Kathy Howard's Blog: Unshakeable Faith for Life, page 49

I love Jesus but…

The other day I saw a shirt for sale online with this printed across the front: “I love Jesus, but I cuss a little.” You can also get the slogan on a coffee mug, refrigerator magnet, or apron.

Seriously? Is this supposed to be funny?

Like every believer, I still struggle with sin. And I struggle in some areas more than others. But the goal is to defeat the power of that sin in my life, not to proudly advertise it’s hold on me.

You may be thinking I’m making too much of this. You may be thinking it’s just all in good fun. After all, none of us are perfect so why should we pretend?

But I believe the issue is too serious to make light of. Let’s see what the Bible says.

“I love #Jesus but…” t-shirt advertises sin’s hold”
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First, the way we talk is not insignificant. The Bible repeatedly warns us about our speech. Jesus said we will be held accountable for every word (Matthew 12:36). Believers should not allow any unwholesome word come out of our mouths, but only words that encourage and help others (Ephesians 4:29). The way we talk is no laughing matter.

Second, Jesus very clearly connected our love for Him with our obedience:

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.” John 14:15, 16:9-10

God’s Word is clear. If we love Jesus, we will obey Him. The reverse is also true: if we don’t obey Jesus, it reveals a lack of love for Him. This covers everything – more than just our speech. I am not saying that if we truly love Jesus we will be without sin, but our sin will grieve us. We will long to grow in holiness, not to stay in our sin.

The third reason I believe this is a serious matter is because this slogan – and others like it – portray a warped and self-centered view of Christianity. Wearing this statement across our chest testifies to the world that we aren’t serious about following Jesus. Claiming His name, then in the next breath admitting you choose not to obey Him, minimizes the name of Jesus before the world. “I love Jesus, but I love myself more.”

“I love Jesus but…” t-shirt portrays a #selfcentered view of #Christianity
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Sin – all sin – is serious business, not a joke to put on a t-shirt. “Friendship with the world is hatred toward God (James 4:4).” God commands believers to not conform to the ways of the world (Romans 12:1-2). (See this post for more about compromising with the culture.) Instead we are to draw near to Him in confession and repentance. To grieve over our sin and allow Him to cleanse us and make us more like Jesus (James 4:4-10).

Let’s not boast about our sin. Instead let’s proclaim the name of the One who died to save us from it.

What do you think? Laughing matter or serious business?

The post I love Jesus but… appeared first on Kathy Howard.

4 Reasons Christians Compromise with the Culture

I am patiently waiting on the next grandson to arrive. Okay, let me be honest. I’m waiting. We can leave the “patiently” part out. In fact, by the time this post actually goes live, he may be here.

The world my grandson will know is very different than the world of my childhood. Or even the world my children grew up in. We live in a highly sexualized culture that permeates everything. Greed, selfishness, and self-indulgence run rampant.

It seems it gets harder every day for a Christ-follower to navigate the landmines of our society. Morals and values have shifted dramatically away from God’s standards. Almost every day another story in the news demonstrates this ongoing clash between the world’s values and God’s standards. (For more info see Ed Stetzer’s article on Christian responses to cultural change in Christianity Today.)

3 ways Christians deal with the #CultureClash
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I’ve seen three possible ways Christians deal with the culture clash:

Separate from the world – Granted, it’s easier to live by God’s standards if we remove ourselves from the influence of the world. But there’s one big problem with that. In doing so, we also remove the influence of Christ from the world. Jesus calls us to go out into the world and take the Gospel (John 17:14-18), not hunker down in a holy bunker.
Live by God’s standards out in the world – This is the hardest road to walk. But God promised that through His divine power, He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). With discipline, intentionality, and constant dependence on the Holy Spirit, we can live lives that please God and honor the name of Christ.
Compromise in one or more areas – Although some believers do simply throw up their hands without even trying to live by God’s standards, the majority of us simply straddle the fence here and there. Sometimes we compromise. Sometimes we think God’s way is “too hard” or “too boring” or just “too weird” compared to the world.

4 reasons #Christians #compromise with the culture
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4 Reasons Christians Compromise with the Culture:

So why do we do it? Why do followers of Christ sometimes follow the world? Here are four reasons based on time in God’s Word and a bit of observation:

Indulge our own desires – This is probably the most frequent reason. We have sinful desires and sometimes we give in to them. Let’s remember – We never have to give in to temptation. God will always provide a way out if we will take it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Ignorance of God’s Word – Sometimes believers live like the world in one or more areas simply because they don’t know God’s standard. Yet God calls us to “not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance,” but to be holy in all we do (1 Peter 1:13-15). Thankfully we can learn since we have full access to His Word!
Fear of being “labeled” – Sometimes believers worry more about what the world will think of us than what God will think of us. We don’t want to be considered a “bigot” or “self-righteous.” We don’t want to be different or stand out in a crowd. So we compromise to fit in.
Misguided attempt to be relevant – I’ve heard and seen Christians – even Christian leaders – dress and speak in questionable ways in an attempt to connect with the culture. If our speech or dress or behavior shocks or offends even a handful of Christians in the room, we should reconsider. Jesus and His message of salvation are always relevant. We don’t have to compromise to share them.

Do you find it hard to live by God’s standards in this world? Is one of these four reasons a bigger struggle than the others? Why do you think that is?

Sometimes #ChristiansCompromise in a misguided attempt to be #relevant
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Sometimes #ChristiansCompromise out of #ignorance of #GodsWord
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Sometimes #ChristiansCompromise from fear of being #labeled
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The post 4 Reasons Christians Compromise with the Culture appeared first on Kathy Howard.

4 Steps to Embrace God’s Peace

Violence and destruction fill the news. Every day stories about terrorist attacks, shootings, deadly weather, and more prove the fallen nature of our world. It’s so easy for us to succumb to fear and worry. Where is the peace Jesus promised?

Ironically, on the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested, He spoke these words:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid… I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”   John 14:27, 16:33

So, where is the peace Jesus promised?

The world would define “peace” as the absence of war, strife, and disagreement and the presence of harmony, order, and security. But I don’t see much of this kind of “peace” in the world today. And we won’t until Jesus returns.

Thankfully, the peace Jesus gives doesn’t depend on the state of the world. Even in the midst of war, we can be at peace. We can be free from worry and fear. We can be content in every physical situation and circumstance. This is the peace Jesus gives.

#Peace of Jesus is #freedom from #worry and #fear and #contentment in every circumstance
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God’s peace is always available to His children no matter what is going on in the world around us. All we have to do is reach out and receive it. But how?

4 Steps to Embrace God’s Peace

In his letter to the Christians in Philippi (Philippians 4:6-13), the apostle Paul shows us how to live in the peace Jesus offers, no matter the circumstances.

Pray about Everything – Worried, anxious, or concerned about a need or situation? Pray about it. Prayer focuses our hearts and minds on the goodness and faithfulness of God. Prayer pushes out worry (Philippians 4:6-7).
Practice Gratitude – We humans tend to allow the negative and difficult things in our lives to rise to the top. We forget God’s abundant blessings and His activity in and around our lives. Purposefully focusing on what God has done for us in the past helps us rely on His future provision (Philippians 4:6)
Guard your Thoughts – All throughout the day, our minds are bombarded with negativity, gossip, dissension, selfishness, and even smut. This will rule our thoughts and shape our attitudes unless we discipline ourselves to fill our minds with things that are “excellent and praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8-9).
Rely on God’s Strength – Our culture fosters discontentment. It seems no matter how much we have we want more. The problem is not the amount of our stuff but instead the amount of our desire. No matter how much or how little we have we can find the peace of contentment when we lean on God for strength (Philippians 4:12-13).

#Peace in #Contentment: the problem is not the amount of our stuff but the amount of our desire
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#Peace that #Jesus gives, not the world. #Prayer pushes out worry
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Do you struggle with fear and worry? Do you believe you can experience the peace of Jesus in today’s world?

You might like these related posts:

3 Reasons to Thank God when you don’t feel Blessed
What are you feeding your mind?
5 Reasons Real Prayer is Hard

 

The post 4 Steps to Embrace God’s Peace appeared first on Kathy Howard.

The Extra Time Illusion Principle

Have you ever noticed that when you have extra time to do something you are more likely to be late accomplishing it? I’ve seen it. I’ve experienced it for myself.

I’ve attended and led women’s Bible study groups for decades. With our busy lives, completing the homework each week can be a challenge. Sometimes seven days is just not long enough to get it finished. So, you’d think having 14 days – like a week off for Spring Break – to do one week would result in a greater percentage of the class members completing their homework. But no! In fact, with twice the amount of time, less women finish the week of study.

How can this be? More time results in less being accomplished? It is a strange phenomenon I call the “Extra Time Illusion Principle.”

Why does #MoreTime result in less being accomplished? #ExtraTimeIllusionPrinciple
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You may have experienced this principle for yourself. It infiltrates all areas of life. For instance, maybe after the recent three-day Easter weekend you found yourself less ready to go back to school or work on Monday. And your long list of “to-dos” remained undone.

It seems the more time we have the greater the temptation to procrastinate. We feel we have “plenty of time,” so we can rest or play for a while first. But we get so involved in resting or playing or procrastinating and before we know it our time is up.

Not something to get too worried about when the only thing at stake is the weekend “honey-do” list. But what about when the stakes are higher? What if the stakes are eternal?

Sometimes the extra time illusion principle affects me spiritually. I procrastinate on eternal spiritual matters because I don’t consider Jesus’ return to be imminent. After all, He has already delayed for more than 2,000 years. Am I the only one or have you experienced it too?

We think we have plenty of time to give up that pet sin or get serious about our spiritual growth or tell our lost neighbor about Jesus. We will do that tomorrow. Or next week. And then before we know it, “later” turns into “missed opportunity” or “too late” or “never.”

In 2 Peter 3:9-14, Peter challenges believers to live lives that reflect the reality of Jesus’ sure return. The Lord does keep His promises. The Day of the Lord will come. The heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire.

4 Ways to Battle the Extra Time Illusion Principle

In light of this frightening and glorious truth, how should we respond? What should believers be doing right now, every day? I see 4 things in this passage:

Tell others about Jesus – The Lord has not returned because He wants everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). His “delay” is our time frame to share the Gospel. To tell our lost friends, family, and neighbors that salvation is found in Jesus!
Live holy lives – God calls us to regular repentance and moment by moment obedience to the Holy Spirit. We should not conform to the attitudes and behaviors of the world. Instead, our lives must reveal the character of Christ to the lost world (2 Peter 3:11-12, Romans 12:1-2).
Continually foster our relationship with God – We must be purposeful in pursuing our relationship with Christ. It takes discipline, effort, and TIME. Oh, but this is where we find peace and joy in a world that lacks it (2 Peter 3:14, 1 Timothy 4:7-8).
Remember and anticipate Jesus’ return – God keeps His promises. Jesus will return. It could be tomorrow. Or even today. Find a way to remind yourself of this truth and learn to look forward to it! (2 Peter 3:8,12)

Will you join me in battling the “extra time illusion principle?” Jesus is coming back soon! Will I be ready? Will you be ready?

4 ways to battle the #ExtraTimeIllusionPrinciple
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Have you been a victim of the extra time illusion principle? If so, in what way? How can you battle it?

The post The Extra Time Illusion Principle appeared first on Kathy Howard.

3 Concerns about Spiritual Gifts Tests

Last week, I started a new Bible study on the Holy Spirit with the ladies of my church. At one point, the friend next to me asked what I thought about spiritual gifts tests. My answer? “You probably don’t want to know.”

But then we talked about it anyway. And yes, we should have been paying closer attention in class.

I usually try to avoid answering this question. If the topic comes up in a group I may stay silent or just walk away. Why? Because my opinion is different than most and I don’t want to start any doctrinal debates.

But after my conversation with Kimberly on Tuesday, I decided that I would share my thoughts with you. Maybe a thoughtful conversation about spiritual gifts tests can reorient our focus.

My feelings about #SpiritualGiftsTests are different than most. 3 concerns
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Sadly, spiritual gifts is one of those areas of faith where we believers tend to make it all about us instead of about God. We ask, “What can I do for God? How can I use my gifts and talents?” Instead, we should be asking, “How does God want to use the gifts He gave me?”

In their book, What’s So Spiritual About Your Gifts? (LifeChange Books), authors Henry and Mel Blackaby caution that spiritual gifts tests are limited by their nature:

“It can help identify how God has used you since you’ve become a Christian. But it shouldn’t be used as a guide for how God desires to use you in the future, for God’s purposes are based upon His strengths, not yours alone. He may choose to take you into areas of service in which you’re naturally weak, to reveal His strength and bring glory to Himself.”

At their best, spiritual gifts tests may identify spiritual gifts and natural talents and abilities. But at their worst, since they cannot distinguish between them, the tests could actually encourage believers to “serve” according to our natural talents rather than relying on the power and equipping of the Holy Spirit.

When you think about it, using a spiritual gifts test is a little like trying to put out a forest fire with a water pistol. They attempt to determine the work of God with a test devised by human logic.

So, while I think spiritual gifts tests can be a useful tool when kept in the proper perspective, I think too often they can do more harm than good.

#SpiritualGiftsTests can do more harm than good. 3 concerns
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Here are 3 of my concerns about spiritual gifts tests:

They can replace God’s purposes with our purposes – Since spiritual gifts tests tend to reveal our own strengths and talents, we may use the assessment to find ways to “serve” in our own power. We will miss out on God’s greater purpose.
They can limit the Holy Spirit – Even when the test does reveal a true spiritual gift, we may find ourselves only serving in ways that use that specific gift. We forget that as a believer we have the entire person of the Holy Spirit residing within us. We have access to all of His power to follow and obey God in any way He leads. Yet, we may hear God’s call but reject it because “that’s not in our area of gifting.”
They can become an excuse – We may conveniently use the test results as our guide instead of the Holy Spirit. It’s much easier to pull out that pat answer – “That’s not my gift” – than to lay aside our own plans and seek God’s will and direction. It also gives our “no” a “spiritual” reason.

I have taken spiritual gifts tests in the past. But I have also followed God to work in areas that didn’t line up with the results of any test. And He did things that only He could do! I am so glad I didn’t rely on that test.

What about you? Are you limiting what the Holy Spirit wants to do in and through your life because of the results of a spiritual gifts test? Has God ever done anything through your life contrary to the results of a spiritual gifts test?

The post 3 Concerns about Spiritual Gifts Tests appeared first on Kathy Howard.

Keep Watch with Jesus Tonight

Have you ever thought you could do a better job of keeping watch with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane than did Peter, James, and John? Tonight, you could have the chance. In today’s guest post, my friend Kimberly Texidor – who also happens to be an awesome Bible teacher and the Children’s Minister at my church  – encourages and challenges us to “keep watch with Jesus” tonight.

Tonight, I’ll tuck the kids in bed. After one last sip of water, another kiss goodnight, and one final trip down the hall to tell us “just this one more thing,” there will finally be quiet.

As the sounds of a busy home come slowly to a stop, I’ll make my way to the den, all alone, to meet with Jesus.

This time in the dark of night feels like such a small, insignificant offering, really. Yet I am compelled by the verses about that evening, long ago, when the darkness fell upon sleepy disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“Then he said to them, ‘My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Matthew 26:38

But they failed to keep watch with Jesus. Even for one hour. So tonight, I’ll offer up to Jesus the only thing He asked of them. I’ll stay awhile, and keep watch with Him.

My heart breaks when I think of my Savior facing that night alone. Surely His disciples missed the gravity of what was coming, or they certainly would have roused themselves and sat with our Lord.

And as I think about His solitude in that garden, I am reminded to pray for all of those who are sitting up in their own Garden of Gethsemane tonight. I think of anxious hearts that feel all alone while the rest of the world is sleeping away.

I think of my own children, so loved, so prayed over, and my heart hurts for those whose names have never been lifted to God in prayer.

Tonight, as I reread the final earthly prayer of Jesus, my soul needs to keep watch, as if to give to Him this small gesture of love.

What if, tonight, we spent some time alone with the Savior, interceding in the dark, and keeping watch with the one who constantly intercedes before the Father on our behalf?

#KeepWatch with #Jesus tonight. #PassionWeek #PrayerGuide
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As you “keep watch with Jesus tonight,” start by reading Mark 14:32-42. Now read John 17 and use the following prayer prompts to pray as Jesus prayed:

Confession-Pray that we won’t fall into temptation. As believers, our souls may be willing, but our flesh is surely weak. Pray that Christ will keep us close to Himself, when the temptations of fear, busyness, sin, rote religion, and worldliness threaten to pull us away (Mark 14:36).
Worship-Pray that God will be glorified and Christ will be exalted this Easter in our hearts and homes, in our nation, and in His church (John 17:1-2).
Salvation-Intercede on behalf of those who need Jesus, praying specifically for those who are waiting to hear the Gospel for the very first time (John 17:3).
Protection-Pray that God will protect those who bear His name from the attacks of the Enemy. In particular, pray for those brave men and women who are even today risking their lives in hard and dangerous places so that others may know Christ (John 17:15).
Holiness-Pray that God will make us Holy, and that we will commit to live out His truths in both word and action (John 17:17).
Unity-Pray for unity in the church. Pray for unity across denominational, political, and theological divides so that our radical love for one another will help the world see Jesus  (John 17:20-23).
Love-Pray that God’s love may be in us and poured out through us to a world in need (John 17:25-26).

I don’t want to be in such a hurry to get to the Garden Tomb on Sunday that I miss the Garden of Gethsemane tonight. So, in this quiet space, in the darkness, I will meet Jesus. I will pray to the One who now stands, victorious, over death, and the cross and the grave, the One who intercedes continually before the altar of God on our behalf. I will meet Him in the darkness, and remember the Savior who prayed alone so long ago, and prayed for me.

Will you keep watch with Jesus tonight? We would love for you to share your thoughts with us!

Kimberly Texidor is the Children’s Pastor at The Woodlands First in The Woodlands, TX. After studying Spanish Education in college, Kimberly went on to study Missions at Southwestern Seminary. Currently, she’s completing a Masters of Divinity at BH Carroll Theological Institute. Kimberly is married to Manuel, a teacher and counselor, and they have three children.

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Specific Things to Pray After a Terrorist Attack

Tuesday morning I woke to news alerts on my phone about the terrorist attack in Brussels. Two bombs at the airport. One at the metro. Dozens dead and hundreds injured.

“Not again, Lord.”

I sat with my Bible and my journal. I wanted to pray, but words escaped me. So much devastation. So much evil. How do you pray in the wake of something so terrible? I wanted to pray specifically, so I asked God for direction.

“Lord, how should I pray?”

Then I began to pray. I felt God guiding my prayers. People and needs and tasks came to mind. As I prayed, I wrote in my journal the specific requests for specific groups of people. Like solid and accurate intelligence for law enforcement and adequate resources and physical stamina for medical personnel.

I know my list is not comprehensive, but it is far more specific than I would have come up with on my own. I’d like to share my list with you. Maybe it will be helpful and encouraging to you as you pray. For Brussels, the timing has passed for some of these requests. But most are still applicable. But this list would also make a helpful resource for the future. I’ve included a link to a pdf version for easy printing.

“But, O Lord, I pray we don’t need this list again.”

If God gives you other specific requests would you share them with us in the comments of this post? I’d love to continue to grow this list into a very useful prayer resource.

Specific #prayers to pray in wake of #TerroristAttack #Brussels #printable
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“Oh Lord, hear our prayers.”

Pray for Law enforcement:

Good, solid intelligence and information
Plenty of manpower and resources
Good coordination between agencies, including international
Physical stamina

Pray for Medical Personnel:

Physical and emotional strength
All the human resources, equipment and supplies needed
Wisdom to quickly assess individual situations
Steady hands and calming presence

Pray for the Injured:

Provide the help they need quickly
Surround them with believers who will pray and encourage them
Overwhelm them with Your peace and ease their fear

Pray for the Families:

Comfort for the families of those killed
Support for the families of those injured
Peace for the families of those waiting to hear
Good communication about the situation to all families

Pray for World Leaders:

Leaders around the world would rise up against this evil
Ability to set politics aside
Receive wise counsel from wise people
Leaders around the world would unite in a global effort against terrorism

Pray for Rescue workers and First Responders:

Protection from further violence as they work
Physical strength, emotional stamina
Good coordination and communication in the efforts
They would provide a strong, calming presence to those they encounter
Sustenance, like food and water, they need to keep going

Pray for the Terrorists:

Any left alive involved in this attack would be caught
Those on the fringe would give information to authorities
Any other related plots would be exposed
For God to convict them and bring them to repentance
For God to draw them to Jesus

Add your prayers to this list in the comments. Lord, hear our prayers!

The post Specific Things to Pray After a Terrorist Attack appeared first on Kathy Howard.

4 Things a C & E Christian is Missing

In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, a C & E Christian is someone who declares to be a Christian but only attends church on the BIG Christian holidays – Christmas and Easter. C & E Christians account for the big jump in church attendance these two days out of the year.

I can think of many reasons a Christian might rarely attend church. For instance, maybe they’ve been hurt by a church or perhaps they’ve allowed the busyness of life to get in the way. But this is not what God intends.

God calls every believer to be actively and vitally involved in the life of a local church. He designed our faith to be corporate. Individual believers need the church and the church needs individual believers. Neither can be everything God purposes for us to be without the other.

God designed the #ChristianFaith to be #Corporate #C&EChristian
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Christians who don’t attend the same church regularly enough to be an integral part of the life of that church are missing out on much of what God has for them. Although I’m sure I could make a much longer list, the following four things quickly jumped to mind:

Deep, loving relationships with other believers – God chooses to love, encourage, comfort, and support us through His people. Other Christians are His tools, His means of providing for us. When we aren’t around enough to develop those relationships we rob ourselves of so much that God wants to give us. (See 1 John 3:16-18, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:11.)
The blessing of fulfilling service – The Holy Spirit reveals His presence in a unique way in the life of every believer. He may manifest Himself in one person through the gift of teaching, another through the gift of mercy, and still another through the gift of administration. These gifts are not intended for the individual but for the good of the church. It is only when we use our spiritual gifts to serve the body that we will find the blessing of fulfilling our God-given purpose. (See 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.)
The full spectrum of spiritual growth – Individual believers need the church for equipping, edification, and teaching. We CANNOT do it by ourselves. We cannot grow to spiritual maturity without the support, resources, and accountability of the church (Ephesians 4:11-13).
Protection from false teaching – A Christian on her own is vulnerable. We can easily wander without the stability of the church body. We are gullible and are prone to believe lies without the foundation of the teaching of the church (Ephesians 4:14).

C&E Christians are really missing out. Here are 4 things
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Of course only the individual and God can determine this, but there is another very important thing a C & E Christian might be missing. An individual who claims to be a Christian but only attends the church to worship twice a year, may be missing out on a saving relationship with Jesus. A spiritually healthy Christian naturally wants to be connected with other Christians. If that’s not the case, something is seriously wrong.

Are you a C&E Christian? Have you felt you’ve been missing out? Do you know any C&E Christians? How can we encourage them to be an active part of Christ’s body?

The post 4 Things a C & E Christian is Missing appeared first on Kathy Howard.

6 Ways to Impact Children with the Message of Easter

Rich memories of childhood Easters keep popping up in my mind. I can still feel the cold metal of the folding chair as I sat with my family in the church parking lot waiting for the first rays of the sun to make their appearance. And with the sun, the somber notes of “low in the grave He lay…” became the joyous thunder of “up from the grave He arose (He arose), with a mighty triumph o’er His foes.” After prayer and singing, everyone escaped the chilly air and enjoyed pancakes and sausage in the church fellowship hall.

Recently, I’ve been thinking about the impact Easter had on me as a child. I also have wonderful memories of Christmas, but Easter took root in my soul from an early age. Even then, I must have sensed the eternal significance of Christ’s death and resurrection. As parents and grandparents, we have a great opportunity – and God-given responsibility – to make sure our children understand the great truth and power of Easter.

6 easy, memorable ways to impact #children w/ #EasterMessage
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Below are six easy, but memorable, ways to help your children understand the Easter story. Make sure you check out the links for details and more information:

Make a set of Resurrection Eggs – This is a fun way to “concretely” share the Easter story with your kids. You can purchase a ready-made set, but putting them together with your kids is part of the fun. Here are the instructions for making your own Resurrection Eggs.

Make your own #ResurrectionEggs for your kids for #Easter
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2. Watch a movie together – One great way to start a conversation with your children about the Easter is by watching a movie that portrays the Easter story or illustrates its truths. Several great ones are available. Just choose one that is age-appropriate for the kids in your life. Here are a few suggestions:

Passion of the Christ (teenagers and older)
Jesus of Nazareth – You can rent it on Netflix!
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – Here’s some helpful notes to spiritual truths in the movie
Veggie Tales’ An Easter Carol
Veggie Tales’ Twas the Night Before Easter3

3. Attend a Good Friday service or event – Many churches have services on Good Friday to help us remember Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. This is a great opportunity to talk about Jesus’ death and what it accomplished for us. Cochrane, the small town where we lived in Canada, had a “Cross Walk.” Members from all areas of the community met downtown and prayerfully followed the cross as a volunteer carried it through the streets.

4. Make Resurrection Cookies – Use this tasty object lesson to teach your kids about the empty tomb. Make them on Saturday night and enjoy them first thing Sunday. Here’s the recipe and how-to’s for Resurrection Cookies.

Share the #ResurrectionStory w/ your kids w/ #ResurrectionCookies
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5. Share the Gospel from Scripture – Your kids are never to young to hear that “Jesus died to save us.” Of course, the way you share this truth needs to be age appropriate. For instance, tell the biblical Easter story using tangible objects such as 30 coins, a large nail, and a small wooden cross as visuals to keep their attention. See this article on Crosswalk.com by Sandy Coughlin. And here are five Easter Mini-lessons for your family from Focus on the Family.

6. Experience the Easter Sunrise – Like the women who went to the tomb, be up and ready to greet the first light of Sunday morning. You can do this at an official sunrise service or in your own backyard. Friday was somber. Sunday is a celebration! (And don’t forget the pancake breakfast!)

I’d love to hear about your childhood Easter memories! Also, please share ways you celebrate Easter with your kids, grandkids, and other children in your life.

 

The post 6 Ways to Impact Children with the Message of Easter appeared first on Kathy Howard.

3 Biblical Principles to Guide Your Vote

For weeks now I have thought about writing a post about the presidential election, but have talked myself out of it every time. Until now. After all, the whole process has been so explosive already.

But, I feel as though America is about to throw herself off a cliff and “evangelical Christians” are leading the way. What I can’t figure out is why? God should be Lord of every area of lives, including our vote.

So, what does the Bible say about voting, government, and the Christian? Honestly, I couldn’t go straight to any chapter and verse, so I did a little digging into Scripture. Although the Bible doesn’t say anything directly about a Christian voting for government leaders, I did find some solid principles we can apply to the responsibility of the Christian voter.

What does the #Bible say about Christians and #voting?
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First, let’s take a quick step back and look at God’s intent for government. God establishes all rulers and government (Romans 13:1). God’s original purpose for all human authorities is the good of the people they govern (Romans 13:4). Of course, the best “good” for us is God’s good for us. In a perfect world, as God’s representative, a good human leader would be one that reflects God’s character, principles, and purposes in his or her governance.

But we don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a world warped by sin. Many leaders are in it for themselves. Sometimes leaders even purposefully seek to harm those they govern. (God has a lot to say about this, but that will have to wait for another post.) So, how do we decide who to vote for? The following three principles can guide our decisions.

3 Biblical Principles to Guide Your #vote
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Three Helpful Guidelines for the Christian Voter

Vote for the man or woman who will seek to further God’s will on earth – In Matthew 6:10, Jesus directed His followers to pray for God’s will to be “done on earth as it is in heaven.” No one who follows Jesus should knowingly vote for anyone who stands for values, actions, or goals that directly oppose God’s will. In fact, we should cast our vote for someone who has clearly stated goals and activities that align with God’s will.
Vote for the man or woman who will work to secure religious freedom in our country – In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul told Timothy to pray for those in authority in order that Christians “may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Christians must vote for leaders who will purposefully provide a government framework that allows Christians to openly live out the tenets of our faith.
Vote for the man or woman who displays godly character and values – It’s easy to talk a “godly game.” People can say anything they think the voter wants to here. The proof is in their behavior. The candidate doesn’t even have to be a Christ-follower to have “godly” character. And on the flip side, the candidate can claim to be a Christian but not display godly character. The Bible tells us that God has written his law on the hearts of all people because they know right from wrong and instinctively keep God’s commands (Romans 2:14-15). Leaders who consistently and flagrantly behave in ways contrary to God’s character show themselves to be rebellious toward God. Again, it’s not enough to accept what a candidate says. We must look at their behavior, including the way they treat other people.

What should godly character and values looks like for a leader? Considering the principles above, I think it’s appropriate to apply the qualifications God gives us for church leaders to the realm of government. The following list was compiled from three passages which give us qualifications for church deacons, elders, and overseers. (See 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:6-11, and Acts 6:3.)

13 characteristics to look for in a #PresidentialCandidate
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Above reproach
Self-controlled
Respectable
Not a drunkard
Gentle
Not quarrelsome
Not greedy
Manages family well
Holds to godly truth and values
Not overbearing
Not quick-tempered
Not a “mere talker”
Full of wisdom (See my post “8 Characteristics of Godly Wisdom”)

How does your candidate measure up to this list of godly characteristics? Can you apply the 3 principles above and in good conscience vote for the candidate you’ve been supporting?  

How does your #candidate measure up to these biblical principles?
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