I was a racist - FAMILY PLUS Children's

As a kid, I was an “uninformed racist.” At least that’s what I call it. I literally never went to school with a child of another race until I was in high school. I remember when a black girl started in Kindergarten...I was in middle school and can vividly remember talking about it on the bleachers one morning before school. Once I got to college I realized this unfortunate fact about myself, so I got over it. By that time God had sent me to the nations through the Church via mission trips and typical church work. I realized that I was an “uninformed racist” and that wasn’t glorifying to God. 

The truth is God made the nations. He loves the nations. He longs for the nations, all the nations, to know Him. This past Friday night we intentionally came together to play games, to eat food, and to pray for other nations. The point was simple, expose kids to God’s work around the world in a fun way. How are you doing that? I realize that my hometown is a far cry from middle Tennessee in terms of nationalities represented; however, I realize that unless we show our kids God in the things they experience they will never see it for what it is.

I challenged our parents to do a simple thing Friday. Let their kids see the nations on Youtube. That’s right! While you are trying to keep your kids busy at the doctors office or restaurant, show them the work of God around the world on Youtube. Redeem that time! Simply go to OperationWorld.org and watch the “prayer videos.” Disclaimer: I do recommend you view the videos ahead of time due to cultural differences that we would not deem appropriate. I have seen them all, and this is a rarity in these videos. 

My 4 year old loves to do this, but let me warn you to be ready to answer a ton of questions. Trust me when I say that this will help to open your child’s eyes up to the movement of God around the globe.

5 (fool-proof!) steps to a peaceful dinner - FAMILY PLUS Children's

If you are like my wife and me, you probably feel like your home is in a constant state of chaos. From 7am-7pm, someone is needing something all the time. This is pretty much par for the course when you have young children living in your home.  One of our most chaotic times is meal-time and the preparation that it requires.  

So, I am going to share with you 5 steps that we have found as "fool-proof" when it comes to a peaceful dinner environment:

1)  Make sure mom gets a shower, gets dressed and puts on make-up, if desired.

2)  Make sure dad is home from work ON TIME!

3)  Load everyone in the car.

4)  Drop all persons under the age of 18 at grandparents' house.  (a babysitter will also do)

5)  Go to a nice restaurant, sit down together, and turn off your phones.

See?  Fool-proof. Works every time.

Now, for the other 350 days of the year, we'll have to get more creative.  Finding peace in the chaos is something that we find so difficult to do in our house.  We often feel like matching noise with noise is the answer.  They're yelling?  Let's yell louder!  They're grumpy?  We can be grumpier.  Eventually everyone is pouting around like a two year old and still, no one is eating their broccoli.

The Bible tells us "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).  Or we sing worship songs that talk about this elusive place "in the secret" or "in the quiet." Where is that place anyway?

So here's what my wife and I have decided this week. We are going to have to create that place.  Even if it means standing in the middle of the kitchen, closing our eyes and pretending that no one is around us.  For just a few seconds we will pause.  To be reminded that He is in control of this chaos.  That He is the giver of all the dirty, noisy, grumpy blessings circling around.  And to remember that God chose US for this family.  That we are the best our children could ever have.  And hopefully when we open our eyes, peace will be matched with peace and love will be matched with love.  And if not, it's okay. We'll try again tomorrow. 

Change Your Home in 10 Minutes - FAMILY PLUS Children's

How do you express your faith? Let me ask this a different way. How do your kids see you express your faith? or If you asked your kid the question, “What do your parents believe?” what would they say?

This week I was thinking about the outward expressions of faith that our kids latch onto. For instance, if a kid, somewhere between K-3rd grade, approaches me about their faith they’ll say, “Mr Jared, I want to get baptized.” They are enamored with the outward expression of salvation, baptism. This doesn’t seem to change as your kids get older. The book Parenting Beyond Your Capacity says, “service is more important to the spiritual development of students than worship and bible study combined.” Again, students, middle and high school, are valuing an outward expression of faith over inward expressions. As adults, we are very similar.  We are more changed by a mission trip to a poverty stricken part of the world than by even the best worship experience. People value action and movement. Our kids believe with their eyes.

Take 10 minutes to think strategically about how this looks in your home. 

-In what ways have your kids seen you express your faith?

-Do you value allowing your kids express their faith?

-What do your kids express/talk about on a daily basis?

-Think of one way you can help your kid connect their faith to action this week.

If we think about what our home looks like, we’ll see the truth of what we value. If the overarching value that permeates our homes and lives is anything other than Christ, our kids will know that and their lives will develop around that.  When a child wants to play a sport, we don’t just talk about the sport, teach them the rules of the sport and then throw them on the field expecting them to become a professional athlete. We practice with them.  We play the sport with them.  We put them on a team with others who will will guide them and help make them better.  Each of those things is intentional.  Teaching our kids to act out their faith is no different.  So, go!  Be intentional...about things that matter!

Don't Poop Your Pants - FAMILY PLUS Children's

I'm so tired of poop and pee! Almost everyday Katie and I fight a 2 year over whether or not he will use the bathroom (For the record, we will win!). He knows how. He has known how for months and months and months. He has gone days without having an accident. But every now and again He would rather poop his pants than obey us. We will remind him, "Cohen, do you need to go potty?" "No," he responds. Then 2-3 minutes later we are cleaning up some kind of mess. 

As gross as this fact of our life is, as adults we are not any better than this. We choose our will over God's. We choose to sit in our mess rather than enjoy the pure, clean life God has designed for us. The fact of the matter is we all "poop our pants" and sit in our mess at some point or another.

The Lost Son (or Prodigal Son) in Luke 15 found this out the hard way. The son, who represents us, chose his way over his father's, who represents God. He goes against his father's wishes and squanders his inheritance. Left with no other option he retreats back to his father, not knowing how his father would respond. His father responds with open arms and throws a celebration. He cleaned his son up, gave him the best he had, and welcomed him as if it was the first day he had entered the family. This is your God and this is how he will respond when you decided to obey Him and stop "pooping your pants."

Postpartum Pensiveness - FAMILY PLUS Children's

Isn't it amazing the amount time and energy anticipating the birth of a child?  As parents, this is probably something we can all relate to.  In fact, this is a very recent experience for my family (3 births in the last 4 1/2 years). You put together cribs, paint rooms, register for stuff, have baby showers, wash clothes, etc. Some people even throw elaborate, expensive parties just to announce the sex of the child.  It's fun!  All of this to commemorate one of the most momentous days in a family's life, and fill time waiting for the main event: the birth of a child. 

Then the baby is born.  

This day is huge, so exciting....and exhausting!  By the time we get home from the hospital, toting all our gifts, we are just ready to collapse in the bed. All the pomp and circumstance is over.  We are waking up in the mornings with circles under our eyes, spit up on our shirts and poop in our hair.  And some days, the shower is optional.

Is this not just like Christmas?

We spend a whole season building up the birth of Christ.  Presents, parties and parades galore!  We spend tons of time, money and energy making this a time our family will never forget.  Then we wake up December 25 and the baby has been born.  As we clean up the wrapping paper, drive home from visiting family and take down the tree...it's over right?

Not at all. This is where we miss it as followers of Jesus. Just like the birth of our own children, it's only the beginning.  It is time to start a new year, with a real relationship with Christ...spit up and all.

We may have always "incorporated" Jesus into our lives (talk about Him, pray over our food, etc.), yet we may have failed to celebrate Him daily. To celebrate him is to acknowledge the joy He has brought into our lives and share that with those around us. This is a new day; heck...it's a new year! Take the joy of Christmas and resolve to celebrate the birth of Christ each day.

Nehemiah 8:10b "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."