Para la mujer latina
About Me
Fun Facts about Van Walton
My favorite smell: The way the earth smells after it rains.
My favorite sound: The first notes of a grand symphony.
My favorite way to relax: Sitting anywhere outside - on my front porch, on my deck, or by the lake, early in the morning with my first cup of coffee.
My favorite birthday dessert: a Peach cobbler baked by my husband. He’s my fave chef!
I will not eat: Avocado. They turn my stomach into a volcano that never erupts.
Technology I couldn't live without and why: My laptop - it takes me anywhere I want to go.
One thing that makes me smile: My sons' faces!
Friend Van on FacebookMy Resources
My book, From the Pound to the Palace, is available for $10
from Proverbs 31 Ministries.
My book, Little Halos, is available for $5.99 from Proverbs
31 Ministries.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
Proverbs 31 Speakers
Links
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
WE KNOW NOT TO DO IT, BUT IT COMES SO NATURALLY
Have you ever considered the fact that we have to teach our children to be good? We struggle with our own goodness also! We don’t teach them to be bad – we are all naturally good at being bad, at making the wrong choice, at disobeying, at willfully doing that which is not right.
I remember the first time I realized my precious and innocent child needed me to stand over him to discipline him – to keep him on the straight and narrow, to keep him on a short leash (see previous post.)
That was a sad day for me. How could it be - my child still a baby, so tiny, young and innocent could be tempted, would defy me? I was brushing my teeth, putting on my makeup, combing my hair while he sat at my feet playing with a towel I had given him. We were playing peek-a-boo. Soon he tired of the game and his mind wandered to a drawer. I watched how the ‘sin’ began in his little mind. He looked at the drawer reached out his precious undefiled hand and touched the knob. Then he looked up at me. I dropped the towel on his face to keep him from temptation. He ripped the towel from his face and firmly planted his hand on the drawer’s pull.
I will never forget the look on his face. It was the first time by child looked at me defiantly! Who taught him this? I handed him a cup with a few drops of water in it to distract him from the drawer. He swatted the cup away. He wanted the drawer. Getting down on his level I took his little hand off the drawer pull and shook my head back and forth. I gave him a tooth brush and the cup. Again he swatted them away and then he opened the drawer. The battle began that day and it continued until he went off to college. A mother’s job is never done.
No one told me how hard it would be to stay on my toes for my child. I could never let down my guard. There were so many lessons to teach and so much protecting.
It can be that easy. My I-am-determined-to-open-the-drawer son had a little brother who determined-to-have-a-dog. I took him to the animal shelter and we found a darling little dog who became the epitome of obedience for our family. He taught me the importance and ease of obedience and he taught my son as well.
What we learned from our stray pound puppy is that obedience to the Master keeps you out of trouble and fills your life with blessings. Consider the following:
When we reached out and touched the rejected and dirty dog, he rolled over and submitted.
What would have been his consequences had he not surrendered his life to us?
When we invited the sad little dog to come and follow us, he did. What would have been the consequences had he not obeyed?
Our little dog taught us these lessons and more with each new day that he lived in our home. I watched his devotion to me and his willingness to listen to me and learn. Then one day I realized, “If I but model my life after this puppy’s actions, my relationship with my Master will only develop into a deep satisfaction.” So I began to look to my Master the way my dog looks to his master.
Do you know there are many ways to learn about walking with God? He has taught me through the life of my dog. Maybe you would like to introduce your child to my dog and show your little one the importance and the joy of obedience. Just click here – From the Pound to the Palace and let us share with you how God used one of His special creatures to teach our family lessons in spiritual devotion.
I remember the first time I realized my precious and innocent child needed me to stand over him to discipline him – to keep him on the straight and narrow, to keep him on a short leash (see previous post.)
That was a sad day for me. How could it be - my child still a baby, so tiny, young and innocent could be tempted, would defy me? I was brushing my teeth, putting on my makeup, combing my hair while he sat at my feet playing with a towel I had given him. We were playing peek-a-boo. Soon he tired of the game and his mind wandered to a drawer. I watched how the ‘sin’ began in his little mind. He looked at the drawer reached out his precious undefiled hand and touched the knob. Then he looked up at me. I dropped the towel on his face to keep him from temptation. He ripped the towel from his face and firmly planted his hand on the drawer’s pull.
I will never forget the look on his face. It was the first time by child looked at me defiantly! Who taught him this? I handed him a cup with a few drops of water in it to distract him from the drawer. He swatted the cup away. He wanted the drawer. Getting down on his level I took his little hand off the drawer pull and shook my head back and forth. I gave him a tooth brush and the cup. Again he swatted them away and then he opened the drawer. The battle began that day and it continued until he went off to college. A mother’s job is never done.
No one told me how hard it would be to stay on my toes for my child. I could never let down my guard. There were so many lessons to teach and so much protecting.
If I could only teach him one lesson – obey. That would cover a multitude of hard lessons. I wish it were that easy!
It can be that easy. My I-am-determined-to-open-the-drawer son had a little brother who determined-to-have-a-dog. I took him to the animal shelter and we found a darling little dog who became the epitome of obedience for our family. He taught me the importance and ease of obedience and he taught my son as well.
What we learned from our stray pound puppy is that obedience to the Master keeps you out of trouble and fills your life with blessings. Consider the following:
When we reached out and touched the rejected and dirty dog, he rolled over and submitted.
What would have been his consequences had he not surrendered his life to us?
When we invited the sad little dog to come and follow us, he did. What would have been the consequences had he not obeyed?
Our little dog taught us these lessons and more with each new day that he lived in our home. I watched his devotion to me and his willingness to listen to me and learn. Then one day I realized, “If I but model my life after this puppy’s actions, my relationship with my Master will only develop into a deep satisfaction.” So I began to look to my Master the way my dog looks to his master.
Do you know there are many ways to learn about walking with God? He has taught me through the life of my dog. Maybe you would like to introduce your child to my dog and show your little one the importance and the joy of obedience. Just click here – From the Pound to the Palace and let us share with you how God used one of His special creatures to teach our family lessons in spiritual devotion.
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6 comments:
Hi Van! Thank you so much for your P31 devotion today. I am always encouraged when people call sin what it is--sin. Not a "bad decision" etc..
Sin is sin and we have to deal with. But thankfully we serve a God who is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. Who will always forgive us and remove our sins from us when we ask Him to.
Van-this is a beautiful place to visit. I will be back. I too was blessed by your P31 devotional today. Thanks you!!
Blessings!
In His Graces~PAmela
Van:
Thank you for visiting the blog. You mentioned your connection with the "bluegrass" state. I grew up outside of Lexington, and part of my heart still lingers there!
Sin. I could write a book about all of the times my flesh won out over my obedience to God. Unfortunately, my flesh still encompasses my heart, and will remain until I drop this cloak to be clothed, instead, with my heavenly dwelling. It is the way of things...of this God-given privilege called life.
That is why it is so beautiful to our Father when we choose him over our flesh.
A work in progress...that is what I am. I love Him much because I have been forgiven much.
peace~elaine
Hello, my friend! I loved your devotional today. I always know I will be blessed when I see your name at the top! I have struggled a bit with my own flesh in the past couple of days. It is so true that we must stay on our guard. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Van. I picture my own little guys, and knowing their challenges, I look forward to hearing more stories about your boys!
I loved your devotion and your post. My Sarah had somethings to say about sin also (see my blog). I am planning to go to the office on Monday to pick up our DVD. I can't wait to see it.
Thanks for your wisdom,
Charlene
Hi Van. Thank you for your P31 devotion on The Splinter. I have had many of them to deal with throughout my life. The LORD has taught me since 1998 that since the old nature is dead and buried with Christ, and Christ is now raised to live in me, if I see anything coming out of me that is not that Divine Life of Christ, I am to do what Paul did according to 11 Cor. 4:2.."we have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty..." Renounce means to speak off. What God has me do is to say, "Father God, I renounce and repent of participating with the sin of.., and I confess that it is sin. I renounce and repent of my parents participating with this sin, and all the way back through their generations, back to the seed of Adam. (This is according to Nehemiah 9, as well as raising up the foundations of many generations according to Is. 58:12) I fall out of agreement with the sin of...., and in the authority of Jesus Christ the LORD's name, I command it to leave me now and go to the dry place. I submit myself to God, and resist the devil and he has to flee."
I keep using the authority if His Name till it actually leaves, and the fruit of it is seen when I no longer have that sin manifesting through my flesh any more! Hallelujah!
The cleaner we get, the more the life and Light of Christ shines in and through us. 2 Tim. 2:21 says,"If a man therefore, purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and fit for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work."
Thank you for letting me share! God Bless you as you continue to follow Him! REJOICING IN HIM.