Message from Dad 3-19-12

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Prv. 22:6

Living amidst a culture that has little regard for God, we believing parents have a responsibility to diligently train our children in the ways of our Lord, then pray for them all the days of their lives.

Below are two short examples of “training”; spiritual insights that Shaun e-mailed to our kids this week.

(NLT)Proverbs 22:13
The lazy person claims, "There's a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!"
I'm on an early flight to Denver and wanted to share this encouraging verse with you. Have you ever heard how F.E.A.R. stops people from being productive and accomplishing the things God has called them to become and to do? Often we get frozen by our fears when False Evidence Appears Real. Common fears include concerns about trying and failing, what other people will think, etc. In this verse there really is no Lion out there. Be sure that only God sets your boundaries and Live Large today!
Love you all. ~Dad


(NLT)Proverbs 22:11
Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.
I'm flying over the Rockies this morning and wanted to share a verse the Lord is messaging into my heart mid flight.
Want to be in a position of tremendous influence? Want the opportunity to change your school, your company, your city, and your world? Let the Spirit clean up your heart and polish your speech, and your sphere of influence will expand dramatically.
Accomplishing this is easier said than done though. A pure heart stems from practicing the presence of God, prayer, service, avoiding "unhealthy" things, careful association, and other spiritual/social disciplines. Gracious speech is more than weaving "church lingo" into your conversations or even just being nice to people. God's grace is His unmerited favor, which meets peoples specific needs and ushers in Truth and Life. THIS is what gracious speech is all about. Ask God to give you insight into peoples needs, and to give you His vision for the abundant life He wants for them and the opportunity to share this with them. Do they need a word of encouragement, a kick in the butt, or perhaps some new ideas or coaching? Develop a clean heart and grace filled speech, then leaders and many others will count you as a true friend.
When I think of my deepest friendships and my richest business relationships, these character traits immediately come to mind. I'm inspired and challenged by each of you to embody these truths.
Love, Dad

Parenting is tricky these days, but with the Lord’s guidance, good mentors and accountability, we can entrust these precious babes and their choices to His hands.

In Him, ~Shaun and Betsy

Pediatric Cardiology 3-12-12

“Do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.” 1Cor. 14:20

Although God desires childlike faith, as the Master Pediatric Cardiologist, God performs intricate surgery to mature our childish hearts. And typically, God’s “surgeries” are the tribulations and sufferings in our lives, allowed and intended by Him to bring us to Christ-like maturity.

When we are “in the cooker”, God exhorts us to mature up!

Paul leads us by example and reasons with us this fact: When he was a child, he talked, thought, and reasoned like a child. But when he matured, he put childish ways behind him.  (1Cor. 13:11)

Paul did not simply ask God for forgiveness for particular sins, but he actively and repeatedly put away, renounced, and casted off his childish ways AMIDST the trials.

And God exhorts us to do the same: “Rid yourselves of every form of malice and slander, all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, filthy language, all deceit, hypocrisy and envy, and all moral filth.” (Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; Jms. 1:21; 1Pet. 2:1)

The question is: How are we doing with the ridding?

1. Do we want the blessings of God, but keep a “safety-net of our comfortable pet sins” just in case we change our minds when it gets tough? 
2. Or are we wholeheartedly consenting to go under the refining and transforming knife of the Master Pediatric Cardiologist?

God promises SUCH incredible blessing and reward for option 2. ~We Cleary’s have signed up for this one. Please join us! He’s coming soon.

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

Name It! 3-6-12

For Your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is 
great.  Ps. 25:11

For His honor, to maintain fellowship, and to live in freedom, we must daily confess our sins.

But rather than merely asking God of forgiveness in a generic manner, we’ve found that there is tremendous power in NAMING IT. Name the sin out loud; verbalize the particular transgression before God.

Example:

When God convicts me of something I’ve said to so-n-so, I am restored when I ask Him for forgiveness.

But… there is POWER, when in asking for forgiveness, when I verbalize exactly what came out of my mouth from which I wish to be cleansed and forgiven.

Physiologically, our brain processes information in a different way when we hear it than when we merely think it. Which in turn makes the whole act of asking for forgiveness “feel” much more concrete; we “feel forgiven”.

Feelings are deceitful, yes, but when we feel forgiven, accepted and treasured, we are much more likely NOT to 1) repeat the offense or 2) repeatedly ask forgiveness for the same offense.

Try it!

Living in His freedom this week,

Shaun and Betsy