By Steve Shultz

www.elijahlist.com

www.theelijahlist.safeshopper.com

steve@elijahlist.com

We went to "THE ROCK," (symbolic of Christ), the island where prisoners were kept in the 60's and 70's just a few days ago.

While there, were took an audio tour. I was struck by the audio portion of a former prisoner who described how his tiny, stark cage--his cell became such an important HOME and where he longed to live when he was "out and about" the yard. Just like Christ, the Rock, when we are IN HIM, no matter where we live, our little place begins to feel like home, even when we are in the wilderness--our personal prisons.

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DISAGREEMENTS WITH TEENS ARE INEVITABLE

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At the end of the tour, I had a disagreement with one of my teens. The disagreement was over the "line" for the boat we were standing in to re-board. I saw this big gap and I'm accustomed to finding the "holes" that other people miss. So I led the family there. The teen said I was not in the right line and had in effect, taken cuts.

Honestly, I was irritated that this "child" felt I was wrong. After a few minutes of this, I removed myself from the "wrong" place and stood in the longer line.

While waiting, I checked out the line and to my surprise, this teen of mine was right. I was taking someone's place as the line wrapped around a different way.

So I kept my prideful mouth shut. Later, I couldn't hold it any more, so I told this teen, "You were right all along. I was in the wrong line."

A smile formed on this one's face that Dad had admitted a wrong.

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THE BIRDS WERE SINGING

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The next morning, in the motor home, as I woke up there were these huge numbers of birds chirping on top of the motor home just above where I was sleeping. The song came into my mind, "Why do birds, suddenly appear, every time, YOU are near?" The song was by Karen Carpenter. I later realized that God was saying he was a "CARING CARPENTER" who wanted to talk to me.

I sensed the Lord was giving me a sign that He was talking to me through the birds---so I listened. (Alcatraz became somewhat famous for the "Birdman of Alcatraz" who actually had his birds in Leavenworth, NOT Alcatraz.")

As I Listened to the Lord, I "heard" Him tell me of His pleasure for admitting my wrong actions and my wrong attitude to a teenager of mine."

A few minutes later, the birds were gone. I had heard from the Lord.

It made me realize that the Lord puts a high premium on us being humble before our children. It was a word for now and word for the future.

It's also a word for many of you.

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YOUR LIFE WILL GET BETTER

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Your life will get better for you when you humble yourself before your "children," as it did for me, when I humbled myself (against my own desires) to this teen.

Will you do the same? I think I'm supposed to tell you this story. If you try it, you'll like the results.

So "Try it---you'll like it."

There is not generation gap. Only a humility gap. So let's humble ourselves under the Mighty hand of God. And He will lift us up at the proper time.

Funny though, when we humble ourselves before God, it often looks like we are humbling ourselves before our children, whether they are grown or living at home.

Again, try it, you'll LIKE it. So will God!!

Under His Wings and in the Cleft of the Rock,

Steve Shultz

THE ELIJAH LIST

steve@elijahlist.com

www.elijahlist.com