Run With Horses

To Spank or Not to Spank, That is the Question of the Day!

Keep up with the news and ask your questions at www.runwithhorses.net
Today's Listener Question:"I have a question! This is related, I believe, to all three areas of your podcast, Biblical Discipleship, a Healthy Marriage, and a Godly Family. What do you believe the Bible says about spankings, both in the Old and New Testaments? Should we or shouldn't we based on what we read in the Scriptures? At my stage in life, I do not think I need to ponder how, though I am wondering if we should and what are the implications (theological, mental, cultural) of physical discipline of one's children. What are your thoughts?" - from email
corporal punishment -noun: punishment that involves hitting someone : physical punishment
A corporal punishment or a physical punishment is a punishment which is intended to cause physical pain to a person.  - No! No! No!
Problems: 1. Punishment – this is not a biblical goal for parents. Punishment does not equal correction. Many people equate the two, Do NOT punish your children!2. Intended to cause pain – again, this is not the purpose or intention of any biblical parent! The purpose of biblical parenting is shepherding a child’s heart toward Jesus. For example, the slight emotional pain of being deprived of a toy only helps with focus and communicating the seriousness of the correction, the purpose is not to cause pain, but to encourage heart change.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends healthy forms of discipline, such as positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviors, limit setting, redirecting, and setting future expectations. The AAP recommends that parents do not use spanking, hitting, slapping, threatening, insulting, humiliating, or shaming. - https://www.verywellfamily.com/facts-about-corporal-punishment-1094806, (accessed 12/15/2022)
Criticism of CP:1. It Makes Behavior Worse -can cause aggression in future2. It Is Ineffective – no better than a time out3. It Hurts Relationships – particularly between parent and child4. It Is Linked to Mental Illness – depression, anxiety, etc
“Discipline shouldn't be about controlling kids. Instead, it should be about teaching them to control themselves. As a result, it is best to use strategies that will help your children learn from their mistakes while also cultivating better decision-making skills. “ (cited above)
Proverbs 23:13-14 KJV13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest (discipline) him with the rod, he shall not die.14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Proverbs 13:24 
Proverbs 29:15 
Proverbs 19:18
Proverbs 22:15 
Ephesians 6:4 
Keys to Correction1. Your attitudeYou can NOT correct your child properly if YOU are angry.
2. God’s Word is the Foundation. He is the ultimate judge and one we obey.  Point your child to what God has to say about their behavior, but more importantly, their heart.
3. Child’s attitudeYou are correcting a heart condition. Help your child see their own heart and motives for behavior.Pray with them and for them.
4. Correction should be matched to the child and their needs, there is no universal “method” that works with all children at all stages of their spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical growth. MOST children can probably be corrected without spanking or other physical means most of the time. But it is more difficult, and there are some children who will be almost impossible to reach without serious effort if those tools are removed.
5. Consistency is King. Yes means Yes and No means No. ALL THE TIME! Consistency from an early age means less effort is required later, when children’s rebellion is more difficult to handle. Let your children learn that you always mean what you say while they are young and DO NOT change that. If you must error, err toward Yes. Protect your NO. It has to mean something.
6. If the parents do not agree or have different rules, all parenting for both parents is more challenging than it is supposed to be. Talk about and agree on the rules you will enforce. You weaken your spouses role in the home if you don’t back them up. Kids will play parents off of each other and try to manipulate you. Stick together!
7. Time with your children, playing, talking, working, serving, etc will make parenting easier. The better you know your children the better you are able to shepherd them toward Jesus.

Discipling Your Children PART 3

Moving Tips From The Smith Family!

Moving Tips from Norman and Susan
After 24 years as missionaries, 4 years of prefield and 20 years in Japan, we have had a lot of experience with moving! Here are a few tips and tricks we have picked up on the way.
Make a list – stuff you need to do before leaving
Set short goals – “I will sort/pack until 4 PM today.” Gives you a sense of accomplishment and focused purpose. After that time, you can relax. 
Wear old clothes you hate the final day before leaving. Throw them away instead of taking dirty clothes! If you have other old stuff, wear that, too, so you can toss it along the way. (2-day drive)
Think through your itinerary. (Leave Grandma’s; visit supporting church; drive half-way to AL; drive rest of the way.) Pack stuff deep that you don’t need.
Clean out your car before packing day.
Pack small bags to fit in the car. Remember spaces under seats.
Vacuum-sealed bags are great, but they get heavy fast. Cause suitcase (cartop) get heavy!
Soft bags pack space easier than hard ones (boxes).
Plan your clothes carefully, to be used multi-purposefully (Sunday pants turned travel)
Make sure everyone has stuff to do on long trips. Kindles, audio books, etc.
Have snacks (granola bars, cereal bars, trail mix, thermos of water). Cheaper!
Stopping every 2 hours is better than going longer during stops. You feel better.
Going overseas, have a library card from overseas to borrow e-books. Especially for kids!
If you are stressed, your family will be stressed. Try to find ways to relax together.
If moving from house, if you can sleep elsewhere for even a week before moving, it’s hugely helpful. Don’t cook, either. Order in, eat out, etc, to save Mom’s nerves!
Other people helping is not always helpful.
 

Why Should I Be Good?

December and January is Travel Time for the Smith Family. Back to Japan. Bear with us!Send questions and ideas for shows we can do in the next few weeks, will help a lot. Tell a friend about Run With Horses, we want to be an encouragement to you and to everyone who is serious about following Jesus. 
What is Goodness?“Goodness is virtue and holiness in action. It results in a life characterized by deeds motivated by righteousness and a desire to be a blessing. It’s a moral characteristic of a Spirit-filled person. The Greek word translated “goodness,” is defined as "uprightness of heart and life." It is goodness for the benefit of others, not goodness simply for the sake of being virtuous.” (accessed Dec.9,2022 - https://www.gotquestions.org/fruit-Holy-Spirit-goodness.html)
Mark 10:18 – No one is good except God alone.
Are you good?  Not a chance! But as a Christ-follower you can be a good in the life of someone else as the Spirit of God works in you, You bear spiritual fruit that is not of your own making.
Doing the right thing because it is the right thing. Because it helps someone else.
Why is it important?
The world is looking at you! Friends, Family, co-workers, strangers.One of the things that gives us an opportunity to share Jesus with others is our actions and attitudes. We should want Goodness to mark them clearly. 
The testimony of the church at large is influenced by our actions, attitudes and words. Goodness should mark the life of every believer.  Titus 2:6-8 “ ...encourage the young men to be self-controlled...  set them an example by doing what is good... In your teaching show integrity, ... and soundness of speech ... so that those who oppose you ... have nothing bad to say about us.”
Intentionally considering our actions and desiring that they be good is part of our fight against selfishness. We are self-centered at our core. Goodness is contrary to that self-centered attitude.
It is part of a life of obedience in following Jesus. Gal. 6:10 – Do good to all men, especially those of the household of faith.
God meets the needs of the church family as we practice acts of goodness in community.
As your spiritual fruit is expressed in acts of Goodness that benefit others, your service results in joy in your life that can be found in no other way. 
How do we live it out?
Start with prayer. Ask God to give you spiritual strength and the courage to fight against the natural selfishness and desire to protect yourself.  Our natural desire is to take care of ourselves. Goodness takes care of others.
Fill your mind and heart with the promises and words of God. Recognizing His hand at work in you and around you can give you the confidence in Him to trust Him to take care of you, freeing you to take care of others. Particularly consider how God sees people. Do you have the compassion that Jesus expressed? How do we do Good to those Jesus loves?
Make it a point to spend time each week with people who love Jesus. The church is really important to Him if you haven’t noticed. How can you do Good to them?
Spend time with people who are not like you. It really stretches you to see how others live and think about life. There is no context in which you cannot find Good to do. Look for it. Surrender to it.
In the end, Goodness is the overflow of a heart that is changed by God. You can’t just choose to be Good. You can surrender your life to Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to control your mind, heart and actions resulting in the Goodness of God flowing through you and blessing those around you.
It’s not easy to follow Jesus. But then, He never said that it would be!
 
 

Family Friday: Discipling Your Children PART 2

Discipling Your Children   PART 2 
Why not leave it to the church?
Why should you do it?
They are your responsibility. Proverbs, Eph. 6, examples in Bible (kings/parents’ examples)
You are in the best position to help them. You know them best. -- You are the one spending most time with them (unless you choose differently) -- Beware of who spends more time with them than you do (worldly voices, TV, video    games, friends, unsaved teachers -- You have the most influence in their life while they’re young. Use it wisely, intentionally
You care about them the most. (John 10 – the underling doesn’t care for the sheep like the shepherd)
We are to be making disciples – These are your prime ones!
It aids in your own spiritual growth!
It helps you mature as an adult, to care for your child, invest in them, see potential dangers ahead
Somebody WILL “disciple” your children.

Need Patience Now? : )

Want Patience Now? : )   - Who doesn't!
Recognize the Realities of Life
Life Is Not Fair
It’s Not All About You
You Don’t Always Get What You Want
Money Will Never Solve Your Real Problems
Nothing Lasts Forever In This Lifetime
Positive Mindset
Live in The Now/ Today
You Need to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Learn to Be Flexible
Be Thankful

Excerpt from Simply Pray

Today I read the first chapter of my book on prayer, Simply Pray. If you are interested in purchasing it, it is available on Amazon for $6. There is a kindle version and a paperback  available.
You can also find links at www.runwithhorses.net on the resources page.

Be Thankful - Paul’s Encouragement from Colossians

Colossians is one of my favorite books. Every chapter encourages us to be truly thankful!

Upward Outward Inward

Ten-Gai-Nai (Upward-Outward-Inward)
Ten- Everything starts with God – Joy and Obedience
Luke6:22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 4:4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Romans5:3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
James 1:22-25 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Gai- Our relationship to others is marked by service and evangelism
Service and Evangelism are difficult for us, not natural to the flesh. Trials and suffering can result from a life of service.Trials and persecution lead to endurance and growth in our character.
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
1 Peter 4:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[a] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Matthew 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
 
Nai- We change inside. Character growth and heart change help us view ourselves in light of our Savior.
We have fellowship with God and grow in humility and faith
Our changed lives send us back Out (Gai) with a testimony of God’s grace and work in us.
God works through us to change others. 
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Colossians2:6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Being Thankful in Trials? What?!!

God calls us to be thankful in and for our trials!
How are you doing at keeping your attitude right when life throws you a curve?
God says rejoice, HE is doing something in your struggle.