Meet the Teacher: You!

School starts this week. Algebra and adverbs. History and health. Social studies and Spanish. Teachers enjoy a captive audience as they share their particular passion. Kids teach lessons too through the power of peer pressure.

So where do parents come in? What are we to teach? David tells us in Psalm 34:11, it’s the most important lesson of all:

“Come, my children, listen to me; and I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”

Fear, not in that we are afraid, well, maybe a little, but fear in that we have a proper perspective of who God is and who we are.

A recent trip to the beach reshaped this perspective for me. The ocean’s vastness astounds me. Yet Scripture says God stores it in jars. (Psalm 33:7 NIV) Really? The Pacific Ocean fits in one of God’s jars? My Texas mind sees images of Mason quart jars filled with canned veggies. I picture God’s pantry shelves loaded with jars neatly labeled Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and so on. As my picture of God grows, so do my fear and respect for Him. The God who stores the sea in His personal Mason jars can handle anything coming my way. He’ll do the same for you. For your kids and mine.

School is back. Class starts today. What are you teaching?

Questions:

What things have colored your picture of God?

Are you familiar with the song, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”? Does nature affect your view of God? How?

Disrespect is rampant in our culture. Do you have personal struggles with respect, especially with authority figures?

How does our culture encourage disrespect?

Does this culture clash make it difficult to give God the respect He deserves? The time He deserves?

Unchained

“Paul replied, ‘Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.’”(Acts 26:29)

Shackles.

Unwieldy things. Heavy. Noisy. They don’t go with anything, yet Paul wore these less than lovely accessories for over four years. Look at the final verse of Acts:

“Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about

the Lord Jesus Christ.”(Acts 28:31)

Boldly, clinking and clanking with every step, yet without hindrance.

Are you dragging some chains? Demands at work? Demands at home? A wounded heart? How about the kids? Oh, kids wear chains too. Sticks and stones may break bones, but words can cause internal bleeding and sometimes, chains. Chains like:

Anxiety over tests and grades

Sibling rivalry

Body or image issues

But look at Paul. Boldly. Without hindrance. In spite of his chains.

Paul’s God was bigger. So big, the chains were overshadowed and forgotten.

God’s bigger than our chains too. Look past the chains and focus on Him. Allow the shackles to dwindle in the light of His Presence. Be bold. All things are possible.

Questions:

What chains are you dragging? Worry, pressure, hurt feelings, insecurity?

How have they hindered you? What have you been afraid to do because of ___________?

Paul is arrested in Acts 21. Skim through Acts 21-28. Look at Paul’s physical situation and contrast it to his spiritual state.

Bring your chains to Jesus and ask for help in overcoming them. Keep a journal over the next several days and weeks. Record His response.

This Person Will Self-Destruct in Five, Four. . .

“A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.”(Proverbs 19:3)

Have you ever tried to help someone who was obviously in need only to have them refuse your help? Then, you watched as they went their own way, only to crash and burn. A brother or sister, a best friend, even a child?

Look at the verse above. Scripture defines folly as foolishness or poor choices, especially when one knows better. Solomon says folly ruins one’s life. We’ve all seen it. A choice you knew was a bad one—but they chose it anyway. Choices to:

• Disobey
• Hurt someone
• Take unnecessary risk

Solomon tells us this person’s heart rages against the LORD and His loving correction. Like my dog Zuno when his ears hurt. He snaps at me when I try to help. When he yields and lets me put medicine in his ears, he gets better.

Do you snap or submit?

Do you stop and listen to wise counsel? Or, when someone tries to head off a wrong choice, are you like Zuno who snarls and runs from the medicine? Learning to stop and count the cost takes practice. Keeping emotions and a strong will in check requires a partnership with God. Now is not too early to start.

Cultivate a responsive spirit instead of one that will self-destruct.

Questions:

How do you respond to correction? Be honest.

How can we test the counsel of others to see if it is wise and to see if it applies to us?(Not all counsel is good.)

What can help you submit rather than snap? (Phil. 4:4-9 How many ideas can you find in this passage?)

How can you cultivate a responsive spirit to God? (Colossians 3:23-24, Galatians 5:16-17,22-25)

How can you give good counsel and increase the chances of it being received? (Phil. 4:3-11)

Pick Up Please

“Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. (Psalm 4:3)

Sometimes I don’t hear my phone.

Sometimes I choose not to look when I receive a text.

This drives my family crazy, but I refuse to be tied to the thing. Especially when certain children text me from school (Aren’t you supposed to be doing something–like school work?) asking me to pick up sundry items while I’m at the grocery store. Really?

Thankfully, God is different. He doesn’t mind being on call 24/7, 60/60. When I call, He always picks up. When I shoot a quick text, His reply may not be immediate, but His attention is. I’m not just some random number. I’m in His contacts.

Are you?

If so, He hears. He knows. From the toddler praying over a boo-boo to the mom praying over an undiagnosed lump, He hears. He cares. He’s picking up, even as we speak.

Talk to Him. His plan includes unlimited texts and minutes, free long distance, and no dead zones.

It’s the family plan, so call.

Questions:

What are your thoughts when a random number appears on your phone versus a name you recognize?

Do you respond differently to the two? Do you think God’s response is different for one of His children versus one who is not a believer yet? (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9)

How about close contacts? Do you have a special ringtone for them? What would God’s ringtone for you sound like?

Does the fact that God’s response is not always immediate affect your belief of whether He is listening?

How can you and your family cultivate the habit of calling God first?

What’s Your Point?

My son’s Navy training includes land nav—land navigation. Because I am such a military wanna-be, I’m brushing up on my compass and map skills. To keep from becoming lost, my handy-dandy wilderness survival guide advises me to choose a stationary focal point and use it to plot my course.

Hmmm. Solomon reminds us in Proverbs 17:24–God thought of that one a long time ago:

“A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.”

God applies the principle to character. God is our wisdom, our strong, immovable Rock, and our stationary focal point. He doesn’t change. Not in bad weather, hard times, whatever. When we keep Him in view, we know where we are. Rain may fall. Bees may hover in the next tree and a skunk may lurk in the next bush.

But we are not lost.

And knowing where you stand(literally) is a good thing.

Questions:

What is it like to be lost? Do we even know it at first? Describe the process.

How do you feel when you know where you’re going?

How do we know where we stand? What tells us?

What does God’s Word tell us?

How do challenges or obstacles affect your attitude when you know where you’re going? When you’re lost?

Between the Covers

“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”(Psalm 139:16)

According to Psalm 139, our book was written long before Page 1 became a reality. Paul tells us in Ephesians our book was written before creation itself:

“For he chose us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”(Ephesians 1:4)

So what does that mean for us as we live between the covers of our book?

It means the Author of life and of our salvation has been planning for us quite a long time.

It means He knows all about today; He wrote the script years ago.

Literally.

He cannot be surprised. Not at this point in your life, not ever.

He knows or knew:

• Your first grade teacher
• Your BFF
• The date and time of your first kiss
• Your first fender-bender
• Your GPA and your career choice
• Your first job and your first house
• And all that came (or is coming) in between and what will follow.

As the main character in your story, doesn’t a close relationship with the Author make sense? Every day is ordained. Chosen and planned just for you. Walk through each day with Him. You don’t want to miss a thing.

Questions:

How do you feel about Psalm 139:16?

How about Ephesians 1:4? How does the Ephesians verse differ from the verse in Psalms?

Why would God go to so much trouble?

How does this information change your today? Your tomorrow? Or does it?

In a real book, no relationship exists between author and character except in the author’s mind and imagination. How is our relationship with God different?

Drop Your Weapons

A scene from the movie, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, depicts Peter, Susan, Lucy, and beaver friends crossing a frozen river in an attempt to reach Aslan. The White Witch’s wolves block the way when a frozen waterfall above the river begins to thaw. A burst of water sends them careening down the now raging river.

One moment, ice—solid and firm. The next, a flood of water.

Solomon gives a similar picture:

“Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”(Proverbs 17:14)

What caused the breached dam and ensuing flood?

Someone started a quarrel.

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”(James 4:1)

James tells us we have desires that battle within.Unchecked, battles within lead to battles that get out. Quarrels–which may lead to an unexpected flood.

How do we avoid such a disaster?

“ . . .so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”(Proverbs 17:14b)

Dropping the matter means I drop my weapons, those desires battling within me. Desires like:

• The desire to be right
• The desire to have the last word (and the first)
• The desire to defend myself
• The desire to have my own way

But I’m a fighter and self-defense is justified, right?

Hardly. God is not impressed with my warrior spirit. He prefers I lay down my weapons and leave any unfinished business to Him. My job is to love my enemies, whether the enemy of the moment is a spouse, a sibling, or a stranger.

So drop it and practice some flood prevention.

Questions:

Do you know someone who likes to start quarrels?

If someone starts a quarrel, do you have to accept the invitation to the bickering party?

Give your top three reasons for quarrelling.

What are your weapons when you quarrel? (The desires you battle)

How can you drop your weapons?

Cross Training

Open and Shut Case

“Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.”(Proverbs 20:12)

Eyes and ears. We all have them. They range in color and shape and ability. My eyes? Blue, nearsighted, with a touch of astigmatism. Ears? They still don’t drain well even as an adult. All are handcrafted by our loving Father.

However, seeing and hearing don’t stop there. There is a dimension to life with spiritual eyes and ears. Look at the following verses:

“He who has ears, let him hear.”(Matthew 11:15)

“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” (Luke 24:31)

Spiritual eyes see God’s fingerprints situations others would call coincidence. Spiritual eyes discern truth from lies. Spiritual ears hear God’s still small voice when others hear only the TV.

In Lois Lowry’s novel, The Giver, Jonas begins to see color in a world that is only gray. He catches flashes of it here and there and the others seem surprised when he stops and asks about it. They see nothing. He sees–red.

Is it like that for you? Have you caught glimpses of God at work? Has your ear picked up a sound when others hear only white noise?

Stop and look. Stop and listen. Spiritual eyes and spiritual ears. The LORD has made them both.

Questions:

Describe your eyes and ears. What sounds do you like? What do you like to see?

You are born with eyes and ears. Is the same true spiritually?

How do you get spiritual eyes and ears?

What things have you seen with your spiritual eyes?

What things have you heard with your spiritual ears?

 

Cross Training

Don’t Jump

“The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.”(Proverbs 18:17)

In Norton Juster’s novel, The Phantom Tollbooth, Milo, Humbug, and Tock find themselves on the Island of Conclusions:

“Now will you tell me where we are?” asked Tock as he looked around the desolate island.

“To be sure,” said Canby; “you’re on the Island of Conclusions. Make yourself at home. You’re apt to be here for some time.”

“But how did we get here?”asked Milo, who was still a bit puzzled by being there at all.

“You jumped, of course,” explained Canby. “That’s the way most everyone gets here. It’s really quite simple: every time you decide something without having a good reason, you jump to Conclusions whether you like it or not. It’s such an easy trip to make that I’ve been here hundreds of times.”

“But this is such an unpleasant-looking place,” Milo remarked.

“Yes, that’s true,” admitted Canby; “it does look much better from a distance.”

Jumping to conclusions comes quite naturally. Hear some juicy gossip—jump. See something suspicious—jump. Your things not where you thought you left them—jump.

The verse above encourages us to stay put and gather more information before we take a flying leap. Think of Mary and Joseph and a certain unexpected and early (as in before the wedding) pregnancy. No one likes to be judged before all the facts have been presented, so give others the benefit of the doubt. As Tock, Milo, and Humbug will tell you, getting back from the Island of Conclusions requires a long swim.

Questions:

Describe our ability to reason. How does it work?

Does this ability come from God? Why?(Exodus 4:10-12)

Do you think we have a tendency to jump? Why?

How do we reconcile this ability to reason with a tendency to jump to conclusions?

When have you jumped and regretted it? Has anyone jumped to a conclusion regarding you?

Cross Training

Is Anyone Home?

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart . . .” (Proverbs 3:5a)

Last week, we talked about not leaning on your own understanding. What happens when you lean on God and He appears to fail you? Let’s say you are not leaning on you, but nothing makes sense and God is no where to be found. What then?

We go into Job mode. Job had it all. Family, all the camels he could want. You name it. Scripture tells us he was the greatest man among all the peoples of the East.

And he loved God. Lots.

One day, Satan comes to God and starts talking trash about Job. He challenges God to put Job’s loyalty to the test. God gives His permission for the testing—with limits. Satan must spare Job’s life.

Zap!

Within days, Job’s family, fortune, and health are gone. Disappeared. Penniless. Ten children to bury. So sick he can barely stand. His wife urges him to curse God and die. Job’s response? “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?”

Yet, Job struggles. “Why?” echoes through the empty house. Has Job sinned? Not that he can remember. He longs to meet God and plead his case.

And God shows up. Close and personal. And He’s not obligated to answer questions. Instead, He’s asking them, one after another–for four chapters:

“Where were you when  I laid the earth’s foundation?”(Job 38:4a)

“Does the eagle soar at your command and build his nest on high?”(Job 39:27)

“Do you have an arm like God’s and can your voice thunder like his?”(Job 40:9)

“Can you pull in the leviathan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope?”(Job 41:1)

The bottom line?

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart . . .” (Proverbs 3:5)

Know He’s in charge and He’s got it handled. Lean, but not on your understanding of the situation. You’ll never get it completely, so simply trust. And obey.

The good news?

He is trustworthy and we don’t have to understand everything to walk through it. Some answers will have to wait until heaven.

Until then, trust Him. With soccer, siblings, school, and spouses. With everything. With all your heart.

Questions:

Have you ever been in Job’s sandals? Has something happened that you didn’t understand?

What was your first response?

How do you keep going when God seems silent?

Look at Job 38-41. What is your response to God’s questions?

Do those questions bring you comfort like they did for Job?