Tag: god
Day 13 – A Child Again!
Take Shelter
The east coast of America is bracing for Hurricane Matthew and while most are evacuating the area, there are those who will stay. If you have children and stay, to me, you are a criminal. You are purposely putting your children in harms way!
Now, I know some people will have to go to local shelters and that is fine. But those who are staying to ride out the storm thinking they are big, bad, and brave are stupid! You can not fight rising, rushing water. Water so strong that a Mack truck can be swept away by it, like a feather blowing in a breeze. Trees breaking in half and falling on power lines, and your home create perilous circumstances.
All of these situations are very scary to children. And you, as their protector, must make good decisions concerning their welfare. You, must be the calming force in a frightening situation.
King David when he had enemies chasing him, not even a hurricane, stated in Psalm 55:8…
“I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”
Before that verse, David express he would do this if he were a dove. He would fly to safety. David was not a fool in troubled times.
Please heed my words, as someone who has been through these weather hazards, go to a shelter or evacuate. Prepare your children for what is to come and reassure them that they will be ok. Take supplies, favorite blankets, stuffed animals, or dolls; anything that will represent comfort to them.
And please don’t forget your pets. They are family too and deserve to go wherever you go. You can find pet friendly shelters and hotels.
Being big, bad, and brave means nothing when you or your family is being lowered into a grave!
So, be a real hero and take care of your children and pets.
God Bless You!
God Bless America!
Gooey Good Stuff
This time of year brings to mind boiled peanuts, hot chocolate, apple cider, and s’mores! Campfires or fire pits, and family gathered around start dancing through my mind. Yes, it is another fall season and another reason for more family time.
I have found it beneficial to buy these small wire basket-like utensils, with long handles on them. I know they have a name, but I am never technical about fun stuff. It has to be the ones which will not transfer the heat to the handles. Take a note here and learn from my own “hot” experiments.
The baskets keep things like marshmallows, graham crackers, and other food items from ending up in the fire and not in your belly. There are also enclosed baskets for popping corn too! You can find containers to sit by the fire to keep your warm beverages warm. And remember that heat should not transfer to the handle.
Where do you find these wire basket-like utensils, you ask. Any store that sells camping supplies. Or you can improvise and make your own. Necessity is the mother of inventors.
Now, you have your special fire cooking utensils and you must decide on the food. But how do you make it a little more healthy and not so sugary? Think about food this way, before stoves and ovens, the open fire was the only way to cook. Anything you can cook inside, you can cook outside.
What about taking the s’mores and adding dark chocolate for milk chocolate, and bananas or strawberries instead of marshmallows? Ummm, yummy. Hotdogs can be turkey or vegan and vegetables become soft and tasty when roasted on an open fire. The limit is your imagination.
But the most important factor is your family. Time sitting around talking, laughing, and enjoying each other. If the kids are younger, you can tell bible stories like David and Goliath. If the kids are older, talk to them about school and what is happening in their worlds. Let your children know their importance to you.
And slowing down does not hurt your blood pressure either.
If you need a bible verse suggestion, I think Hebrews 12:28-29 is great for campfires.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
So much to discuss in one statement. God’s kingdom cannot be defeated, changed, or shaken. We should worship God and talk with God in the right ways. And God is a consuming fire because He wants your love for Him to burn deep inside your heart!
Just watching a fire burn and the heat it releases is how we should feel for God. Which should be expressed in our actions and our words. Of course, you will have to decide the level of discussion, depending on your children’s age.
Don’t forget fire safety! Whether it is a campfire or a fire pit, all necessary precautions and permits should be taken care of first. Then you can enjoy a safe, fun night with your family.
Now, I have to ask you…What are you doing this weekend?
God Bless You!
God Bless America!
Make A Joyful Noise…
While I was in my prayer closet this morning listening to the praise music, the bible verse Psalm 98:4 came to mind.
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”
You and I are both old enough to know there are certain songs that when we hear them our fingers start snapping, toes start tapping, and our hips begin to sway to the beat. Usually by the time our mouth catches up with our body, there is a big smile and song bursts from it. Did you ever think that the songs your children are hearing today are being stored in their memory banks?
So if the music being played in your home or in your car with your kids listening, has vulgar language, violence, and disrespect in the lyrics; where do you think your kids are learning these actions to emulate?
My grandfather once told my father, after my brother hurled a curse word at him, “He had to hear it to know it.”
Your actions and words are what your kids mimic! Yes they will pick up some things from school. Very little, if it is not spoken or done at home.
You are their front line of defense in how they will face the world one day. Be mindful and build them up with positivity! Play praise music.
I love Listener Kids for the little ones. http://www.listernerkids.com. I am a fan!
And you can go to YouTube to find more praise music for all ages, even for moms and dads.
I will end with the video from Listener Kids called, “This Little Light of Mine.”
God Bless You!
God Bless America!
I Am So Disgusted
From time to time this world gets on my nerves. It may be because we are so connected to instant everything, we see more of the ugliness of evil. Today, my view was of ugly, loathsome evil running rampage on the children of the world.
It disgusts me!
I am not going to mention the articles and pictures I saw on my new’s page. Because I believe that breathes even further life into others searching for ways to be more grotesque concerning children. But I will say this, if ever there was a time when parents, grandparents, and all adults need to focus on Luke 10:27, it is now.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor as yourself.”
It is not about memorizing a bible verse but living your life based on the bible verse. For in Luke 10:27, there is no room for evil. Your example to your children is how they will live their lives. Give them a Godly example!
And if you know or see something being done to a child, say something or report it. Because for so long, we have forgotten how to stand up to evil and it runs freely through our streets and neighborhoods. Another fact which turns my stomach is when someone steps forward to say they knew something was happening.
How can anyone turn a blind eye and allow the children to suffer?
Children are a blessing from God! They are our golden nuggets of love and joy! Parenting is not easy but with God in your life and your home, you can do it. And this will start the sowing seeds of love and understanding throughout our next generation of adults.
Remember, no action is siding with evil and our world displays these results loud and clear.
Stand with God and protect our children! Change our world!
God Bless You!
God Bless America!
How Would You Handle It?
I recently read an article about a family having dinner in a local restaurant. Their ten-year old is a high functioning child with autism. And they have experienced meltdowns with him before when out in public.
This time, his older sister was teasing him and he went into meltdown mode. His mother got up, walked over to his chair, and knelt down. She rubbed his back and whispered reassuring words to him. His meltdown ceased.
After the incident the waitress came over to their table with a kind note about the mother and family. The note came from another restaurant customer who also paid for their meal. Most people who give from the heart, do not wait around for the “thank you.” This patron didn’t wait either.
Now the family, had received comments before, like asking them not to come back to the establishment. But never a comment with such a display of kindness and generosity before. The grandfather was sure the people were really angels sent by God, because human nature appears to render aggravation rather than compassion in these situations.
What would you do or what have you done, when in a similar situation?
I guess because my husband and I are grandparents, our response is more sympathy. And with me, I would love to go over to hold the child or help the family if I can. Sometimes if they are near us, we reassure the parents it is all part of growing up.
You see, some adults forget they were once children. And usually the ones who complain the most, were probably the more difficult child.
Now, I am not saying reward a child for bad behavior. Children can not learn how to act in public, if they are never given a chance. It is how the situation is handled which makes a difference.
Because there is nothing worse than, when a parent starts shouting at their child. Which usually causes things to escalate. And then you know who the child models their behavior from, the parent or parents.
Have we forgotten life is an imperfect dance and children especially need a little more consideration under stressful circumstances. Just like us, they get tired, hungry, and grumpy. Yes, and just like adults, kids act up too. Sometimes all that is needed is soothing words or a time out from the situation.
Parents and especially single parents, have a tough job these days. They compete with technology, media, school environments, and social environments. Not to mention the family dynamics. We the spectators, should be prepared to give a little kind consideration or maybe even some help. You can usually gauge a situation by observation and know whether to wait or to jump in and help.
Next time, think about Jesus and how He would handle the situation. Would Jesus walk over and ask them to leave? Or would He pay for their dinner and leave a kind note? Just saying.
God Bless You!
God Bless America!
Parents of Teenagers…Listen Up
If you are a parent, or a grandparent of teenagers, Ryan Lochte just handed you the perfect example of the consequences of bad decisions. Decisions should never be made on a whim or under the influence, because the consequences that follow may destroy a career, cause death, or land you in jail.
Yet a lot of teens see themselves as invincible. And that they don’t have to worry about consequences until they are old in life, meaning over 40.
Kids need to learn early on in life, how important the everyday decisions can be in our lives. I am sure you have had a few looking back ward, 20/20 moments when you wished you had made a better decision. I know I do!
Ryan Lochte was someone who trained for the Olympics. Swimming was his life and livelihood. He had obtained sponsorships from some large corporations, which translates into a large paychecks. In one night of bad decisions, he wiped the slate clean of all of his accomplishments. Ryan no longer can compete in the Olympics and he is losing his sponsors.
He gave up a plush privileged life in one bad decision which followed another bad decision. The details are insignificant now. Maybe if he had asked God for good discernment that day or if someone else had prayed over him, his spirit would have sent the warning signals to his brain.
Discernment is a very important word. It means the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure, according to the dictionary. To me, discernment is good judgement. And God’s discernment over our lives is perfect. We have to learn to ask for it and then to listen to Him when we are told.
Teach your children to pray to God each day asking for discernment in all situations. And then to learn to listen to the spirit inside of them, guiding them through life. You should pray over your children each day too. Ask God to guide them through their day with good decisions. I wish I would have had someone who had prayed over my life each day, when I was a teenager. Don’t you?
Also talk to your teens about good judgement and decision-making. Show them what has happened to Ryan Lochte as an example. And thankfully there are so many other Olympians who have made good decisions through out their lives, to use as the other example!
God Bless You!
God Bless America!
Music Soothes the Beast
Have you heard the saying that “music soothes the savage beast” before? I have and I utilized music as a single mom at dinnertime. Playing happy, relaxing music slows the day and creates a quality to dinner time and study time too.
Retail stores use music to keep you shopping and happy about spending your money. Why not use music to your advantage?
You can go online and look up all the studies of how different sounds and music affect the brain. Try it for yourself. All you need to do is to go to YouTube and type in “music for studying” or “music for eating.” Give your family a week of light background music for mealtimes and homework. Decide for yourself if this is something for your family to do on a regular basis.
The stress levels during these moments may become reduced and academic grades could improve! To me it is worth a try!
God Bless You!
God Bless America!
Pokemon Chasing. Are People Crazy?
I have heard it all from the populace because every one appears to have an opinion on the new craze of chasing Pokemon. Some think it is a waste of time and ridiculous, and others think it is fun. At first I thought it was silly, but then I thought about some of the silly and stupid things we did for fun growing up.
So maybe, chasing Pokemon is not as bad as some people think.
Like any activity in our lives we do to relax our minds, for enjoyment, or to exercise our bodies; i.e. kayaking, running, dancing, Facebook, Twitter, etc, moderation is the key. Because too much of one thing, clouds our view of God and the world we are living. Focus and dedication are great attributes, unless they engulf every aspect of your life.
In the bible we are told…
“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Philippians 4:5
“And every man who strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.” 1 Corinthians 9:25
Good words to remember.
I want to give you some statistics on “chasing Pokemon.”
- It was the highest grossing mobile app in the US, 13 hours after its release.
- 21,000,ooo average daily users of the app.
- The hashtag #GoPokemon was used 5,982,616,734 times the first week of its release.
- Businesses are finding ways to make those chasing Pokemon into new customers. Giving a discount for customers who find a Pokemon in their establishment, or being a PokeStop.
Pretty popular wouldn’t you say?
Now, I know there have been some circumstances where crime or violence has taken place during these chases. With all adventures, there has to be certain precautions, for example… be aware of your surroundings, go in a group, and once again moderation! Evil can turn anything into something bad. Do not give evil an opportunity.
As a matter of fact, I see an opportunity for Christians to turn the tables. Think of all the ways you can embrace this activity into a family fun adventure. Scavenger hunts can become Pokemon hunts with the losing team having to buy pizza for the winners. Bible study groups can use Pokemon when finding bible verses for the younger generations. (You will have to print your own Pokemon and hide them throughout your youth room.)
It is all about opening your mind and finding new ways to shine God’s light onto something evil might use for its advantage. And moderation! Do it once or twice for youth groups or family night, then move onto something else. Kids get bored so easily these days anyway.
Pokemon Chasing like all the other fads that have come and gone, will fade away one day. So, if they aren’t Satan worshipping, getting drunk, using drugs, and committing crimes; can Pokemon chasing be that bad?
Once again I come back to Jesus who says we are to love one another as He loves us. And loving is understanding we are all different and have our own interests as individuals.
Have you hugged your Pikachu today?
