If I become content by having my desire satisfied, that is only _____lust______. James 4:1-6

How often do we think we’re content because we got what we wanted and are now happy? It’s a good thought, and a helpful one as I work on disciplining my thoughts toward righteousness.

Before I forget, I want to mention my goals…

I have also two goals I’m working on. I could call them New Year’s Resolutions.

First, when I was evaluating the goals I made last year, I noticed that I struggled most on the chronological Bible reading plan when I was reading something unfamiliar or hard to understand. In some ways, my lack of discipline was revealed, because I didn’t have any “fun” reading to make me feel like I had actually done my devotions or read something useful.

So I’d like to do better at this by actually working on understanding some of those passages. I decided that for each book of the Bible that I’m struggling with, I’d take the time to actually try to understand it, instead of skimming it, calling it a day, and feeling dreadful. I’m planning on using the many commentaries and study tools I inherited when my Dad and brother merged libraries earlier this year. I’ve already done this with Job, a little bit, mostly to see if I was on the right track, or if I was way off in my understanding of that book.

My second goal is to work on memorization more. The way I’m going to do that is to memorize the book of Philippians this year. That’s a good goal because our church is doing it, so there’s some accountability. It’s also a good goal because it’s doable: just two verses each week. I’m going to have to be deliberate about it, though, because I don’t memorize automatically like I did when I was a kid. It’s going to take work.

That’s all for now.  Now I need to go be diligent. Is God’s Word changing you at all this week?Similar Posts:

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Me: Did you know that there’s something else God says makes us happy?
Child: Mom, I don’t really want you to read to me.
Me: [okay, that's fine. I'll just tell another child.] Did you know that there’s something else God says makes us happy? God says finding wisdom makes us happy.
(“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” Proverbs 3:19)

End of conversation, a little discouraged.

I’ve had these discouraging conversations before. When I do share something I find interesting, or something I think they will be interested in, they often don’t really want to listen. I have the best success reading during breakfast, while they’re eating, but even then they will ask me to stop sometimes. And the conversation I just related was while they were jumping on our enormous beanbag.

The introspection begins… Is it because they are unregenerate? Is it because I don’t read them the Bible enough? Maybe my casual, incidental approach to sharing what I’m reading is misguided. I’ve stopped asking, “Do you want to know…” because they answer no. Maybe I need something more formal. Should I stop sharing Bible when they ask me to? Maybe I should just keep doing what I’m doing, and ignore their objections. The baby won’t stop me from talking about the Bible. Maybe I should just start with her.

But, I am reminded that one child did ask why when I told them what makes us happy. I don’t think I’m imagining that. And, I did notice that they all (even the baby) enjoyed sitting with me at the piano while I sang hymns, and later singing more while they played with their toys. So maybe my efforts to share Scripture aren’t as misguided as I might think.

Press on! The one thing I know, is that it I won’t feel less awkward talking about God if I don’t ever do it.Similar Posts:

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It’s important that when we talk about young children, we recognize that there is an enormous variety of abilities in children, even when they have intelligent, devoted, and mature Christian parents. Just because my four year old is far from understanding salvation doesn’t necessarily mean I’m shirking my duty, or that the parent of a saved four year old is rushing her child to a decision. If my child can sing entire hymns from memory at a young age, it doesn’t mean that the next mother must also have a child with the same ability, if she did her job properly. These differences cannot all be explained by high expectations and a challenging environment. Children are different. And even though I know this well, have seen it in my own children, I still do what I know is wrong. I compare and despair.

Long ago, I thought all of my children would be extremely verbal from an early age. I love words and communication. I can talk nonstop. Wouldn’t it make sense that all the verbal stimulation I provide would produce children who are exceptional communicators? In fact, although they’re competent communicators, they are still very much at age level in their abilities.  Take for example, Scripture memory. I’m certain there are two and four year olds who have memorized long portions of Scripture word for word, without help. But neither of our older children are there yet. In May, our church memorized Psalm 1. Well, we started working on it each night after devotions, and our kids still haven’t totally gotten it. They’ve actually done great; they can each say it with about one or two helps per verse (usually to keep them from going off track). Sometimes they do better when they’re not distracted or trying to speed up the devotions time. But they’re not making any more progress so we decided tonight that we were going to move on.

Yes, it’s possible our memorization teaching technique is faulty. Maybe we’ll start a new passage and try some new methods. But it’s also likely that they’re doing just as they should be. In the meantime, we (me, really) must guard against imposing our own children’s abilities on others, or imposing other children’s abilities on ours. Learn from each other? Yes. Measuring our competence against other mothers, or against other children’s accomplishments is not wise.

I Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

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When I ask David if God sees him [name the action here], his answer depends. If the action is being kind to his sister, obeying mom, or some other positive action, he’ll answer, “Yes” (God sees him). David’s answer when he is being sinful is consistently, “No.” (“Did God see you when you disobeyed mommy?” “No.”)

I’m convinced that he understands the question. I think this is a fascinating look into a child’s ability to truly believe he can hide from God. Then again, maybe David is expressing openly what we adults live secretly– God doesn’t see me doing wrong. Food for thought.

Started working on Proverbs 15:3. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.Similar Posts:

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Then it dawned on me: If I’m explaining the verses to my children (as I should be), I will of course tell my children that that portion of the verse does not apply to them. I should explain what it means, but I can also carefully explain that God has not forgiven them yet.

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Laurel Nicole Brock arrived a few weeks early (long tortured story). My mom just left today. We’ll see how my sanity holds with three children. Guess God know I needed to depend on Him just a little bit more, eh?

Let’s see… spiritual thoughts…

On the way back from the airport, while the children were listening to Christopher Churchmouse (and understand very little of it, really), I was pondering the verse we are reviewing with David: Ephesians 4:32. Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Here’s what I was thinking: Christ hasn’t forgiven my children. As yet, they are unregenerate sinners. Whether you want to argue that they’re not “accountable” yet, or not, this is not really a valid motivation for being kind for my children.

Could I “hide” this part of the verse from my children until they accept Christ as their Savior? Then would it have more potent meaning than if they spent the next few years glibly repeating these meaningless words? I don’t know. Then I wondered how many songs we teach children that they sing that do not apply to them yet. Maybe I’m being too analytical…

I don’t think I’ll avoid these portions of the Scripture. I suspect when God truly saves my children, the Holy Spirit will bring these phrases to light, and give them life. At the same time, I do want to be careful that I do not assume their salvation, either by my words to them, prayer for them, verses or songs I teach. I’ll have to think about this some more.Similar Posts:

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The next verse we are teaching him at night is Isaiah 53:6. Lee pointed out that the part of the verse typically emphasized is the first part– about going astray. The part about how we go astray (“our own way”) is sometimes forgotten. We’d like to start teaching David about sin, so this is a start. Maybe we’ll teach the whole passage. I’ll have to read it again. I might get the book A Child Looks at the 23rd Psalm by Philip Keller. And maybe I’ll look up some songs that use these passages.Similar Posts:

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Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

The second half of this verse David and I talked about yesterday. My desire is first to teach that God loves truth tellers as I am still teaching what truth is (I’m not confident David understands the concept yet). Then, when he knows what truth is, and how delightful it is to God, then I’ll teach that God hates lying.

It seems to fit best the positive pattern of Psalm 78 that is wrapped around my heart. But perhaps I’m avoiding the “negative” side of God. I’m trying to keep things simple by not giving all the verse yet, but perhaps I should be giving the whole thing. But even still, I still will emphasize one part or the other. The construction of the proverb places the emphasis on the second half I think. Just thinking out loud…Similar Posts:

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Both children are more clingy. They cry more easily, and fight more often. They disobey a little more and are often irrational. The tendency is (in the midst of our own stress) to be a little harsh. Stop being a baby! We don’t allow whining in this house, young man! Why are you so fussy?

Sometimes all they need is to be gathered up in mommy or daddy’s arms and held and rocked for a minute or two. This is when listening and looking for the reason behind behavior can be so helpful. They are surprisingly responsive to a little extra care.

It’s also a good time to talk about fear. The fear David feels when being dropped off at the nursery (uncharacteristic) is real. It gives us an opportunity to talk about his memory verses on fear, and to discuss what to do when we are afraid. We can pray with him and ask God to help him to be brave. We can tell him that God will never leave us nor forsake us. And we can remind him that even brave King David was afraid sometimes. When King David was afraid, he remembered that God will always take care of him.Similar Posts:

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