oriented.  Guess what?  Neither group is totally right or wrong. The Bible says worship with “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”  In other words  songs that sing ABOUT  God and those who sing TO God.

Priorities- some think the end of all the church is evangelism that is to reach and bring to conversion non-believers. Others thinks it is small group ministry.  Some put priority on caring and social ministries. Same thing, they all have a place in the balance of the Body of Christ.

Principles- these love the teaching aspect of Christianity.  They think the Bible is a huge instructional manual to be analyzed, digested, arranged into topics and checklist given to live the Christian life. Really?  Ever try to cozy up with dishwasher operator manual?  Get insight that tell you how to live with a cell phone instruction book? It’s not the end all of faith either.

Person-finally we have it.  It is all about Jesus. The whole of Scripture is about getting to know Him.  He loves us the way we are and loves us enough not to leave us that way. He knows the more time you spend with Him the more you become like  Him.  


We are not trying to live to obtain His pleasure but understanding that the moment we become His, He is pleased with us.  We do not live our lives to obtain His favor but begin our new life in Him secure in His favor.


This is the good news believers need to expect and experience....God loves you!   You're free to become what He wants and not just behave how others want!  But we can also give others freedom to follow the way He leads them.

"No...really. You go first!"

I John 4: 19 “We love because he first loved us.”

One definition of love I hear is “Giving of oneself to meet the needs of another without expectation of return.”

It is not "I love you if…"

"I love you when…"

"I love you because you make me feel…"

It is God kind of love.  "I love you (period)."

God’s is the great initiator.  He sought us, we never seek Him.  Jesus said he came to seek and save that which was lost…us.

The closest thing on earth is the love of a parent for their child.  Giving…loving…sacrificing because of the needs of the person who is the object of love and not just for what the parent can experience in return.

So it is with Jesus.

He loved and waited to see if it was recognized…responded to…returned.

He loves you.  What you gonna do about it?

If you really know then you will go

1 John 2: 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

We can claim we know God but reality is our life.

Do you just talk about Him or walk with Him?

One will want to keep His word and spend time (walk) with Him the more deeply they love Him.

Ever notice an elderly couple that begin to look alike?  God seems to let them begin to resemble an reflect one another.  They start sentences and share a laugh.  They have knowing glances.  They can finish one another’s’ thoughts. 

Why?

Because they love each other and walk together.

God is calling each of us to walk with Him.  First as individuals; then as families and communities of faith.

It’s a great trip…get started.

Time for a Check Up

John 13: 35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In the last 12 years my family and I have attended about 10 churches form various denominations.  Some Baptist, Pentecostal, AG, Lutheran, Non-denominations charismatic, non-denominational Bible teaching, Methodist and even a Baptist church who changed their name to look more non-denominational.

Each has traditions and expression of their faith they consider unique and probably even biblical.

Know what Jesus said is the sign of His disciples?  Love for one another?

A disciple is more than just an occasional attender, a one time baptized or confirmed convert.  A disciple is one who patterns their life after their teacher.  They commit their life to study the way and words of those they follow.

Jesus says the end product, the lifestyle of His disciples will be love.

Based on this, how are you doing as a disciple?