Good Stuff!

I saw several good things today that I wanted to share with you.  The first one is from "Parents Raising Godly Children".

It's more valuable than a lifetime of your income.

It's more important than your position in the company.

It's desired by ALL children/grandchildren.

Your children/grandchildren crave it from YOU more than anything.

Parents many times withhold it from their children.

Your children will grow up and still need it.

It's a gift that's priceless...

Your TIME.

Leave a legacy!

This next one is from "MAPD: Making a Positive Difference".  Both are "pages" on Facebook that post good and positive things.

***We tend to fuel the unnecessary fire of others with our reactions to their drama.

Someone comes to us complaining, and we hop right on the bandwagon! Someone is spreading gossip and we are just all ears to hear. A person begins to trash another's idea and we join in!

They are looking for a reaction...and we're giving it to them. We're letting them know, through our reaction, that it is okay for them to show such behavior. And then WE get disturbed at their drama.

Instead, try "no reaction." You don't have to walk away in the middle of the conversation, but just simple don't respond. THEN excuse yourself from the conversation.

Hard thing to do, but the NECESSARY thing to do if you want to do YOUR part.***

And finally, I was searching for a quote about 'criticism' to encourage a teenage friend, when I came across this really good quote by Charles Stanley:

Too many Christians have a commitment of convenience. They'll stay faithful as long as it's safe and doesn't involve risk, rejection, or criticism. Instead of standing alone in the face of challenge or temptation, they check to see which way their friends are going. 

Top 5 Ways to Stop School (or any) Drama

*Note from Lori: This post was written last March, but I thought it might be good to post it again. Unfortunately, many people (young people, old people, and in-between) seem to thrive on drama. This post is directed towards the younger population, but it also is for people my age because WE are the PARENTS. We're the ones responsible for the youngsters. We're the ones who are supposed to be teaching them right from wrong. We're the ones who are supposed to be the examples. So, parents....be INVOLVED in your child's life - every aspect of it. They NEED you and they NEED you to be the adult and example in their lives!

***
Drama is most likely in every school - with some schools worse than others, with some classes worse than others, and yes, with some students worse than others. With raging hormones, life changes, and peer pressure, (and, okay teens, I'll throw in the overwhelming-at-times-homework for you! :) the drama often escalates to record highs in no time.

So, how is it possible for someone to rid their lives of the drama? Well, here is my top five list to do just that:

1. Don't Gossip
All drama - no matter what and without exception - would be completely done away with if everyone would watch the words they say. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But, we all know that it's not. The tongue is one of the hardest things to control. The Bible says so! In fact, the Bible says we can't control it on our own. That's where God's Spirit comes in. We have to have His help to stop the tongue.

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue.

James 3:5-8

2. Limit Texting/Facebook/etc.
Now, before you scream out at me, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!! I COULD NEVER DO THAT!", please hear me out (and remember, if you scream, I can't hear you, anyway :). I'm not saying to never text...never be on Facebook. If I did, I would be a hypocrite. What I'm saying is this: Make up your mind that you will NEVER, EVER, EVER text or talk about someone else via any form of social media, or phone, or computer. Decide that you will never use those devices to talk about anyone else again.

Think of all of the conversations you've had with others, just today. What were they about? What did you think about? What was in your heart? Now, would you want your parents to read your texts? (some parents do keep tabs in that way and good for them!) Would you want your grandparents to see your chats on Facebook? Well, someone more important than any of those people sees and knows everything you send, take pictures of, look at pictures of....everything you think. That person is God. He knows all and sees all.

Remember the old saying, "If you can't say something nice, don't say it at all"? Keep that saying in your mind, along with the scriptures below.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13

3. Pray
Every day, take the time to pray. Actually, many times during the day, take the time to pray. But, at least once a day, pray for those who you don't really like. The Bible tells us to love one another. That means everyone - as hard as that may seem. But, sometimes we don't like other people. Maybe we secretly want them to fail. Maybe we want them to suffer. Well, think about it this way. What if someone wants you to fail? What if someone wants you to suffer? How would that make you feel? I wouldn't like it, would you!? So, make up your mind, first of all, to pray for that one person - or maybe there is a whole group of people - you need to pray for. Pray for them. Pray specifically. It's even okay to pray like this: "God, please help me to like so and so." God will listen! He's ready to listen!

Secondly, pray for yourself. Pray that God will soften your heart, and that He will help you will find something good in that person. Pray that you will be kinder to them or that you will not be mean to them.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:43-44

4. Obey Your Parents
Okay. I know what you're thinking. "How does obeying my parents stop school drama?" I'm so glad you asked! By obeying your parents, you are submitting to them. Submission is yielding your will to the will of someone else. In other words, instead of you getting your way and you getting to do what you want to do, you will be doing exactly what your parents want you to do - without complaining (yep, there's the catch.).

So, how does this obeying help drama? By learning submission to your parents - in the home - you are actually learning an even bigger lesson. You are learning to obey those in authority - such as teachers, principles, other adults, but you are also learning to submit to others your own age...such as classmates and siblings.

Maybe you do obey your parents. Maybe you just need to work on obeying the other adult authorities in your life. Then start there. When an adult - such as a teacher, principal, maybe a guardian - tells you something. Make it a point to be quite. Just listen to them. Don't talk back. Don't argue. Don't complain. That's what's going to (or should) get you in trouble and add to the drama in your life. Learn to zip your lips! :) Trust me. It will make your life a lot less drama-full!

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Colossians 3:20

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21 (this is talking about in the home)

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.

Hebrews 13:7 (this was written to the early church and speaking of their leaders)

5. Serve Others
Find a way, each and every day, to do something good for someone else. (I don't mean do someone elses homework or let them copy it off of you, okay??!) Do something nice. Be polite. Be friendly. Show each other that you care. If someone drops something - any of them, not just certain ones - help them pick it up.

Offer to help the teacher. Not to become the teacher's pet, but to truly help them. Write a note, email or text (NO, NOT IN SCHOOL! You're not supposed to have your phone in school, remember???? Yeah, I thought so!) telling someone they did a good job. Or even better - TELL them FACE to FACE in PERSON that they did a good job! Bring the school secretary, the principal, the cooks, the cleaning ladies, the teachers a little gift to show that you appreciate them. Not that they need a gift or even want one, but that just to show that you care enough to show them and to tell them.

Jesus was the greatest person and the only perfect person to live on this earth. He was the Son of God. People made fun of him. People spit on him. People beat him. Then people killed him. I'm fairly certain that nothing you will go through in school will compare to that. Yes, something could happen that was bad. Of course, that is possible, but, Jesus humbly obeyed His Father and willingly died on the cross for YOU. But, even with all of that and actually, even in all that - Jesus was being a servant. He was doing for others. Make up your mind to do for others, as well. Every day of our life.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13

So, what do you think? Do you think these things would work? What else would you add to the list?

Why not give it a try?

The Drama of Abby and Ace

Last week our niece, Emily, was staying with us for a few days.  She is nine and our youngest, Tyler, is eight and a half, so they had lots of fun playing together.

One day, early in the morning, I took them swimming. After a while their usual games and playing turned into a drama - a play.  Emily was the director and decided she would be "Abby".  She told Tyler that he was "Ace" and that a bad guy named "Bill" was trying to attack her.  Tyler...."Ace" was supposed to save her.

It was hilarious listening to this dramatic play by these two!  It was especially funny knowing that the only real "drama" they had seen was from animated Disney movies and things like that.  Being a girl, "Abby" was more into the acting....WAY more into it!  "Ace" just kind of followed along!

After five or ten minutes of "Bill" trying to attack "Abby" and "Ace" trying to get the bad guy, I guess "Ace" was getting tired of playing along.  I heard him tell "Abby", "Bill is dead.".  He said, "He's down there." and pointed to the deep end of the pool.  The look on "Abby's" face was hilarious!  No longer was she the victim and no longer could she act like she was because "Ace" had defeated the villian!  But she seemed kind of sad about it.  I think it confused "Ace"!  Wasn't that what he was supposed to do - save "Abby" by getting rid of "Bill"? 

This little scene between these two cousins acting out made me think about people in real life.  Doesn't it seem that some people actually thrive on drama, just like "Abby" did? 

After a little while, "Abby" began talking about "Bill" again, so I asked Emily about it.  She said he came back to life! I think "Ace" was a little shocked!

The "Abby" character thrived on the fact she was being attacked and that someone was a fight over her.  Her character was much happier (so she thought) when the conflict was going on in her life. She liked the drama.

Do you know anyone like that?  Like "Abby"?  Sadly, there are many "Abby" and "Ace" characters in the world and maybe even in the church. Paul addressed this in several of his New Testament letters.

Conflict, strife, dissension always come from two things:  selfishness and pride. 

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:1-10

Yes, unfortunately selfishness and pride get in the way of our walk with God.  They get in the way of our following Jesus.  Only when we realize that these two character traits are not what God wants will we "resist the devil" as the scripture says.  We won't want this type of drama in our lives.  We will realize that it only brings heartache and trouble, not happiness and joy.

Top 5 Ways to Stop School Drama

*Note from Lori:  This post was written last March, but I thought it might be good to post it again.  Unfortunately, many people (young people, old people, and in-between) seem to thrive on drama.  This post is directed towards the younger population, but it also is for people my age because WE are the PARENTS.  We're the ones responsible for the youngsters.  We're the ones who are supposed to be teaching them right from wrong.  We're the ones who are supposed to be the examples.  So, parents....be INVOLVED in your child's life - every aspect of it.  They NEED you and they NEED you to be the adult and example in their lives!

***

Drama is most likely in every school - with some schools worse than others, with some classes worse than others, and yes, with some students worse than others.  With raging hormones, life changes, and peer pressure, (and, okay teens, I'll throw in the overwhelming-at-times-homework for you! :)  the drama often escalates to record highs in no time.

So, how is it possible for someone to rid their lives of the drama?  Well, here is my top five list to do just that:

1.  Don't Gossip
All drama - no matter what and without exception - would be completely done away with if everyone would watch the words they say.  Sounds simple, doesn't it?  But, we all know that it's not.  The tongue is one of the hardest things to control.  The Bible says so!  In fact, the Bible says we can't control it on our own.  That's where God's Spirit comes in.  We have to have His help to stop the tongue.

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,  but no human being can tame the tongue.

James 3:5-8

2.  Limit Texting/Facebook/etc.
Now, before you scream out at me, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!! I COULD NEVER DO THAT!", please hear me out (and remember, if you scream, I can't hear you, anyway :).  I'm not saying to never text...never be on Facebook.  If I did, I would be a hypocrite.  What I'm saying is this:  Make up your mind that you will NEVER, EVER, EVER text or talk about someone else via any form of social media, or phone, or computer. Decide that you will never use those devices to talk about anyone else again.

Think of all of the conversations you've had with others, just today.  What were they about?  What did you think about?  What was in your heart?  Now, would you want your parents to read your texts? (some parents do keep tabs in that way and good for them!)  Would you want your grandparents to see your chats on Facebook?  Well, someone more important than any of those people sees and knows everything you send, take pictures of, look at pictures of....everything you think.  That person is God.  He knows all and sees all.

Remember the old saying, "If you can't say something nice, don't say it at all"? Keep that saying in your mind, along with the scriptures below.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13

3.  Pray

Every day, take the time to pray.  Actually, many times during the day, take the time to pray.  But, at least once a day, pray for those who you don't really like.  The Bible tells us to love one another.  That means everyone - as hard as that may seem.  But, sometimes we don't like other people.  Maybe we secretly want them to fail.  Maybe we want them to suffer.  Well, think about it this way.  What if someone wants you to fail?  What if someone wants you to suffer?  How would that make you feel?  I wouldn't like it, would you!?  So, make up your mind, first of all, to pray for that one person - or maybe there is a whole group of people - you need to pray for.  Pray for them.  Pray specifically.  It's even okay to pray like this:  "God, please help me to like so and so."  God will listen!  He's ready to listen!

Secondly, pray for yourself.  Pray that God will soften your heart, and that He will help you will find something good in that person.  Pray that you will be kinder to them or that you will not be mean to them. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:43-44

4. Obey Your Parents

Okay.  I know what you're thinking.  "How does obeying my parents stop school drama?"  I'm so glad you asked!  By obeying your parents, you are submitting to them.  Submission is yielding your will to the will of someone else.  In other words, instead of you getting your way and you getting to do what you want to do, you will be doing exactly what your parents want you to do - without complaining (yep, there's the catch.). 

So, how does this obeying help drama?  By learning submission to your parents - in the home - you are actually learning an even bigger lesson.  You are learning to obey those in authority - such as teachers, principles, other adults, but you are also learning to submit to others your own age...such as classmates and siblings.

Maybe you do obey your parents.  Maybe you just need to work on obeying the other adult authorities in your life.  Then start there.  When an adult - such as a teacher, principal, maybe a guardian - tells you something.  Make it a point to be quite.  Just listen to them.  Don't talk back.  Don't argue.  Don't complain.  That's what's going to (or should) get you in trouble and add to the drama in your life.  Learn to zip your lips! :)  Trust me.  It will make your life a lot less drama-full!

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Colossians 3:20

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21 (this is talking about in the home)

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.

Hebrews 13:7 (this was written to the early church and speaking of their leaders)

5.  Serve Others

Find a way, each and every day, to do something good for someone else. (I don't mean do someone elses homework or let them copy it off of you, okay??!)  Do something nice.  Be polite.  Be friendly.  Show each other that you care.   If someone drops something - any of them, not just certain ones - help them pick it up.

Offer to help the teacher.  Not to become the teacher's pet, but to truly help them.  Write a note, email or text (NO, NOT IN SCHOOL! You're not supposed to have your phone in school, remember????  Yeah, I thought so!) telling someone they did a good job.  Or even better - TELL them FACE to FACE in PERSON that they did a good job!  Bring the school secretary, the principal, the cooks, the cleaning ladies, the teachers a little gift to show that you appreciate them.  Not that they need a gift or even want one, but that just to show that you care enough to show them and to tell them.

Jesus was the greatest person and the only perfect person to live on this earth.  He was the Son of God.  People made fun of him.  People spit on him.  People beat him.  Then people killed him.  I'm fairly certain that nothing you will go through in school will compare to that.  Yes, something could happen that was bad.  Of course, that is possible, but, Jesus humbly obeyed His Father and willingly died on the cross for YOU.  But, even with all of that and actually, even in all that - Jesus was being a servant.  He was doing for others.  Make up your mind to do for others, as well.  Every day of our life.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

Mark 10:45

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13

So, what do you think?  Do you think these things would work?  What else would you add to the list? 

Why not give it a try?