My husband Tim often tells the story of his mother sending him and his brother outside with sacks to pick up the trash and debris in their yard. They would pick up some and then head inside. His mother would take a look and send them back out. This would happen several times until the yard would finally be completely picked up.

It seems it would’ve been smarter to just go ahead and pick it all up the first time! It certainly would’ve taken less time!

I don’t know why, but it seems to be a human failing to want to do as little as possible (of the things we don’t want to do)—as little as we can get by with.

But that’s really not obeying, is it? So obedience needs to be done completely.Continue Reading

Last week I talked about requiring cheerful obedience from our children. Why did we also require immediate obedience?

The child’s safety can be at risk.

I’ve heard stories of children whose lives were saved by immediately obeying their parents. For example, if your young child is not in the habit of listening to your voice and responding immediately, and if you’re not fast enough to catch him, he might inadvertently run into the street and in front of a moving car.

They don’t forget to obey.Continue Reading

I mentioned last week that, when they were young, we taught our children that obedience means cheerfully, completely, and immediately. First, let me say that this idea was not original with us. We heard this definition of obedience from someone else; it made sense, so we adopted it.

We realized that the only command in scripture directed specifically to children was to obey their parents. (See Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20.) Therefore we thought this must be an important concept to teach our children.

Also we thought it was better to teach them concepts than to try to make them live by all sorts of rules. On top of that, when you’re in the middle of raising children—in the middle of what I call stimulus overload—it’s easy for you, the parent, to forget which rules are currently in effect!Continue Reading

Have you ever thought about how human the people in the Bible are? I really appreciate that, because I can so much better identify with those who make mistakes than I’d be able to if they were perfect!

In BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) this year, we are studying the life of Moses. Moses’ name is mentioned in the New Testament more than anyone’s except for the Lord Jesus, yet he was a man who made mistakes and sinned.

I’m thinking specifically right now about the time when God revealed Himself and His plan to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3). I can so identify with his response. It wasn’t, “Here I am. Send me,” but more like, “I don’t think this is going to work, Lord!”

I think of myself as good with change happening in my life, yet when a new idea comes up about something we/I need to do, my initial response is invariably negative. The first things that pop into my mind are all the reasons why “it won’t work,” which, unfortunately, are usually immediately followed by them coming out of my mouth.

It drives my husband crazy. Rightfully so, I’m sure.Continue Reading