important info for Christian parents about our kids and internet/tv

The Grace and Truth Paradox: Excerpts by Randy Alcorn

full excerpts here: http://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Mar/23/grace-and-truth-paradox-excerpts/

Truth, Grace and Media

Parents who wouldn’t dream of letting a dirty-minded adult alone with their children do it every time they let their kids sit and surf channels and access the internet without supervision. There’s nothing new about sexual immorality. But there is something new about the ease with which it invades our homes.

Why do we do this? Because we want to trust our kids, and show them children grace. We don’t want to be known as restrictive, anti-fun or legalistic. We want to be cool parents. The kind that don’t get hung up on rules. Such “grace” is merely parental neglect in disguise.

We sacrifice our children on the altar of appearing cool (which never works anyway). Our children may never recover from this “grace” we’re showing them. In fact, it’s moral child abuse. We should repent of it. Our children don’t need cool parents. They need parents full of grace and truth."

note from Patsy: I would like to add that Satan is a liar and a thief and will stop at nothing to try to seduce us and our children in whatever way he can. Let's encourage and pray for one another that we would not be deceived to his crafty ways. Pray for more Godly wisdom and true love and His amazing grace as we parent. for His glory, Patsy

My 45 th Birthday November 6 Thank you, Mama, for choosing life...Mine

GRATEFUL



G - GOD IS FAITHFUL. No matter what I have gone through in my life or will go through in the days He gives me on this earth, be it emotional, physical, or spiritual. My God has proven Faithful, He will do it. His Word is truth. He is my beginning and my end, my greatest treasure. His glory fills my life and this earth and the heavens. He is my ALL and ALL. My Faithful Sovereign God, there is no other GOD. He is worthy of all praise. ALL NATIONS WILL DECLARE HIS GLORY.



R - RAISING OUR KIDS ON THE MISSION FIELD. There are no words to express the gratefulness I feel and the privilege to be able to see our children grow in wisdom and stature in Russia: to learn His sovereignty, His faithfulness, His love for them and for the nations, His sufficiency, His protection, and to learn the importance of joyful sacrifice, selflessness, and service for Jesus and telling others about the greatest gift ever.



A – AMAZING GRACE – God’s grace, what an amazing gift, and completely undeserved, and greater than all my sin. Grace for salvation, Grace for sanctification, Grace in our marriage, Grace in our parenting, Grace for the journey, Grace that will get me to the end and lead me home. Where would I be without Jesus. There is no other name , by which I can be saved. At the name of Jesus every knee will bow down. He is my Lord, my Savior, my closest friend, my redeemer, my superhero, and my KING, oh for grace to love Him more.



T – TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE- GOD HAS GIVEN ME THE BEST FRIEND/PARTNER IN MINISTRY/LOVER. I am so blessed to have been given a man of God who loves Him, me and our children unconditionally, who values commitment, honor and trust, and guards his heart and ours for His service, who takes prayer seriously and prays for me and our children earnestly, who has a passion for the lost and leads by the Word of God, by example, sometimes using words.



E – EVERY GOOD GIFT IS FROM THE LORD. Children are a gift from the Lord. Each one of our 4 children are such blessings, with different gifts, personalities, and beauties. They teach me day by day how to love. Each one brings me joy every day of my life. I am so thankful that the Lord allows me to be their Mama. They help me realize how much joy the Father has in me, his child, and how He cheers me on and rejoices over me with singing. They have been obedient and respectful and most important they love Jesus. I could never ever repay them for the ways they have blessed me.



F- FRIENDS- I HAVE BEEN BLESSED MY LIFE TO HAVE TRUE, ENCOURAGING, AND FRIENDS FROM A YOUNG CHILD UP UNTIL NOW. I am so thankful for all the teachers, pastors, prayer warriors, colleagues, friends the Lord has placed in my life over the years. I have some of the most God-wise friends in the world. They are always there for me to walk through life’s struggles, heartaches and successes and joys. They pray for me and my children, and encourage and spur me on to good deeds. They love me even in my faults, and challenge, inspire, and teach me by example and word to press on and finish well.



U- UNBELIEVABLE FAMILY. THEY SAY WE CAN CHOOSE OUR FRIENDS BUT WE CANT CHOOSE OUR FAMILY (LIKE WE ARE JUST STUCK WITH THEM) I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT I WOULD CHOOSE EACH ONE OF MY FAMILY. I am blessed to have a mother who lived out God’s Word in her life for me to see. She didn’t have to “preach” at me or cram His Word or church down my throat, because I learned by her example. She just lived a life of love and sacrifice before and for me. I have the most amazing wonderful siblings and their mates and children. They know every single thing there is to know about me, and yet love me unconditionally and wholeheartedly. They encourage and challenge me. They have set amazing examples of strength, forgiveness, perseverance, mercy, passion, compassion, grace, endurance, integrity, obedience, love, steadfastness, commitment, righteousness, tenderness, faithfulness, honor, courage, loyalty protection in day to day living and serving the Lord. (and yes, I was thinking of each of them when choosing those specific words) I have been blessed with wonderful aunts and uncles who have invested in my life. Over 25 years ago, the Lord blessed me with a second family, the most incredible second parents and sisters/brother anyone could ask for, as if bringing me Michael wasn’t enough He sprinkled my life with his family too.



L- LOVE – I have truly been loved my whole life. There has never even once been a doubt in my heart or mind, even in the most difficult of times, that I am loved, by a wonderful Heavenly Father, and my siblings or their families, and my husband and children, and my friends around the world. LOVE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING !



THANK YOU FATHER FOR THE GRATEFUL HEART YOU HAVE GIVEN ME !

A New Creation

A New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Last week, we traveled with the Thommarsons in “Z” Region to visit three of the pastors serving in our region. They invited us into their homes, and we had worship services in each place. While at Deacon Sasha’s home in Town “D”, having a meal together, Sasha’s wife, Lena began telling us to pray for her upstairs neighbor, Dzhenya, age 23, who had just days before killed her drunk husband in self defense, as he almost beat her to death. She is now a widow and has three children. As we were eating, Lena invited her down to visit. She sat with us and ate and we fed her children. Then Sasha and everyone shared Christ with her. She was so scared and really wanted God’s forgiveness in her life. Sasha led her to pray and she repented. She now has a new life in Christ. Pray that God will remove her fear, and that she will begin going to church with Sasha and his family. (photo attached Dzhenya is third from the right)

"Wherever you are be all there" Jim Elliot

One of my favorite quotes is "Wherever you are be all there." by missionary Jim Elliot. It has meant so much to me over the past 11 years especially in our journey of serving overseas. It is something I have told my husband, my children and myself countless times. I have posted it in emails and on facebook, and shared it with friends. We have even had to remember this in the states when we wanted to be back on the field.

Somedays are just easier to say that and practice that than others, like today.

I am just pure "feeling" guilty today.

...because we are so far away from our boys at this wonderful exciting times in their lives.

...because we are not there to celebrate Bryan's 21st birthday.

... our parents are getting older and we are nowhere near them.

...because I am not there for decoration Sunday at my family cemetery this weekend.

...because we are not going to see our mothers on Mother's day, or getting to celebrate Michael's parents 50th anniversary next weekend.

...because we will not be at the Puckett family reunion at my mother's or extended one the end of may, not there for new births, graduations, weddings other special extended family events.

and the worst feeling of guilt of all: Guilty because I feel this way, when I know I am right where the Lord wants me and I need to be "all here", and I am just not feeling it today.

The good news, my life has never been, is not and will never be based on "my feelings". Praising Him that His mercies are new every morning, and trusting/believing I feel better tomorrow :) :)

Feelings flow
Feelings come and go
Feelings lie
Feelings die
what matters most is WHO and what I know

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love."

New Year of Poverty

2009 was a great, crazy year of learning and I expect 2010 to be much more of the same. Prayerfully growing more and more dependent on Christ, seeing more people trust and depend on Him, and seeing more groups of those people joining/serving in local churches, and starting new churches. I began 2009 with major back surgery, and watched our sons marry the women that God chose for their lifemates in June and again in December. We were blessed to celebrate Jesus' birthday in the states for the first time in 6 years with each of our children, and our new daughters in love, and most of our families. I ended 2009 watching a dear young man marry his first love, thinking what a privilege it was to be there, as his mother/my friend celebrated Jesus in heaven. I am more depedent on Jesus again this year than I was the last, and trust nothing less for 2010, as that is my desire.

Alot of people make new year's resolutions, I have never been too much into that. I did have a sweet/bitter talk/ time of fellowship with Jesus when we returned to our city January 8. Sweet: We absolutely love the place here in the Far East that He has brought us to. We are content with the ministry He continues to show us here, and we love the people He has brought into our lives and that we are blessed to serve alongside. Bitter: We love our sons and their new wives, our parents, and other family in and around MS. After 10 years on the mission field, I must admit, the goodbyes get harder and harder, yet the returns get better and better. How can that be? I don't know, but as the youth today are saying so often these days "I'm just sayin..." it does.

As I talked to Jesus the second morning back, I cried out to Him in my confusion, how can it be so hard to leave, so sweet to return and asked the Lord as I do every time we return, "Why do You want us here? I mean sometimes I cant see much good we are doing. I mean I know what Your Word teaches about obedience and following, Lord, You know I understand that. I know that we won't always see fruit and that being here is important for so many reasons, but I just want to ask You, why ?? again today"

I must say I was surprised at His answer to me. I expected it to be the same as in the past, something about obeying/following no matter what, which are all great reasons. I was reading/meditating and praying through Luke chapter 21 when He spoke so clearly to me. I was reading about the widow giving it all. " Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them" Lord, have I put it all in? I have left my homeland, my family, now my sons and their new wives to follow You here. I fell on the ice and had to have back surgery..." I hope you are still following me, as i share what I was saying to Him as I read His Word and asking "why??" I read further: "for they all out of their Surplus put into offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on" I continued on "Ok, Lord I am listening. Everything I have ever given was always out of my "surplus". Well, Lord, teach me what it means to give out of my poverty, all I have to live on. That is when i realized that in my crying out to Him at that moment, I was as poor in Spirit as could be, I was weak, I was completely dependent on Him. That was my answer to why?? I asked and He answered and it was a different answer since ever coming to the mission field.

Lord, why did you bring me here? His answer was as clear as if He were speaking out loud, deep into my heart and spirit: I can be with you here, my Patsy, like you won't let me be anywhere else. In this place you are more dependent on me than any other, you are poorer here than any place else. It is in this place alone, right now in your life, right where I have you, that you can truly give out of your poverty, all you have. WOW. He can be with me here like I wont let Him anywhere else. He desires to be with me that much, to love me that much. And let me tell you it is a sweet fellowship, a sweet place, a place I want to stay, wherever I am !!

I don't know about you and where you are at this year, physically, spiritually or emotionally, but I pray that you will "put in all you have to live on", and out of your poverty (need) not your surplus. That you will be put in places, hard or easy places that will cause you to depend, trust and need Jesus more than ever in 2010. Out of that relationship, He will take you where you need to go, get your through anything you are going through and speak through you to every person He wants to draw to Himself. I encourage you to take the time to read through Luke 21 someday soon.

Lord, let everything You bring into my life this year, lead to an opportunity for my testimony !

Thankful

C.S. Lewis said "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

As Thanksgivng day approaches, I am asking the Lord to make me thankful even for the pain. Right now, I don't have any: my marriage is thriving, our adult children are serving and happy, Grace and Caleb are doing well in school, have friends and are growing in the Lord. Ministry is great. The Lord has given us a wonderful supportive family, and great friends in the states, on the field, and here in our assignment, and has provided us with everything we need and some extras that just plain bring us pleasure. Life right now is good, better than good, great. We are all healthy and all is well with our souls. I truly feel blessed and thankful, because of my circumstances, BUT...

There have been times in the far past, and recent past, and will be times in the near future and far future, when I know, after 44 years of life, that life won't feell/seem great. We all know that our circumstances change: environment/country/situations/relationships/health, can all change at a moments notice. In those times, I want to remain thankful, grateful and feel His blessings. Not just when things are going well. I sincerely want to hear His whisper, His voice, and His shouts to me, in every situation.

About this time last year is when I took my terrible fall and went through more physical pain than I thought I could endure, then back surgery, recovery. I can tell you from experience, that He shouted to me through the pain, and I was listening and hearing His voice over me. He truly does rejoice over us in singing. He is our Great Physician, Our Helper, Our comfort, Our refuge and strength. He does use those in our lives to encourage, love, bear all things, serve and care for us.

I am thankful to you, Lord, I beg You to continue to give me that sense of peace and gratefulness no matter what tomorrow brings. And give me boldness to proclaim Your greatness like a megaphone to the deaf world. I know I can't do it alone, I know more than ever how much I need You, and I desire to hear you speak to me and then through me in whatever physical or emtional pain that You ever allow into my life. Speak Lord, your servant is listening.

House Call

 

"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up His cross, and follow Me." Mark 8:34


We are a part of a small group Bible study which is held in the home of the beautiful elderly lady, Baba Nina, and her husband, Dyed Genady. Her husband is a shut in and because of his health (and sometimes hers), they are unable to get out very often, which is the main reason we meet in their home. Neither of them can hear very so we all have to speak loudly each week. Last week, after our lesson, we were talking about the importance of sharing our faith with our friends/neighbors. The sweet Baba Nina said that she isnt able to go and share much as they have been sick. We all prayed for opportunities and talked about ways to share our faith.

Well here in our country doctors still do house visits, so guess who the Lord brought to Baba Nina's apartment this week? You guessed it a doctor. This is sort of a funny. joyful, convicting story, so I hope you find the joy, humor and even convention intended. She shared tonight that a rather young well educated physician appeared at her door and she invited him in. She said he looked terrible. He made his way to their living/bedroom, the same room, just like ours. He proceeded toward the couch and plopped down, exhausted, and obviously in need of being ministered to instead of ministering. (that was the humorous part)

She began talking to him and her faith in Christ became the center of conversation. She said that he pulled his cross out of the inside of his shirt to show her that he was a "believer". He then asked to see her cross, to which she gave the absolute best answer to this question that I have personally heard or shared in our 10 years in a predominately Orthodox country: "I don't have or need a cross, I am a living sacrifice, dying to myself and taking up my cross in my life every day." She then took a long time to share the love of Jesus Christ and the fear of the Lord, things he had never heard in his life, and sure didnt learn in his years (probably 12) of medical school. She then tried to give him a Bible, where all she had shared was written, but that he was literally shaking from fear by the time she was through, as he realized for the first time in his life that that cross hanging on his neck didn't do or mean anything when he dies and stands before a righteous judge. She saw him shaking and told him there was no need to be afraid, that he just needed Jesus to believe in Him and repent and He would forgive him and take the fear away. He calmed down, took a copy of His Word, and left promising to read it. (that was the convicting part)

Michael was overjoyed and told her that she did a wonderful thing and reminded her that last week she was concerned about who to share with, and that the Lord heard our prayers and that He brought someone to her. (that was the joyfull part)