A good friend of mine started blogging about this issue. I like the way he shares his thoughts. I am not going to try to duplicate what he has said therefore I want you to click on the link and read it for yourself. I share his views ont he matter.
www.shawnsblogspot.com
You will never see me watering down the importance of accountability. Many divorces happen because of the lack off. Many addictions happen because of the lack of it. I encourage everyone that struggle with any internet addictions to download X3 watch. This is a great tool to keep any person with any addictions accountable with up to 2 people. Check it out:
www.x3watch.com
I ran across a post from XXX Church that shares an awesome testimony. I encourage anyone to read it. It will humble you. It is a God thing.... click on the link below:
AMAZING...SCARY, WEEK
Hatred is the rabid dog tat turns on its owner.
Revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist.
Bitterness is the trap that snares the hunter.
And mercy is the choice that can set them all free.
Max Lucado
"Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives."
C. S. Lewis
When God created man.... he created a man and his companion.... a woman. God intended for the first relationship to be between a man and a woman. Actually, the only account of marriage love that is given in the bible from Jesus is when it comes to the relationship of a husband and wife, shown in Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.”
God setup the bar pretty high.
God created the love of a husband and wife superior to any other love... Jesus compares the love of a marriage as his love for us... anything less would be disastrous.
If we can get that concept, the concept of the love of your wife and the position she has on the family, then your children will learn the biblical way of the hierarchy of the home.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where child center homes are common. This is really a dysfunction of the family. Child centerness is where the center of the household is the children and not the marriage. Child centerness creates allot of confusion in the minds of children. We see it in trends.... It can start by having kids sleep in bed with the parents (bad, bad, bad)... then it follows by the attention of both parents is consumed by the child (The child is running the house).... then it follows to parents sacrificing money and time from themselves to give the child the best of the best.... at the end... you have a broken marriage and a spoiled kid that has a warped view in life and is incomplete with himself. (Note: I am not saying, do not give the best to your children, but I am saying that you have to have a healthy balance)
The best gift you can give to your child is the knowledge that their parents love each other over anything in this world.... I am not talking about their love for Christ... we all know the measure of that love.... but the love they have for each other... Children need to know that for Mommy... daddy comes first and for daddy.... mommy comes first. I heard it once said.... when it comes to children... they should be considered guest of the house.... the came after the marriage.... after a union and shortly they will leave and become one with someone else... therefore they are guest.
A house should be centered in the love of mom and dad and their love for the children.... let me explain... the child needs to know that mommy and daddy love each other and that they both love them not just Mommy loves them and daddy loves them... they both love them.
I believe one of the behavioral problems we are seeing in society is because of this child centerness view when it comes to raising a family. That also goes right along with the divorce rate in this country. How can a marriage last if all the attention at home goes to the kids.... marriage is work... it is investment..... it takes time, energy and work. It is NOT EASY. Your children need to see that daddy spends time with mommy and mommy spends time with daddy. They need to see their parents hugging, kissing, playing (non sexual, please), chatting, dancing, cuddling, holding hands, telling each other that they love each other, hearing each other talk about their dreams together..... kids need to hear that.
A child's security depends on the love and priority that a husband and wife have with each other.
Can you now see why we are living in a world with a dysfunction view of the family that is creating a chaos.... more children are being born out of wedlock than between a husband and wife. That is why over 50% of marriages do not go past the 3 year mark.
Society is teaching children the wrong way to have a marriage and to raise a child.
What do you think?
I want to thank Jionte Fuller for reminding me of that.... it lead me to hear a song from the new Hillsong United Album.... the songs name is "Shout unto God".... there are just a few lyrics in this song but there is a line that made my day and it goes like this:
"Jesus Vive" (Jesus lives... in spanish)
The enemy has been defeated...
And death couldn't hold You down...
We're gonna lift our voice in victory...
We're gonna make Your praises loud...
Shout to God with a voice of triumph
Shout to God with a voice of praise
Shout to God with a voice of triumph
We lift your name up, we lift your name up
I was thinking to myself and asked myself these questions and I want to also ask you....
Do we believe that.... do we believe that the enemy (Satan, Lucifer, the devil, the evil one, the snake) has been defeated... that he is under our feet. Do you believe that death cannot hold you.... do you believe that God is more powerful than death.... do you believe that you are victorious.... do you believe that you are a knight of Gods kingdom.... Do you believe it? Do you really? Do you believe that you have triumphed?
Do you really?
Really, do you really believe it? Search your life, search your decisions, search your thoughts, do you believe that? Do you believe it? Do you believe that ?
Do you really believe that?
Do know you have the power and authority in Christ to move mountains? Do you believe that? Do you know that death has no hold of your life? Do you believe it? Do you believe that God is more powerful than anything? Do you really believe that? Do you really think that?
Does our life reflect that? What about our thoughts? What about our actions? What about our work?
Does it reflect the victory we have in Him.... does it reflect the truimph of the cross.... the it reflect it?
Then why is it that we live like Jesus never came....? Why is it that we live like Jesus never defeated death.
He did! He is Risen! He reigns!
Do you believe that?
Have you heard the saying: "It takes a village to raise a child."
Well, I am afraid that that saying is just an excuse... its false... it actually takes good parents to raise a child.
We are not born mothers or fathers... many times I hear people say.... "I was born to be a mom." I often think.... all of us have the capabilities to have children but a few of us are fathers and mothers... We all have that misconception.
Parenthood is learned.... we are not born with it.
If you have children or are planning to have children.... pick up a book. Learn from it..... make it your bible.... a book I highly recomend is "Baby Wise" from the Ezzo's. Also, any book from James Dobson.
Seek help, join a small group. Parenting is not an easy task specially if you have no idea on what you are doing.... I am not saying that I have all the answers but when I am in doubt, it makes me a better father to look for a solution by seeking counsel not by trying to figure it out.
