Daily Hope E-mails

God's Remedy for the Exhausted

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"God wants His loved ones to get their proper rest." (Psalm 127:2 TLB)

I've always been fascinated with the sudden change in the disciples before and after the Resurrection. One minute they're defeated, and the next minute they're dynamic. One minute they're crushed, and the next minute they're confident. One minute they're having a pity party, and the next minute they're taking on the world.

What made the difference?

When you personally meet a resurrected Jesus Christ, you become a more confident person. You can see this in the disciples in John 20.

John 20:19 says, "That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! 'Peace be with you,' he said.�As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!" (NLT)

Over the next few days, we'll look at three things that robbed the first disciples (and that also rob us) of confidence and what the Bible says about how to overcome those obstacles.

First, you can tell the disciples were tired. It was late that Sunday. It had been a rough week. They had Palm Sunday. They had the cleansing of the temple. They had the Lord's Supper. They had Gethsemane. They had the six trials. They had the Crucifixion. They were worn out!

The most common cause of discouragement is physical and emotional exhaustion. Things look worse when you're tired. Vince Lombardi said, "Fatigue makes cowards of all of us."�

When you're tired, you lose your confidence. It's that simple. What's the remedy? It doesn't take rocket science to figure this out. The remedy for physical and emotional exhaustion - and the confidence drain it can be - is rest!

Psalm 127:2 says, "God wants His loved ones to get their proper rest" (TLB). Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is go to sleep. It's amazing how much better things look after you've had a good night's sleep.

You'll never be at your best if you're not getting rest.

Talk About It

What is keeping you from not getting enough rest?

How might your physical and emotional exhaustion keep you from doing the things God has planned for you?

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Rick Warren�is the founding pastor of�Saddleback Church�in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller�"The Purpose Driven Life."�His book,�"The Purpose Driven Church," was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of�Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.

Let God Solve Your Problem

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

�"But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!" (2 Chronicles 20:17 NLT) �

What God tells Jehoshaphat in this passage and what he would remind us of today is this: "The battle is not yours; it's mine. You don't have to fight in it."

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In other words, it's God's problem. Let him solve it.�

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The fact is, if you are God's child, then your problems are his problems. And he's much better at fighting your battles and solving your problems than you will ever be. Your job is to trust him to work it all out. Perhaps the reason we have so many tired, fatigued, and discouraged Christians is because we think, "It all depends on me."

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The day you resign as General Manager of the Universe, you're going to find that it doesn't fall apart. You can relax in faith, trusting that God is able to run things without your help.

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Twice in this passage it says, "Don't be afraid," and "Don't be discouraged." When you face a seemingly impossible situation, don't be afraid, and don't be discouraged. Has God ever lost a battle? No. He doesn't lose battles.�

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God tells Jehoshaphat, "Take your positions and stand firm." What does it mean to stand firm? It means to have a mental attitude of quiet confidence.�

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You stand firm on two things:

The character of God. He's faithful. He does not bring us this far just to let us down. He won't bring you out on a limb and then cut off the limb. Have faith in the nature and character of God.
The truth of his Word. God's Word is faithful. You can count on the promises found in the Bible.�

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Talk About It

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How might your pride keep you from letting God fight your battles for you?

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Make a list of the things you know to be true of the character of God. How will those truths change you today?

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Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller "The Purpose Driven Life." His book, "The Purpose Driven Church," was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.�

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Barriers to Knowing God's Will

Sun, 13 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do." (Ephesians 5:17 NLT)

Every day I talk to people who say, "If there is a God and he allowed me to be born and I'm still alive, what is his plan for me? Why am I here, and what am I supposed to be doing? How do I find out God's will for me so I don't waste my life?"

The Bible says this: "So be careful how you live. Don't live like ignorant people, but like wise people. Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days. Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do" (Ephesians 5:15-17 TEV).

It's wise to figure out why I was put on Earth. It's foolish to go through life without a clue. Fortunately, God doesn't play games with us. He wants us to understand his will for our lives. When we look toward the wrong things, we create barriers to discovering God's will. For instance:

God's will is not about a feeling. God's plan for your life is not discovered through some emotional sensation. His plan for your life is practical, not mystical.

God's will is not about a formula. God's will is not some step-by-step procedure that you rigidly follow through life. Life just isn't that simple! You need more than a formula.

Here's the key: God's will for your life begins with a friendship. God is far more interested in having you establish a relationship with him than he is interested in having you follow a set of rules.�

First and foremost, God wants you to get to know him, like he already knows you. Once this relationship is established, everything else - career, family, goals, recreation, ambitions, finances, health, and friendships - will begin to fall into their proper place.

Talk About It -

Why do you think God's will is not about a feeling?

Why do you think God's will is not about a formula?

Help Your Children Know God

Sat, 12 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"I showed what you are like to those you gave me from the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me." (John 17:6a NCV)

The world is full of sons and daughters who desperately need spiritual leadership. Is it possible your kids are among them? You can become a spiritual leader to your children by developing the characteristics that we see in Jesus as he taught his disciples for three years.

First, Jesus helped the disciples know God.

You need to help your children get to know God, because eternity is in the balance - life or death, Heaven or Hell. It is your job to help make sure your kids are introduced to God.

Look at what Jesus says: "They belonged to you." He's acknowledging that the disciples belonged to God, just as our kids belong to God. He loaned them to us for a period of time in which he wants us to parent them. Parenting, like all forms of leadership, is really about stewardship. You learn to say, "God, I am the steward of these children, whom you put into my care, and I will do what you need me to do to help them achieve their purpose."

Notice Jesus then says, "I showed what you were like to those you gave me." Jesus doesn't say, "I preached. I sermonized. I pontificated. I lectured so the disciples would know you." He says, "I showed." He led by example.�

This is one of the most sobering truths about being a parent. For right or wrong, for good or bad, whether you like it or not, your children's idea of God is going to be largely determined by the kind of parent you are. You may not like that. I may not like that, but it's the truth.

If you are impatient and demanding, they're going to think God is impatient and demanding. If you are distant and detached and never have time for your kids, they're going to think God is distant and detached from them. If you are inconsistent and unreliable, if you break your promises, they're going to think their heavenly Father is inconsistent and unreliable and breaks his promises.�

What is God really like?

God is caring.
God is close and aware of the details.
God is consistent.
God is competent.�

Talk About It -

If my kids are going to grow up knowing God is caring, close, consistent, and competent, then I must be caring, close, consistent, and competent. What do you think you need to work on related to this?

With a friend who is also a parent, talk about how you are currently caring for your kids by showing them what God is like. Encourage and share ideas with each other.

Parenting: It's Never Too Late to Lead

Fri, 11 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"For their sake I dedicate myself completely to you, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to you." (John 17:19 TEV)

Jesus knew he wouldn't be with the disciples forever. He knew at the Last Supper that he would be hanging on a cross within a few hours. This is what he prayed: "Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father ... now protect them by the power of your name" (John 17:11 NLT).

You're not going to be with your children forever. Parenting is a season. It isn't going to last forever, but it's never too late to start leading.�

You may be a grandparent now, but you can still be a spiritual leader to your grandchildren.

You can echo Jesus' prayer, saying, "Father, before I depart the world, help me to impart godly truths to my children and grandchildren. Before I leave them behind and come to you, guide me to be a good steward of those you put in my care. Then I can give them back to you, knowing you have always and will always care for them."

Talk About It --

What do your kids see that you are committed to?

What do you want them to see that you're committed to?

Let God Be God in Your Children's Lives

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world." (John 17:18 MSG)

Jesus released the disciples to serve God's purposes.

As a parent, I am responsible to protect my kids as they're growing up, but that doesn't mean I protect them from taking risks for the glory of God. You can be so over-protective that you do not release your kids emotionally or maybe even physically to do what God wants them to.�

You say, "Sure, I want my kids to serve God, as long as they stay here in the area" or "Yeah, I want my kids to do what God wants them to do. They can follow his plan and purpose for their lives, as long as they live down the block. They can do whatever God says as long as they don't do something that's dangerous, where they could be hurt or killed."

It is natural as parents not to want your kids to be hurt. But let me ask you this very frank question: Are you willing to let God be God in your kids' lives?�

Or, are you still trying to be God in their lives? You have to let them go. I've seen some parents try to control their children's lives even after they are married; yet, the Bible teaches that for marriage, "a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one" (Genesis 2:24 TEV).

The point is this: It is God's plan for children to leave and, as parents, we must teach them while we have them, but then let them go to serve God's purposes.

Jesus said, "In the same way you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world" (John 17:18 MSG). The whole goal of parenting is to eventually release your children. From the moment they are born, you are preparing them to be released into the world, not to hold onto them or control their lives for the rest of your life.

Talk About It --

Talk about what you think of this statement: It is God's plan for children to leave and, as parents, we must teach them while we have them, but then let them go to serve God's purposes.

What are ways you are preparing your children to be released into the world?

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Guard Your Children's Spiritual Growth

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"Nurture, guard, guide, and fold the flock of God that is your responsibility . Not domineering as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons ... but being examples, patterns, and models of Christian living ..." (1 Peter 5:2-3 AMP)

Jesus protected the disciples' spirits.

What does that mean for your children? You protect their dignity, their self-esteem, and their spirit. You realize the power of your words and that they can heal or hurt.�

We say, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." That's absolutely wrong!�

Words hurt more than sticks and stones. A child can break a leg or an arm, and it will heal, but some of you are still under a curse today because when you were growing up, your dad or mom said, "You're never going to amount to anything." And you're still trying to prove them wrong. You're still reacting to life instead of acting.�

As parents we must understand the power of our words to hurt or to heal. A parent can crush a daughter with one sentence - or build that daughter up. The same is true with sons. John Eldredge, in his book "Wild at Heart," says most men go through life reacting to what I often call "the father wound." Every boy, as he grows up, wants to have his manhood affirmed, and the most important person to affirm it is his dad.

If he doesn't get it there, he tries to get his manhood affirmed in dozens of other ways. He lives his entire life trying to compensate for something his dad never said: "You're OK, son. You're a man. You're all right. You're valuable."�

The Apostle Peter, though writing to pastors, gives advice that applies to all leaders, including moms and dads: "Nurture, guard, guide, and fold the flock of God that is your responsibility [that includes your kids] ... Not domineering as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons ... but being examples, patterns, and models of Christian living."�

Talk About It -

How do you use words to build up your children?

How might your words be hurting your children?

Talk with your small group or close friend about ways you can affirm your children, and hold each other accountable.

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Protect Your Children's Minds

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name . I protected them ..." (John 17:12 TEV)

The mark of a spiritual leader is protection, so parents should protect the spiritual growth of their children. Jesus said, "While I was with them I kept them safe by the power of your name . I protected them" (John 17:12 TEV).

Jesus guarded the disciples' spiritual growth by protecting their minds. As a parent, it is your job to protect your children's innocence. This is a huge task in the culture we live in today. Children are not mini-adults, and we need to protect the innocence of our children as they're growing up. They cannot handle things like violence or sex. These things are heavy subjects for a little mind.�

When our three kids were growing up, Kay and I were very strict with what movies they could see, what TV programs they could watch, and what books and magazines they could read. We got all kinds of grief from our kids for it.

When they were little and could only see a G-rated movie, they would say, "We want to go see this PG movie!" When they got a little bit older, they would say, "We want to go see this PG-13 movie!" We'd say, "You can when you're older, but right now you're not going to see it." And they ruthlessly criticized: "Dad! Mom! You guys are so narrow-minded! You're the only parents in the entire universe who are not letting their kids see this movie!"

It is amazing to me how Christian parents let their kids, even teenagers, see all kinds of things they have no business seeing. We should care about their minds. My three kids have grown up and they are happy, well-adjusted kids. Why? Because when they were growing up, their minds weren't filled with garbage and vulgarities.

Your children will be exposed to that soon enough in life. They don't need it at a young age. You have to protect what goes into their mind.

Talk About It --

Think of the last movie you told your kids they could watch. Would you still let them see it in light of what you've read here?
How are you encouraging your children to fill their minds with positive, life-giving, and instructional information and images?
Are you more concerned with how your kids view you or with your responsibility as a parent to guard their minds?

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Pray Continually for Your Children

Mon, 07 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours." (John 17:9 NIV)

Jesus reflected the father heart of God when he prayed for the disciples. As a father or mother, you can pray that your children will focus on the five purposes of God.

God's five purposes for your children are the same as God's five purposes for your life. Jesus prayed for all five purposes in the lives of those he was leading: "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours" (John 17:9 NIV).

We can pray that our children will live for Christ joyfully: "I pray these things while I'm still in the world so that they will have the same joy that I have" (John 17:13b GW).

We can pray that our children will grow strong spiritually: "I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one" (John 17:15 NLT).

We can pray that our children will serve Christ effectively: "Make them ready for your service through your truth; your teaching is truth" (John 17:17 NCV).

We can pray that our children will experience fellowship personally: "My prayer is that they will be of one heart and mind, just as You and I are one, Father . and the world will believe You sent Me" (John 17:21 LB).

We can pray that our children will bring others to Christ regularly: "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in Me because of their message" (John 17:20 TEV).

Talk About It

What are ways you can pray your children live for Christ? Grow strong? Serve Christ? Experience fellowship? Bring others to Christ?

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Rick Warren�is the founding pastor of�Saddleback Church�in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller�"The Purpose Driven Life."�His book,�"The Purpose Driven Church," was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of�Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.

Correct Your Children Without Condemning Them

Sun, 06 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"Correct your children while there is still hope; do not let them destroy themselves." (Proverbs 19:18 NCV)

We all need correction at times, because no one is perfect. If I don't discipline my kids, it means two things:

I'm willing to participate in their destruction. Proverbs 19:18 says, "Correct your children while there is still hope; do not let them destroy themselves" (NCV). If I don't take the time to correct my kids and teach them new habits and the right way to behave and think, I'm actually setting them up to fail and be destroyed. Even worse, refusing to take the time to discipline our children is evidence of a lack of love in our heart. We don't think of it that way. Sometimes we're just too tired to fight another battle. But that reveals that we're putting our needs ahead of our child's needs. We need to take the time to discipline our kids.

How can we correct them in a way without condemning them?

Don't correct in anger. Ephesians 6:4 says, "Don't keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather, bring them up with loving discipline, with suggestions and godly advice" (LB). When I'm frustrated and angry with my kids, it feels good to let out that frustration; that release is an instant solution. But it does nothing for the long-term problem, and it strains the relationship between my kids and me. Instead of disciplining in anger, back away, calm down, get yourself under control, then come back and deal with the problem.

Watch your words. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that built up" (GN). Harmful words create hurtful memories. Those words that are spoken in anger and belittle our weaknesses and our faults and our failings are like knives in the heart. You don't want to leave harmful words in your family's memories. Instead, choose your words carefully, and speak in love.

A Parent's Prayer

Make this your prayer today and every day: "I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need Your help especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should" (Psalm 101:2 LB).

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Trust Your Kids with Responsibility

Sat, 05 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot ... And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own?" (Luke 16:10, 12 NCV)

Nothing brings out the best in a person like having someone believe in him and trust him with responsibility. Jesus pointed this out. He said the way we grow is by being given responsibility. Luke 16 says, "Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot ... And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own?" (v. 10, 12 NCV).

Wise leaders and parents understand this principle. People respond to responsibility. Kids respond to responsibility. We all need places where we are trusted, where we can grow, develop, and prove ourselves. The only way you can learn the life skill of responsibility is by being given the opportunity to show responsibility.�

Part of bringing out the best in your kids involves allowing them to fail. Our tendency is to protect our kids from failure; it's natural. We want to protect them from mistakes. We don't want them to feel bad. If they do fail, we want to bail them out quickly so they won't suffer.�

But what we're doing is preventing them from learning a valuable lesson. Everybody fails; nobody is good at everything. The key to this has nothing to do with not failing in life; it's learning how to rebound from a failure. When you don't give kids the opportunity to fail, you are saying to them, "You're not competent, and I don't trust you. You can't handle it, so I'm going to do it for you." That approach keeps kids dependent upon their parents.

The Bible says this in Galatians 6:5: "We are each responsible for our own conduct" (NLT). When your kids fail, don't let them blame anybody else. Why? Because we must all learn that we are responsible for our own actions. That is a desperately needed truth today, because we're living in a nation of victims. Everybody is a victim! It's all somebody else's fault! But the Bible says we're each responsible for our own conduct. We're far better off trusting our kids too much than we are trusting them too little.

Talk About It

Are you doing too much for your kids? How could taking responsibility for someone take responsibility away from that person?

Talk about some of the failures you've experienced in your life. How did they help you grow as a person and in your walk with God?

Do you think it's important for your kids to experience failure so that they can learn some of the same life lessons? How do you handle this?

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Accept Your Kids' Uniqueness

Fri, 04 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"The same God produces every gift in every person." (1 Corinthians 12:6b GW)

Every child in your family is different and unique. Even twins are not alike. As a parent, you have to recognize and value each child's individuality.��

1 Corinthians 12:6 says, "The same God produces every gift in every person" (GW). God made everyone different because otherwise the world would be incredibly boring. There would also be a lot of work that wouldn't get done. If we all liked the same thing, there would be a lot of things that nobody liked to do, and they just wouldn't get done.

How can you tell when you've accepted your kid's uniqueness? It's simple: You stop insisting that they be like you. God made us in his image, and now, as parents, we want to make our kids in our image. So we say either overtly or covertly, "You need to be like me. You need to think like I think. You need to like the things I like.

The things I was good at in school, you should be good at in school." The message comes through loud and clear to the kids: "You can't be yourself. The only way to get love, acceptance, or approval is to be like Mom and Dad."

Kids are not things to be molded; they're people to be unfolded. Your goal in life should not be to mold your kids in your image. Your goal in life should be to help them discover who God made them to be.�

God sovereignly chose to make your kids the way they are. He wired them in a way that you had nothing to do with. When your child is acting in a way that is so foreign to you that you want to say, "What planet did you come from?" you need to trust God's wisdom and realize that he knew exactly what your child needed and exactly what you needed, and he put the two of you together in a family for his unique purpose.

Talk About It

Helping your children realize their uniqueness is a difficult task for parents because there are two competing pressures in the world: the pressure to conform and the pressure to compare. Talk about what this means with some of your friends.

In what ways are you helping your children understand their uniqueness in spite of these pressures?

Have you embraced your own uniqueness? How are you modeling for your kids that it's OK to be different, that God never makes a mistake, and that we are created in his image?

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Point Your Kids to God

Thu, 03 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding." (Proverbs 9:10 TLB)

The most important lesson that we teach our kids is knowing and loving God.

You don't have all the answers. If you haven't figured that out yet, you will. You don't have all the answers for the questions your kids are going to ask. I don't mean things like, "Why is the sky blue?" or "Why do dogs bark?" - for which you make up answers to satisfy them for awhile. As they get older, they ask questions like, "Why did God make me this way?" or "If God is loving and in control of everything, why did he allow Grandma to die?" Questions like that are very tough to answer, and my reservoir of answers is very small. But it's my job as a parent to point my kids to a God who does have all the answers.

You can sit down and tell your kids things about God, and that has some effect. But if you want to be even more effective, you have to be a role model. The best way to teach your kids is by modeling for them the truths you want them to understand.

Sometimes parents make the mistake by hiding from their kids the struggles that they're facing, because they want to protect them. But in certain situations, sharing with our kids the things that are going on in our lives helps them see how to get through those struggles. When you're experiencing financial difficulties, how better to teach your kids to have faith in God than by constantly expressing to them, "Yeah, it's tough right now, but we have a God who is faithful to us, and he'll provide for us"? If they don't see our trust in God and his deliverance in our lives, why should they rely on him?

Proverbs 9:10 says, "Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding" (TLB). Knowing God is the foundation of life. Many parents who are not even Christians talk about God - but that's not enough. We need to point our kids to Jesus Christ, their Savior, by modeling for them every day what we know to be true about God and his Son.

Talk About It

How are you doing in this area of pointing your kids to God?
How does your life show them what it means to be a person who is 100 percent sold out to Jesus Christ?
By your model, what are you telling your kids means the most in life? Is it a job, money, hobby, pleasure, or your relatinahip with Jesus?

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Don't Endure Your Children - Enjoy Them!

Wed, 02 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"Your children are a gift from God." (Psalm 127:3 TLB)

God intends families to be a haven for happiness and fun - a place to party, kick back, relax, and have a good time.

It is true that the family that prays together, stays together. Also, the family that plays together, stays together.

Your children are gifts from God, meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. A lot of parents endure their kids; they don't enjoy them. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 16, "Celebrate with your whole family." Party down! Have a good time. If you wait until all your problems are gone to start enjoying life, you'll never enjoy life.

When my kids were young, they were never impressed with what adults are impressed by in my life. What they wanted to know is, "Is Daddy fun?" So I intentionally worked hard on this one. I used to "kidnap" my kids from school in the middle of the day to go do something fun. They're not going to remember all my sermons, but they're going to remember whether or not Dad was fun.

If your home isn't fun while your kids are growing up, don't be surprised if they don't come back often when they're grown. Why should they?�

Talk About It --

How often do you party at your house?

Would you say you enjoy your kids or just endure them?

Do you plan fun times, or are you so busy that you don't have time for any fun?�

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Protect Your Children in the Storms

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"Reverence for God gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security." (Proverbs 14:26 TLB)

Life is full of storms that batter us, bruise us, and beat us up. Life is very tough, and we all need a place of safety, security, peace, and protection. God has planned that our homes be that place.

There are all kinds of storms that come into our lives, but here are three every one of us will experience:

Change. From day to day, relationships change, jobs change, our health changes, where we live changes. Studies tell us that too much of any change - positive or negative - is stressful. So we need a place of security and support, where we know everything is going to be the same.

Failure. Nobody wins all the time. Sometimes you get passed by for the promotion, you don't make the team, or you fail the test. And it hurts. But failure is more bearable if you're coming home to hugs, if you know that when you get home, you're going to be encouraged.

Rejection. Everyone knows what it's like to feel criticized, pushed away, or not allowed to be part of the "in" crowd. A lot of that starts on the playground, where kids can be mean, laughing at the flaws of others and making fun of those who seem different. Coming home to acceptance and love helps children through the storms.

How do you build a home that can be a shelter in a storm?

Hear. Listen to the people in your family. Don't be too quick to come up with a solution before they even get the words out of their mouths. Sometimes they just need to vent or tell you how they feel.

Hug. Express affection. Do the things that say "I love you."

Hope. Build up the people in your family with affirmation. Make sure you're giving good input to balance all the negative they hear outside your home.

Help. Make sure that you do whatever it takes to get help when your family is going through a tough time. Unhealthy families ignore their problems or they say, "We can make it without help. We don't need anyone else's input. We're not talking to anybody about this. We can handle it" - or worse, they say, "What problem?" Healthy families are willing to look at themselves realistically and say, "We're having a tough time right now, and we need some help."

You may not be able to protect your children from the storms of life, but you can help protect them in the storms of life by making your home a place of security and support.

Talk About It

What things can you do to make your home a shelter?�

How would you rate yourself on being affirming and supportive?

�

Prepare Your Children for Life

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52 NIV)

The Bible says that one of the goals for parenting is to prepare your kids for life. God intends the family to be a learning center for life. You learn things in your family that you don't learn anywhere else. I remember when my youngest taught me how to burp and sneeze at the same time - a very cool thing! I don't know if I'll ever use it anywhere, but it's a great spiritual experience to be able to do that.

You learn life's basic skills in the family, like how to walk, talk, eat, and use a TV remote. God says we are to prepare our kids for life.�

The Bible says this about Jesus in Luke 2:52: "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (NIV). This verse says there are four ways Jesus grew, and these are the same four ways you, as a parent, have to help your children grow.�

The Bible says:

Jesus grew in wisdom - that's mental or intellectual growth.
Jesus grew in stature - that's physical growth.
Jesus grew in favor with God - that's spiritual growth.
Jesus grew in favor with men - that's social growth.

Those should be the goals you have in your family for each of your children, which focus on balanced growth: mental, physical, spiritual, and social. The Bible is very clear that the primary responsibility of raising children and helping them be prepared for life belongs to the parents.

The moment you took part in a conception you got a job description; raising your children well is your responsibility. Help your children grow strong mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially.

Talk About It

Part of your job description is described in Deuteronomy 6:7: "Repeat [these commandments] again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up."
How do you teach your children the commandments of God? What new things might you try?
Deuteronomy 6:7 implies 24/7 instruction. What ways can you incorporate teaching your children into your daily routine?

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Learn how to be a DOER of God's Word.

'Dear Friends, God the Father Chose You Long Ago'

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"Dear friends, God the Father chose you long ago and knew you would become His children." (1 Peter 1:2 LB)

Discouragement will come; it always does. Maybe you feel discouraged because of a struggling relationship, stalled career, or failing health.

When discouragement comes, you can rest assured in one thing: God chose you to be a part of his family. Long before you chose God, he picked you!

The Bible says in 1 Peter 1:2, "Dear friends, God the Father chose you long ago and knew you would become His children" (LB).

God didn't choose you because of something you've done. It's all because of who he is. You weren't good enough, smart enough, or spiritual enough for him to save you. He saved you because he loves you.

And that's good news - really good news! That's the good news that your whole life should be built upon.

Because you did nothing to earn your place in God's family, you can do nothing to lose it. 1 Peter 1:3 says, "For it is His boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that now we are members of God's own family."

Your place at God's table is based upon his mercy, not your performance. You didn't deserve it in the first place; you don't deserve it now. The Creator of the Universe says: "I want you to be a part of my family."

Talk About It

How should the knowledge of your secure place in God's family change your attitude and perspective on life?

What do you need to do today to rest in the security of God's love and acceptance?

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God Uses People Who Want to Share Their Godly Passions

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good." (Galatians 4:18 NIV)

God is a passionate God. He passionately loves some things and passionately hates other things. As you grow closer to him, he'll give you a passion for something he cares about deeply so you can be a spokesperson for him in the world.

It may be a passion about a problem, a purpose, a principle, or a group of people. Whatever it is, you'll feel compelled to speak up about it and do what you can to make a difference.

You cannot keep yourself from talking about what you care about most.�Jesus said, "A man's heart determines his speech" (Matthew 12:34 LB).

Here are two examples:

David, who said, "My zeal for God and his work burns hot within me" (Psalm 69:9 LB).

Jeremiah, who said, "Your message burns in my heart and bones, and I cannot keep silent" (Jeremiah 20:9 CEV).

God gives some people a godly passion to champion a cause. It's often a problem they personally experienced such as abuse, addiction, infertility, depression, a disease, or some other difficulty.

Sometimes God gives people a passion to speak up for a group of others who can't speak for themselves: the unborn, the persecuted, the poor, the imprisoned, the mistreated, the disadvantaged, and those who are denied justice.

The Bible is filled with commands to defend the defenseless.

God uses passionate people to further his Kingdom. He may give you a godly passion for starting new churches, strengthening families, funding Bible translations, or training Christian leaders, or you may be given a godly passion for reaching a particular group of people with the Gospel: businessmen, teenagers, foreign exchange students, young mothers, or those with a particular hobby or sport.

If you ask God, he'll burden your heart for a specific country or ethnic group that desperately needs a strong Christian witness.

God gives us different passions so everything he wants done in the world will get done. You should not expect everyone else to be passionate about your passion.
Instead we must listen to and value each other's life message, because nobody can say it all. Never belittle someone else's godly passion.

The Bible says, "It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good" (Galatians 4:18 NIV).

Talk About It

What passion has God given you?
What are you currently doing to pursue that passion?
Do you believe God wants you to do something more or different to accomplish his goals?
How can you support the godly passions of your friends and family?

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God Uses People with a Passion for Him

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"'My wayward children,' says the LORD, 'come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.' 'Yes, we're coming,' the people reply, 'for you are the LORD our God.'" (Jeremiah 3:22 NLT)

When was the last time you hungered for God, wanting intimacy with him so badly you chased after him with abandonment, desiring God so much you'd follow him through the desert and through an empty and barren land (Jeremiah 2:2)?

If you're like me, you may be thinking, "God, I don't think that kind of love is humanly possible!"

And if you're thinking that, you're right. Only with Jesus within are we capable of loving God with the supernatural mystery of his own love. God is able to change the desires within you; he is able to rekindle a deep, devoted love within you.

If you've lost your passion for God, the way to get it back is not to try harder until you somehow reach that level of love. The way back is to trust God's promises to bring you back into deep devotion (Jeremiah 2:2).

God will forgive our prodigal nature; he'll cure us of our lethargic faith. He says, "My wayward children ... come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts."

And our response should be, "Yes, we're coming ... for you are the LORD our God" (Jeremiah 3:22 NLT).

Talk About It

How would you describe your passion for God?

If God will cure our lethargic faith, what keeps us from returning to a deep passion for God?

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Jon Walker is author of "Costly Grace: A Contemporary View of Bonhoeffer's 'The Cost of Discipleship'" and "In Visible Fellowship: A Contemporary View of Bonhoeffer's Classic Work 'Life Together'."

He is managing editor of Rick Warren's Daily Hope Devotionals.

God Uses People Who Fortify Their Faith

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:00 GMT

"Strengthen yourselves so that you will live here on earth doing what God wants, not evil things people want." (1 Peter 4:2 NCV)

What are you doing to fortify your faith? Here are just a few things you could be doing:

Study the Bible. We need to make his Word a part of our lives. God's Word is inspired, and it will help you to be fully equipped to do everything God wants you to do.

Maintain a quiet time. How are you doing with your quiet time? For some of you, that's a guilt-inducing statement. I think that may be because you're trying to have a quiet time like someone taught you long ago, but the method you were taught doesn't fit the way God shaped you. What do you need to do to spend some daily time in God's Word?

Read Christian books. Do yourself a favor, and learn all you can. Keep feeding your soul with what other believers have to say. If all I do is study the Bible for myself and don't listen to what other believers have to say about it, I'm not gaining from the wisdom and experience of other believers.

Keep your testimony fresh. What is God doing in your life? When was the last time you wrote out your testimony? If you write it out, God will give you the chance to share it. When you share your testimony with others, it fortifies your faith.

Be faithful to a small group of believers. The Bible says we should "encourage one another and build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11a NIV). We are in a marathon of faith, and we need to run together. We need the support and encouragement of other believers.

Talk About It

What is your plan for regular Bible study?
Talk with your small group, and make a list of great Christian books to read.
Take time this week to write out your testimony. It doesn't have to be long. Share it with some Christian friends so they can help you focus what you're trying to say.
Talk about ways to encourage each other in your small group.

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