Survey

“God will go before me.” Ps. 59:10

Linsey Driskill
Psalm 5910“God will go before me.” (Ps. 59:10)

That’s what I tell myself. I’m starting week two of this new chapter of life with my triplets in full-day school for the first time. The reality of my children getting bigger is hitting me like a ton of bricks. Have you experienced the time when you have to “open your hands so they can spread their wings and fly” as my best friend told me? If not yet, you will. Mine are only in first grade, but I think about moms and dads who have kids off to college and beyond.

It’s such a mix of emotions. It’s partly sad to see them become so independent from us, but it’s also beautiful to see these little people we’ve molded for so many years experience life. They’re becoming more and more of who God wants them to be (I have to keep reminding myself of this!)

Henry Cloud, a Christian author, wrote,

“Parenting is a temporary job. One day your children will have to go off on their own. After they have gone, the character you built into them will guide them.”

This is training ground for the adults they will become. The choices they will make. As we teach our children about character and loving God and others, we can also instill in their hearts that the Lord goes before them. He has a great purpose for each of them. Let’s encourage our children to figure out what that is and cheer them on along the way.

On a practical level, how do we teach our children that the Lord will go before them?

We can memorize Psalm 59:10 together, pray it with them, and discuss what it means. And if they are experiencing fear, we can share that Jesus’ disciples were also afraid. In Matthew 14:27, Jesus immediately spoke to his disciples: “Take Courage. It is I! Don’t be afraid.” Jesus says the same thing to each of our children. Do not be afraid. It is I! The Lord will go before you.settle into my own heart.

An interesting thing happens when I teach my kids these truths. The words begin to settle into my own heart. And I need them just as much as my kids.

Part of me wants to grip my hand closed and not let them go. But, then, these words echo in my heart: “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid,” and “God will go before me.”

After I walk my kids to school, and arrive back to my quiet house, I have a choice: To have faith the Lord has gone ahead of my children and me, or not. I choose to believe. It’s a daily choice I strive to make because it doesn’t always come naturally. I think that’s why Jesus spoke over and over about the importance of having faith. He knew we wouldn’t always feel it.

What is your choice? What do you choose to believe? He longs for you to have faith and believe in Him. He believes in you.

Before I know it, 3pm is here and the chatter of little voices has arrived again. Home sweet home.

So, take a deep breath, shed some tears and smile, knowing that God has already gone ahead of our children, and us. Together, let’s take courage, moms and dads. We. Can. Do. This!

I also wanted to say to all the people in and around Houston that we are thinking about and praying for you!

Teaching Our Kids to Love Beyond Appearance

Linsey Driskill
How do we raise our kids in today’s world to love like Jesus by not looking at race, but the heart? It makes me so sad and angry to see all the divisiveness and racial atrocities 3holding handsthat have happened. Whether Black, Asian, Hispanic, White, whatever the race, I pray we do not look down on someone based on their skin color or background, and that if we do, we would ask for forgiveness, and for grace to look at people as the Lord does. “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)
After teaching 5 years at a predominantly African-American school focused on racial reconciliation, living in Guatemala for a year through the Reconciliation and Mission program, and having great friendships with people of different cultures, it is beautiful when we can learn from one another and just be. Just be ourselves. Connect and share life with one another. Open and honest conversations were a part of our reconciliation focus, and they can be very helpful. While I know many people have far more understanding than myself on the subject, here’s one small example: While I taught 4th grade, the students and I had an open conversation about race. It was welcome in my classroom. One of the girls shared a story about white people and said to me, “Well, I’m not talking about you, Ms. Alison, I don’t see you as white” (Alison was my maiden name). She saw past color because she knew me. It took knowing me to begin breaking down the walls of stereotype and judgment. She saw me as a person, and not a “white girl.” That was a beautiful moment. Relationships make that happen. They start to strip down the walls we have built up.
So, how do we raise our kids to love others beyond appearance? We teach our kids to look to the heart of a person. We teach them that God has created each person uniquely and that we should celebrate that. We teach them that we are to love others who are different and the same. We model it. Our attitude toward people different than us is reflected to our kids. As we interact and build relationships with people of different cultures, races, ages, and abilities, they will see it as part of the norm. If we see a person for who they are, and not their skin color or socio-economic status, they will also.
I assume that’s what most of us want. To be seen for who we are, on the inside. We are all very different, but we also are all very similar: every one of us is made in God’s image (GN 1:27). What a blessing to get to learn and grow from one another. Let’s instill 1 John 4:16 in the hearts of our children so they see people as people and can can love others with the love of Jesus: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9

Become Like Little Children

Linsey Driskill

2ChildrenWhy does Jesus tell us to become like little children? I think mostly because they have great faith and humility. Jesus talks over and over about the importance of faith. Kids simply believe. They can teach us so much if we let them. Kids have so much joy and wonder. They always forgive, don’t care what others think, aren’t in a rush, and simply want time together. Jesus’ intense words below express the importance of becoming like children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. When we are with our children this week, let’s search for ways to become like them so we can experience the kingdom of heaven even more. In Jesus’ words:

“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Jesus (MT 18:10)

“Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” MT 18:3-4

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” MT 19:14

“From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.” Jesus (MT 21:16)

Listening… The FIRST Time.

Linsey Driskill
Listening to the little things prepares our kids to listen to the bigger, more important things. Do you ask your kids over and over to do something?
The other day, I had to ask my kids to get dressed 3 times. I want them to show respect by listening and doing what I say the first time.
I don’t think we should do incentives all the time,  but in spurts, they can help kick start good behavior. Share verses along wth it too so it can have an even more powerful effect.
This is how it works:
1. EVERY time my kids listen the first time, I let THEM put a marble in the jar (only allow them to, if they’re old enough to handle marbles): getting dressed right away, cleaning the room after asking once, etc.
2. But I only give a marble for listening the first time and nothing else. When the marble jar is full, they’ll get a reward like go out for ice cream or bake a cake. If listening isn’t the thing your kids need to work on, you can pick another issue.
3. A great verse for our kids to memorize and for us to discuss while doing the marble jar is James 1:19: “Everyone should be quick to listen.”
39872817_736408793365405_7806617829490294784_o4. One rule- they cannot ask to get a marble.
Doing this once or twice every so often can retrain our kids to listen well.
My hope is that they would listen with the small things, so that when I speak about bigger things, they will also have open ears and hearts to hear me, and more importantly, hear Jesus, so his words in John 10:27 will come to life, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Recipe Sharing!

Linsey Driskill
RECIPE SHARING!
Cook. Love. Laugh. With your kids. Get Messy Together.
Let’s make those long days easier on us- please comment with an easy slow cooker or other recipe you love. Here’s mine (Yep, I actually found a meal that all 3 kids, yes all 3 (and my hubbie) love! Comment below to share yours!
For Slow Cooker Pulled BBQ Chicken recipe, click on or copy and paste this link: http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2014/06/best-crockpot-bbq-chicken.html
unnamed