Tonight was one of those nights where I listened to someone speaking and couldn't write the notes fast enough to get everything down I wanted to remember. SO much information - and affirmation - and conviction - and humor. It was one of the most amazing messages I've heard in a while - mostly because it took a bunch of information I already knew, verses I'd been studying, comments I'd heard before and concepts I'd already grasped, and put them together into one concise, practical outline.
The message was from Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California. The sermon was part 3 of his Raising Amazing Kids series. He was discussing 5 truths you must help kids understand & believe, and 5 questions you must help kids ask & answer. Great parenting advice - and GREAT info for ANYONE - whether you are a parent or not!
FYI - you can view the actual sermon this week on http://www.saddleback.com/internetcampus/live/. There are multiple times that the message is aired throughout the week. Trust me - you'll get more out of watching and hearing Rick give you this information that you will reading my summary! Check it out.
Beginning - Hebrews 2:10 and Malachi 2:15-16
I am responsible TO MY KIDS
But I'm NOT responsible FOR THEIR CHOICES
OK.... so the 1st truth Rick gave was - "I was planned for God's pleasure." He referred to Rev 4:11b and Is. 44:2 during his talk. Two big things that were reiterated in my life -
1 - There are NO accidental children
2 - You cannot possibly make God stop loving you
The question that went along with this truth was "What will be the CENTER of my life?" Love God 1st and foremost (Matt 22:37-38) - Am I going to live a self-centered life or a God-centered life? We have a single-minded purposed in life - to honor God (Jer 32:29). Whatever is at the center of your life is what you will worship. You need something you cannot lose at the center of your life. If the center of your life is your career - you will lose it. If the center of your life is your favorite sport/activity - you will lose it. You can't lose God. He cannot be taken from you (2 Cor 5:14). Build your lives on Him (Col 2:7). If worry is a part of your life - God is not at the center - something else has taken center-stage (Phil 4:6-7).
The 2nd truth... "I was formed for God's family" (Eph 1:5) The question - "Who will be my companions?" (1 Cor 15:33, Ps 1:1-3, Rom 12:5) It's the friends you chooose that will set you up to succeed or fail. Every child needs to be in a group. They will choose either a good group or a bad group - but they will look for a group in which to belong. Provide good options for them - churches, youth groups, ministry teams, etc. Every child wants to belong. We ALL want to belong. We don't want to be alone. We need fellowship. We were made to live together. We are family.
3rd truth - "I was created to become like Christ" (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:39) When we become Christlike we'll show the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. The question with this truth - "What will be my character? What will be the character of my life?" (Phil 2:5, 2 Peter 1:5) Kids (and adults) want to know what they will become... who they are going to grow up to be. NOTE - it is more important what you become than what you do! "You're not taking your career to heaven. You're taking your character."
4th truth - "I was shaped to serve God" (Eph 2:10) He shaped us - made us - molded us to what we are. TO NOT ACCEPT YOURSELF IS TO BLAME GOD - you're saying God made a mistake. You are who you are because God made you that way - and God doesn't make mistakes. God put you here to make a contribution. You have a specific purpose for being here. TO SERVE GOD and SERVE OTHERS. Serve God. Serve people. The question - "What will be my contribution?" (1 Pet 4:10) How will you give back? How will you use your gifts/talents? Each of us has - according to research - 500-800 talents & skills. We don't use nearly what we possess. We need to help our kids (and others) find out what their talents are. What are their gifts? Then we need to teach them how to use those gifts to serve God and serve others. We are to use our gifts to help each other and further His kingdom - not to focus on ourselves and be successful individuals.
5th truth - "I was made for a mission" (John 17:18) THIS got a LOT of discussion in chat because of how it was worded. Get this... God made you a special message to the world. He has a life message He wants to say to the world through you. If you don't share it - it won't be heard. DON'T WASTE YOUR HURTS. The heartaches, trials, hurts, etc are preparing you to help others. Live in a way to be a credit to Christ. Use those past hurts to help minister to others. Question - "What will be my message to the world? What is my mission?" (2 Cor 5:18, 20)
Rick shared this poem -
I'd Rather See a Sermon - by Edgar A. Guest
"I'd rather see a sermon, than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me, than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;
And the best of all preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live."
I am totally blogging more about this poem later on - but for now just let the words sink in.
The final thing Rick said tonight was - YOU HAVE HOMEWORK THIS WEEK. (Like I needed more added to my pile of schoolwork)
Here's the assignment - this week - ask yourself the 5 questions:
**What will be the center of my life? (What will I worship?)
**Who will be my companions? (Are there negative influences I need to eliminate?)
**What will be the character of my life? (What am I doing to be like Christ?)
**What will be my contribution? (How will I give back & use my gifts/talents?)
**What will be my message to the world? (What is my mission?)
Pretty powerful stuff.
Again - this is all from Rick Warren. This is not my message - not my info. I'm just summarizing what I heard and got from it. I STRONGLY encourage you to go watch the sermon yourself. It's very worth your time.
I'll expand on each of these 5 truths and how they applied to me in future blogs.
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