Just do something!

  

I recently read a story about the late Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken.  He was on an airplane when an infant screamed and would not stop even though the women and flight attendant tried every trick they could think of.

Finally the Colonel asked if he could hold the baby. he gently rocked it to sleep.  

Later a passenger said, "We all appreciated what you did for us." Colonel Sanders replies, "I didn't do it for you, I did it for the baby."  He was demonstrating compassion towards the baby.

December is a great time of the year to talk about Compasssion. Compassion is that feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

For the month of December, we will be teaching about Compassion in Inspire Kids.  The main idea is that compassion is caring enough to do something about someone else's need.

God saw our greatest and did something about it.  He became one of us. Humbling Himself to be born as a tiny baby in a remote town in the dwelling place of animals. His birth announcement was sent first to a lowly group of shepherds and later to kings from a distant land. He lived as one of us, so that eventually He could die as atonement for our sin and be raised again on the third day so that we could one day live eternally with God in Heaven.

So as leaders and as parents let's take time as we approach Christmas to teach and live out compassion in our lives.  Seek out teachable moments where you can instill compassion in the lives of your kids.

As these teachable moments occur keep in mind that this is the time of the year when kids (and adults) suddenly NEED a lot of things.  

Most of these needs are just WANTS. Their greatest need is for a Savior - and God met that need on Christmas Day.  Jesus is the ultimate example of compassion.

Unknown Conditions Ahead

This month on Social Media there's this 30 Day of Thankfulness challenge.  I'm not very good at keeping up on that and posting each day, but there is something to be said for taking the time to reflect on what you're thankful for.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

In all circumstances.  Did you catch that?  It's easy to be thankful for good health, for a job promotion, for a Cowboy's victory, for the purchase of a new home, for the accomplishments that happened in the lives of our children. 

But what about those non Social Media moments?  Those things you don't neccesarily share publicly.  The death of a loved one, a cut in pay, when the Cowboys lose 7 games in a row, defaulting on your dream home.

In all circumstances.

Last weekend I was at a conference and we sang the song, "Your Promises" by Elevation Worship.  One of the lines in the song stood out to me.

When the weight of life begins to fall on the name of Jesus I will call.  For I know my God is in control and His purpose is unshakeable.

I'm thankful for my wife, Jalita, who makes me a better person.  I'm thankful for my son, Isaac.  There's is no doubt that Isaac is my son. He's so much like me.  Every year we hear from his teachers or coaches that Isaac is a really nice and polite young man with a great smile.  Love hearing that.  I'm thankful for my son, Austin.  I appreciate Austin's sense of humor, He is so stinking smart and talented musically.  I can't wait to see what Austin does with all his talents. I'm thankful for my daughter, Emma.  She brings a  lot of joy into our lives.  I appreciate Emma's love for life. 

I'm thankful for the little things in life like Netflix, sports, fantasy football, Social Media, Pepsi, Wood's Coffee, licorice, and even cereal.

But even more than all those things, I am thankful that no matter the circumstance, my God is in control and His purpose is unshakeable.

So I choose to give thanks in all circumstances.

SInk or Swim

When my kids were younger, we signed them up for swimming lessons with a lady who was known for being able to teach anyone to swim in just a couple of weeks.  In fact, most kids would be jumping off the diving board and swimming like a pro by the end of the swimming lessons.

So many things in life are a sink or swim situation.   Parenting can feel like that at times.  As a parent to three great kids I was never fully prepared to disciple, train,teach, and cultivate them spiritually.  I certainly didn’t take that class at Bible College!  

Parenting is the hardest job that I have ever had.  There’s that pressure to be proficient in so many areas:  math, sports, braiding hair. For many parents, myself included, it’s easier to go play catch with their son than to tell them a story from the Bible.  I enjoy both of those things but the latter is more challenging.  I don’t think I’m alone in this. 

Many parents struggle with being the spiritual leader in their home.  Most parents want to spend time with their kids.  They have good intentions about talking to their kids on a deeper level.  They want to share their faith.  The problem is – they don’t know how.  

While church is important, God designed the family to be the primary place where discipleship happens.  So the church’s job is to come alongside families and help them fulfill the instructions given in Deuteronomy.  

In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 the Bible clearly teaches that parents are to spiritually train their children or to lead in the provision of spiritual development for their children:  “Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our God, the Lord is One.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on door frames of your houses and on your gates.” 

I want to invite you to the Inspire Kids Parent Cue Event that’s happening on November 8, right after church in the Youth Center.  We believe that parents can leverage the moments that exist in the rhythm of their daily lives to raise a generation that has an everyday faith.  

Our Parent Cue Event is primarily about providing tools for you as parents that cue you to start a conversation, capture a moment, or instill truth in your kids.  We will also be giving you a calendar of events, sharing about ways that you can get involved, and also be opening up for a Q and A time.  Lunch is provided.  During the Parent Cue, your kids will be having lunch up in Howard Hall along with doing some fun activities.  Parents, I hope you can make it.