I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
“Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” Matthew 5:12
A little bit of a new twist to the ongoing teaching of hearing and obeying. And how what we think is good is evil. And ties into the whole political correct thing as well as what is the best way to live your life according to God.
The Lord reminded me of when I first was dating Cinthya and she said she wanted more kids. My first thought was no way, but instead of saying no I prayed because I was still learning clearly to hear and obey the Lord on these things and not myself or selfish desires. Because at that point in life, after 3 older kids and being fixed for 20 years, plus watching my friends living the life with traveling all over, going out to eat whenever… The last thing on my mind was having more kids.
But the Lord said, yes and “maybe you can do it right this time!” It took me back a little on why he said this because for the most part I was a good dad, better than most actually. I even coached my kids basketball and soccer teams.
But here is the thing the Lord has shown me over the years in many ways. The difference between raising my older girls and the younger ones. With the older ones, we did things like every other middle class family. We were in debt up to our eyeballs, had the kids in daycare, involved in sports and sent them to catholic school. I would go to happy hour with friends at times, not nightly, but did do it. We would go out as a couple on weekends, although we also many times spent weekends in gyms with our twins playing basketball tournaments, or on the lake boating. So we did spend time with the kids also. My ex and I went on vacations solo sometimes and others with the girls. We taught them nothing about God and let the catholic church system teach them that. Of course I did not know God back then either, so how would I teach them what I did not know? When home we would watch TV or do other odds and ends that needed to be done, but never spent time talking or playing games…
This is the life of the new kids, never seen a daycare, never will. Never will they go to a catholic school or church. We take them on trips with us (although my wife and I will spend a night or maybe 2 solo, but never a week or more). I spend a lot of time alone with God and with my kids and with Cinthya. I watch maybe 1 hour of tv a week. And spend maybe 2 hours a week on youtube and or facebook. I limited it a lot and normally at times when I cannot spend it with the family because they are gone doing something. We home schooled this last year and have in the past also. They have learned much more with my wife, and the little I helped than any school. But mostly we are in control of them and not a hired teacher trying to control 20 kids. We know what they are learning.
I teach them about hearing and obeying God, and not about religion or the worldly views. They are young and do not understand much yet, but the groundwork is being laid.
I have never gone to a bar for happy hour, or anything similar. I spend my time at home with my family and try to do so in ways that are healthy. My son loves to play with toys and is always asking me to come and play with him. He asks “Daddy, will you play with me?” To which I reply “yes I would love to play with you!” I really don’t do much other than just talk with him, but me just paying attention to him is golden. We also put together puzzles and play other board games. My girls, the same thing with puzzles and board games.
We are fortunate enough to have a swim spa at our condos and live on the beach. So we spend time doing those things also, along with riding bikes, running… We have taught them how to cook for themselves in a healthy way and why. We give them chores to do from time to time.
The point is we do not go to a job, leave our kids with other people all day. Come home and watch tv or youtube or surf facebook while our kids sit around watching tv eating chips and sugars.
The point is exactly this. God showed me and reminded me of what he said some 15 years ago about “Yes and maybe you can do it right this time.” It is amazing how your kids turn out when you spend healthy time with them. Doing the things the way they are supposed to be done and not the way of this world addicted to so many unhealthy things both mentally and physically.
I watch the fruit so many people and families are bearing and it is so ugly, so evil. And the funny thing is we do it without even knowing what we are doing to ourselves and the kids. We accept being fat and unhealthy as the norm these days, it never was like that when I grew up. We do not hold ourselves nor our kids accountable for anything, and wonder why they get addicted to drugs, and or have big mental and physical problems. We follow the protocol and vaccinate our kids, put them on meds for all kinds of things that are easy enough to fix with a little ambition and discipline to eat right and stop watching all the trash they let in their minds.
As an example of this, regarding our two adopted girls and the other parents. We were in a group of around 30 parents to adopt. We are the only couple who does not take the kids to a counselor of some sort. Our girls have had some issues to overcome, but by being good parents for the most part and taking time or letting time change them, they have evolved into new girls. They were also on a lot of meds when we got them for lung issues, which we took them off cold turkey and never a problem since. Even though the doctors told us they would probably die from it. Those meds were messing up their lungs worse along with most meds giving the kids social issues.
The point is we are doing things God’s way and the fruit we are bearing is good fruit. My older girls not so much. But a point to make about that also because God keeps making the point how people think the blessings of God are success and money, and suffering is evil and of the devil. When it is the opposite, normally those things bring many problems. My oldest daughter is a perfect example. She’s now 34 and just got engaged, her twin also got engaged last year. My oldest was MIss Iowa and then was on the bachelor 2 seasons. She is now engaged to a pro basketball player. If that is not success as the world sees it, then what is?
But on the other hand, when she did speak to me for a few months a few years ago before going on the Bachelor, she was a mess. She appears strong on the outside, but man she cried with me when we talked deeply. She cannot see the connection between what she is after in life with the fame and glamor and the problems that come from it. Doing everything as the world sees is a good way to live. Traveling the world, living in different European locations. She has easily seen more of the world than me. She lives the lifestyle of the rich and famous for sure (if you remember that show?)
I would think we live that way a little bit, having a few properties, oceanfront, with pools. A place to go to when it is colder here further south in Mexico. We travel a lot. But I have no image to try to maintain, just be Daddy to my kids and a husband to my wife. The focus on keeping myself looking good is to keep my body a Holy testament to God and for my wife. Nothing more, I do not care what others think about me.
But the main thing is I seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, then he gives me everything else, unlike the world that goes after everything else and asks God to bless them with it. The sad truth to me however is I am as much to blame for my older girls problems as anyone. Not because I tried to be selfish and a bad dad, because at the time I thought I was doing good. But it is clear to me now, I wasn;t and it was because I did not know God and his perfect ways but instead knew how the world did things and cooperated with it. The good news is my younger kids are growing up right with a lot less problems to overcome. They will still have things, because they have not died onto themselves and been reborn in the Spirit. Not sure when that will happen. But the structure is in place to raise good healthy kids who will one day love God like I do.
The funny thing is when I write like this, it offends people. They think it is awful to speak about my kids in this way. You cannot talk honestly about theirs and your own faults and mistakes, and what it takes to correct them. But God does not play the political correct game, and his ways do offend, and so will you when you live like this and talk like this.
But you know what? I can honestly say to God today, “yes Lord I am doing it right this time!” Because this time around it is his way not mine. And his message today was showing me exactly this, so I have to share it so the few who will not be offended by it will learn and maybe one or two will come to know Yeshua at a deeper level.