Five Minute Family podcast

#Religion #Christianity #Podcasting Education #Kids And Families #Self-Improvement #Clear View Retreat #Good Morning

32:17

Jay is more than just the host of All About Change podcast. He is a lawyer and international activist, who has focused his life’s work on seeking social justice by advocating for the rights of people with disabilities worldwide. On the special episode of All About Change, Mijon Zulu, the managing producer of the "All About Change" podcast, is taking over hosting duties to interview Jay Ruderman about his new book, his activist journey, and why activism is even more important today. Episode Chapters (0:00) intro (02:38) How does one choose a cause to go after? (03:33) Jay’s path to activism (07:50) Practical steps a new activist can take (09:24) Confrontation vs trolling (17:36) Learning from activists operating in different sectors (19:20) Resilience in activism (22:24) Reflections on Find Your Fight and goodbye For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation Stay in touch: X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/ Looking for more insights into the world of activism? Be sure to check out Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight , in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at www.jayruderman.com .…

Five Minute Family

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Your family matters. And, it is in the random minutes throughout the day when you can show just how much you love them. Five Minute Family is a quick five-minute podcast to give you encouragement, ideas, and biblical wisdom to get you motivated to begin investing five minutes a day (that snowball into more and more minutes) to transform your family life.

200 episodes

Five Minute Family

updated about a year ago

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200 episodes

#Religion #Christianity #Podcasting Education #Kids And Families #Self-Improvement #Clear View Retreat #Good Morning

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Five Minute Family

1
Balls 5:02

17 weeks ago5:02

5:02

Good morning, Five Minute Families. We are Jim and Kim Nestle with Clear View Retreat. Thank you for joining us for a new Five Minute devotional after we have taken a month off for multiple family needs. And, it was those family needs that led us to write this week about the idiom “keeping all the balls in the air.” Some of us have too many tasks and obligations going on, and as such, there is no conceivable way to keep juggling numerous balls for an indefinite period of time. Of course, we all have seasons that require more of us than we feel capable of doing. The challenge is often frustrating and satisfying at the same time. We prove to ourselves that we can rise to the challenge of our circumstances, but unless we evaluate which balls need to be let go, even temporarily, we will eventually get to a place of fatigue and burn out. That’s when it feels like all the balls come crashing down. We must never forget that some of life’s tasks, obligations, opportunities, and responsibilities are like glass. If we drop those balls, they will break. Some will only suffer a crack, but others will shatter. And, other of life’s tasks, obligations, opportunities, and responsibilities are like rubber. If we drop those balls, they’ll bounce. They may get out of hand and ricochet, causing a bit of chaos, but the importance and structure of the ball will not change. Our relationship with God, our relationships with our family and close friends, and our health are glass balls. The laundry, cleaning the house, completing our errands, making sure the neighbor is happy with how quickly you got your trash can moved back from the curb, and the like, well, those are rubber balls. As a point of clarification, we must each properly evaluate work. Work can be flexible like a rubber ball, though still fully necessary, or it might be glass for some people. Even if work is a glass ball it is likely tempered glass, it won’t shatter and scatter like the hearts of our children will if let them drop. We five-minute families must rightly apply Scripture in order to not only keep the proper balls in the air but also maximize our individual and family potential. Let’s meditate on these following five verses this week: Mark 8:36-37 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?” We must all not just prioritize our relationship with the Lord but we must also realize that we must keep every part of being and every part of our purpose focused on God’s kingdom. Christ followers must commit entirely to Matthew 22:37-40, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” When we love God, love our neighbors - the closest of whom are our household family members, and love ourselves, then we will see how to handle the tasks, obligations, opportunities, and responsibilities of everyday life. Psalm 90:12 explains that we are “to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” If we do not take the time to properly evaluate the balls we are juggling, we will end up with the tyranny of the massive amount of rubber balls while the glass ones lay shattered all around us. Wisdom helps us to see the impact of time well-spent with our loved ones or in serving in our community. Luke 12:34 expands that with “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” If we are intent on having the nicest house with all the bells and whistles, but we have no one interested in spending time there because we have shown that we value the house more than them, we have revealed where our treasure truly is. When we rightly apply God’s wisdom, we will see the truth in Proverbs 21:21 “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” Life in this verse is not simply referring to the act of breathing and having a beating heart, it is concerning a lively, active, and revived experience. Sometimes, the rubber balls have all been let go and keeping the glass balls in the air seems impossible. This is where we must be open to asking for help. And, if we see someone we know and love who needs help with their juggling, we need to help them. This is what one-anothering is all about. Keep those glass balls in the air, let any of the rubber ones drop that are getting too heavy or too many, and remember to love one another, bear one another’s burdens, and enjoy the abundant life God has for you and for your family. Be blessed!…

Five Minute Family

1
Visual Noise 5:15

23 weeks ago5:15

5:15

Good morning, Five Minute Families. Does someone in your family seem to behave badly - or, maybe, more on edge - when the house is a mess but they can control themselves better when it is neat and clean? Did you know that this inability to self-regulate due to the messiness around them might be due to an overload of visual stimulation? Some folks call this visual noise. Others call it “visual bombardment” or a “cacophony of images.” You know, my dad and sister and I had different definitions of clean. To them, once the visual noise of the clutter of the horizontal surfaces (such as table and countertops) were clear, then the room qualified as clean and they could relax. But, it was the dirt underneath that drove me even crazier. At points in life when I had the time and energy, clearing and cleaning could happen at the same time, so that the visual noise of the dust and dirt didn’t bother me, but as more children and less good health happened in my life, I found that I would simply leave the messy to cover the dirty and then nothing got done. Of course, that just made things worse because everywhere I turned, there was more mess and more dirt to tackle. Just like auditory sounds can become overwhelming, visual stimuli can cause a person to feel uncomfortable and distracted, which can lead to them shutting down - mentally, physically, or emotionally. Some people become hyperactive and begin running on adrenaline. Visual noise can cause people to be less productive, angrier, and less self-controlled. So, no matter if a person enters into a flight, fight, or freeze response, we must understand that visual noise can be a trigger. So, how can a five-minute family be mindful and sensitive to the needs of those in their homes who are experiencing visual overload? First, try check the lighting in your home. If you can’t afford a new light fixture installed, then head to the second hand store and buy a cheap lamp. Or, move certain activities into better lighting. Also, remember to adjust the lighting down as the sun goes down to mimic natural lighting responses in the body. Interestingly, as we see that light is good in Genesis 1:3-4 -- “Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness,” we must remember that proper lighting can help control the visual burden someone may be experiencing. Second, evaluate the decorations you have in your home, or at least, the most used space by the person who experiences visual noise issues. When there is too much going on with color changes, table top displays, wall paper or accent walls, curtains, you get the idea, visually noise-sensitive folks will get even less done during activities in those spaces. Interestingly, one study of an elementary classroom found that “In terms of learning and memorization, the correctness of the children’s answers to the test questions was higher in [a] low-stimulus classroom (55% correct) [when compared to a] stimulus-rich classroom (42% correct).” For those of you out there who may struggle with getting rid of things, including gifts from loved ones, remember to value the family members more than your possessions. As Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Third, clear at least one wall in each space if you have someone in the family who overwhelms easily or often. Position his or her chair for meals toward the clear wall, or position his or her favorite reading chair toward a clear wall. This may seem “extra”, but Galatians 6:2 reminds us to "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ." Fourth, try to define spaces with furniture if you can so that organization is easier. Now, we are not talking about practicing Feng Shui here, but know that setting up a comfortable spacious room has benefits both physically and visually as we are discussing. As Deuteronomy 28:6 encourages, “blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out,” so set up your space as a blessing. And, fifth, get some containers… whether it is plastic tubs, banker’s boxes, covered diaper boxes - yes, covered so that the print on the box isn’t a distraction. Get the details of the organization of your home hammered out. Meditate on 1 Corinthians 14:40 “But all things should be done decently and in order.” Remember, five-minute family, that “Visual noise divides our attention and reduces the ability to self-regulate.” We know that children are better able to learn complex skills and concepts when the environment that are in is less distracting, so give your family the best chance at reaching their God-given potential by spending time thinking about visual noise and how to control it. Thank you for joining us and be blessed!…

Five Minute Family

1
False Confidence 5:30

24 weeks ago5:30

5:30

Good morning five minute families. In our Sunday school lesson this week we were discussing the Old Testament families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Throughout the Bible those names are repeated, even into the New Testament. Let’s explore one of the many lessons that come from those names and their family dynamics. If I was planning a story that highlighted good family dynamics, I would not have written it like the biblical narrative. But God! The depth of God's word in showing who He is and who we are is amazing. God, creator and sustainer, made us in His image. We have talked about that. We have, unfortunately, distorted that image with our fallen nature. Yet God planned, even from the beginning, to help us in our depravity. Let’s pick up the story with Esau, and although he is not one of the three names highlighted, he is a pivotal part of God’s story. You can find this story in Genesis starting in chapter 25. A quick background: Rebekah is the wife of Isaac who was pregnant with two children, and as the Bible says, two nations. Esau was born first with Jacob right behind him holding Esau’s heel. Fast forward several years. Esau, being the first born, traditionally would have the birthright that would guarantee his inheritance of his father's possessions and authority. We have heard it taught that Esau didn’t care about that birthright and in fact demonstrated this by giving it to Jacob for a bowl of stew. That was the agreement between brothers. But it really took manipulation and treachery to actually pull the blessing from Isaac to Jacob, not Esau. What God revealed to Jim in our Bible lesson was that maybe Esau did care for his birthright and was instead blindly showing his false confidence in that no matter what just transpired with the bowl of stew he would still receive Isaac’s blessing because he had favor with his father. What can we learn as a family about the false confidence of Esau and how his story intersects with our lives? This lesson will take a lot of self-examination and soul searching and we suggest looking into these aspects of family life: Are we relying on the faith of our father, mother, brother, sister? I have heard many people say “grandma took me to church and I heard many of the stories, but now I live a good life and know that because grandma is praying for me, I am ok.” Our family of origin, even if it has a strong faith history, will not carry us into a relationship with Jesus as savior. We see in Ezekiel 18 that God rightly judges individuals and does not connect them positively or negatively with their family members. Much like our family of origin, our nurture - that is the surroundings we grew up in, learned from, and often imitated - can lead us down wrong paths that give us both positive and negative levels of confidence. We can see an example of how Timothy was nurtured spiritually by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois. He was trained to know and honor the Lord. But he did not stop there, and through mentoring and discipleship he learned more about God and was able to disciple others like himself. Thankfully he did not rely only on their teachings. Looking back at the Esau narrative, we can see that he wasn’t prepared. He relied more on his performance and lived in the praise of his father overseeing everything that was happening around him. Life surrounds us and satan prowls around like a hungry lion looking at who he can devour. We must prepare for whatever may come our way and be intentional in our relationship with God and the discipleship of our families. To dig deeper, we can even see that our very genetic makeup influences our beliefs and behaviors. Are there certain ways your parents relate, and although they did not teach you those techniques, you find yourself mirroring them? We see this in the patriarch stories with the example of Abraham lying about his wife being his sister, and later Isaac repeating that same situation. I don’t think that was taught behavior but somehow it was a repeated family trait. Genetic? Possibly. Characteristics of a specific family? Definitely. This can be a challenge to explore as a family with many difficult eye opening revelations, but with the right intention, it can be a rewarding adventure. And finally, where does your family gain confidence? Our hope and confidence is on the sovereignty of God. His goodness and mercy have followed us all the days of our lives as we seek to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. We see in John 10:29, “My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” Do you and your family know the hope of salvation Jesus brings? Are there areas we can all grow and learn? of course. But God is rich in his mercy towards us and reaches out to provide His grace for all our needs. Families, seek His grace and learn from Him for He is good! Be blessed.…

Five Minute Family

1
Older Women 4:57

25 weeks ago4:57

4:57

Good morning, five minute families. This past Sunday our pastor preached out of Titus 2. He focused on the fact that we all have a role to play in church. We aren’t characters acting out our parts. We are God’s children each functioning in the way God created in this life. Jim was teasing me after church about my being in the older women (or, as the KJV words it, “aged women” category). Our son’s girlfriend admonished Jim to stop, but I told her that just like I wear my gray and silver hair with pride, I am ok with claiming that I am, indeed, now an “aged woman.” So, when I couldn’t decide what to write this week for us to discuss, Jim suggested we focus on the older woman’s role from Titus 2 in our biblical community. From the Christian Standard Bible, Titus 2:3-5 reads, “In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.” Let’s break down those parts and discuss them in greater detail. The first is that we older women are to be reverent in behavior. I started thinking, what does it really mean to be reverent in behavior? Some other translations state it as “behave as those who love the Lord should.” The DRA translation which is over 100 years old and was translated in a literal manner for accuracy words it as being “in holy attire.” Attire is typically a more formal clothing; older women are to be clothed in holiness as Colossians 3:12-14 details, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” The second behavior we older women are to focus on is to not be slanderers. That isn’t a word used often in our society today. So, in other words, we older women must not say bad things about other people; we should not gossip. The KJV says we must not be “malicious gossips.” We must apply Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips,” so that we never falsely accuse someone. The third behavior detailed in this is for older women to be “not slaves to excessive drinking.” Now, we aren’t here to discuss whether someone chooses to be a teetotaler or not, but we know based on numerous Scripture that no one is to have the habit of drinking too much alcohol. The tendency toward addiction is weighty, so it is imperative to remember what Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker, beer a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” The fourth behavior listed in verse 3 is to “teach what is good.” Other translations put this as being eager to teach what is good, as our needing to be examples of virtue, teachers of good things, teachers of honesty, and examples of the good life. From Mark 10 verse 18, we know from Jesus himself that “God alone is good,” so to fulfill this behavior we are to teaching about God at every opportunity. We can point back to His word in every day life, we can give Him glory for the good He has done in our lives, and we can study more about Him so that we can practice good works in honor of that gift he gave us through Jesus’s death on the cross. The final behavior comes in verse 4, older women are to encourage younger women. There are specifics listed after that as to what an older woman can focus on in her encouragement, but ultimately, the point is to apply 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." You know, Proverbs 31 describes the example of what a woman should aspire to be in life, but Titus 2 points out how we all have learning and growing to do, and if we share our experiences, we can build up a strong and beautiful biblical community. An older woman in God’s community is to be reverent, sincere, and honorable, so that all the other roles in the community can receive her encouragement. Thank you for joining us today. Be blessed!…

Five Minute Family

1
Family Activities 4:53

28 weeks ago4:53

4:53

Good morning, Five Minute Families. What does your family do on a Sunday afternoon? On google trending, the most searches on an autumn Sunday afternoon center around professional football teams and their players. Have you ever thought about what you search for as a family? Do you search for acceptance? Do you seek fun? Do you desire peace and quiet? Stop for a moment and ponder that question… What does my family search for? Some families go home and each go their separate ways… some to be on their devices, some to get some household tasks completed, some to rest for a wonderful Sunday nap. We need to search for opportunities to build our family identity instead. We need to search for activities that will build good values in our children and strengthen them in ourselves. If we play a game, no one is allowed to cheat. If we can afford to go out to eat, everyone is polite and respectful to the staff. If we have some vegging time, we set boundaries to develop our brains wisely and in a balanced way. We need to search for activities that instill a sense of belonging. You know, I recently felt very left out of something, and it hurt me a lot. I had to work through how God would want me to handle that. I am still not fully certain, but I know that running and hiding isn’t an option. You see, adults have a tendency to retreat into themselves. Children, on the other hand, will often behave badly to get any type of reaction from their parents because it is better than being ignored. We are created for relationship, so as a family, we have to be aware of each individual and their needs. Some need extra time and specific invitations to feel included; others will tag along to everything without thought or care. Some of us want group conversations and activities, and others of us want more one-on-one conversations. We need to search out activities that build our dreams or help us create the dreams themselves. Working toward a goal together is beautiful. We learn new skills together. We overcome adversity together. We feel accomplished together. And, sometimes our intentional activities - which might be as simple as a guided discussion - will allow us to continue to build new dreams and make new goals, and in all of that we get to continue to support one another, as the Bible calls us to. We need to search for activities that help us feel protected. No family should choose an activity that creates such a level of anxiety or negativity that an individual is left without a way to cope with the outcome. For example, some families might love to have the experience of jumping out of an airplane together, but one member may feel so anxious about it, that they shut down. The family might opt for rock climbing at an indoor climb space first (or for a while) to help the anxious family member do something a bit more daring than normal but not quite jumping out of an airplane - yet. And, we need to search for activities that help us cope positively with the stress of this world we live in. As a family, we want to build one another up and challenge one another. This could mean that your family chooses an afternoon hike or bike ride. A simple walk will do, especially if someone in the family is facing a medical or physical challenge. This could mean asking for or offering help with an upcoming homework or work assignment. When I was tutoring science, gathering all of the random household items for my experiments was stressful, but when I engaged my kids in the search, I got to answer questions that help fill in the holes I didn’t even realize I had in the experiment, or it taught them something new while they contributed to our family life. Of course, there are hundreds and hundreds of activities that families can do together, but no matter what your family is participating in, make sure that you have thought through the purpose - it can be about simple fun and laughs; or it can be about a very important lesson that needs to be taught. Thank you for joining us today. And, do contemplate the question: what does my family search for? We want to let you know that if you are facing the upcoming holidays for the first time since the death of a loved one, Clear View Retreat has partnered with local groups in the Wartburg, Tennessee, area to host a ‘Grief Through the Holidays’ seminar on November 9, 2024. Please go to our website clearviewretreat.org and click on the upcoming events tab for more information. Be blessed!…

Five Minute Family

1
Staying Connected 5:00

29 weeks ago5:00

5:00

Good morning, Five Minute Families. How has life been coming at you lately? Has it been a quiet breeze filled with sunny moments? Or, maybe you are in the midst of the greatest storm of your life where it feels that everything is getting tossed around and the anchor trees lifted? Whatever your circumstances in life, God wants your family to experience His peace that passes all understanding. How can a family do that in both the norms and storms of life? Our desire with this devotion is to help your family grow closer to God and encourage the relationships He has established in your homes. By starting with just five minutes, we pray that your time blossoms into a beautiful bouquet of family blessings. We know God is good at gathering a bountiful harvest from the time when we focus on Him. First, practice the spiritual disciplines - both together and individually. Whether life is good or difficult, we need to be practicing the spiritual disciplines to make sure we are staying connected to our Lord and Savior. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the spiritual disciplines they include worship, bible study, service, and fellowship as well as prayer, meditation, and gratitude. Some folks will break them out further, but you get the idea. We need to be in God’s Word daily and challenge ourselves and one another to keep our focus on the kingdom of God and not the changing circumstances of this earthly life. Second, keep the lines of communication open in both the good and the bad times. All too often, when we are stressed, we shut down. We sometimes assume our family members even know what we are thinking, and sometimes they might be right, but too many times, they do not understand, and the hurts can pile up. So, no matter what life is throwing at you - all the good, all the bad, or a random mix - be sure to keep having family discussions and listening well to one another. And, remember, do not just talk AT one another, but speak for clarity and listen to understand, not just to respond and say your own next point. Third, plan family time together. It doesn’t have to be an amusement park; it can be a simple walk in the woods. The goal is to be together and focus on one another. If life is going well, we too often let it tumble along without any intentional time together. Thus, when things aren’t going so great, we either try to force family time or we continue to ignore it all together. So, whether in the norms or storms of life, make time for one another on a regular basis. We know some families that have weekly family fun nights, monthly family fun days, and annual family get-aways. You don’t have to be so organized as all that, but we must all put in the effort to let our families know they matter. Be intentional! Fourth, give each other space as needed. This element of staying connected as a family can be tricky, but the reality is that some family members need more alone time than others. If you are a cuddler who wants to spend every possible moment together and your child is a non-hugger who can spend hours reading a book without speaking to anyone, you two have to find a way to connect AND give each other the necessary space. It can be that while reading, you sit together on the couch, though maybe not touching for most of the time. Sometimes, non-huggers will need to hug and sometimes cuddlers will have to refrain from hugging. Each family will have to find the balance that works for your own home. And, our final suggestion for today is to do household tasks together as well. It might not work to have everyone clean the tiny kitchen together, but everyone can work on the household tasks at the same time and then either come back together to have some fun or go on about the everyday needs of your schedule. One family had a two-hour block for every Saturday morning. Each member of the family had tasks to do to help reset the home for the upcoming week. The children complained like crazy but quickly learned the value of getting it done and getting it done together. They could see that everyone contributed - age-appropriately, of course. Family life is beautiful - and hard. Family life is where we can drop our masks and be ourselves - and be challenged to become the best versions of ourselves as well. No matter what family life looks like for you today, whether it is just husband and wife, or you are in the newborn/toddler phase, or if you are launching your teenagers into greater independence, no matter what, staying connected as a family takes intentionality and commitment. We do thank you for joining us today. Be blessed!…

Five Minute Family

1
Conflict Resolution 4:51

33 weeks ago4:51

4:51

Good morning, Five Minute Families. We are happy to be with you today. We are Jim and Kim Nestle with Clear View Retreat. More than twenty years ago, God sparked a vision in our minds for family unity. As the years rolled by, Clear View Retreat was born to help families learn to draw closer to one another within the family unit and within their biblical community. But, since we are not all the same, responding as robots, having the same likes and dislikes, and since we live in a sinful, fallen world and where we often let the weight of our circumstances control our behavior, conflict sometimes happens. How does your family or biblical community handle conflict when it occurs? Let me share a wonderful example of Christian reconciliation. Some background first… One woman had been helping out with a group of kids, and one kiddo had required more direction and redirection than most of the others in the group. At the end of an especially stressful day, she was again overseeing this group of kiddos. The child behaved as children do, but nothing over-the-top or defiant, but because of the woman’s legitimately bad day, she - in one quick statement - fussed at the kiddo more harshly than she should have. A family member of the child was present. Fast forward to the end of the event, the family member sought out the stressed woman, and kindly shared that in that frustrated moment she had been angry for her family member because the reprimand happened in a moment when it was not deserved. But, that she knew the stressed woman did not mean harm and that she also saw how the stressed woman immediately regretted her words and changed her own attitude. The two women took time for complete honesty and transparency and they not only got to a place of reconciliation but also greater connection. Why do I know this story? Because I was present for the frustrated comment, and after the two women spoke, the stressed lady came over to apologize to everyone who had witnessed her frustration with the child. Why? She wanted to accept full responsibility for her actions. She was sorrowful and repentant. Biblical communities need to be able to speak openly about hurts and frustrations. The reason the story Kim shared is compelling is because of how well it represented how God tells us to address conflict within our relationships. Here are five of the many verses we need to pour over and commit to memory in order to have deeper, more abiding relationships: Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. Matthew 5:23-24 “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Hebrews 12:14 “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” You know, it’s like we have always told our children, please come to us when you mess up. Will we be mad? Possibly. Will we react badly for a brief moment? Maybe. But, we are always open and want to help our kids strategize how to fix their own messes or to help them get the help they need. Grace, mercy, and forgiveness were not free. Christ paid the ultimate price for our reconciliation with the Lord. Grace, mercy, and forgiveness are not easy in our human relationships, but if we keep in mind the price Jesus paid and the options we have for abundant living now on earth as well as for eternity with the Father, we need to practice God’s reconciliation plan. Be blessed!…

Five Minute Family

1
Win or Learn 4:59

34 weeks ago4:59

4:59

Good morning, Five Minute Families. It’s good to be with you again today. It’s almost fall here where we are, and many sports, especially American football, will be starting back. Some coaches will say, “it isn’t about winning or losing, it is how you play the game.” Now, really competitive folks don’t typically like that saying too much. Everyone loves the feeling of working hard and winning! Maybe, for everyday life in general, you have heard the saying, “Well, sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose?” Whether it is actual sports or actual life moments, today let’s think about the twist on that by John Maxwell, “Sometimes you win; sometimes you learn.” The reality is that “we live in a sinful, fallen world, and sometimes that world falls on us,” as Robert Kellemen says. As a family, sometimes the world falls on us, and we have a choice in difficult family times. Are we going to win, learn, or lose? As the explanations for Maxwell’s book Sometimes You Win; Sometimes You Learn describe, any setback whether it is a game loss, a bad grade, a botched audition, a job loss, or something less, can be seen as a step forward when we possess the right tools to turn that loss into a gain of knowledge.” So, how can a five-minute family learn when situations are, or feel like, a loss: Get back up. Proverbs 24:16 says, “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” We must choose to get back up - for the sake of our family, for the sake of our community, for the sake of ourselves, and for the sake of God. He saved us from eternal damnation. This world will try to beat you down, but in honor of God and in support of one another, we must each be willing to reengage in the daily battles that will happen. Evaluate what happened. 1 Corinthians 10:11 reminds us, “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” As Mr. Maxwell points out, “experience isn't the best teacher--evaluated experience is.” It might be hard to talk about what happened as a family, but if we are not willing to evaluate the loss (or perceived loss), we may harbor resentment, false beliefs, or other toxic responses. Check your emotions. When James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing,” James is not meaning that we have to feel happy about the loss or struggle we are in. God does mean for us to realize that we cannot let our emotions control our next steps. We must acknowledge the emotions so that we can deal with them in healthy ways. Be honest. Again in James, this time in chapter 3 verse 2, we read, “For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.” Let’s not try to “spin” a loss as a win. We need to fully grasp what we need to learn from the loss, or not full win, so that we can grow closer to one another and to God. And, last, trust God in the process. So much of our earthly norms and storms come down to Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Practically speaking, as family, try to keep a log, whether in a journal or on the cloud, of all the times, a situation felt like a loss - or, at least, it didn’t feel like a win, and review what God did in the long run. Many of us have a story about a prayer that they prayed and God said no; then, as time marched on, they could see why God did not give them what they asked for then. Share those stories with one another - if they are age appropriate, of course, and remind one another of God’s ultimate plan of victory over death. God is good. All the time. We forget that way too often in the learning moments. Take time today to commit as a family to use every opportunity in life to grow closer to one another and to God. Thank you for joining us here at the Five Minute Family. We’d love to have you share your thoughts on family life. Feel free to reach out to us on social media or via our email at cvr@clearviewreat.org. Be blessed!…

Five Minute Family

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Discipline (especially with devices) 5:02

35 weeks ago5:02

5:02

Good morning, Five Minute Families. What do you do when you as a family are not motivated to do something you know you need to do? Let’s use this following example today. Everybody in the family has experienced frustration with another family member’s device use. Everyone has agreed that each person’s behavior needs to change in some way (some more than others, most likely). Discussions have been held and promises have been made, but the reality of making the change sets in and everyone in the family still chases the next dopamine hit that their device gives their brain, and no real change occurs. Being motivated to change something or set a goal in the family is far different than exercising the discipline needed to execute the change. Motivation is the desire to do something. But discipline is actually doing something that must be or should be done - whether you desire doing it right then or not. Hold tight to Hebrews 12:11 during any time of family discipline changes, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Begin by discussing and listing out each family member’s strengths and weaknesses. Do you have a morning person, a night owl, an organized person, a spontaneous person? You get the idea. God put your family together, whether through biology, adoption, or marriage, you are each a part of this unique family unit. Use each other strengths’ to your family’s advantage. If your family has a habit of everyone grabbing their phone or tablet right after they wake up, have the early riser in the family make breakfast (or set out the cereal), have all the curtains open and the lights one. When another family member awakens, they are greeted with a hardy and enthusiastic “good morning” and maybe a gentle reminder to put down the device if needed. Your spontaneous person can invite everyone outside for a walk or to the table for a board game. You get the idea. Make preparations for the changes. To continue our device usage example, BEFORE the day of device change happening, you need to see if certain family members need to have apps installed that block usage during certain hours of the day. Maybe someone else needs to have a reward structure set up to see the changes in a visual. Kids especially will respond to sticker systems that allow them to earn stickers on a sheet that can then be turned in for device time or that can be turned in for cash or some other reward. Remember, parents, the reward must be something motivating to the individual person. The same reward will likely not work for all the children in the family. Maybe, your family needs to set up an alarm on each device, or a wi-fi cut off time for the entire household. Those preparations tie into this point, which is remove temptation wherever you can. Remember to apply James 1:14, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” If you remove the device temptation from the nightstand or gathering room by planning a charging area that is away from the bedroom or the main gathering space, each person must think more deeply and longer about choosing to grab his or her device. Along the same lines of preparing for the changes by setting up your space differently or removing temptations, you must also remember to prepare a clear list of goals. If your family is onscreen most of the day, going cold turkey from all devices may prove so daunting, that you all simply give up. Saying in a general way, “hey, we are gonna try to use our devices less this school year” doesn’t set a clear, definable goal. However, if you make a goal of using devices only so many hours per day, or a goal of no more “morning ‘til night device days,” then you give yourselves more options to adjust. Our society is full of technology; we aren’t going to be able to avoid it all day, every day. Learning how to use the tools wisely will take time. Make sure that once you set your goals, you all devote yourselves to the goals every. single. day. Don’t try to talk one another into a reversion back to old ways “just for today.” You will be sabotaging your entire family goal if you do so. As Proverbs 14:23 illustrates, “There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk leads only to poverty.” Meaning, that if we put in the hard work for our families, we will build a rich, beautiful family life. May God bless your endeavors to deepen your family connection, whether you need to work on device time, communication skills, family devotions, or something else. Please let us know if we can be of any help in your efforts. Be blessed!…

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Intentional Intimacy 4:58

36 weeks ago4:58

4:58

Good morning, Five Minute Families. We are Jim and Kim Nestle with Clear View Retreat. Many of you have heard us discuss the concept of “intentional intimacy,” which is one of the guiding principles we promote at our retreats. Intentional means being purposeful in our actions. And intimacy is having familiarity or closeness with someone. Here at CVR, we define our key concept ‘intentional intimacy’ as “the passion and desire to pursue being known and to know another deeply for the glory of God.” Let’s break that down today. Not all relationships will have marital levels of passion and desire, but because we all are designed to be in relationship with others, we will have passion and desire to seek out connection with others. We all hope for and have a driving need to feel connected to other people. Extroverts seek connection with more folks than introverts do, but we can never forget that everyone created in the image of God is created with His passion and desire for relationship. John 15:13 reminds us that “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” If we want to be in good solid relationships, we must allow ourselves to have the passion and desire for the pursuit of the relationship. Ah, the pursuit. The next part of our definition for intentional intimacy is “to pursue being known.” This may seem odd that we need to pursue being known, but we do. We must intentionally choose to share our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. We must be willing to be our authentic selves. Relationships fall apart when someone isn’t willing to share honestly about themselves. The second part of the pursuit is “to know another deeply.” We must focus our passion and desire on getting to know someone else. We cannot simply share about ourselves. We have to have an interest in the other person and actively listen when they discuss their thoughts, feelings, or ideas. To give an illustration of the first three points of ‘intentional intimacy,’ let me tell you about a friend I had. We seemed to have many things in common and got along really well. I invited her to things; I included her in my life. I would ask questions and, believe it or not, actually stop talking to hear her thoughts, ideas, and feelings, but she did not pursue sharing herself, nor did she show any passion or desire to connect. She would respond when it was convenient for her. Eventually, I stopped trying to connect. I had to let my passion and desire for our friendship to grow to stop driving me. I accepted the level on which she shared, and without my passion and desire for connection, we began to only interact when our paths crossed on a happenstance basis. I could not force her into intentional intimacy. Our friendship is different than when it started. We are certainly more like acquaintances now, but accepting where someone else is, is important. Now, let’s think about our motivation. In our definition of ‘intentional intimacy,’ we point out that the relationship is pursued “for the glory.” A lot of people when entering into a new romantic relationship or a new friendship have passion and desire. They want to pursue being known and know another, but their ultimate motivation is for their own glory. When we want a relationship simply for how it makes us feel or what we get out of it, selfishness seeps in. Of course, we all want to be in relationships that feel good, but that cannot be the defining purpose of the relationship. We cannot be in relationship with others for their or for our own glory. Which leads us to our last point, we must choose to be in good and wonderful relationships for the glory OF GOD. He must be the reason that we pursue sharing about ourselves and learning about another. When we choose intentional intimacy for the glory of God, we can accept that some relationships must come to end or must change for the growth of the other person. And, we can accept and celebrate that some relationships are lifetime commitments. At times, those lasting relationships will require us to pray about the waning of our passion or desire as well as hurts or frustrations that happen, but with God, we get to begin to reconnect. Intentional intimacy is a choice. It is an action to be taken over and over again. The beauty is that while it is seems like a whole lot of work, it actually becomes easier and easier - and more beautiful - as we walk with the Lord and desire to bring Him glory through our interactions with others. Remember, five minute families, to align your values and goals with the purpose of your actions. Pursue being known and knowing another for the glory of the Lord. Be blessed!…

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Loved or Tolerated 5:16

37 weeks ago5:16

5:16

Good morning, Five Minute Families. Have you ever felt that those around you are only tolerating you but don’t really love or celebrate you? Do your loved ones or biblical community feel loved by you or simply tolerated by you? Love, acceptance, and tolerance are words that get thrown around and used in a variety of contexts. So today we want to talk about how we can each show someone in our family or biblical community that we love them as God has called us. Matthew 22:39, John 13:34, John 15:12, John 15:17, and Romans 13:8-10 are but five of the many “love one another” verses in the Bible. To be loved is to be accepted and to be invited in. Someone who is simply tolerated is “just there.” The tolerated person is neither good nor bad but also rarely sought. To be simply tolerated indicates a lack of emotional attachment. Someone who is loved is welcomed and sought after. As Christ followers, we need to seek ways to show love. If you find yourself simply tolerating someone else, here are five suggestions to help you move from simple tolerance to love: First, be there when your loved one or friend needs you. It might interrupt your plans sometimes. Someone who is simply tolerated will see that you aren’t there when they need you. Remember Romans 12:13, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Which leads to the second suggestion, take time to be aware of what someone’s needs actually are. For example, someone who is grieving may need help getting their house clean, or they may want you to stay and chat when you bring a meal. Or, they may be struggling with all the people who have been surrounding them and need some time alone. Ask them what they need, and be sincere with your question. Just as Paul encourages us in Romans 15:1-2, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” Third, take an active interest in their life. Don’t just ask how someone is and then quickly move to get to the next task at home or the next person you really want to speak to at church. Realize that each person in front of you is a divine appointment, and you have the chance to extend God’s love through active listening. We all have things going on in our lives, but take to heart Philippians 2:4, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Take the time to intentionally include those around you. Family members, church members, and friends who feel simply tolerated will feel left out, underappreciated, or like they are not part of the team. Hebrews 10:24-25 comes to mind here, “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” It will take time to be intentional about including others you might not initially think about, but the good thing about the age of technology is that you can use it to your advantage. For example, scheduling texts to go out at another time if you are thinking of someone at an odd hour or during your planning time for the event itself. And our final suggestion: if critical thoughts arise, take them captive. Choose to pray briefly and ask God to show you the other person’s perspective. This can be especially hard, but if you have been simply tolerating someone, it is very likely you view something about the person as unfavorable in some way. In Colossians 3:13 we are told to bear with one another. God knows our human hearts and inclinations. If He tells us to bear with one another, we need to work harder to do so because bearing with one another God’s way is not simply tolerating, it requires love as well. Ephesians 4:2 encapsulates that concept best when it says, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, show tolerance for one another in love.” Tolerance in love. If we choose to extend grace and to celebrate with someone when we would have normally simply tolerated them, we show the love of Christ and deepen our own relationship with the other person. If you yourself feel that you are being simply tolerated, look first to make sure you are showing love and not only toleration yourself. Pray and ask God if you need to address this issue to move forward in your relationship or friendship. Then, open the lines of communication and share how you are feeling. Also, be prepared to be specific about the ways that you do not feel loved in this situation. Your family member, church member, or friend is not a mind reader. Thank you for joining us this morning. Be blessed!…

Five Minute Family

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Peter 5 5:14

38 weeks ago5:14

5:14

Good morning Five Minute Families. Has your family ever struggled through the day, the month, the year? Unfortunately, we have all struggled and suffered through life in this fallen world. Is your family prepared for the battles that are all around us? We have discussed, here on the Five Minute Family devotional, on how to prepare our families for times of trouble. Just as the fire drill prepares us to escape a fire, God’s Word prepares us for the fiery arrows of this world. We recently saw how God’s Word prepares us for quality communication in a crisis as we demonstrate concern, commitment, competency, clarity, and confidence. Back in December of ’22 we went through Scripture to see not only how the Israelites were fed, led, watered, taught, and given a steward, but how we are as well. God’s Word is living, breathing, and bringing instruction for every situation we will face as a family. I was motivated to write this from the sermon series our pastor is doing from 1st Peter. In the writing of the apostle Peter we can see that he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to encourage us to always be ready for battle. Beware that the enemy is ready to steal our joy, provide stumbling blocks of temptations, and get our focus off our savior Jesus Christ. So, we must be diligent to stay the course. Peter in the 5th chapter, verses 10 and 11, states: “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” The foundation of these verses is God’s Grace - the God of ALL grace. When we try to operate in life apart from God we are giving up His grace and power; we think we are capable, self-sufficient. “You can do it” is the heart of many self-motivational speeches. God’s grace is extended to us as a gift, available and eternal. It will never fail us or leave us. And, from that foundation, Peter highlights five ways that to encourage your family to be ready in the norms and storms of life. Called. When your phone rings you get excited. Maybe it’s your spouse with wonderful news. Your best friend asking you to share a lunch together. Or, it could be the God of the universe wanting to share with you His eternal glory. That calling is not just our job but our identity. In Christ we bear His name. We receive heavenly backing on our earthly journey. We are known by God and can shine His glory throughout our lives. Perfect. Perfection is not a feeling but a destination. Through the process of sanctification, we learn to put on Christ daily and take off our old selves in response to His love and kindness. The verse I read says, “will Himself perfect.” Christ is our perfect and He is the one doing the perfecting. We do have to let go and let God. Give Him the opportunity, like Kim likes to say, “to show up and show off.” Confirm. Listen to His Word and hear that He is for us and not against us. We will at times doubt the goodness of God, that is normal in our fleshly bodies. But God, in while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We will receive endorsement as we strive to bring Him glory. Verses 1 and 4 in the same chapter reads that we are a “partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,” and will receive the “unfading crown of glory.” A crown is a shining achievement and Christ has confirmed its placement. Strengthen. Our flesh and bones are weak, but as Proverbs states ‘the fear and reverence of the Lord will bring healing and refreshment to our bones.’ Jesus knows our struggle. He knows our weakness. He endured and overcame and He is standing at the right hand of the Father in majesty. His Words are like sweet honey on our lips and encouragement to our souls. It is not the building up ourselves that make us strong but the surrender to God that ultimately brings strength. Establish. We are being set up, brought to a place we may not have dreamed. Taken to an unimaginable existence guided by love, mercy, and grace. God knows exactly where we are and where we are going. Embrace being found and know that the journey is going to be amazing. And, remember that Christ “will Himself” do the work to achieve the goal and bring Himself the glory. Enjoy the ride and believe He will accomplish all that He desires. Thank you for joining us today. Plan a time of family reflection, be it a hike in the woods of God’s creation or a visit to Clear View Retreat for a time of enrichment and renewal. We know God has great plans for you and your family. Be blessed.…

Five Minute Family

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Crisis Communciation 5:15

40 weeks ago5:15

5:15

Good morning, Five Minute Families. Has your family ever faced a crisis? A major medical diagnosis? A death in the family? A financial disaster? No matter what family trouble you may be experiencing, you will find that communication in the crisis is vital to your family identity and vitality. You’ve heard us discuss communication skills before. Having good skills already practiced in and among the family members is important when everything else around you seems to be in chaos. Businesses and organizations will create “Crisis Communication Plans” in order to make sure that everyone in their group understands the problem, works together to resolve the matter, keeps lines of communication open so that everyone is validated in their efforts, establishes and maintains trust, and effectively manages their part of the solution. Families are not businesses, obviously, but we can learn a lot from the research businesses have done in knowing how to rightly apply communication skills when our family is in trouble. Business crisis communication plans include what is referred to as the 5C Model; these five elements are concern, commitment, competency, clarity, and confidence. These five elements “provide a well-organized framework that guarantees communication will be clear, timely, and empathetic.” Not only are the five elements researched and proven effective by secular society, but it turns out they are biblical. Let’s discuss them as we think would apply to a family crisis situation. Concern. Each family member needs to show proper concern for the crisis the family is facing. Obviously, sharing the details and expressing the proper amount of concern must be age-appropriate. As Luke 6:27-28 tells us, “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Commitment. In crisis, we must be mindful to explicitly communicate our commitment to one another as Ruth did to Naomi in the book of Ruth chapter 1 verses 16 and 17, “But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” Competency. In times of trouble, especially if we are experiencing something for the very first time, we need to remember the competency that comes only from the Lord: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” We need to turn to God’s word together in order to be best equipped to face these challenges. Clarity. Likewise, we need to seek and express clarity. In crisis, we need to be doubly sure that we fully understand each other’s thoughts and feelings, and make sure that include each family member in major decisions. Before we move forward, we need to seek clarity as 1 Thessalonians 5:21reminds us, “but test all things. Hold on to what is good.” Confidence. And, last, but not least, we need Confidence. First, we must have confidence in the Lord as Proverbs 3:26 reminds us, “for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.” And we need confidence in the process that God brought us through to follow up on the decision or decisions we have made through prayer and fasting. Hebrews 10:35-36 “So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.” Remembering to discuss BEFORE a crisis what crisis communication looks like is important. In school, we plan, draw, and practice fire drills. Why? The majority of us have never experienced a fire. But, because there is still a risk, we practice dropping low to the ground. We discuss sleeping with our doors closed. We make sure to change the batteries in the detectors every six months. So, just like fire prevention or fire management is important, we must remember that our loved one’s heart in the midst of a crisis is important too. If we already have a plan in place, then we will whether the storm of the crisis much better. Thank you for joining us today. We hope you will check out our website at clearviewretreat.org, and comment on our social media accounts so that we can hear from you. Be blessed!…

Five Minute Family

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Privilege Application 4:52

41 weeks ago4:52

4:52

Good morning, Five Minute Families. A couple of weeks ago we opened our discussion about privilege. We defined it and we gave many examples of the type of privilege we are discussing here. We each need to be more in tune with any “privileged” behavior that can damage our family or biblical community. Awareness about the privileges you enjoy as an individual or family is important because they can be used for good if you have the proper perspective. For a reminder, we are defining ‘privilege’ as having an advantage or opportunity that most other people do not have. But, what does privilege look like within a family unit. Well, here’s one example. The male members of one side of my family had privilege that us girls did not. One of my grandfathers favored his son over his daughters, and that continued as all of us granddaughters knew that our grandfather (and in some measures our grandmother) favored the grandsons. He spent much more time engaged in conversations with them and teaching them things about life. My grandfather helped each of the boys buy their first house. Favoritism and partiality are not the fault of the person receiving them, but we must be careful if we are the one receiving favoritism or partiality. It is a privilege that not everyone experiences. In two parent families, we need to remember the privilege we have - two adults to bounce ideas between, to support one another in the tasks of running the home, to divide labor, and to multiply love. In a single parent home, the sole parent must be consistent, no matter how tired he or she becomes, or deal with the fallout that inconsistency due to lack of time or energy causes. When a child has basic needs to be met, the single parent steps up as best he or she can. Some churches will host single parent car days wherein a mechanic in the congregation works on simple tasks that the single parent often does not have the time to handle. In some communities, helping with yard work is not just for helping the widows. Single parent homes are included, too. We must all help one another. Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Some families in your biblical community have more privilege than others. This is one of the main reasons we believe the Lord tells us repeatedly in His word to have an attitude of one anothering. Of course, He specifically mentions taking care of the orphans, widows, and the poor, but in general we are also to adopt an attitude of watching out for each other. If we do not monitor how privileged we are, we may miss opportunities to minister to one another. I was once in a situation where an organization covered everyone’s expenses of an event. One person who participated said something along the lines of, “everyone here could have paid for themselves but it was nice that the organization covered the expenses.” But, the reality was, that person was speaking from their own financial stability and ability to have disposable income. Just because someone shares an organizational connection with you does not mean they have the same financial stability as you. Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Maybe you are in charge and most everyone does nice things for you. Believe it or not, that does not happen for everyone else around in the organization, job, community, church, small group, or whatever the situation may be. You need to realize the privilege that your position affords you and not make assumptions for those you are over based on your privilege. Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” As Jim and I helped serve a meal one evening with a nonprofit organization that feeds people who are homeless, the director and I spoke about their additional outreach to trafficked victims. I admitted that I would feel lost and unable to be of much help in that area. She shared that she had to thoroughly vet anyone who wanted to get involved in the outreach nights to the ladies in troubling situations. Some volunteers think they are ready simply because they are willing, but they can do more harm than good if they have not realized the privilege that their lives have afforded them. We must rightly apply Romans 15:1, “Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.” Remember, five minute families, acknowledgment of the privilege you may hold is not a liberal or woke concept. It is an acknowledgement of the blessings in your life and your privilege perspective will aid you in being a better Christ-centered servant in His kingdom. Be blessed!…

Five Minute Family

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Privilege 4:55

43 weeks ago4:55