WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

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Over the years I've done my share of offering counsel to those who are struggling with issues and trials that seem beyond belief.  I too have had my struggles and I am eternally grateful to all those who have listened and offered wise words to help me overcome my flesh so I can keep on when I want to quit.  One thing I've learned is that we all have struggles that just wear us down.  Over time we begin to believe we're not going to overcome them.  So many times, we just seem to get bogged down and can't see past the problems.  I think it's because we believe the great lie that Satan likes to plant in our minds.  That great lie is that God is untrustworthy. 

Satan whispers that God will not heal, or that we will not be delivered from our circumstances, or worse that there is no hope.  He takes our shred of unbelief and grows it with his lies until our faith is left in tatters.  To our shame all knowledge of our Lord and His character is forgotten.  We just shrivel up and quit, certain that God has abandoned us. 

There is hope!  Ephesians 6 tells us how to stand our ground against Satan.  It is a defensive strategy, not an offense against him, for God has already won the victory!  First, we are told to put on the whole armor of God:

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for saints"  Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)

When we put on truth, righteousness, peace, and faith, we must also put on salvation which we receive from Jesus.  He indwells us with the Holy Spirit who is our sword. 

Next, we are told to "stand."  We have all we need to stand fast and hold our ground.  We will be buffeted, and we may feel some of those fiery darts if we lower our shield of faith, but the reality is we are equipped to hold our ground.  Keep your focus on Jesus and believe that He keeps His promises. 

Insurmountable and overwhelming troubles require us to stand and wait for our Lord to deliver us.  We need to realize that we must stand because we cannot win without our Lord.  Consider these words from the prophet Jeremiah in Lamentations:

"He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces:  he hath made me desolate. He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.  He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins (heart).  I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.  He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.  He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.  And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace:  I forgat prosperity.  And I said, my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:  remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.  My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 

Hey! Where you going?

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:  whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work."            2 Thessalonians 1:13-17

"Hey! Where you going?" is a common question to ask of someone who is unexpectedly going off in a different direction. 

Paul too must have felt like asking the same question of the Thessalonian church.  The Thessalonian church was a strong church but error and confusion had crept in. 

Some were confused about when Jesus would return again.  Some were concerned about what would happen to those who had died before He came again.  Some experiencing trials and tribulations wondered when justice would be served.  They wondered why they were suffering.  Collectively they were beginning to have serious concerns.  Paul encouraged them with these words:

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that day of Christ is at hand."  2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

Do not be shaken.  Do not be troubled.  What wonderful words to hear when doubts arise!  These words from Paul must have brought relief of mind and comfort to their hearts.  If Paul isn't worried, then everything must be okay.  Let us take these words to heart!

Paul also tells the Thessalonian Believers important information that would help them to identify the times when Jesus would come.  He told them that before Jesus comes again there will be a falling away or apostasy.  Commentators say the words used here mean a specific time of apostasy which is good to know since throughout the history of the church, there has been some measure of apostasy among the brethren. 

"Let no man deceive you by any means:  for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first..." 2 Thessalonians 2:3a

Wow!  Hearing such news must have been sobering.  No one wants to believe they will turn their back on Jesus.  It is hard to imagine how it could even be possible that Believers would be involved in a falling away.  All the more reason for each of us to be watchful that we be not deceived.

Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to believe the truth they have learned, so they will not be taken in by power, signs, and wonders.  Paul knew that Satan comes as a counterfeit God.  He is known as an "angel of light" with good reason, for his disguise causes many to be deceived.

Paul tells us not to worry:  "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."  2 Thessalonians 3:3  If we will allow the Lord to establish us, we will be kept from evil. 

It is easy for error to creep in when no one knows the truth.  If it sounds plausible then it must be true, some might say.  Do not be deceived.  We must stay in the Word to have the discernment we need to stay on track.

Paul teaches us to overcome error with the truth; in our case truth from God's Word.  This is why it is so important to be diligent in reading and studying the Bible.  If you do not know what the Bible says, how can you know if someone is teaching error? 

For example a popular perception today is that there are no absolute truths in the Bible.  Therefore anyone's interpretation is acceptable.  Everyone possess truth.  However, a Believer's truth is to be founded upon the Word of God, the Bible. 

Another tactic used by Satan is not to take away from the truth but to add to it.  For example, some are teaching that all who believe in a higher power will go to heaven, even if their name for God is different.  We know that the Bible records Jesus saying in John 3:16:  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  Jesus admitted to the Samaritan woman that He was the Christ, the Messiah.  No one is saved unless they accept Jesus as the Savior and Lord.

How sad to think that there will come a time when the church walks away from Jesus and the truths of His Word.  After witnessing some believers embracing questionable doctrines, I want to shout, "Hey where you going?"  I wonder if they know they are heading off into dangerous territory.  I feel like I should be dragging them physically away from false teaching, because I know they could be pulled away from the truth of God's Word.

Paul gives us more wisdom to draw from in letters he wrote to other churches.

In his letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 6:17) Paul writes:  "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"  He exhorts Believers to separate from unbelievers.  These are wise words, for they will keep us from error. 

Paul was concerned for the Corinthians whom he loved.  Consider his words in 2 Corinthians 11:2-4:  "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy:  for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."

Paul was wise to be concerned.  He surely knew the heart of mankind is fickle.

Believers, do not sit and listen to someone teaching error.  Over a period of time the truth of the Word becomes confused.  Doubt is cast upon what you thought you knew and understood from the Word.  Paul teaches in Ephesians 5:11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."  

Test what you hear by comparing it to the Word.  If it isn't there, it becomes suspect.  Do not be deceived. 

How encouraging it would be to believe that all who accept church membership through the regular channels of Christian education and worship would endure unto the end!  Many who once were numbered among us here in First Church "went out because they were not of us."  For reasons known only to God and to themselves, many so-called Christians fall away.

Dwight L. Moody took occasion to tell the story of a meeting between himself and a man who tottered along obviously under the influence of alcohol.

"Oh, it's you, is it Mr. Moody?"  asked the intoxicated man.  "Don't you know me?  I am one of your converts."

Moody put an arm around the man to steady him and said, "Well, my son, you look like one of mine-you're surely not one of the Lord's.

Like it or not, we must honestly and seriously look at "this experience called conversion."  It is Jesus Christ who forces the issue upon us.  Jesus said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 18:3)  Not Paul nor John nor Peter, but it is Jesus Himself who makes conversion the only entrance into the Kingdom of God...

Arthur Koestler in his autobiography speaks of his conversion back from Communism to western democratic idealism.  He had completely revamped his thinking and redirected his purposes.  Now, when you use the word conversion in Christianity, you are not speaking of winning people to a new system of ethics or to a new concept of philosophy, or even to a new pattern of doctrine.  You are talking about people coming from the experience of serving themselves to the place of such total submission to Jesus Christ that they are converted to a Person.  It is true that from that Person, a philosophy will come and it is true that out of that philosophy will come a system of ethics.  You are not, however, a Christian because you embrace a position in doctrine or because you hold to an essentially religious attitude in ethical concern.  You are only a Christian when you know in your heart, as I know in mine, that out of our need in sin, we have submitted ourselves to Jesus Christ in such utter dependence upon His death on the Cross for us, that we rise up new men and new women, quickened from death into life.

*Used by permission.

*From Utmost Christian Writers at:  http://www.utmostchristianwriters.com/pd-poetry/pd-poetry-415.php

Dealing with Attitude Problems

I was reading a heartfelt plea from a gal on a homeschool forum.  She perfectly described some behavior issues with her 12 year old we struggled with in our homeschool.  See if you recognize these issues...

* child will not apply himself

* works slowly, not accomplishing daily tasks

* refuses to discuss

* cannot remember anything read

* vocalizes not wanting to learn

* has a don't care attitude

* up and down from desk on the flimsiest of excuses

* distracting the other children

This paints the picture of a child who is struggling with a bad attitude.  The most logical assessment here would be to assume the child has learning difficulties.  In this case, the mother indicated that the child was quite intelligent, just very resistant. 

This poor mother was ready to place her child in public school.  I know what this feels like; we've been there!  When this happens, it is normal to be angry and frustrated with your child, especially when there is no reason for the behavior.  Over time we learned how to cope to some degree and we did gain cooperation, but it was a sore trial indeed.

In response to this mother's plea for help, many moms wrote that they too had struggled or are still struggling with an unruly and disobedient child.  I was pleased to see that they too tried the same things we did.  Keep in mind that disobedience requires a consequence that leads to correction.  Here are some of their suggestions on how to deal with your disobedient child. 

* Take away a privilege.  One mom recommended taking away electronics for a period of time to enlist cooperation.

* Lengthen class time and add more seat work as a consequence of procrastination.

* Any work that earns a low grade must be redone.

* If work is not completed in a timely fashion, add Saturday as a work day.

* If work cannot be remembered, keep presenting it until it is remembered.

Sometimes kids get the idea that if Mom gets angry then she'll just quit or she'll send me away so she can cool off.  This is a great ploy for getting out of work.  Don't let them get away with this manipulation. 

However, there are times when anger builds to the point that is damaging the relationship.  Then you need some distance from the situation.  You need a respite from teaching this child.  Take a day or two for a holiday with all the kids to break the cycle of anger. 

Another solution is for Dad to take on the responsibility of teaching this errant one for a time to make the point that school will be accomplished. This can open up a new can of worms such as what to do with the disobedient one when Dad is at work, and the other kids at home are doing school work.

Switching curriculum may help the situation.  It could be the curriculum choice is not geared to your child's learning style.  Also spending more time on a subject or at a specific level is permissible.  Homeschooling allows for flexibility.

One of the things we did was write down what we expected.  That was of no particular interest to the kids, but it served as a reminder to them when we corrected disobedience.  The rules were clear so there could be no argument.

Some parents struggle with these kinds of issues continually until the child finally caves.  It can be a daunting experience and a real turn off for homeschooling.  If you can persevere, you will find blessings.  You will learn much about yourself and be stronger for it. 

It helps to talk to other homeschoolers or even a good friend who can help you find your perspective and encourage you to continue on.  Remember too your child's behavior is not a pass or fail grade on you or your teaching abilities. 

One of the verses I used to keep me going is found in Psalm 118:24:  "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  I took great comfort knowing that the Lord made this difficult day, and I purposed in my heart to rejoice in it no matter what!  I smile now as I think about how many times I recited it and tried to rejoice. 

Here's another good one:  "And let us not be not weary in well-doing:  for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9

Let us be reminded that our Lord knows, understands, and will help us in our time of need.  Cry out to Him for help in time of need.  Pray for your child and for yourself that you may endure.   

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