Jesus & Children

Thoughts for today, February 22, 2015

I have heard many times lately, “The Children’s Ministry always needs help.”  And that is true. 

It is true because we don’t value children the way God does.  If we did, we would have an over abundance of enthusiastic people who can’t wait for the privilege of serving one of the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.  Jesus says that when we serve the “least of these”, we are indeed serving Him (Matthew 25:30).  In three of the gospels, Matthew 19:14, Luke 18:16 and Mark 10:14, the same story is recorded by 3 men.  There are 4 gospel writers.  Sometimes there are things recorded in one place and not the others, sometimes there are stories that all 4 of them write about, but here, 3 recordings of this same teaching.  That means, pay attention, this is vitally important to God. He is telling the people, His apostles, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” 

The Kingdom of God. 

Belongs to them. 

That’s profound if we take time to really think about it.  Even in the Old Testament, we see God repeatedly reveals His heart towards children and the fatherless (orphans).  He usually refers to the orphans and widows together and from that we can discern the importance of the protection and provision a father and husband is designed to provide.

Psalms 82:3, Job 29:12, Deuteronomy 10:18, Psalms 10:14, Psalms 68:5, Psalms 146:9, Jeremiah 49:11, Zechariah 7:10, Deuteronomy 24:17, Isaiah 1:17, James 1:27, Deuteronomy 27:19, Exodus 22:22-24, John 14:18, Galatians 4:5

The enemy of our souls knows how valuable children are.  In our culture there exists a great lie that at its essence devalues life, devalues the innocent, the helpless, the weak, the deformed.  It says, “abort the imperfect deformed child with down syndrome.” “abort the inconvenient, unplanned pregnancy.” “Put them out of their misery with mercy killing, euthanasia, physician assisted suicide.” “who wants to live like that.” “abort the product of rape and teen pregnancy. You don’t want to ruin your life. What kind of life can you possibly give that child? It doesn’t deserve that.  Just have an abortion and start over when you’re ready.”  This voice exists at so many different levels.  Any time we speak to our children with impatience, any time we feel inconvenienced, any time we fail to see our children in the Light of God and His great heart for them, we are in danger of speaking death over them and partnering with this same spirit that exists in the world.  Any time we think things like, “Oh it’s just children’s ministry,” we are failing to see the great honor and privilege it is to have the platform, or office, or authority to build up and speak life into one of God’s precious favorites.

This spirit of abortion, death, and preying on the weak is as old as sin.  People of the ancient world engaged in child sacrifice and the bible even talks about them eating their own children in times of famine.  The sexual sins committed against children are an entirely different topic of discussion because of its magnitude, but it has roots in the same kind of evil and perversion.  It is anti-God, anti-life, and anti-Christ.  It is an attempt to destroy that which God delights in, the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven, the heirs to Life.  If we understood as even the enemy does, just how important these children are to God’s greater plans, we would flock to be a part of what He is doing for our future, by speaking life into and over the little children now. And I pray we arise to the occasion to understand as God does.

Another platform for attack on children is the war against men and families.  In short, God designed man and woman as co-heirs to the kingdom of heaven and with that balance, man loving his wife as Christ loves the church, woman honoring and allowing her husband to lead as Christ submitted to the Father, that is the plan for Godly protection and provision for the children.  Secular studies have shown that children who are raised in households where the father is not present (whether physically or mentally or spiritually) are at an increased risk for doing poorly in school, for engaging in risk -taking behavior (drugs, alcohol, gangs), and are at increased risk for being sexually preyed upon.

Even in the walls of the church this kind of deception exists.  Marriages are under attack, people seek out worldly counsel versus Godly truth, husbands are leaving their wives and vice versa.  Where does this leave the children?  Children end up taking on adult roles, there is a spirit of rejection, and brokenness which exists to keep people from being able to readily receive the pure love and acceptance that God freely gives, which is sonship.   

I have not always seen this way.  I always felt I got “stuck” in Children’s Ministry because that’s where the help was needed and I know God put it on my heart to serve wherever I was needed, although I thought I knew I wasn’t called to be in children’s ministry.  It was during this season, those years serving even though my heart wasn’t in it, that caused me to press in and seek God’s heart for children.  As I did my life journal and saw how often God spoke of children and learned His heart for life, creation, and even me, that caused me to persistently ask God to give me His heart for kids, because I knew I was missing something. 

When He did, I was on my knees with repentance for how I did not value children nearly as much as I thought I did. My heart felt like it was going to explode with His love that He put in me for those who the world thinks weak and lowly, an inconvenience. And then He gave me eyes to see the unique and special vision He has put in each of these special babies, and all I had to do was ask Him for that sight.  He gave me the ability to speak life into their future.  He showed me how so many children bear wounds of rejection from their teachers, peers, and parents.  I must show them how much they are loved and valued by God.  How they are so worthy of love.  How they are already delighted in, special, and each have a unique calling and purpose on their lives.  So, it is an honor and a privilege to be called to shepherd over our children.  And yes, I do feel a need to protect their souls from the potentially damaging words and thoughts we can have towards them.  It is my prayer that all who are allowed this unique platform to influence a child not take it lightly, nor speak or even think careless thoughts over them.  These are God’s little prophets, prayer warriors, intercessors, healers, miracle workers, pastors, evangelists, mommies and daddies, missionaries, spiritual warriors.  As a servant to these children in ministry, you have been allowed the privilege to leave your imprint upon them.  It is a privilege given by God, and to Him we are accountable.  I pray we do our best. 

simply jesus

Ever feel kinda distant or far away from God?

I think to know whether or not you're feeling far from God, you would first have to know what it feels like to be close to God.  The first time I ever truly encountered God was at a Healing Mass at a Catholic church. For most of you out there I know that's difficult to grasp and it might not fit neatly into the nice little box you've put God in and all that you comprehend Him to be (if that's where you're at right now, we can still be friends), but it's true.  And knew as positively as I know that I'm sitting on a chair right know and pounding away at my laptop that 

1: there is a God, cause He just made Himself profoundly known to me 

2: He dwells in indescribable light and 

3: He is the epitomy of LOVE, comparable to nothing you will EVER find on earth. 

Keep in mind that as a Catholic, I thought I knew God because I was a "good Catholic" and I had never really read the Bible, for a myriad of stupid reasons told to me by the well meaning adults in my life at the time.  So I did not know that God has said revealed Himself countless times in His word as dwelling in unapproachable light (1Tim6:16), that He is Light (John 8:12), or that He is Love (1John4:8).  

Back to the Healing Mass, I think I was however old one is in eighth grade.  While I was raised to fear God enough in the sense that I took church seriously, it did not translate to my life.  By eighth grade, I had smoked weed a few times, drank alcohol on occasion and had given my virginity away to the first guy who said he loved me.  I really wasn't anyone worthy of meeting God while still on earth

the words we speak

God has a lot to say about the words we choose to let out of our mouths.  He's got me in a season of life where He is impressing upon me His heart on the matter.  I will share more about this to come.  For now, I wanted to share an email devo I get from an amazing woman, Jo Anne Farro.  She is associated with "Jesus Freak Hideout" (persecution.com). 

Unwholesome Talk

   “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”  Ephesians 4:29-30 NIV

   I recently heard from a young man who wanted to know what the Bible had to say about using profane language.  He said that he had a friend who cursed constantly.  When he told his friend that it was a sin against God, and that he wanted him to stop, the friend said that he would – IF it could be proven that Scripture clearly condemned it.  I was more than happy to provide this young man with numerous verses from the Bible that supported his claim.

   Hearing from this young man reminded me of an experience I had when I was in high school many years ago.  I was sitting on the school bus with one of my best friends, when she began spouting a stream of obscenities.  I was stunned, and I promptly informed her that cursing was a sin.  She then reassured me that it was not a sin, but only using the Lord's name in vain was sinful.  At the time, it didn't even occur to me to search the Bible to see if my friend was right.  Her explanation sounded logical to me, and it wasn't long before I began using some profane words myself.  As I look back on this experience, I realize that it was the perfect example of why Christians need to have a working knowledge of the Bible.  If we don't, we will not be able to discern truth from error.  Jesus Himself said, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures.”  (Matthew 22:29 NIV)  And the apostle Paul wrote:  “Find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10 NIV), and, “Know what His word says and means.” (2 Timothy 2:15 TLB) 

   Paul also wrote:  “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” (Ephesians 5:3-4 NIV)  Paul never minced words.  He makes it abundantly clear that God holds His children to a higher standard than the world, and He expects our speech to reflect our commitment to Him, and to holiness.  Paul says again in Colossians 3:8 (NIV):  “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”  When you know that someone is a Christian, and you hear them curse or tell a dirty joke, how do you view them?  Do you think their coarse language hurts their witness?  You bet it does. 
    The devil delights in trying to make believers think that their speech doesn't matter to God, or that it has no bearing on their Christian witness.  It's time that God's people wake up and realize that their sloppy language is not a small thing in the Lord's sight, but that He takes it very seriously.  Jesus said:  “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37 NIV)  Every word that comes out of our mouths is important to God.  And when our speech isn't pleasing to the Lord, we grieve His heart.  Paul tells us:  “Don't use foul or abusive language.  Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.  And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live.” (Ephesians 4:29-30 NLT)  God gave us the power of speech so that we would use it to glorify Him, and edify others.

   My prayer for you today is that you will get serious about the words you allow to come out of your mouth, and that you will continually pray as David did – “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer”!  (Psalm 19:12 NLT)

   Lord, forgive me for sloppy speech that may have harmed others, or caused them to doubt Your presence in me.  Give me a holy fear of You and Your commands, so that I may always please You with my language and my life.  Thank You that as I devote myself to You and Your Word, I will touch and change lives for Your glory!

  -- J. M. Farro
                          

**Check out J. M. Farro's newest book! The Amazon Kindle exclusive book, "Devotion, Discipleship and Ducks," is available now for your Kindle, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or Android for $4.99! Click here for more info!

Irony: Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood of Illinois President and CEO Carole Brite released a statement Sunday expressing "shock" over the tragedy.
"While legal abortion services in the United States have a very high safety record, a tragedy such as this is devastating to loved ones and we offer our deepest sympathies," Brite stated. "Planned Parenthood of Illinois cares deeply about the health and safety of each and every patient."

In an article by Audrey Barrick, reporting for christianpost.com, the president of Planned Parenthood Illinois issued the above statement in response to the death of a 24 year old woman who had recently received their services. Ms. Brite is quoted above as saying that “Planned Parenthood…cares deeply about the health and safety of each and every patient.”

Ironic.  In nursing, we are taught that our patient extends beyond the individual being treated to include their family.  So, for the organization whose purpose is to terminate unwanted pregnancy, which would otherwise become a family member, to claim that they care deeply about the health and safety of each and every patient, is ironic at best, and if we are to be entirely truthful about the matter, deceptive.

There are many arguments which can be made here to argue the semantics and differences in beliefs:

Is this a fetus or an unborn child?

That is probably the most popular of arguments with regard to abortion rights since Roe vs Wade.  Iʻm not interested in jumping on that never ending carousel of stupidity.  The fact of the matter is that something does not have to be believed in or even agreed upon in order to exist. It is fact, that upon conception, a gamete from a man and a woman joins to create a whole new thing, biologically unique from all the other cells in either parent, yet drawing from only those two pools. It is what it is no matter how you want to describe it. Whether you say, lump of cells, embryo, or baby does not change what it is, and what it has potential to become.  It is not an issue of terminology, or religion, or whether or not one can afford it.  It is an issue of values.  Do we value life?  Do we value life indiscriminately? What does it really mean to value life? 

As a Christian, and one enamored with her Creator, I am a bit biased and can say from personal experience, that one cannot truly appreciate life until meditating on the Creator. That an All Powerful God, who spoke things into existence, allowed us freedom to choose between Him and our own way, and gave up His Holy and Righteous position to come to earth for 33 years or so, experience our pain and limits, suffer horribly at the hands of evil, and die, in order to win a battle for us that we donʻt even want to believe is going on. Donʻt believe in a Creator?  Iʻm sorry.  Youʻre really missing out.

Back to the article, Iʻm so glad that Ms. Barrick is quoted as saying that.  In logical arguments, it helps to write out your proofs.  If it is true that a woman is a patient and a fetus is a patient and Planned Parenthood terminates the existence of fetuses, then it cannot be true that Planned Parenthood cares deeply about the health and safety of each and every patient.  Suppose you still think my logic is flawed, thatʻs okay.  There are other viewpoints.  Like how studies have shown that there is documented psychological damage to the women who have had an abortion. 

I donʻt know if my post really has a conclusion.  Iʻm actually quite the amateur, if you havenʻt already noticed.  I suppose I just wanted to type out my thoughts and reaction to the article named above.  Here is a link for yourself:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-life-group-calls-for-planned-parenthood-probe-after-botched-abortion-death-78739/#TujWPLv5ZT1lbuAT.99

I know I wonʻt be the one to change society, and Iʻm okay with that. But I will take this opportunity to speak up, and to go against the grain of our current popular culture.  The day opposition becomes silent is the day we are no longer challenged to grow. 

blessings or cursings

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.  If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in His ways and by keeping His commandments and His statutes and His rules, then you shall live and multiply and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to take possession of it.  But if your heart turns away and you will not hear but are drawn away by other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish (spiritually and physically prematurely).  You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.  I call heaven and earth to witness against you today (the “natural forces” at work in this world are in agreement and have witnessed their Creator make this covenant with His people and they will operate accordingly) that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.  Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers…”

Even as a believer, I get to choose life or death, blessings or cursings.  They are not without their consequences.  God desires for each one of us to choose life, not just the eternal life He promises through the covenant blood of His precious son, Jesus, but the abundant life on earth, which is not defined as the world defines abundance, for what are riches without fellowship with God which is forfeited in the absence of obedience.  And that obedience which is pleasing to God is a natural response to the love He freely gives us.  It is born out of love and fellowship with the All Sufficient Father.  I Want to Obey, I Get to Obey, my Father wants good things for me, I just need to trust His directions and follow them…hmmm, I think what I am witnessing in Aidan’s (6 yrs old) behavior is a picture of what resisting God looks like.  When I give him a direction or request, “please throw this away” or “clean up your room” I get defiance and a tantrum.  He doesn’t want to do it.  He doesn’t feel he needs to help out around the home on a consistent basis, just when it’s convenient for him.  He doesn’t want to clean up, although I am asking him to do it for his own benefit.  I believe it will help him to function better in a more orderly space and it is pleasing to me to have his room neat.  I tell him to go to bed at a certain time because I know he needs his sleep so that he will both have time to grow and not be cranky the next day.  He doesn’t want to go to sleep and throws a fit.  I tell him to go to the bathroom when I know he needs to pee.  He resists and gets angry with me for suggesting such a thing, then has an accident.  I can go on and on with the parallels between these two relationships.  The difference, of course, is that I am an imperfect parent and God is perfect in all His ways always.  How much more so can I lean on and trust my Abba in His directions for my life and enjoy His warm, non-judgmental, all encompassing embrace, no matter how I’ve blown it.

The more you can focus on the reality of Gods presence, the less concerned you will be of the cares of this world.

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"The True & Only Humanists"

I recently joined the National Association of Pro-Life Nurses.  I got a newsletter in the mail and read a couple of paragraphs that I feel are a beautiful, succinct, summation of how I feel because of Jesus and have never been able to articulate.  These words are not about me, though- forgive me for interjecting myself into an expression that is so much bigger than me or anyone else.  In my heart, the level of explosive love, joy, and righteousness which makes me feel like bursting is so out of this world.  It is not for me to bottle up inside, but to do my part in passing the message along.  Jesus...glory.

       From Anthony Esolen for the editors in the July/August Touchstone magazine, we have this conclusion to his thoughtful essay "Hagiophobia":


Let us, finally, be clear about one thing.  Those who believe in God, and who honor his holiness, longing to be transformed in mind and soul - they are the true and only humanists.  They hold so high a view of man that, if they were to see a victim of cholera dying in a ditch in Calcutta, they would burn in shame that the image of God should be treated with such contempt; or should they see a rich man destroying his soul with vices that money can buy, they would pray that he might someday see what man is called to be.
Because God is holy, man, made in his image, a little less than the angels, is worthy of our reverence.  But those who deny the holiness of God will be the quickest to deny the holiness of man.  They will reduce their neighbors and, in the end, themselves to animals, to machines, to something to be managed and controlled.  They who begin by hating God and his saints must end by hating man.  It cannot be otherwise.