89. CHARACTER-BUILDING GUIDELINES
Dear Grandma Donna: Miles is a twenty-year-old who seems to have lost his zest for life. He works at a job at Walmart, which is commendable, but when he gets home from work, his motivation ends. He lives with his parents, plays games on his electronics and lives on junk food. What can be done to motivate this young man? Love, Savana
Dear Savana: This problem is prevalent among many young people and needs to be addressed. Here are the four areas where some of our young people need special attention:
- Low scores academically.
- Diet of junk food making them overweight or obese
- Loss of faith in God and addictions to drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.
- Social incompetence.
The problem is bigger than you and me, but it is not too big for our Savior who loves these young people and desperately desires to save them. Since Jesus’ sole purpose in coming to our world as a human being was to save the human family, He has given us a tool to accomplish this task. That tool is the bestselling book every year—the Bible.
How could the Bible help youth with academics, health, faith in God and social insecurity? The answer is simple—Jesus is the One who helps with these problems and His life is in His Word. Remember John 1:1: “The Word was God.” Since His life is in His Word, we bring His life into our lives as we read and memorize the Bible.
Reading the Word is powerful, but memorizing it is more powerful. We are counseled to “Hide the Word in our hearts,” “Meditate on the Word day and night,” and “Write My Word on your hands and between your eyes.” The only way to do that is to have the Word in our minds.
“Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). These four characteristics are needed for our young people to develop characters that will make them well- adjusted contributing citizens of society.
- Wisdom. There is nothing so powerful to help our thinking ability as the Bible. “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). Memorization of Scripture is known for helping the mind.
- Stature or Physical Health. Reading and memorizing the Word leads to the plant-food diet, which is presented in the first chapter of Genesis, and in the plant-food diet of both Daniel and John the Baptist. After changing to a healthy diet, the Father usually leads to begin an exercise program.
- Favor with God. The power of the memorized Word lifts the person higher and higher until they are “born again by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever.” This experience is so exciting that the memorizer develops a burning love for the Savior that makes him/her want to tell everybody about this great salvation.
- Favor with man. Like the old song reads, “Makes me love everybody.” Jesus’ life is in His Word, so His Word in our hearts is going to place His love in our hearts making us see everybody in a completely different way.
I suggest you invite a group of young people into your home with the express purpose of reading and memorizing the Word. Choose a plan, but know that the Gospel of John is one of the best. I have several plans and each of them is written with first letter helps, which is a mnemonic that aids learning. After the verse is read with words at least two times, it should be read with the first letters, and from that time, it should be read with this mnemonic until it is in your permanent memory bank.
Through prayer, encouragement and rewards, young people can hide the Word in their hearts to gain power to overcome in these four distinct ways that were in the life of Jesus. 1. There is inspiration to help them develop good health habits. 2. They can know they belong to the mighty God of Heaven as they fill their minds with His Word. 3. Love will flood their hearts for their God. 4. Love will flood their hearts for all people. They will become new creatures in Christ.
Those four characteristics made Jesus, the Word made flesh, the perfect Son of God. Memorizing the Word will help our youth develop characters that will make them well-adjusted contributing citizens of society. Remember our theme in Luke 2:52: “JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE AND IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MAN.” Love, Grandma Donna
OKLAHOMA SHORTCAKE
Wash one pound of baby limas or beans of choice, add one chopped
onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic. Soak overnight in 6 cups of water.
Simmer 2-3 hours to desired doneness. Serve over cornbread.
CORNBREAD
3/4 c cornmeal
3/4 c wholewheat flour
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 T Ener-G baking powder
1/2 c plant milk (more as needed for good batter)
1/4 c applesauce
2 T honey or 2 T brown sugar
Mix wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately, then combine and
stir until smooth. Pour into 8” x 8” sprayed pan or scoop into sprayed
muffin tins. Bake at 375 degrees 20-25 minutes.