What Mom's Can Do

I have been hearing a lot about somebody lately. Their name seems to pop up in conversations, I have been hearing this person mentioned in stories and sermons. But yesterday I heard a brand new take on this young man. And I became rather impressed . . . with his mom!

I'm nearing the end of 2nd Chronicles in my reading and I came across the story of Josiah. Josiah became king of Israel at the age of eight. But before I tell you about Josiah, let me tell you about his father, and his father's father.

Josiah's father was Amon. We can read about what kind of king he was in 2nd Chronicles 33, verse 22.

"33 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD."

Josiah's grandfather wasn't much better. We read about him in Chapter 33, verse 2.

"2 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD."

Things do not go well for you if that is how you are described. But Josiah was different. We read about him in Chapter 34, verse 2.

^"2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."

How could someone turn out like Josiah did when he had such an evil father and grandfather? If we learn by example from our parents, how come Josiah didn't do "evil in the eyes of the LORD?" The answer can be found in a completely different book of the Bible - 2nd Kings.

 The book of Second Kings tells pretty much the same story about Josiah only the 2nd Kings story has some additional information.

"22 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. ² He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left." - 2 Kings 22:1-2

I'm just guessing now but I think Jedidah was a pretty good mom. Do you have a mom like Jedidah? I was blessed with an amazing set of parents but not everyone receives parents like mine. Some kids get maybe one good parent like Josiah. Others don't receive any.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day - a day our nation has set aside to honor our mothers. D0n't just run out a buy mom a card and some flowers. That's nice, but it's not the best we can do. Honor your mother they way Jesus honored His Father. Honor her with your lives. Do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Cards get discarded, flowers fade, but someone's life, if lived like a good mom teaches us, will honor her for the rest of her life.

¹² “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." - Exodus 20:12

"20 My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching." - Proverbs 6:20

^"4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." - Ephesians 6:2

Thanks To You - Richard Marx

Doing What Is Right

People can do the stupidest things. Yet, we can also do the most amazing things. We're weird that way. We do stupid stuff one day and really neat stuff the next. Why is that?

I think we humans should come with an alarm system that will go off whenever we're about to something exceptionally stupid.

WARNING!! WARNING!! Do not put your finger in that fan!! Do not stick your tongue on that frozen flag pole! Do not check to see how much gas there is in the lawn mower by using a lit match to help you see! And my personal favorite, do not drive off without locking the trailer onto the trailer hitch!!

Today I'm going to tell you two short stories to illustrate both extremes of this point about us humans. My first story is really short. It's about Colin Kaepernick. Are you ready? Here it comes.

What were you thinking?!? End of story.

My next story is about a young man named Travis Rudolph. Most people will not recognize that name, but he made a big impression on me this week simply by eating pizza. Oh, and by the way, he is a wide receiver for the Florida State Seminoles. That's him pictured above.

Here's another picture of Mr. Rudolph. He's eating lunch with Bo Paske, an autistic middle school student. Rudolph was visiting the school when he noticed the red-haired boy sitting all by himself at lunch. So Rudolph asked the boy if he could join him and the rest is history. Young Bo is now the most popular kid in school!

We can easily form opinions about each of these football players. I don't know Mr. Rudolph's taste in music, who he's going to vote for in the upcoming election or what size shoes he wears. None of that matters compared to doing what is right in this life and in my opinion, Mr. Travis Rudolph did amazingly well that day. What he did was almost . . . biblical!

^"8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:8-9

One of these two football players has done what was right in the eyes of The Lord. The other, well, we must pray for him. And although there may be problems in this world, we must each chose how to address them without alienating millions. Each of these men acted. One acted righteously.

As you and I walk through this world I pray we would be more like Travis Rudolph. This world needs more people like him. Our actions tell others a lot about who we really are. Are we sending a message to others through our actions that tell them, "Hmm, they must be Christians." Or do we look just like "the world?"Let there be NO doubt who we are and WHOSE we are. May we live OUR lives

 "3To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."- Proverbs 21:3

"8He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8

Courageous - Casting Crowns

FSU Football Player Eats Lunch With Kid Who Has Autism