Psalms 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He INCLINED unto me and heard me cry." 
The word inclined stood out to me so I looked it up. That original Hebrew word was used when someone was pitching a tent to dwell somewhere for a long time. When we cry out to God in expectation and faith he doesn't just send an "answer" he himself comes to dwell with us and in us to BE our source. I couldn't get past verse 1. He's so GOOD.  Count on Him to listen and dwell with you today.

Posted by Dr. Claire McCarthy aka MD MAMA December 30, 2013 08:32 AM
It's New Year's Resolution time--and as a pediatrician who is always talking to families about ways to live healthier and happier, I can't let the opportunity pass. 

My advice is kind of obvious. I get that. But as someone who spends an awful lot of time listening to how families live their daily lives, well, just because something is obviously a good idea doesn't mean it automatically or even frequently happens. We all have some room for improvement.

And that's how you should think about it: as room for improvement. So many New Year's resolutions don't get kept--mostly, I think because people get too ambitious, set goals that aren't really practical, and then give up. With each of my suggestions, all you really need to do is lean into them. Try things out. Make small changes. They add up. 

It's worth making these changes, really. Because each one of them is about habits that can make your child--and you--healthier and happier not just for now, but for life. So here are my top five:

1. Give your family a healthier diet. There's lots of ways to do this, obviously. But the best things you can do are to add more fruits and vegetables, cut back on sweetened beverages, and limit junk food and fast food. Like...pack water instead of juice for school snack, and swap out an apple for those chips. Get in the habit of including a fruit or vegetable with every meal, even if only a few bites are eaten. Do some meal planning on weekends, and maybe put together a casserole (with no-cook noodles, making lasagne ahead of time is wicked easy) so you're less tempted to grab fast food on the way home.  The Healthy Family Fun and ChooseMyPlate.gov websites have lots of great recipe ideas. 

2. Get your children active. The goal is an hour a day of physical activity; anything toward that goal is great. And really, "active" is the key word. Active play is fine, although running around the house (which is what lots of parents point to when I ask about activity) may not quite be enough. Playing outside is better--and really, you don't have to hibernate all winter. Layer up and go outside! There are lots of indoor things to do, too--like swimming lessons, martial arts classes, indoor rock climbing (my son loves that!), roller blading or basketball. The Healthy Family Fun website has information about things to do in the Boston area. Check out your local YMCA and city recreation department, too. 

3. Be more thoughtful about media and screen time. Notice I'm not telling you to shut the screens off--I get that they are here to stay. But we could all do a better job of being more thoughtful about the kinds of media our children interact with--and how much time they spend with them. Take a hard, honest look at your family's media habits. Limit violent or sexual content for everyone (it truly has effects you don't want)--and for little kids, try to limit media in general, especially fast-paced cartoons, as they can mess up learning and behavior. The Common Sense Media website has great ideas and reviews that can help parents make the best decisions--and find media that can be good for kids. If you have tweens or teens, talk to them about social media, and help them make good choicesabout how they use it. 

4. Make sure your children have time and space for creativity, relaxation--and independence. Too many children are overscheduled--and have too many decisions made for them. This is another place where parents need to take a hard, honest look at their lives and habits. Children need to play, use their imagination, choose their own activities...and make their own mistakes. It's really crucial for their mental health--and overall success in life.

5. Spend more time together as a family. Have more family dinners (with the TV off)--they lead to better nutrition, better school performance, and better teen behavior, it turns out. Game Night is another way: I had a blast the other night playing Anomia with my daughters--and our Apples to Apples game on Christmas Eve was pretty funny (even the 8-year-old enjoyed it). Exercise together--take walks, go to family swim. Build a snowman together. Visit a museum (check out the museum pass program at your local library for discounts). Try to do something once a week. You might just be surprised how much fun you have. The connections you make with your family can make all the difference--for your child, and for you.

Happy New Year--may 2014 be a really great one for you and your family.



This blog is not written or edited by Boston.com or the Boston Globe.
The author is solely responsible for the content.

I was looking through some of my photos and came across this one from last year of Claire and Judah getting ready to open a large present.  It is easy to remember how excited they were to discover what was inside the gift.  They were able to pause for a minute to take this picture, but soon after, the wrapping paper would be shredded into a thousand pieces as they ripped open their gift.  This picture reminds me of 1 Corinthians 2:12...
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God


We often think about all of the wonderful things that Christ did for us.  He redeemed us.  He healed us.  He saved us.  He has done more than we could ever begin to list.  But in charting all of the wonderful things He has done for us, do we take the time to think about what he has "freely given to us..." and why He has given us these gifts?  

We have been given new life (1 Peter 1:3), spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 13), revelation (1 Corinthians 2:10-12), good news (Mark 16:18-20), the ministry of reconciliation (1 Corinthians 5:11-21), the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11) and more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:19-21).  

We have been given all of these gifts... Why???  To keep to ourselves?  To go to heaven when we die?  NO!!!  It is for us to share with others.  Freely we have received... It is time for us to give to others (Matt. 10:5-8).  How can we use what The Father has given to us through Jesus to help others?  Who is in your life that needs to know the power of Jesus and what He has done in you?  Let's give to others today. 

Yesterday was the anniversary of the "I have a dream speech" by Dr.  Martin Luther King.  I felt compelled to watch the video of this pivotal event in our nation's history and watched again with open ears.  As Dr. King rattled off one brilliant stanza after another, one part stuck out to me: 

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

A few things occurred to me about this statement.  

Judgment is not necessarily negative.  

In large part, we have turned into a society where any judgment, by any standard is scandalized.  If you have a viewpoint that differs from that of the popular opinion, or at least what popular opinion is perceived to be, you are slapped with a title like "hater" or "intolerant" by many.  Notice this is not what the speech was advocating.  In fact, in this portion he is virtually inviting judgment on his children.  All he asks is that judgment be filtered through the glasses of character.

2) Content of character should be our aim.

"Character" = moral or ethical quality; the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.

In today's America, it is rare to find a people of character, but Martin Luther King asked that we find equality on the basis of this firm foundation.  Unfortunately, we've allowed "character" to be redefined so much in our society that it's become a moving target.  We tend to esteem accomplishment and image far above basic decency and civility.

Scripture is clear that our identification with Christ is supposed to produce Godly character.

... His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. (2 Peter 1:3-9 NASB)

What about us?  Do we focus on stroking our outward appearance, or are we grooming the heart (1 Samuel 16:7)?  Is our meditation and energy supremely focused on improving our comfort level in "keeping up with the Joneses" or in being conformed more and more into the image of Christ? (Romans 8:29)

Today, let's be the people of God who are not afraid to be judged on the content of our character.

The Word of God is powerful.  I have heard and agreed with that statement ever since I became a believer.  The statement is absolutely true.  However, there is an activation that is necessary for this mighty weapon, The Word of God, to display its inherent power.

In The Alamo City, we have several Air Force bases, and it's not uncommon to catch a glimpse of a fighter jet streaking across the sky.  These powerful aircraft are capable of annihilating entire camps of enemy combatants with a single pass overhead.  As effective as these weapons of warfare are, they pose little threat while locked in a hanger.

Smart phones, laptops, iPads and the like have virtually limitless ability.  With advancement in technology, you can access the Internet and your own personal data, adjust the climate settings and security system of your home, chat face to face with someone on the other side of the planet, and almost anything else you can imagine from almost anywhere your device of choice is accessible.  In fact, it has been said that our smart phones have more functions and potential than the first spaceship that landed on the moon.  With all of these operations and more, each one of these is useless without a power source.

In the same way, we must consider the power of the Word of God in light of Hebrews 4:2:
For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (Hebrews 4:2 NASB)

Without the union of faith in our hearts, the Word of God and the good news we've heard are rendered powerless.  Why do we see others who have activated portions of the Word we have not? It's because they have accessed that Scripture through faith.  Why is so and so receiving what you've been wanting for a decade?  It's the faith behind what's been preached to them.  

This gives new meaning to the numerous times scripture says, "...whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."  We don't need to hear with our ears.  We need our spirit to grab hold of truth and ask the Holy Spirit to ignite faith in us that will activate The Word.

In what area do you need to have a faith awakening that will activate The Word?