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