Don't Drink the Water

Well...you don't have to tell me twice. Actually you don't have to tell me once. Seriously, who would drink toilet water? Okay... besides Murphy (my dog).

Like a splash in the face, it hit me. I do. I drink toilet water. I pour all kinds of tainted things into my heart and mind. My thoughts, the things I view, or what I listen to can be poisonous.

Why do I do this?

I am a sinner.

But...I am a saved sinner. There is hope for me. God has given me the power to turn from sin, to run from it. I just need to tap into His Holy Spirit power, drink it in, and let it flow through my veins.

 On my own, I'm parched, dying but His Spirit is the life-giving, pure water-waiting to be consumed.

I pray my children will drink living water.

The college years are filled with toilet water, beckoning the kids to take a sip, next a gulp, then consume a gallon, finally it is their beverage of choice. They can't even taste the poison. (This can make a parent sick, heart-sick.)

If you find yourself in this position of hurting due to your young adults choice of beverage,

PRAY.

My prayer for my kids is any activity that does not honor the Lord leaves them thirsty. I pray they desire clean water. I pray that only Jesus can can quench that thirst.

The enemy may have won the battle but he hasn't won the war.

Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.

John 4:14

The Miracle Worker

Theme for December: God's character
Verse:

"For nothing is impossible with God."

Luke 1:37

Mom's Musing:

"God is the miracle worker," my Ghana Christian sister proclaims. A few days ago, I was with a group of women. We were all sharing how God was working in our lives. One woman shared an especially impossible situation. Humanly speaking, things looks pretty bleak. Only God, the one who has no limits to his power, can resolve her issue.
My daughter was able to see the God of miracles show up in a powerful way on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver. She a few other teens join other youth from two separate ministries, Figs and YWAM (Youth with a Mission), to worship and serve the homeless folks on Friday nights.
Over the weeks, one young adult developed a relationship with a homeless woman who was deaf in one ear. Hearing in her good ear was beginning to be impaired, as well. The young street missionary, moved by the Holy Spirit, placed her hands on the woman's ears and petitioned God for healing. It was a little freaky for both the young adult and the woman. Heat ran through her palms. The woman began to cry out, her ears were popping, she was frightened. "I can hear!" she exclaimed. Her hearing was restored, right then and there!
Trusting in an all powerful God can produce some unexpected results.The young woman was a bit hesitant to pray, "What if God doesn't choose to heal her and I've prayed? Will that result in a discouragement for the woman and embarrassment for me?"As believers, we have good intentions, we don't want God too look bad. But he's got it. He can manage his reputation all on his own.
I told my friend going through her seemingly hopeless struggle this story. Although the waiting is still very painful, she feels encouraged. She serves a God who loves to show off in the impossible and the improbable. We worship an out of the box God. There is hope.
Parenting Tip: Encourage your kids to step out in faith and trust the Miracle Worker to deal with the circumstances as he sees fit. Be willing to be a "fool" for God.

Abba, Father

Theme for November: God's character
Verse:

"And by him we cry, Abba Father."

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit, that we are God's children." 

Romans 8:15c- 16

Mom's musing:
A number of years ago I was teaching a parenting class in Woodbury, Minnesota. One of the participants was an older woman. I was a little curious as to why she was in the class. She wasn't a mom or grandmom. After the second class she approached me, "I've always had trouble with my self-esteem. My father never loved me." My heart ached. I responded with only words that could have been given by the Holy Spirit, "But...your Heavenly Father loves you."
Parenting Tip: Dads...how your interact with and love your children greatly impacts their self-worth. How your children view their relationship with you transfers to how they view their relationship with God. Love your kids. Tell 'em how much they mean to you.