Am I Courageous?
http://youtu.be/cTYSirKUiVw - Courageous - Casting Crowns
Larry and I watched the movie "Courageous" last night. What a powerful message full of God's truths!
The story line is about the importance of fathers in their children's lives. Oh, I wished every dad would watch
and take every word from that movie to heart! One especially poignant moment is a scene between a father and
his 15 year old daughter. She's at that age when the boys are noticing her, coming around wanting a little more than
friendship. But her parents want her to wait until she's older to date. She thinks her parents are to strict, after all,
she just wants to be "friends" with boys. But dad knows some things that she doesn't know. Listen to this truth:
•Girls, Trust Your Over-Protective Fathers – The character, Ken, played by Nathan Hayes, handled his teenage daughter and dating. Here's the message: Girls, you need to know that all fathers were once teenage boys. We know how they think, what they feel, and what their motives are. You need to trust us on this one. And when the time is right, we will hand you over to the perfect person who will then protect you for the remainder of your life.
The movie is ripe with insight into the importance of a strong father being involved in the lives of their children. Another
moment in the movie, one of the young men who has pursued the character, Ken's daughter gets mixed up with the wrong crowd. The young man is only 17 and he longs for acceptance but his father is no where around. To feel like he belongs in this world of men, he turns to a gang:
Listen to his words:
•“Man, I ain’t got nobody.” – He's just been arrested and the police officer who just happens to be the father of the girl he's been pursuing, asks why he was hanging out with those types of guys. When dad's not involved physically, emotionally and spiritually, children will settle for anyone who offers acceptance. Who will your child turn to if you don't step up and be his/her spiritual leader and role model?
Being a godly father is not an easy task. It requires dedication and commitment, unselfishness. We have such a short time with our children to influence them for God, for good. Fathers need more strength, more wisdom, more patience, more commitment than they are able to muster on their own. Fathers need a Savior who will come along side and provide
everything they need to be the leader of the family. Through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, we can do all things that God gives us to do.
•Fathers Need A Savior – The movie reminds us of how much we are in over our heads as husbands, fathers, wives and mothers. We can’t do it alone. We need friends. We need accountability. And we desperately need Jesus guiding us through this journey.
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Whatsoever we beg of God, let us also work for it. -- Jeremy Taylor
Being a good enough father or mother is not enough. We need to be the best parents we can be. Our children's future will be greatly affected by what we do as parents. Our children are watching us. If we treat our spouses with love and kindness, our children will expect their future spouse to treat them with love and kindness. If we encourage our spouses, our children will learn to encourage their spouses. Do you want your daughter to think it's acceptable to be treated the way you treat her mother? Do you want your son to treat his future wife the way you treat your wife? Do you want your daughters and sons to be the same kind of spouse you are to there father or mother? If not, you better make some changes because your children are watching. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? What they see you do, they will most likely do themselves. If we parents ridicule, insult, disrespect our spouses, our children will come to disrespect him/her, too. We can singlehandedly undermine our spouse's authority in our children's lives with our words. We take away part of our children's security when we teach them by our actions and words that their other parent isn't reliable or worthy of their trust.
The good news is we can also strengthen the relationship our children have with their father/mother by role modeling respect towards our spouse. We don't have to agree with everything he/she does, but we owe it to our spouses to bring those disagreements to him/her in private - not in front of our children or friends. Each of us needs to be our spouse's number one cheerleader and encourager. I'm ashamed to say that I don't always do that. Some days it's really hard to be kind when my spouse isn't being very kind to me, but Christ tells me to be kind any way, and He will give me the strength to do it. When I respond with kindness, my children are learning God's way. His way is not always logical to me - especially in the heat of the moment - but His way is best. We have to trust Him enough to obey His direction.
1 Corinthians 13 tells us clearly God's way:
Be patient and kind
Don't allow jealousy or pride to control your thinking
Don't demand your own way
Don't be irritable
Keep no record of wrongs
Don't give up
Have faith
Hope
Endure in every circumstance
A gentle answer turns away wrath. Proverbs 15:1
A wise woman builds her house; a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands. - Proverbs 14:1
Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults - Ephesians 4:2
Cloth yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. You must make allowances for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you - Colossians 3:12-17
Don't become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Take advantage of every opportunity to do good to all people (including spouses) especially to those who belong to the family of believers. - Galatians 6:9-10
God gives us clear directions on how to live a life that honors Him. He knows what the future holds. Who better to give us advice and direction on how to live our best lives? Who loves you more than God? Who has your best interest at heart - always? Who created the universe and sustains it with a Word? Can't we trust our Father who loved us enough to send His very own Son to die in our place? Why? So we could spend Eternity in heaven with Him. Can't we trust Him when
He tells us how to be good fathers and mothers, and husbands and wives? Or do we really think our situation is something new to Him? That His Words of wisdom don't apply in our circumstance?
I hope everyone will see the movie "Courageous". I hope we all take it to heart and resolve to be not just "good enough" parents, but to be the best parents we can be.
Father, You are the perfect role model for us. You are patient and kind. You keep no record of wrongs. You want what's best for us always and no matter how many times we choose our own way and fail, You're always there when we return Home. Your love is unconditional. You do not treat us as we deserve, for if You did, no one could be saved. Father, forgive me for not being the best spouse and parent I can be. Forgive me for not making that my priority. Show me how to encourage my family. Teach me Your ways, oh Lord, and write them on my heart so that anytime I face a conflict with my spouse or child, I will remember Your instructions. Thank You for loving me and allowing me to call You my Father. I want to be just like Jesus with everyone I meet, but most especially, I want to be just like Jesus to my children and my spouse.
Help Lord, I can't do this on my own. I need Your strength, wisdom and guidance every day. I ask these things in the Name of Jesus, my perfect Savior. Amen.
http://youtu.be/4Z8bXcBRIU0 - I want to be just like You - Philips Craig and Dean
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13
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