Count the Coins - Chrissy Wiles Harrison

Please join me in welcoming Chrissy Wiles Harrison, the main contributor to our new Parent Talk page. Although we may occasionally feature other writers on this page, she will be our featured writer.  

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:7-9 NIV

While pregnant with my firstborn, I took a seasonal job at Toys R Us. I know—the perfect way to jump into motherhood, right? As you can imagine, it was chaos. Not the store—it actually had a nice layout and system in place—but the time of year. Hot new toys plus eager, overwhelmed parents plus Christmas-time busyness equals far less patience all around.

But I’ll never forget one customer and his son. A line formed behind them as they waited in line at my register. And I’m not talking about a normal line. This was a long, giving-me-evil-looks, ready-to-be-checked-out-and-move-on-with-their-lives line.

The man’s son counted out every single coin he had so he could buy his toy. My insides were dying. I was frantic about the entire process. How long would this kid take? Can’t his dad help him? Doesn’t he see this insane line behind them? Do my customers think it’s my fault? Are they going to be upset with me?

Maybe my face showed how I felt, or maybe the dad offered advice to my pregnant-cashier self, but he looked up at me and said something I’ll never forget: “You never miss an opportunity to teach them.”

Suddenly, my mind quieted. What a profound lesson this dad had just taught me and one the Lord reminds me of frequently.

According to an observation floating around the internet, seventy-five percent of all the time a parent will spend with a child is complete by the time they reach twelve. And by the time they turn eighteen, well, ninety percent of parent-child time is already spent (timesfreepress.com).

How much time have I already missed teaching my children—I am often far too busy or worried about other things that I forget the little time we have left. They need to know so many things. Sometimes, I forget I’m the one who must teach all of it to them: respect, manners, and life skills (soooo many life skills). Also that it’s okay to make mistakes and that they are loved.

Most importantly, to teach them about their Savior and how to have a relationship with him. But to lead them to this place, I must stop being so busy or worried about others and let them count the coins.

God told the Israelites to teach their children. Think of some ways you can teach yours to count the coins.

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Chrissy Wiles Harrison is a homeschooling mom who shares her home with four rambunctious boys, one husband, and a small pooch—and loves
every minute of it. 

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Bacon and Cream Cheese Pinwheels

 

 

Directions
1 bag Oscar Myer Crumbled Real Bacon Bits

1 8 ounce Cream Cheese (softened)

2 packs Refrigerated Crescent Rolls

Ingredients
In a small bowl, mix the bacon and cream cheese. Set aside.

Take a crescent roll triangle and place a spoonful of bacon cream cheese mix on the wide end of the roll.

 Form into a pinwheel and place on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for ten to twelve minutes or until golden brown.

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Washed Off - Martin Wiles

For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5 NLT

Every year, my pollen journey begins with a ball game.

Pollen is not my friend—and I knew it wouldn’t be this particular year. We had received record rainfall over the winter. Although I’m not a meteorologist, I knew when the temperatures warmed, the plants would suck up that moisture and burst into bloom like nobody’s business. Sure enough, they did. A rinsed-off vehicle could turn greenish-yellow in a matter of hours.

As winter ended, the annual announcement came over the loudspeaker where I teach: “Teachers, I’ve put the spring sporting schedule in the workroom. We need all of you to sign up at least once to take up ticket money.” As usual, I chose baseball, which required sitting at a table in the open and taking money from attendees for an hour and a half. I had done it the previous year—and got sick.

As I sat, I watched my clothes, phone, money bag, and anything else exposed turned yellow. I wiped and watched the dust reappear momentarily. To top things off, I needed to cut my grass and the grass of the two neighbors whose grass I also cut. A baseball game and three yards was all it took to give me the crud.

Post nasal drip, runny nose, stopped up nose, scratchy throat, cough, watery eyes. I recognized the signs, but it didn’t help that the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing. Some of my symptoms mimicked the virus’s symptoms, making me feel uneasy. But since I had no fever or chest pains, I figured pollen was the culprit. I stayed in as much as possible, took allergy medicine, and waited for a good rain—which finally came about a week after our outburst of pollen. I watched and smiled as heaven’s water rinsed the pollen from the air and off every surface where it had collected.

I remember my grandfather’s experience with pollen. I don’t know that it bothered his allergies, but he couldn’t stand for it to cover his car. He was a once-a-week car washer. Every morning before he went to work or began his day, he walked out his back door, unrolled the water hose from the rack attached to his old home, hooked it to the faucet, turned on the water, and rinsed the pollen from his car. “If you spray it every morning, the pollen will scoot right off,” he said. Then, on Saturday, he thoroughly cleaned it.

Sometimes, when I visited on Saturday, he said, “Drive your truck around back.” When I got there, he’d have the car-washing stuff ready. He loved to show me his new long-handle brush. Now, he wouldn’t need to bend so much to wash the bottom of the car or get on a step stool to clean the roof. And he would always have some new car-washing detergent with wax that made the vehicle shine. He smiled as he washed the dirt and pollen away.

But some things are more challenging to wash away than pollen. The psalmist pegged one: sin. His mother hadn’t sinned by conceiving him, but he was brought into the world a sinner. Theologians debate how or when the sinful nature gets into us, but no one doubts its presence. And we don’t have to be too old before it begins manifesting itself. Take a loved toy from a young child and watch what happens.

With pollen, allergy medicine, time, and rest will usually take care of my reactions. Not so with my bad attitudes, sinful nature, or temptations. If scientists could bottle a drug to remove the big three, I’d be set for life. They haven’t. . . and won’t.

But God did what scientists and we can’t do. He let his Son pay for our sins on Calvary’s cross. He gives us a new nature when we confess our sins and invite Christ into our lives. He provides his Spirit to give us power against temptations, and he gives us abundant life—which can drive away the cruddy attitudes.

Although God provides for us, washing away all the bad stuff that continually falls our way isn’t easy. As spiritual as he was, Paul said he kept doing what he didn’t want to do. I feel the same way most of the time. I decide—and pray—to have a good attitude, but then something happens that sours it. I choose not to succumb to a particular temptation but get covered with it anyway.

The good thing is that God keeps “scooting” us off with the power of the new nature he’s implanted in us like a good rain washes the pollen away. We’re not all we can be—or all we’ll one day be—but we are much more than we were. We are not covered with the pollen of sin anymore. We are now covered with the righteousness of Christ.

When you need a little washing, God is always happy to oblige.

Father, I depend on you to wash me of those things that keep me from being all I can for you. 

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Tearing Down Strongholds - Martin Wiles

We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT

Deer season had opened, and I was planning to bag “Mr. Buck.”

Deer season in the lower regions of my state opens almost two months earlier than in the other areas. My neighbor then was a retired pastor who loved hunting deer. Not having a weapon, I decided to visit the local Walmart and select one to help me capture my first deer. The shelves were filled with shotguns and rifles, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

After perusing the selection, I decided on one not housed in the gun rack. It lay on a shelf nearby. It and its ammunition were cheaper. I selected my pellet/bb gun, took it to the counter, gave the clerk my $35, and hit the door.

The following day, my neighbor and I set off bright and early. As I perched high in the tree, I saw Mr. Deer prancing my way. When he was in range, I zeroed in on him, pulled the trigger, watched the pellet bounce off his hide, and gawked as he swished his head around to lick the spot as if a fly pestered him. I had chosen the wrong weapon. Not really, but I would have had I actually done this.

I’ll never bring down strongholds with the wrong weapons, either. Strongholds have a strong hold on me. I’ve fought with some that were muscular and others that weren’t. I’ve wrangled with some that were sinful and others that were simply unhealthy and entangling.

While it’s important to know whether or not the stronghold is sinful, it’s more essential to realize God is bigger and stronger than the stronghold—regardless of what it is. God wants to help me bring down strongholds—those that are sinful and those that aren’t. Both can accomplish the same thing. They distract me, cause me to lose focus, ruin my testimony, harm my body, and prevent me from doing my best at God’s work.

Choosing the right weapon to fight strongholds is crucial. Just as a pellet gun won’t bring down a deer, personal efforts without God’s guidance won’t destroy strongholds. Worldly weapons won’t do; we need godly ones, like prayer, Bible study, spiritual armor, books on faith, and close fellowship with other believers.

Don’t try to fight your spiritual battles with the wrong weapons. God will supply the weapons that will ensure victory. All you must do is ask.

Father, thank you for giving me the weapons that will bring down Satan’s strongholds.  

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God’s in Tune - Martin Wiles

The man said, “I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat. Judges 7:13 NLT

When I was growing up, radios were quite different from what they are today. The digital world—not to mention satellites—changed everything. Now, I punch the scan button, and the radio automatically advances to the next clear station. Or, I can even choose satellite radio.

For many years, I had to tune a radio to a particular station manually. Stations would advertise their call numbers. Finding it required turning a knob, so it advanced to those numbers. Although I saw the numbers displayed on the dial, they were in separate increments. I knew when I was close, but I could only know I had arrived once I heard a station. Even then, I couldn’t be sure it was the right one until I listened to the announcer announce the call numbers. Delicately turning the knob was necessary to arrive at just the right station.

Digital numbers make it easy to know I’ve tuned in to the correct station. Knowing I’m tuned into God’s plan is nice as well. Gideon needed to know he was. He was sure God had instructed him to defeat Israel’s enemies, the Midianites. When God instructed him to do it with only three hundred warriors, he was concerned he might have tuned in to the wrong station. But trekking into the enemy’s camp one night and hearing a dream about a loaf of bread convinced him he had the right station. God was dialed into his dilemma.

Knowing God has good plans for us and is dialed into our concerns makes life easier and more peaceful. Peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit that God says should hang from our life’s trees. Yet, it’s not a peace only experienced when circumstances are in our favor. This peace hangs around when things are going our way and when they’re not. Gideon uncovered it when he heard a dream.

We can live with confidence and peace when we remember God knows our needs. Nothing escapes him, and he often gives us little clues—as he did Gideon--that he’s aware of our circumstances.

Like a digital radio, we can tune directly to God, and we’ll hear loud and clear that he knows all about our plight and is ready to speak peace and wisdom into our situations.

Father, thank you for being attentive to my needs, whether large or small. 

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Skillet Apple Pie

 

Ingredients

1 can apple pie filling

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 can eight homestyle biscuits

1 stick butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3 tablespoons cream or milk

Directions

Pour apple pie filling onto a cutting board and cut into bite-sized pieces.

Mix in vanilla and stir until mixed.

In a bowl, mix melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until smooth.

Cut canned biscuits into bite-sized pieces and add to bowl.

Add in apple pie mixture and stir.

Pour into skillet.

Cook at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

While cooking, make glaze: whisk together 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 3 tablespoons of cream or milk.

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The Art of Listening - Karen Huffaker

Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another, to show love, and to do good. Hebrews 10:24 GNT

I’ve never been a big talker, but I'm usually a pretty good listener. By profession, I had to be. In my work, until negotiations reached a mutual agreement, I listened to employee issues and concerns, my internal customers’ needs and requirements, and my vendors. It was good training. I might not have agreed with them, but I had to listen and often needed to do this with a nod and a smile.

I was humbled by how little I knew and learned more by listening than speaking. Rather than imparting my wisdom to them, I obtained wisdom from them.

Over time and through many prayer requests, I pictured God listening to me with a nod and a smile. It was as if He were saying, “I know, my child.” He’s the best of all listeners, even though He already knows my burdens and needs. More importantly, He’s already got it covered in His own way and as part of His plan.

When I listen to others—especially God—I gain knowledge, wisdom, and understanding and grow in my relationship with Him.

As we seek to understand, we empathize and put their concerns before ours. Communication goes to the next level. We sense the depth of their sorrow and pain, and our hearts are burdened. So, we pray for and with them. Our desire is to help, encourage, and lighten their burden.

Listening lets others see how we value and care about them. Relationships develop when we care for one another. Our value does not consist in things but relationships. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we belong to the family of God—a growing family of relationships. By listening, encouraging, and showing love, they will see the kind of love Jesus has for us.

We all long for someone to care about us. Life is also more meaningful if we care for others. Think of someone in your circle who could use a listening ear, a nod, a smile of encouragement, or a word of comfort.

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Karen Huffaker is a freelance Christian writer. She has taught children’s Sunday school and single mom’s Bible studies and written poetry. She is from the Deep South and loves reading Christian books, devotionals, genealogy adventures, fishing, and all things family. She is also passionate about her grandchildren’s sporting events. 

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