365 Days of Praise

In college I received a plaque that had a photograph of a cocker spaniel and the caption, “Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed.” I paid little attention to the words, but I thought the picture of the dog was adorable and hung it on my dorm-room wall.

Months later, after a series of disappointments, the plaque’s words came alive to me. It’s true, I decided. If I don’t expect things of people or situations, then I won’t be disappointed when they don’t turn out the way I wanted. I lived with that philosophy for months.  After a while, however, the mantra became unsettling. How does that philosophy fit with Christianity? I wondered. Aren’t Christians supposed to hope? Going to my Bible, I found numerous insights about hope and expectations. I learned that hoping in Christ brings peace and confidence. Expectations, however, can be land mines that damage relationships and cause despair.

The word expect or a derivative of it is used only thirty-one times in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. However, hope is used 139 times. Consider how expectations and hope are used in the following verses:

• “You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth” (Ps. 71:5).

• “The hope of the righteous is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked perishes” (Prov. 10:28)

• “The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath” (Prov. 11:23).

What do you notice about the way the above verses use the words expectations and hope?

The word hope is associated with the righteous, gladness, and goodness. The word  expectation is associated with the wicked, perishing, and wrath. In researching the Hebrew definitions for hope and expectation in the above verses, I made an interesting discovery. The word for hope in Psalm 71:5 and for expectation in Proverbs 10:28 and 11:23 both mean “cord, ground of hope, things hoped for, outcome.” What does that tell us in relation to the above verses? Both the righteous and wicked have a cord to which they hold. Both have a ground of hope on which they stand. Yet the outcome for each is drastically different.  Why?

We’ll discover the reason as we inspect the believer’s hope. We’ll learn that our expectations of others can be dangerous land mines that lead to disappointment— especially if our expectations are skewed or unrealistic. But hope placed in God leads to blessings.

Father, thank You for giving us a cord of hope to which to cling, a ground of hope on which to stand, and a future hope to which to look.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The hope of the righteous is gladness.

Copyright Debbie Taylor Williams, The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World: What to Do When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan

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Peter Martell, “The Women Who Clear Sudan’s Minefields,” BBC News, July 26, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8161199.stm (accessed December 31, 2009).

Jamba Besta had planned to be a secretary, hoping to find work in an office as her homeland of South Sudan emerged out a 22 year long civil war. Instead the pregnant mother headed an all-female team of de-miners, removing dangerous explosives from former battlefields. ‘I never thought I would be doing this, ‘says Ms. Besta.

What did you never think you would be doing? Working at a job you don’t like? Being single? Caring for a terminally ill loved one? Hauling a carload of children to activities more hours in the day than you can count? Being at odds with a friend? Feeling uncomfortable in your own church?

When asked about the danger of her work, ponder her reply: “What is dangerous is leaving mines hidden in the ground.” Like Jamba, we should realize that there is a greater danger in leaving land mines in our minds than in facing our thoughts and disarming them. Therein lies our motive.

While Jamba’s mine-clearing task takes place on physical battlefields, our equally important work must take place in the battlefield of the mind. Battles in our home, school, country, work place, or government are actually spiritual battles often related to our thoughts. Consider the following verses from the Bible:

·         “He [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s’” (Matt. 16:23).

·         “The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so” (Rom. 8:7).

In addition to the above, consider the following verses that emphasize the importance of clearing our minds of thoughts that are contrary to God’s and filling them instead with godliness.

·         “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37).

·         “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2).

·         “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2).

·         “Prepare your mind for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1Pet. 1:13).

Which of the above scriptures speaks most directly to you about the importance of removing from your mind that which is contrary to God’s ways and thoughts?

It’s vital for us to clear from our minds all that is not of God so we can rebuild our lives in His image.

Father, I pray that you help me acknowledge any land mines in my thought life that can hurt others, me, and Your name.  Please help me to disarm them so that my life reflects You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Clear dangerous thought land mines from your mind today.

Copyright Debbie Taylor Williams, The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World: What to Do When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan

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My name is Amber Carrington,” the young woman began. “I was told that you might be able to help me.” Quickly I moved closer to my answering machine so I wouldn’t miss a word. “My husband divorced me three months ago. I have an eighteen-month-old little boy.” With barely a pause, she continued: “I have no money and just got fired from a job I only had for two weeks because my car battery went dead and I couldn’t get to work. I don’t know what to do. I hope you’ll call me back.”

With a heavy heart I sank into my chair and listened to the message again. Had I heard her correctly? Had all these terrible things just happened to this young mother?

We don’t have to look long or far to see people whose lives are anything but what they had anticipated they would be.  We all start out with preconceived notions of what our lives will be like. For many, that includes some combination of education, marriage, children, and career. I have yet to meet a person who said, “I hope to get married and divorced, see my child go to prison, contract a terminal illness, and get fired from my job.” Such events are never part of a person’s Plan A life.

WHAT IS PLAN B?                                                              

Plan B is what you didn’t expect.  The Plan B (“morning-after pill”) advertising slogan is, “Because the unexpected happens.”

Your Plan B may be

• Not getting married.

• Going back to work although you wanted to stay home with your children.

• Modeling Christ to a husband you thought was going to model Christ to you.

• Pursuing a different career than you’d planned.

• Saying no to a marriage proposal.

• Using your savings to take care of medical bills rather than travel.

• Being housebound caring for a loved one rather than meeting your friends for Bible study or lunch.

• Being confined due to health problems rather than being active and social.

• Watching other children win academic and athletic awards while your child struggles in school.

The list could go on forever—because the unexpected happens.

Does the “B” in Plan B have to stand for “bad”?  No, as a matter of fact, the “B” can stand for “blessings.”

The next time Plan B hits you smack dab in the face, say, “This car accident…, the turmoil in this relationship…., my financial problems…, etc. may be horrible, BUT GOD is with me.  He is faithful.  I’ll look to Him.”

Interject God in your Plan B today.

Copyright Debbie Taylor Williams, The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World: What to Do When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan

“Is everything alright, Jake?”

“Everything’s alright, Marge.  Go to sleep.”

Recently, I watched part of an old movie in which a couple’s daughter did something behind their back.  She borrowed money from her daddy to loan to a friend who wanted an abortion.  The abortion was done by a back alley doctor, the friend became dangerously ill, and once again the daughter went to her father, who was a doctor, for help.  In the middle of the night, the daughter confessed what she had used his money for and the complications that had arisen. Incensed, he went to the girl’s aid.  After treating her, he returned to his room and climbed in bed.  As he did, his wife roused, asking, “Is everything alright, Jake?”  His response, “Everything’s alright, Marge.  Go to sleep.” 

The next day Jake didn’t discuss with Marge what had happened.  Nor did he the next day or the next.  However, his relationship was strained with his daughter. It affected more than just the two of them.

Today, we often refer to such situations as “an elephant in the room.”  Perhaps you’re in a relationship, church, or office where such is the case.  Something’s wrong, but instead of discussing it, you or someone else has Jake’s philosophy:  don’t discuss it.  Instead, say, “everything’s alright.”

Why don’t we discuss things?  I’m not sure.  Perhaps fear.  We’re concerned about the person’s reaction.  Perhaps we don’t because we have a sense of futility; that even if we did, it wouldn’t do any good.  Perhaps we’ve tried to discuss issues and concerns before, all to no avail.  Perhaps the results of prior attempts were worse than tiptoeing around the elephant. 

Although I don’t have the answers, God does.  In a world of imperfect people, Jesus puts the responsibility for righting relationships on us, whether we were wronged or a person has something against us.  That’s pretty revolutionary, if you think about it.   

In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus tells us that if a fellow Christian sins, “go and show him his fault in private.”  Think about the grace and honor Jesus bestows on the one who is sinning.  Rather than shout out the other person’s sin to the world, He says to privately address the concern with the person.  What if the adulterer, liar, gossip, thief, drunkard, badly behaved husband/wife, arrogant person, or rebellious child doesn’t listen?  “If he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.”  Again, if we pause to study Jesus’ words, we can’t help but marvel.  False accusations and wrong perceptions are avoided when people take time to address “every fact” with a person.  What is the purpose of this kind of relationship?  The objective is stated in Matthew 18:15, “if he listens to you, you have won your brother.”  In other words, the objective in discussing a person’s sin with them is love and restoration.

How many times are we to forgive?  Again, Jesus addresses this important subject in Matthew 18:21-22.  When Peter approached Jesus and asked if after the seventh time his brother sinned against him, he could call it quits with the person and no longer forgive him, Jesus answered Peter with a big, “No.”  Then, he told Peter a story about God’s immeasurable forgiveness toward us, warning that if we don’t extend the same forgiveness to others, we’d be tormented.  If you’ve ever clung to resentment toward someone, you know how true Jesus’ words are.  Unforgiveness is mentally and emotionally tormenting.

What if we aren’t upset with someone, but we find out someone is upset with us?  Again, we’re the one responsible for righting the relationship.  (This is obviously not the world’s philosophy.)  In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus teaches us, as imperfect beings, that if we are presenting our offering at church and remember someone has something against us, we are to leave and go and first be reconciled to the person.  What if the person refuses to be reconciled?  Paul addresses this in Romans 12:18, where he acknowledges that we can only be responsible for our part of the reconciliation.  “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men,” Romans 12:18.

“Is everything alright, Jake?”

“Everything’s alright, Marge.  Go to sleep.” 

Friends, I’ve been asked to write a follow-up to The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World: What to do When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan.

The title of the new book is The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World: What to do When Parenting Doesn’t Go According to Plan. 

The premise of the book is that parenting is full of surprises.  The child we thought would be quiet is rambunctious.  Our “intellectual” turns out to have learning disabilities.   The son we thought would be a preacher is a hellion.  Our adult daughter calls home and announces she’s in a lesbian relationship.  Whether you have a toddler who is running you up the wall (literally), a tween (who thinks she sixteen), or a thirty something (who is jobless and wants to move home), could you give a shout out, “Parenting is full of surprises!”

There are tons of books on parenting.  This is not one of them.  Rather, The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World is about you.  What do moms feel sometimes?  Hopeless.  Disappointment.  GUILT.  Resentment.  Like a martyr…just to name a few.   These emotions can have a negative effect.  Like the land mines we talked about in The Plan A Woman, they can maim us.  They can hurt us and those with whom we have a relationship.

Here’s where I need your help.  If you’ve ever felt one of the following emotions in your role as a mother, please answer the following as applicable.   Also, to protect others involved, please don’t use real names. 🙂  However, please shoot me an email so if I have a question, I can email you back.  Thanks!

I’ve felt ___________________________.  (Disappointed, Competitive, Exhausted, Like a Martyr, Hopeless, Resentful, Jealous, Guilt, Wronged, Manipulated, Grief, Frustration, Worried, Angry, ____you fill in the blank.) 

a) What event(s) led up to you feeling that way? 

b)  What was your first reaction? 

c)  What did you eventually do?  

d)  How did it help/not help? 

e)  If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently? 

f)   What advice do you have for someone who may be in that situation or have that feeling right now?

g)  Is there a Scripture that might help them through it?

Thanks!  You can comment here or email me:  debbie@debbietaylorwilliams.com

Also, if you have a funny kid story or parenting moment, I’m all ears.  Email me. 🙂

Coming into our home, Lauren and Chris greeted Keith and me.  After arriving from Frisco and dropping Logan off at the other grandparents, they planned to ride with us to a rehearsal dinner in San Antonio.  “You look great” I told Lauren and Chris, hugging them hello.  With a few minutes to spare before we left the house, Lauren jumped into a topic of necessity:  “Mom, do you have a purse I can borrow that goes with this outfit?”  Only women can understand the importance of her question and of the need to properly accessorize.  “I have just the one!  You’re not going to believe it.  It’s the color of your dress,” I offered.  With her trailing me into my bedroom and closet, I climbed on the step stool and reached for an evening bag I’d purchased years ago.  “Can you believe it?  It’s the exact color of your dress!”  As an aside word of explanation to golfers and hunters, this is comparable to making a birdie or shooting a trophy buck.  With minutes ticking before we left, Lauren opened the purse to transfer her things into it.  “Mom, you’ve never used it,” she noticed, pulling the paper packaging from the inside of it.  “I know.  I bought it thinking it would match something and it didn’t.  You can have it.  It’s perfect with your dress.” All women will know how hard it is to let go of a beautiful purse. I told her if you want to keep your purse looking amazing then you must learn to clean it properly. That was the T&C’s of her becoming the purses permanent owner.

Hours later we arrived home from the dinner and fell into bed.  The next morning, I walked into the breakfast room and spotted the purse on the breakfast table.  Picking it up, I reflected on how nice it was that it was such a perfect purse for Lauren to carry the previous night.  Then, I noticed a little string hanging from the strap.  Looking closer, I realized it was the price tag.  At first, I sighed, thinking “Oh, no.  Lauren walked around at the rehearsal dinner all night with the price tag hanging out of her purse.”  The visual wasn’t a pretty one.  Then, as I often do these days, I decided to see the humor in the situation. My thoughts immediately turned to Minnie Pearl, who was on the television show, Hee-Haw, eons ago.  For younger readers, she characteristically wore a hat with the price tag dangling from it.  Yes, Lauren must have looked like that, I chuckled, envisioning my beautiful daughter with the rhinestone studded bag, price tag dangling.

Then, my thoughts turned toward God and a more serious consideration.  Looking at the price tag hanging from the purse, I wondered how I must often look like that purse to God.  I style my hair, put on makeup, dress, and earrings in an attempt to look presentable.  Yet often there is something in my life not in keeping with God’s desire for me.  Rather, I have some sin dangling as the price tag did on the purse.  Although God has already paid for me, as 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 explains, and the dangling sin cost Christ His life, I don’t cut off the offensive sin.  

The story continues.  Later, I asked Lauren, “Honey, didn’t you see the price tag?”  Her reply? “Oh, mom, I carried it as a clutch.  The strap was on the inside of the purse so nobody saw the price tag.”  Relieved that she hadn’t walked around all night with the price tag dangling, I couldn’t help but once more think about God and my sin.  “Sure enough.  That’s what I sometimes do.  I stuff my sin inside where people can’t see it.”  “However,” God convicted me, “it’s still there. I see it.” 

I immediately started to remove the little white tag from the purse, but instead, brought it into my office and placed it on my desk, where I am now writing this article.  I’ll soon remove the tag and put the purse away or see if Lauren wants it.  However, I think I’ll do more than just remove the tag from the purse.  I think I’ll also kneel before the Lord and address the sin that is dangling in my life.  I think I’ll do that so God can carry me where He wants, unashamedly. 

What about you?  Is there any sin dangling in your life?  If so, I hope you’ll join me in removing, rather than keeping it.  

“For you have been bought with a price.  Therefore glorify God in your body.”  1 Corinthians 6:20. 

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1.

“Abby is driving me crazy!  She shakes her head all the time now.” 

“I know.  She wakes me up all night.  Let’s start putting her in the utility room so we can sleep.”

Keith and I went several days carrying on about how Abby was annoyingly shaking her head.  And, with every shake, causing her collar to jingle.  Then, our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson came to visit us.  Chris, whose dog is Abby’s father, commented to us, “I think Abby has an ear infection.”  Keith and I were shocked because when our cocker spaniel would get an ear infection, she rubbed her ear on the carpet and would act uncomfortable.  That was our cue to check her ears.  Abby, on the other hand, never gave us one hint that she was uncomfortable.  Tail wagging, she greeted us with a smile and didn’t once rub her ears.  Following up on Chris’ comment, we checked her ears and sure enough, it looked like she had an infection.

At the vet, I felt like I had “Horrible Dog Owner” stamped on my forehead in bold black letters.   “She’s got a really bad infection,” our vet announced.  Feeling lower than low, my heart sank to think that Keith and I assumed that Abby had simply developed a habit of shaking her head.  “Why didn’t she tell us?” I wondered.  Then, I realized that she had told us. We simply didn’t understand the signs she gave us. 

There is another who has given us signs:  God.  I can’t help but wonder if we sometimes ignore them.  For instance, consider the following signs He’s given us.

In Luke 2:12, angelic beings announced to shepherds that the Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born.  “This will be a sign for you:  you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Now, certainly, shepherds could have missed a baby’s birth in a crowded city.   However, Jesus’ birth in a manger was distinct…a sign.  It set His birth apart from all other births in Jerusalem that night.  God gave a sign.  The shepherds acknowledged it and were blessed.

At the outset of Jesus’ public ministry, he performed a miraculous sign of His deity by doing something no human could do.  He turned water into wine.  He didn’t do it for show.  He did it at the request of His mother to save their wedding hosts from the embarrassment of running out of wine.  Those in close proximity to Jesus saw what He did.  As His public ministry continued, Jesus continued to show signs that He was more than human.  He healed lepers with a touch (Mt 8:2-3), healed a centurion’s servant long distance by simply speaking the word (Mt 8:5-13), spoke and the winds and sea obeyed Him (Mt 8:26-27), and raised the dead (Mt 9:18-26).  In spite of Jesus’ signs, the scribes and Pharisees ignored them and asked Him to “perform a sign” for them.  “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You,” they asked. (Mt 12:38)  I wonder if Jesus didn’t want to say, “Haven’t you been seeing and hearing what I’ve been doing?!”  However, instead, Jesus replied, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,” Mt 12:39-40.  In other words, the greatest sign Jesus gave that He is God’s Son was His death, burial, and resurrection to life.  To ignore that sign is far worse than to ignore a lab shaking her head because she has an ear infection.  And, yet, how many today argue, “Well, I think there are many ways to God.”  If so, why did God send Jesus to suffer for our sins?  If so, why did Jesus say, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me,” John 14:6?  If the virgin birth, Jesus’ miraculous powers, and His resurrection from the dead weren’t meant to be signs proving His deity, calling us to salvation in Him, then why did God give us these signs?

Near the end of Jesus’ ministry, the disciples asked, “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Mt 24:3)  Did Jesus answer?  Did He tell us what signs to look for?  What are the signs?  You’ll find them in Matthew 24.  The important question is:  Are we paying attention to them?  Or, as I did with Abby, are we ignoring them?  I pray we’re paying attention!

© Debbie Taylor Williams

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Barbequed ribs in the backyard.  Sunday afternoons drives.  Standing outside watching the weather come in.  Sitting on the hood of the car eating fried chicken at the stock car races.  Vicki and me playing dolls in the back of the demonstrator station wagon Daddy brought home for the weekend.  Riding in the Lubbock, Texas parade in Daddy’s three wheeled car.  Vacations to the mountains.  Daddy’s annual golf coaching tip:  Keep your head down and your eye on the ball.  Horseback trail rides at dude ranches.  Texas Tech season basketball tickets.  Daddy sticking his tongue out and making silly faces to make us laugh.  Poems for every birthday or special occasion.  Gunsmoke.   Crossword puzzles.  Playing gin rummy.  He always knew every card in my hand and obviously won. 

My earliest memories of Daddy are filled with love.  Dark and tan, my daddy was a good looking man, great conversationalist, friend to all, and great father.  Whether he was teaching me to ride a bike, drive a car, or delivering gas when I ran out on the side of the road or a car key because I locked my keys in my car for the umpteenth time, he was patient.  He literally never said a cross word to me.  He never lost his temper.  

My later teen years included watching him pour over his Bible, with pen in hand, making notes.  Since he came to know Christ in his forties, he couldn’t understand why some of his Christian friends hadn’t talked to him about his relationship, or lack thereof, with God.  Daddy didn’t want other men to experience what he had – years without a personal relationship with Jesus.  Therefore, he would caringly ask when it came up in a conversation, “If you were to die tonight, do you know for sure you’d go to heaven?”  If someone said they weren’t sure, Daddy would ask if they’d like to know how they could be assured.  He wasn’t a “brow beater.”  He was a friend to his friends, available to talk about spiritual matters that many won’t talk about.  People loved Daddy.

Daddy taught me by example that it’s okay to laugh at yourself.  Once when he was teaching a class, he said, “There’s one thing I’ll never forget.  Of all the things that are important, this is the most, and I’ll never, ever forget it.”  Then, Daddy paused.  Sitting on the front row, I squirmed a bit wondering why Daddy didn’t go on and tell us this significant point that he’d built up so much.  Finally, he grinned his famous grin and with laughter in his eyes, said, “Well, I just forgot it.”  The class roared with laughter.  On another occasion, a preacher prayed for Daddy before he spoke, “God, please bless this crude instrument.”  Daddy cracked up over that one. 

I saw Daddy kissing Mama at the kitchen sink, in the car, goodnight, and every morning before he left for work.  I saw Daddy and Mama argue and I saw them make up.  I saw commitment lived out.  I saw Daddy open the car door for Mama.  Little did I realize all the ways Daddy was mentoring me in what to look for in a husband. 

My daddy is in heaven.  He’s been gone a long time, but the memory of him is still very much alive.  I have a glorious image of what my heavenly Father is like because of what Daddy was like:  loving, gracious, forgiving, patient, a provider, charismatic, joy-filled, faithful. 

I’m thankful for my earthly father.  I’m thankful for my Heavenly Father.  I’m thankful for the man I married who is such an incredible father to our children.  Have you hugged your father lately or your children’s father?  Have you told them how much you appreciate them? Have you told your Heavenly Father?  If not, this weekend is a wonderful time to express your love.  What about those whose fathers haven’t modeled God’s love, who have disheartened rather than encouraged; left rather than stayed?  God has provided Himself.  “Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the Lord and exult before Him. A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely,” Psalm 68:4-6a. 

I pray this Father’s Day, you’ll not only turn your eyes to earthly fathers, but you’ll also turn them heavenward and thank your Heavenly Father for who He is and all He’s done for you.

Happy Father’s Day! 

Every May 26, I have fond memories of my mother on her birthday.  Early memories, such as her singing and teaching me the motions to “I’m a Little Teapot” fill my mind. Memories of standing beside Mama at the kitchen sink, looking up at her and saying, “I want to be a mommy just like you,” are fresh in my mind.  Mother was the first one to introduce me to God.  Besides teaching me to daily read my Bible and pray, she taught me about God and His activity in the world.  One day, for example, when trying to teach me the concept of God creating the world, she gently placed a brown paper bag over my head in order to darken the room.  Then she read, “the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; (Gen 1:2) going on to explain how, out of the void, God created the world.

          Every June 1, I think about my daddy on his birthday.  If you’ve been to one of my Bible studies, you’ve heard me speak of his conversion; that at age 46 he realized he had been playing church; that it was about more than a pastor and sermon; it was about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  He asked Jesus to forgive him of his sins and committed his life to Christ as Lord and Savior.  His life was radically changed.  As a young teen, I had the opportunity to see the difference Christ makes in a person’s life.  No longer did Daddy “sleep in” or play golf on Sunday mornings.  He was the one who was up, ready to get out the door, and go to church.  He couldn’t get enough of Jesus and the Bible.  Daddy was “on fire” for God.  His newfound joy and love for God impacted others and made a huge impression on my life. 

          Both my parents not only read the Bible, they lived it.  As I think about their walk with Christ, I’m reminded of an instruction given on airlines that emphasizes our responsibility in relation to others.  “In the event that the oxygen level in the main cabin becomes unstable, oxygen masks will drop.  Secure the mask to your head using the elastic band and breathe through the mask normally. Make sure your mask is securely on before assisting other passengers or your children.” 

          Sometimes as parents and friends, our tendency may be to tell others how they ought to live.  However, if we’re not living what we’re saying, it may be like trying to put the oxygen mask on them while we’re gasping for contentment, peace, or joy. 

To what oxygen mask am I referring?  The oxygen mask of a right relationship with God.  The oxygen mask where God isn’t stored in an overhead bin, but rather is invited into your life.  The kind where even when you get the breath knocked out of you in a tumultuous relationship or you’re losing financial altitude, God’s there.  He’s just as present as the oxygen mask on an airplane and you “put Him on.”

          Today, many are hurting; gasping for air, to know what to do, when and how.  If we genuinely care about our children and the person with whom we’re traveling through life, isn’t it time we grab the oxygen mask of our salvation, stretch the width of it around our minds, and put it on?  When we “put on” our salvation and the Lord Jesus Christ, then we help not only ourselves, but others as well.

How do we “put on Christ”?  Begin by putting Him first every day.  As you slip out of bed, slip on your knees.  Pray, “God, thank You for this day.  Fill me with Your Spirit so that I live by Your mind, emotions, and will rather than mine.”  Tell God you want to serve Him and His purposes.  Go to a quiet place and open your Bible.  I like to focus on a different attribute of God every day.  Reading verses that explain who God is and His desired relationship to us opens our spiritual lungs to the oxygen of His life, whereby we are renewed within.  Pray in relation to God’s attributes in relation to your life, family, friends, and nation.  For instance, if I praise God for being love, it prompts me to repent if I’ve been unloving to someone.  Having repented, I then ask God to fill me with His love.  I pray family and others will respond to God’s love and love others as He loves them.

          Following our time of Bible reading and prayer, we can be sensitive to God’s Spirit, who quickens our hearts during the day.  For example, after praying that God fill me with His love, I may have an encounter with someone who frustrates me.  If I am being sensitive to God’s Spirit, I will be loving in spirit and better able to see the person through God’s eyes.  That is what is referred to in the Bible as “living by the Spirit;” and is the opposite of living by our natural temperament.  Needless to say, the results of living by God’s Spirit are far more pleasant than living by our natural reactions.  Fewer arguments, less unmanaged stress, more peace and joy result when God’s Spirit is breathed in and exhaled through our lives. 

          My mama and daddy did a huge favor for me.  They put the oxygen mask of the God on and then placed it on me. What about you?  Are you spiritually impacting your children or only taking care of them physically and financially?  Are they drawn to put the oxygen mask of Christ on themselves because they see in you what it looks like to have a living, breathing relationship with God?  If not, why not begin today?  Put the oxygen mask of Christ on yourself.  “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the flesh in regard to its lusts,” Romans 13:14.