Fresh Eyes On Cac Rona

If you are like me, you may have stopped listening to the news or reading the latest reports about COVID-19. It is all too difficult to assimilate into my mind. This is my first pandemic, so I have no real experience digesting all that I hear so after a bit, I just tune it out. HOWEVER... the report from these two professionals, both age 3.5, caught my attention. Here is what I learned from their report on the reliable news source, Facebook.

My nephew Lincoln, in this picture, is tired of quarantine and is firmly commanding, "Get out of here, Rona!" Reading between the lines, I understood clearly that the best path to take in this pandemic is to take authority. The sickness, isolation, loneliness, social distancing and all the struggles that come with the virus are real and we can't really control those things, but we would do well to take authority over the fear that comes with it. Of course, a healthy respect should keep us safer, but fear will leave us paralyzed. Here's how Lincoln finds ways to not be overwhelmed with fear. He laughs and plays with his amazing big brothers, who take the time for him. He leans into the parents who love him... and does the occasional Facebook post to entertain his Auntie.

My little friend, Zella, in this post is telling her mom,  "Cacrona is a human and if we go to his house he will tell us that it is okay to have our friends come over and play." Although her intel is questionable, she is spot on with her strong desire to make sure that life goes on, even if not as she is hoping. Her mother is quick to respond and tell her that Corona is a virus and not a person. I immediately considered how easy it is to see this pandemic as having authority over us telling us what we can and cannot do, but Zella's mom is correct. It is just a virus and we still get to make the decision on how we are to live. Of course there are always limitation with any sickness. But we still determine our reactions and behaviors. Since pandemics occur every 100 years or so, this is likely our only opportunity to experience one. We must not allow it to take control of all things fun, but use it to create all sorts of new fun. That's what happens at Zella's house. Dance parties, room-sized forts, movies and gymnastics with her siblings. Of course she misses her friends, but she has found ways to conquer that pain and laugh her way through it all.

Don't waste this once in a lifetime pandemic by giving it authority over your thoughts. Don't fear it as an uninvited intruder taking away your freedom, your laughter and your fun. You can be sad or mad or filled with questions, but don't let negative feelings find a lot to build their house upon. Let them come and let them go, but give them no authority over your life. Find the good every day. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to see the things we haven't, do the things we couldn't and hear the things we wouldn't have in our pre-pandemic lives.

Hold fast to the truth that no event can ever change.... God loves you and is always with you. Rona nor Cacrona have any authority over that! So live, love and laugh your way through it when you can... and when you can't, find an adorable child to lift your spirits!

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, 

for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning;

 great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

What Are You Looking For?

Can you even imagine the horror of watching a loved one having nails driven through His hands and feet... then, suspended on that wooden cross, having to press into the pain of those nails in order to fill His lungs? Watching helplessly, I imagine so many dreams of what could have been died, one by one. This was the end of hope for the big "win" for Jesus and His followers so closure began when the spear in His side confirmed that it was truly finished. Jesus said it Himself.

No wonder His friends didn't recognize Jesus when He appeared to them after He arose from the grave. They were looking for a corpse, not a living, breathing, eating, talking Jesus! When the angel asked the women who went to the tomb to prepare Jesus body, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" they must have been really perplexed. They weren't looking for a living Jesus because they saw Him die. Likewise, when Jesus walked with two of His followers on the road to Emmaus, they didn't recognize Him because they were overwrought with all they had seen and heard about the crucifixion of their good Teacher.

As I listen to the Easter message this year I wondered how often we miss seeing life because we have witnessed death, so that's what we are looking for. We have experienced a slow, painful death in our marriage or other relationships, so we cannot see the life that Jesus wants to infuse into our connections with others. If you believe that Jesus is alive and death has no victory, why settle for death in your relationships. Jesus came that we might have a full and meaningful life. Jesus came to show us how to love. Jesus taught us that loving God and others is the core of following Him, so why not live like we believe that?

Moving forward in the coming days and weeks, I encourage you to stop looking for death. That is kind of like tripping over something that is behind you, which is pretty ridiculous. Start looking to the future of HOPE that Jesus provided with His life, death and resurrection. If you have experienced death in your marriage or other relationships, stop looking for the corpse in the tomb and start looking for the life that He wants to bring you.  Jesus' very life was about loving and giving, regardless of merit. Perhaps you need to be reminded of that so you can find the new life, new hope and new love that reflects a living Redeemer, not a corpse in a tomb.

Holding You Close

During these difficult times, I just really want to remind you that you have a Father who gathers you in His arms and carries you close to His heart. Isn't that a beautiful, comforting truth? I had a day last week when fear kept trying to seep into my mind and this is the verse God gave me in the middle of the night.

As we somewhat blindly meander through Holy Week - commemorating the last week before the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, I recall His last days with the disciples. He told these friends that He would be leaving them, but that in His absence, they would receive His Spirit. They were to sit tight, pray and wait for the power of God to come upon them. I suppose they were also anxious 2000 years ago when they were forced to shelter together, risk their lives each time they went out for provisions, and simply wait. But, they had seen Jesus. They knew Jesus. They believed He was God in the flesh. And that made all the difference.

No matter what you are feeling from moment to moment, remember that you are you are never outside of the sight-line of God. He hears and He knows what your life looks and feels like right now. He knew, when He made you that you would someday be living through these crazy times. And I have no doubt that He has appropriately equipped you with what you need... which primarily is His Spirit... to get through every single day of it.

Let me just leave you with this thought... A great tragedy occurred on what we call Good Friday. Nothing about it seemed good to those who loved and followed Jesus. This side of the resurrection, however, we know that death did not win and Jesus is who He claimed to be and that His Spirit did, in fact, come to give the power needed to endure all the trials that come our way. As you celebrate Resurrection Sunday in a manner you never have before, embrace the truth that you have a Good Shepherd who carries you close to His heart and abides within your heart giving you all the power you need to face the days ahead. Rest in His arms, feed in His pasture and allow Him to direct your path.

For Such A Time As This

As Palm Sunday approaches, in a time that feels so strange, I can't help but think of the similarities between our situation and the days experienced by Jesus and his followers almost 2000 years ago. Everything changed in a very short amount of time. At this point, Jesus was a rock star among men. He was sought after, clung to, listened to and heralded as the King of the Jews. His popularity was at an all-time high. People ran into the streets to greet Him and show honor and respect. He had come for such a time as this. Truly, His time had come... just not in the way His followers imagined.

In their mind, this was the time to strike; to change the world; to take back Jerusalem from Rome; to establish Jesus' Kingdom on earth; to celebrate a new day. Their minds could only imagine a worldly kingdom where the king sits on a throne, has a militant army and people bowing low to give honor to the King of Kings. They were born for such a time as this and they would be by His side in this kingdom they imagined. But, things didn't measure up to their expectations.

Similarly, today our plans have drastically changed. Without our consent.  We saw a future of vacations, March Madness, spring sports, graduation open houses,egg hunts and sweet little Easter outfits. Instead we have received family togetherness, p.j.s all day long, ways to survive without grocery items needed for a particular recipe, rationing toilet paper, and how to reach out and check on each other more regularly. Perhaps we were made for such a time as this.

I don't mean to compare our sacrifice of our normal brand of toilet paper to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. I only want to point out the blessing that come from sacrifice. All this time with your kids can be used to make memories they will never ever forget. Make sure those memories include getting out of your routine occasionally, laughing hysterically,  learning new things to cook or bake together, writing and illustrating a story about life at home during COVID-19, sharing your childhood memories. Let them see their parents dancing and working together and telling corny jokes. As a family, you get to decide how isolation looks in your house. I believe you were made for such a time as this.

It is no mistake that you are alive during this strange season of isolation. There are important lessons to be learned and taught. There are battles to be waged and won. There are joys to be shared and connections to be rekindled. There is great joy to be found as you huddle together with your family and look for ways that God is working and expressing His great love for you. Don't miss the opportunities. You truly were made for such a time as this!

Mom's Diary

I am not a morbid person. I don't sit around thinking about dying. But it will happen. Someday. After losing my parents in the last couple of years, I have had so many questions that can never be answered, and we talked a lot! So I think about things that my kids and grand kids may wonder about when I am gone. I think my mom knew we would wonder about things so she left several years of diaries for us to read. I pick it up and read some entries once in a while. Today was one of those days, so I can tell you that on this date in 1966 she bought a new dress and only had to spend $2 because the Dallas church ladies had given her $4 as a going away gift.  On this date in 1970 I went to school with swollen tonsils and a fever. I was an over-achiever! I am better at keeping my germs to myself now. In 1976 I chose the florist for my wedding. In 1986 our oldest daughter was interviewed by a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader on a telethon raising money for children's hospitals. And in 1982, mom weighed... well, I'm going to keep that private.

History can be so fun!

Sunday I listened to Andy Stanley share that, what we know as the Old Testament, (The Law and Prophets) was made famous, not by the Jews who used it as their creed to live by, but by the non-Jewish sector digging into Jewish history for the sole purpose of discovering and understanding all there was to know about the resurrected Jesus, the Messiah that most of the Jews didn't even recognize.  Thousands of years of history carefully laid out to prepare the way for the Savior of the world to make the ultimate sacrifice for humanity. All that history paints a picture of a Creator who made us in His image to love and be loved. And how critical it was for His people to live in that love, allowing no distractions, nothing that would pull them away from the One who made them and knew them and designed them for intimacy with Him.

His message caused me to reflect on my history and how it is laying a foundation for the generations that will come after me. I really want all of it to reflect back to my Messiah. When people look at my history and my parent's history and their parents before them, I want it to all boil down to ... "A foundation was laid to help her believe in the resurrected Savior who walked with her and stretched her and grew her and she trusted Him day by day to help her love with His amazing love."

Today you are writing your history and that of your kids and grand kids. How will your diary read to them? This is the perfect time to work on making your history point to a life lived for God. We will face new challenges weekly that will bring us to a new level of trusting our God and leaning into Him. We will be stretched and we will need to exercise patience and self-control. We will need to love and offer grace like never before. This pandemic creates a challenge beyond our typical day to day life and those are the places where the very best stories are written.

Please don't allow these days and weeks to create a history of fear and anger, impatience and frustration. Rather, find the places where God is at work. Where He is sustaining you. Where He is providing for you. Where He is reaching out His hand to you in the middle of a storm. Be a reflection of His goodness and grace as your history is written for the generations to come. Let it all point to a life led and blessed by the Messiah.

May your life be a story of God's amazing grace. Leave a journal or diary behind for the generations to come of how God sustained you in the COVID-19 Pandemic....but, leave out the part where you tell people your weight.

When Clouds Roll In

Have you ever heard, or maybe been involved in, a debate about the creation of the world? That always baffles me since there was no media on the scene to record the events exactly as it occurred (and who would really believe them, anyway?). The Genesis account of the creation was not written for the purpose of memorizing the order in which things were created or start arguments about whether the seven days were 24 hour days. It was simply written to explain to God's people that  they were, in fact, created in the image of the One True God. These people had been living among and enslaved by those who believed in multiple deities with self-seeking agendas. And then they wandered in the desert and discovered even more civilizations that believed in even more gods with all manner of ridiculous demands and they simply did not know the God who had rescued them.

Moses wanted them to know His God. The One whose voice he had heard on the Mountain. The One who made covenants with His people so that they might live and thrive. The One who protected and brought them miraculous victories. The One who cared about their day to day living so much that He gave them careful instructions about how to live. Using Genesis as a weapon to battle the world defeats the entire purpose of pointing others to a good and mighty Creator.

I, like Moses, want you to know my God... the God of Moses; the God of my father, the God who I serve. With the Coronavirus pandemic, we are living in a time when fear is growing daily and the One True God will be challenged and questioned and doubted. We are surrounded by cultures that don't know and believe and serve our God, just as the Israelites in the days of Moses.  We have a great opportunity to lean heavily into the God who created us in His own image so that we can reflect His love and spread His peace and shine His light. I pray that all the unknown surrounding us will draw us closer to Him and increase our desire to know this God who is not at all surprised or threatened by COVID-19.

As we enter the unknown, may I remind you that your children are listening to you and taking cues from you as to whether there is reason for concern. They will sense your unspoken fears. I encourage you to be confident that your life is ultimately in the hands of a God who sees; who knows your fears and is the source of our peace. Allow them to express their fears and don't belittle them. Just listen and explain that we are all in this together and we will be part of the solution. Keep your conversation age appropriate for them and as light as you can as you answer their questions. Add some fun imagination to all the scary imaginings they may be hearing. Assure them that if God determines that your family should all be covered in purple stars and orange glitter, that He will delight in you, as always and be with you as He promised. Nothing is too hard or too big for our God. All power rests in Him to use in the way that is best, from His sovereign perspective. Look to Him through the days ahead and rest assured that His love is unstoppable and His faithfulness is unending.

Dear John

We have a really important thank you letter to write. But the recipient has an undeliverable address at present. Perhaps one day we will see him and be able to thank him in person. His name is John. John is a good name. It was my grandfather's name... eventually. His parents named him Wally Grover Franklin. Unfortunate. Soon after he came to know Jesus, WW1 erupted and he went to the leaders of the church he attended and asked if it was wrong to go to war, knowing that he may be required to take the life of another. He was told to serve his country as a cook in the Army (apparently leaving necessary dirty work to the heathens???) so he went to enlist. When asked for his name, he told them John Franklin and Wally Grover disappeared forever. That will create issues for future descendants working through their genealogy!

John Franklin had many wonderful attributes and with them shaped my father, to a large degree and Dad, in turn, shaped me...therefore, if you are reading this and you know me and I have had any positive influence on your life, when you get to heaven, find my Grandpa John and thank him! 

He isn't really the John I was referring to, however. I just like that story about determining to change your identity and going for it! Too good not to share so that part is just extra.... at no charge! The John I am referring to shaped the lives of so many people for so many centuries, including Grandpa John, Dad and Me. The man I speak of loved Jesus and spent three years traveling with Him, learning from Him, watching Him, being transformed by Him. And then he wrote down what he knew to be true of Jesus and His Father, God. 

John spoke of Jesus as light in the darkness, truth among deception. He spoke of His friendship and His desire for us to abide in Him. John taught us how Jesus wants us to love and the way He actually demonstrated that love for us. It is in the writing of John that we discover that the opposite of love is not hate, as we may think. The opposite of love is selfishness. You can find that truth in the ever popular verse, John 3:16.

For God loved the world so much that He gave...

If love is giving and selfless and generous, how would you score yourself today? Examine the time that you give, the resources that you share and give yourself a grade. If we grade on the curve, we get an A+ compared to Ebeneezer Scrooge, but then Mother Theresa blows that curve! More important is our generosity with forgiveness and love for others. We can all use some extra time to study before that test is given. Right?

I had the blessing of growing up with the example of love that my dad learned from John Franklin who learned from the Gospel of John. I have seen love personified my entire life. Maybe you were not so blessed. Even so, the One who taught John to love is still teaching us today and when He is living within our hearts, He is shaping us and showing us and directing us down the path of love. Within you is the same power that brought Jesus out of the grave. It's not too late to learn to love well. You can and will make a profound impact on the world, like John, if you will let go of all you are hoarding for your own protection and generously love with the reckless hope of being a life-changing agent to those who live right under your roof. 

Who's In Charge Here?

It seems that today there is a marketing plan for everything. The goal is to convince you that you need whatever they are selling. I think one could put the fuzzy green substance just discovered lurking, forgotten in the back of the fridge and find a buyer for it if it was put in the right container with the proper claim of its tremendous benefits! But, news would travel fast that what is on the inside doesn't match what is on the outside and sales would quickly plummet because it what really matters is what is inside.

We all know that, so it's not exactly an epiphany that what is in our hearts is what really matters. And guess who sees what is in our hearts more than anyone else. If you said the people under your own roof, you are absolutely correct. Your spouse, parents, children, grandchildren... they are the ones that witness who you are when stress comes to visit. They see your reaction to fear or to annoying people. They see how you respond to them and others when you are tired or distracted or not feeling well.

As followers of Jesus, we can make a lot of claims.  We can have high standards. We can follow a creed or a list of self-imposed disciplines. We can try to convince others that our God is good and they should follow Him. We can read books and blogs, listen to sermons and podcasts, but, if we can't convince our family that the Spirit of God is in control of our thoughts and actions, out attitudes and words, then there doesn't seem to be much purpose or point to how we "market" ourselves to the world.

Our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior gives us an all access pass to the Holy Spirit... the Comforter and Counselor that Jesus told His followers would be with them in His absence. It is the Spirit of God within us that has the power to take the reins, lasso our thoughts, determine if they should stay or go and move us in the right direction. When we learn to let go of our control we will begin to see the results of a life of surrender to the Spirit of God. Here is how Eugene Peterson describes it...

"What happens when we live God's way?

He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - 

things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.

 we develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, 

and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. 

We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, 

able to marshal and direct our energies wisely."

Galatians 5:22-23 -The Message Bible

Do You Know What God Thinks?

I like knowledge and information. When I said yes to marriage, I read books on how to be a good wife. When I had kids I read about how to be a good parent. When they became teenagers, I read even more books about how to prepare them to be a responsible adult. When I followed the call to ministry, I read and read and read and am still reading in order to learn all I can to help as many as I can. There is so very much I want to know and understand. And I suspect many of you feel the same. 

Most of us don't want to be mediocre parents or spouses or employees or friends. We want to know the best way to handle the most difficult situations and be a successful as possible in all arenas of life. 

Looking at marriage statistics, our chances of success are slim. When it comes to raising children, there are experts everywhere to remind us that we are going to mess our kids up, but we should try to keep that at a minimum. Not very encouraging, so it's easy to feel like all is gloom and doom with regard to living victoriously, however, I would like to offer you some encouragement along with a plan of action. It is the easiest and yet it is likely the most difficult thing you will ever attempt. All you have to do is slow down and listen. Very simple. Yet, very difficult. It is counter-intuitive to slow our pace because the people  all around us are furiously running past us, doing more, trying harder, being awesome (or so it would seem) at  juggling life and keeping all the balls in the air. It is our natural response in this culture to rush to stay in step with those who look so successful. And rush you must if it is your goal to live successfully in this culture. BUT if it is your goal to live in the culture that Jesus calls us to that is not congruent with this world, then you have to slow down and listen.

If you have decided to follow the way of Jesus and allow Him to reign supreme as your King, then His Spirit lives within you, to guide you and lead you to the Father at any moment of any day. He will direct your steps, help you make the right decision, shape you into the person you were made to be. But, He seldom, if ever, shouts over the noise we expose ourselves to. Rather, He waits for us to draw apart to a quiet place and silently listen for Him to lead us in the right way. Jesus often demonstrated this for His disciples because He knew the value of quiet communion with His Father.

I read somewhere that if you want your kids to know Jesus, spend less time talking to them about Him and spend more time talking to Him about them. I would alter that some and invite you to spend more time LISTENING to Him so that He can direct your parenting decisions. When it comes to your marriage, do the same. He will teach you how to give and receive love, if you will only listen. You will recognize His voice if you have taken the time to learn who He is by being a student of His Word. If you just can't find the time to be still and listen - even just 10 minutes a day, then you are likely to wander in the wilderness of life, doing your best to do your best. And that might seem like it's good enough. It may even be better than a lot of people. But, if you choose His way and heed His advice and set aside time to allow the Spirit of God to share the message of God with you, it will be a game changer. Your life will be a reflection of the One who made you and you will fulfill the plan that He made for you, which I far prefer over wandering and wondering. 

Troubled Hearts

Sometimes there is, deep inside of me, a profound sense that I am utterly alone. I have lost all those who shaped my childhood and made me who I am and without them I fear that nobody can truly know me. Some days, I'm not even sure I know who I am. Those feelings don't represent reality, but they are very real. I have lived with my dear husband far longer than I did my parents and nobody knows me like he does. I have precious friends who I can be completely transparent with and they know me very well. But some days, I just feel alone and lost without my parents and the aunt and uncle who had the most profound impact on me. 

I am so grateful for the heritage that is mine and the fact that I have had such special people who impacted me so profoundly that I still long to sit down and chat with them. I am grateful for those friends who know what I need even when I don't. I would be lost without Dana, a companion who walks patiently and lovingly beside me throughout the journey of my life, and for children and grandchildren who bring me great joy. But, as amazing as my life and my people are, sometimes there is still darkness and pain.

I know that I am not alone and that if you are breathing, you have experienced pain and loss and  possibly utter loneliness. For some of us, that is not a place to be feared because it points us directly to the Comforter. The Advocate. The Counselor. That's where I find myself. In the old rocking chair my Dad bought me the year that he died, looking within myself, finding the place that the Spirit of God inhabits and just quietly listening for His direction; His comfort; His peace.

If you find yourself in a place where the waters seem troubled and you struggle to know where to turn, try sitting still and listening to the Spirit within you. He will give you what you need and remind you that you are not alone and forgotten. If you are a follower of Jesus, you need not be afraid for you are never alone. His Spirit lives within you and will give you all you need.

He's Inside

Life is full of battles. Kids. Partners. Coworkers. Illness. Bills. Relationships. Parents. The list is long and makes us all exhausted at any given time. Physically, Mentally, Emotionally. Spiritually. But, we have what we need for the counter attack when we are followers of Jesus. We don't have to go to a special place or attend a certain number of church services or memorize a designated number of Bible verses. We don't have to travel to Tibet or to the Vatican. We don't have to do anything, but sit quietly and acknowledge the Presence of the Spirit of God who is living within us and wait to "hear" from Him as He gives direction for brokering the peace treaty that we need in the battle waged against our very souls.

You probably already know that, as did I, however, recently I was somehow reminded by an unheard voice, "I'm right here inside of you. Let me speak into your life." I think I forgot that I don't have to go find God, because God has come to me! He is right there inside waiting for me to slow down from all that I think I should be doing and quietly sit, awaiting the message He has for me. 

Sometimes in the quiet I discover that I am trying to do God's job instead of mine. Sometimes I discover that I need to love better. Sometimes I find that running from conflict will never solve the problem. Sometimes I know that I just need to sit still and listen to the silence in order to retrain my brain to accept silence as a healthy practice.

No matter where you find yourself today, remember that if you are a follower of God and desire to strengthen your relationship with others, it begins by strengthening your relationship with Him and that requires time in silence and solitude. If there is another way, in half a century of searching, I have not found it. There is no substitute for quietly listening. He seldom shouts over the noise we surround ourselves with or interrupts the activities we involve ourselves in. He waits patiently for us to sit still and accept the gift of His presence, as a cup of cool water when we are so very thirsty.

If you are struggling in a battle with another person or simply struggling with a battle within yourself, remember that the Spirit of God is inside you. He can see all the other things that are in there, possibly leaving Him little room to work... or even be noticed. You can refresh your mind and your spirit by taking the time to sit in silence with Him, finding out what needs to be eliminated, discovering what needs to be added, learning the way to do the next right thing. I invite you to sit quietly and be refreshed with His living water as you enjoy His company and learn from Him.

Think*Practice*Follow

I have been familiar with the Philippians 4 passage that implores us to think about the positive and beneficial things; things that are true, praise worthy and admirable, but somehow I missed something until I was listening to the pastor read it on Sunday. I had always skipped over a crucial part of what Paul was saying. I knew that if we were to focus our thoughts on the things of God that we would find peace. Period. But, that's not the whole message. I was struck by a very important part of the instructions that is so critical to bring into our home.

After zeroing in on the truthful thoughts we are to allow into our mind to focus upon, Paul goes on to say, "Put into practice all you learned from me." How is it, that even though I have quoted this section of scripture for years, I had overlooked an important ingredient to finding peace. It isn't just what we think, it's what we practice. And not just what we practice, but deliberately practicing the things we have been taught by a good, solid mentor. It is a wonderful thing to have a mentor who knows the Word of God; who has walked with Jesus for years; who is mature in their faith and is growing closer to Him year after year. I hope you have that person in your life and I hope that you take advantage of all the wisdom they have to share.

But... what about your kids? Who is their mentor in the faith? Who can they look to for their spiritual formation? Is that something you are willing to pass off to the teachers at church? Their youth leader? Or is that something you should be responsible for? I would suggest to you, a godly parent that is pleasing to Jesus must be willing to be learning and teaching; growing and leading; spiritually mentoring their kids as a lifestyle.

It hit me like a ton of bricks that I could not have said to my kids, like Paul did to his spiritual kids, "Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me -- everything you heard from me and saw me doing..." and feel good about how they might behave! Maybe quite the opposite! Once again, I found myself wishing for a do-over. I wanted to go back in time and use the spiritual maturity I have gained since my kids left home and set a better example for them. It really made me look at myself and desire to be a better student, a more faithful servant, a gentler more merciful human for the sake of those who will come behind me.

Please don't wait until your kids are gone to draw closer to Jesus. Don't wait until your schedule is less crazy to find time to meditate on the truth that will bring freedom to your mind. Don't wait until you understand everything in the Bible to share it with your kids. Do what you can NOW and make some mistakes (like I did)... but DO move toward being a mentor for your kids TODAY. Be ready to tell them you are sorry when you mess up. Be humble and allow them to see that you are a student, learning and growing and making mistakes and even failing a few tests along the way. But, make being a godly mentor to your kids a critical priority in your life. You can't depend on anyone else to teach them the way you can, because they see you up close and personal and witness how you handle the tough places in life day after day. You have the best stage from which to demonstrate the love of God and His call to obedience to His Word.

Consider the fact that this formula for experiencing the peaceful presence of God involves what you think, what you practice and who you follow. In a time and place where anxiety is commonplace and peace is scarce, perhaps it's time for us to take seriously the advice of Paul and THINK POSITIVELY, PRACTICE DILIGENTLY, and FOLLOW FAITHFULLY so that our kids and grandkids have a good mentor to lead them.