Parenting Meeting Sept. 5, 2018 Negotiating Chaos Parenting Meeting Sept. 5, 2018

Negotiating Chaos Chaos disorder, disarray, disorganization, confusion,  unexpected, unplanned, uncertain, unclear, interruptions   Nothing inherently spiritual about a chaotic home Kids need schedules

Negotiating Chaos Chaos comes in many sizes and shapes Chaos that comes from having kids Chaos that comes from living in our world (broken stuff, interruptions ) Chaos from our own unwise choices and unwise choices of others Chaos that occurs when we chose to follow Christ and love other people

Negotiating Chaos We don’t like chaos! It ruins schedules; can’t get anything done Lack of control Produces uncertainty Inconvenient

Negotiating Chaos While chaos is part of life, God is at work in the midst of chaos. Moses: Exodus 3:1&2: 3 Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.

Negotiating Chaos While chaos is part of life, God is at work in the midst of chaos. David: : I Samuel 16:1-13: 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. …. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 

Negotiating Chaos While chaos is part of life, God is at work in the midst of chaos. Jesus: Matt. 9:10 10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. Mark 10:17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Negotiating Chaos While chaos is part of life, God is at work in the midst of chaos. Jesus: Mark 10:46: 46 Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.

Negotiating Chaos While chaos is part of life, God is at work in the midst of chaos. Jesus: Matt. 9:10 10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. Mark 10:17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Negotiating Chaos While chaos is part of life, God is at work in the midst of chaos. Jesus: Mark 10:46: 46 Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. See it with Peter and Paul in Acts

You need plans/schedules but the Lord may have other plans. Negotiating Chaos While chaos is part of life, God is at work in the midst of chaos. You need plans/schedules but the Lord may have other plans.

Negotiating Chaos What is God doing in the midst of chaos? Mark 6:30-34. 30 The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) 32 They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

Negotiating Chaos 33 The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them.34 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.  35 When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late;

Negotiating Chaos  36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

Negotiating Chaos Talk about some chaos! God had other plans. Teaches them lessons about Himself Lessons about themselves Lessons how He works in this world

Negotiating Chaos Talk about some chaos! God had other plans. This man could feed 5000 Limit to their willingness to navigate chaos Works through people to meet the needs of others

Negotiating Chaos Feeding 5000 vs. daily chaos What does the Lord want to teach you about Himself? about yourself? My lack of faith. I am too rigid and controlling. I tie my value to my performance. I love my comfort. I am an infantile. I am a practical deist: I believe in the existence of a personal God but I do not believe He interacts and cares for me.

Navigating Chaos What do your kids miss out if you refuse to grow in your response to chaos? Life does not go as planned Lessons about themselves and God

Navigating Chaos What about the 5000? (The people God intends to love through you?) What if the apostles had chosen comfort over chaos? Imagine the chaos? God works through people like you and me! Often in very routine and ordinary ways God is trustworthy because of Jesus

Navigating Chaos Romans 8:32: 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things

Navigating Chaos What is an acceptable level of chaos in a home? Many factors but key is to keep focus on Jesus. Too much chaos? On a regular basis the important, non-urgent things are not being accomplished

Navigating Chaos Things to consider: Do you have a relationship with God? Do I want God to work through me to love others? Have you acknowledged that the Lord is the” best scheduler” ever? Schedule the important things in your life. When was the last time I allowed my schedule to be interrupted? When was the last time I thanked God for his faithfulness?

Navigating Chaos Am I too controlling or do I need to follow through more often with my plans? Stay in community.

Navigating Chaos Questions/Comments