Role models

I was trying to see what verses were appropriate concerning role models. There are some to choose from but it hasn't hit me which one is the most appropriate. As we grow up, our parents are supposed to, in my opinion, be our role models. They are supposed to set the example for us. Why people hold on to "do as I say and not as I do" is mystery to me as children are very impressionable. They copy whatever they see. There is a guy I was told about. His son is about 3 yrs old and he doesn't talk much but if the dad puts on rap music, with cussing included, the little boy will dance and repeat the words. Why anyone would ever think that is cute, is beyond me. That is my opinion, but I also highly doubt God sees this as favorable. We, the parents, are the 1st people the kids see to learn whatever they can from us until other people come into the picture.

What spurred this line of thinking happened when I went to pick up my baby from his dad's mother's house. My baby's father's parents have been divorced for quite a while. In fact, my ex has anger against his father as his father was not there when he was younger. He wasn't there to teach him the things a man is supposed to teach his son as he is growing older so my ex took to the guys of the streets to find his role model. That has got to be hard on a young boy. Anyway, like I said my baby's dad still has anger towards his dad for this. I have more of an understanding as to why my baby's dad didn't trust my ex husband.

My ex's dad, currently has a girlfriend, however he comes over the my ex's mother's house alot. And it is not just to say hi.  I know this because my baby's dad told me his mother told him about an episode between her and  his father where his father couldn't "perform." Ewww...was a little too much information for me, but I see why my ex keeps thinking what he thinks. His parents are doing this. But the problem is just because his parents do this, doesn't mean everyone else does this. He lived in a closed world (and at times still continues to live in a closed world).....His mother made the statement she didn't trust anyone, which is where I think he got some of his trust issues from. But still, what one person does doesn't mean every one else will. At times I feel sorry for my baby's dad....when I am not mad at him for the things he says but I also think that everyone has the opportunity to not become a product of their environment. I guess if you don't have a way out, what choice do you have, but as God does for us, there is always a way out. (I think)

We think that family are the ones who will not hurt us, however, sometimes they seem to be the ones who hurt us the most...I guess because they are the closest. I am not sure what happened as far as his and his mother's religion as she goes to church and I believe they did when growing up. But I guess if we as parents don't have the knowledge, strength, and courage to help our kids know and understand God, they will be lost when they get older and start making their own decision.

LOL...I knew something would come to me! Thank you Jesus!
Proverbs 22:6
King James Version (KJV)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

It all starts at home. I bet half of the youths out there wouldn't be acting the way they did if the parents held onto that verse. Yeah, I know personally how hard it is as a single mother, and I understand there are situations in life, but our children are precious and innocent but there are so many who don't look at them that way and therefore there are so many who are lost. I am grateful that I am not the only one who speaks and tries to show them the way of God. My 2 oldest son's father does this as well. That I am so so grateful for. So we will pray that our boys will be what God intends them to be, even though we are doing it from 2 different households. As for the baby's father, I can only continue to pray that he will open his heart and let the Lord in so that he will not have his children growing up angry at him......

I wish my upbringing had of been different as well. The only time we went to church was when we stayed with our grandparents in the summer. During the year with our parents, we didn't. I remember those church days. (sigh) We belonged to the church. Had a concert that had so many people up on their feet and praising God..... I wish my parents would have kept that going with us. Maybe things would have turned out a lot different with me and my sister. But I can't cry over spilled milk. I am developing my relationship with the Lord and trying to keep my children there as well. It's not happening perfectly but that's what I am striving for.

Going towards the goal...finishing the race...

Until next time.....

How fitting............

Oh how I almost cried with this picture!

I did not have a good night last night. I woke up at about 2:38am and I couldn't breathe. My nose so severely stopped up enough to awaken me. I was upset because I do not get much rest anyway and especially the hard day I went through yesterday. So I was fussing at God. I went to find my allergy medicine and got my bible and sat in the hallway and started reading the bible. I still fussed at God. "What do you want from me?" "Why can't I hear you?" "What am I supposed to be doing as I feel like I am doing nothing?" "What...what...what!!!!!"  I was reading the 2 book of Corinthians. There are some verses that stuck out and I believe it was He that was talking to me. But I was still frustrated as I still couldn't breathe out of my nose nor could I continue to blow my nose as this seemed to make matters worse! I eventually closed the bible, took my medicine, and tried to go to sleep. It really wasn't happening for me. I wanted so badly to just scream at the top of my lungs. But the kids were sleep and that is the last thing I wanted to do was wake them up too!


AS I was trying to sleep, I heard nature begin to wake....meaning the birds had started chirping! Uggghhh.....are you kidding me? This was the signal that soon my alarm would be going off. (5:30am) I fell asleep a little and purposely didn't get up until 6:50am. I told God I would get my devotional in at work. I should have been grumpy for the lack of sleep, but I wasn't.  My sister said that meant something and she is right. It meant alot. She also said that "maybe God is just seeing if you’ll be faithful even when it doesn’t seem like HE is hearing you. "   and I agree with her. He knows that at times I feel like giving up. But instead of wallowing in my feelings like I usually do, I go to Him...however I can.

So this morning, after my devotional, I came across an email I had that just fit and gave me an uplifting He knew I needed. This devotional was about His plan for my life and it was so right on time. Plus I needed to read Psalm 73 in order to understand and it was sooo appropriate!

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

¹ Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.

² But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
³ For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.^[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
⁶ Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
⁷ From their callous hearts comes iniquity^[b];
their evil imaginations have no limits.
⁸ They scoff, and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.
⁹ Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
¹⁰ Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.^[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”

¹² This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

¹³ Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.
¹⁴ All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.

¹⁵ If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
¹⁶ When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
¹⁷ till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.

¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
¹⁹ How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
²⁰ They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.

²¹ When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
²² I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

²³ Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

 

The author, Asaph, allowed discouragement to grow in his life to the point he was deeply disturbed. I can feel him on that! But in the end, he realizes the truth and puts an end to his negativity.

 

The devotional ends by saying this "The closer you are to God, the less likely the enemy will have a shot at your emotions. Stay close to what God has for you to do. You are His beloved child and He has an amazing plan for your life."

 

I told my sister with all the things I have been going through, He has something good for me. I just need to keep the faith and keep on going in my relationship with Him. Whenever I feel like giving up, talk to him even more. Because He always has a word for us. Always!

 

Until next time.....