While I was researching obedience for Sunday's teaching, I came across this Proverb, which, being the sarcastic parent that I am, I wondered why I hadn't quoted it to my kids when they were not being obedient;

"The eye that mocks a father

and despises a mother's instructions

will be plucked out by ravens of the valley

and eaten by vultures."

Whoa!  That's gross.  And truthfully, even as sarcastic as I was, I really don't think I would have ever tossed that one at my kids.  The mental picture of Stephanie being chased across the yard by ravens and vultures after refusing to clean up her room is a bit off the wall; and a bit funny.  (Not sure I should admit that.)

But I have chewed on this verse this week.  If the meaning obviously isn't that you will literally lose your eyes to vultures for leaving your toys strewn across the room, what does it mean?  Perhaps in King David's time, if a person despised their parents and the wisdom that they offered, that person would either leave home, or be expelled from the home.  Without guidance, they may wander about the land, surviving as best they could, until they died; at which point the vultures would literally eat them. 

Or, possibly, that without the wisdom of the generation that is before us, we are spiritually short-sighted, or even blinded, and satan has the opportunity to steal our vision.  In a generation now that values everything that is cutting edge, culturally relevant, and globally accessible, the wisdom of the prior generation is easily discounted.  And though the venues for using that wisdom have certainly changed, and are constantly changing, the wisdom itself is of great value.

God hasn't changed.  His Word hasn't changed.  His faithfulness to the prior generation still needs to be rehearsed in the ears of their children just as the Israelites were instructed to rehearse all that God had done to deliver them from Egpyt; 

"Talk about them when you are at home and when your are on the road; when you are going to bed and when you are getting up."

We can "talk" about God's faithfulness on our podcasts and blogs.  We can attend webcasts broadcast from around the world.  We can facebook and twitter His goodness instantly to thousands of people that we may never meet in person.  But let's be careful that in our embracing of the immediate ability to share the now of what God is doing, we don't despise the testimony of our parents by discounting it as no longer valid.  But let's take what they have laid as a foundation, and continue to build on it, and present to the next generation a clear ability to see God and His vision for us today.

The Week of Reminders!

I have a love:hate relationship with to-do lists.  I love the satisfaction of marking off each item, and, by days end, holding a piece of paper full of lined out words.  On the other hand, I hate spending the time to write a to-do list, when I could be doing one of those things instead of composing the list.  Having that list on my desk, in my car, or in my pocket, reminds me of the things I need to accomplish that day.  I believe, part of my issue, is that I don't want to admit I need the reminder.  I want to think that I am aware of what I need to do, and that I will just do it.  I mean, hello?  I am an adult.  I have a brain.  I am aware of the day of the week.  I know what needs to be done.  But, my confession is, I still need reminders.

Last week, I had a week of reminders.  Not concerning my day to day responsibilities, but about what really matters.  Reminders of who God is and what He said in His Word.  Ok, again, I am an adult.  Spiritually.  (not a perfect one, or one who has arrived, but not a new Christian).  I am aware that the "hour is late, time is short, the night is coming when no man can work....".  I know what needs to be done; people need Jesus.  But, again, my confession is, I still need reminders.  These are some reminders God sent my way last week through others:

We are all a hopeless mess.  Pastor Ross has brought the best series I have ever heard from anyone these last few weeks.  You will be changed if you listen to Dysfunktion.  

That God's mercy and grace is evident in our families when we are far from perfect.  Both Stephanie's story at Journey Group and Reggie Joiner's message at the Orange Conference backed up Jeff's quote, "Satan is just giving God more to work with when he throws this junk in our lives."  I don't know a perfect family.  And if there was one, how would those kid's learn of God's grace and healing power?

And in all this mess, we have access to the Creator of the universe and everything in it, who can bring order to the chaos of our lives and get glory from doing it.  Eric and John both reminded me of this unlimited power that our God brings when we go to Him.  Those words flow so easily, unlimited power.  But stop; and be reminded of what ALL ACCESS means!

Then, mark that off your to-do list, put it back in your pocket, and watch God's grace be unveiled!