In a day and age when shallow personalities clutter the media it is difficult to teach the value of character. Children want to be popular in theier peer groupings and they have a natural tendency to mimic the clothing styles, the mannerisms, and attitudes of their media heroes. The problem here is that, although one's personality is a public reflection of the substance within, that reflection is just the surface veneer of those we term "media personalities." Not only is their substance often lacking in character, it is also false...media hype that yields a monetary profit for a few at the expense of the impressionistic...our children.

How does this do harm to our children? Consider two ways: First, our children learn that shallowness, rather than substance and depth, is to be valued. Secondaly, and more seriously, shallow living yields a dienial of God's gifts and their development in our children and sets them up for an unfulfilled life, discouragement, and failure.

God has a much greater design for our lives. We and our children have the capacity to serve His purposes in us. Wow! Just pause here for a moment to let your mind soar through the realm of God's majesty to explore what it means to have the capacity to serve God's purposes in us. Required of us is the development of our Christian character to the height and the depth and the breadth of all that we can be in Christ.

Why is this so important? (What I am about to say might sound a bit remote...at first.) Essentially, it's important because God is moving among us. This is an an awesome and humbling statement. In other words, we don't make things happen for God. He graciously includes us in His plans, as He is moving among us.

Our job, then, is to become equipped to be used by Him for His purposes in us and to equip our children for the same. We must work to fill the lives of children with the rich substance of christ, the Word, so they can become all He created them to be. then, they will know and experience the fulfillment, the joy and rich substance of life as people of character--strong and courageous--as God continues to move among His people and through them.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9.