I’ve talked about Samaritan Ministries before, a “medical sharing program” of which we have been members for about four years now.
With the “mind-blowing disaster for America” in Obamacare, I would urge Christians, now more than ever, to consider joining Samaritan’s Ministries. (We do get a referral bonus if a member mentions us, but that isn’t why I’m talking about it ;-))
(Members of Samaritan are excluded from penalties associated with the Obamacare insurance laws.)
We have had quite a few claims and can testify that the program works. My parents have also had some whopping claims (my Dad had heart surgery) and their medical charges were covered 100%.
If you’re new to how Samaritan works, you can read here to discover how thousands of Christians basically share each other’s medical expenses. It is so freeing to give our money directly to another family for their needs.
We had a doctor tell us that this program is so much more beneficial to medical providers as they do not have to deal with and pay for the burdensome bureaucracy involved with insurance companies. That fact also allows them to give cash-pay patients substantial discounts (the insurance companies deny a large percentage of what is charged, thus the hike in initial charges). We have experienced only positive reactions from the medical profession with the program.
Additionally, board members are being elected soon, and we have a dear friend who has applied. If you are a Samaritan’s member, I highly recommend Chris King, friend, brother-in-Christ, and brilliant business man as a nominee for Samaritan’s board. He has an excellent resume and would no doubt be a very beneficial asset to Samaritan’s Ministries.
Do you question things? Ask yourself why you believe a certain way or not? I think it’s good that we do that.
When I read a church sign that said, “Get Your Picture Made with Santa Claus”, I immediately pictured what could have been the church’s sign a week before: “Thou shalt not lie”. Santa is a firmly-planted icon in the American life, including most Christians. Does it matter?
I started a process of thinking about how our children might be affected by having a 10-year long joke played on them. “It’s all in harmless fun!” We dismiss it. But how does it affect their perceived verity of the rest of the hard-to-believe stories of the Gospel that we tell them, on which their eternity hangs? Can they discern that “part of what I’ve told you all these years is not true, but part of it is”?
Maybe it doesn’t matter. But isn’t the question important enough to ponder?
Then I read, Christmas Confessions: Should We Lie to Our Kids About Santa Claus, and it so concisely summarized my thoughts I just had to link to it.
I realize there are many who do not celebrate Christmas at all (I have very close friends in this camp that I respect for their decision). That’s not where I am. But I wonder if we give enough thought to our tightly-held traditions?
Read the article…you’ll be glad. And then let me know your thoughts.
“A parody of a possible consequence is epitomized by that poor, traumatized kid who laments melodically, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” I doubt therapy was needed for the child to overcome his confusion. But there does exist a subtle long-term danger, namely that of placing impossible fiction on the same shelf as impossible fact, and forcing our children to discern arbitrarily which is which, based on our flip-flopping propositions.”
Thank you, Clint, for a concise word to ponder.
“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.”—3 John 3.
HE truth was in Gaius, and Gaius walked in the truth. If the first had not been the case, the second could never have occurred; and if the second could not be said of him the first would have been a mere pretence. Truth must enter into the soul, penetrate and saturate it, or else it is of no value. Doctrines held as a matter of creed are like bread in the hand, which ministers no nourishment to the frame; but doctrine accepted by the heart, is as food digested, which, by assimilation, sustains and builds up the body. In us truth must be a living force, an active energy, an indwelling reality, a part of the woof and warp of our being. If it be in us, we cannot henceforth part with it. A man may lose his garments or his limbs, but his inward parts are vital, and cannot be torn away without absolute loss of life.
A Christian can die, but he cannot deny the truth. Now it is a rule of nature that the inward affects the outward, as light shines from the centre of the lantern through the glass: when, therefore, the truth is kindled within, its brightness soon beams forth in the outward life and conversation. It is said that the food of certain worms colours the cocoons of silk which they spin: and just so the nutriment upon which a man’s inward nature lives gives a tinge to every word and deed proceeding from him. To walk in the truth, imports a life of integrity, holiness, faithfulness, and simplicity—the natural product of those principles of truth which the gospel teaches, and which the Spirit of God enables us to receive. We may judge of the secrets of the soul by their manifestation in the man’s conversation.
Be it ours to-day, O gracious Spirit, to be ruled and governed by Thy divine authority, so that nothing false or sinful may reign in our hearts, lest it extend its malignant influence to our daily walk among men.” –Charles Spurgeon
You know that some of them are just easier. Every personality different, some subdued and quiet, people-pleasers by nature. But some are hyper-sensitive and critical, self-absorbed and viciously just, but too immature for real justice (which translates, “That’s not fair!!!!” a hundred times a day).
It’s the hard thing of parenting. And it’s the good thing. It’s what reminds us that “doing everything right” doesn’t work, and we can’t take credit for the grace that God pours out on our children.
And yet, we don’t–we can’t throw our hands up either and leave it all to chance. We are still commanded to walk with them in truth, to nurture them in love, and to show them the blessing and curse of choosing wisdom over foolishness.
God gave them to us to teach them about Him. It’s what we were created for.
Cutting through the theological jargon (though we do have to understand responsibility vs. God’s work), some of you have a child who simply makes you cry a lot. I know because I have one. It’s a child who, when God grips that heart and indwells that spirit, will do amazing things. It’s a strong child with simply the strength pointed in the wrong direction some days.
What to do?
Be consistent, and be real. This child is your catalyst. This child may be just like you, all the harder to parent. Raising this child is not just about him…it’s largely about you. God will chisel and hammer away at you and it will hurt. But He’s doing something good in both of you. And because it hurts, you will say things you shouldn’t say and do things you shouldn’t do. You will need to repent and ask forgiveness. Do not refuse to ask your child to forgive you! No matter how often. This could be one of the most important lessons for him to learn. To see your humanness, your utter dependence on the Lord, your tears and your humility as you realize you don’t know what to do.
This child makes you feel like giving up some days. But it’s not an option. So you dig in. You love him with all that’s in you, over and over. You listen. You hug him, you tell him you’re not giving up and you prove it.
You speak truth to him. You read him God’s Word. You require him to as well. You find ways to laugh. And in his anger you let him know you are on his team.
You pray for him. You pray hard and long. You get through the day and the Lord will give you strength for tomorrow. You’ll get through it. We’ll get through it.
*Need practical help and encouragement as a mom? When Motherhood Feels Too Hard–the book that will change the way you parent.
I’ve always loved Gladys Hunt’s, Honey for a Child’s Heart
But this one excerpt….oh so important! And I fear we grow increasingly numb to its truth:
“We are inclined to make life heavy and see only what must be done, not what could be done. As more and more mothers join the work force outside the home, this burdened way of life will increase….
We let the evening news take away our delight in the beauty of a sunset. The ugly becomes more real than the good….Then we forget to notice and to share what is new and fresh and good about today.
Underlying all of this discussion is my thesis that parents who read widely together with their children are going to be those who most influence their children, who have the largest worldview, who have an uncommon delight in what is good and true and beautiful–and an uncommon commitment to it. Sharing and feeling and talking together will come naturally. Books shared with each other provide that kind of climate.” -Gladys Hunt (emphasis mine)
Do we see how easy it is to let the adult burdens of our world creep in and squash the innocent joy of childhood? And don’t we forget to let that childhood joy infiltrate our world to soften the burdens in it?
To me that’s why life without a variety of ages mingled in leaves us stifled and incomplete. I think it’s why God made families to naturally have children until the children begin to have children. They give us something that nothing else can replace!
Reading is more than reading; it’s living with and experiencing life together in a continual new discovery of what is good, with the advantage of a child’s and adult’s perspective intermingling.
We can all read….even on the worst days. Remember its weight!
(For some recommendations, my daughter has compiled a few book reviews to help parents make choices about literature.)
“Few books have inspired me as much as this one…” -Amanda P.
I’ve had many requests to make the eBook, “When Motherhood Feels Too Hard” into a real book. And so….
IT’S HERE!!!
$8.99
“This books needs to be on your kitchen counter, open, and read continuously!” -Karen F.
Some of you have expressed interest in purchasing several books to give to friends and family.
You’ll enjoy our bulk discount:
(And wouldn’t this be an affordable, wonderful Christmas gift for some moms you know?)
10 for $65
“This ebook was so great. It was worth every penny for the book and more. It brought so much to my morning reading. It was good to know someone who has been there. In the trenches everyday. This ebook brings so much understanding, refreshment, and hope.” Amazon Review
Don’t we forget?
“And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled…” Numbers 11:1
The worst part of that is, for most of us, that God not only commanded that we be thankful, but that we give thanks for everything, especially the trials.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” James 1:2
And it’s very important to note that our “trials” often are quite benign in light of those this verse was aimed toward. The New Testament saints were being dragged off and beaten to death for their faith. Few of us can say we’ve suffered to that degree.
And yet we can still marvel that God counts our tears and cares about our suffering, even if it seems small to others.
I believe we can build a habit of giving thanks–for everything–to the degree our faith rests upon the sovereignty of God.
“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” ― Charles Spurgeon
For in His sovereignty, we can rest, knowing that the harshest of trials are working for our good and His purposes. We only need a cursory glance across history to see this truth evident in the life of every believer.
It is my desire that our family really stops this Thanksgiving season, and begins to cultivate the habit of continual thanksgiving.
“Cultivate a thankful spirit! It will be to thee a perpetual feast. There is, or ought to be, with us no such thing as small mercies; all are great, because the least are undeserved. Indeed a really thankful heart will extract motive for gratitude from everything, making the most even of scanty blessings.” -J. R. MacDuff
I know it’s not popular. I sat here at my keyboard, hesitating to write, because I know there are many friends and family who will likely be angry at things I say. And I actually don’t enjoy friction at all.
And yet now, as ever, I am compelled by my LOVE….my love for our country, for freedom, my love for the church, for the family, my love for my fellow brothers and sisters–to risk losing their affections. If you don’t agree with me, I still beg you to consider where my motives come from.
I will let Michael Farris speak for most of this post, because he precisely sums up the thoughts I’ve had concerning this election (and the last one, and the one before that…)
He writes:
“There are two important lessons embedded in last night’s debacle. We are losing the votes of young people. We are losing the votes of women. Why?
The simple answer is that both groups have a disproportionate number who believe that the purpose of government is to “supply my needs.” Why do they believe this?
For young people, the answer is simple: public schools. The vast majority of young people attend public schools. And it is not merely that the teachers indoctrinate the students to believe that the purpose of government is to furnish our needs—that is more true than not. The far more powerful reason is that public schools furnish the child’s education—the dominating reality of their young lives. It would be astonishing that young people would go to government schools, then graduate to government colleges, or attend private colleges on government subsidies and come out with any conclusion other than “the purpose of government is to provide for my needs.”
Women are vulnerable to the siren call of “government services” because of the sexual promiscuity of men. Men use, abuse, and abandon women. Divorced women and single moms abound because of the sin of men. We have more unmarried adults than married adults for the first time in American history. This fact has enormous political consequences.What do we do?
We must start with the Christian population. Christians give you child an education that does not come from the government. You cannot raise a child to believe in freedom when that child is educated by the government.
Christian men. Be sexually pure before marriage. Get married. Treat your wife well. Stay true. Stay married.
Christians must start doing these things right now or our society will never recover.”
I have my “soapbox issues” because they are crucial, in my estimation, to the way we end up as a society, not because they are some pet preferences of mine. Ideas have consequences. How we think determines how we live and we are NOT autonomous. Our decisions affect each other…..immensely.
I would add to Mr. Farris’ admonition for Christians: start receiving your children and raise them for God’s glory and the advancement of His Kingdom. Remember that to “be fruitful and multiply” is not an antiquated commandment, but for our good!
God told the Israelites, when they were in utter bondage and oppression, to “grow”. To reproduce, to receive the children He would give them. The gift of children is multi-faceted but one of them is the power of numbers. As those who hate life kill their own children and close their wombs, let us rejoice that He delights in giving His people godly increase! (Malachi 2:15) And let us never be accomplices to the death knell of the unborn through our own flippancy of the value of children.
There is only ONE answer to the brokenness and confusion of people desperate to be rescued. It is not a man; it is King Jesus who gives us the Word of life for all of life. We will start to live it–not talk it, but live it–in the way we raise our children, the way we love our spouses, the way we conduct business and treat others, the way we honor the Lord and trust Him, or we will be ruled by tyrants without real answers.
Of course these aren’t complete solutions; we must all examine ourselves in every area of living to see if we are truly seeking first the Kingdom. But some real life-change must take place…some may seem drastic. Have we ever been more ripe for “drastic”?
This is a time for doing, not just talking. For being, not just blaming.
I am encouraged! This is a wake-up call for those who really do want to see America restored to its freedom. God’s Word has the answers….let’s get busy!