Where Was God?

My heart aches for those in Connecticut who loved ones.  My thoughts and prayers are joined by millions of others all across our nation, as well as those from all over the world.

One thing has saddened me during these past few days.  That is that Christians have tried to minimize God.  Many say He isn't there.  Or isn't here.  Many say that the absence of visual things with spiritual meaning get rid of God.  They don't.  They can't.  Yes, Christianity is being attacked.  Jesus said we would be persecuted.  But why do we believe that God will go away?  Why do we believe that any person has power over God?  As one friend stated last night, "I bet the sovereign Lord would be quite amused to hear He'd been 'taken out' of anything."  I'm pretty sure He knows, but I'm pretty sure He isn't amused.....just sad.  His people are saying that He isn't who He says He is - and many of them are sharing that idea with a hurting world - a world who needs Him and needs to know He is there for them and loves them - in good times and in bad times.

Think about it.

Last night I was discussing this whole, "Where Was God?" thing with my husband.  Here's his response I posted on Facebook, with a few of my thoughts added at the end:

My husband and I were discussing the shooting in CT yesterday and I was telling him of how some believe and say that God wasn't there. He gave a good illustration and thought about the question some ask, "Where was God?". "The answer? He was at the same place he was when His Only Son died on the cross. Right there. He is and will always be "right there". It may not make sense to us. It may not seem right to us. Satan is called the "prince" of the world. The world isn't perfect - never has been and never will be. Heaven is perfect. That's the home we should long for - and not a perfect earth." Satan is the cause of all evil. God wants us to believe and have faith in Him in the good times and the bad times. We must fight against Satan with the "full armor", but realize God isn't ever leaving our side. It's not the absence of God, but the presence of Satan that produces evil. 

Christians, we MUST believe that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. If we don't believe it, how can we share it?

Righteous are you, O Lord,

The statutes you have laid down are righteous;

they are fully trustworthy,

and your laws are right.

My zeal wears me out,

for my enemies ignore your words.

Your promises have been thoroughly tested,

and your servant loves them.

Though I am lowly and despised, 

 I do not forget your precepts.

Your righteousness is everlasting  

and your law is true.

Trouble and distress have come upon me,

but your commands are my delight.

Your statutes are forever right;

give me understanding that I may live.

Psalm 119:137-144

Elementary Youth Group Christmas Party 2012

What a fun and special time of year!  Kids are excited! Adults are excited!  There are parties galore!

 Of course, if you have a party, you much have food, right?  I made some fun Christmas-themed food for the elementary youth group tonight.  A veggie Christmas tree.....

 .....snowman mini donuts.....

....and snowman peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (with raisin eyes/mouth and a carrot nose).

The kids enjoyed eating....

 .....and laughing.....

Instead of going through a line or buffet, the were served each dish.  It was less chaotic that way, plus a treat for them.

They played the "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" book game, where you pass a gift (or several) around the circle and hand it to the left every time the word "the" is read. That's always a lot of fun!

My husband enjoyed reading the book for the kids as they passed the presents.  We had five gifts wrapped, so several kids "won" the prize for this game.

 We divided the kids into three groups and had them pick one person to be wrapped as a snowman.

They were given three rolls of toilet paper, a scarf and a hat.  The winning team had to wrap the snowman well, and put on the hat and scarf on the person.

 The kids had a lot of fun doing this game/activity!

Yes, it left a mess, but it was quick to clean up, so not a problem.  I do kind of feel bad about wasting the toilet paper, though!  They didn't use all three rolls.  Maybe one or one and a half total.  Having three just made more people able to help.

This fun evening was a treat for the kids and it got them just a little more excited about Christmas coming!  It will be here very soon!

"TURN THE HEARTS OF THE PARENTS TO THEIR CHILDREN"

 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:11-17

This morning I was reading the passage above as I have many times before, but this time the enlarged phrase stuck in my mind:  "To turn the hearts of the parents to their children".  The angel of the Lord, Gabriel, came to Zechariah and told him that he and his wife were going to have a son.  They were to name him John, and he would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah.  His mission was to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and also to turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous.  He was to prepare the people for the Lord's coming.

We know that the world is filled with unrighteousness.  It was then, and it still is now.  We know Satan is at work trying to get people on his side.  But doesn't it seems strange that this verse says the part about turning the hearts of parents to their children?  Isn't it odd that there was even a problem with parenting in those days?

Years before, the prophet Elijah was sent to help with parenting problems.  Malachi has almost the same message in chapter four, verses 5 and 6, although this time it not only mentions the parenting problem, but also the disobedience of the children:

⁵ “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. ⁶ He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

Malachi 4:5-6

I'm not a perfect parent.  My husband isn't a perfect parent.  Our children aren't perfect.  But, they are not disobedient.  They are not habitually disobedient. They may disobey at times, but for the most part, they want to obey us because they love us - and know we love them.  They also know that because we love them, we will discipline them when they do wrong.

Why is it that parents' hearts would need to be turned back to their children?  Why would that even be an issue in Zechariah's day or in our day?  There are several reasons to examine.  Time.  Work. Hobbies. Activities.  Responsibilities.  Goals.  Pride.  Communication. Respect. We could look at many, many different areas, but in reality, all of these areas go directly to one area:  SELFISHNESS.  Selfishness is the root of all of the other problems.  

SELFISHNESS

Many parents are selfish.  They want "ME" time.  It is less about what needs to be done for their spouse and their children and more about what needs to be done for "ME".  Do you notice as you read the Bible that the people didn't talk about "getting time for myself"?  Do you notice that Jesus didn't go off alone for himself, but to talk to His Father?  If that is the time away we need, that's wonderful.  Because then it is about HIM - GOD, and not about "ME".  We do need time alone with God, and as parents, that alone time may be hard to find.  But don't we find time to do the things we want to do?  Don't we find time for TV, movies, hobbies, exercise, shopping, etc.?  Yes, we find time for what we want to do.  

Turning our hearts to our children will not be excluding them in our day to day lives.  It will be using every opportunity available to teach them and nurture them - in the LORD - not about things in the world.  Turning our hearts to our children will not be making them participate in activities to boost our own egos and to receive accolades from others about things of this world, but to teach them about God, and Jesus, and the church He died for.  It will be showing them a faithful Christian life of service to God.  It will be leading by example.....worshipping together as a family on Sundays and Wednesdays.  It will not be forsaking the assembling of the saints - of the Christian family of God that will help be an example to the children.

So, what if we examine our lives as see that we have become selfish?  What if we realize that our hearts aren't turned to our children, but turned to ourselves - to our own wants and desires?  What should we do?  We need to stop.  We need to stop being selfish.  But how?  The simple answer is to stop thinking about "ME".  Any time something comes up, we must stop thinking about how something will affect "ME".  "ME" can no longer matter.  It becomes about "YOU".  What is best for "YOU".  What is best for "OTHERS".  What is best for the children.  Ultimately, what is best for God.

Maybe we're used to being away from our children all day long.  Our society has a problem with pawning our children off on others.  We expect other people to raise our children:  teachers, babysitters, daycare workers, coaches, youth ministers, grandparents, older siblings, friends, etc.  We want (and maybe even expect) someone else to raise our children for us while we just enjoy the "good" parts....the fun and easy parts of parenting.  The thought process is something like this:  "Someone else can do the dirty work, but I'll take the glory. If there's a problem, I'll have someone else to blame.  It's not my fault."  And that's what is wrong in our society, and must have been wrong in Zechariah's society as well.

No one can change your heart for you.  God can help you and He will, but you have to want to change.  You have to want your heart to turn back to your children.....or to your spouse.  It won't happen without your consent.  Satan will try his best to keep it from happening.

When parents turn their hearts to their children and teach their children about what is really and truly important, amazing things can happen.  The family will be stronger.  Relationships will be stronger.  Love will be evident.  Your family will not be perfect, but it will be stable.  Children will feel secure.  You may have less time for "ME", but you'll feel more fulfilled.  You'll see that life is about more than just you.  You'll see that true joy is found in serving others.  You'll know that you're doing the most important thing - teaching your children about God, Jesus, and His Church.  You'll be doing what God wants you to do and there is nothing better than doing His Will.

 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life^[c] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? ³⁷ Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:34-38

Senior Class of '13 - Christmas Party

The THS Senior Class of '13 has been getting together monthly since the end of the last school year.

For December, they decided to go look at Christmas lights in Altus and go out to eat Mexican food.

Of course, not all of them can come or want to come, but for this evening, there were 14 Seniors able to make it for the night of fun.

My daughter and her friend had to take a picture with the Grinch.  Little did they know what would be happening when they arrived back at our house after the party!

The freezing cold temperatures cut the walk in the park to see the lights a little short.  Everyone was ready to get back to the house for some hot chocolate.

 But first they took the time to stop and take a group picture....by Santa's chair.  Santa is only there on weekends right now, so they didn't get to talk to him Monday night :).

After we had been at our house for a few minutes, Grinch showed up at the door!

Some of the Seniors were excited.  Some where worried.  Some were scared.  

 And some didn't know what to do!

My daughter and her friend were a little bit of all of those.  They couldn't keep from laughing!  It was so funny watching them!

Finally they calmed down enough to get a nice picture before Grinch had to leave.  He had fun knocking on a neighbor's door and walking with a few family members as they were getting some exercise in the middle of town.

Before leaving the house, Grinch (my oldest son was wearing the costume) took time to pose with our youngest.  Not sure Tyler would have taken the picture with him if he hadn't known who was under the mask!  Still a little strange, even knowing who was in there!

What Now?

Last week I told you about our high school football team winning the State Class C Championship for 8-man football.  It was an exciting time, and it still is.  But something is a little different around here now.  Gears have switched from football to basketball.  In fact, just two days after winning that championship, most of those boys played in their first basketball game of the season...and opener in a tournament.  From football to basketball - just that quick.

Our boys did okay in the tournament, but not as well as they were expected to do or as well as they wanted to do.  They are super-talented, but they were super worn out!  They are physically and emotionally exhausted!  They're ready to take some time off soon during Christmas break.

Several of us adults have noticed the boys' demeanor.  It's almost like they are 'down', even though they won the championship.  I think it is because for a whole year, they have been striving for a goal...determined to get that top prize....the gold ball.....and they did.  They got it!  But, after working, praying, wishing, hoping, dreaming of getting it for so long, it's like something is missing.  There's nothing else to strive for.  They got to the top!  So now, it's a little bit of a let down because that goal is gone.  It sounds strange, but it makes complete sense in worldly issues.

In spiritual issues, this whole "striving for the goal", but a "little disappointed after it is reached" makes no sense whatsoever!  As Christians, we are striving for the goal, which is eternal life in Heaven with God and Jesus.  We're working towards that goal by following Jesus and by living according to God's Word.  We have detours and must rely on God's grace and mercy and forgiveness along the way, but we're still striving for that goal.  But something is different about this goal in comparison to a gold ball.  This goal will last forever....for eternity.  The gold ball will pass away.  The memories will stay for years, but fade.  The experience of being a state champion will always be there, but will not be quite as important as it was on December 1.  The ultimate goal and victory in Jesus by eternity with Him in Heaven will never, ever fade away.  It will never be a let down.  It will be far better than we could ever imagine!

I pray that you are looking forward to reaching that goal and are obeying His Word by believing and following His commands to be His child.  In Heaven we won't ask, "What's now?".  We'll be enjoying being in His presence forever and ever!

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

Philippians 3:13-15