Provoking/Punishing Your Children? When is too much?

Recently in the news we have notice an outbreak of events that have sparked the attention of many people thru the social media networks. We have seen an increase of police abuse and also Pastor’s been caught not walking the talk. One example is Pastor Creflo Dollar which was recently arrested for “punching his daughter in the face”. Now I don’t know what happen to this brother in Christ but I do know that when you loose control of yourself is one thing but standing firm behind it without conviction is something else. I recently posted a blog title What the Bible Says about Talk and to tell you the truth, it really helps to know what is the Lord telling us about keeping it cool in times where we are about to loose control of ourselves. The tongue could get us in so much trouble and usually physical abuse would follow right after unless we control our anger against our children or friends.

In the report of this incident, the minor stated that is not the first time that she gets chocked or punched and this brings me back to a questioning mode about how the devil is working on our weaknesses and making us stumble and with this bringing glory to his evil plans which are to have people question the church of Christ. I need to say that none of us humans beings are perfect and free from sin. We all make mistakes and none are safe from satan’s attacks as it’s explain on this blog title Satan is eager to destroy you we all need to be ready to put the armor of God and stand firm against all the strategies of the evil one. Ephesians 6:10-18

But how much is too much? If a person makes a mistake and later on he ask for forgiveness then we should forgive this person. As it’s explain on this article title Forgiveness is not an option but a command. But if this person stays firm and try to justify to the rest that what he did is okay then this person needs to really be punish as a Pastor many people will follow and believe what he says and God won’t be very please to see that you now are been a vehicle for satan. As Pastor Creflo Dollar wrote on his Facebook page “Good morning Everyone, as a father I love my children and I always have their best interest at heart at all times, and I would never use my hand to ever cause bodily harm to my children. The facts in this case will be handled privately to further protect my children. My family thanks you for your prayers and continued support.” This statement contradicts what it was shown on the local news but should we forgive? Yes absolutely! Is satan involve? Yes all the way. The daughter’s behavior might have been unacceptable and guess who was behind it?

“If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”
Luke 17:1-4 NLT

So how can we handle our kids in a better way that we wouldn’t put ourselves in this situation? As Parents, we are not to provoke our kids. Specially when there is an argument already getting heated. We are to be the greater person and we must bring glory to our God by remembering what the Lord said on the scriptures:

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4
New Living Translation (NLT)

As children of our heavenly Father, we must be obedient to our parents. We are to honor them all the time as it is written in the first commandment which also comes with a promise. If you are an obedient child, you will not have your life cut short because the Lord disciplines you for your rebellion, but you’ll live a full long life.

6 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Ephesians 6
New Living Translation (NLT)

So let’s re-focus and let’s understand what the enemy is trying to do in our lives and our homes. Satan is after our families and will not rest and will rejoice when he destroys Christian families and marriages. Let’s not focus on the news but let’s concentrate on prayer. Let’s not judge but let’s forgive each other as many times as it takes. Let’s move on and accept our mistakes and let’s get on our knees and ask God for forgiveness. Let’s lose the shame and let’s make our petition publicly as much as privately. Whatever it takes as long as we humble ourselves to the higher power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So what is your stance on this topic? Do you think is okay the way that Pastor Creflo Dollar handle the argument with his daughter? Are you the type of parent that punish their child or do you talk to them and pray when they don’t want to listen?

What is the motive in your life?

Now a days, most of us, think that success comes in a big peace into our life. But instead success comes in peaces into our life. Most people don’t have a formula for their problems. You want to get from one place to the other without suffering and expect to have success in your life without picking up the cross.

So what do we do? We pick up the pieces, develop a plan, and put the pieces together. Some might say that they don’t have enough money so they decide to go to school, which is a process that at the end will put you in a different place in your life.

So what to do? When you have a problem, work the pieces. Take it in small pieces and don’t dream of a big solution because that is most likely not going to happen. When you decide to work on your problems and you start to lay down the pieces, the biggest mistake that you could make is to start laying down the wrong pieces. When you are laying down a plan to solve an issue, make sure you don’t get distracted and get thrown off by a person, an issue, a relationship or spiritual warfare.

A person can have a strong passion to do the right thing, has a very clear, holy and righteous motive and then they can meet somebody. As you are laying down the pieces to develop a plan in your life, this distraction could make you get the wrong piece and this will change the course of your life.

We have been focus, we have been doing great, we were clear about the assignment but along the way we get manipulated by this distraction and they introduce a different set of values and priorities in your life.

Maybe you were married or in a relationship and all of a sudden you met this other person and now you’re not sure? Has this happen to you?

When you are succeeding in your plan, you become a target. As your motive is to spread the word of God and preach the gospel, you become more vulnerable. We must stay focus on the plan that we had lay down and stick to it. But as you are bringing glory to our Lord, we might be victims of this distractions.

Now you had a distraction in your life, which cause a change in your plan and now your life changes and often times we tend to focus on what the distraction did to you not on what we allow to happen. In order for you not to fall in this dirty plan from satan to get you off track, keep in mind this simple questions.

Be careful who you allow to override God’s will for your life.

Be careful when you allow someone to get into your life because you feel lonely, or you feel you have no friends. Maybe the lack of attention at home or the experimenting draws you into this distraction.

Some people are not thinking of you but just a moment of glory. 

They are not focus on you but themselves, on their needs, on their desires. They don’t care on the plan God have set up for you and the consequences of your distraction will bring into your life.

There is a story on 1 Kings 13 which explains how a young prophet was given a  commandment to follow and was given instructions on how to return back home but there was also an old prophet that heard about this young prophet prophesying the word of God to the king Jeroboam so he went and look for him. He lie to the young prophet about how to return back home. He told him that and angel of God has send him there to take him back home. He was not to eat or drink but to go back home in a different route and the young prophet believed him and fail to follow God’s commands. He was then kill as a punishment and the old prophet was not punished.

Is this fair? You are trying your best to fulfill the Lord’s plans and we allow a distraction to alter the plans. We get punish but how about the distraction? Well have you ever been the young prophet in your life and someone has taken advantage of you? Or have you ever been the old prophet and you have used others to your convenience making them stumble along the way?

Well my beloved brothers and sisters, I have been both in my life time. I have allowed distractions to get my focus off God’s plan and also there has been times when I don’t act mature enough to think about the other person’s feelings. We need to understand that there is one goal in this lifetime and is not about you all the time nor to fullfil your dreams and desires. People also have a plan in their life and we must ask ourself “are we the old prophet in their life?”

So what is your story? What have been your distractions in life? Has it been addictions, relationships, trouble forgiving, self focus? Whatever the distraction is you must repent and confess it to the Lord so your sins could be forgiven. Keep in mind that there is only one sin that will lead you to death and that is to not believe in the Son of God Jesus Christ.

Has this message touched you in any way? The love of our Heavenly Father could change hearts. Start the walk and make a change for youself and your family. Be the leader your family deserves. All you have to do is Surrender and make the decision to follow Christ and be ready to be use in a magnificent way to glorify the name of the Lord.

Satan is eager to destroy you

Satan’s plan toward Christians is to distract, detour, confuse you and make you critical. Anything to make you walk away from God’s real calling in your life. Now are we going to let this happen? But what can we do to fight against satan’s evil plans? We must pray for God to give us strength and focus in our lives. Satan’s power dominates us as humans been but his power is nothing against the Lord’s. His grace is sufficient to destroy and keep him away.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
1 John 4:4 NLT

We are in Christ and delivered from the power of satan.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
Colossians 1:13 NLT

Put on the The Whole Armor of God to protect us from the power of the evil one.

 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Ephesians 6:10-18
New Living Translation (NLT)

I believe we could not defeat the evil plans of satan by ourselves, but if we put our trust, our hopes, our love in the power of the almighty God, Lord of Lords, We could indeed overcome satan’s evil trials. Let’s stand together for Christ and with the power of the Holy Spirit we will overcome!

Has this message touched you in any way? Make the decision and follow Christ and be ready to be use in a magnificent way to glorify the name of the Lord.

Christians are Satan’s prey

Satan enjoys seeing Christians get a head knowledge of victory without a heart experience, Because this lulls believers into a false security, and Satan finds them an easy prey.