Complete Joy

-
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete." I John 1:1-4

It can be difficult rearing children in our culture. We live in a time when there seems to be no moral absolutes. What is right all depends on what feels right at the moment. This has led to several generations of people who are seemingly lost and looking for answers and purpose in life.

John's introduction to his book gives us something to hang onto. What we believe is not changing. It comes from the beginning. Also, we can know that it is true because of the witnesses. He states that they not only heard, but they saw and they touched. Multiple eyewitnesses testify to the truth of Christ, and many of them in turn were willing to die for the message he brought. They would not die for a lie. John himself had to live in exile on the island of Patmos because of what he believed. But he did not waver.

Do we want our children to have purpose in life? Do we want them to be unwavering in their faith like the first followers? Of course we do. Our mission as mothers is to reach our children's hearts for God so they will be able to live their lives to the fullest serving Him who created them.

What can we do to accomplish this mission? I think there are some key words here in this text. They are hear, see, and touch. Children must hear the message. That alone is not enough. They must also see the message lived out around them. Then they must be able to touch the message. This is the hardest step because this is where their faith becomes real. They own it. It becomes personal. We can't do this part for them. However, if we do our part to help them see and hear the message of Christ, I believe God will take care of the rest. Then as parents we can experience our joy becoming complete as the message of Christ is carried on to the next generation.

Linking up with:

Comments

  1. Mary JeanSeptember 21, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    thanks So so true that there is a place where we can not "do this for them" I sure can see this as teenagers. PTL for prayer and being faithful in the first (hearing and seeing)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Skillet Zucchini and Hamburger

-
Image
My garden is producing peppers, onions, and zucchini and yellow squash right now.  I ran across this recipe, and the kids thought it was great.  They liked it much better then the way I had fixed the zucchini previously in a similar recipe with diced tomatoes instead of spaghetti sauce. What You Need: 1 lb ground chuck 2 lb zucchini or yellow squash, chopped in bite size pieces 1 green or red bell pepper, chopped 1 large onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 26 ounce jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves 1/2 teaspoon black pepper salt to taste What To Do: 1.  Brown ground chuck with onion and bell pepper in a large skillet.  Drain grease. 2.  Add garlic and seasonings.  Stir. 3.  Add zucchini and stir.  Cover with lid and cook over medium heat for approximately 15 minutes until zucchini is crisp tender.  Stir about every 5 minutes. 4.  Remove lid and stir in spaghetti sauce.  Co
Read more

When You Have To Let Go

-
Image
Heartache.  Deep, painful, agonizing heartache.  For a season that felt like it would never end, I carried a weight of anguish that tore at my very soul.  Parenting had been the source of immense joy for me, but at the same time there came with it intense sorrow.    Learning to handle this heartache is something that for me personally both challenged and grew my faith.  During this time I learned to appreciate the words of Psalm 77.  The lament of the Psalmist was much the same as my own heart cry to God.  It says,  I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.  In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. You hold my eyelids open ; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made diligent search:
Read more

My Battle with Depression

-
Image
"Your Mom is not the same person she was," I overheard my husband explain to one of our boys. Our son wistfully replies, "I hope she gets better soon." My tears flowed.  I was not sure I would ever be better.  How does a broken heart heal?  How is one ever the same after they are broken? Each day I rose early.  In the stillness of the morning, I sought strength from above.  I never wanted to leave the quiet.  I wanted to stay here reading His Word and praying.  But...children awoke, meals needed fixed, laundry begged washing, and somehow I walked through each day.  However, I lived angry inside...angry that my solitude had been disturbed. The reality of my life was depression.  A depression that would not loosen its grip. It took me a long time to acknowledge it though. Over a year before my medical doctor had suggested to me that I take an anti-depressant.  I had gone in for unexplained aching and fatigue in my body.  After a lot of blood work, and fi
Read more