As we begin another weekend where our families' focus will be on the church, the scripture I read this morning discussed that fact that the Law is useless if we preach it to others and do not obey it ourselves, if we don't live it.
God is not impressed with pastors, leaders, elders, anyone who knows the Gospel, THE LAW, the right things to say or teach, but fail to live what they teach or tell others.
So my personal prayer for the weekend is that He'll give me practical ways to live out His commands, to demonstrate how He affects my everyday life and that everything else I could choose to do with my life is second to Him.
It means nothing to stand on stage, to be called 'the leader', to give instruction to others, unless I can also constantly show practical application in my everyday life. Perfection is impossible, not even a goal, but rather an obedient consistency is what I offer Him, is all I can humanly strive to offer Him. All of me.
We all have words 'out there' for all the world to hear and maybe also to see.
I recently have been questioned about a comment I made on Facebook. When I looked back at the comment I realized I didn't mean it the way it read at all.
Good grief at the very least if I'm going to throw my words 'out there' - I need to carefully examine the intent and the way it sounds before putting it 'out there'!
Friends I know that have no love lost with Facebook and other on line communities do have some legitimate concerns. Misunderstandings, unkind opinions, no face to face interaction, and the ability to make ourselves look and sound so Godly or the opposite!
So I ask myself why do I think it is important to put my words 'out there'? I don't do it because I think what I say is important.
Never in my life, NEVER, have I ever been consistent with a journal or much of anything in the area of study or writing. This blog is my first consistent endeavor. Except, I pray - my growth spiritually and the consistency of my marriage!
What I find it does is make me more aware throughout my day. Watching for something significant to happen - enjoying just a little bit more whatever I'm in the middle of - or best of all, learning more. Learning by paying closer attention, taking notes or focusing more. This is why I write. It began selfishly for me.
But...when one of you come up to me and tell me it challenged you, or you learned something or most of all the you were encouraged...I cannot describe the feeling and complete shock! So if in my own attempt at consistency you come along - well, that's just cool and I thank you so much!
A younger friend of mine asked several of us at small group Sunday night what the secret to good parenting and good relationships with our older kids is. (Obviously she understood that a personal walk with Christ is the very most important aspect of success!) My response - consistency.
I really cannot think of another thing that is more important in parenting. This is true in every area. Parents must demonstrate consistency in their own marriages, consistency in our pursuit of spiritual maturity, discipline of our kids, a big one is encouragement of our kids, we need to be very present in their lives - attend things that are important to them, then there is honesty with our kids... I could go on and on.
Even the Christian kids I know who have lost respect for their parents seem to resent them because they see they don't practice what they preach. We cannot expect our kids to act any differently then we act. Certainly there are exceptions, and it doesn't always mean that the parents did wrong things. Some kids just seem to struggle with authority their whole lives. All we can do is our best to demonstrate a responsible, consistent, Godly life for them!
Generally speaking, what I see is if there is consistency between what we say and what we do, the relationship with our kids can flourish! I pray for my kids and praise God for our relationship every day!
