Kindle Deals!

Amazon has some great deals on some classic parenting books! All of the books below are $1.99 for the Kindle version. I don't know how long the deal will last so if you are interested don't hesitate!

Shepherding a Child's Heart by  Tedd Tripp


Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp


Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman

The Octopus is telling of God's Glory!

Amazing!

Paul Washer, The Gospel. The most terrifying truth of Scripture....

12 Minutes that can change your life....FOREVER!

Matt Chandler Nails It!

What does God see when He looks upon those who have trusted Christ and Christ alone for their salvation? Watch this video to find out.

Familyman Weekly - Straight to the Point

Familyman Weekly - Straight to the Point

It is straight to the point but very important. Something so innocent can become very devastating.

God's Unconditional Love

This article on teaching children the Bible was an eye opener. While this article is geared towards children, I wonder how many adults would incorrectly answer the first two questions.

I find that I fall prey to the same faulty thinking that this article addresses. I sometimes find myself believing the lie that God's blessing in my life is based on my behavior. As I recently read in Jerry Bridges book, The Discipline of Grace, many Christians wrongly believe that, "...although we are saved by grace, we earn or forfeit God's blessings in our daily lives by our performance."

Bridges goes on to point out the important truth that, "Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace."

So true...but so easy to forget.

Check out the article by clicking the link below.

http://theresurgence.com/2013/07/10/teaching-children-the-bible

It's More Than Just What You Know

"You may as well quit reading and hearing the Word of God, and give it to the devil, if you do not desire to live according to it." ~ Martin Luther ~

So close!

I was so pulling for Phil Mickleson this weekend! He almost pulled it off which would have been an amazing story if he won. It was so nice to hear all of the commentary this week of how he put his family first and his priorities as a father in how he makes his decisions. While this speaks nothing of his faith in Christ I believe it is still a nice example of a man making his children a priority.

Remember parents, Ephesians 6:4 says that we are not only avoid provoking our children to anger by the things we do but also by the things we don't do as well. We cannot forget the last part of that verse. We must then bring them up in the training and instruction of The Lord. We must be teaching them the ways of The Lord by teaching them the Scriptures and teaching them about God.

As a recently read in a book called "A Parent Privilege" by Steve Wright, "Eternity is a priority as a Christian parent." It goes on to say, "No GPA, no scholastic accolade, no prestigious university, no desire to grow up to make a name for themselves, no athletic accomplishment, no promise of a high-paying career, no Broadway show standing ovation will grant peace, hope, or salvation. Daily pointing our children to eternity should be our great desire because Christ is their and our only hope."

You can find the book here.

How to Provoke Your Child to Anger

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

I've been spending some time this week studying what it means to provoke your child to anger as fathers are instructed NOT to do in Ephesians 6:4. While the practical list of things that I have come up with has grown to over 30 items, one has really caught my attention and that is summed up in one word. Preoccupation. Below is an excerpt from an article by Don Currin. I have a hard copy of the article but the link seems to be expired so I cannot attach the full article.

In Hosea 4:6, the prophet gives a solemn warning to those who forgot the law of their God through their own sinful preoccupation. God said that he would forget their children as a judgement for their wicked involvement.

While many believing dads today may not be involved in the sinful practices of Hosea's day, they may be so absorbed in their own agendas to the neglect of their kids. The story was told of how G. Campbell Morgan was approached by a distressed father who inquired as to how to regain the respect of his small boy. Can you imagine the man's surprise when the intellectual preacher asked, "have you ever tried a game of marbles?"

If we expect to have the utmost influence upon our children we must never prioritize our selfish desires and temporal interests over their needs. The dad who pursues his own carnal ambitions to the exclusion of quality interaction with his child may find it difficult to persuade that child to heed his counsel later in life.

I was so impressed by the decision that professional golfer, Phil Mickleson, made this week to forgo his preparation for one of the biggest golf tournaments of the year, The U.S. Open,  to attend his daughters 8th grade graduation in San Diego. He attended the graduation on Wednesday and then flew all night to Philadelphia arriving hours before his 7:11am tee time. I don't know much about the faith of Phil Mickelson but this is an example of a dad who is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure his family knows what is truly important to him. You can read more of this story here. 

I am amazed at how fast it seems that my own girls are growing up. My oldest just finished her freshman year of high school but I can remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. I am reminded to make the best use of the time while I still can. While many of us struggle with saying "no" to things that seem important, we must always remember that when we say "yes" to something that unnecessarily takes us away from our responsibilities as a dad we are in fact saying "no" to the people who matter most. The more time we spend with them when they are young and the more "deposits" we make into the bank account of their heart, we lessen the chance that we will make the mistake of provoking them to anger which could lead to bitterness and resentment. We then can have a greater influence on them as they grow into adulthood.

Divine Design

This morning on John MacArthur's podcast I heard that he is giving away his book called Divine Design for free to anyone who is a father. 

From GTY.org:

"Divine Design offers a Bible-based comparison of pop culture’s ideas about manhood and womanhood with God's timeless design. Discover the beauty, balance, and benefits of your unique role in the church and the home in this practical, well-researched tool."

All you have to do is send an email to letters@gty.org asking for the book and they will send it to you. Don't forget to let them know that you are a dad and leave your address. 

If you know anyone who is a dad feel free to pass this on. There is a link to the book below.

http://www.gty.org/products/books/452004

One of My Many Bad Habits

Proverbs 18:13
If one gives an answer before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.

Ouch! I am going to have to hide this one on my heart. I have a bad habit of interrupting people. Especially my children. I have been noticing how it frustrates them lately so I know I need to make a conscious effort to get better at this. This makes me think of another verse.

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

I have really become more aware of the many ways a father can provoke a child to anger. Unfortunately, this has happened through experience. Fortunately, I have also experienced what happens when I humble myself and ask my child to forgive me for my more than occasional "provoking" behavior.

We should never be too proud to admit to our children that we messed up and ask for their forgiveness. It usually turns into something that strengthens the bond between parent and child and teaches them that they are not the only one who struggles with sin. It paints a beautiful picture of the gospel and our daily need for the grace of God.

PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR!

"God doesn't use people because they are gifted. He uses people (even preachers) because he is gracious. Do we actually believe that? If we do believe it, then we will pray – we will pray before we speak, and we will pray for others before they speak. It's that simple." From Saving Eutychus, How to preach God's word and keep people awake by Gary Millar and Phil Campbell

Raising Bubble Babies

Raising Bubble Babies: As a parent of 3 daughters who are growing up quicker than I care to admit, these words by Clint Archer are very timely and provide wisdom for those of us who are still trying figure out this next stage of parenting. "Parent, you cannot break your child; they come broken. Likewise, exposing them to worldly vices will not make them sinful; they come that way already. I’m not saying kick your kid out of the protective bubble to fend for himself or herself. I’m saying, employ a strategy of slow, incremental education of how to deal with sin by relying on the Savior.

You cannot repair your child by yourself, but you can take him or her to the Savior for rescue. This is liberating in one sense, but it does not remove all responsibility from parents. This truth simply changes the responsibility of the parent, and realigns it with reality. You cannot save your child, but because Jesus can, your job is to constantly take your child to Jesus in prayer, through teaching, and by example."

Click HERE to read the entire article. 

Family Driven Faith

"There is no magic bullet when it comes to raising godly children. There is, however, a detailed road map. The Bible gives us everything we need in order to get the job done right. Make a commitment right now to teach the Bible in your home. Pray that the Lord will give you the courage, conviction, and endurance to see it through. Start with one day a week if that is all you can carve out. If necessary, make it a point to read the Bible during your evening meal each day. You may also want to consider a time of Bible reading at bedtime as you put the kids down. Whatever you do, read the Bible in your home." FAMILY DRIVEN FAITH by Voddie Baucham Jr.

Spiritual Discipline

"No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of Gods Word. Nothing can substitute for it. There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture. The reasons for this are obvious... Regardless of how busy we become with all things Christian, we must remember that the most transforming practice available to us is the disciplined intake of Scripture." SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE by Donald S. Whitney

500 Year Old Wisdom

"Most certainly father and mother are apostles, bishops, and priests to their children, for it is they who make them acquainted with the gospel. In short, there is no greater or nobler authority on earth then that of parents over their children, for this authority is both spiritual and temporal." --Martin Luther

Influencing Teens

Nothing has more power to influence a teenagers life–for good or ill–then home and family. Every youth ministry hour spent equipping parents to nurture faith in their teenagers is like giving money to public television: your gift is almost always doubled by a matching grant. Parents will always out-influence even a great youth leader, so it makes sense to invest where you'll get the best return. RICK LAWRENCE, TRENDWATCH. From the book Family-Based Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries

Teens and Technology

My wife recently sent me a good article with some very insightful thoughts on how texting, cell phones and iPods can be affecting our relationships with our teens. Good stuff. Click here to read the article.

http://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/teens/does-your-relationship-with-your-teen-need-an-intervention.html

You'll Find Your Way

Be sure to check out the video by Andrew Peterson for his song, "You'll Find Your Way." If you are a parent you are sure to enjoy it.