The Deceptive Mathematics of Worldly Thinking

"We must not succumb to the deceptive mathematics of worldly thinking that considers the pouring out of one's life on a hidden few as a scandalous waste of one's potential."
~Kent and Barbara Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Family

There Came a Shortage of Future

"How many people are rationalizing the fact that they are neglecting to make any kind of home at all and failing to spend any time with their children because they are providing more or being fulfilled or doing 'good works.' It is possible to destroy the family because your home has fallen apart in the name of doing 'good works.'

There is a great need to stop as a family together, pray for a whole evening, for a whole day off together, discuss, pray, and ask God, 'Please show us before it is too late what balance we are to have in our family.'

I can say positively that the years fly past like a mist in the night. Time disappears more quickly than smoke. It is not possible to go backward. The 'now' is important if there is ever to be any family life. Steve Turner, a young English poet, has a line in his poem "Ageing" which I would like to quote from the book Tonight We Will Fake Love.

At some point in his life
There came a shortage of future

Apply to the family life this truth concerning time. Economic shortages can never compare with 'a shortage of future.'"
~Edith Schaeffer

 *****

Years ago one might have read this and immediately thought of the ways parents sacrifice their children on the altars of prosperity or career or "me time." Those are still battles, of course. But now, the digital world offers so many more ways to waste the time God has given us to teach and disciple our children for His glory.

Surely all of us have noticed the family who eats dinner out together, but who aren't really "together" because each is so busy enjoying social media. And what about the Mom who craves on-line connection and approval so much that her phone is glued to her side, and her children must fight for her attention? "Mommy, look at me." "Mommy, are you listening?" Before you know it, those little children just stop asking for Mommy's attention and simply seek it elsewhere.

It's easy to tell ourselves that today is just an exception, but before we know it, not being right here has become the pattern of our lives. And though eternity waits for all of us, be it spending it in heaven or in hell, we're all living our way to a shortage of future here on earth.

A precious friend started the day almost a month ago not knowing it was the day her 18 year old son would be absent from his body and present with the Lord.   I'm sure she's had days when she hasn't redeemed the time, but there is no doubt from the fruit in her children's lives that she has soberly considered her responsibilities to the Lord to teach her children well.

There is a season for everything, and the season of parenting our children is very short. The wise woman remembers the Gifts in her midst, the souls God has entrusted to her, and she casts off any weight that would makes these little ones stumble, that would keep her distracted and longing to be anywhere other than wholeheartedly where God has placed her.

"Mothers, look up and look ahead! Ask yourself: In five, ten, twenty, even forty years, what will I wish that I had done today?"
~Jean Fleming

With love,
Trisha

Destined to Be a Preacher Man?

A few signs that Jedediah, 2 (3 on Sunday!), might be destined to be a preacher-man...

1) He has the name for it, "Pastor Jedediah Poff." Yes. It just fits.

2) He always wants to be the one to pray.

3) His favorite number is 3.

4) He likes to remind me that God gives "spankings."

5) He says to me, "I thank God for you." (How to make your mother's heart melt? Be a 2 year old who says this.)

6) He feels the need to watch over his siblings' souls (ok, that's more like being a tattletale right now, but God can use this, too).

When The Frog is Boiling, and the Frog is Us

J. C. Ryle once said that there is a hatred that is downright charity, and that is the hatred of erroneous doctrine. Erroneous doctrine, heretical doctrine is what Mormons believe, and to say anything else is to deny our Christian faith.

I'm shocked by Franklin Graham's being "shocked" that his website labeled Mormonism a "cult." I'm shocked by his reticence to call Mormons what they are...false teachers who preach a different gospel, who are leading many straight to hell, black suits, bicycles, and all.

Why should I care? Why should my blood pressure rise when I read stuff like this? Why should this Mom of 9 take precious time to make my objections known? I mean, there's laundry to do, meals to cook, boo-boos to kiss, and bills to pay.

But there are also souls to disciple and train up for His glory. That's why this matters.

When you teach your children that 2+2=4, and they start hearing the whispers that 2+2 can really equal 3 or 5 or 9 or that we shouldn't declare without apology that 2+2=4, will they abandon the truth or believe they've just misunderstood 2+2 all these years? Perhaps they've defined 2+2 so narrowly, and love and time now reveal to the more enlightened ones that 2+2 can be whatever it needs to be to whomever.

This isn't just about Franklin Graham and his Dad denying the power and truth of THE gospel. They're not the only ones who have compromised.

This is about the slippery slope into heresy, the frog in the pot of boiling water that doesn't even know it's dying. This is about sugar-coated apostasy, weak-willed calls for accountability, and Christians who are so Scripturally ignorant that we buy in to it all.

We are the frogs, Christians, and we're boiling in a pot of lies and heresy and compromise and relativism.

I'm not a pastor or a master theologian. I haven't been to seminary or studied theology for years, but I do know what the gospel is and what it isn't. And frankly, I'm weary of some pastors and master theologians trying to convince me that the gospel really isn't what I thought it was. Or that so-and-so really isn't denying the gospel or truly hasn't left the faith. 

Or that I must tiptoe around the truth, because that's what grace would do.

Don't say Mr. Graham is misunderstood.

Don't say the Mormons are misunderstood.

Don't say it's not loving to speak the truth.

Don't say the gospel is not offensive.

Don't say Graham should not be held to a higher standard and that his politically correct dance around truth and words won't cause some to stumble.

Do say, "God help us."

God help us train us bold souls for His glory, souls that stand fast on His Word and are not carried away by every wind of doctrine, by every man with "strong moral convictions", by every mega church or sharp-dressed preacher with a silver tongue and snow-white teeth who fears man more than he fears the God he professes to love.

God help us not put stumbling blocks before our children by catering to relativistic distortions of the gospel that deny the very Savior who was spat on and beaten and scorned and mocked and who suffered the wrath of God for our sakes.

God help us remember, as Morley said, that the enemies of truth are awfully nice.

We must teach our children, and teach them well. Teach them faithfully. Teach them firmly. Teach them and be willing to be persecuted for what we teach them. Teach them that the truth of His Word is more important than popularity or friends or blog stats. Teach them that it is LOVE to speak the truth, that showing grace doesn't mean compromise, that the gospel is offensive. 

Teach them that we can recite perfectly the truth of the gospel, while boldly living out its antithesis.

With love,

Trisha

We Are Pens and Swords, but Not the Holy Spirit

No, let me solemnly say that, with all the instruction you may give to your children, you must always be deeply conscious that you are not capable of doing anything in the securing of the child's salvation but that it is God Himself who, from the first to the last, must effect if all. You are simply a pen: God can write with you, but you cannot write anything by yourself. You are a sword: God can slay the child's sin with you, but you cannot slay it of yourself.

Therefore, always be mindful of this, that you must first be taught by God yourself. Then you must ask God to use you to teach, for unless a higher Teacher than you works with you to instruct the child, the child must perish. It is not your instruction that can save the souls of your children; rather it is the blessing of God the Holy Spirit accompanying and blessing your labors.

May God bless and crown your efforts with abundant success! He will surely do so if you are instant in prayer, constant in supplication. Never yet did the earnest teacher or preacher "labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD" (Isaiah 65:23). Often has it been seen that bread cast upon the waters has been found after many days (Ecc. 11:1).
~C.H. Spurgeon, Spiritual Parenting

A Good Time to Use Your Cell Phone in Church

My children were aghast when they heard the click of my cell phone camera during worship. But I stand firm on my belief that this is one time it was justified. :)

Sometimes you have to put a fire under Christians to get them to lift their hands, yet our infants and children do so naturally. Does it not warm your heart to hear those little voices say "Amen" or watch them lift their hands to heaven? There are seeds being planted, and even now we're beholding the marvelous fruit.

"The Lord has today--I know not where--some little Luther on his mother's knee, some young Calvin learning in our Sunday school, some youthful Zwingli singing a hymn to Jesus."
~C.H. Spurgeon