Dont raise a godless fool!

There is no joy for the parent of a godless fool
Prov 17:21b

It is not easy. It takes time, but ignorance is not bliss. If you are a parent, you have a big job, and it is your job to do! God chose you to be your child’s parent. He has given you instruction in His Word, but if you do not take your job seriously… you may raise a godless fool who will bring you anything but joy.

Those are some hard, true words from God’s Word. Being a parent today is not an easy task. We all know it is true! We live in a world where wrong is right and right is wrong. It is easy to feel like an alien and stranger (even in church) when we choose to parent our kids to instill godly values in them. But can I encourage you? If you don’t want to raise a godless fool, if you want to choose joy for your kids and yourself –rather than heartache – be an alien! (I Pet 2:11) Be that parent who gets in your kid’s business, who can say “no”, and who seeks to be their parent rather than their friend. No doubt, you will hear “everyone else gets to” and “it isn’t fair”. Just take those words as confirmation you are doing the right thing! Remember the enemy has his sights set on the destruction of your children and he does not fight fair. Be “unfair” too --check your kid’s texts, get on their Facebook, get to know friends and their friends’ parents. Don’t let your kids go places unless you know what goes on there. Be careful about what you allow in your home – pay attention to the TV shows they watch and music they listen to. Police their time on the internet and the pictures they receive on their phones. Do you know “one out of five kids who are on the internet regularly is approached to have sex” (Conner 2005)? Furthermore, pornography use and “sexting” is growing rampantly among kids – in and out of the church. And can I just say as a mother of teenage boys - it is disheartening to do all I can to protect my sons’ eyes only to take them to church and see a teenage girl dressed in a way that leaves little to the imagination. We have to teach our daughters about modesty and our son’s the value of it. I want my daughter to attract a godly man, and in order to do so, she needs to dress like a godly woman. It is my job as her mother to teach her why this is important and to not allow her to purchase or wear clothing that is inappropriate regardless of what everyone else is doing. Help your kids know it is okay to be different. Remember - you are an alien, and you want your kids to be joyful, wise aliens as well! You have to be on guard, and you need to be wise. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it!

Prayer: Father, you gave me my kids. You chose me to be their mom. Help me to parent them as you want me to. Give me wisdom and strength. Help me to protect, direct and parent my kids to choose your best. Please strengthen them to be aliens and strangers who choose to follow you rather than fools who try to live their lives outside of your will. Thank you Lord for loving them even more than I do. Thank you for equipping me to parent them as you have called me to do. Amen.

Knocked down from my "High Horse"

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matt 7:11

Have you ever had one of those rare conversations with your child where you felt like you “hit a home run”? Where you seemed to exude parental wisdom, impart Scripture, and even feel like your child “got it”. Have you swelled with pride only to be promptly knocked off your high horse when just a little later you find yourself living the lesson you just taught? Surely, someone knows what I am talking about!

Recently, one of my kids came to me to tell me he was praying to be more Christ-like in his behavior. A few days later, he was lied to by a friend. He was hurt and angry. After talking through his emotions and reminding him of his prayer request, I shared with him how God rarely just gives us attributes of Christ instantaneously when we ask; but instead gives us the opportunities to stretch into exhibiting them. We talked about how this situation was his opportunity to show forgiveness, to not “repay evil for evil” and to be more Christ-like. Sounds like a great day, right? It was until later that same day when I found myself aggravated by a situation which surely required more patience and self-control than any woman should have to exhibit! To be honest, I was just about ready to let the offending party “have it”, …and then… I heard …the awful sound of my own words ringing in my ears! I remembered my “son’s” lesson. Quite humbled, I caught myself before I reacted and smiled up at God thanking Him for the timely reminder. You see, I had been praying for more patience and self-control, and God had answered my prayer with an opportunity to develop those fruits of the Spirit. I am a slow learner, but God has taught me so much as I teach my children. He has put a “holy whack” to things in me which are not like His Son, and, let me tell you, He has many more things to work on. I wish I could tell you I always recognize the lesson during the lesson, but I am getting better at it and more thankful for it.

God is a patient Father who loves us perfectly. Being an imperfect parent and loving my kids like crazy only gives me a glimpse of how much our Heavenly Father loves us. Because He wants us to “get it” I am very sure He will keep sending the lessons until we do. I know He will because He loves us too much to leave us like we are. God only and always wants what is best for His children….and it sure helps to remember this when the lessons come. One thing I know-- the sooner we learn to recognize trials as opportunities to be more like His Son---the more peace, joy, and hope we will experience… and the less trouble we will get into with God and others! Just think, if we want what is best for our kids, if we want peace, hope and joy for them… don’t you know God wants it even more for each of us.

Prayer: Father, I know you have opportunities for me to learn some things and be more like your Son. Help me to see the lesson during the lesson. Help me to recognize the hurt, the aggravation, the unkindness, the day-that-didn’t-go-my-way as an opportunity to grow to be more like your Son. Thank you Lord for your patience. Thank you for loving me and not leaving me like I am. Amen.

God's Favor

Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8


We all cheer when we see the “Tim Tebows” of our world--believers who give God the glory for the winning touch down, the lucrative job, business success, talented beautiful kids, long-lasting relationships and all the other things which seem to reflect God’s favor on our lives. It just seems natural to equate the appearance of things going well with God’s favor. Yet, I wonder if there isn’t a level of God’s favor which surpasses the favor we so readily attribute to those who are experiencing success. I wonder if God favors most those who He trusts with the failure, the loss, the sickness…the hard, gut-wrenching things. “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8. It is often because of the trial, the pain, the tragedy that those God favors, that those God trusts with the hard road, bring Him the most glory.

It is human nature to look at our lives and compare them to others. I have often imagined how I could give God glory and support ministry if he gave me a million dollars or if my child could play football like Tim Tebow. Yet, I am surrounded by saints who have seen their lives devastated by cancer, by job loss, and by loss of loved ones. I stand in awe as they call God “good” and tell me how much they love Him as their weakened bodies falter, their finances crumble, or their long-held dreams crash to the ground. I can’t help but think what favor God must have for those He trusts with such hard things. As I talk with them, one thing is common among them all…they live their lives knowing this life is not their home. They remember, like Job did, that this “life is but a breath” (Job 7:7). They seem energized by the opportunity to give God glory and point others to Him – this side of Heaven. Their pain is real, their days are hard, yet their hope is in a steadfast, faithful God; and His favor must surely rest on them as it did on Job.

I don’t know if this day will bring you happiness or pain, health or sickness, financial blessing or loss…but I do know this day is a chance to give God glory. I know holding onto Him is the only best way to find peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7). I know we can be “more than conquerors” because Jesus loves us (Rom 8:37). We all have a choice when life says “fall apart”. Those who have been trusted with the hard, those who are favored by God can choose to believe God, live in His strength, and give Him glory…or miss the wonderful opportunity to see Him and point others to Him so they can see Him as He is -- more than faithful.

Next month, I will be speaking in New Jersey. One of the dear women on the leadership team for the event is walking a heart-breaking, hard road. Her godly husband, the love of her life, has been told his cancer has returned and there is little the doctors can do. Below is a prayerful poem he penned upon the news. What glory his words bring to our faithful Father. May we all be encouraged to look at our trials and find our God faithful as well.

Returning Menace

Though the cancer has returned, so much from God I’ve learned,
Not from the reading of His Truth, but, my life is His living proof,
Of my Lord’s Power and Grace, granting strength place to place,
Going through every trial and test, in the Lord Jesus I found rest,
Rest which only God could give, as through that trial I would live.

I learned, in God, just how I can, put my trust In God, even when,
Life situations turn for the worst, when I look to Christ Jesus first,
Especially when days were dark, God’s Grace always left a mark,
Sustaining me in grace and power, even through the darkest hour,
This as God proved in my life, a sustaining power of Jesus Christ.

In spite of cancer I’ve had health, which provides a greater wealth,
Far exceeding temporal prosperity, with gain acquired for eternity,
As His Grace is more than rife, working out His Purpose in my life,
Using my life just as God wills, while His Purpose The Lord fulfills,
And my cancer isn’t the story, but, God’s Grace, Power and Glory.

So, as my path again has turned, I will lean upon what I’ve learned,
My total health may not be restored, but, I’ll always have The Lord,
Who, as He helps me understand, guides me with His gentle Hand,
In things I cannot comprehend, as my present life draws to an end,
With ahead a glorious destiny, when with Christ, I step into Eternity.

(Copyright ©12/2011 Bob Gotti)

You can read more poems from Arlene and Bob’s faithful journey at www.poeticpulpit.com