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“A Christmas Meeting”

6 Dec

Last night I was privileged to be a part of  a very important meeting.  The mood was serious and each person at the table had an agenda that they were trying to press. Often the job of the meeting moderator, a job that I fulfilled, is to simply find common ground that everyone at the table can agree on. This is easier said than done but with enough time and energy can typically be achieved. There was a great deal at stake but I think that we came out OK. This was the annual Stalnecker family Christmas meeting.

Each year our family sits down together to plan the weeks in the month of December that lead up to Christmas.  Each person in the family, regardless of age, has an opportunity to share what they would like to do and then, in a very democratic fashion, we vote on our favorites. I am inclined to use Everett’s vote as the “swing” since, as a two year old, he will vote with me every time. For the most part though, we do try to work everyone’s Christmas activities into the agenda for the coming weeks.

While I understand that Christmas is foremost an opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Savior and to lift up God, a fact that we work deliberately to teach our children, this season does present some very unique family activity opportunities.  In an attempt to make the most of these opportunities we have a family meeting so that we are able to enjoy the time together.  Having a meeting accomplishes the following:

1. Everyone in the family has the opportunity to be a part of the planning process and tell what they would like to do.

2. We are able to set specific dates to activities so that time does not pass while we say, “We will do that later.”

3. Laying out a plan gives everyone something to look forward to.

4. We are able to make deliberate, meaningful family memories.

5. Much of the inherent stress of the season is removed because we have a plan.

We must not forget that Christmas is first and foremost about celebrating the birth of our Savior and Redeemer.  I look forward to the many opportunities over the next few weeks that we will have to do exactly that.  I am thankful as well that there will be special opportunities to spend time with my family and make some great memories.

The meeting was tough, and the personalities were tougher, but I am confident that the planning will all pay off in the end.

“Picture Time”

17 Nov

The holidays are a wonderful time of year.  With opportunities to give thanks and celebrate the birth of our Savior, a chance to start fresh in a new year and special family time, there is so much to like.  As with anything else though, there are also a few things that this season brings that, personally, I do not look forward to.

At the top of the, “Things I do not look forward to” list would have to be family picture time.  Typically this comes only once per year, for which I am grateful, and precedes the sending of the Christmas Cards.  I do understand that this is one of those things in life that you must do, but that does not make it any more enjoyable.  This year family picture day came last Monday.  I would have written about it sooner, but it has taken me this long to recover.  As seen in the picture above, when you are a family of six it is not easy getting everyone to smile and look at the camera at the same time not to mention the difficulty of keeping hair in place and clothes looking good.  Were it not for large amounts of hair spray and a heavy dose of bribing, the smaller children with candy and the larger with money, we may have never pulled it off.  Thankfully though, when all was said and done, our Christmas picture will show a happy, smiling, well put together family.  We fell apart on the way back to the car but as far as anyone who only sees us once a year in the annual Christmas photo is concerned, we don’t have a care in the world.

I really am thankful for my family and appreciate the results of a well done Christmas card.  It is fun to look back at previous years and see how the kids have grown. As I was reflecting on all of this I could not help but see a spiritual application.  It is amazing how much effort is put into presenting a picture that depicts our family at its very best.  When we choose a picture to mail to our friends and family it will definitely not be the one above. It will be the one that captures us at our best.

It is amazing how often we do this in our lives.  We all have struggles and difficulties.  We all have times of discouragement and trial and yet we live and act as though it is always “Picture time.”  We work to present an image of ourselves to others that does not accurately reflect what is going on inside.  While I do not think that we need to walk around telling everyone about every trial that we have, it is good to know that we have a Heavenly Father that promises to never leave us or forsake us.  A God that knows every trial that we face and every situation that we are dealing with and wants us to cast our cares upon Him.  I am thankful that He can see past the picture that we present and meet our deepest need.

Remember, God knows you and loves you and wants to have a relationship with you.  He is not interested in the “perfect” you but in the real one.  The one behind the picture.  What a blessing it is to know that we are accepted. Funny faces, dirty clothes, out of place hair and all.

“Family Matters”

26 Jan

How are you using your influence in the lives of the children that God has placed in your life?  When we decide that we are going to influence another generation to live for God, we are making an impact on a world that we may not even be alive to see.

In the midst of one of the great stories of the Bible, the story of David and Goliath, we have an example of some things that we need to teach the children in our lives so that they can be used in a great way for the Lord.  I am glad that Jesse taught his son these truths and pray that we would learn from his example.

What lessons did he teach young David?

I. To have faith in God-I Samuel 17:34-37, 45-46

1.  Faith saves:

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2.  Faith supplies-We must teach our children that they can depend on God to supply their needs.  We will not succeed according to our fortune, friends, fame, feelings, etc.  But according to our faith.

Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

II. To fight for the truth-I Samuel 17:33-36

Jude 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

The fights of life must be met head on.  There is no safe area when fighting the Giants that we must face!

Do our kids know what it is that we value highly enough to fight for?

-Our Savior (Our relationship to Him)

-Our Families (Their spiritual condition, etc.)

III. To finish the race -I Samuel 17:49-51

2Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Let’s determine to use our influence to teach the necessary lessons of faith, fighting and finishing to the children that will one day change the world for the glory of God.

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