Some Things Don't Get Old!

Some things don't get old! For instance, sitting and eating dinner with your family with no TV never gets old.  I've done it all my life as a child and now, as an adult, with my wife and kids!  You'll be amazed at how much your respect level from your kids will rise and how much they will say to you!

We eat together about 3 to 5 times per week.  The only way we don’t eat together is if I’m out of town or we have a function to attend.  I’m really talking about eating together at YOUR home at YOUR table at YOUR pace. I didn’t say that you had to cook dinner, although sometimes it would be good! (LOL)

You will notice 3 things will develop.  I used the word “develop” on purpose.  The three things that you will notice will not happen in eating together once a week and it won’t happen by doing this for two weeks then stopping. It will take effort to start eating dinner together.  Most likely everyone is doing his or her own thing, especially if you have kids in high school with their own schedule.   You must be creative in finding time!  The younger the kids the easier it is to do.  The older the kids the more difficult it will be to start.  BUT IT CAN BE DONE! 

It will be awkward at first, but if you stay persistent, one of the best habits you can ever create will develop!

Immediately you will notice that your other family members are facing issues that are important to them, but might not be important to you.  Your spouse and children are dealing with situations, good and bad, that might not be high on priority list but it’s high on theirs.  You and your family should be the ones to listen to each other.  Cause if you aren’t the one to listen, somebody else will listen!

The second thing you will see develop is a chance to have bible study.  Now hold up before you start bringing your bible to the dinner table!  The Word of God is an instruction book on life.  This is a grand opportunity to weave the Word of God in with real life situations.  You may have been trying to start a bible study in your home but it just hasn’t worked.  The reason why it hasn’t worked is because you are trying to make the word of God separate from life.  Jesus taught to thousands but His most effective ministry was one on one with people who were going through a situation at that moment.  You will find yourself in that same situation with your family at the dinner table.  Now instead of saying, “Turn your bibles to” you’ll be able to quote a scripture with or without reference to them and begin to explain how to handle the situation.  And the best part is that the Holy Spirit will help solve issues that are important to you and that are important to each of your family members.  Now before you know it you have what I’d like to call an “Organic bible Study”.  The bible study happened naturally without all the formalities of church. 

The third thing that will develop is a love for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  As the Word of God is used to resolve situations, your family will gain confidence in the Word of God and will want to know more.  The most important thing you can give to your children is access to is learning how to hear God for themselves.  Once you can hear God, you can’t be stopped!

This has been a public service announcement for a dying world!  But I want you to practice this so that neither our children or we will die with it!  There is life in the Word of God and blood of Jesus!

Releasing the Spirit, Provoking Thought, and Causing Increase,

Leroy Thompson, Jr.