3 Things Kids Need from "My Odd Life"

Well…dear readers….TODAY I feel like talking about children…..again….because this has been a big part of “My Odd Life.” J

What do your children really need? Of course, they need a roof over their heads, food on their table, and clothing on their backs (and fronts, please!). 

Don’t worry- I’m not going to spout off about how your kid doesn’t need that iPhone, ipad, and laptop. Some technical knowledge is vital in today’s learning and employment environment.

I’m not here to demonize all the luxuries that first world kids enjoy. I enjoyed some. My kids enjoyed some. They were great. Whatever you can do for your children (without going into debt) do it!

Whether you can buy them a car when they are sixteen or the best you can do is fill the tires in their bicycle with air, there are some things that your children absolutely need from you regardless of your financial situation.

This is not an all encompassing list-but a starting place….to be continued…..

Three Things Kids Need

1. Kids need to know God.

The cool “intellectual” parents who never talk about God to their children often say, “I want my child to choose for him/herself” about religion. I’ve got news for you: they all will eventually choose for themselves….even the kids who are brought up in church….There will come a day when momma and daddy won’t be able to force them to believe, to pray, to attend church, or even to live morally. My kids were raised in a God fearing home. They went to church twice a week. We prayed and read the Bible. However, when they became young adults, they had to choose for themselves to serve God or not. If they hadn’t even known God, how could they have chosen Him?

It is the parents’ responsibility to introduce the kids to God. In order to do that, of course, you need to know Him yourself. The only way to know God is through a relationship with Jesus. That’s why Jesus came to the Earth. Get your kids to a good church. Pray with them. Read the Bible to them. Let them hear YOU pray and talk about your relationship with God!

One of the things I often prayed with my children, and I pray over my grandchildren while I am holding them is, “Thank you, God, for _________________ (child’s name).”

Your kids need to hear that : 1. You are thankful for their very life. 2. They are a gift from God, and not an accident or the result of the breeding of some kind of super-apes!

2. Kids need to know you love them. No. Matter. What.

That’s called “unconditional love.” You can’t just love them when they bring home the straight A’s or when they get the Athletic scholarship.  Love is an action word. My book, “How to Never Fail for Parents” discusses how love really looks on a day-to-day basis with your kids. (Order it at www.createspace.com/5407452) You can never say, “I love you” too often.  I said it to my children as often as I could when I was raising them. I say it as often as I can to my grandchildren.

Learn your child’s love language….How does he/she express and receive love? One of my children responded and communicated through words of affirmation and time. The other one responded to gifts. Thank God I figured that out! That child would ask me every time I came in the door from grocery shopping, “What did you bring me?” At first I thought, “What kind of selfish child am I raising here?” Then I noticed that this child was always looking for ways to give things to others. If that’s your child’s love language, a piece of chewing gum, a handwritten note, or any small token is usually sufficient. Find a way to express love to them in the way they understand it….for my “gifts” child….trying to hug and snuggle was…..a challenge….instead of it expressing love I think it was seen as an affront! LOL!  I still hugged and snuggled whenever I could sneak it in…. J I still do…..

3. Kids need to know that you believe in them.

It’s popular to say, “You can do anything you want in life.” Yes….but it would be better to tell your kids, “You can excel at whatever God wants you to do in life.” Your child may not be the BEST at anything right now. He/she still needs to know that you believe in him/her. Remind him/her that God has a plan for his/her life. Your child needs to know that great achievements don’t come easily. Perseverance is required, and God blesses perseverance: And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. (Romans 5:4)

Developing a life of discipline and perseverance will build your child’s self-esteem. Encourage your child to never give up. If he/she falls down, help him/her up. Share biographies of successful men and women. Tell them about your challenges and victories as you have persevered through learning to ride a bike, learning to swim, learning to roller skate, learning to play ball, learning an instrument, graduating college, getting your first job….whatever! They can do it! Teach your children Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

Like I said, this is not an all encompassing list….but when more parents provide the above three things for their children, this world will be a much better place.

I pray this blog encouraged you or taught you something!

Please share it!

I’ll blog you next week….I’m thinking it’s time for me to write more about the Amazing Mr. Brintnall….We shall see….in the meantime, do something TODAY to fulfill your purpose.

Not born a Kennedy or Bush or Kardashian? That's OK- Just Pursue and Do

Today...I am thinking about a highly misrepresented word...

“That word you keep on using, I do not think it means what you think it means,” this is one of my favorite quotes from “The Princess Bride.”

There was a word stirring in my spirit as I prayed this morning, and I do not think it means what most people think it means:

Equality.

Equality, unfortunately, does not mean fairness.

Why wasn’t I born a Kennedy or at least a Kardashian?

I was born the same way the children in the Kennedy family or Bush family or even the Kardashian family were born. We were born with the gift of life from God. We were all born upside down and naked J …..we all came through the lives of our parents. Yet they have a whole lot more money and influence than I do. That really doesn’t seem fair, does it?

God creates each person with unique gifts and abilities. I have mine. You have yours. Venus and Serena Williams have theirs. Why do Venus and Serena make so much more money than I do? I work hard. I work every day. I’ve been developing my abilities for the last 30 years….and I’ve yet to earn over $30 million dollars! That just doesn’t seem fair.

Even in the body of Christ, we are all equal. Each believer in Jesus has Resurrection power on the inside. Every one has a role to play, and the blessings of God are available to all. If we’re all equal, why then, did you watch Joyce Meyer and T.D. Jakes on TV this morning and not me? That just does not seem fair!

All Men (and Women) are Created Equal

The brave men who penned the Declaration of Independence wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..”

The founding fathers were people. They weren’t perfect. They were, however, men of conviction, and the basis of most of their convictions came from a belief in God.

God is a God of righteousness, justice, and equality. God gives every baby born the gift of life. Every one. God gives every baby of every race, tribe and tongue the gift of freedom of choice. Everyone can choose to serve God or not. Those who choose God through Jesus Christ will go to heaven. Those who do not will end up in hell. Is that fair? Yes, it is, because every person is given the choice. (I believe every person will one way or another have the opportunity to choose Jesus, even in the darkest corners of the world… “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20)

Obviously not a Kennedy or Bush or even a Kardashian, but still pursuing happiness!

The Right to Pursue

The Declaration of Independence states that God gives every American, regardless of race, social status, or background the right to pursue his/her God-given gifts, which will result in life-long happiness.

There is a pursuit required.

·      Everyone isn’t born into the Venus and Serena Williams family.

·      Everyone isn’t born with the talent of professional athletes.

·      Everyone isn’t born with the same amount of money in a Trust fund as the Kennedy children or Bush children or Kardashian children.

·      Everyone isn’t born with the doors of opportunity wide open. Some people have to knock on door after door; or maybe even knock a few doors down…..

That seems downright wrong and unjust.

The writers of the Declaration of Independence held that everyone is born with the freedom to pursue happiness.

I never pursued being a professional athlete like the Williams sisters, therefore I am not partaking in the financial prosperity that they have honestly earned.

My parents didn’t pursue political positions of power and influence, so I wasn’t born into a family like the Kennedys or Bushes. They didn't sign up to become a reality series, so I don't have the fame of a Kardashian.

I haven’t pursued having a world-wide TV ministry like Joyce Meyer and T.D. Jakes….so they have one…and I don’t.

I Love Our Country, but it is far from Perfect

The system of freedom of pursuit in America is no doubt, the best in the world, and yet, it is still flawed. There is no perfect man-made system! Stop expecting it to be perfect! If you want a perfect system, get serious about God’s system, also known as, “The Kingdom of God.”

In the Kingdom of God-

·      Everyone can participate in His system of sowing and reaping.

·      Everyone can participate in giving to others.

·      Everyone can choose to speak words of life instead of words that kill.

·      Everyone can choose to operate in love and forgiveness.

·      Everyone can trust God to take him/her to higher levels than any man could ever provide.

Are your rights to the Pursuit of Happiness Unalienable or Inalienable?

Equality-all people are created equal…with certain unalienable rights….

Have you quoted this incorrectly? Many people say “inalienable.”

There is a difference.

"Unalienable: incapable of being alienated, that is, sold and transferred." (Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, page 1523)

Inalienable rights: Rights which are not capable of being surrendered or transferred without the consent of the one possessing such rights. (Morrison v. State, Mo. App., 252 S.W.2d 97, 101.)

It seems to me that we have confused our rights as Americans and as Christians. We have forgotten that we have unalienable rights, not inalienable rights. A lot of people are willing to “surrender” their rights of free choice to some big group or the government, even…hoping that will bring them their long sought happiness.

God gives you the right to pursue whatever is in your heart. Don’t let the voice of some preacher, professor, politician, or media guru tell you that you can’t achieve happiness because you weren’t born into the right family; you don’t have the right connections, or you are from the wrong neighborhood.

God gives you the right to pursue it. That doesn’t mean that you try something once, and if it’s difficult, you just throw up your hands and say, “The world is against me. I wasn’t born a Kennedy, or a Bush, or a Kardashian, so nothing good will ever happen for me.”

I’ve Seen Some Very Unfair Things in Life

Life isn’t fair. Period.

I’ve seen some very unfair things in life….very, very unfair…

Those to whom the unfairness was wrought had to choose to either let that unfairness embitter them for the rest of their lives or allow it to spur them on to pray more fervently, give more generously, forgive more liberally, and work more vigorously in pursuit of their happiness….in pursuit of their God-given dream.

God doesn’t intend for us all to have the same amount of money.

God doesn’t intend for us all to do the same kind of work.

God doesn’t intend for us all to look to some big group or government to bring us happiness.

Look to God, not to a Group or to a Government.

God longs to be the source of your joy.

God says, "I want to be your all-in-all."

God intends for you to seek Him.

God wants you to depend on Him.

Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7 NLT)

God will show you what He has brought you into this earth to do. You don't need permission from any group or politician to be who God created you to be.

Pray, set goals, work, believe God, give, believe God, and believe some more. 

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 KJV)

Whatever it is-Get with God-Listen to Him-Trust Him! YOU CAN!

PURSUE it and DO IT!

If this blog encouraged you, please share it today! I'll blog you next week, in the meantime.... do something each day to pursue your happiness by following God's plans....

You can have results OR You can have excuses~~Excuses are Useless

Today.....

I'm a day late writing and posting this blog....sorry... but....I do have a good excuse....I was facing a major deadline on another project.....

Excuses, excuses.

When you don't want to do something, instead of giving some big long drawn out reason, you might as well say, "The cat has a fur ball" because it doesn't matter WHAT the reason is....you just really don't want to do it. One excuse is as good as another!

You know, when I don't get something done, I always have a good reason...or excuse....but honestly, unless there are unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances...the reason I didn't do something is because I didn't prioritize it.

I had decided something else was more important!

So....I will just be honest.... dear reader....I love you...but this other project was more important yesterday than my blog!

Someone once said,

"If it's important to you, you'll find a way. If it's not, you'll find an excuse!"

Shall we talk? What do you keep making excuses for?

Do any of these statements sound familiar:

I would exercise, but I just don't have the time.

I would have an emergency fund in savings, but everything is so expensive!

I would love to get involved at church, but my children tie me down.

I wish my house was clean, but my spouse is so sloppy.

I would give money to my church, but I just never seem to have enough.

People who get things done and make things happen in life find REASONS, not EXCUSES.

EXCUSES ARE USELESS. WHAT GOOD DO THEY DO?

You can have what sounds like a really good excuse to not exercise, but the excuse is not helping you fit into those jeans or keep your heart healthy!

An excuse won't put any money in your savings account or in the offering plate of your church.

An excuse won't teach the kids in your children's church.

Excuses don't get your house clean.

I so admire my daughter, Jen. She is a pastor's wife. That alone deserves recognition.

On top of that, she is a wonderful mother to three little girls-ages 6,4,2.  She home schools her 6 year old and her 4 year old. She doesn't have any spare time.

After her third baby was born, she wanted to lose that"baby weight." She had more excuses not to make that happen than anyone I know!

Don't get crazy, here. I'm not saying she needed to lose weight or that YOU need to lose weight. My point is, she WANTED to lose weight. She had been an athlete in high school and she missed that physical discipline.

Instead of making excuses (and then complaining) about her inability to lose that weight,
she started attending a boot camp that BEGAN AT 5:00 AM!  5:00 AM....that's in the MORNING!!!

It was important to her. She made a decision and made it happen.

She recently got certified as a boot camp instructor. She didn't have time for that, either....but she made the time. Her husband helped her and supported her.
(Contact her here about attending one with her...
JenniferT@Texasfitchicks.com)


Then she joined a Runners' Club that runs on Saturdays. As pastors often do, her husband normally works on Saturdays. Now that would be a great excuse not to run. Three kids, no family in town, husband has to work....But no....this is important to her, and she found a way to make it happen!  It is not easy. It takes planning. It takes effort that the other runners don't have to expend. But she has decided IT IS WORTH IT TO HER!!!! She loads those three girls in a triple stroller and pushes it-she did 5 miles a few weeks ago....pushing about 120 pounds!

What's YOUR excuse?

You can always find a way to  make things happen that are important to you... you can at least take a step in the right direction!  

Excuses are a result of this society's reluctance to take responsibility.
Have you noticed how EVERY PROBLEM IS THE OTHER GUY'S FAULT?

When you don't take responsibility for your life, you lose the power of self determination in your life. Do you know what I mean? It sounds like this~~

"I can't get ahead because THEY [whoever they may be-Republicans, Democrats, Management, Unions, etc.] are keeping me down."

"I just can't get control of my eating habits because my mother forced me to eat everything on my plate."

 People can step on you, stomp on you and sit on you....but they can't keep you down forever...unless you resign yourself to that position of inferiority. 

Being stepped on, stomped on, and sat upon should be a reason to wiggle, holler, move, and claw your way up out of that position! But you've got to move up and on....you can't stay there and bemoan the fact that someone is trying to keep you down....unless you prefer staying down to taking the action needed to GET UP!

EXCUSES ARE READILY AVAILABLE.....BUT THEY PRODUCE NOTHING!!!! 

Rather than make excuses, why not take some positive action?

Maybe attending boot camp isn't available to you, but if you want to do something about your physical condition, you can begin by doing 5 minute workouts that are available in droves on Youtube.

OK-so saving hundreds of dollars a month isn't possible with your budget, you can begin by saving $25.00 per paycheck!

Instead of trying to go from "Horders" to "HGTV" perfect in your house, why not take 5 minutes a day (Set a timer!) and do SOMETHING to get the mess under control?

And....I didn't get this blog done yesterday, but yesterday I jotted down a few ideas for it.....and...HERE IT IS!!!

You can have results or you can have excuses. Which will it be?

Stop blaming other people for your situation. OK....they may be blamable, but NOW what are YOU going to DO ABOUT IT? TAKE POSITIVE ACTION!!!!

And one more thing.....please.......when someone asks you to do something and you really don't want to do it....don't make some lame excuse...."Sorry I can't help with that project at church because....ummm...my cat has a fur ball!" Just say politely, "Thank you for asking, but that's not something I will be doing right now." :-)

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

If this blog encouraged you, or made you mad :-) please share it! I'll blog you next week...no excuses!  Until then, do something TODAY to fulfill your purpose!