My daughter is 8 years old and in the 3rd grade. This year, she has been given some internet/research assignments for school. This has made me very nervous.....type in the wrong thing (which is easy to do for a child who does not spell very well yet) and you never know what will pop up on the screen! Then you begin thinking about the online predators and you might just want to throw the computer out the window altogether.
Parents would be wise to spend time with their children on the computer and teach them how to research, give them a list of websites that they are allowed to browse etc. and also be WITH them as they begin learning to navigate the computer. However, they are going to eventually have time when you are not going to be there 100% of the time. So, how do we protect these innocent eyes and hearts?
One of our MOPS members gave this article to me about this very subject and I would like to share with you the good resources that it contains. These are several excerpts from Pastor Keith Missel on his series "Winning the Battle for Purity."
Here are a list of Internet Resources:
Covenant Eyes: www.covenanteyes.com - This is primarily an internet accountability service (where history is emailed to someone), but they have recently added filtering.
Safe Eyes: www.internetsafety.com - Protects your family from harmful online content and keeps you informed of all web activities
Be Secure: www.bsecure.com - The recipient of PC Magazine's Editor's Choice Award for parental controls software
My Kids: www.mykids.com - Provides both an internet filtering and numerous other internet tools for parents
Plugged In: www.pluggedin.com - Focus on the Family- Sharing a light on the world of popular entertainment (music, video games, movie reviews and more)
Clear Play: www.clearplay.com - A new type of parental control where you can personalize the playback of your movies by simply selecting content types you want edited from your movies (ie. violence, sensual, vulgarity, blaspheme, bloodshed, etc.)
**
I believe that with this filtering process, we must turn over our children, once again, to the Lord in prayer. He will give us wisdom when we need it most. He PROMISES that in His Word. As our kids get older, things like this can really make a parent fear....however, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of PEACE!
Showing posts with label Spiritual Encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual Encouragement. Show all posts
Monday, November 12, 2012
The Giving Keeps on Going!
At our last Moms Night Out, we had the opportunity to do something SO wonderfully fun. We all brought items that we did not need or want anymore. We then laid out our items in categories and everyone then got to "shop" for free! When we were all done "shopping" we then had many items still left over. One of our MOPS leaders was able to take them to several different charities in the area that minister to the homeless and to people in need. Upon reflection of the evening, she did this guest post. What a beautiful night it turned out to be....for many reasons!
***
Oh the joys of bringing the Gospel to life in our own lives and the lives of others. I wanted to send out a special thank you for all the ladies that came out Monday for the MOP Swap. So what's this talk about living the Gospel message? Throughout the planning and setting up for the evening I couldn't help but think about what the Bible says about earthly possessions. We have so many material possessions in our life that we hold on to that we don't really need but keep around nonetheless. What happens to that stuff? It just becomes clutter around the house. I'm talking about that stuff that you “love” but more than likely wouldn't even remember it if it just happened to disappear one day. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus meets a rich man who has, for the most part, lived a very virtuous life, however Jesus asks him to sell all his earthly possessions and give the money to the poor so that he may inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Sadly the man turns away. Many of the moms at the MOP Swap expressed the freedom they felt when they were able to give away THINGS that they really wanted to keep, but truly had no use for.
After the evening was over we gathered all of the leftover clothes, toys, and odds and ends to be donated to charity. One organization helps pregnant mothers that are contemplating abortion. The volunteers were so excited when I brought a van load of toys, baby clothing, and maternity clothing to share with their clients. When I made the delivery, this is when another Gospel message started coming to mind, the Loaves and the Fishes. The people that Jesus had been preaching to had become hungry. There was not much food to go around, but Jesus told his disciples to hand out the small amount that they had. This is when a small blessing became a huge one. When everyone had their fill there was a multitude of leftovers! Our small gift of a few clothes and toys could not only help a mother in need, but it could even save a life. So many women seek abortion because they are pressured into thinking they can't provide for a child. Some of these ministries include finding a home for expecting mothers, adoption referrals, Emergency assistance (rent, utilities, food, transpiration), limited ultrasounds, community resource information, infant and maternity clothing, diapers and formula, and post abortion healing and counseling.
The Loaves and Fishes Gospel continued to manifest when I took everything else (home items, tv, etc) that was left over to another charity that ministers to the needy and the homeless. I was afraid they wouldn't be able to use any of the items that I was bringing to them, but boy, did I get a surprise! One of the volunteers told me that their agency works together with another agency so that when things are donated to them that they cannot use, they in turn donate it to the other ministry that can use them! WOW! To me I felt like our small offering just kept multiplying. Not only did we free ourselves of attachment, but God blessed those items so that it could multiply into a greater manifestation of ministry and charity. So, I was moved by the Holy Spirit to share with everyone that what started out as fun Mom's Night Out turned into something much greater blessed by God.
Mark 10:17-31
17 He was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, 'Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
18 Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
19 You know the commandments: You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.'
20 And he said to him, 'Master, I have kept all these since my earliest days.'
21 Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him, and he said, 'You need to do one thing more. Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'
22 But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.
23 Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!'
24 The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, 'My children,' he said to them, 'how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of God.'
26 They were more astonished than ever, saying to one another, 'In that case, who can be saved?'
27 Jesus gazed at them and said, 'By human resources it is impossible, but not for God: because for God everything is possible.'
28 Peter took this up. 'Look,' he said to him, 'we have left everything and followed you.'
29 Jesus said, 'In truth I tell you, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
30 who will not receive a hundred times as much, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land -- and persecutions too -- now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.
31 Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.'
Matthew 14:15-20
15 When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, 'This is a lonely place, and time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.'
16 Jesus replied, 'There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.'
17 But they answered, 'All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.'
18 So he said, 'Bring them here to me.'
19 He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples, who gave them to the crowds.
20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps left over, twelve baskets full.
***
Oh the joys of bringing the Gospel to life in our own lives and the lives of others. I wanted to send out a special thank you for all the ladies that came out Monday for the MOP Swap. So what's this talk about living the Gospel message? Throughout the planning and setting up for the evening I couldn't help but think about what the Bible says about earthly possessions. We have so many material possessions in our life that we hold on to that we don't really need but keep around nonetheless. What happens to that stuff? It just becomes clutter around the house. I'm talking about that stuff that you “love” but more than likely wouldn't even remember it if it just happened to disappear one day. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus meets a rich man who has, for the most part, lived a very virtuous life, however Jesus asks him to sell all his earthly possessions and give the money to the poor so that he may inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Sadly the man turns away. Many of the moms at the MOP Swap expressed the freedom they felt when they were able to give away THINGS that they really wanted to keep, but truly had no use for.
After the evening was over we gathered all of the leftover clothes, toys, and odds and ends to be donated to charity. One organization helps pregnant mothers that are contemplating abortion. The volunteers were so excited when I brought a van load of toys, baby clothing, and maternity clothing to share with their clients. When I made the delivery, this is when another Gospel message started coming to mind, the Loaves and the Fishes. The people that Jesus had been preaching to had become hungry. There was not much food to go around, but Jesus told his disciples to hand out the small amount that they had. This is when a small blessing became a huge one. When everyone had their fill there was a multitude of leftovers! Our small gift of a few clothes and toys could not only help a mother in need, but it could even save a life. So many women seek abortion because they are pressured into thinking they can't provide for a child. Some of these ministries include finding a home for expecting mothers, adoption referrals, Emergency assistance (rent, utilities, food, transpiration), limited ultrasounds, community resource information, infant and maternity clothing, diapers and formula, and post abortion healing and counseling.
The Loaves and Fishes Gospel continued to manifest when I took everything else (home items, tv, etc) that was left over to another charity that ministers to the needy and the homeless. I was afraid they wouldn't be able to use any of the items that I was bringing to them, but boy, did I get a surprise! One of the volunteers told me that their agency works together with another agency so that when things are donated to them that they cannot use, they in turn donate it to the other ministry that can use them! WOW! To me I felt like our small offering just kept multiplying. Not only did we free ourselves of attachment, but God blessed those items so that it could multiply into a greater manifestation of ministry and charity. So, I was moved by the Holy Spirit to share with everyone that what started out as fun Mom's Night Out turned into something much greater blessed by God.
Mark 10:17-31
17 He was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, 'Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
18 Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
19 You know the commandments: You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.'
20 And he said to him, 'Master, I have kept all these since my earliest days.'
21 Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him, and he said, 'You need to do one thing more. Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'
22 But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.
23 Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!'
24 The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, 'My children,' he said to them, 'how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of God.'
26 They were more astonished than ever, saying to one another, 'In that case, who can be saved?'
27 Jesus gazed at them and said, 'By human resources it is impossible, but not for God: because for God everything is possible.'
28 Peter took this up. 'Look,' he said to him, 'we have left everything and followed you.'
29 Jesus said, 'In truth I tell you, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
30 who will not receive a hundred times as much, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land -- and persecutions too -- now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.
31 Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.'
Matthew 14:15-20
15 When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, 'This is a lonely place, and time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.'
16 Jesus replied, 'There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.'
17 But they answered, 'All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.'
18 So he said, 'Bring them here to me.'
19 He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples, who gave them to the crowds.
20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps left over, twelve baskets full.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Meeting Recap: Its All About LOVE
Be in prayer for the women who were unable to make it to our MOPS meeting this morning. I know there is some sickness going around.....and when the mama is sick, it makes caring for sick babies even harder!
We had a speaker today who talked to us about our very theme: LOVE as if your life depended on it. Love is something that we do not talk a lot about.....and if we examine HOW and WHY we are loving, or attempting to love people, it is very telling!
We know that the Lord says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength." In light of this, we better learn how to LOVE correctly! This self-examination can be hard......but it can be so freeing as well! We need to learn to love both earnestly and intensely.
Our verse for the year: I Peter 4:7-11 says:
LOVE each other as if your life depended on it. LOVE makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless-cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything- encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
Extension Cord: We are drawing love from people- not actually loving, but taking all the time. A more mature love is a giving type of love.
We had a speaker today who talked to us about our very theme: LOVE as if your life depended on it. Love is something that we do not talk a lot about.....and if we examine HOW and WHY we are loving, or attempting to love people, it is very telling!
We know that the Lord says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength." In light of this, we better learn how to LOVE correctly! This self-examination can be hard......but it can be so freeing as well! We need to learn to love both earnestly and intensely.
Our verse for the year: I Peter 4:7-11 says:
LOVE each other as if your life depended on it. LOVE makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless-cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything- encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
What kind of LOVE is this? This is Agape love which is the love the the Lord has for humankind.
For example. When our child looks like this, it is likely time for that child to have a nap.
Does he want a nap? No. Do he think a nap would be good for him? No. BUT, because we LOVE him, we know that the best thing he needs is a nap! God knows what is best for us, even when we do not understand, or even when we think we know better than Him what is best for us! He AGAPES us!
What kind of "lover" are we?
Empty Cup: We have a "fill me up" mentality. We want others to meet our needs.
The problem remains that we are looking out instead of up for our fulfillment. We need to break out the bottom of that cup.....or drill some holes into your cup like a planter......and allow God to flow THROUGH you. That is how to properly love. Christ wants to live and love through us and we need to allow Him to do that.
Here are some questions to ponder as we think more about this subject of love in our lives:
1. Can I see ways that I have been an extension cord, or an empty cup, or have had unrealistic expectations?
2. Can I see ways that I have morphed my desires?
3. Am I willing to repent?- to stop asking people to do what only God can do?
4. Am I willing to believe I am who God says that I am now?
5. Am I willing to receive from God so I can, above all else, love others deeply?
Sunday, September 9, 2012
The Gift of Fellowship
In my morning devos. this morning I came across this passage taken from "A Woman After God's Heart" written by Elizabeth George. It fits in very nicely with our theme of "plunging" into relationships this year in MOPS! (Side note: this book is an incredible book for morning devos. that addresses how to grow in our main roles as women. I highly recommend it!)
Spiritual Growth: The Gift of Fellowship
As Jesus grew, He also "increased in favor with man" (Luke 2:52). Try these three ways to improve your relationships with people.
1. Mind your mind
It's unavoidable. Your actions will reveal your attitude toward people. That's the message of yet another proverb: "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7). Thoughts that are critical, negative, harmful, and jealous not only go against God's Word (Phil. 4:8), but they spawn actions that are critical, negative, harmful and jealous. So train yourself to think loving, positive, sweet thoughts when it comes to other people.
2. Mind your mouth
Our relationships with people are enhanced when we follow in the steps of the Proverbs 31 woman who "opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness" (Prov. 31:26). If her thoughts weren't wise or kind, her mouth was shut!
3. Mind your manners
The number one way to be pleasing to God and approved by man is to be the servant of all. Our servant assignment from God is to give honor and preference to one another (Rom. 12:10). Regarding others as more important than yourself gives you the mind and manner of Christ (Phil. 2:4-5).
You and I are to focus away from self and outward to others; we are to become other-oriented. To do this, as mundane as it sounds, we have to train ourselves to, for instance, stop talking about ourselves (and our children) and instead talk about the other person. We may also have to learn some good manner, because love has good manners (I Cor. 13:5).
I love what Anne Ortland says. First she writes, "There are two kinds of personalities in this world, and you are one of the two. People can tell which, as soon as you walk into a room: your attitude says either "Here I am" or There you are."...
Are you a "There you are" person, looking around for how you can encourage someone with God's love? He can make it happen as you let Him grow you into a woman after His heart.
Spiritual Growth: The Gift of Fellowship
As Jesus grew, He also "increased in favor with man" (Luke 2:52). Try these three ways to improve your relationships with people.
1. Mind your mind
It's unavoidable. Your actions will reveal your attitude toward people. That's the message of yet another proverb: "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7). Thoughts that are critical, negative, harmful, and jealous not only go against God's Word (Phil. 4:8), but they spawn actions that are critical, negative, harmful and jealous. So train yourself to think loving, positive, sweet thoughts when it comes to other people.
2. Mind your mouth
Our relationships with people are enhanced when we follow in the steps of the Proverbs 31 woman who "opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness" (Prov. 31:26). If her thoughts weren't wise or kind, her mouth was shut!
3. Mind your manners
The number one way to be pleasing to God and approved by man is to be the servant of all. Our servant assignment from God is to give honor and preference to one another (Rom. 12:10). Regarding others as more important than yourself gives you the mind and manner of Christ (Phil. 2:4-5).
You and I are to focus away from self and outward to others; we are to become other-oriented. To do this, as mundane as it sounds, we have to train ourselves to, for instance, stop talking about ourselves (and our children) and instead talk about the other person. We may also have to learn some good manner, because love has good manners (I Cor. 13:5).
I love what Anne Ortland says. First she writes, "There are two kinds of personalities in this world, and you are one of the two. People can tell which, as soon as you walk into a room: your attitude says either "Here I am" or There you are."...
Are you a "There you are" person, looking around for how you can encourage someone with God's love? He can make it happen as you let Him grow you into a woman after His heart.
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