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Dale Rockwell

Monthly Archives: June 2016

Teach Us to Pray

29 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by dalerockwell in Children, Opportunity, Prayer, Teach

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Children, Prayer, Teach

As I tucked Brynlee into bed, I asked, “Do you want Mimi to pray with you?”

My granddaughter hesitated at first, and then she said, “Mimi, you can pray.”  As soon as I finished my simple prayer, Brynlee said, “I can pray, too.”

“Okay,” I said as I closed my eyes waiting for her to pray.

Then I heard her little voice say, “No, Mimi.  You say it and then I will say it.”

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On a particular day after watching Jesus pray, one of the disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”  Luke 11:1-13

Moms & dads, are you teaching your kids how to pray?  Your kids are watching you just like the disciples were watching Jesus. And you know they don’t miss a trick! So teach them how to do life with Jesus by talking to Him throughout the day.  Let them see you pray.

Maybe you don’t know how to pray. Start where you are.  Like the disciple, ask Jesus to teach you how to pray.

As moms and dads, we delight in giving good gifts to our children.  Our Heavenly Father delights even more in giving good gifts to us. So today, boldly ask your Heavenly Father to teach you how to pray.  And as you learn, teach the same things to the little ones that He has entrusted into your care.

On a side note, be ready to learn from your kids.  As I was praying and Brynlee was repeating after me, I evidently said something I had already said.  Brynlee stopped me and said, “Uh, Mimi, you already said that.”  Oh my!  I had to stop and ask myself, if I was praying thoughtfully or out of habit.

“Lord, teach us to pray.”

 

 

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Don’t Miss the Opportunity!

24 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by dalerockwell in Children, Faith, Opportunity

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Children, Faith, Opportunity

The volume and energy level in this house is about to increase dramatically.  The grandkids are coming to spend a couple days with Mimi & Poppi.  All the junk that had been thrown in the spare bedrooms has been taken care of.  The snack cupboard has been filled with lots of treats.  More water guns have been added to the pool ammunition.

convertible rideAnd Poppi has the convertible ready to go – one child at a time to a special treat destination of their choice.  And of course, Poppi might get lost along the way causing the ride to be longer.  And for the little ones, Poppi will be sure to point out the flying monkeys that he sees.

Having fun with our grandkids is the best!  I love their laughter. I love hearing their stories and jokes.  I love listening in on their conversations with each other.  I listen for my own enjoyment but I also listen for another reason.  I listen for an opportunity.

I have spent time this week thinking about each grandchild – their likes, their dislikes, their spirit, their personality, their concerns.  I have spent time this week praying for each grandchild.  And now I will listen for an opportunity to share my faith with each grandchild.  I’m not talking about sharing the gospel, or a Bible story or quoting a Bible verse.  I’m talking about a very comfortable, hardly- even noticeable opportunity where I can drop a little idea about doing life with Jesus into their bucket.

Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, had sincere faith that they shared with Timothy.  I want to share my faith with my grandkids.  This can be done a million different ways but one of the best ways is to simply share what God has done for me as I do life with Him.

Moms and grandmoms, the summer has begun.  Diligently look and pray for opportunities to share Jesus with your kids and grandkids.  Shape their thoughts. Make the most of this opportunity!  You’ll blink twice and the summer will be gone.  And if your kids are in school, someone else will be shaping their thoughts.

I Don’t Know!

16 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by dalerockwell in God's Word; Bible, Grow, Knowledge, Learn

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Bible, Grow, Learn, Peace

Because I love hearing what little ones are thinking, I asked my little group of 3-5 year olds what they knew about Jesus.  I barely got the question out of my mouth, when little Aliyah said rather loudly and proudly, “Not much!”

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If I asked you what you know about Jesus, what would you say?  Would you list off what you know or would you admit that you don’t know much and have much more to learn?

What if I asked you a different question?  What if I asked you how much grace and peace you are experiencing today?

Do you know that knowledge is directly correlated to the amount of grace and peace in your life?  2 Peter 1:2 explains that our knowledge of God & Jesus multiplies our grace and peace.  The word ‘knowledge’ in this verse is not merely factual knowledge.  It is experiential knowledge.  It is knowledge that is put to use.  It is knowledge that is acted upon.

  • Mere head knowledge produces arrogance.  1 Corinthians 8:1
  • Experiential knowledge produces love.  2 Peter 1:7

We could easily spend a week looking at the first eleven verses of 2 Peter to see how this experiential knowledge unfolds in our daily lives.  Peter explains it so clearly.  Peter, the one who denied Christ, learned how to do life with Jesus.  And he wanted to be sure others knew how to do the same before he died.   2 Peter 1:14

We only choose to do life with Jesus when we realize we ‘don’t know’.  Today, acknowledge you ‘don’t know’. Choose to spend some time learning from God’s word and then put it into practice.  Your life will be richer for it.

Do life with Jesus today!

The Sting of Past Hurts

14 Tuesday Jun 2016

Posted by dalerockwell in Choice, Faith, Grace, Pain

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Choice, Faith, Grace, Pain

Doing life with Jesus every day is so down to earth and practical. That’s one reason it is a must for me.

Yesterday, my husband asked me a question about something. For him, it was just an innocent question. For me, it was a question that brought to mind some past hurts and I felt the sting all over again.

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Past hurts can cause present pain. I wish that was not the case. I wish I was completely over it. And the fact that I’m not completely over it, also bothers me.

I opened the Word of God this morning. I wanted some grace. I needed some grace.

1 Peter 5:5-11 was part of my reading today. It was the very grace I needed. It reminded me to clothe myself in humility and to cast my cares on the One who cares about me and for me. It reminded me to stay firm in believing God has my best interest at heart. It reminded me that God is at work in me. He will perfect me, confirm me, strengthen me and establish me because He is the God of all grace.

So I will do life with Jesus today. I won’t try to do life by myself. I will continue to trust Him with my heart. I will ask Him for His help. I know His grace will be sufficient for me.

What are you struggling with today? Don’t try to do life in your own strength. Do life with Jesus today.

It’s Not about You!

10 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by dalerockwell in Faith, Meaning of Life, Plans, Purpose

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Meaning of Life, Plans, Purpose

My life is not turning out the way I thought it was going to.  Is yours?

Yes, I make choices that impact my life.  But as an almost ’60something’, I realize so much of this crazy thing called ‘life’ is beyond my control.  Sometimes things turn out the way I expect and other times, I’m completely baffled.

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Psalm 139 clearly states that God has a specific plan for my life. He knows my beginning, my ending and everything in between.  He knows my thoughts and my words even before I say them.  He knows where I am going and what I am doing.  He knows what I am planning to do today and He knows what He has planned for me today.  And somehow in His Godness, He takes my choices and writes the story of my life – the very life He designed for me even before I was born.

We see this same principle in the life of so many Bible characters.  They made choices. Others made choices that impacted them.  And God used it all to write His story!

  • Joseph and his brothers
  • Moses and his parents
  • Rahab and the spies
  • Esther and her people

And the list could go on and on.

God is writing His own story!  He is the main character in each and every story!

It’s not about me.  It’s not about you. It’s about Him!

Some might say this diminishes our life story.  I would argue that it elevates it. We are all part of something bigger and grander than ourselves. We are part of His amazing story. The more we embrace this truth, the more we experience rich meaning and lasting purpose in life.

So when my life doesn’t turn out the way I thought it was going to, I remember I am part of His story.  He is the Author.  He is writing His story and I’m honored to be part of it.

 

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  • Get in the Chase!

Recent Comments

gmdoore@myfairpoint.… on Being Still is Hard Work
dalerockwell on He Can’t Read Your …
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