December 2020

You get me chocolate milk now.

Dr. Rikki Permenter

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 3:12

No one tells you when you have kids that lazy Saturday mornings aren’t a thing anymore. Toddlers wake up with the sun and don’t discriminate based on day of the week. Last weekend, around 5:45 (before the sun) my daughter made her way into my bedroom. She walked over to my husband’s side of the bed and used her precious little 2 year old fingers to manually open his eye. She said (in a very much too loud voice) “I open you eyes for you.” Yes, she did. She opened his eyes for him - before the sun was up - and then basically demanded “You get me chocolate milk now.” It wasn’t in a mean tone but more of an expectant one. She knew that she could come into my bedroom and wake up my husband (who loves her) and ask for the desires of her heart and he would provide them - even thought it wasn’t convenient. She wasn’t thinking about convenience - or that the sun wasn’t up. She approached my husband with freedom and confidence.

This is the access we have to God. Do you realize that we have the freedom to walk right up to the throne of God (regardless of what he may be doing) and ask for the desires of our heart with confidence that he wants to give us good things? Take time this week to think on the type of access you have to God. You are his loved child that can sneak into his bedroom in the early hours of the morning with a request. He loves you that much.

Author Bio

Dr. Rikki Permenter, Ph.D., Th.M., is the owner of Bent Tree Counseling in Clinton, La. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Louisiana. She is the wife of Cole Permenter, pastor of Bluff Creek Baptist and the mom of Hudson James & Magnolia Ruth, the cutest little girls in Bluff Creek. Interested in counseling or have questions? Check out her website www.benttreecounseling.com.

November 2020

I do it myself.

Dr. Rikki Permenter

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“No, Mama. Huddie do it. I do it myself.” This phrase may be the single most infuriating set of sentences my almost 3 year old has been saying lately. It doesn’t matter what it is - she is doing it herself. If you even try to do it for her, she will undo it and then redo it again… by herself, unless… she can’t. She will undo what you just did, attempt to re-do it, then demand “help me, I need help” in the most pitiful voice. Usually by the time she is asking for help, whatever the task has taken 5 times longer than it should have, she has hurt herself, hurt someone else, broken something, or made the task exponentially more complicated.

This past week (in mid emotional breakdown - for both of us, if I’m being honest) I found myself in a negotiation with a terrorist … errr, toddler. We were going back and forth and bam! It hit me. It was almost as if God said to me - out loud - THIS IS YOU. How many times do we attempt to “do it myself”? How often to do we say “No, God. *Insert your name here* do it. I do it myself.” How often do we think we have it under control? How often do we wait until the very last possible minute to ask for help? How often have we made whatever it is take 5 times as long, have we hurt ourselves, have we hurt others, have we broken things, or have we made things exponentially more complicated?

This week reflect on the ways you can trust God more. Reflect on how you can depend on him - even when it doesn’t make sense to you and even when you just want to do it in the way you know how.

Dr. Rikki Permenter, Ph.D., Th.M., is the owner of Bent Tree Counseling in Clinton, La. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Louisiana. She is the wife of Cole Permenter, pastor of Bluff Creek Baptist and the mom of Hudson James & Magnolia Ruth, the cutest little girls in Bluff Creek. Interested in counseling or have questions? Check out her website www.benttreecounseling.com.

October 2020

Does your light shine?

Dr. Rikki Permenter

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Pumpkins, candy corn, hay bales, hot chocolate, and scarecrows are some of my favorite things. Fall, in my humble opinion, is by far the BEST season. This is my first fall with a toddler. Welcome into my life, guys. Having a toddler is the best. Reliving the magic of holidays through their eyes is probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time. On a recent trip to our (not so local) Sam’s, we bought a few fall themed books for the girls. Each has pumpkins, jack o’ lanterns, costumes, trick or treating and all the fun of fall jam packed into them. My daughter love the “smiling pumpkins”. She has been asking to make a “smiling pumpkin” with a light for weeks. She has wanted to make this pumpkin for our porch even thought it is way too hot to leave a pumpkin on our porch.

What Huddie loves is that the “smiling pumpkins” help you see at night. You put a candle (or fandle, as she calls them) inside and you can see them in the dark from far away. This made me think of our spiritual lights. The ones that God places inside of each of us. Can others see us from far off and in the dark? Can they see our smiling faces and light that was put inside of us? Are you letting your light shine before others?

Dr. Rikki Permenter, Ph.D., Th.M., is the owner of Bent Tree Counseling in Clinton, La. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Louisiana. She is the wife of Cole Permenter, pastor of Bluff Creek Baptist and the mom of Hudson James & Magnolia Ruth, the cutest little girls in Bluff Creek. Interested in counseling or have questions? Check out her website www.benttreecounseling.com.

September 2020

Do not worry.

Dr. Rikki Permenter

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”

Matthew 6:25

Are you a worrier? Do you worry about big things, little things, all the things? Let’s take a minute here to talk about the difference between diagnosable Anxiety and worry. Diagnosable Anxiety has components of worry but it is a chemical imbalance that causes feelings of panic that are associated with thoughts rather than actual fight or flight, life or death situations. When you have diagnosable anxiety you don’t always have an identified “thing” you are anxious about - you’re more just anxious as a way of life.

Both of these states are the result of sin. Diagnosable Anxiety is the result of global sin’s impact on people’s bodies because we live in a fallen world and in fallen bodies. Worry is more a result of your own personal sin. Worry is a state of not trusting that God has your best interest in mind - even when you don’t understand or don’t see how things could possibly work out. Worry is when you don’t view God as your sovereign and capable father who is good and wants good things for you.

So are you worried about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear? Is {your} life not more than food, and the body more than clothes? God will take care of you. Think upon the difference in worry and anxiety this week and try to identify which, if either, you struggle with.  

Dr. Rikki Permenter, Ph.D., Th.M., is the owner of Bent Tree Counseling in Clinton, La. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Louisiana. She is the wife of Cole Permenter, pastor of Bluff Creek Baptist and the mom of Hudson James & Magnolia Ruth, the cutest little girls in Bluff Creek. Interested in counseling or have questions? Check out her website www.benttreecounseling.com.

August 2020

Don’t be a “Yes Man.”

Dr. Rikki Permenter

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14b 

Guys, I know it is probably very Southern Baptist of me but… I’m on the nominating committee at my church. I don’t know about your church… but our “year” starts in October. I’ve been looking over the pews (and at who is watching online and in the directory) for people that would be a good fit for each committee. In talking with people about what committees they would like to serve on I hear a lot of comments like “ well, if you can’t find anyone else” or “I’ve been on this committee for X years and it is time I retire.” 

Hear me! Don’t just say yes. Don’t be on a committee because “no one else will fill my spot.” Don’t let church “work” be an obligation. Don’t let church “work” be something you dread. Let church “work” be an offering of your time. Let church “work” be something you are specifically gifted in that you joyfully give to kingdom work as an offering - an offering you are specially equipped to give. 

Just like Esther was in her royal position “for such a time as this” - you are where you are and equipped with your skills for this time, right now. Get plugged into your church community in a way that feels good and right to you. You can’t retire in Christian ministry - but some ministries are for only a time. Ask yourself this week what ministry is for you in this time? What skill set can you joyfully use for kingdom work in “such a time as this?”

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

March 2020

“Das’ Geee-swis”

Dr. Rikki Permenter

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 

1 John 2:6 



For Christmas, my daughter got a little board book of “Jesus Stories” from one of my aunts. She loves this book. We read it almost every night. The book is probably 10 pages and on each page it has a picture and a different story from the Bible. All of these stories are directly about Jesus, except one. Her favorite game during story time is to point out which character in the picture is Jesus (or “Geee-swis” as she calls him). It was a little hard for her at first because the stories chronicle his life and in some pictures Jesus is the baby, in some the child, and in some he is the adult. 

The one page in the book that Jesus isn’t the main character is the one about the Good Samaritan. Without fail, every time we read this page she points to the Good Samaritan and says “Das’ Geee-swis”. Don’t get me wrong, this character looks nothing like adult Jesus on the other pages. This character is acting like adult Jesus. She assumes it must be him because he is doing good. 

If there were a page about you in this book what would you be doing? Would you be doing good? Would my toddler just assume “das’ Geee-swis” when it is really you? What are your action saying and who are your actions pointing to? People are watching you - let Jesus be who they see. 

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

February 2020

Say No to Yes Men

Dr. Rikki Permenter

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. 

Proverbs 12:15



“Well, I didn’t want to ask you because I knew what you would say.” Everyone has two types of people in their lives: people who help them make good decisions and people who help them make bad decisions. Think about it - you know this to be true. I’m not really talking about large scale bad decisions more small stuff. Like, if you wanted to eat a whole package of Oreos you know who you would ask to help and who would try to get you to choose a healthier option. Or, if you want to vent about something and paint yourself as an innocent victim and the other person as a horrible offender, you know who will go along and who will be the voice of reason. You know these things, and you choose your company wisely. 

In counseling I tend to have people say things like, “Well, I didn’t want to ask you because I knew what you would say.” often. They don’t say this because they don’t trust me or because we don’t have a close relationship. They say this because they know I’m a “no man”. Regardless of how they feel about it I say “no” when it is in their best interest - because it is my job. 

Are you surrounded by “yes men”? Are you surrounded by people who rarely challenge you or seek to get you to do right when you’re doing wrong? I challenge you this week to consider who you surround yourself with and to find a “no man” to serve as your wise man from the Proverbs who gives advice. 

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

January 2020

In Your Front Yard

Dr. Rikki Permenter

Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house.

Nehemiah 3:28


I’ve been reading the book of Nehemiah lately. If you haven’t read it in a bit the first half is all about Nehemiah building a wall. Well, Nehemiah didn’t actually build the whole wall. He had a lot of help from all the Israelites living in Jerusalem near the wall. Take some time this week to read over the story if you haven’t in a while. 

If you’re like me, when you see lists of names in the Bible, you’ll be temped to skim through them very quickly - but don’t. Slow down. If you read the story too quickly you’ll get bogged down in all of the names and lists and fail to see the picture that is being painted. If you draw out a map of what is being described you’ll see that each man listed, for the most part, repaired the wall that was in front of his own home — basically in his front yard. Each man had an interest in how well the wall was repaired in front of his own home because that is the part of the wall that would protect him and his family if the need arose. I don’t know for sure, but I imagine that each man did a really good job because his life and his families lives were the ones at stake. While this wall did protect his family specifically, with everyone else’s work, it also did the greater job of protecting Israel as a whole. 

I don’t know about you but for some reason when I have a face to put with a need I tend to do a better job. If you know who you’re working for the work seems to have more purpose. What ministry need is basically in your front yard? What wall can you help build that protects you and your family but also protects God’s people as a whole, making it kingdom work? What ministry need is part of a bigger picture but also affects your family specifically? I don’t know about you but, as an example in my life, with two little kids our church’s nursery & children’s ministry has become very important to me. Yes, my work with that ministry impacts my kids but it also is part of a bigger kingdom work that impacts everyone’s kids. Don’t think so small guys! Just because what you’re doing is in your front yard doesn’t mean it isn’t a kingdom work. 

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

December 2019

My favorite Jesus

Dr. Rikki Permenter

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 1:1



“Well, my favorite is the Christmas Jesus.” As I sit in a semi local coffee shop the other day I overheard a few kids talking about Jesus. Not in an overly spiritual way but more in a if-Jesus-was-a-superhero-way. They were obviously homeschooled, as they were doing school work in a coffee place mid-day on a school day, and obviously from a Christian family. 

Everyone has different versions of themselves. There is the “adult” version that gets things done, the “fun” version that is spontaneous and lives in the present, the “mean” one (or “mean mommy” as my kid says) that enforces the rules and doesn’t condone candy for breakfast. While we have all these versions of ourselves, we are just one person. Sometimes we have to utilize our different “selves” to get things done during the day but we are simply just one “us”. 

In the same way, you can’t pick and choose your favorite Jesus, or God for that matter. As the little kids debated between the “Christmas Jesus” and the “Flipping over tables Jesus” they were failing to see he is just one person. The same Jesus who came as a baby all tender and mild is the same Jesus who flipped over tables in righteous anger on people selling in temple. You have to look at the whole Jesus from Scripture. If you only like the “fun” Jesus or the “nice” Jesus you’ve made up a God in your mind. He isn’t real and that image you’ve made is a form of idolatry. Just like we’re only one person - all the “Jesus” personalities found in biblical stories make one person and that person is one with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.  

Take some time to ask yourself a few questions. Which Jesus are you worshiping today? Do you have a favorite you like to imagine? Do you prefer to ignore parts of Jesus’ personality that don’t seem nice or fun? Have you created an idol in your mind that isn’t the biblical Jesus at all?

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

November 2019

Wantless

Dr. Rikki Permenter

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…”

Philippians 4: 12


When is the last time you didn’t want? It seems like people are wired to want. We want and we get and then we want more. That is the thing with wanting, it never ends. Can you remember the last time you were wantless? Can you remember the last time that you were content with all you have? 

Paul, in a letter to the church at Philippi writes about being free of want. He focused on need. He penned "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” He knew the secret. He focused on being content in every circumstance because he knew things were not the point of life. As long as he was provided with his needs (food, shelter, clothing) and sometimes even when we wasn’t he was content. 

Do you know the difference between a need and a want? A wise man once told me that needs are the things you have to have to make it through tomorrow and wants are everything else. Are you content in every circumstance? 

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

October 2019

Your Value

Dr. Rikki Permenter

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.“So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:30-31


In counseling, I see a good number of clients who don’t realize their worth and value. They think they are unimportant, unloved, unknown, or overlooked. They don’t see their value to others around them. Usually, this stems is a negative frame of reference. A negative frame of reference is when you disregard the good things you hear or see about yourself and over emphasize the negative things to hear or see about yourself. An easy way to spot this in yourself or others if when you take your weaknesses and compare them to others who have those things as strengths. Then you take your strengths and discount them as “well, anyone can do that” or “that isn’t a big deal, it’s easy.”

A few Sundays ago I did Children’s time for our church. I had a twenty dollar bill and asked the kids if they wanted it. Of course they all said “yes!” I asked them why they wanted it and they all told me in different ways that it was worth $20 and they could buy things with it. I folded it in half and asked “What about now? It is folded. Do you still want it?” and they all said “yes.”  because it was still worth $20. I then crumpled it up and threw it to the ground and stepped on it. I asked again, “what about now?” Each child still wanted it. They knew that it didn’t matter what happened to the bill that it was still worth $20. 

While it is easy to see a twenty is worth twenty dollars no matter what shape it is in, it is hard to see our own worth no matter what shape we’re in. It is like we trust the bank more than God. The bank says a twenty has value and we believe them. God says we have value and worth but we don’t always believe Him. We have worth and value to God because he made us and gave us inherent value. Just like that twenty was made to hold twenty dollars worth of value, we are made in God’s image hold the value of a child of God. We have inherent worth and value to Him, we were made that way. Do you have a negative frame of reference? Think it over today and decide to view yourself with all the value and worth God has made you with. 

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

September 2019

Being Prepared

Dr. Rikki Permenter

"preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

2 Timothy 4:2


This Sunday I got conned into doing Children’s Time in “big church” by my husband. This isn’t anything new. It happens a good bit if our children’s is out for some reason. She will talk to Cole early on and let him know if she will be out and he will promptly forget about the conversation until the ten minutes between Sunday school and our church service. During this time he will find me in the congregation and say something like “Hey Rikki, you got Children’s Time, right?” 

If you’ve never met me in person it may surprise you to know that I’m incredibly introverted and hate being in the spotlight. Children’s Time is really, really not my thing. If I refute, my husband comes back with a rebuke from Paul’s letter to Timothy. He reminds me that I need to be prepared in and out of season and take advantage of any opportunity to preach the Word. 

Today take some time to consider if you are ready to preach the Word, in or out of season. Even if preaching isn’t really your thing, even if you’re shy, or introverted, or just a quiet person. Sometimes God (and our spouse) call us to do things that aren’t really in line with our personalities. Sometimes this is a thing God uses to stretch us and it is okay (just a little uncomfortable). Are you ready? 

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

August 2019

Belonging 

Dr. Rikki Permenter

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 

Psalm 37:3





This year my daughter started Pre-K. The school she is attending is not really “new” to us. My husband is a former employee, coaches there, and is a chaplain for their football team. Today was her first day as a student. We woke her up early enough to have a small photo shoot before dropping her off at her class. She loved it. When we picked her up later that afternoon she was all smiles as my husband threw her on his shoulders and we walked back to the car across campus. She smiled and waved to everyone we passed like she was prom queen. My daughter knows she “belongs” there. She isn’t an outsider or new - this is where she belongs. 

What would happen if we approached life this way? What would change if we knew we “belonged” where God had us. What if we decided we were not an outsider or new simply because we were where God intends for us to be doing what he intends for us to do? The reality is, God has you where you are doing what you’re doing on purpose. He knows you’re there. It isn’t an oversight. If he wanted to move you - trust me - he would. He knows your address and where to find you.  Trust in the Lord where you are with what you have and do good with it. Enjoy where you are and it’s safety. 

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

July 2019

Imitation

Dr. Rikki Permenter

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1


Just to keep you updated, our sweet & little Hudson James is one and a half years old. She is so much fun. One and a half is such a fun age. Lately, she has been mimicking things she sees. She has twin cousins who are a year old that she loves to play with. She saw one of them doing something she knew they shouldn’t and she yelled “No ma'am!” across the room. This is something she has experienced numerous times in her life. She responded just like I would respond to her. I’ve caught her pretending to wash her own hair in the bath. I’ve caught her biting her fingernails - a really bad habit she has seen her Daddy do. When she takes a sip of a drink she throws her head back and gives a loud “ahhhhh” - another funny thing she’s seen her Daddy do. She wants to use her own fork and spoon, sit in a big girl chair, and use a straw - all things she sees us doing every day. She loves to imitate us. 

In his letter to Corinth, Paul urges them to imitate him as he imitates Christ. I’ve tried to be very aware that my sweet little girl watches me and imitates random things I do. Am I living in a manner I want her to imitate? Paul was not only living a life worth imitating but he urged others to imitate him as he imitated Christ. Is this a claim I can make to my child, my family, my friends, my co-workers, and even my acquaintances? 

You can’t imitate someone you don’t know. Paul was confident he knew Christ in such a way that others could imitate Christ by following him. My child mimics the things she sees. She spends large amounts of time with me and then does things the way she sees me do them. She learns me through my actions. Do my actions mimic Christ? Do your actions mimic Christ? Take some time this month to evaluate if the people you spend your time with can imitate you as you imitate Christ. 


This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

June 2019

Pregnant

Dr. Rikki Permenter

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11





Have you ever knew God was up to something in your life? Like, you could just feel something big coming but you didn’t know what, when, or where? Maybe you’re pregnant with a ministry idea or are developing a love for a people group for no apparent reason. Maybe God is giving you just a hint of something he wants you to do but you don’t really know when it will happen or how. It is just like being pregnant, but pregnant with a promise. 

When God gives you hints of his plan for you: PRAY. Commit to pray about it until it becomes clear what it is he wants and the when and where will come along. You may never get a why or a how but God’s will for you usually just works in a way you could never have come up with. Just like God’s promise in Jeremiah to the exiles, rest assured God has a plan and and know it will be for ultimate good. 

All this to say we’re pregnant. Pregnant with a baby. We’re expecting another little girl in November and wanted to share the good news with you. Her name will be Magnolia Ruth - after a Great Aunt and a promise God fulfilled through a Moabite. 


This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

May 2019

Big Decisions

Dr. Rikki Permenter

You make your plans but God directs your actions. 

Proverbs 16:9





Lately my husband and I have had a handful of big decisions to make. We’ve prayed about them, gone back and forth about them, sought wise counsel, and talked to each other about them. The big decisions we had to make weren’t things that were explicitly talked about in the Bible - the Bible was silent on these things. No where in Scripture did it say “do this” or “don’t do this” in regard to our choice. We were kind of stumped. Have you ever had to make a big decision and it was something the Bible was silent on? 

After much deliberation we finally decided that if the choice we made would help us to do the things that are explicitly stated as “do this” in the Bible and would help us stay away from things that are explicitly stated as “don’t do this” than we would choose to do it. While every decision you have to make in life is not explicitly spelled out in Scripture, you do have everything you need in there to make God glorifying decisions. 



This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.

March 2019

Good Gifts 

Dr. Rikki Permenter

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:11

Last summer we had an event with huge slip-n-slide and grilled hot dogs for our youth and children at the church. We bought a huge roll of clear plastic sheeting, an economy size bottle of dish soap, and a huge inflatable swan. After we got it all set up and ran the hose over and the kids ran and slid for hours. They had such a good time - and even a few adults had a good time, too. During this event, I had some family in town that was staying with us for a few days. They have a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. When they first came out and saw the party the little boy said to me, “Aunt Rikki, you guys had this party, and everyone came just for us?” Not to burst his bubble, I said: “Yes, buddy this party is just for y’all to hang out and play!” 

This little guy saw all the festivities and just knew we planned it all for him. In reality, we planned it for all the kids - so I wasn’t exactly lying. He knew his family loved him and assumed we would give him good gifts and plan good things for him. He just knew it… because he knows us. This got me thinking that sometimes we assume that things God has for us aren’t going to be fun or we aren’t going to like them. I often hear things like this, “I knew it was God’s plan because it was the last thing I would ever want to do.” Hear me, God has good gifts and plans for us. He loves us and wants to do what is in our best interest and what is for His glory. 

We should approach God, our Father, with the same attitude as that little boy. We should expect to see the good things he has to give us and has planned for us. If I, who is sinful and selfish at my core, can give great stuff to a kid - how much greater is what God has in store?  If I (Rikki) then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter. 

February 2019

The Best Valentine

Dr. Rikki Permenter

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

John 3:16


I write to you today from an elementary school classroom. It is February 13 and the energy is electric. Tomorrow is the big day. February 14. Valentines Day. Valentines Day is a big deal when you’re eight. The stakes are high. You’ve got to make your very own mail box and you’ve got to personalize a valentine for each person in your class. It doesn’t matter who you are - the rules are clear - everyone gets a valentine from everyone else. At the end of the day, each kid will have a big box stuffed full of valentine notes, candies, and treats but it isn’t theirs until they take it. 

These valentine treats make me think of the greatest valentine. The valentine we get from God. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and has gifted each of us a box stuffed full of forgiveness. That forgiveness has our name on, he wrote it there specifically, handpicking it with us in mind. But, remember, the forgiveness isn’t ours until we take it. 

Ask any elementary student if they want to leave their newly acquired box of goodies at school - heck no! It is theirs and they want it. They don’t just want to talk about it or know they have it sitting in the class - they want to take each valentine into their little hands and eat each treat. 

This valentines season I hope you took time to truly take hold of the forgiveness that God has offered you in the form of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. It is yours - but you have to take it! Having your name on it isn’t enough. 

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter. 

January 2019

Sleep Training 

Dr. Rikki Permenter

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17



Over the last hand full of months, I’ve been sleep training a kid. She’s one now - she’s not a baby anymore and she really should be able to sleep through the night and she usually does… now. At first, we would rock her to sleep and gently set her in her crib and then ninja roll and stealthily sneak out of the room so we didn’t wake her up. She would inevitably wake up within two or so hours and scream until I ran to her rescue (which was usually about one minute later). Over the first few months that she slept in her own room and in her own bed she woke three, four, five, or even more times a night and I would quickly drag myself into her room and rock her back to sleep - only to do it all again maybe minutes later. After many sleepless nights, tears, and countless cups of coffee my husband had a talk with me. He leveled with me and told me that even though my daughter didn’t like it, she had to learn how to put herself back to sleep. That even though it broke my heart to hear her crying out in confusion and sorrow, the pain was necessary. The pain and sadness were helping her learn how to put herself back to sleep. Now, she (and I) are much more well rested and much happier. Through the hard time, she learned a necessary skill. 

How often are just like my daughter. We cry out to the Lord in pain, in sorrow, in the midst of confusion and sometimes he doesn’t quickly run into our rooms and fix the problem. He knows the bigger picture. He sees that the pain is necessary. The times of pain, sorrow, and confusion are teaching us necessary skills. They are helping us to become who he needs for us to be. Just like Paul writes in 2 Corinthians, we have to look at the eternal. Our light and momentary afflictions are transient. 

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter. 

December 2018

Submission

Dr. Rikki Permenter

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, 

to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 

Titus 3:1



In October our church’s nominating committee scoured our sanctuary’s pews to find the perfect teachers for each Sunday school class and the perfect volunteers for each committee. I’m not on that nominating committee (praise the Lord) but my husband is. This year I got volun-told to teach a Sunday school class. If we’re being fair, my husband volun-tells me to teach one every year - this year I just finally submitted to his God-given authority. (Yay for me being submissive, it only took 8 years.) I’m now the proud teacher of our Women’s Sunday school class. 

I think it took me 8 years to finally give in because I knew the huge responsibility that teaching a Sunday school class entails. Not only do you have to be there every Sunday (on time) but you have to be in the right frame of mind and with a lesson prepared. It isn’t just a Sunday-only gig, either. To do it right you truly want to live life with your class members and pray for them each by name regularly. 

Since it’s been a month or so, I’ve had time to reflect and I really do love to teach this class. I didn’t know I would love it as much as I do until I actually did it. God, like my husband, knows us better than we know ourselves. He calls us to do things that he knows we are equipped for and will enjoy. He presses it upon our hearts until we (finally) are submissive to the call. Is there any task that the Lord has laid upon your heart to do for a while that seems overwhelming? Is there a task that he keeps bringing to you that just don’t know if you would enjoy? Take time this new year to submit. You may find that He knows you better than you know yourself. You may find you do truly enjoy whatever it is he has equipped and called you to do.  

This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.