Tuesday, August 31, 2010

What’s your attitude towards your child?



‘...When he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion [on him]...’ Luke 15:20 NKJV

Chuck Colson writes, ‘When I was at Buckingham Palace… Prince Philip asked me, “What can we do about crime here in England?” I replied, “Send more children to Sunday school.” He thought I was joking. But I pointed out a study by sociologist Christy Davies, which found that in the first half of the 1800s British society was marked by high levels of crime and violence, which dropped dramatically in the late 1800s and early 1900s. What changed an entire nation’s national character? Throughout that period attendance at Sunday schools rose steadily until by 1888, a full 75 per cent of children in England were enrolled. Since then attendance has fallen off… with a corresponding increase in crime and disorder. If we fill the Sunday schools we can change hearts and restore society.’ Does that mean our children will never lose their way? No, it just means they’ll realise the truth of what they were taught, recall the joys of being in ‘Father’s house’, and return because they know they’ll be welcomed back. You’ll notice, no charge of parental neglect is laid at the doorstep of the prodigal’s father. He was a great role model. He supported his children financially and emotionally. He guided them without forcing them to conform. He gave them room to fail – and a place to return. What does reflect on us as parents, however, is our attitude towards our children. Your child may be ‘a great way off’, but they need to know you care, that you love and pray for them, and that you’ll welcome them home.


***This devotion taught me how important early education is to children. Sunday school is one of the best teachings we can impart to our children. A sunday schooler myself, I know how it feels to grow up in the virtues of a christian living. It made me realize as I am going through life little aspects of my character that are once inculcated by David, Moses, Joseph, Paul and Jesus. I am sure to let my children experience the same things of attending sunday services. **

Monday, August 30, 2010

Make Giving a Lifestyle



Monday, 30 August 2010

‘...God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’ 2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT

A child who had just learned to tie his shoelaces was crying, so his mum asked, ‘Is it that hard?’ ‘No,’ he sobbed, ‘but now I’ll have to do it for the rest of my life!’ Is that how you feel about giving? You want to learn, but you’re not sure that you want to make it a lifestyle? Some swallows were teaching their young to fly from a branch overhanging a lake. One by one the mother bird pushed each of her chicks to the end, until somewhere between the branch and the water they discovered they could fly. Their mother understood what they didn’t: until you learn to fly you’re not really living! Understand this: giving is an action built into us by God; it’s the air into which we were born. But until you realise that, you’ll cling to everything you have! The Bible says, ‘...Whoever sows generously will also reap generously.’ (2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV) Everything in life begins with a seed. Your seed is anything that can multiply: your love, your time or your money. Your harvest is what comes back to you in benefits such as joy, good relationships, and – yes – finances. If what you have is not enough to be a harvest, sow it as a seed, believing God will multiply it back to you in the areas you need it most. Go ahead, you’ll love the results! Giving is like flying. When you learn to let go of what you’re clinging to and launch out, you will realise, ‘This is how I was born to live!’

*** Yes sometimes it is hard for me to give. Sometimes I have good intentions of giving for ministries and churches but never had the chance to do so because I was so afraid to lose my money. I mean in the end God will return everything to me generously if I only give generously. I am not neglecting my tithes but maybe God is knocking my heart into giving into other ministries. To ISCF, to Lifehouse, etc. There are institutions, outreaches that need my support financially and prayerfully of course. I say that let those with much give much but in the end I still believe I'm in the other half of the much. I'm in New Zealand after all. Even if I clean toilets, smell like poo and old soap. I still have much compared to another million or billion in the other side of the world. I ought to be thankful by helping. Now, where do I start?