Thoughtful Words - Generational Words

Praise the Lord, God has moved in the hearts of my children. Over the past month and a half, all three of my sons and my daughter have given their hearts to God and said the sinners prayer of salvation. What a testimony to God's goodness!

For years I've been feeding them scriptures, taking them to church, praying with them, praying over them, telling them God's truth as we dealt with situations, sharing my heart for Jesus with them. I've watched them struggle with their own images and with each other. I've disciplined them. I've cried with them. I've laughed with them. I've taught them right from wrong. And the cycle went on and on and on. And I found myself wondering if they'd ever really get it. If they'd ever really receive Jesus as their Savior and begin to live their lives for Him.

While I was away, visiting and ministering to a friend, I received a phone call from home. "Ezra received the baptism of the Holy Spirit while he was at camp. He's talking in tongues."

My mother's heart skipped five beats, melted and rejoiced all at the same time.

"He laid his hands on Caleb, and now Caleb's speaking in tongues."

Triple beat skip, melt, rejoice.

"Hannah just said the prayer of salvation and asked Jesus to come into her heart so she can be saved. She wants to go to heaven when she dies. She also wants to get baptized. And Gideon said the prayer, too."

What?!!? My whole family is saved? Thank You, Jesus!

Why? Because God is merciful and good and knows the desires of our hearts. When we, as parents (whether biologically or spiritually), pour our love for the Lord into our children, we are speaking generational words. We are pouring God's truths and moral goodness into the next generation.

"A posterity shall serve Him. 
 It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,
 That He has done this." - Psalm 22:30-31

I know from experience that my children may stumble, fall, get back up or fail to get back up as the years go by. However, I also know that they've been touched in a place they weren't touched before, which makes the difference.

I also take comfort in knowing this truth:

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."- Isaiah 55:11

God has chosen my children. He knew them before I ever dreamed of them. What He has spoken into their hearts shall not return void. He will accomplish what He pleases in their lives. He will cause His word to prosper in their hearts. They will do what He has called them to do.

Just as you and I will. Just as the next generation will. So long as we wave the banner of Jesus Christ over the lives of our children, grandchildren and future generations, God will move in their lives in ways we can't even imagine.

What are you speaking to the next generation? Do you have generational vision for the kingdom of God? You don't have to have biological children to have generational vision. Pray for our future and the future of our children. Find someone to mentor spiritually. And trust God to do His will in His perfect timing.

Generational Photo of Hugo and Victor Morales with Zachary, Ezra, Caleb, Hannah, and Gideon. Taken in 2005. 

Breaking Bread - Proverbs 24:30-34

Photo Courtesy of Peter Mazurek

"I went by the field of the lazy man,
 And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
 Its surface was covered with nettles;
 Its stone wall was broken down." (Prov. 24:30-31)

 The lazy man puts off until tomorrow what he can do today. The lazy man doesn't take care of what belongs to him. He lets it go, saying he'll get to it eventually. Or he'll do it tomorrow. Or he'll wait for someone else to do it for him.

This man doesn't get it. He doesn't see the results of what he's doing. He doesn't understand there will be consequences for his lack of actions.

Eventually, the fruit of his labors (or lack thereof) will present themselves. Thorns will crop up where once there was fruitfulness. Thorns prick. They sting. They bring pain. They hurt others. They choke out the good, ending any life within.

Photo Copyright 2011 Alycia W. Morales

" When I saw it, I considered it well;
 I looked on it and received instruction:" (Prov. 24:32)

 
We can learn from others' mistakes.











"A little sleep, a little slumber;
 A little folding of the hands to rest;
 So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
 And your need like an armed man." 
(Prov. 24:33-34)
   

It won't be long before poverty and hunger overtake the man who decides to take a break and never go back. Once the fruit and the vine die, there is no more. It is only useful to be cast into the fire.

Thoughtful Spot: 

This is one of my favorite Proverbs. It brings such a descriptive image of what life would look like if one were to forgo spiritual disciplines for a time.

I can imagine the thorns choking out the Word.
I can imagine the nettles that sting as I walk through the world without Jesus in my heart.
I can imagine the walls broken down, allowing the enemy an advantage.
I can imagine the poverty of my spirit man, hungering and thirsting for the things of God, yet forgoing the Living Water Jesus provides.
I can imagine the thief coming in to kill, steal and destroy. All because I chose to fold my hands, take a rest, do something for me instead of for God.

And I pray I never get to a place in life where I give up on God and give in to the cares of this world.

What about you? What do you think about when you read this verse? Join me in my thoughtful spot, leave your comments below. I'd love to know what you think!

I'm Done with the Grumpies

As my children were whining, I heard a brilliant idea from God.

New Morales Household Rule:
If you whine when you get in the car after school, you will be required to go to your room for half an hour to rest. You may sleep or read in your bed. Nothing else.

How often do we get overwhelmed and try to keep going, never taking the time to rest? We worry that if we stop, we might not get everything accomplished on our to-do list, or maybe we'll miss out on something.

My children do this, too. They might miss their video game time if they lie down for a nap. They might not get to have their friend over if they spend 30 minutes alone.

It's unhealthy to keep going and going and never take a break. I know that if I don't get enough rest, I get grumpy. When I get grumpy, my kids start to cry about how I'm always yelling. It's in these moments I know I need to stop what I'm doing and rest.

"...'This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep.' For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
Then he said to them, 'Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'
So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, 'Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.'" ~ Nehemiah 9-11 (NKJV - emphasis mine)

The people had not heard the Word of the Lord read to them before. How often do we grieve and sorrow like them because we have strayed from God's Word? 

I know that when the grumpies are trying to grab hold of my life, I need to run to the Word of God for comfort, to find strength, and to renew my joy. I need to be still, stop running crazy, and take time to be alone with my Father. Only then will I be able to function properly in all my other relationships.

What do you do when you feel a case of the grumpies coming on?   

Do You Skip Sections of God's Word?

"If you don't clean your room, you won't be allowed to have so-and-so over for the night." So often I am forced to take opportunities away from my children because they have neglected to walk in obedience and accomplish what it is I've asked them to do. My heart turns heavy with my need to keep good things from them.

"God's word says..." How many times have I given counsel straight from the Word of God to have it ignored, shunned, or set aside for someone's better idea? My heart also aches for those who've decided doing things their way is better than taking God's advice.

So often I watch women make decisions based on what they've done before, what they've had done to them before, or what they feel like doing, rather than what is the right thing to do. And it makes me wonder, do they expect things to get better? 

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." -Albert Einstein

I love it when someone comes to me for advice and says, "I'm trying. Really, I am." But if they were honest with themselves, they'd say, "Really, I've done the same thing I've always done. I never tried to do it differently. And now I'm stuck with the same old result, and I hate it."

As a teen/young woman, I could be extremely stubborn. If I admit it to myself, I probably still am. At least my husband says I can be. Not always. Just when the mood strikes. The downfall to being stubborn or strong-willed is that it can keep you in a place you don't want to be. Inflexible, stubborn women won't move from where they are. They will remain in the same spot as long as nothing stronger than them comes along and rips them from it. It would take a tornado to move some of us.

And that is where the issue lies. God has so much more in store for us, if only we'd trust Him with those things we hold so tightly to. My ideas are not always the best ideas. God, however, has fantastic ideas for my life. But if I don't let go of my own stubborn will, He can't do anything with me.

Which brings me back to parenting. I have four children whom I love very much. I would do just about anything for them, as long as it lined up with God's word. But I can't always do everything they want. Why? Because some of it isn't good for them. Some of it is too old for them. Some of it is good, but they aren't willing to do what needs to be done to get it. And they struggle to trust me in those decisions. The usual response is a temper tantrum. Or a shut down. Or anger.

How often do we do this to God? How many times have we wanted something from Him only to be told we need to wait? How many times have we needed something only to be told it wasn't time yet? How many times have we desired to do something for Him and heard, "Wait. I have a better idea of how you can help Me."?

So I ask you, do you skip over sections of God's word, because they "don't apply to your life?" Are you holding something against God because He said you shouldn't do something? Or you should do something?

When I read God's word, I read all of it. 

• I don't skip over parts and say, "That doesn't apply to me." It may not pertain to my life today, but I'm sure it could tomorrow.

• I don't skip over parts and say, "I'm not going to read that. I think I'll ignore God in that area." I know that if I'm saying that to myself, then I am in sin. God is trying to work something inside of my heart if I don't want to read something touchy.

• I don't skip over parts and say, "Maybe I'll read that another time." You never know what God wants to speak to you today.

Be encouraged. Let God speak to your heart, right where you're at. Don't skip over His words, because all of them bring life. Even those that hurt. Remember, the wounds of a friend are faithful. (Proverbs 27:6) He wants to complete the work He's begun in you. (Philipppians 1:6) All He needs is for you to let Him. As your Father, He knows what is best for you, and He doesn't make mistakes.

Photo Courtesy of Agnieszka Bialobrzeska