I teach the following truth in my parenting classes: it’s the child’s behavior unless the parent causes it. If the parent screams at their kid, it’s going to be a huge battle to get their kid to stop screaming at them. The parent has to own up to their behavior, change it and model what they are asking from their child.
If, however, the parent talks to their child in a normal tone of voice and their kid still screams at them in public, the parent can lovingly discipline their child because their child is responsible for their own behavior. In doing so, the parent can be at peace and keep their joy even if they have to discipline their child in public because it’s the kid’s fault, not the parent’s.
“Stop the presses. You mean I can feel okay with disciplining my kid in public, let alone home, without feeling bad or embarrassed?” Yes you can, if you’re secure in who you are as a child of God. Jesus said practicing the truth would set you free, which includes embarrassment.
Truth: you’re not the one screaming. Truth: you’ve modeled and taught correct behavior. Truth: you disciplined your child in the correct manner. Truth: there is no such thing as Supermom, who has perfect kids who act perfectly in public (in fact that’s when they usually at up!). Truth: you’re a good parent as you’re doing what Jesus would have you do by disciplining your child out of love.
It all starts with being secure in who you are – a child of God. You can listen to and do what Jesus says to do in every situation (i.e. a Biblical worldview), which includes raising your children to love Jesus. Supermom is a myth created by the world that when followed makes women feel tired, irritable and worthless. Living as a child of God who listens to Jesus in every situation, including parenting, brings joy and peace. It’s your choice as to how you’ll feel based on who you’ll listen to as a parent at the supermarket.
“S”et Free Nowww

It’s a beautiful sunny Saturday morning and you’re holding a garage sale. You’ve got a few customers roaming your driveway. One person points out a wok and asks, “Does it work and how much is it?” You tell them it’s $2 after you’ve plugged it in to show that it works just fine. They give you $2 and off they go with a smile on their face and a “brand new” wok in hand.
A couple hours later they return and demand their money back. They said the wok only had 3 of 4 legs when they left. “No,” you firmly reply, “It had four.” This person starts to scream in your face and demand their money back. What do you do? I recently witnessed such a sale where the owner and customer almost went to blows over a used $2 item with other customers wanting to join the fray!
What would you do? Hopefully you’d filter this situation through your Biblical worldview. You have the truth in your mind of who you are – a child of God who is loved and accepted by their Father. You have in your filter the truth that as a child of God you have a Father who can provide for your every need, including what the $2 was going toward. You have the truth securely tucked away that you have a relationship with a living God who can tell you what to do at that very moment in time – scream and defend your “right to be right” to keep the $2 or stay at peace while giving the money back and trust Him for the outcome.
We have an eternity to fully understand the truth of being a child of God. Why not start learning it in real time today?

“S”et Free Nowww

I’ve got a wonderful pear tree in my backyard. Right now there are tons (ok, about 30) of pears hanging from it. I’ve seen them grow from the smallest blossoms to wonderfully shaped pears. They’re turning light green, but they’re still hard as a rock! They look ready to eat, but they’re not. Every few days my wife and I check to see if they’re ready by squeezing to see if they’re softening up.
One time I thought one was ready. I picked the pear, took a bite and spit it out. Nasty! My eyes were playing tricks on me. As long as the pears stay connected to the tree they will be ready when they’re ready. My wanting them to be ready now will not change that fact.
Just as pears go through a process of change to ripen into something sweet, so do believers in Jesus. It takes time to retrain yourself and your brain to live with a Biblical worldview. It takes time to replace the stinking thinking with the truths of God. The process of filtering daily life through the Word of God and then making faith choices to do what He shows you takes time. Yet we know, just like the pear, if we stay connected to the tree/Jesus, we will produce the sweet fruit of a changed life (Jn. 15:5-8).

Set Free “N”owww

For my BIG reading I was in 1 Chronicles 13-15 where it tells the story of David wanting to bring the Ark to his palace in Jerusalem. David makes this statement, “Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.” Apparently neither did David.
If he had read the Word, gone to the Priests who had a copy of the Book, he would have saved himself a lot of heartache and pain. He would have learned that the Levites needed to carry the ark on poles rather than do what he did by putting it on a cart pulled by oxen. In avoiding the Book, David ended getting a man killed, which caused David to get mad at God when it was his own fault for not getting into the Book in the first place!
He finally repents by asking God how to carry the ark (i.e. listens to God) and then submitted to God’s way by getting the Levites and the poles (i.e. does what God says). This time there were sounds of joy in the music and dancing along the road to Jerusalem.
We’re just like David. We get mad at God when He doesn’t come through for us, but we’re living our way instead of His. Where’s the place to discover God’s way of living? The Word of God. Get rid of your excuses for not reading the Word, like, “I don’t have time.” Slow down and listen to Him and then do what He says to do in any and every situation (i.e. live with a Biblical worldview). And just like David, you’ll being dancing with joy before your Lord rather than getting all bent out of shape at Him.

S“E”t Free Nowww

Yesterday I told you the story of a gentleman who always wanted to be race car driver. His sons gave him a chance to “race” a car as a birthday present after he had retired from his “real” job.
Here’s another lesson we can learn from this story. After experiencing tremendous discomfort from being caged in, from the heat of the car, track and equipment he had to wear, from driving without music, and from hardly being able to move, let alone shift gears, he couldn’t wait to get out of the car from which he never wanted to return! His entire life he idolized the men and women who got to race cars for a living and it only took one ride to show him he would have hated every minute of it.
Comparing yourself to someone else by envying the role God gave them will only end in disappointment and discouragement, both of which can lead to your drug(s) of choice. Discover who you are as a child of God. Be comfortable in the skin God gave you. Then make a difference right where He placed you by doing the “good works” that He prepared for you to do each day (Eph. 2:10). Keep your blinders on (see yesterday’s entry) by focusing on the journey He has for you, not for someone else, by listening to and doing what Jesus says to do right now, right where you are (i.e. a Biblical worldview). Significance and satisfaction are coming your way, both of which lead to freedom!

Set “Free” Nowww