Moms play a critical role in every family. They raise us, nurture us, love us, demonstrate the right way to live, and make gigantic sacrifices for us. We owe them an incredible debt. Now consider the additional responsibilities of being a military mom.
Military moms act as a single parent during deployments. Their work load doubles when duty calls a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine overseas. They endure hardship, long hours, little rest, and loneliness. They sacrifice time and comforts to make life better at home. A military mom keeps the family together while times are tough and a loved one is deployed.
The Bible shows us a great example of motherly love and action in Acts 16:1-2. “Paul came to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethern at Lystra and Iconium.”
Timothy was a remarkable and talented young man. He was highly recommended by the local church leaders. His mom, Eunice, had done such a good job raising and teaching her son that Paul wanted to take him on his missionary journey. Think about this accomplishment. Her work at home made this young man ready to enter the ministry of the early church and reach the world for Jesus Christ.
She was a strong woman of faith as was her mother (2 Timothy 1:5). But Eunice was unique in that she was able to pass this faith along to her son. This was no small feat since Timothy’s father was not a believer. It also required extra work since it was usually the father’s job to teach the sons and the mother’s job to teach the daughters. Perhaps there were times when she felt too exhausted from all the work of the day to spend time with her son. But she would not give up in her responsibilities. She was faithful and willing to do the extra work. Praise God that Eunice made time to teach her son Timothy!
Be mindful of Eunice and her tremendous example from scripture. Think about her loving sacrifice of time and how it changed her family and ultimately the world. Consider how moms have made time for us and how we should respond with our own families. May God give you the faith, the vision, and the strength of Eunice as we celebrate mothers across America.
God Squad 
How Should Christians Handle Conflict?
Posted in Devotions, News & Commentary, tagged apostle paul, chaplain, christians, coaching, conflict, discipleship, faith, mentoring, parenting, pastor, resolving conflict on April 23, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Tell me if you have seen this before. People of faith acting like they have no faith. It can happen at work, on the basketball court, or (gasp) even at church.
Here is where we must double down and show that our faith in Christ is alive. We must approach the individual in love, correct the erring brother or sister, and disciple that person toward a stronger walk with the Lord. It is tough work for anyone to mentor or disciple fellow believers. It can be dirty, difficult, and burdensome. But there is a great reward in seeing others strengthen their faith.
Some folks will give you a self-help book or tract on anger management. Perhaps we should point to what has worked well in our past instead of proclaiming a new and better way. We already have a reference manual on conflict, the Bible. We should continue to use the Bible as the foundation of our faith, especially in matters of behavior. It can certainly speak to the need for correction, love, and forgiveness.
The Apostle Paul wrote to several churches that needed guidance in solving conflict and maintaining their Christian walk. Those letters comprise a large part of the New Testament. Jesus even addresses how to approach a sinning brother in Matthew 18:15-17. Another powerful passage is in Luke 17. Here we see the need for brothers and sisters to speak the truth in love and if the erring person repents, we must forgive. The offense and number are irrelevant. We are called to love one another. But keep in mind that any kind of disciplinary procedure should always have restoration of the sinning person as the ultimate goal.
I believe that a Biblical approach in resolving conflict is the best way forward for churches. It creates a transparent environment where people are open with each other, seeks righteous behavior in our world, and conveys Christ.
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