Ageism

We are often blind to the discrimination that exists between the old and young. Ageism is a real problem and it works both ways.

The young do not want stuffy talking heads who behave condescendingly towards them; they want approachable parents/leaders who will share a meal, listen, ask questions and invite co-equal participation.

The older generations do not want the young to make them feel a little like a pair of discarded old shoes as friends become all important and at the same time living in their own world of trendy culture complete with buzzwords and technological 'savvy-ness'.

We're drifting apart. I'm concerned that if the generations dont link arms and start working together, the gap will widen. The result will be huge lost opportunities for the gospel to save the prebelievers.

All is not lost however in this age and time. Some parents are now more savvy, more approachable than 1 or 2 generations ago. I have seen young people with exceptional maturity, spiritual anointing and more openness with older people. They recognise their need for input from the older generation.

Peter and I have had a handful of mentors in our lives. There is one couple who helped us in our marriage, showed us their home, lifestyle and how they handled their young children. Another personal mentor would be one who is also your accountability partner. This mentor knows everything about you, including all your faults and weaknesses. This person can ask you the 'hard' questions about your attitudes, your thought life and your marriage and that mentor is willing to challenge you. These kinds of relationships are so important if we all want to grow spiritually.

Sadly as my husband and I counselled the young couples, we discovered that more than 90% of them do not have mentors at all. Their advice came from peers who are not only inexperienced but also have a host of problems to which they can find no answers to.

When the holy spirit was poured out on the early church, Peter (Jesus' disciple) declared that both old and young would receive supernatural power.

Acts 2:17 "In the last days, God says I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."

Implied in the above vs is the idea that God wants the generations to work together. If we want to experience that same level of anointing (see visions/dream dreams) today, we must end this awkwardness and reach out to each other and bridge the gap.

LOVE is spelt T-I-M-E

Life will shout a thousand demands to take you away from time spent with your loved ones especially your children. If Peter and I had permitted the urgent to rule all the time, we would lose time with our children which we might never recover or catch with our hands. They were growing up so quickly.

We had to make decisions like designating weekends as family time, talking to them before they sleep or if there were time, we would play with them on our bed before putting them to sleep. Holidays were a must coz togetherness and fun draw the family even closer.

All that is worth cherishing in this world begins with the heart, not in the head!

To the world, or even your friends, you may be just one person but to one person, you might be the world. That person is your child.

If you spend time with your children, you can get to hear them say the cutest things which make you laugh. Here are 2 short excerpts that I've taken from an email sent to me last year about what children say.

(1) The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, & posted it on the apple tray. "TAKE ONLY ONE. GOD IS WATCHING."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note. "TAKE ALL YOU WANT. GOD IS WATCHING THE APPLES."

(2) A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human coz even though it was a very large mammal, its throat was v small. The little girl stated tt Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven, I will ask Jonah."
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him."

The following are some quotes about love from young children who have this personality type :

D - Dominant "Take risks. I mean if you like this person & u dont know if they like u, ask them out and c what happens. I liked this girl & I asked her out. She said no & she hates me now, but I took that risk." (Bruce aged 13)

I - Influential "It isnt always just how you look. Look at me. I'm handsome like anything and I havent got anybody to marry me yet." (Gary aged 7)

S - Steady "It gives me a headache to think about that stuff (love). I'm just a kid. I dont need that kind of trouble." (Kenny aged 7)

C - Compliant "One of you should know how to write a cheque. Because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills." (Ava, aged 8)

Matthew 18:10 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."

Notes

Children,

It's 2010 and I'm still clearing my clutter. Arrgghh! Calvin, I hope u take time to clear coz urs is perpetually in the same place and in the same position too! Ur sis and dad did it - they're always ahead.

Anyway, I found notes from daddy & friends that I kept in pretty boxes. Do u know how important notes can be? You can re-read the notes till they get 'rag-eared' but they can make u walk on air again. A simple word of encouragement goes a long way. That's why encouraging notes are always savoured & treasured.

A successful note writer is short on verbiage, long on empathy, sincere, short, specific and usually spontaneous in nature.

So write notes to make a difference in someone's life. Write without expecting anything in return. Write because you want to, from your heart. I thank GOd for daddy and friends who did just that for me :)

xx & luv
Mum

Reflection & Thanksgiving

As I shift my attention to starting a new year, I often find myself asking these Qs like "What can I expect in the coming year?" or "How can I achieve my goals in 2010?"

Then I remembered that I have to reflect on 2009 and give thanks to GOd for everything.

I'm thankful for God's faithfulness to me and revealing things to me when I spend time with Him.

I'm thankful that Tabby has completed her 4-mth exchange in Canada and is now safely back in Spore; her many friends who had encouraged her and most of all, God who is constantly by her side watching & guiding over her.

I'm thankful for Calvin that although at times he's quite a handful, his heart is never far away from us and God.

I'm thankful that someone very dear to Chubby Cheeks accepted Christ in his heart during STOMP, one of the prayers of salvation answered during the year. I know that he will come to realize more and more that apart from God, he can do nothing. God is the source of all good things in life. God has a plan for him, plans to prosper him and never to ruin him, plans to give him a future and a hope. My friend Perry says everyone goes through 3 significant stages that will change a person's life : 1) receiving Christ 2) going out to work 3) marriage.

"As you start your new journey as a Christian in 2010 & beyond, REMEMBER that God is right beside you!"

I'm thankful for my husband who still loves me after 23 years of marriage; although we still sometimes drive each other up the wall.. haha.. anyway, life is designed for companionship, not isolation, for intimacy, not loneliness.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says it all..

⁹Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.
¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ¹¹ Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?
¹² A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

How true!
A triple-braided cord is not easily broken. And that 3rd person is God.

Finally, I'm thankful to God for the Hawaii Marketplace conference, the main highlight of 2009; it has given me goals for 2010 and it has solidify my faith further. Only the supernatural power of God can change the world's problems.


To live a life of purpose, I have to live intentionally.