Love to hear from and know who is listening
One of the most memorable milestones in your child’s life is when they say their first word. Parents spend months repeating Mommy or Daddy to their little ones in the hopes it will be the first word they say. Some of the most common baby's first words are: Mommy, Daddy, Hi, Bye, Dog, Ball and believe it or not “NO!” First words are often a battle fought between Moms and Dads who are so insecure, because they think their child will be more devoted to the first parent they can name. Of course, that’s nonsense. Just ask Junior if their first words mean anything and they’ll probably tell you, “No,” because that’s literally one of the most common first words! While “No” is one of most babies’ first words “Yes” isn’t even in the top 20. Turns out, one the primary roles of parenting is to keep them from doing things they shouldn’t do, things that may harm or injure them. As parents I am confident you can remember fanatically telling your infant, NO! don't touch - hot, or NO, NO, NO, don't put that in your mouth. I could go on and on but you get the idea. Parents tell their children no, not because they are trying to stop them from experiencing something pleasurable or fun, but just the opposite, to protect them from something harmful.
The Bible gets a bum rap for being “negative,” for being a bunch of rules one has to follow, a long list of “Thou shalt nots!” God's word definitely contains “Thou shalt nots,” but God’s intention is not to limit our experiences. Rather, God’s word is designed to help us make wise choices that will protect us from harm and help us experience whole, satisfying lives. Lives that honor God. Lives that give us strength and stability in this crazy, chaotic world.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Most of us are so selfish that we don't want anyone or anything telling us what we can or can't do! I know as a teenager growing up one of my greatest motivations to do something was usually because my parents told me I couldn't or shouldn't do it. As an adult, I now realize they weren't telling me, “NO” because they didn't want me to enjoy life, it was because they knew what was best for me. They knew that my choices would likely be harmful or even dangerous. We all want God's help when we’re in deep trouble. But the minute we think we’ve got life under control, we forget Him.
Unfortunately the world believes that truth is subjective. They believe there are no absolute truths. They believe that the truth can be discovered, even created. I am sure you see the slippery slope we’re hurtling down! If each person gets to decide his or her own “truth,” society has moved from concrete to sand piles.
Matthew 7:24-27 NIV “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
The bible is so much more than a rule book a list of “Thou Shalt Nots!” It’s the greatest love story ever told. It’s the story of our past and our future. And its power helps us to deal with the right here, right now! Get excited about that! God is Good all the time!!! All the time God is Good!!!
