What makes you do what you do? What drives you? There are so very many things in this life that I will never understand, but recently I’ve thought of some things relating to the church that are puzzling to me.

• Why is it that people are willing and able to meet very early for a “fun” outing, but don’t come to the pre-service prayer meeting because it’s “too early”?
• Why is it that if we go to a musical, drama, concert, or ballgame we want the closest seats to the front that we can possibly get, but the front pews at church are too close?
• Why is it that if we had the opportunity to meet some celebrity or be in their inner circle most would jump at the chance, yet when given the opportunity to pray during a preaching service and join that inner circle, there are few names on the list?
• Why is it that we can keep our kids up late for a variety of outings and events and know that they’ll catch up on their sleep, yet fear that taking them to revival on a school night will be harmful to them?
• Why is it that we can find time for the computer and email, yet struggle to find time to get into God’s Word?

Please understand my heart, I am not trying to come off as “preachy” or legalistic, but these are questions I also ask myself. My own heart wants its way, and I have to fight to do what is right. When we do fight our flesh with God’s strength, and honor the Lord in these areas we are blessed. We can say with Paul, The love of Christ constrains me.” (II Cor. 5:14) Because we love Him we do these things.

Are we showing Him our love?

Whenever I see a picture of the guards in London with their tall plumed hats, white gloved hands, standing as straight and tall as the gun they’re holding, I think of Psalm 141:3. The verse says,

The idea here is that the psalmist is asking the Lord to put a guard there before his mouth. I imagine the sentinel standing outside my mouth ready to attack and get rid of anything I would say that would not be fitting; something that would be considered sin. But what are those things that should be “guarded”? How do I know what I should say?
Here are a few questions to ask ourselves before we speak:

1. Is it true?
2. Is it necessary? (Just because something is true doesn’t necessarily mean we should say it!)
3. Is it kind?
4. Do I need to say it now?

The psalmist’s prayer should be our prayer. May we be ever mindful of the Guard standing at the door listening to the words we speak!

The other day I overheard Allison’s English teacher giving a quiz. She asked the students to name a demonstrative determiner. I knew what she was asking for, but thought, “Many mothers would probably name their pre-school child!”

Children come with an automatic desire and determination to have their way (it’s called an old sin nature!) and if they don’t get it they throw a fit. The parents have to make a decision right then and there what they’re going to do about it. If a choice is made to ignore the temper tantrum it will continue until the volume hits decibels unknown to any operatic soprano! The child knows how far they can push Mommy and they will go all the way to that level to achieve the desired result – getting what they want.

On the other hand, however, when the tantrum starts, if the parent gets down on the child’s eye level and speaks to them in a quiet but firm tone, the little determiner will know that he has your attention. Give them the result that will “fall” if the tantrum doesn’t stop, and then follow through! You may have to go through this scenario many times before your child stops this behavior, but you will reap in the future. Stay at it…the discipline and time you pour into your “demonstrative determiner” will also bear more than what you sow.

By the way, the demonstrative determiners are: this, that, these, and those. Who knows, you might be asked that on a million dollar quiz show!