Fast forward to the last 100 years or so.  Never before have we witnessed the collosal rejection of maturity and  responsiblity as we’ve seen in recent generations.  We have such prolonged adolesence that 30 year olds are still “tyring  to find themselves,” find a job, find a home, find a life!  It seems perpetual searching is inevitable for most.

Add to that the dilemna of learning how to be happily married; raise children who can obey, have a modicum of respect  and self control and possess genuine, un-inflated self-worth and how to engage in a generationally diverse population and we have quite a problem on our hands.

Not that any of the above things are easy.  By NO means!  But we’ve nurtured generations who not only fear these things like the plague, but are in every way totally unequipped for them.  We have not prepared these generations for life in any real sense of the word.  We’ve not prepared them to be ethical, to hold jobs, to know what is valuable and wh

at is not (i.e. stuff/ money over people/time for instance), to know how to be married, how and why to have and raise responsible children (especially who know and Love God! and follow Him!) and  most importantly, how to be self governed.

As a Christian the concept is really about being governed by the Holy Spirit who lives in you once you are regenerate.  So you are no longer a slave to sin, but rather you are alive, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to righteousness.

But even religion aside, people have for centuries been equipped by the preceding generation and cultural reinforcement to become responsible humans, carrying on the teachings necsessary for a healthy productive life to the next generation.

So what is adolescnce and what has it produced?  There are books written on this subject so I won’t cover all the details here, but in short adolesence capitalizes on the hormonal turbulence that is going on inside the developing body and mind of a young person between the ages of 10-16.  It takes the turbulence and gives it unbounded self-expression which is influenced primarily by the concept and reality of Entertainment.  The entertainment industry has been financed and fed by the population of 9-whatever year olds.  And it’s affects and habits remain for a lifetime.

We totally talked about how she was justifying herself and not receiving the justification of Christ on her behalf.  We talked about how how high God’s standards are and how we can never live up to them.  How even if we’ve failed at one point we’ve broken the whole law!  And then the crux: that the solution is not to pull ourselves up by our boot straps and just try harder! As if we could be effort perfect oursleves.

Rather, the solution lies in ackowledging God’s perfect Word – that He is telling the truth about what is true and right and about who we really are! Let God be true and every man a liar! Then we  confess our sin and failure and stop justifying ourselves!  We so want to make ourselves be right – blame others for our choices, for provoking us etc. We have to stop! We repent, all the time. THen look to Christ’s righteousness as our own and give Him the freedom to work in us to change us and make us more like Him!  As long as we are justifying ourselves, there is no room for God to work in us.  we must get out of the way and give way to the Holy Spirit!

It’s so great to share with our kids that what makes us Christian is not that we’re perfect or never sin.  But that when we sin we acknowledge it, confess it, repent and receive forgiveness of Christ and move on letting Him work in us!  When we’re dead in our sins we want to cover up our sins and justify them, work them out ourselves, pay for them ourselves.  But this is not the mark of a Christian!

At least, it shouldn’t characterize Christians.  But I know it does far too often!  O, how we forget the gospel so quickly once we’re saved.  Don’t we realize the power that saves us from sin and raises us spiritually from the dead is the same power that transforms us into His image?  We don’t have to muscle it out!  We have to yield, get out of the way, remove idols…but do it ourselves? No. I totally identify with my daughter…it is a lesson I am learning daily and will for the rest of my life!

Well, the glory is in seeing the Lord work in these conversations.  When we’re willing to take the time.  She was so much more at peace in her spirit.  I had her read God’s Word by the way.  It was good for her to engage with it directly.  THen we talked about her meditating on it, confessing her sin and seeking the Lord to be at work in her!  What peace I see in her after an exchange like this!  I only wish I’d do it more!!!!

It is appaling that we will not  take time to be thankful in our hearts if not to God than at least simply in our hearts as a culture.  That stores – and Christian stores at that! – plunge headlong into Christmas right after Halooween is sickening to me.

Of course this is simply related to all their advertising techniques based on the complete breakage of the 10th commandment – Thou Shalt Not Covet.  For what is the foundation of modern advertising and marketing if not to create in us material discontentment, and that earlier and earlier. So no sooner have we begun one season than within three weeks we are pressed upon to consume and buy for the next one.  Summer begins in February.  Back to school begins in June.  Don’t take time to enjoy the present. You need more! (hear the sarcasm???)

I wish store owners would get some back bone and reject the pressure!  Do what is right even though it may cost you something! I want to take time to remember all the things I do have and am thankful for.  But society insists we stuff ourselves  till we vomit.  Till we are numb with meaningless stuff.  Can we turn off the radio in the car, the ringing of the cell phones, the massaging of the phone as we text, the TV that drones on and on even as real human conversation is occuring, the swiping of the card that fills our homes with more useless stuff…

Idols…they promise to deliver satisfaction BUT THEY LIE!  As all idols must for they are derived from the Father of Lies himself- Satan. He promised that man could find satisfaction and definition for reality apart from God and actually find it in his own reason and creation.

Come, let us reject the obsession to fill our lives and ears and eyes with stuff that doesn’t satisfy! I challenge you to even forsake the sales the very day after Thanksgiving!  - even though it may cost you something at Christmas.  Be creative this year.  Maybe it doesn’t have to be about the money or the sales.  Think THANKFULNESS!

There is so much more to say, but that should suffice for now…

It’s an Active Filing System:  needed – a small file box to be kept accessible, hanging files and manila folders.

Active files are the ones you’re in and out of day to day.  The Main system is your typical file system.  She actually has a great one which we eventually will adopt, but for now, it’s the Active System that has saved us from the mass of papers that come in the door that need dealing with.

So that system goes like this: Two main hanging files (the green ones or whatever color you like. “Action” and “Reference”.

You can add any more that are specific to you. i.e. I have one called “evening work” which includes a Bible Quizzing folder, school work like extra writing, spelling words etc.)

“Action” (a green hanging file) holds folders that you will be in and out of throughout the week.  Actually, she recommends setting an appointment with yourself each week to go through Hot Action and Warm Action. There are 4 main manila folders labeled:

1. “Hot Action: This Week”  In this folder goes any piece of paper, regardless of type of infomration, that must be handled within the  week.  Permission slips, rsvps, forms etc.

2. “Warm Action: This Month” In this folder is anything that must be handled soon – within the month.  But is not urgent.  Also, irrespective of type of information.

3. “To Read”  Anything that must be read, but is not necessarily a magazine (those would go where you usually put them…) This is reading like, prayer letters, something you printed off the internet to read etc.

4. “To File” Anything that needs to find it’s home in your Main filing system but you will put it there all in one trip every so often.

“Reference” (next green hanging file) holds stuff that needs to be refered to from time to time but doesn’t require current action. There are 3 main manila folders ( i have a couple more specific to our home, you will too, likely…)

1. “Waiting for Response” this is when you’ve contacted your insurance and you’re waiting to hear back from them on a claim – the piece of paper goes in here. etc.

2. “Upcoming events” holds anything that pertains to events you have coming up (directions, invitations which have already been responded to (b/c it was in your hot action folder! – tickets, reservations etc.)

3. “Bills Paid” read her stuff on this.  I don’t use this one because we handle our bills differently…

Personal Notes: I have a folder  here called “CCS” for main info on  school stuff.  I also have one called “Ideas/ Notes” to hold the scribbled from brainstorming sessions and conversations Tim and I have…

Tim’s folders went a little differently because we tailored it to the way he works.  In his “action” we subdivided it into:

“Action: Money”  - Bills, Giving Organizations etc. and

“Action: Paper” – Hot Action: This week, Correspondence, To Read, etc.

And his “reference” is also a little extended including additional things like Coupons, To Do lists, Ideas/ NOtes etc.

I also have a hanging file for each child with two folders in it. For instance, one is “Bekah – General” and the other “Bekah- School” . These hold all the reference info, report cards, personal stuff that comes for them, plus school work I want to keep. I don’t keep action items in here.  Anything that needed action would be in my Hot Action folders.

This system really works!  It’s flexible, works with you and is easily modifiable.  THough don’t make too many folders or it ceases to be simple and workable.  Call me if you want more specifics or clarification.

810-923-4837

thanks to my sister Biz who introduced me to it!

So for those who want to know what’s going on in my life, care about my opinions, may benefit from things I’ve learned, or simply have too much time on their hands (go have some kids!) I will be blogging regularly starting in a few days!  (I simply must wrap my brain around this technology anyway…)

musing…

Well. I’ve taken the plunge! I’m joining the world of all you bloggers out there.  Numerous people have been encouraging me to start blogging and I confess, it’s not been until this vacation that I’ve had the time, internet access, mental energy and no interruptions from children to figure out how to do it!

So, we’ll see how it goes.  You’ll hear about my musings on motherhood, wifedom, sex, ministry, politics, the home and it’s under-appreciated value to society, music, the importance of Reformed hymns, parenting, babyhood, cuisine, health, cooking, and following Jesus wherever and however He leads.

1 C Sugar

1/2 c butter/marg/shortening

1 egg

1 C grated zucchini

2 C flour (more as needed)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sald

1 C chopped nuts

1 C choc chips

In mixing bowl, cream together the sugar, egg and butter.  Add the rest and mix well.  Drop by teaspoon 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 8-12 minutes.

Note: I added a little more flour as the first batch spread really thin.  But the more flour you add the more cakey they get.  Do what suits you!  Also, I didn’t put in nuts since my girls don’t like them, so that may affected the consistency… Enjoy!