Values That Make Home.....A Sweet Home

Family rules. I saw this sign in my kids' home, and I knew what I would post today. Family values. Those are their non-negotiables, and that's what makes for a family who loves, shares and cares. VALUES -- those specifics that define who we are and are the absolute non-negotiables in our lives.

When God made us, He planted within us certain things that we value deeply. They’re hardwired in our heart. Through our life experiences – from the environment we are raised in, the schools we go to, the friends we associate with, and the religious foundation we receive, God makes them clear to us. Those things are our CORE VALUES. King Solomon’s core value was wisdom, Mother Teresa’s was compassion, Nelson Mandela stood for equality and Pope Francis, his love and compassion for the poor. So the question is "What do we stand for? What are our values?"

Moses delivered God's Ten Commandments on a tablet of stone and if those commandments were followed, the Israelites would experience God's favor and blessings. Just imagine the blessings that would be on our families if we not only followed God's Ten Commandments, but also the family values (non-negotiables) that we stood for in our homes and lives.

Perhaps it's time to put a stake in the ground on behalf of our families and define those things that matter most to us and when we do, then we'll be blessed in our homes and we'll pass them on to our children and their children. Indeed it would be a HOME SWEET HOME.

Psalm 128:1 “Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways!”

Let's Change the World in THIS Generation

There's the younger generation, mid-life generation or older generation! And, since we’re all alive at the same time, we are all THIS generation. And, if we'd get together, we could change the world in THIS generation. WHATEVER age, color, gender or nationality we are – God has a plan and a purpose for our lives and He needs us to pick up our batons and run this race because we are ALL still young – as long as we are on this earth. Why in the world do we allow society to dictate that at age 65 we retire? I’ve seen active and vibrant people, die when they retire. Why is that? Because they quit and feel obsolete; because they quit living before they need to. And if they don’t have a natural death, they die inside. They quit on life.

I’ve been on a rampage lately -- as I see people “check out” before they’re out! Pastor Craig Groeschel says, “If you’re not dead – you’re not done!” That’s become my personal “tag line”! If I’m still breathing, God has a plan and purpose for my life. You and I have gifts and purposes for OUR generation. Heaven is going to be amazing – beyond adequate words of explanation. But we’re still here, and we have a job to do HERE!

I said it a couple of days ago, and I say it again today -- there is no “retirement” in the Bible! There’s only refirement. Nelson Mandela was 72 when he was released from prison, and later became Prime Minister of South Africa.

Mother Teresa – at 85 was still running her phenomenal mission, because that’s what purpose does. Purpose keeps us young. She had more wrinkles than almost anyone, and she had more life than anyone who EVER pays big $$$$$ for a new and improved version on this side of heaven. We DO NOT have to get OLD. Psalms 92:12-15 “The uncompromisingly righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. They shall be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, They shall still bring forth fruit in old age.”

Shouldn’t that verse describe you and me? Shouldn’t we want to live out our days with zeal and determination? Shouldn’t we want to flourish, be useful and bring forth fruit all the days of our lives? We can! We can be ALL-OUT devoted, full-of-life rockin’ grannies and grandpas – packed full of passion and taking action while we still can! And, I’m proving it can be done…..just ask my grandkids!!!!