The Curries

The Curries
Keith and Patricia

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

MOM AND DAD: ONE VOICE

Father thinks it; the Son says it; the Spirit brings it to pass. Oneness, unity in the Godhead. We can be confident that God is not going to change the rules on us. He will not contradict himself. He is not impulsive. Jesus showed us exactly what the Father is like; he is the exact representation of the Father’s nature. “I and the Father are one.”

A man shall leave his father and his mother and cling to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. Malachi 2 asks this question: “Why one?” The answer: “To raise up godly offspring.” The oneness of mom and dad are a reflection of the Oneness in Father, Son, and Spirit. It is derived from heaven. The more “one” we are, the more our home will be “heavenly.”

Whatever you call it, this having one voice, being on the same page, sharing the same values and goals and actions. . .This is the most powerful weapon in the parents’ arsenal against Satan’s attempts to hijack our kids. We must not only believe the same things; we must do the same things in regards to our children. And we must back each other up.

Will we always agree? Of course not. But effective parents stand together. When mom and dad are not on the same page with each other, the confusion is multiplied in their child/children. When mom and dad speak with one voice, the message is clear, and it gets through.

Question of the week: How do you and your spouse maintain your oneness or unity? If you have a secret that works for you or helps you, please pass it on. Many husbands and wives are interested in your answer. Many children will benefit from what you share.

Last week’s question: How do you make your quiet time meaningful? What materials have your used that have helped? What method do your use? What plan? Pass your ideas on to others.

Before reading, ask the Lord to speak to you. Read until a thought or phrase stands out to you or seems to fit your life situations. Stop, write it down, and take some time to meditate on that scripture or phrase. Get ready for life changes.

Have a plan. Gene S. says to read two chapters a day in the Bible and you will have read the whole thing in about a year and a half. Many Bibles are organized with built-in reading plans and are available at Christian bookstores. Mike C. used the Daily Walk Bible from Walk Thru the Bible Ministries. He got behind, but plugged through and finished the Bible in about two years.

Here are a few tips that have helped us in our praying. 1) Make a list. 2) Keep up with prayers answered by keeping a prayer journal. 3) Use the psalms as a format for your own prayers; you will remember to pray about things you would not otherwise pray for. 4) Use a prayer book; you will be surprised how it will broaden and enrich your prayers when you read the prayers of our forefathers. 5) Derek Prince said to have a different emphasis each day. Example: Mon/ family, Tues./ work, Wed./ church and leaders, Thurs./ nation and leaders, Fri./ friendships, Sat./ finances, Sun./ yourself.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

YOUR FIRST PRIORITY

What is your life built around? What is your guiding light?

Jesus made a soul-searching statement when he said, “If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” In other words, if we set our “sights” on the wrong thing, then every part of our lives will be affected by the wrong goal, the wrong motive. All will be darkened by this wrong “set.” And we will reproduce “after our kind.” Our children will adopt this wrong set and pass it on to their children. You see this all through history; you see it all around today.

Do you set aside a quiet time with Jesus every day? He died for us on the cross; that is a done deal. He also rose again, ascended to heaven, and sent his Spirit so that he could do something in us. This requires our cooperation, our stopping to receive life from Him.

In our workshop, we quoted Billy Graham as saying, “Fifteen minutes a day in Bible reading and prayer, and you will follow Jesus all the days of your life.” We will pass on who we are; make this your first priority: TIME WITH JESUS CHRIST EVERY DAY!

Question of the week: How do you make your quiet time meaningful? What materials have your used that have helped? What method do your use? What plan? Pass your ideas on to others.

Last week’s question: My teen has an attitude often. How do I handle that? What should my approach be? How do I get my teen to change?

Caryn T. from Mobile says that they handle their girls differently. With one they explain and give perspective; she usually repents. With the other, they have to give her time to reflect and follow up with removal of privileges.

Jim and Mary M. from Mobile pass this along: It is good to sit down and talk to your teen with no other distractions or people around and honestly ask what is going on. Talk calmly, help them see how they need to be, pray with them and share appropriate scriptures.

Our comments: The key here is that each child is different. Both of these tips remind us to treat our children as individuals, as made in God’s image. Knowing them as persons, getting to know them better by “non-crisis” talks are critical strategies for the teen years.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007