You Can Only Withdraw if There's Been a Deposit

This weekend we were blessed to have some very dear friends come visit. In one of our many discussions my dear friend and I were talking about kids, respect, and obedience. She shared with me an analogy that she has heard recently that I found very helpful and encouraging. 

Humans, especially when they are babies and young children, were created to need love and affection. If a child had grown up in a loving home, their love tank is probably full. Children who have not had that upbringing, are more likely to have a very low or empty tank. With love comes respect, a kid that is surrounded by love respects his parents and wants to please them. When a parent asks something of a child they are making a withdraw, so to speak, from their tank. If the tank is dry, a withdraw will only lead to a messy frustration, but when you have made lots of deposits into the tank and it is full to overflowing, you can be confident that writing a check is safe. Of course you have to continue to refill the tank or even the fullest tank will soon be empty. 

For me this doesn't apply to my own children yet, because well...frankly I don't have any. =)  But it does however apply to my siblings. Having 7 and 9 year gaps between me and my younger siblings, I have authority in their lives, but I can't keep writing checks without making deposits into the account. If I want love, respect, and obedience in return, I have to make deposits first.

Making Memories

Thankful Thursday

beautiful sunrise

bowling and pizza with good friends

thunder storms that bring rain

anticipating dear friends coming for a long Skencer weekend

tea and talk with sweet sisters in Christ

beautiful summer flowers

two and a half months with my siblings home from college

Of Temptations, Milk, and Exercise

In family worship this morning, we read Hebrews 4 and 5 and there were some verses that stood out to me that I wanted to share. I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16

As long as I can remember, I've known that God knows everything and understands the difficulties we face, after all He has planned every aspect of our lives, but it is such a refreshing comfort to be reminded that even Christ was tempted "in all points" just as we are. He doesn't just understand because He knows everything, He understands because He can "sympathize with our weaknesses." Taking your burdens or troubles to Him is like talking to a friend who has had the same experiences.


The other verses were from the end of chapter 5.

"For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hebrews 5:13-14

Two things came to mind in these verses; first, it made me wonder how you discern the difference between milk and solid food as regards your understanding of the Word? Can a person who has been raised in a Christian home still be a babe in Christ? Perhaps there are new Christians who quickly are feeding on solid food. How do you know where you stand?

Secondly, being someone who thoroughly enjoys exercise, the words "those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil," caught my attention. How do you exercise your senses??? (and I don't think the author of Hebrews means your sight, smell, taste, touch, etc.). I think he is referring to you spiritual senses. Your discernment of right and wrong, good and evil. If we let our sensitivity to bad get worn down we won't be quick to turn away from it. I know how easy it is to brush aside the voice telling you you shouldn't watch a movie, or listen to a song, or purchase certain clothes. We like to push limits, we like to be on the edge, sometimes we just want to fit in, or be in the "know" when it comes to cultural media. It's so easy to come up with excuses that seem good and acceptable. So slowly we have inched away from the standards or rules we have set. We have let our senses become lazy and raw. We have caved. Just as we have to exercise to keep our physical bodies in shape, we have to exercise our minds and senses to keep in shape spiritually as well.

This would lead to another whole discussion, or maybe blog post, about standards about media.... =)

I'd love thoughts and comments! What do you think?

Taming the Tongue

It's amazing how one seemingly insignificant, overlooked, and under valued muscle can be so powerful! With our tongue we can taste buttery popcorn, salty nuts, savory dishes, scrumptious sweets, and sour fruit, but taste is not the only thing a tongue has the power to do. The tongue gives you the ability to speak, and boy is that dangerous! Words are innumerable. They can heal or hurt, they can sooth or sting, they can encourage or they can belittle, they can shift blame or accept wrong, they can edify or tear down. Words are POWERFUL. 

I don't know about you, but I know I don't give as much thoughts to the words that roll off my tongue as I should. Sometimes I wonder that I still have friends and family who love me, considering some of the things I've said. Being one who likes to talk a lot, this verse from Proverbs has made me stop and think if the words that I was about to say are wise. 

• "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom." Prov 10:19-21

The Bible talks a lot about the tongue and the difference between the words of the righteous and the foolish. Here are some of my favorites. 

• "The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked." Prov 10:11

• "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction." Prov 13:3

• "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness." Prov 15:1-2

• "He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him." Prov 18:13

• "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Prov 25:11

• "Let another man praise you and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips." Prov 27:2

• "If anyone among you things he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless."James 1:26

• "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!" James 3:5
• "But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not be so." James 3:8-10

We are what we say "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouths speak" (Matt 12:34). What do your words say about you?