By Jessica L: Notes from Gary Stroope's message at The Porch (April 12, 2011)
Think about your life.
How’s it going? How’s it really going?
Are you looking forward to the next new thing in your life –new job, fresh start, new relationship?
How’s it going relationally, emotionally, financially, spiritually?
How did you get where you are?
Our generation is looking for purpose and meaning – even good things we do like buys shoes that send shoes to third world countries don’t fill us with true joy.
Your parents have contributed to your story more than you may like to believe
How we view our parents can be a part of that entanglement
Would you rather spend the weekend with your community group/friends or your parents? Honestly?
The sin that you commit affects generations to come
The same is true with your parents and you
Maybe you “grew up on an unwatched channel”; so you strive for the attention of others, especially your parents
Letting your parents affect you instead of allowing God to lead you is not the way to live
Parents are the pride of children
Sometimes we romanticize our parents to make it easier to face the truth about who we are now
Depending on the house you grew up in, you can fantasize about how things will be with your family next time you see them
Intersect on a deep and meaningful level with your parents
God picks up where your parents left off
How do we get there?
Acknowledge that the gap between you and your parents is there
> Pray for your parentsTrust in God’s justice: 1 Timothy 5:8 – don’t try to dole out consequences to your parents
Choose to forgive
> Even if they aren’t seeking your forgiveness
> Reconciliation takes approaching them, being honest, and extending forgiveness
> Don’t wait for them to pursue you, especially if they don’t know ChristAccept your heavenly father’s love, his perfect love
> You are loved because he gave his only son for you
Psalm 68:4
God is not like your Dad, even the best Dad; God is supernatural, powerful, has real answers
Forgive your parents and meet your real Father