Aug

25

Speak Openly

By Julie B Cosgrove | 1 Comment


And there was much muttering about him [Jesus] among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.  John 7:12-13

Are you afraid to speak openly about Jesus for fear you may be shunned? Are you concerned that people will back off, roll their eyes or tune you out? During my parent’s post World War II era, Christianity was the norm. Stores were closed on Sundays. Everyone went to church. Norman Rockwell painted people praying Grace over a meal for the cover of LIFE magazine. The Principal, over the intercom, began each day of school with a prayer and the Pledge.

We don’t live in those days now, do we? It is not so popular to be a follower of Jesus today. We no longer blend into the crowd. No more fence straddling.  We must choose to be a sheep or a goat ( Matthew 25:32).  As women we must stand strong in our faith, and if we are blessed to be rearing children, instill that faith in them. Society will no longer do that for us. We must cocoon our loved ones in prayer so the world doesn’t contaminate them with “global” religion- a white wash conglomerate that paints Jesus as a “good man” among many and preaches over-tolerance for all faiths as equal paths to God.

If you believe Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Light, then He must be your only way, not just a way. Lean on Him and not your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5), seek His ways first (Matthew 6:33) and let His Spirit guide you. Don’t be afraid to openly proclaim Him in your actions, and your life- and if necessary, use words.

. . .because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.  1 Thessalonians 1:5

Aug

10

Your Child’s Mission?

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child’s manner of life, and what is his mission?” Judges 13:12

What parent has not asked that question a hundred times?  Whispered it as they stroked a peach fuzz head sleeping soundly in a crib, while waving good-bye when they step on the school bus, while clapping when they receive a  high school diploma, or while watching them stroll into their dorm from your rear view mirror as you drive away. Perhaps  it is a the prayer of your heart when the police knock on your door at 2 am, or they come and tell you they are getting a divorce , or have lost yet another job.

Manoah was Samson’s dad. The angel of the Lord, to whom he addressed this question, had told his wife she was to dedicate the child to the priesthood from birth. He told her Samson would “begin to save Israel from the Philistines”. So why, after she told her husband, did he ask for confirmation? Lack of faith?

I hope not, because I too have often gone to God with that same question.  If you are a parent, bet you have as well.  We know our children are blessed gifts from God. We want to do the right thing, raise them up to walk a Godly path. But it is a path that eventually they must choose to walk on a daily basis, just like us. What is your child’s mission? The same as yours -

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Matthew 22:37-39

Mar

23

Is there a right way to raise kids?

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,  it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.  Mark 9:42

Very daunting statement, especially for us moms, or teachers, or coaches and scout leaders. Molding a child is an awesome responsibility. It can be the greatest reward and joy, or the most frustrating experience you have ever had – often at the same time.  It is tempting to read every self help and advice book out there, to take child psych courses, to go to conference after conference on how to guide and teach children.  But if you do, pretty soon you will become confused. Advice will conflict, methods contradict each other. Who is right, who is wrong?  Will one way permanently mess up your kids if you choose the wrong one? Will it all be your fault if they do not fit in the mold?

If it becomes so daunting you become afraid to do anything lest it might be wrong, then it is time to step back and rethink. But whatever you do,  just don’t give up. Doing your best is the best you can do.

The best example we can have is the example of God the Father in our own lives. Talk about the perfect role model. God sees the best in each of us and encourages it. He nurtures our relationship with Him and with others. He sees the individual uniqueness we each possess and develops it. He teaches by example and puts us in situations to help us mature and grow. Yet, He is always there to help, to be a safety net or a shoulder to cry on when we need it. Above all, we can be confident that whatever happens, He will still loves us.

Bottom line. If you are worried about how you are going to influence a child, that means you care. Your heart is in the right place. Let God work with that, and even when those kids are not within your reach or line of sight, you can have the confidence that they are always in His. Trust in His power to help guide them, to turn their hearts back to Him and to love them even more than you can.   Proverbs 22:6 says this: Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

The best way to rear a child no matter what their age is to hand them over to God for instruction, along with yourself. Sure, seek Godly counsel and learn from others you respect. But above all, place yourself and this task in God’s hands. 

And, if you did not do that when they were little, that’s okay as well. God still can do it for them, and for you, now.  We are never too old to learn about His grace and merciful love because we all can be children of God no matter what our age.  God is in the busines of restoration beacuse He desires us to be with Him more than anything else. It is never too late.

 If you then, though you are of sin ( i.e., human and not perfect), know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13

Mar

19

Wait – I’ll tell you when

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


Exodus 2:1-3 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman.  The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.  When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes  and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.

Thus begins the story of Moses.  But I think it is the story for every Christian mom.  We raise our kids as best we can and try to protect them as much as possible from the evils that lurk outside our portals.  We rear them to know God’s ways. But eventually, there comes a time when we have to let them go out into the world – perhaps it is to day care, perhaps to a sleep over, perhaps to high school or college.  All we can do is make sure we protect them as much as possible, surround them with love and God’s grace and cover them with prayer,  just as Moses’ mom made sure that basket was covered in pitch. Then, it is up to God, who never sleeps and has a plan for them, to watch over their journey.

I think it may also be true for our talents. When they are newly produced through the Holy Spirit, we need to nurture them. Perhaps we hear God whispering, “Wait-not quite yet. I’ll tell you when it is time to share this.”  God knew when the Pharaoh’s daughter would be at the riverbank to see Moses floating in the basket. He instilled in her heart the desire to receive Moses. If Moses’ mom had released him too soon, those opportunities might not have happened, and who knows where Moses would have ended up- perhaps in a crocodile’s tummy.

God gives us our talents, our lessons and our life experiences. Let Him also give you the time to share them with others and touch hearts for Him.  Give them time to grow and mature, then He will prepare the right method of delivery and the right circumstances for it to be received, used and blessed.

Feb

9

Should We Tell Them?

By Julie B Cosgrove | 1 Comment


We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,and the wonders that he has done.  .   .  so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments .     Psalm 78:4, 7

Kids have selective deafness. They can ignore the loud voice telling them to go clean their room yet quite easily concentrate on the whisper of a friend. In a way, I guess we all do. We filter out what we do not want to hear. At times, we even filter out God.

I used to think I had to come across as the perfect Christian in order to convince my son that Jesus was Lord. If I appeared to have it all together and quote memorized Scripture for every circumstance, I’d be doing what David says we should do in this Psalm. I’d be fulfilling my motherly duty to pass the Word onto the next generation.  It didn’t work. Instead, my son withdrew from “organized religion” because he thought it was false and two-faced. 

Then, I began to tell him instead what God was doing in my life, what trials and doubts I had and how He came through for me. Maybe now my grown son sees a more realistic view of my walk with Christ by my side and the Holy Spirit in me – flawed,  sometimes stumbling, but always determined to move on and confident that He will help me back on my feet. My son also knows I pray for him and has told me he has felt those prayers. Perhaps, one day, he will let God help him back on his feet, but more importantly, back into the depth of his heart. That is between him and God. My job is to keep on walking with my Lord as long as I am on this planet, and be a realistic witness to the fact that human life is better with Jesus in it, no matter what happens along the way.

Show, then tell the next generation. Teach them Scripture, yes, but show them how it applies to your life.  Share your realness and let them watch His glorious deeds in action  working out through you, struggle after struggle and joy after joy. Then, perhaps, they will see they can let God into their not so perfect lives to do the same – and set their hopes on God.

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