Monday, June 24, 2013

HAVE YOU EVER...played a game?



We grew up playing games in our house.  My Dad always had a deck of cards with him.  We played “7 Up”, “Go Fish”, and "UNO". We also liked "Yahtzee".   My husband and I love to play “Farkle” and “Poker”.  In college “Spades”  was the game to play. 

My kids have tons of games.   They will not play them together unless someone plays with them.  They play until everyone has lost.  That means there is a 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, etc.  When we played games there was a winner and we just played again. They make sure that there is a loser.

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.  Matthew 23:12

HAVE YOU EVER… taught your child to lose?

At schools now, you cannot play games where there are winners.  It is not politically correct.  Someone always feels left out or mad or sad.  Give me a break.  When I taught in public school we had this amazing P.E. teacher who taught about good sportsmanship EVERYDAY!  I learned so much from her.  I need to ask her to move into my house for a week and give my kids an attitude adjustment.

I am so tired of the tears and yelling.  Everyone is a CHEATER!  My oldest yells, “Whatever” or “Come On!” every time he misses a basket.  My youngest wants to quit half way through if he knows he is going to lose.  Someone else (who shall remain nameless) blames everything on the refs.  

Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.  
Proverbs 25:27

I take fault in this too.  Maybe I let them win too much when they were little.  Maybe I wasn’t using the correct vocabulary from the start; like “good game” or “better luck next time.”  Something is going to change in our house.  I am teaching good sportsmanship.  This has sadly started with me having to continuously call my children “bad or poor sports”, but if you have any ideas feel free to pass them along. 

HAVE YOU EVER been a good sport?
 


Galatians 5:25-26, Philippians 3:14 

Saturday, June 15, 2013

HAVE YOU EVER...celebrated Father's Day?



Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.  Exodus 20:12 

I am posting early this week to honor the father in my life. 

Yes, my heavenly father is AWESOME! 

And my birth father has been blessed to be walking the streets of gold for close to 5 years now. 

I am talking about my husband though. 

Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.  Ephesians 5:33

I hear many moms say how much they hate shopping for Father’s Day.  To tell you the truth, it is not my favorite either.  How many colognes, t-shirts, mugs, golf things, or tools can you buy a man?  And they always say, “I don’t care.  You don’t have to get me anything.” 

I also hear mom’s say, “He’s not my father?”  This is true, but you wouldn’t be a mother unless you had a father in the picture.  I know many single parents.  It is tough!  I would NOT want to be doing this parenting job without my partner, my husband, the father of our house!

Ladies, I encourage you to forget about any mistakes he made over the last month or even if mother’s day wasn’t that great.  Recognize your husband on Father’s Day!  And maybe a couple more days OR make it a habit.  He deserves it and already gave you a wonderful gift – your kids!

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10

HAVE YOU EVER honored the father in your home?


Proverbs 12:4, Philippians 2:3

Monday, June 10, 2013

HAVE YOU EVER...seen a child's future?



I work with preschoolers at church and at school.  I was talking to one of my friends the other day about how difficult it is to keep up with preschoolers.  I seldom see them in 10 to 20 years to find out how they turned out.   

Even so, there are some kids that you just know God is going to use them.  I have had a few girls in the last year that have continuously said profound things about Jesus.  I just know that they are going to be a missionary or married to a pastor.  These are godly women starting early!

I know that girls progress more quickly in some ways when they are younger.  This is probably why I am seeing this more in girls.  I am a mother of boys though.  I have NO idea what God has in store for my boys, but I pray for them to have a godly wife.  My father said that he prayed for godly husbands for my sister and I, and he did a good job.  God did a good job.

I am planning ahead.  WAY ahead.  I want my 6 and 10 year old boys to SOMEDAY find the women of their dreams and I pray that they are godly women.  You may think this is weird, but you surely pray for your kids’ futures.  I know that God made man for woman; and if God wants my boys to be married, I want it to be a match made in heaven. 

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and receives favor from the LORD.  
Proverbs 18:22

HAVE YOU EVER planned ahead?


Genesis 2:18, Ephesians 5:24-25

Monday, June 3, 2013

HAVE YOU EVER...taken a vacation day?



I am a teacher.  I hate taking days off and I would feel too guilty to play hookie.  I took a vacation day in October because I was losin’ it!  I NEVER miss school, but I needed a “mental health day”!  Planned for the sub and used the day wisely.  My husband has been gripin’ at me ever since.

He says that because I took that one day, it messed up the whole school year.  We’ve had viruses, fevers, stomach bugs, sprained ankles, cavities, pink eye, and more.    It’s life.  Everyone has to deal with stuff like this.  To you it may not be illness, but something else piles up.  You need a “mental health day”!

Sometimes you have taken all of your days.  Your days are up, but you still have to keep on trudging on.  Deep breaths don’t seem like enough.  I keep finding myself saying, “I just can’t take anymore!” 

The last time this happened, luckily it was a weekend and I had a few seconds to myself.  Psalm 23 started running through my head.  God put it there.  Not ME.  I am so thankful for His comfort when I need it OR wouldn’t we all be taking “mental health days” EVERDAY?

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4 KJV

HAVE YOU EVER felt comfort?


Psalm 119:76, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4