Category: Relationships

What Are Teens Entitled To?

Teens today have a sense of entitlement. They think they have the right to anything they want. They think they are entitled to have it no matter what their behavior looks like or what their responsibility level is.

God will give us anything we ask in His name according to His Will. He expects certain things of us. Some of the things He expects include respect, obedience and proper behavior.

If we would set the example in our home, our children would be able to accept what a Godly relationship looks like. They would know what is expected and be able to walk with their Heavenly Father because of the example that was set in the home. Although we will never be able to be the perfect parent that our Heavenly Father is, we still need to stop giving in to demands.

Teens need to be grateful for the privileges and gifts they receive. They need to realize the gift comes with a sacrifice. The sacrifice may come from the giver or the receiver.

We don’t deserve the free gift of Christ dying for our salvation. He sacrificed himself because He loved us. Our gifts to our children are because we love them not because they deserve it. They need to realize there is a sacrifice behind each gift they receive. Someone has given up something of theirs so that they could give them the gift.(New Testament)

The one wanting something could also be the one that sacrifices. They may need to work and earn what they desire. They may need to sacrifice their time and it should be done responsibly and they should be putting their best effort into it.(Old Testament)

How Much Has God Done For You?

Are you facing another trial? Do you wonder how much more you can take? We become stronger with everything we come up against. God uses everything Satan throws at us to make us stronger. Don’t be discouraged. What does God want to teach you through this? What is God saying to you? Keep up the fight. God is not about to let Satan have you now. He has invested His life in you. You are more than a conqueror through Christ. He will give you the strength you need.

God is Jealous

God loves us and created us for His purpose.

We were designed for His purpose. We were designed to fellowship with Him and worship Him.

We will never be truly happy unless we are fulfilling that purpose.

When we are doing other things besides what we were designed for, God gets jealous.

When our friends devote more time to other things or people than to us, we get jealous. God gets jealous the same way.

God is jealous of the time we spend falling for Satan’s distractions. God wants us to be free to serve Him. He is tired of Satan having his way with us.

When we fall into sin, God gets angry. He does not want Satan to have us.

Keep your focus on what God has done for you, what He has brought you through, what He has promised you. He will fight for you. He is not about to allow Satan to have you now.

He gives us our daily bread. Ultimately He has sacrificed His Son Jesus that we can be saved and have eternal life.

Let’s listen to what He tells us, what He asks of us. Be obedient to His calling and His will.

What is God saying to you?

Keep Praying and Reading His Word. Be obedient.

Exodus 34:14 NIV Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

God Will Fight The Battle For You

Just as God fought for the Israelites in Exodus 14 to free them from their bondage to slavery, He will fight to free you from any bondage you are experiencing. You must be willing to move ahead possibly going through the desert to reach the promised land but it will be worth it. God will go before you but He expects you to ask Him to be with you. Don’t get so comfortable in your sin that you want to turn back as the Israelites considered. Keep going forward. God will help you. You need to keep looking to God and staying in touch with Him by praying and reading His Word. It may be hard at times but cry out to Jesus. He will supply what you need to be free. When you feel that freedom, it will be worth it all. The longer you live with Christ and in that freedom, the sweeter and easier it becomes even when we have a battle to fight. It doesn’t always feel easy in the midst of the battle, but each time you make it through, you realize that God sustained you while making you stronger and increasing you faith.

Make Satan Sorry

I was laying in bed last night thinking, “I am so tired.” I wasn’t that tired physically but I was tired spiritually. When I got up and the two boys that are still at home were off to school for the day, I still felt tired. I did some daily devotions and prayer and had no energy to attack my “to do” list. I opened my email and my daily email from Mark Gregston at Heartlight Ministries talked about the things you go through with your children and the last line read somewhat like God has not given up on them, why should you? Laying in bed last night I have to admit I felt like it would be nice if I didn’t have to have this battle but I don’t know if I would give up. If it weren’t for parents, who would be fighting and praying for our kids. It would be nice to think others would step in but the passion is never as deep when it hasn’t hit home or it isn’t your children.

Being too tired to attack my “to do” list, I went to the couch which is not what I usually do. I began to ask God “What am I to do?” and “How long will this take?” I asked him for ambition and motivation to do what I needed to do today or at least what I thought I needed to do. I sat there and felt like I should turn the TV on. This is something I hardly ever do. I flipped through the spiritual channels being very selective of my choices. I came upon Beth Moore. It is nice to sit and listen and go to church and listen but if we spend all our time getting fed, we won’t have time left to feed others. I think God knew I needed some time to listen.

Beth mentioned when God restores us from whatever we are called to go through that we become stronger and are used by God in such a way that Satan is sorry that he ever messed with us. I have had many things that I feel God has been calling me to do in the past few years. Some doors have been opened but I am still waiting for the details of the others to be revealed. I feel overwhelmed at times because of so much stuff and a lack of resources. It is hard to be patient and excited at the same time.

I had some energy restored and walked to the barn to feed the animals. Just as I finished, I felt God telling me this and when I got back to the house (about 1000 feet), I was like “WOW”, I literally did not remember walking up the driveway. We hear parents say, “Don’t mess with my kid or you will be sorry!” or “You can mess with me but don’t mess with my child.” This is my claim today that I want Satan to be sorry that he ever messed with my kid. I trust God to help me accomplish that goal.

We all have something that Satan has tried to use to destroy us that God has used for His Glory. Do something for Christ to make Satan sorry he ever messed with you.

Did I accomplish anything today? I don’t know. I guess it depends on how you look at it.