Polls in England suggest that most adults doubt whether Jesus was a real person even though there is most written evidence in secular and religious writings for Jesus than any other person in history. Make sure your children know the facts and get the Spirit to believe what it means for them.
Friday, March 29, 2019
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Help Your Children Gaze at the Resurrection
Have you ever been both afraid and overjoyed? Those are usually the best moments in life -- a wedding or the birth of a child. The resurrection of Jesus is one event that gives us and our children that same double response.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Your Children Need to Tell of the Resurrection
God could have sent angels to announce in brightness to your children that Jesus rose from the dead. But you got the job! A serious and wonderful privilege that deserves our focus and training. Take 10 minutes today and dialogue with the Christ for Disciplers podcast...
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
The Message of the Resurrection Can Freeze Your Children
The soldiers who guarded Jesus’ tomb shook and then became like statues when an angel appeared and revealed the empty tomb. We want to share that same message of life with our children but have them respond not with fear but with joy and motivation for their lives.
Monday, March 25, 2019
Make Sure Your Children Look at Death
Are funerals just a money making scheme? Sometimes. They are designed to help bring people firmly down to the bottom of death so they can be brought up by the resurrection. Train your children to understand and look at death so they can see the life they have in Jesus.
Friday, March 22, 2019
When Your Kids Just Need to Do Something
When troubles and tragedies hit, we need to train our children to be ready to be a blessing. They may not know what to do or to say but may find that the most important thing is to simply be there.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Share the Curtain Call with Our Children
Jesus’ death is a scary thing for kids to think about. It really is for adults too but often Christians get used to hearing the story. But that death is real and needs to be made real for our kids so that they can know their death is only temporary.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Are Your Children Feeling Darkness?
The opposite of love is not hate -- it’s apathy. The worst that can happen to any relationship is that they decide to respond in no way. GenZ calls it “ghosting”. Jesus’ relationship with every person and his Heavenly Father went dark on the cross so that he could bring us to the light. God calls us to always be with our children now to connect them with Jesus forever.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Jesus Took Sarcasm for Our Children
Does sarcasm hit you hard? Have you been ridiculed by clever or close friends whose words are like knives? In the last moments before Jesus’ death he had insults added to injury like no one else and he willingly took them. He took them in our place so God’s good words will be all we hear when we face death. We train our young Christ followers to endure ridicule and cut downs built up by our words and the words of our loving God.
Monday, March 18, 2019
Jesus Was Crucified for Your Children
If you grew up following Christ or even just with the story of Good Friday as something you heard and learned, Jesus’ death may be old news and seem obvious or not interesting or significant. We need to raise the next generation of Christ followers to ever be shocked and amazed that God could die and would be willing to die.
Friday, March 15, 2019
Can You and Your Children Handle Others Reactions to Truth?
Have you ever thrown your phone or destroyed something valuable because you were mad. The high priest did that when he tore his clothes after he was given the most true message from Jesus -- that he was the Almighty God, there to save him. We need to be ready and get our children ready for such a reaction when we share the same truth.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Can I get a Witness About My Kids?
People looked and tried but they could not find anything that Jesus ever did wrong. What if they did that about you or about your kids? What would they find? We rejoice that Jesus gives his perfection to us as we train the next generation.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Are Your Children Following Jesus, But at a Distance?
Peter abandoned Jesus when he was arrested but still had enough courage to follow him at a distance. Modern day Christians can be tempted to follow Jesus to try and keep a connection but not follow close enough to risk being seen as his followers. As we disciple the next generation we need to train them to follow dangerously close. We can only do that by being that close ourselves.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Do Not Use A Sword to Disciple Your Children
We may want so desperately for our children to follow the spiritual path we have set for them that we will use any tool. But certain tools, like force and sarcasm and guilt, can only force outward compliance and not inward discipleship. We need to see the difference and pull out our gospel toolbox to bless the next generation.
Monday, March 11, 2019
God Uses Godly Leaders to Bless the World
Matthew 5:33-37
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
You don't have to swear an oath if your word is solid. Jesus is telling us, here, to have character. When we commit to something, follow through and do it. Let your actions be all the assurance people need to know that your word is trustworthy. After all, it is our actions that make our words trustworthy. Unfortunately, in our society too many people don't care about their character. They don't understand the value of trust, and being trustworthy.
There's another part here as well. "Let your 'No' be 'No'". If you have no intention of doing something, say so. Don't commit to something knowing full well that you are not going to do it.
A big part of having character is knowing what to say, "No" to, and then saying it. Committing to things you can't do, or don't intend to follow through with, won't make people happy. All that you will accomplish is letting people down and damaging your character. People will learn not to trust you. Once trust is gone so is the relationship.
Do you have people in your life that you can't trust?
Have you ever been part of an organization that had little to no trust?
Operating in an environment where you can't trust others, and aren't trusted by others is miserable. When everyone in an organization can't be trusted it makes it harder for people to give their very best. Often, when people in an organization can't be trusted it is because there is no accountability. The leader is not holding the bar high equally for everyone.
Once the leadership of an organization stops trusting their people, they leave the realm of leadership and have crossed over into Command-and-Control Corporate Management. This oppressive micro-management approach kills initiative and individual leadership. When people need to get permission for every little thing they stop thinking creatively and taking risks. They stop learning. All they are allowed to do is exactly what they are told to do, and the expectation is to do it exactly how they are told to do it. Management leaves no room for thinking.
The Command-and-Control Management approach destroys businesses and organizations of all types. It does so by first destroying the culture. Once the culture has become toxic, performers leave and the downward spiral accelerates.
Lack of trust is ultimately at the root of this demise. Leaders that do not trust cannot be trusted. When leaders stop trusting their people Command-and-Control Management becomes the default mode. Once this approach kicks into high gear it effectively kills creativity and innovation while placing increased demands on its people.
One of the best ways to combat this is by being trustworthy yourself. Trust is really where leadership starts. You can't influence a positive change in this type of organization if management's lack of trust is justified. You change the culture by influencing it from wherever you are in the organization. First, have character. Be trustworthy. Second, give trust. Act in a way that communicates trust to your co-workers and superiors. Finally, talk about it. Have the courage to sit down with your boss, or your boss's boss and talk about how stifling and damaging the current No-Trust culture is.
The response to this conversation will identify if the organization you are a part of has a Leadership team steering the ship, or a Dictator who controls a Management team. It will be entirely up to you to make this decision. Just as it is entirely up to you to stay with this company or move on before the ship sinks.
Sadly, because of sin many organizations are plagued by Dictator-controlled-Management. This wreaks havoc on the culture of organizations, companies, governments, and societies all across the world. The good news is that you can decide to lead at any time. Godly leadership is what changes all of this. It is up to you to start working today to become a Godly leader so that God can use you to bless the world, His creation.
God bless
Jason Fredrick
You don't have to swear an oath if your word is solid. Jesus is telling us, here, to have character. When we commit to something, follow through and do it. Let your actions be all the assurance people need to know that your word is trustworthy. After all, it is our actions that make our words trustworthy. Unfortunately, in our society too many people don't care about their character. They don't understand the value of trust, and being trustworthy.
There's another part here as well. "Let your 'No' be 'No'". If you have no intention of doing something, say so. Don't commit to something knowing full well that you are not going to do it.
A big part of having character is knowing what to say, "No" to, and then saying it. Committing to things you can't do, or don't intend to follow through with, won't make people happy. All that you will accomplish is letting people down and damaging your character. People will learn not to trust you. Once trust is gone so is the relationship.
Do you have people in your life that you can't trust?
Have you ever been part of an organization that had little to no trust?
Operating in an environment where you can't trust others, and aren't trusted by others is miserable. When everyone in an organization can't be trusted it makes it harder for people to give their very best. Often, when people in an organization can't be trusted it is because there is no accountability. The leader is not holding the bar high equally for everyone.
Once the leadership of an organization stops trusting their people, they leave the realm of leadership and have crossed over into Command-and-Control Corporate Management. This oppressive micro-management approach kills initiative and individual leadership. When people need to get permission for every little thing they stop thinking creatively and taking risks. They stop learning. All they are allowed to do is exactly what they are told to do, and the expectation is to do it exactly how they are told to do it. Management leaves no room for thinking.
The Command-and-Control Management approach destroys businesses and organizations of all types. It does so by first destroying the culture. Once the culture has become toxic, performers leave and the downward spiral accelerates.
Lack of trust is ultimately at the root of this demise. Leaders that do not trust cannot be trusted. When leaders stop trusting their people Command-and-Control Management becomes the default mode. Once this approach kicks into high gear it effectively kills creativity and innovation while placing increased demands on its people.
One of the best ways to combat this is by being trustworthy yourself. Trust is really where leadership starts. You can't influence a positive change in this type of organization if management's lack of trust is justified. You change the culture by influencing it from wherever you are in the organization. First, have character. Be trustworthy. Second, give trust. Act in a way that communicates trust to your co-workers and superiors. Finally, talk about it. Have the courage to sit down with your boss, or your boss's boss and talk about how stifling and damaging the current No-Trust culture is.
The response to this conversation will identify if the organization you are a part of has a Leadership team steering the ship, or a Dictator who controls a Management team. It will be entirely up to you to make this decision. Just as it is entirely up to you to stay with this company or move on before the ship sinks.
Sadly, because of sin many organizations are plagued by Dictator-controlled-Management. This wreaks havoc on the culture of organizations, companies, governments, and societies all across the world. The good news is that you can decide to lead at any time. Godly leadership is what changes all of this. It is up to you to start working today to become a Godly leader so that God can use you to bless the world, His creation.
God bless
Jason Fredrick
Are You Raising a Judas?
People do not name their child Judas for a good reason. At the time no one thought Judas would betray and end up away from Jesus forever. Could anything have been done? How do we raise our children so they do not end up away from Jesus forever? The answer is the Gospel.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Pass on Wisdom to Your Children
Wisdom generally comes with age and experience -- but not automatically. Take time with your children and walk with them in their lives and apply Jesus to them at each step, stumble, jump and fall. Give them the ultimate wisdom of being ready for Jesus when he comes.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Train Your Children to Not Be Fools
Do your children procrastinate? It is a long and difficult task to train children to be on task and on time -- but it’s worth it! Most importantly we need to train them not to be spiritual procrastinators.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Children Who Fall for Addiction Fall to Pieces
God gives us warnings not to let addictions distract us for our lives following him and loving others. We all have some tendency toward addiction. We need to see ours clearly and help the next generation see theirs so we can avoid them and be ready to serve Jesus and welcome him at his return.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Train the Next Generation to Be Ready
Are you ready for today to be your last? Our your children ready for it to be your last? Their last? Jesus is the only way to be ready.
Monday, March 4, 2019
Do Your Children Think the End is Near?
How many times have you heard people predict the world would end? So far they have all been wrong. Our children need to be ready if today is the last day but work and learn like the world will go on thousands of years after them. We need to train them for that.
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Will You Use ALL of Your Blessings Faithfully?
Matthew 25:14-18
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money."
There are several points Jesus makes just in this opening paragraph.
First, God is the giver of all gifts and abilities. Nothing that we have is from ourselves. We cannot make ourselves. At best, we are only capable of developing the gifts He has given us. Therefore, no accomplishment or success is our own, it is part of His gift to us.
Second, God does not distribute gifts and talents equally. He disperses them as He sees fit. Is that unfair? That questions reeks of idolatry; as if any of us is in a position to tell God how He ought to do things. It is the Lord God Almighty who knows the plans that He has for each one of us. Only He knows the plans that He has for our world, and any given moment in our world. If you want to speak of fairness, God is the only one who is. He gives everyone exactly what they need, when they need it. As verse 15 says, "each according to his ability." If you look at the two faithful servants from this parable, they each did the best they could with what they were given.
Finally, faith and gratitude are active. The two faithful servants immediately put their gifts to work. There was no complaining that one received more. There was no whining and complaining that either one wanted more, or thought that he deserved more.
What can we say about the third servant? Was he lazy? Ungrateful? Incapable of doing something with his talent?
Was he lazy? Possibly.
Was he ungrateful? It sure seems that way.
Was he incapable of doing something with his talent? Absolutely not! Jesus makes it very clear that the master gave to each "according to his ability". So all three servants had some ability, including the one who chose to hide his talent in the ground.
Do you know people like this third servant? They excuse away everybody else's success and accomplishments in life. You will often hear them say things like, "They just got lucky"; "I'm just not that talented"; "I could do that if I really wanted to". These people spend their whole lives making excuses and justifying their failures in life; playing the victim as if the Master hasn't given them any talents to work with. They don't want you to look in their backyard and see all the holes they've dug throughout their life. These people spend their whole life digging hole after hole, burying every talent God has given them; and then blaming God for not giving them everything they ask for. The saddest thing about these unfaithful servants is that if they would work as hard at developing the talents they've been given as they do burying them; they would have everything in life they could ever want, and more. If they would take the time to develop just 1% of the talents they have been given they would be among the elite achievers in society. Unfortunately, their ungratefulness has doomed them to being among the most pathetic and disappointing in society, and more importantly- in God's kingdom.
Matthew 25:19-23
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
God loves us! He wants us to be happy and to enjoy the best of what life has to offer, but He is not some "genie in the bottle". God does not exist to cater to our sinful selfish wants and desires. He knows how to bless us. This rarely means just giving us what we ask for. Most often it means giving us the lessons and opportunities to prove faithful with what He has already given us.
For example, when I ask God to improve and strengthen my marriage, I don't wake up in the morning with my marriage magically strengthened and improved. What happens is that a challenge or problem that I have been avoiding all of sudden becomes unavoidable. I am forced to develop the courage to confront it. I have to communicate with my wife about what I'm feeling and what is going on. In short, I have to use all of the talents I have been given to confront this challenge, with my wife, in love to grow through it. It is by working together and overcoming this challenge or problem that my marriage is strengthened and improved.
This process usually is not easy, but it is always worth it. God knows how to answer prayers, He's been doing it successfully for a long time. Look at the text above and see how joyful God is when we use the talents He has given us to glorify Him. He is so happy and pleased with the two faithful servants that He can't help but to bless them even more! God loves us beyond what we can even comprehend!
Matthew 25:24-30
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth..' "
The master is not just displeased with this servant. He is angry! He generously gave this servant one talent to look after, and what did he do with it? Nothing. He buried it in the ground. If he would have at least put it on deposit with the bankers it would have earned a little interest; but he was so irresponsible that he didn't even do that little bit. How much effort would that have taken?
As I mentioned before, the unfaithful servant always has a justification for his laziness and wickedness. Look at what he does in the parable: He makes a slanderous accusation against his master, as if it's the master's fault that he wasted his talent and this opportunity.
God entrusts us with all of the blessings that we enjoy. We have a duty, a stewardship, to use all of those blessings to glorify Him and grow His kingdom hear on earth. The purpose of all our blessings is to win souls for Jesus. Our blessings aren't simply for our own pleasure and enjoyment, they are to be reinvested into those people God has placed in our lives. One of the ways that God blesses others, is by blessing us and trusting us to be "good and faithful servants".
Jesus makes it clear in this parable that it is God who gives us the blessings, but it is up to us what we do with what He's given us. The wicked servant chose to do nothing with what he was given, so it was taken away from him. Then the master had him thrown out into the darkness.
This is what happens to all who waste God's blessings and especially reject His greatest gift: Jesus Christ. All who foolishly do this will be cast out of God's presence for all eternity. They will be thrown into the eternal darkness of hell, tortured for all eternity knowing that God no longer loves them. There will be no second chances.
The faithful servants put their talents to work and enjoyed a significant return on their efforts. The reward for their faithful stewardship was even greater blessings, "You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things."
The greatest reward God gives His faithful servants is eternal life in heaven. The faithful servants don't earn salvation by their faithful stewardship. Only Jesus was able to do what was necessary to win forgiveness of sins and salvation. Like all of God's other blessings, salvation is a gift freely given; not because we have earned it, or deserve it, but because God loves us that much. He loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to be tortured and killed in our place so that all of our sins would be forgiven. Jesus paid the price for them all. Through His perfect life, His death, and resurrection Jesus won the forgiveness of sins and eternal life for us. These are two things we can never achieve on our own.
Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgression.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
May the Lord bless you and keep you this Lent season.
Jason Fredrick
Friday, March 1, 2019
Children Even on the edge of Jesus are Blessed
Even those who just touched Jesus' cloak were healed. Empower the next generation to connect others to Jesus for eternal blessings.
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