Tough Truth Tuesday - It's Time to Wake Up, Parents.

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A friend shared this via Facebook and I thought it was worthy of reposting.

"I am saddened by children who are not made to obey simple commands like, “Come here.” I am sad when parents call their children ugly names like “little fool.” I am sad when parents are paralyzed by the wild behavior of their children. I am sad when I see parents so busy giving children what they didn’t have, that they don’t give them things they did have (which were much more precious)! I am sad when I see parents taking their children to worship, but neglecting to give any Bible training at home. I am sad when parents care more about their children’s physical appearance than how their heart appears to God. I am sad when parents are more interested in homework from school than in ‘heartwork’ from the Word. And I am so sad when we spend more time at the ball field than on the battlefield for Christ. It makes me so sad to see parents who are much more concerned with what goes into their children’s mouths than what comes out of them. I am afraid that the prince of this world has managed to confuse many parents about what is truly important. The effect of this may only be realized on the day of judgment. I pray that the Lord will open the eyes and hearts of young parents and give them the courage and the backbone to be parents whose children will glorify God!"

- Sheila Butt

AMEN.

Tough Truth Tuesday-Priorities People

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 A friend posted this on Facebook recently and I could not have said it any better myself. We need more Christians to stand strong like she is doing.

I'll never understand why anyone chooses to put extracurricular activities before the meetings of the Lord's Church. This goes for any meeting but of course, most especially, the first day of the week. I know many of these same people worry about their children remaining faithful as the grow into adulthood, or whether or not their children will choose christian friends, however they continue to choose to attend ballgames, vacations, dance classes, sports practices, study for tests and any other number of events over Wed night, Sun night, gospel meetings, VBS, and sadly even the gathering of the saints on the Lord's day. Of course faithfulness takes more than just attendance but regular attendance is certainly a good first step!
The faithfulness of our children as adults will certainly depend on more than whether we choose VBS over baseball or a Wed night bible class over a dance recital or to study for a test, but shouldn't our desire to be with other christians be stronger than our desire for our daughter to learn ballet or any of our children to make perfect grades? Why would we as christians, who are striving to be together in heaven for eternity not want to be together at every possible opportunity here on earth?
My intent is not to judge but to maybe make us all think a little longer before we deliberately choose to miss a gathering of Lord's body again.

(Heb 10:23-25 KJV) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) {24} And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: {25} Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

I have always loved this story about James Garfield. I've seen conflicting stories about his religious affiliation but the lesson is a good one all the same.

AN EXAMPLE TO IMITATE

James A. Garfield was President of the United States of America, taking office March 4, 1881. On his first Sunday in Washington after his inauguration, a member of the cabinet insisted that a meeting must be called to discuss a matter that threatened a national crisis. The President refused on the grounds of another appointment. The cabinet member then insisted that the national matter was of grave importance, and that Mr. Garfield should break his engagement, but Mr. Garfield refused to do so. Then the cabinet member remarked: "I would be interested to know with whom you have an engagement so important it cannot be broken." President Garfield replied: "I will be as frank as you are. My engagement is with the Lord, to meet Him at His house at His table at 10:00 tomorrow morning, and I shall be there."

Via Erin Howard