“He Knows My Ways” – “Why Poetry” – “Encouraging Takes Talking” – “God Is, Wherever” – “The Father’s Sacrifice” – “Relax” – “Daily Cross”

My wife was relaying part of a conversation she had with a mother of three who asked, “Why are the kids today having so much anxiety when we did not?” I hold the answer in my hand. The smart phone has created a public view into our private lives. It has also allowed bullying to reach us wherever we are. The kids cannot get away and “Relax”. When I was a kid at home, no one knew what I was doing or could bully me. No one did it to my face as I was bigger than most, had a temper, and was not a coward. What we thought was ok then was not, and when it is on the internet for all to see, it is worse now. And if we shelter our kids the best we can, the bullies bully the friends, and the friends show our kids. The pandemic has made this a back burner issue, but we have a whole generation living every second exposed to bullying and ridicule. The only out is a relationship with God in which one can relax and enjoy His peace.

When I get busy, my routine suffers. Rather than start on my wants, I jump to my outward needs and work until I finish. It takes the day away from God’s will and follows my sense of urgency. The solution is that I must look at each day as the day the Lord has made and take up my “Daily Cross” daily, knowing it could be my last to work for Him. Knowing “God is, Wherever” should help me take each day at a nominal pace and rely on His power to get me through whatever. In our world, with instant news on our phones, the days are not properly differentiated. However, we are to do today, today.

My study of Job is nearing the 25% “reading it” point and I am continually confronted with my joy from the poetry of Job and my lack of interest in other poetry. My daily reader was from Hebrews and was all poetry. I disliked it. I wanted to read the bible verse and then “prose”. “Why Poetry” was my reaction. I read the poetry and begrudgingly learned something. I probably forgot it three seconds later, but maybe not.

I went to the store for some children’s cough syrup and wandered the store looking for things I do not normally get when grocery shopping. I was not hungry and was able to resist all my food temptations. “He Knows My Ways” and knows I often go to the store hungry and pick up foods that I probably should not. If it is not in the house, I cannot eat it. I have become fairly rigid in what I will eat, so it is ever important to not bring some of it home. God provides me help every time, but sometimes I ignore it.

One of the topics we do not often delve into around Easter is “The Father’s Sacrifice.” My kid is sick right now and I hate to see it. I want her to get well now and not have to suffer. How much more did God hate to see His Son die to save our sins. People send their sons and daughters off to war and expect them to die. It is a huge gut-wrenching sacrifice. God gave up His perfect son for me. What a terrible trade that was. The Bible describes the love of God for His Son in great detail, so that we may know His love for us.  It is a topic we could all use a little more knowledge of.

“Encouraging Takes Talking” is nothing profound, but it does remind us that we have to know someone to know how to encourage them and that encouraging is an active ministry. I still remember the nights of Aggie Awakening sitting up writing letters of encouragement to as many of the campers and staff as I could. I did not write many long letters, but I gave my all into being able to write something that would mean something to the individual on a personal level. I do not know if I kept any of the letters others wrote to me, but I do know that those weekends over the last couple of years of college set me on the path to help others going forward. I have not been perfect, but I was encouraged and therefore I attempt.

I encourage you to review how your kids phones impact them, how to improve it, how to show them God’s peace, and how to encourage them. Christ often went off to be by Himself with the Lord and as our example, we should follow and teach this to our children.