MOM

How you treat your parents really does matter to God. It doesn't matter if you're 2 or 52. 

The Apostle Paul instructed us in Ephesians 6:2-3 "Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

I don't know about you, but I want it to be "well with me" & I want to "live long on the earth."  It's really a remarkable things that there are several stern warnings for children who mistreat their parents by the words they use & the things that they do.

In honor of Mother's Day, here's a few things to consider...

1. Unconditional Love. No matter if your mom is young or old...love her.  Moms give, give & give some more. They are always giving everything they have to their children. Without hesitation a mother will lay down her life for her child. So, love her when she has much to give & when she has nothing left to give.  

2. Be Affectionate. When is the last time you walked up to your mom & just hugged her real tight?  Moms, for the most part, are affectionate with their children. It's amazing how we can take for granted that our mother knows that we love her. Surprise her today & give her a huge hug!

3. Be Understanding. Women go through a lot of changes. Mothers go through a lot of changes. They wear many hats...they cook, clean, arbitrate, mend, work in & out of the home, etc. They do so much, and we need to appreciate the great job that they do for us every single day. 

4. Pay Attention. Everyone likes a little attention. Husbands do. Children do. When is it mom's turn?  Give your mom your undivided attention for Mother's Day. Make it about her. Let her choose where/what to eat...talk with her. Put your phone away. 

5. Say "Thank You". Moms do things that money cannot pay people to do. They are always watching out for us, picking up after us, doing things no one else would probably do. Show your gratitude. Say, "Thank You." (Say it often.)

6. Tell Her She's Needed. Moms are nurturing by nature & every mom wants to feel needed.  The enemy will whisper in your mom's ear, as she moves into her golden years, "you're not necessary, no one has time for you, you're an inconvenience to everybody."  That's a lie. Let your mom know that you have time for her & that you need her. 

Consider this...

1. Whether you mother is still alive today or not: Rate your relationship with your mother on a scale from 1-10, with ten being amazing. You may need to have two separate totals...one for when you were growing up & the second total for today.

2. What would it take to move that total closer to 10, or what would it have taken for it to have been closer to 10...then and now?

3. Which of the 6 points above do you need to work on to improve?


Today, I want to thank my mother for being a prayer warrior in our life.  Whenever there has been trouble or a need, all I've had to do is pick up the phone and ask her to pray...and she does.  Never underestimate the power of a praying mother. When she can't work anymore, when she can't give anymore, when she can't serve anymore, even when she can't do things for you anymore...she can still PRAY for you!

Happy Mother's Day!

The Way A Man Treats His Wife

The way a man treats his wife is a reflection of his strength or weakness.

I like this passage in Ephesians 5 - "Husbands have the obligation of loving and caring for their wives the same way they love and care for their own bodies, for to love your wife is to love your own self. No one abuses his own body, but pampers it—serving and satisfying its needs. That’s exactly what Christ does for his church! He serves and satisfies us as members of his body." (TPT)

Men, if we aren't winning at home, we're losing. Ministry starts first at home.

I know some men reading this will say...

• "I'd be a better husband, if she'd be a better wife"
• "I've tried & we just aren't compatible"
• "All she does is nag at me"

Guys listen up...before you complain about your wife LOOK in the mirror & ask yourself, "Is God pleased with the way I'm being a husband?"

Honestly, do you realize that all the faults you're finding in your wife are the very things that prevented her from finding a better husband?

Men, just as women have the power, in their words, to build you up or break you down...YOU TOO have the power to LOVE & CHERISH your wife...which brings peace & security to her heart.

Beverly & I have been married for 29 years...and we're still working on our marriage. Friends, it won't happen automatically...you have to WORK on it.

One of the FIRST THINGS you have to do is...both of you have to stop being SELFISH! Marriage isn't a divided contract of 50/50...no it's 100/100 - even when you feel your spouse isn't giving their share. YOU STILL HAVE TO GIVE 100%! Why? Because you aren't just married to your spouse...you are married to CHRIST!

And ladies, before you say, "That's right Pastor...tell him!" Let me just say, there's more to Ephesians 5 than just the husband loving his wife. You too bare an equal responsibility to HONOR him & SUBMIT to him as the head of your home. (Another post required for this one....😁)

My point today is...IF YOU LOVE your spouse you will DO things for them, that are often sacrificial, because you also have THE LOVE OF CHRIST in you.

You will want to.

If you don't, then you need to find a place to pray & ask The Lord to show you your own reflection in the mirror of His Word. (We all have a lot we can work on.)

Be blessed today! Do something nice for your spouse today. (Even if I told you to do it.) 🤣

If You Can't Be LED, You're Disqualified To LEAD

Don't Ever Speak To My Child Like That!

1. A child who can't be told "no" or be corrected...is a child that will grow up with an entitlement spirit.

2. Parents, don't always rush to your child's defense when they tell you they didn't like the way they were spoken to or corrected.

3. First of all, common courtesy & respect teaches us that when we're being admonished or corrected, we look people in the eye. We do not look away because we don't like what we're being told. This is learned behavior that carries the connotation of "I am not listening & I do not receive the correction."

4. Imagine being on the job & your boss is speaking with you, but you won't look them in the eye while they're speaking. Not only is it disrespectful, it stems from a root of rebellion within.

5. The same could be said about a student at school who while the Principal is speaking with them won't look him/her in the eye while they're speaking. Not only is it disrespectful, it stems from a root of rebellion within.

6. Imagine being in a youth group at church & your Pastor, Pastor's Wife, Youth Pastor, an Elder or Deacon is speaking with you about something that is basic or even an area of concern & you won't look them in the eye while they're speaking. Not only is it disrespectful, it stems from a root of rebellion within.

7. I remember growing up in church that when the leadership gathered the young people together to address us students about our behavior, the way we represent the church, our families, etc., while away at youth camp, or just reminders, etc....sometimes they were extremely FIRM and some might even say they were too firm....but it TAUGHT US to HONOR & RESPECT those in authority; not undermine them & try to gain an audience with other disgruntled people who didn't like receiving correction either.

8. Our children become adults. Adult have children...and the cycle continues.

9. We always told our child's teachers, pastors, leaders, etc., if our child does something that warrants correction...please do it. We love our child enough to let the village correct them...especially since they have to live in that same village.

10. When you see bullheadedness in a child...you don't have to look very far to see where they got it from.

11. Parents of all children must continue to reinforce RESPECT at all times from our children. Respect for authority. Respect for leadership. Respect for all people. Respect for themselves.

12. If a child rears up in defiance...regardless of age...don't quickly pass it off as a "stage" (of course there are some stages)...but deal with the ROOT of it & stop it in its tracks.

13. Parents who defend their children’s bad behavior with no consequence may one day have to pay a lawyer to do the same.

14. The primary job of Kingdom parents is to raise Kingdom kids in such a way that they become Kingdom adults.

15. Each and every one of us are born looking like our parents, but we die looking like our decisions.

#Room

#TheVillage