Train Up A Child

During this time of year, with honors being doled out at various assemblies and banquets, it's hard to not get caught up in the "moments" of it all.  Of course students are thrilled to receive the awards and parents (me included!) and grandparents are thrilled to see their loved ones receive the honors, but it's really, really important to keep these worldly honors in perspective - in the proper perspective.

Worldly honors will fade away.  Glory in this life may bring fame and fortune, but they will never mean anything in eternity.  Every award my child/children receive may be very well earned and deserved, but their heavenly and eternal reward and stars in their heavenly crown should be what matters to me....not some plaque that hangs on the wall or a trophy that sits on a shelf - or even money that helps them further their education (which is a blessing, for sure!)

Yesterday, when I received a bulletin from a neighboring town congregation, our preacher-friend, Tom Bailey, had written a timely post - directed at exactly where my mind had been the past few weeks - on training up a child and teaching them about what is really important.  So, I borrowed his post to share with you today! Here it is:

Children are our greatest assets. From the time God placed them within our care, parents have been concerned about their growth and development. We want them to have the best of everything.

The schooling of our children becomes paramount. We start them in pre-school so they can get ahead. We ask for the best teachers. We make plans for the best universities. Before they go into the world, we want them trained in the best possible way.

Are we concerned with their spiritual training? Does Bible Class carry the same weight as math class? Which has the greatest priority, Bible bowl or bowling at the local bowling alley? Church camp or basketball camp? Do our children know more about their ABC’s than they know about “A”dam, “B”ethlehem, and the “C”ross?

If we send children into the world unprepared they will struggle and fail, not only physically but also spiritually. If you are concerned about the spiritual success of your child, then you will see that he is trained in the precepts of God. Bible Class will become more important than any school class, Bible bowl becomes more important than any spelling bee, church camp will take priority during the summer. When we again prepare the souls of our children to face the world we will cease loosing so many of them to the world. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov. 22:6 --Tom

Thank you, Tom! 

Don't Quit

This has always been one of my favorite poems.  Thought I would share it with you all.  Have a great Wednesday!

Don't Quit

When things go wrong; as they sometimes will, 

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, 

When the funds are low and the debts are high, 

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, 

When care is pressing you down a bit, 

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is tough with its twists and turns, 

As everyone of us sometimes learns, 

And many a fellow turns about, 

When he might have won had he stuck it out. 

Don't give up though the pace seems slow, 

You might succeed with another blow,

Often the goal is nearer than, 

It seems to a faint and faltering man; 

Often the struggler has given up, 

When he might have captured the victor's cup; 

And he learned too late when the night came down, 

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out, 

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, 

And you never can tell how close you are, 

It may be near when it seems afar; 

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit, 

It's when things seem the worst that you must not quit.

Author Unknown

Measuring Spoons

Several years ago I needed some new measuring spoons and measuring cups.  After almost 20 years of marriage and my measuring devices sometimes getting carried out to help with my husband's/children's goat projects, my measuring utensil supply had dwindled down drastically.

One day while in a popular dollar store, I came across some measuring spoons that I liked.  I bought them and used them from time to time, while still continuing to use some of my older ones.  Every time I used the new tablespoon, though, it just seemed like something was wrong.  It seemed too big.  I didn't check it, though.  Of course a brand new measuring spoon would be the correct measurement, wouldn't it?  Of course nothing would be sold that would be miss-sized, would it?  Or would it?

After some wondering, I decided to check it.  After pouring one tablespoon of water into the new tablespoon and comparing it to one of my old ones, the new one was much bigger - almost another 1/2 tablespoon bigger!  I couldn't believe it!  That's a big difference and a big problem for lots of recipe ingredients!

The standard we use in measuring makes a difference, doesn't it?  It makes a difference in baking.  It makes a difference in life.  The standard we use as a guide in how we should live really does matter.  So, what standard are you using?  Are you using a standard that's too small - too shallow?  Are you using a standard that's too big - too lofty and unattainable?  The best standard to use is God's standard - the Bible.  The Bible is the only source of what is true and what is right.  It is the perfect standard.  We don't have to "measure" up.  We can't ever be "good enough".  We just have to be willing to submit to God and give our lives totally to him and to allow Jesus into our lives according to His plan.

So, ask yourself this question:  What standard am I using as a guide to measure my life?  Am I using one that's too big or too small?  Or am I using God's standard?  It really matters!

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-14

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful for God's measurement guide - His Holy Word.  May it be the only standard we use to measure our lives.  Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Thoughts for Today

1. Sorry about the lack of posts last week.  Blogger was having some "issues" and no one was able to post for a few days.  It's kind of good that we realize that technology is great, but that it is also not perfect.  It makes us more appreciative of it when it is working and thankful for those who can work to make it better. (I'm not one of those people, so I'm very appreciative!)

2.  Saturday our family attended a wedding.  I put on my status on Facebook that it was a royal wedding....because it was.  The bride and groom were both children of The King and were being united in Him!  That makes it a royal wedding, for sure! The best kind of royal wedding. This was the third wedding that my mom was a part of - in a way.  Do you remember my post "Is My Mom Cupid?".  This is the relationship mentioned in that post that had yet to evolve into a marriage-type relationship.  This past Saturday all of that changed!  I really think my mom should open up a website called, "eHarmony.mom" or something....don't you???? :)  Incidentally, the bride was also the youngest person at my own wedding, almost 23 years ago!  She was one month old on June 18, 1988!

3.  Tonight we had our youth group over for pizza, singing and devotional.  My husband talked to the teens about interesting stories in the Bible....ones that we hardly read about or think about.  Stories like Jael pounding the tent peg into Sisera's head (Judges 4:21-22) and about the kings who had their big toes cut off (Judges 1:5-7).  He told them of other rather strange-sounding stories, as well.  The stories are gorey, really, but obviously appealed to the kids and sparked their interest in God's Word.  It's good to get them interested in the Bible in different ways and tonight did just that!  They enjoyed the evening playing football, basketball, laughing, and talking.  A perfect, 70-degree evening of fellowship together!

4.  School is winding down here in Tipton.  End-of-school activities fill up the calendar.  Summer schedules are filling up quickly.  When school begins next fall (Lord willing), we will have two children in high school.  That seems unbelievable.  It seems unimaginable.  But it's real.  It's flying by!  It's hard to not get so caught up in the busy-ness of life and to slow down enough to enjoy the here and now.  It's hard to not think about the future and wonder what life will be like when they're all grown.  I need to stop and pray at these times.  Pray for guidance and wisdom and strength.  Pray for my children who have lots of decisions to make in just a few short years. 

5.  Last week this is what I would have posted on Thursday night, if Blogger had been working.  It's a quote from Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, better known as Mother Teresa.  Read her wise words below and think about them as you go throughout this week:

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

Have a great week, everyone! 

The Chronicles of Biscuit - Biscuit's Big Plan

The Chronicles of Biscuit:  Stories about our youngest son, Tyler, whose nickname is Biscuit.

For the past few months, Biscuit has been on a money-making and saving mission.  His goal is to get a new set of golf clubs.  He asks if there are any special jobs he can do around the house, in the yard, and in the fields with our goats.  His grandmother "hired" him to pick up sticks and paid him for that, too.  He's slowly making progress....too slow in his opinion!

Biscuit wants new golf clubs, but his big plan involves us - his parents.  Biscuit told his dad the other day that when we die he is going to tear down our house and build a golf course.  It probably amounts to only two acres, so it wouldn't be that big, but in Biscuit's eyes it would be just perfect. 

I suppose I should worry that his big plan only comes into effect if my husband and I are out of the picture.  I suppose it should make me sad that Biscuit doesn't seem to mourn the thought of us being gone.  I don't think he's wanting to build the golf course right now, but I'm not going to ask him, either!

Biscuit has a plan.  He has a dream.  He's not obsessed with it, but has just logically (for an 8 year old) thought of what he would like to do. 

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

James 4:13-17

What about you?  Do you have a plan?  Do you have a dream?  What would you like to do in the future?  While each and every day is a gift from God, and we're not guaranteed another day to live this life, we should have some kind of plan - a course of action - as we live out our lives for Him.  But, in everything, we should realize that our plans will only succeed if they are God's will for our lives.  Our plans will successed when we are committed to Him, put our faith and trust in Him, and do it for His glory and not our own.

All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:2-3