Train Up a Child with Knowledge and Wisdom

Proverbs 22:6

6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

  

As much as the scripture above makes sense, some do not realize that the habits children are taught or "caught" will stay with them. Even if they are not beneficial and potentially dangerous they will have them. I work in an educational environment and meet many people from different walks of life. But last night, I was really disturbed by what I witnessed. A young man with his younger sister and mother were present. I was meeting the other family members for the first time. We were having casual conversation when suddenly, the young sister decided to say what she had done earlier that day. She yelled to her older brother that she wanted to go outside and play in the snow. He thinking nothing of it, didn't bother to check that she was properly dressed to play in the snow though it was cold outside. This young girl who could be no more than 11 said she had recorded herself, via phone outside in her under garments playing in the snow. Seriously!  I stopped what I was doing with the older brother and proceeded to speak to the young girl to explain how much of an absolute unacceptable behavior that was. The mother chimed in. I let the young lady know about predators and that she is never to do so such a thing. I looked her directly in her eyes to reiterate this and even let her know that I unfortunately know from experience without going into detail. I kept asking if what I was saying was crystal clear. The mother then began to say never to take half-naked pictures of herself to display. I asked again, was it clear. She still had the look on her face like she didn't get what the big issue was. I hope that was a wake up call for the mother.

Now, why am I telling you this? The conversation that was had in front of me, a complete stranger, should've been had a long time ago. I reminded the brother to never let his sister out of the house without first checking to make sure she is properly dressed with hat, gloves, etc. I said she could've suffered frost bite, etc. And being the adult in the house at the time, it was still his responsibility. Now I also know a few other things that were expressed in a previous meeting by the young man and now I see what he meant. Parents, I will address you. Do not think it is someone else's responsibility to explain to children about predators, sex or anything else. You are the first teachers. The teenage years are often too late to discuss these topics. Children are under attack in their infant and toddler years. Have you not seen the news? And an alarming but true statistic, 85% of the time, children are abused by someone they know. It does not matter that the subject is uncomfortable to you. It's supposed to be uncomfortable. More importantly, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU. It's about the young life God has given you charge of. And many of you are afraid to read my book, "Shh Don't Tell." This is exactly why you ought to read it. A fellow co-worker and psychologist said, "the young girl lacks attention and is a prime target for a predator."  This statement goes along with what I learned in a previous meeting.

God continues to remind me why He gave me the project and the next steps. It's on behalf of children like the one I met last night. Talk to your children so they do not end up on the news or milk cartons please. Train up a child with knowledge and wisdom. That means you have to have knowledge and wisdom too. Hosea 4:6 says we perish from a lack of knowledge, children included.

Something Meaningful

Proverbs 14:3

 

3In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

 

How many times have you come across a fool? Jesus even referred to people as being fools in parables. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines a fool as a person who lacks sense or judgment. The second definition is one who spends time idly, thoughtlessly or even in ignorance. A fool does just that. But how many fools do you know who don't even know they are fools?  What you hear from them is a lot of arrogance and pride yet they are positive that they make total sense. With that being said, those who are wise, you hear wisdom from their mouths and they are not idle. Wisdom comes from God. You cannot gain wisdom doing idle things. You gain wisdom by seeking God. You gain wisdom by being in the presence of godly council. You gain wisdom by being with those who are where you are trying to go. Wisdom is actually stated as one of the spiritual gifts from God. It is the same gift which God bestowed to King Solomon. He asked for it and God gave it. Wisdom is found in the opposite place where fools reside, in idle things.

 

I cannot tell you how many times I come across those who are occupying their time with foolish things. But what is so appalling is they really believe they know what they are doing and are perfectly fine doing it. One of the definitions for insanity on dictionary.com is extreme foolishness, folly, senselessness. So being a fool can be equated on some level with insanity though this is not to make light of anyone dealing with mental disorders. But a fool who keeps speaking foolish things and continues in foolish things without a desire and drive to become wise seeks his or her own end. Is that not insanity? Did not God say in His word that people perish from a lack of knowledge? Did not God say in His word that in all things get understanding? If you dare not gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding and then act on them you are wasting your time. And you don't even know how much time you have remaining. All you know is the time you have used up. With the time you have remaining, are you spending it wisely? With the time you have remaining are you spending it with people who mean you well, want to see you succeed and have a common goal of wanting to be better, do better? With the time you have remaining are you spending it doing the things you were put here do? With the time remaining are you saying something meaningful?

 

P.S. If you have not signed up for the writers teleconference on www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com time is running out! This event will not happen again anytime soon.

Happy New Year!

To every reader and bystander whose eyes grace the screen,

It's by faith that one finds purpose and healing.

We wish you and your family a very wonderful New Year! May you grow in your faith and love of Christ in 2015 and may you understand the beautiful gifts God placed inside of you to use for His glory. And as the Word says, "your gifts will make room for you and place you among great men."

Get to Work

Genesis 41:44

44Pharoah also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

How did Joseph get to be second in command only to Pharaoh over a vast and wealthy land? The answer. God gave Joseph a dream. The dream God gave Joseph was back in chapter 37. Joseph believed in his dream. He just didn't know how he was going to get there. God took Joseph through so many steps, including adversity, to shape and mold him to the leader God needed him to be in order to rule a land. Joseph had many practice runs of being "faithful over a few things." And then just as Jesus said in the parable of the Talents, "I will make you ruler over many things."  But how did Joseph get there? He kept his dream in the forefront of his mind, he worked hard, and with each opportunity God blessed him with he remained grateful and faithful.

How many of you did God give a dream to? Have you kept it in the forefront of your mind? Have you gone to work on it? When God has given you the opportunity to move forward with your dream, are you faithful? Sometimes God presents opportunities at "uncomfortable" or "inconvenient" times to see how you will respond. Have you taken seriously the dream and vision He entrusted you with? We are coming up on New Year's. So many people create resolutions of what they plan to do but often fail to follow through. How many times have you bypassed the dreams and visions God gave you? Why?

Do you know that each place where you spend money or each product you purchase started as someone else's dream and vision? Do you know that each time you spend money at Starbucks, hair/nail salons, clothes, stores, they are all someone else's dream and vision actualized. So you walk around with and wear someone else's vision yet you do not see the value in moving forward with the dreams and visions God gave you. Does it make any sense? Whether that dream God gave you is a business, service, book, etc, you only have a finite amount of time to get it actualized. You just don't know how long that is. Wouldn't it make more sense to sacrifice those Starbucks visits for a month or two to start working toward what God gave you? But you don't know how you say? If you ask God to open doors, show you where to go and who to talk to in order to move forward, He will do it. But when He presents it to you, do not grumble. If you are not willing to invest in you, why should anyone else?

I am holding a teleconference in January. It will be the last one for quite some time. Visit www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com for details. If what is being offered relates to what God has given you to do, then register. If not, and God has given you something else to do, stop devaluing your dream and vision and get to work.

It Is Still Christmas

Luke 2:11-12

 

11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And there will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.

 

In Genesis 1 Jesus' presence with God is acknowledged. For His place was always alongside God, the Father, creator of Heaven and Earth. Jesus willingly left His place alongside God and left the wealth of Heaven described in Revelation 21 and what Jesus describes to the disciples in Matthew. Jesus came to earth through the womb of a woman and to one who was very poor. His birth was of the lowliest of circumstances. All so He could identify with the daily struggle of humanity yet redeem you and I. For someone to leave all they have for the sake of saving anyone who will receive them is a sacrifice that not even the most humble would take on. The love of God has no bounds. Jesus has no limit on the love He gives. And so this is why we celebrate His birth not just His death and resurrection. The greatest gift ever given is love. Love is expressed in many ways. The most visible forms of it is through caring, sacrifice and service. The life of Jesus is about love, sacrifice and service. Whatever you may be doing this Christmas day, love, sacrifice and service represent who Jesus is. If you will not love, sacrifice and serve in some way, then is it really Christmas? Gifts under a tree are empty if they are not given in love. Even if there is no tree and no gifts to give, it is still Christmas because Jesus was born for you and I. It is still Christmas as long as you demonstrate love.

 

Merry Christmas to you and your family from Get Your JOY In The Morning!

Refuge in an Unlikely Place

1Samuel 27:1

 

1And David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines, and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand."

 

David was not yet king but because his destiny was already determined by God, King Saul was furious. David was faithful in his service to King Saul, not wavering nor faltering in his loyalty. Yet, because God determined and established David's destiny, Saul was jealous and to the point of rage that he would lose his place to the young warrior, musician David. Saul thought that if he killed David, he could keep his throne. But throne was not his, it belonged to God who had the final say on who would lead His people. David's destiny was not what he planned but what God planned. And for it David had to flee continuously to keep from being killed. David was tired of running, especially knowing he did nothing wrong. But to seek refuge in the camp of a known enemy of Israel?! Do you remember David defeating Goliath? Did you know Goliath was a Philistine? David not only sought refuge in an unlikely place but he was there for one year and four months as the Word says. That is a long time. David figured that Saul would grow tired of looking for him in Israel. Saul knew where David was but he dared not to enter his enemy's camp just retrieve David to kill him. That would've been a suicide mission. God had already turned His hand from Saul. David was able to live in this unlikely place to the point that he went to war with other lands on behalf of the Philistine king. It was not until the princes of the land were overcome with jealousy that the king of Philistine had to send David on his way to keep the peace in his own land.

 

What can you learn from this? You may find yourself in an unlikely place seeking refuge. And God's hand can still be with you. God has already determined your destiny but like Saul, there may be people around you not happy about it. Their intent may be to harm you but God is your refuge, no matter where you are, even in an unlikely place. You may even find that God has extended favor upon you through one who by the world's standards should be against you. But God!

Even in Laughter

Proverbs 14:13

 

13Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief.

 

It is very naïve to think that one who laughs and smiles has no grief. Laughter may even be how someone handles the most uncomfortable or hurtful situations because they dare not cry or simply may be tired of shedding tears. Mirth is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as gladness accompanied with laughter.  We are in the holiday season where many gather in celebration. They put on a smile and laugh. But do you know their sorrow? Do you know their grief? Do you know their pain? Many have lost loved one and the holiday season is a reminder of the ones they lost. For some, their homes are not as happy as they used to be. And for others, it could be yet another grief. Do you really know the people with whom you gather? Do you really know the pains they have endured? Have you been there during their grief or do you only their laughter? Can you be trusted to share in their sorrow as well as their laughter? Jesus is one with whom you can trust both your sorrow and your laughter. He was born in the most unpleasant of circumstances during this season. And He died in the most unpleasant of circumstances, yet He lives. And He, as our Heavenly Father, has a great sense of humor. Laughter in spite of sorrow and grief shows signs of strength, resilience and perseverance not in oneself but in Christ to carry them through.

P.S. You can purchase books for the holiday season at www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com or wherever books are sold.