Preschool

Preschool Loosens Parent-Child Bonds

Sweaty Treasure

Recently, I journeyed with a youth group as they traveled into Mexico to build a church. When we arrived, we found a good foundation, a somewhat crooked security wall and piles of materials. None of us knew where to start.

Rick and Sherry Owens have been coordinating the construction of church buildings in Mexico for over seventeen years and more than 130 churches. Youth groups learn how to build walls, mix concrete, tie rebar, shovel sand and work as a team in difficult circumstances. These groups experience a great outpouring of hospitality, gratitude and encouragement from the people they came to encourage. Week by week, group by group, the church building gradually rises while love flows between the youth groups and the congregation. We learned a little more Spanish while they learned a little more English. But, love was still communicated in spite of the language barrier.

We learned how to compensate for the mistakes of those who came before us as we also learned how to lay cinder blocks so that the wall grows straight and true. Some of our own mistakes became obvious as we tried to pour concrete support columns for the walls. A couple of the forms developed massive leaks of concrete and we discovered that more than positive thinking is required to stand the pressure in those columns.

Working elbow to elbow with friends and with strangers, we gradually discovered new levels of shared strength, commitment and faith. Many of the Mexican men working with us were preachers from other congregations. These men took turns spending the night at the site to prevent theft. One of the younger preachers had been a boy of fourteen when Rick and Sherry came to his town and helped his church family build a gathering place. That was the genesis of his desire to build God’s Church both physically and spiritually. In Mexico, a religious group without a building is considered an illegal cult. So, a building gives more than a place to meet, it also adds validation.

After only four days, we came away knowing that we could accomplish more than we expected in circumstances more challenging than we anticipated. In our society, it is extremely tempting to put our resources in entertaining, comfortable and temporary investments. This ministry provides a great way for young people to invest in eternity while getting a new perspective of the world. On this trip, we definitely invested our time, money, and sweat into an everlasting treasure.

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:21)

Paper Crowns and Paving Material

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21)

My Bride and children will eventually die. My job has competition and may get outsourced. My body may get injured or diseased causing me to lose my job, my hobby or my comfort. The result of my work is soon obsolete and has no lasting value. Our land requires constant care or it will be overrun with briars and poison ivy. Houses and cars require continuing investment and maintenance or they begin to deteriorate and become worthless. Companies and markets are constantly changing or being manipulated so that stocks are untrustworthy and vigilance is required.

The problem is that every earthly treasure has a destroyer. Our treasure is revealed by what we would die for, by what we sacrifice to gain and by the effect of its loss. What could I lose that would cause me to wonder, “Why go on living?” The treasure of one’s heart has his inner thoughts, emotions, energy and even his identity wrapped around it. It’s a serious mistake and a real danger to us to invest our hearts in earthly treasures, positions or goals.

In fact, if our life energy is focused on an earthly treasure, it is a grace from God for Him to take it away or to shake our confidence in it. No worldly goal or achievement is worthy to be at the heart of our eternal soul. We’re designed by God to discover true joy when we put the focus of our investment, emotion and pleasure into things of eternal value. The men, women and children we pull back from the abyss become our spiritual heritage. They may even welcome us home some day. Our eternal relationships with one another and with the Eternal Lover of our soul are the ultimate treasure. In contrast, our earthly positions are as false as paper crowns and gold is merely paving material in the city of God.

He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. – Jim Elliot

Project:

* Let’s ask God, “Lord, reveal your perspective on my priorities and treasures.”
* Let’s put any earthly treasures on an altar in our heart and offer them to God.
* Let’s ask God, “Lover of my Soul, change my heart to primarily desire to know you and to love my neighbor into your Kingdom.”

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Anointed with the Oil of Blessing

Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; (Psalms 141:5)

"You just keep saying the same thing over and over." My son thought my sharing was going on too long. It is hard for me to accept criticism. My first reaction is to defend myself and to resent the person who dares to point out my little, tiny weakness. At least, it’s tiny in my mind. But, when I catch my breath and take time to get my thoughts straight, then I can almost begin to appreciate someone having the courage to tell me the truth.

Those who are the closest to us and live with us all the time are the ones most likely to recognize areas that we could improve. But, it is with those who are closest that we tend to develop habitual patterns of self-defense, walls of silent withdrawal or escalating counter-attacks. Why would a little unasked-for advice bother me? Maybe it is because it inadvertently steps on a sensitive spot in my ego or tramples on a secret fear.

If we had to walk in the shoes of our spouse or children for a day, we might discover that our little tiny weaknesses are actually huge points of friction. After walking in their shoes, we might sincerely appreciate their incredible patience and love. One way to begin to recognize our weak areas is to analyze what traits in others irritate us. Many times we will have the same character flaws manifested in different ways. Impatience may cause some to become loud and irritated while in others it may cause a silent, dark scowl.

By God’s grace, may we be able to say (by our body language and response) “Give me your advice and criticism, smite me and reprove me; you are anointing me with the oil of blessing.”

Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it (Psalms 141:5)

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Opening the Door to the Father of Lies

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)

A friend asked me if I could come over on a certain Saturday and help him pour his concrete driveway. He asked several men that were part of our prayer group. I said, “Yes.” But, I didn’t tell him that I was only going to stay for the morning because I wanted to work on one of our showers.

So, I helped with pouring the driveways until the lunch break. Then, I told his wife that I had to leave and disappeared. I drove to the store and bought the parts for the shower and went home to fix up the shower. But, I was feeling guilty about leaving my friend and that caused me to be irritable and distracted. I ended up making a big mistake on the shower and reacting in anger. My reaction totally spoiled the afternoon and evening. Later, I found out that several others had to leave early and only one or two men were able to stay and help.

We sometimes have golden opportunities to demonstrate our faith and trust in God by putting His priorities ahead of ours. In this case, I should have recognized that this was a “good work” or a good deed for which I was created. As soon as I quit working on the good work ordained by God, I lost my peace and my work ended in a mess. I could have been a blessing but was, instead, a curse. When we put our projects ahead of God’s priorities we are opening the door to the father of lies..

Project:
Let’s commit to God, that by His grace, we will each put His priorities ahead of ours.
At the same time, let's not judge others and their priorities.

Enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. (Ps 143:2)

The Deadly Embrace

Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times. (John 13:38)

As a father, I encourage our children to read God’s Word, to meditate on its meaning in their lives and to pray. Many mornings, when I wake them up, I bring a Bible to them to reduce the obstacles between them and hearing God. My hope is that they desire to hear God speak in to their thoughts and life because “As a man thinks; so he is.” Our thoughts define who we are and when, by God’s grace, our thought patterns change, the pattern of our life also changes. But, even when God speaks into our life and disturbs our thoughts, our natural tendency is to fear for our life. Like Peter, we deny Christ because of fear.

We fear to lose our supposed security, our little pleasures and our old way of life. When we genuinely follow Christ, we will often find ourselves in new, uncomfortable and challenging circumstances. One’s natural tendency is to hurriedly drop his cross, embrace his old way of life, and draw back into his comfort zone. What fickle lovers we are. One minute, I can be inspired to love, serve and forgive. But within seconds, someone or some thought can completely frustrate my earlier inspiration because something of Self felt stepped on.

Oftentimes, we are like a little child who makes a beautiful card that says, “I love you, Mommy.” Yet, that same child, just a few minutes later, may stomp his foot and obstinately refuse to help or obey her. Talk is truly cheap. Our actions reveal how much we are actually dying to Self or investing in Self. If we genuinely follow Jesus, we will go beyond cheap talk, embrace death to our old way of life and accept change in our walk. Self has us in a deadly embrace and the only way to escape is to embrace death.

He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (John 12:25)

Project:
Ask God for one thing to change in your life.
Seek God’s grace in how to implement the change.
Actually begin today to live the change.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

Prayer:
Father, give me grace to not only hear Jesus but to love and follow Him even when my plans are disturbed and I begin to feel uncomfortable.

Focus Word: DEATH

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Muscle Building

If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." (John 11:48)

The scenario envisioned by the religious leaders in this verse reveals their total lack of faith in God and complete focus on earthly goals. They were called to lead a nation closer to God. But, their interest was not in the people they were leading or in God’s goals but in the position they held and the privileges they enjoyed. It shows their actual belief in contrast to their stated belief. Their actual belief was that God either didn’t exist, or was powerless against the Romans. Without realizing what they are doing, they finally came to the conclusion that they must take control and kill God’s promise, the focus of their history, and their only genuine hope for the future. Others found eternal treasure in Christ but they did not.

The statement, “If we let Him go on like this”, causes me to remember, back when we had only two or three children, that even though we felt God was asking us to trust Him to control how many children He would give us, fear and uncertainty would arise in our mind at the prospect of twenty (or even more) children. We were in debt from my college expenses and, to even afford our first child, we had to sell my little sports car. How could we possibly afford a child every year or two?

It is terribly easy for us to be guided by fear -- fear of being out of control, fear of loss, or fear of death. Scripture tells us that the more we know God’s love the less we will fear. Fear can cause us to miss out on the genuine, eternal treasures of life that God has stored up for us. At the end of their life, men do not regret the loss of things as much as the loss of relationships or as much as having fled in fear when faced with the enemy. One of the most important activities we can engage in is to meditate on, absorb and act on the Word, the Truth, and the Love of God. This vital activity will build up the muscles of our faith, our love and our courage.

May God give us grace to trust His love enough to embrace His call so that we do not destroy, by our fear, His promise and treasure for our life, family or church.

Divided or Multiplied

The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2Ch 16:9

As I think about what it means to have a perfect heart, I’m reminded of the first time (a couple of decades ago) my Bride and I participated in a Marriage Encounter. As we shared, by learning to write for ten minutes about our feelings, I began to realize that my heart had some hidden areas. It began to dawn on me that we would grow in love only as much as we (and especially I) were willing to be transparent. Scripture says that if we say we are without sin, then we are liars. Yet, we are tempted to pretend to others, and even to God, that we are over the “little” failures of the past just because we have shoved them into a dark closet of our mind.

By God’s grace, I was able to open up and share one of my weaknesses from my “hall of shame”. What was the result? Our love for each other broke through invisible walls and overflowed even our hopes. When we left the Marriage Encounter on Sunday and went to a prayer meeting in the evening, some friends were amazed. They said we were glowing with love.

As a result of our experience at that Marriage Encounter, we were more than ever committed to each other because we had more openness, trust and love. Not only were we closer to each other, but our relationship with God had also gone to a new level.

If anything is weighing on our conscience or is “off limits” to God or our spouse, then our heart is not “perfect” or complete. To keep something hidden requires energy and focus. Our heart, our inner thoughts, can not be perfect toward God as long as we are keeping things hidden. Maybe one reason we do not see more of God’s power in our life or in our church is because our hearts are divided. God is eagerly searching for ways to show His strength in this world. But, He needs men and women with undivided hearts. If we stop living with divided hearts, we will see multiplied effects of God’s power and love in our lives, families and churches.

Project:
Let’s pray --

May God give me grace to be desperate for more love for Him and for a perfectly whole heart.

Let’s do –-

Confess our weaknesses and sins to our spouse, minister, trusted friend or parents. (God will give us strength for even this.)


--We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. Romans 8:28

The PewWarmer Tree

We have many fruit trees around our house. The branches of those fruit trees are currently loaded with fruit. But, some of the branches are dry, leafless and dead. I cut off the dead branches and they will eventually be burned. Mature, healthy branches seem to always bear an overwhelming amount of fruit.

"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (John 15:8)

It is not enough for us to be satisfied with bringing people to Jesus. We are called to bear fruit that will become healthy branches that will in turn bear fruit. Like a healthy branch, a disciple will inevitably bear fruit. And, that fruit is more disciples. If we bring people to Christ but they do not become disciples of Jesus then they will not bear the fruit of more disciples. In the Gospels, we see that some followed Jesus for a while but then became discouraged with His goals and teachings. It was those closest to Him who eventually became the roots of the Church. They not only made converts; they made disciples.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.. (Matthew 28:19)

Our challenge is not merely to increase the count of the number of members in the church. Every church should be filled with disciple-makers or members who are about to become disciple-makers. A branch of a fruit tree will bear fruit if it is alive and getting nutrients from the branch to which it is attached. Ideally, every church member is attached to The Branch. But, some churches are satisfied with full Sunday morning services. Yet, every member is called to go out and make disciples. A member that does not bear fruit of more disciples may not be sufficiently connected to the Rose of Sharon. Every church is called to be a Disciple tree because a Pew Warmer tree will soon be a dead tree..

Lord Jesus, help me to be more fruitful!

"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:2)

Out of the Strong Came Something Sweet

One day, I was working in a different area of the building than usual. As I worked, I heard raised voices in a nearby office. It came as a shock to hear that I was the subject of the noisy conversation. It was a shock because I view myself as a quiet worker who is normally uninvolved in office politics. Yet, here was someone vigorously attacking my competence and character. What are the chances that I would happen to be in a strange area just when someone starts complaining to his boss about me? The chances are obviously low. But, God is alive and active. This was no accident. God was revealing this problem so that I could respond. In our home education curriculum, we had recently learned about Matthew 5:44 and it immediately came to mind. This went against my natural inclination to find a way to get even.

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

Since I had very little interaction with the fellow who was attacking me, I wasn’t sure how to bless him. So, I concentrated on the “pray for them which despitefully use you.” I prayed that God would bless him in his life and would help him find the path to genuine truth and to salvation. After a few weeks, another strange thing happened. The two of us were temporarily assigned to work closely on a project as a team of two. Over the years we worked there, that was the only time that we worked together on the same team. We ended up on friendly terms.

God wants us to more than conquer our enemies. He wants us to end up on the same team as friends helping each toward the same goal. This is only possible through His power working in our relationships. The first step is to have the mind of Christ to “love your enemies.” Christ definitely did good to us. We killed the Lion of Judah but He became the source of the sweetest of blessings.

"And out of the strong came something sweet." (Judges 14:14)

Project:

* Who are you having trouble relating to?
* How can you do them good and bless them?
* What will you do to today to bring God’s grace into that relationship