Influences In Life

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

We all have been influenced by the way we were raised. Our family, friends, teachers, and environment  The entertainment industry is geared to develop certain mindsets. All the experiences of life serve to effect our thinking and behaviors.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in  the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1 Our attitudes toward life, family, friends, and God have been shaped by the influences of life.

I was doing some soul searching, reflection on different people who have had a great effect on my life. I recalled a Sunday school teacher. Mrs. Cox was the pastor’s wife. I was around twelve.  One morning whe she was teaching. She said, “Reading the Bible everyday would impact our lives in ways we could never imagine.” She said, “ God has a plan and purpose for everyone to fulfill.”

She knew we were young and easy to embarrass. What she suggested was for us to keep a copy of the Bible in our bathroom. It would be a private place to get alone with God and His word. I began doing as she had told us. To some this may seem trival or unimportant. She might not even remember saying it. I can testify, it has had a great impact on my life.

I love reading God’s word. It has changed my life and wrong mindsets. His word is my daily bread. It’s my strength when i’m weak and my hope when i’m down. His word is truly Spirit and Life.

We all have an influence over people in our lives. We need to share life’s lessons with others. You may never know what you might say or do that is going to impact someones life.

We are to be salt and light to the world. Let your light shine to help someone find the way.

~Ricky Robinson

Image Credit ©  Muriel Lasure | Dreamstime.com

Let Go and Let God!

PIGGY BACK RIDE
© Alicia Shields | Dreamstime.com

“Point your kids in the right direction – when they’re old, they won’t be lost.” ~Proverbs 22:6 (The Message)

This is an easy scripture to read and believe when your children are little angels, but when the world starts setting into your child, you start beating yourself up, wondering what in the world you did wrong. The number one thing you have to remember is this: it’s going to happen.

You can put your small child on your back, carry them across the desert, teach them right from wrong, tell them what God has to say about them, and show them who they are in Christ, but you can only carry them so far. There is going to come a day when they will have to walk for themselves. And they’re going to make mistakes…and fall down. It hurts our parent’s heart when they jump off our back, thinking they can make adult decisions, only to get themselves in some kind of mess.

Think of the story of the Prodigal son from the Father’s side. He went out everyday, looking for his son. You know he was praying for that boy. When the son realized what he had done and where he had gone wrong, he went home. His father saw him a far off, ran to him, hugged him and brought him inside. He never stopped loving him.

As parents, we can’t really do anything but love our children and pray for God’s help to protect them while they go on their way. When they fall, we have to remember that we have a loving Father in Heaven Who was there for us, helping us back on our feet and loving us unconditionally when we missed it. We just have to trust Him; He’ll be there for our children, too!

~Guest contributor, James Parrish