Get Some REST!…Part 2

July 8, 2015

“…Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT

Family Time…that wonderful life-giving time, that refreshing time of relief, that long-awaited connection time, that time for peace-filled REST, and yes…it is possible!

Get Some REST-Part Two

Rest is defined as relaxation from exertion, relief, or refreshment, calm, a pause…I love this definition because of the word pause…a pause…from exertion…oh yes, relief and refreshment…Family time…Peace-filled REST! Is it possible?

The best way to REST is to look at these activities through the acronym REST…

R-Recreation…E-Entertainment…S-Service…T-Time

Last week, we examined recreation…that wonderful time to recreate and to be refreshed from play and more play…Family Time!

This week, we will look at edifying, encouraging, empowering Entertainment, which helps to create healthy, stress-free, memorable Family Time!

Bill and I discovered that one of the most effective parenting tools was quality Family Entertainment which produced edifying, encouraging, empowering Family Time! And you have the idea! I loved the pics on social media which were posted of children and their families attending the wonderful and meaningful Fourth of July celebrations this year. It was absolutely delightful to see the smiles on the children’s faces, as many of them, for the first time, experienced a parade. The music and the festivities were contagious as they waved their American flags and waved to the people in the procession. A wonderful opportunity to teach children about our nation and the people who have hearts to serve…what a wonderful opportunity to teach children that every gift we receive, every blessing bestowed on us is ultimately because of the generosity of our great Almighty God…He is the Giver of these good gifts.

Entertainment

Entertainment is defined as an event, performance, or activity designed to entertain, to amuse or to divert. We Americans love it! The Entertainment industry is one of the most popular markets, with the forecast value of the industry reaching over 594 billion dollars in the U.S. this year. I don’t think that we are surprised by this statistic as we experience the oversaturation of entertainment opportunities in our daily lives, no matter what age or stage we find ourselves and our families in. Entertainment is a big deal in the lives of our children and our families…And, it can be a positive, beneficial, and fruitful big deal!

When properly managed and balanced, Family Entertainment can create healthy amusement and diversion from the stress-filled lives and schedules which most families experience these days. Family Entertainment gives every member the opportunity to stop the forward motion and to focus on a single shared event or experience. These days of technology, screen-time, and social media challenge even the most determined parents as they attempt to schedule in Family Entertainment…that “single shared event or experience.”

Family Entertainment provides amazing benefits and connection for the family…

Edifying, encouraging, empowering Family Entertainment…

Creates a healthy diversion which serves as relief from stress-filled schedules.
Provides a healthy diversion from tech, screen, and social media.
Creates opportunities for children to learn to focus on and to appreciate the talents and the gifts of others, motivating and inspiring them as well…artists, musicians, actors, dancers, vocalists, athletes, etc…
Introduces the children to their first “entertainment” experiences and gives parents the opportunity to model and to teach children how to “choose” appropriate entertainment.
Teaches, reinforces, and affirms healthy and appropriate behavior…and
Is extremely effective when used to instill Biblical principles through music, movies, books, games, theater performances, sporting events, community events…parades…

Culture Chaos—Controlling the Clutter, the Clatter, and the Chatter

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT

When Bill and I became parents we were certain that we wanted to protect the minds and the hearts of our children from the chaos of foolishness as we became aware of the cultural messages which competed for the hearts of our children. I know that you can identify; you want the same thing for your precious ones! And the truth is that in each generation, parents have the responsibility to protect the minds and to protect the hearts of their precious ones…and the question is…

What are the criteria for controlling the Culture Chaos-the unmanaged and unfiltered messages which bombard our society, making their way into our lives and into our homes…

Fix-Attach-Focus-Think on-Fix Your Thoughts!

We are certain that the family was God’s idea. He loves the family; He adores each family member, each mom and dad, each son, and each daughter. He equips and empowers the family through His Word…through His Son, Yeshua Christ, our Advocate…and through the Helper who was sent to intervene in our lives and to lead us into Truth. And we know that the Word of God is quite clear about what we as parents should do with our minds…in our minds…what we should allow into our minds…into our hearts…and, the Bible is specific with instruction concerning our children as well…

Write His words upon their hearts…

Then you’ll know you’ve done your part…

… “You shall teach them diligently to your children…”Deuteronomy 6:7

… “Guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 7:2, 3

Family Time-Protect the Intellect

As parents, we have the responsibility to determine the foundation, the values, the principles, and the vision, or mission of our individual families…Just as we work to protect our children physically…we also work to nurture and to protect their minds and their intellect…Family Entertainment offers wonderful and creative opportunities by visiting museums, national parks, historic sites, travel…movies…concerts, theatre…So many wonderful opportunities which you already are experiencing with your children…

Family time-Protect the Heart

Bill and I do not pretend to have been experts but, very early in our Family life, we became very sensitive to the Culture Chaos which launched messages at the hearts and the minds of our children and the Entertainment Industry was one of the most prolific messengers. We became aware and intentional about the importance of the choice of Family Entertainment, the movies we watched together, the books we read to them, and the books they read or listened to, the music we listened to, the music they chose…including the artists and the lyrics…

Music, as we know, is a language of the soul…Kathy McClary in A Kid’s Study Guide to Praise, says, “Music is a supernatural force on the earth. It has the power to transform the heart and the mind.”

We were, just as you are, aware of the incredible opportunities which the Entertainment arts can provide for intellectual development…for art appreciation in all arenas…But even more important…more significant…more consequential…more eternal…

Excellent and Worthy of Praise-Protect the Heart…

Write His words upon their hearts…

Then you’ll know you’ve done your part…

… “You shall teach them diligently to your children…”Deuteronomy 6:7

I am so thankful that our loving Almighty and Wonderful Father stirs the hearts of parents…His Spirit gently nudges…sometimes shoves us…The Truth of His Word captivates us and compels us to apply Biblical principles in every aspect of our lives…and in the life of our family…and specifically, in how we parent…how we, as a family, choose entertainment.

God’s Word is a filter for everything…for music, for movies, for books, magazines…for television shows, for social media…The BEST Family Entertainment enables us to model and to teach what God’s heart and His desire is for His children, His people…and why He wants to protect our hearts and our minds from the Culture Chaos which can distort the Truth about God and His love and His BEST for us.

The BEST Family Entertainment asks and answers the questions:

Is it edifying, encouraging, empowering?

Is it enjoyable and/or educational? Will it “connect” family members?

Is it filtered by God’s directives, His instructions…His Truth?

Family Time-His Wisdom Works…

As Bill and I navigated our parenting journey and made choices about Family Entertainment, we laughed a lot as we participated in fun times, but we also carefully chose how to navigate “real life” with our children. We utilized selected movies and real life experiences as teaching tools during Family Entertainment. And when we had a “surprise encounter with real life”, (it happens to all parents) we stopped and discussed it immediately…Or, addressed it in the car when we drove home if we had been in a movie theater.

I remember the amazing family dialogue we experienced as we viewed the movie, Forrest Gump. Not all of our children’s friends were allowed to see the movie. Some of their friends watched it with peers, absent of parental input. But for our family, very profound information was shared and discussed, filtered by God’s directives and instructions, as we viewed the movie together and we explained God’s heart and desire for His BEST for His children.

Parents know their children. Families are unique and I love and appreciate how God’s Word is big enough and wise enough to empower and to equip every family and their own unique children.…His Wisdom Works!

One of the BEST Summer-Family Time Entertainment events occurred yesterday at Lake Hills Church as Pastor Mac delivered the beautiful message of the Gospel…of the Love and the Heart of our Savior, as he utilized the Christmas movie ELF…And laughter erupted in the Worship Center at the silliness of Will Ferrell! Yes, it was Christmas in July at LHC, and in the hearts of the people who attended. The message was filtered through the Word of God and several people entered into a brand new life with Jesus Christ, raising their hands to commemorate their decision…Family Time-His Wisdom Works…

One Final Thing…

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing…”Philippians 4:8 NLT

May I encourage you to march on this summer…Be intentional to protect the intellect of your children in your Family Entertainment, but even more crucial…be intentional to protect their minds and their hearts…and precious moms, dads, grands…allow God to protect your own minds and your hearts…because His wisdom works! Fix your thoughts on these things!

Edifying, Encouraging, Empowering Entertainment is possible! And our faithful Father equips and empowers moms, dads, and grands to embrace His BEST…His BEST for the family…because after all, Your Father Knows Best. Family was His idea, and He is running with you!

I am cheering you on and praying for your Abundant Joy,