Jesu, joy of man’s desiring,
Holy wisdom, love most bright;
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light.

From the song Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach , lyrics by Robert Bridges

One of the joys of the Christmas season is the beautiful music that is played everywhere.  Recently I heard the faint strains of Hark the Herald Angels Sing as I cruised up and down the grocery store aisles.  Bing Crosby’s version of O Little Town of Bethlehem greeted me when I stepped into an elevator at a local mall.  And when I tuned into satellite radio’s holiday station, I got to enjoy a melodious rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

The lyrics of the song above might not be as familiar to some, but this last movement of a Bach cantata has been played at many Christian festivities since it was written in the early 1700s.  In addition to Christmas, you may have heard it at Easter and at weddings.  The lyrics that were later added by Bridges are also striking.  They call for us to look to Jesus, the joy of man’s desiring.  His wisdom and love speak to us, drawing us into an amazing relationship that allows our souls to soar!

Friends, this is what I love most about Christmas.  In the days ahead, we can’t help but focus on Jesus.  The decorations, wrappings, food, and festivities don’t have to be distractions—instead, they can be constant reminders of what this holy season is all about! And that’s what I long for:  I want to really know Jesus more and more this Christmas.  I think Paul said it best this way:

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death.
Philippians 3:7-10

Like the apostle, my heart’s desire is to know my Lord and Savior.  I want to understand why He left the joys of Heaven in order to save us.  I long to love the way He does, reaching out to both the saved and yet-to-be-saved—sharing with them about the joy that He has given me.

Much of the music of this blessed season reminds me of His truths.  Let’s look at the final stanzas of Bach’s famous tune:

Through the way where hope is guiding, 
Hark, what peaceful music rings;
Where the flock, in Thee confiding, 
Drink of joy from deathless springs.

Theirs is beauty’s fairest pleasure;
Theirs is wisdom’s holiest treasure. 
Thou dost ever lead Thine own
In the love of joys unknown. 

Hope is indeed guiding us in this journey of life. Christmas and all its festivities merely point us back to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. So, enjoy the music! Drink in the sights and sounds of the season, and celebrate with family and friends. Most of all, get to know Jesus more through every joyful moment of the days and weeks ahead.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Sonkist Ministries!

Thought of the Month

Happy Fall from all of us at Sonkist Ministries!

Thought of the Month

We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about His power and His mighty wonders.

Psalm 78:4, NLT

Even with over three decades in the field of education, I still look forward to the start of another school year. I’m excited for students who will have the chance to gain more knowledge, consider new concepts, and interact with one another.  Whether in public, private, or home-school settings, this season reminds both children and adults of the importance of the learning process.

This learning process is extremely critical when it comes to our spiritual development too.  Everyone, young and old, should keep growing—just as Paul reminded early believers: “I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God” (Ephesians 1:16b-17).  In a sense, we should be experiencing “Back to School” regularly in our journey of faith.

Psalm 78 also clarifies that the older generation must pass on truths about the Lord to the children in their care.  Look at these verses from that psalm which give the rationale for this concept:

For He issued His laws to Jacob; He gave His instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. So, each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.  (verses 5-7)

Notice that the instructions God gave were to be the first agenda items that should be passed on to the next generation.  Why?  So they could learn them, avoid mistakes, and then pass the Lord’s great ways of living on to yet another generation.  In other words, by intentionally instructing the younger generation, adults were offering them the opportunity to “set their hope anew on God.”

Over the years of teaching, consulting, and writing, I’ve been asked a lot of questions—particularly about parenting.  I’ve often been astonished when people express their concern about being too intentional about faith.  Some men and women are uncertain about what to share; others are apathetic.  The most surprising conversation I had was with a family member who thought his kids should just “get” faith on their own.  I remined him that we would never expect children to simply “get” reading, writing, or math by themselves—instead, we’re extremely intentional about teaching these critical subject areas.  Boys, girls, teenagers—and adults for that matter—rarely pick up knowledge without some sort of guidance. Indeed, strategic educational effort helps learners all throughout the life cycle.

In our book, Straight Line for Parents:  9 Strategies for Raising Exceptional Kids (Wilke & Wilke, 2012), we talk about “three pillars” for bringing up the next generation:  Faith, Family, and Education.  We specifically list the pillars in this order for a reason.  Faith is the foundation, family is the framework, and education provides the pathway for success.  Ten or twenty years ago we might not have been so definitive—but with over sixty years of combined professional interactions with children and adults and three-plus decades of parenting (and now grandparenting) together, we are confident that these pillars will work for you and your family.

So, how’s your “Back-to-School” process going?  Are you intentionally working to improve your spiritual knowledge?  If so, how?  Is there anything else you might do to guarantee that you are growing “in your knowledge of God”?  What’s happening with the young people in your life?  Maybe they’re your children, or grandchildren, or nieces and nephews.  Perhaps you teach a Sunday School class—or just have neighbor kids with whom you interact.  Could you find some new, innovative ways to “tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders”?

If you’re not sure where or how to get started, why not read through Psalm 78 to find out what that generation passed on—truths that are still impacting the world we live in today.  In addition, you can read Straight Lines for Parents in paperback or Kindle versions—or pick up a copy for someone you care about.  We also recommend checking out Focus on the Family at www.FocusOnTheFamily.com for fantastic faith-based resources.  Whatever you do, keep learning this Back-to-School season—and all throughout life’s wonderful journey!

Many blessings to you from everyone at Sonkist Ministries!

Thought of the Month

 O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.

Psalm 78:1-3

• Connections to family
• Close relationships
• Good health
• Generous people; giving to others
• Being engaged in some type of meaningful work
• Forgiveness
• Faith
• Exercise
• Interactions with pets
• Attitudes of gratitude

Thought of the Month