Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Pr. 2:4

Have you ever seen sarcasm permeate and take over a conversation?…or a person?…or a family?

Here is the progression:

Someone makes a sarcastic comment.

The other snaps back with sarcasm.

An onlooker is offended and adds his sarcasm.

Now there is an all out war of words that may go on all morning.

What has happened? A fool was answered according to his folly (sarcasm) and another fool (or two) was born.

Folly takes on other forms too.

Anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk (Colossians 3:8)

Bitterness…clamor… (Ephesians 4:31)

We can do our part to stop the cloning of fools by not answering like a fool.

I have my share of exciting stories from the births of my children. The process is not always smooth and uncomplicated; and I can be fearful when I think of the business of receiving a child from the Lord. Yet there is no other area of my life that I have seen more of the works of the Lord and His wonders. It is because of the trials and blessings of giving birth that I can offer abundant thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23

A friend recently noticed my growing abdomen and asked if we were going for number ten. My thought was yes, this is number ten, but it is not my doing. I am thrilled the Lord has blessed us again with a child; however, my part was not to decide for or against a child. That is not my decision. The decision I made was to follow the Lord. I don’t have the wisdom to chose for myself what is best, but I can trust the one who knows all things.

Yes, I am excited to be expecting number ten, but This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” I Peter 5:6-7

What does it look like when we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God?

Your first thought is likely those momentous times of serious illness or emergencies. In these cases, humbling ourselves will prevent us from being angry, bitter, or excessively fretful. For most of us these times are rare and we have time to consciously consider submitting joyfully under the mighty hand of God.  Many Christians come through these times shining like gold, a praise to God and a testimony to those around them.

But how do we do in the everyday opportunities for humble submission? The toilet overflows…the car breaks down…it is another morning with a wet bed (or two)…there is a plumbing problem to be dealt with…the 7-year-olds whole plate of spaghetti lands sauce down on the carpet…now what does humbling look like? How long does it take me to get from my first response to the godly response? When I see the circumstances apart from God, I react to them, instead of submitting to Him.

Lord, help me to submit under Your mighty hand.

Now God’s hand is not just mighty. It is also good!

Ezra knew what it was to have the good hand of God upon him. (Ezra 7:9) Verse 10 tells us why the good hand of God was upon him.

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

He prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, to do it and to teach it. Does that sound like the preachers job. Yes, but these things should be true of every Christian. It is the responsibility and privilege of each one of us to prepare our heart to seek the law of the Lord, do it and teach it. 

What would our homes be like if each Christian was preparing their heart to seek God's law, to do it, and even to encourage one another with it? What would our churches look like? 

May the Good Hand of our God be upon us?  

Have you ever felt like you and your children were on parade as you were walking through stores? People notice children, when they are behaving well and when they are not.

I believe the scripture says we are on parade in 2 Cor. 2:14-16: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ¹⁵For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?” 

Could a trip to Wal-mart really be a victory march? Is grocery shopping an opportunity to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ? My countenance, the way I dress, the way I relate to store personnel and customers, the way I speak to my children, and the way my children behave can and should show the beauty of the Lord our God (Psalm 90:17).

What a privilege!  What a challenge!  Who is equal to such a task?

I am sure I fail more than I want to admit, but keeping the victory parade verse in mind helps me focus on the ministry opportunity instead of the minor annoyances of my day.

Try sharing the victory march challenge with your children before you go out. Remind them of the opportunity to share Christ by the way they walk, smile, and listen to instruction. They may walk taller knowing they are on duty, in active service for the Lord.

There is confusion and frustration in looking to the world for answers; in contrast, there is joy in knowing the source of true knowledge and wisdom.  

Proverbs 3:13

   Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.

We are constantly confronted with perplexing issues; from the moment by moment interactions with our children to responding to the bias of the social reformers of our day. Are you perplexed or confused? Something is just, not right! The answers are in His word.

Fear of the Lord really is the beginning of wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 9:10

    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.    

We need wisdom and understanding to build and establish our house.

Proverbs 24:3

    Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

There are secret treasures in His word that others will not know.

Isaiah 45:3

    And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

Eccles. 2:26

    For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Proverbs 2:6

    For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Our children need to know that every branch of knowledge will have error to the extent that those who study and teach it reject the word of God. The world has fundamental error in their understanding of science, history, sociology, psychology, philosophy, ethics, law, politics, economics, etc. God has given us the foundational truths for each of these areas so that we can identify the error of the worlds teaching and correct it in our own life and teaching.

It is exciting to know the source of truth when the world throws its false ideas at us. We have a tremendous opportunity as home educators to study with our children, so that we can know how to answer.

Proverbs5:28

    The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. 

I don't know all the answers, but I know the One who does. Going to Him for answers is one of "the joys set before us."

Are we excited enough in our future joys to pass them along to our children?

Here are a few of those joys:

Only in Him do we have eternal life.

John 10:28

    And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 6:68 (KJV) 

    Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

 We have a home prepared.

John 14:2

    In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

We have a promise of rewards.

Luke 6:23

    Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Col. 3:24

    Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Rev. 22:12

    And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

There will be exceeding joy when we see Him.

John 16:22

    And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Jude 1:24

    Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Psalm 16:11

    Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

It is our job as we lead His lambs, to set the joys before them in such a way that they will long to know Him more. If we aren't setting the joys before them they may focus on the temporary pleasures around them and be like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright ( Heb. 12:16) .

So how do we define the joys? What are you communicating to your children?

Here is the start of my list:

Walking in His ways produces a growing and fruitful life. Ps 1

Only in His presence is fullness of Joy. Ps 16:11

He is preparing a place for us. Jn. 14:2

He gives joy in times of loss. Is. 61:3

We are His friends if we do what He commands. Jn. 15:14

We can abide in His love and our joy may be full. Jn. 15:11

By the power of His Spirit, we can abound in hope and be filled with joy and peace. Rom. 15:13

Please add to my list ladies. Why do you love Him? Why should our children follow Him?

Are the nutritious choices without flavor, especially for children? Our children know the pleasures of play and candy. It is our job to make them aware of the pleasures of healthy eating and spiritual pursuits.

Hebrews 12:2 says we are to “look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

We too have joys set before us that give us the fortitude to endure suffering. We need to set these joys before our children so that they will have an excitement about the Christian walk that will help them to press toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Healthy growth comes from mature choices. For the physical health of our children, we don’t ask them if they would rather have broccoli or ice cream, or let them chose between carrots and cookies. Instead we make sure they eat a good amount of healthy food and then offer them a limited amount of sugary treats.

As we mature we learn to like the foods that we believe will keep us health. Our daily food choices will hopefully be in line with our desire to be strong and well.

We make daily choices for the spiritual growth of our children as well. Who is going to choose whether they watch a Disney film or have a bible study, visit with their friends or memorize scripture, play computer games or sing hymns? Don’t misunderstand me I like all those activities, but half of them are like Twinkies. Too much of a good thing will stunt our growth. Let’s make sure there is enough nutrition in our activities to grow spiritually and be strong and well.

I asked a new friend how we can reach our children with the truths of Christ. She said her Grandfather had loved her, played with her, and seemed to enjoy her presence; and all the time they where together he would tell her “God loves you.” He died when she was seven, but she believes his was the influence that later brought forth the fruit of faith in Christ.

I was convicted by this story. I love my children, though I sometimes wonder if they know it. I enjoy watching my children play, but rarely play with them. I am reminded by my friend's story that I need to let each of my children know I am enjoying them.

I also need to be talking about the things of Christ all the time a la Deut. 6:7. I need to say the obvious repeatedly…God loves you…God is so good to us… He is patient, longsuffering, merciful…He has plans for you, plans for good, peace, wholeness and not evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11).   

"It seems like getting a good job is the most important thing."  Did I really hear my son say that? Is that what it seems like around here? That is why we emphasize math and science. What do you ladies think... is that the most important thing?

My heart's cry for my children is that it would be obvious that they had "been with Jesus." Acts 4:13 says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

I want my children to be educated, but it is more important that they have the boldness that comes from having been with Jesus.

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