LOST

Many families struggle today to keep a sense of identity and purpose. Careers and education require more effort and time and often eat into personal time. Then the things we have in our lives take time to maintain, like that wonderful house that needs the grass cut and bushes trimmed. And it’s almost like parents today have surrendered their family identities to anyone that comes into their lives or the lives of their children because they are over-committed and under-connected.
Let me ask you a question, what makes your family different or unique from the tens of thousands out there? Years ago; Heather and I were walking through a mall when we ran across one of those kiosks that sold family crests. Intrigued we asked to look at what ours was. It was neat to see a icon that might represent our family. Now, it really did not mean much because it was not handed down from generation to generation, but it sparked in me an idea.
From there I started to assess how I am leading my family. Since then I have determined that I would define in my personal/spiritual life, my relationship with my wife and my fatherly position what it means to be a “Schindler”.
So let me challenge you in the same manner. What does it mean to be a….Jones, a Wilson, a Cramer….? Put your last name in there and start the process of determining what that name really means. Filter it through the character choices that person would do, the places they will go, the people they will be influenced by. Create your family values. It will help you more than you know to gain or regain your family identity and help you in the everyday to say “YES” to the best and “NO” to the good.
(3 John 1:4) “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Positive Thinking

When I was growing up I had many experiences that taught me that I was less than I really was. Ironically I was growing in my body and learning more knowledge but belief in myself was shrinking.
I see this in my kids all the time. Both are really young and so they think very highly of themselves, sometimes too much! They think they can do anything, from jumping across from couch to couch to randomly tackling each other with no regards to the outcome. The latest great thought my son has was to show his sister how he could climb up the stairs on the OUTSIDE of the banister. My wife heard our daughter laughing (we both knew that laugh was a bit odd) and she came around the corner only to see Nathan holding on by his little hands 18 feet in the air. Let’s just say we changed his thinking on that matter!
Their little minds tell them they can do or be anything, but somewhere along the line you and me lost that grand thinking. Maybe it was because of a negative experience in which we are now saying “I’ll never do that again” or because of people that told us it could not be done. Nevertheless, we all have to, at some point in our adult life, recapture that possible thinking and remove the shackles of the “impossible”.
By the time I was in college I would walk around with my head hung low all the time until a friend pointed it out and I changed what I did not realize I was doing. I had let years of negativity effect me so much I would show it on the outside.
What thinking to you allow in your life? Is it stinkin’ thinking or positive thinking? The great life Jesus has waiting for you, requires a submitted mind to Him. This will allow your spirit to lead and your head to help.
What decision have you made to change your thinking? Find one of these items and do it this week.

1. Find a plan to control your thoughts.
2. Find a place to think your thoughts.
3. Find a person to stretch your thoughts.
4. Find a purpose to land your thoughts.
5. Find a power to fuel your thoughts.

Philippians 4:7) “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Just for today…I will practice and develop good thinking