Partners in Parenting

Looking for a Sign from God!

I've heard people say before, "I wish God would just give me a sign, so I would know for sure."  You've probably said it or heard it yourself.  I had the opportunity last week to actually watch people look for a sign from God.  I don't know if they realized it or not, but they were definitely searching for one.  It was Thursday about 2:00pm, and I was driving toward school when the sun burst forth from the clouds while it continued to rain.  I saw a lady out on her front porch searching the sky for a rainbow.  I turned left at the next street, and about a quarter mile down, there was a man standing in the middle of his driveway getting soaked by the rain as he searched for the rainbow that the rain and sun must have produced - but where?  I kept driving, but I too was looking for a rainbow.  I don't know about them, but I never saw one.  The point is, we were all looking for a sign from God - a rainbow.  I then thought about how the clouds, grass, trees, wild animals, fish, birds, sunsets, sunrises, water, mountains, and I could continue on, are all signs from God.  They are signs of His power and design for the world in which we live.

So I decided to look at the account of the Flood to reread about God showing Noah the rainbow to promise him that he'd never destroy the earth again with a flood.  Much to my surprise, here's what I found:  "And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come.  I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."  Genesis 9:12, 13

The rainbow is not just for us as humans, but for "every living creature" and the "earth."  As spring and summer get ever closer, hopefully we'll see a rainbow and remember that:

1.  It is God's rainbow.

2.  It is God's covenant with us.

3.  The covenant is for us, every living creature, and the entire earth.

May we all not just look for rainbows, but God's signs all around us that are in His creation, that remind us of Him who made it all.

 

Family Discussion Points!

Try to remember a time and place where you saw a rainbow.  Are you surprised that you remember some of those times?  Rainbows are that special to see!

Have every family member think of at least two things that remind them of God in nature.

Discuss God's creation every day this week so everyone grows in their awareness of God's signs all around us.

Trinity Tweet March 12, 2012

Moments Matter!

I had a chance to go to the movies this past weekend.  One of the themes brought out in the particular movie that Jen and I saw was that moments matter.  The idea was that life is full of moments, and sometimes moments have the opportunity to change things significantly.  One moment can alter all the moments that follow that pivotal moment.  Consider the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, David and Goliath, the Flood, etc.  Those are just a few of the numerous events from the Bible that show how much moments matter.  The more I thought about that whole concept, the more I realized the value of not just the "big moments," but the regular, every day moments.  I came to realize that every moment is significant when the moment is spent with another person.  Relationships matter.  Therefore, moments matter.  The moments parents spend with their children matter.  Even the moments spent disciplining, correcting, training, and teaching are important.  So do the moments on vacation, playing together, and hanging out at home.  Parenting isn't all fun, but the moments matter.  The moments spent now with your kids do change things significantly - for their future.  

 

Family Discussion Points!

Parents - tell a story about your parents.  Kids love hearing about their grandparents.

Talk about pivotal moments in your lives - each one share.

Talk about how you'll make more moments to spend together as a family.

Partners in Parenting

Standing on Holy Ground! - to the players I coached and their parents!

I had the chance to stand on "Holy Ground" this past week.  It isn't quite like when God told Moses to take his sandals off in the book of Exodus, but it was indeed special beyond belief.  "Do not come any closer," God said.  "Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:5  Moses found himself suddenly in the midst of something so profound and exceptional that he was to remove his sandals.  It was a moment in God's presence.  So personal that God asked for the removal of even the barrier of sandals.  He wanted Moses to fully touch that holy ground on which he stood.

Well, here's what happened this past weekend:

The 7th and 8th Grade Boys Basketball Team qualified for the State Tournament this year for the first time.  It was a goal of the team from the beginning of the season.  We lost our first game.  Our second game was a completely different experience.  The crowd was so loud and the competition fierce.  I can't put into words the emotional intensity of that game for everyone in the building.  The game ended in a tie after we just barely missed a shot at the buzzer.  Overtime remained exciting, but we ended up losing the game.  An amazing experience, but the game had no comparison to what happened after the game. 

We found an empty locker room.  It was just the team, Assistant Coach Rob Shippy, and me.  We sat in silence with tears flowing down a few faces of these young men.  I found myself at a loss for words.  Our season was over.  For some, their Trinity career was over.  The reality was sinking in, and as it sunk in, it was hitting hard.  I finally began to speak about how proud I was them as a team.  I shared how their goals for the year had been reached.  I reminded them that the pain (especially for the 8th graders) was very real.  I shared some other stuff to help build them up during these difficult moments.  Then I said, "Does anyone have anything they want to share?"  Team members started to talk.  As they did, more of them began to cry.  As a few players said a few words to me, I began to cry.  Words continued to be shared with each other for another 15 minutes or so, and the character of each of these young men was exposed for others to see.  We, as a team, were alone in a locker room, and we were on "holy ground" because the words were so profound and exceptional.  This is rare, and it is special.

Players,  I am thankful for each of you, and I have loved being with you so much over the past few months.  You have grown as players, but you have also grown as young Christian men.  You have done a great thing together, and I want to especially thank you for the moments together in that locker room. 

Parents, I am so proud of your sons for who they are, and I am very thankful for the opportunity to coach them.  I am also very thankful for the opportunity to be in the "holy ground" of that locker room with them. 

Family Discussion Points!

Parents:  When a child lets you see what is going on inside his or her heart, do you consider it to be "holy ground" that is truly special?  When has that happened?

When is the time your family tends to talk?  Do you ever plan for it?

Focus on as much "talk time" as you can as a family this week.  Be careful, you might find yourself on "holy ground."

Partners in Parenting

Place and Time!

We have a new puppy at home.  He's been with us for a week now, and we are trying to teach him the important lesson of place and time.  Let me explain:  There is a place for our puppy to go "potty", and it is NOT inside the house.  There is a time to go "potty" too, and it is in the designated area we have set apart for that purpose in the yard.  By continually using the word "potty" every time he goes to the bathroom, we have trained him to basically go outside in the part of the lawn we use the least.  He has started to go sit at the door when he has to go find the right place and time to relieve himself.  In a week, he has learned this order to his world at the Petzold home.  Have you considered lately the order God put into His world in the seven days of creation?  Coincidentally, I have had three totally separate conversations in the past week about creation.  At the time of creation, God put so many things in their proper "place and time."  It is remarkable that we continue to "discover" what He put here so long ago.  Review the creation account from the very beginning of the Bible (Genesis Chapter 1).  You'll find it full of references to both "place and time."  Enjoy!

Family Discussion Points!

Read Genesis Chapter 1 as a family - actually into Chapter 2 as well.

Was a day 24 hours or longer in Genesis Chapter 1 as some people believe?  Look at vs. 5 for the answer.

What are other things that have an appropriate "place and time" in your family.

Partners in Parenting

"Who are YOU?"
My family and I were out of town visiting our family members this past weekend.  We attended the church Jen attended while growing up.  There was clearly some kind of small commotion following the Lord's Prayer just across the aisle to my right.  I couldn't tell what it was, but three elderly ladies were looking around for some help.  I went over to see what was happening, and I found a thin elderly woman (probably in her 80s) on the ground between the pews.  The ladies got her back up to her seat, and I asked if I could help.  I helped her get her coat off.  I took her pulse.  I felt her skin - clammy and sweaty. I began to ask her lots of questions to determine if she was coherent.  What is your name?  When is your birthday?  Did you eat breakfast?  What did you have to eat?  How did you get here today?  Then, she did something that made me laugh.  She said, "Hey, let me ask you a question:  Who are YOU?"  And she had a big smile on her face.  I introduced myself since I apparently skipped that part at the beginning of getting involved, and we had a really nice conversations for the next 5 minutes as she relaxed and fully got her "bearings" back.  I believe she is fine and just overheated because she still had her coat on.  She walked to church on that morning -  seven degrees outside. 
Her question to me (Who are YOU?) reminded me of when Jesus asked His disciples who people thought He was.  Then He asked the bigger question: 
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi.  On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; other say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 
"But what about you?" he asked.  "Who do YOU (capitalization added) say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ."  Mark 8:27-29
Parents, our kids need to have the answer to that question:  Who is Jesus?  If he is a "good guy," prophet, Biblical character, someone who died for others, etc., that's not the right answer.  He is the Christ.  He is our Savior from sin, death, and the devil.  He is nothing less than that.  Make sure your kids hear that at least once a day.  They need to know who YOU say that He is!

 Family Discussion Points!

Who is Jesus to you personally?  Let each person in the family share.
Are you ever confused about the Bible?  How can you get answers to your questions?
Why is this such an important question?

Partners in Parenting

Get Busy or Slow Down - which is it?

Every once in a while, I just open up the book of Proverbs to read some of the amazing "pearls of wisdom" contained there.  Proverbs Chapter 6 warns of folly (or foolishness) in daily living.  Verse 6 asks the reader to consider the life of an ant and imitate it.  Ants are not busy this time of year due to the cold temperatures outside, but in the summer, they are constantly "on the go."  They never seem to rest or slow down.  So, is Solomon telling us in Proverbs to keep busy?  Actually, NO!  He is giving advice to the lazy man who wastes his time.  He is referring to laziness as folly or foolishness.  He is reminding the people that work is good for a person to do.  "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!?  Proverbs 6:6

So lazy people (sluggards) should get busy working since it is wise to use God's gifts while you are here on earth.  HOWEVER, too much busyness in life will detract you and your home from time with God and His Word.  Busyness has become a part of our American fabric as far as I'm concerned.  I think some slowing down is important for most of us parents.  Running ourselves ragged is not helping our relationship with Christ.  Consider your life and the lives of your kids.  Do you need to get busy or slow down?  I bet you might benefit greatly by slowing down with life so you can get busy spending time with God and your family.  I know I can benefit from that!!

Family Discussion Points!

Are you generally busy or lazy?  Answer that individually and as a family.

Parents, listen carefully to how your kids answer.  It may be a "call out" to you.

Talk about what a night at home with no TV, radio, computer, video games, etc. might be like in your home.  Be daring - give it a try!

Partners in Parenting

Lessons from Lice!

As you are probably aware, I have been spending many hours looking through the hair of students looking for these teeny, tiny, little, hard to spot lice eggs (called nits).  It is so tedious and takes time looking for them in other people.  I've had Mrs. Knopf check me tons of times because I can't check myself.  Here are some lessons from lice that I applied to life:

• As a parent, it can become easy to be too harsh or critical of the little things I see in my kids without looking at myself first.
• I was also reminded of how I can focus on other people's flaws without paying any attention to my own. 
• I also thought of how something so small can really be a big problem if left unattended.
• I received a great lesson in perseverance in times of difficulty as did every family who had kids with lice.

As I considered all this, I was reminded of a Bible passage from Matthew about looking for something very small in others without any regard for ourselves.  It is valuable to remember to be cautious about passing judgment on others when we are all sinners.  "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"  Jesus' words from Matthew 7:1-3

We can always learn lessons from the good and bad side of a great teacher - real life.

Family Discussion Questions!

What are some little things you've had to look for in the past (keys, wallet, coins, etc.)

What are some things you are too picky about as a parent?  As a child?

Discuss finding flaws in others.  Why do we do it?  Who does it make feel better when we find flaws in others?

Discuss perseverance in adversity.