30 Days of Thanks, Day 10: Childhood

When I think about my childhood, I have much to be thankful for.  All I have to do is pull up pictures.  I was blessed to know both of my grandmothers, my paternal grandfather, and both of my maternal great grandmothers.  Plus these three older siblings...

I was born in the last year of the "Baby Boomer" years.  My childhood included a mom who was home when I got home from school. We weren't rich by any stretch of the imagination.  Dad worked hard to provide for us and Mom found ways to stretch every penny. 

I wish this picture was in better shape, but I love it.  Christmas morning 1971.  A girl and her toys.  I'd obviously spent the morning tearing into gifts, without a single thought to my hair!!

 

Yes, my childhood had some difficulties, especially with Rod's health issues.  In spite of that, it was a great childhood and I'm thankful!

Children Learn What They Live

I recently finished a collection of three books by Charles Martin - "When Crickets Cry," "Chasing Fireflies," and "Wrapped in Rain."  I wrote about one of his other books, Long Way Gone, here.  He is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine.  His descriptions of people and places are colorful.  His stories have humor, but there is always an underlying deeper theme in each of them.

"Chasing Fireflies" and "Wrapped in Rain" both contain characters who were abused as children.  Parts of these stories were difficult to read.  The author doesn't sugar coat and while his books contain hope, they are also very thought provoking.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about my own upbringing.  I am so blessed.  Correction I received as a child was appropriate.  We were never abused in our home - physically, verbally, or emotionally.  So much of who I am is because of how I was raised.

I know there are people who come from wonderful homes that leave it all behind for a life of recklessness.  There are also those who overcome against great ideas.  But more often than not, children learn what they live.  Pastor White mentioned this poem not long ago in a message.  I quickly remembered it hanging at Grandma Luella's house when I was a child.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D. 

What lessons are the children in your life learning today?

Mother's Day

We had a wonderful Mother's Day service at Victory Tabernacle.  Pictured above is our Sunday school choir - the biggest we've ever had!   This was our final Sunday of a seven week contest and the response has been tremendous.  If I remember correctly, we had 124 visitors yesterday morning.  For the past nine Sundays we have averaged over 100 visitors each Sunday!!  Let me say that again:

For the past nine Sundays

 we have averaged over 100 visitors each Sunday!!

I have never seen anything like it.  They are not just coming for prizes, but children and young people have been praying in the altars. There were many mothers in attendance yesterday.  One of them, Cindy, told me that her two teenage boys love our church.  "I know I need to come with them," she told me.  It was a beautiful thing when we gathered at the altar to watch those sons pray for their mom.

The cherry on top of the Mother's Day cake?  Susan received the Holy Ghost!  God is doing great things at Victory Tabernacle!  Great things!!

Outreach Explosion!

Several weeks ago Victory Tabernacle embarked upon an outreach contest.  The red, blue and green teams had three weeks to work with steak dinners as the prize at the end.  As a church we had a goal for each week - 50 visitors the first week, 100 the second and 200 the third.  We exceeded our goal every week!

We were on the red team led by Sis. Raquel.  Her children first started riding our van to Sunday school.  Some time last year she and her husband also started coming.  God has now filled the entire family with the Holy Ghost and some of their adult children have also started coming and seeking God.  During our first team meeting she said, "I'm going to take you to a scary neighborhood."  Of course the only way to enter a scary neighborhood, after a time of prayer, is with candy, balloons, and clowns!

The first Saturday the children were hesitant and only interested in the candy.  Many said they wanted to come, but when Sunday morning rolled around not very many came.  We were back the second Saturday with a candy rain and more balloons.  And more children came!  The third Sunday was when Les and I were in Fresno, but the numbers continued to grow. The contest ended a week ago Sunday night.  Each team did such an outstanding job that Pastor White said we all get steak!

Just because the contest is over doesn't mean we are finished.  For the next seven week the contest is for the children.  If they come every week, they will receive a ticket to Six Flags Magic Mountain.  The final Sunday is Mother's Day and we are praying that there will be many moms in attendance that day.

The above picture was taken Sunday morning.  Each of the children and young people standing in the front are brand new in the last four weeks!  Many are from the "scary neighborhood" that has opened their doors to church folks bringing candy, balloons, and the love of Jesus, and they are in the altars at the end of the service being touched by the mighty hand of God. We are so excited to see what God is doing.  Les and I helped transport three children this past Sunday morning.  They became our new BFFs when they guessed our ages - they thought Les was 40 and I was 30!

Wall to wall children in Sunday school rooms and cars that are packed because our vans are already full is one of the greatest problems a church can have!  Pray that we continue to connect with these children and their parents.

12/23 ~ Tradition (Photo-A-Day)

There's just something about the tradition of children performing at Christmas time!  Our crew was small but they did a great job last night. "Away in a Manger" and "Happy Birthday, Jesus" were sung with gusto. Five year old Seth did awesome quoting a poem.

There's no snow here, but the love and joy of Christmas is still evident.  Pastor McGriffin preached about "The Light of Christmas."  When Jesus came, He brought light that "shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:5.  This means darkness could not stop the Light!  May His light shine in your heart this Christmas.

Book Review - My Emily

I've recently become acquainted with a website that lists free Kindle books on a daily basis.  The books they list are all Christian themed and usually free for only a day.  I've downloaded several that look interesting and I'm not worried if I like them or not since they are free.  If they don't strike my fancy, I won't feel the need to finish them.

My most recent find was "My Emily" - about Emily Patterson who was born with Down Syndrome. Written by her father, Matt, it is very touching.  When Emily was two years old, she was diagnosed with leukemia and the pain they experienced just broke my heart.  I was bawling while eating my lunch, so beware ~ you may want to read this in a private place!

Note: A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will help families with special needs children, those who are battling pediatric cancers, as well as parents grieving the loss of a little one. 

Beautiful

I've been blessed to see some amazing sights in my life. The Colosseum and Pantheon in Rome.  The Rialto Bridge in Venice.  Cathedrals in Europe.  The Mall in Washington, DC with its many monuments ~ the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House.  I've crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and walked through art galleries with inspiring paintings.

I've also seen God's creation at its finest.  An unfolding rose and the turning leaves of Fall.  I've seen a hawk soaring overhead and watched a deer leap across my trail.  I've hiked to the top of falls in Yosemite and walked along the fine sands of the Gulf of Mexico.  I've walked the top of the Haleakala crater on Maui and kayaked a river in Kauai.

But there is nothing quite as beautiful as what I witnessed last night.  It was at the end of service, while we gathered for prayer.  Eight year old, Mariah, gathered with us.  She wasn't sitting quietly next to her mother, or even playing around with one of her friends.  Mariah was seeking God with her whole heart.  As tears streamed down her cheeks, I think God must have loved the sight even more because He came down and refilled her with His precious Spirit.

Something deep inside me is touched when I see a child praying.  I see such potential and feel such hope.  I know that God can keep them.  Yes, they'll face troubles in life ~ we all do.  But the scars that many adults carry due to a life a sin can be avoided in one so young if they will keep coming back to that beautiful place in God's presence. I know that God can turn lives around ~ He's so good at it.  But He is also good at keeping His children in the palm of His hand.  In my eyes, there's just nothing more beautiful.

Mom and Dad, have you prayed with your child today?

7 Year Old Hero!

A young boy saved his family by dialing 911 Tuesday morning. Three suspects invaded the Norwalk, CA, home threatening to take what they wanted. The boy, who the suspects did not know was in the house, locked himself in a bathroom with his younger sister and called 911 while the suspects threatened his parents at gunpoint.

On the recording, he begs the operator to send police quickly, "a lot of them... And bring soldiers too." The suspects heard him on the phone, broke into the bathroom and asked who he called. When he said 911, they quickly fled.

I was amazed at the bravery of this boy. It was also proof of parents who had taught him what to do in a time of trouble. He knew who to call.

It reminded me of Deuteronomy 6, verses 6 and 7: "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

It is so important that we diligently teach our children the ways of the Lord. Sunday school teachers play an important role, but it is the parents who are with them when they sit in the house, walk by the way, lie down and rise up.

They need to be able to answer the question, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" with the firm conviction of Acts 2:38. They need to know the name they can call upon in time of trouble.

And Sunday school teachers, make sure those children who do not have parents in the church know who to call. It could be that seven year old who brings salvation to their entire family!

Pastor Installation Service and Celebration Sunday!

What a great weekend! Busy, exhausting, but exciting!

It started early Saturday morning with a cleaning-fest. I am still trying to recover from the Great Window Project (I'll give a full Home Remodeling update tomorrow). There was dust, grit and grime in my entire house! There were finger prints around every window sill. Any dust bunnies that were in my house have multiplied... like bunnies! I spent about four hours cleaning our master bedroom and bathroom - basically from floor to ceiling. Walls, tile, cabinets, window sills, door casings, baseboards, etc. I couldn't have beautiful, new shiny windows and a filthy room! With less than an hour to go, I finally finished and was scurrying around to get cleaned up for...

Thousand Oaks Pastor Installation Service

Bro. Justin Prather (with his wife and 2 girls) is the new pastor of Faith Tabernacle in Thousand Oaks. This is a neighboring city, and Les has preached there a number of times, so we are acquainted with the majority of the church family there. It was a tremendous service, many men of God were in attendance, showing their support to this young man (28!) as he takes on the role of pastor for the first time. Bro. Prather's pastor, Bro. Sam Howard, preached "Follow the Template" and it was excellent!

Celebration Sunday
Sunday morning we had a combined service that started at 10:00. Bro. and Sis. Jason Bohannon were our guests and were a tremendous blessing. Our emphasis for this service was towards the children and Bro. Bohannon did a great job getting on their level. We sang interactive songs (I loved "I'm in the Lord's Army!"), there were puppets, lots of volunteers from the congregation, and a great move of God's Spirit at the end. I LOVE seeing children praying and was especially touched by the little boy I was praying with.

After service we ladies provided lunch (I made a meatloaf during all my madness on Saturday, too!). Then there were fun and games - a dunk tank, bounce house, ping pong, face painting, a clown, balloons, bobbing for apples and more! A great time had by all. I didn't take many picture, but here are a few to enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Fathers and Children

I am not a Michael Jackson fan. The only songs I heard him sing were when he was with his brothers, The Jackson Five. I don't know if I can name any of the songs, but I recall his high voice belting it out. By the time Thriller came out in 1983, I was full time on the staff at Truth Tabernacle so my opportunities for hearing that type of music were limited. (And I'm not sorry!)

But my heart was breaking yesterday as I heard the words of his daughter at his memorial service. "I just wanted to say ... ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him — so much," said Jackson's 11-year-old daughter, Paris-Michael, before dissolving into tears and falling into the embrace of her aunt Janet.

Whatever your opinion of him - good, bad, or indifferent - he was Daddy to a little girl and two boys.

I've also been thinking about another father. Retired NFL quarterback, Steve McNair, who was murdered on Saturday. Not only was McNair murdered, but he was murdered with his 20 year old girlfriend, or possibly by her. McNair leaves behind four sons.

It appears that Steve McNair made a serious mistake, betraying his wife and marriage, and now his sons will grow up without their father.

The old saying "no man is an island" is still true and never truer than when a man becomes a father. Every decision a father makes directly affects the lives of his children. When a father chooses a selfish lifestyle, his children are the ones that often suffer the consequences.

This post is not to judge or condemn anyone, but to remind us how important our daily decisions are. There are seven hurting children today because of the decisions of two fathers.