Sunday, December 13, 2020

For the Children


As parents, we do our best not to allow the things that trouble us to affect our children. We pick up and carry on, even when we don’t feel like it. Because no matter how difficult things are for us, we want our children to have the very best. As much as we try to shield our children from our struggles, they are very perceptive. They pick up on our moods and our vibes. Even though we don’t want them to notice our stress, anxiety, anger, etc., they do. They see how we react to certain difficult situations, and they adopt those same attitudes and behaviors. This is why it’s so important to model what we want to see in our children. If we want our children to be patient and kind, we have to model patience and kindness. If we want our children to speak with soft tones, we must model this behavior. Easier said than done when you’ve been at work all day, you were stuck in traffic for an hour, you are exhausted and the kids are whining.

Some of us have been able to break free from the negative patterns we saw as children. If you are one of those warrior parents, you know that it wasn’t easy. You wanted better for your children and you fought to break those patterns. If that’s you, you rock! You are a warrior and I commend you. If you are still in the thick of it, keep going. Your struggles will be rewarded. If you haven’t been able to begin the process… every journey begins with the first step. Wherever you are in your journey… just keep going.

For those who are still trying and find that they would like to make this change easier, God's Word can help. It doesn’t matter what you’re dealing with (anxiety, anger, frustration) Scripture can help you to achieve the transformation you are working towards. When a parent is free from stress, anxiety, frustration, the whole house relaxes. The tension dissipates. The atmosphere changes and things become lighter. Children have the freedom to relax. If this is something you would like to see happen in your household, please reach for your Bible and look to the Scripture for guidance.

Scripture Concerning Anxiety

Isaiah 35:4

Isaiah 40:31

Isaiah 41:10

Matthew 6:25-34

Philippians 4:6-7

Scripture Concerning Anger

Ephesians 4:26-31

James 1:19-20

James 4:1-2

Psalm 37:8-9

Scripture Concerning Frustration

Matthew 11:28-29

Psalm 33:10

John 16:33


Faith Without Deeds is Dead


Time to talk about something that everyone knows is true. The media is lying to us.

We've known that politicians have been lying to us for years. It has reached the point that we don't even act surprised when they don't live up to their campaign promises. At least we didn't used to but then along came Covid-19. It should have been a wake-up call when they decided that certain business couldn't be open. Certain jobs weren't "essential". Work from home if you can. That was easy for them to say. Two weeks they said. Nine months later - people are starting to have actual peaceful protests . Because what happened in places such as Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Kenosha and many other were referred to as peaceful protests, should have been another red flag. Basically, we just kept hoping that our government would intervene and fix the problems. But that is not what happened.

It should have been a wake-up call when they started telling churches how they can or where they can worship. How many of us went to church in a tent for most of the summer? Or listened huddled in our homes away from the "world" going to church on the internet, how many are still doing just that? How many are still listening to the media? How many are believing the fear mongering? When I realized that listening to the news was making me feel afraid; I started reading my Bible and I stopped believing the news. That doesn't mean I stopped doing the Lord's work. Throughout this, I have felt led to call Christians to action. We forget how good we have it in America. Before the "planned-demic", most churches were open 6 to 7 days a week. Most churches were actively trying to be a presence in their neighborhoods, trying to serve the community. But with this pandemic many churches went into hiding thinking that having zoom meetings and church on the internet is enough. James tells us this about deed and faith.

James 2: 14-24

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.'
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder.
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."

Honoring Army Sgt. 1st Class Ramon S. Morris


Honoring Army Sgt. 1st Class Ramon S. Morris who selflessly sacrificed his life six years ago in Afghanistan for our great Country. Please help me honor him so that he is not forgotten.

 

The Ramblings of a Crusty Old Sailor - Convention of States - THE MOST WIDESPREAD DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN IN U.S. HISTORY

THE MOST WIDESPREAD DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN IN U.S. HISTORY