Yearly Archives: 2011

83 posts

A Prayer for Your Family for the Nations

Based on Psalm 67 O Lord, our great God, we ask that you would look upon us with your favor. We ask that you would bless us with the amazing privilege of making your great name known to all who dwell on the earth. Father, the world longs for relief from the burdens of this life, but the world does not know where to turn for help.  Would you, O Lord, pour out your Spirit upon us so that we will bring the good news of your salvation to all the peoples of the earth? Would you bless us in this way? Our earnest and passionate prayer is that the peoples of the earth would bring praise to you. Father, […]

What Do Your Children Fear?

What do your children fear? This is a question that every parent must be able to answer.  Since children are by nature enemies of God, they begin life without the ability to hope in Christ.  This means that they are vulnerable to the darkness and fear of this world. So, the question is not whether your children will fear, but what they fear. This requires that you have an intimate understanding of the way your child views his world.  Each child is different. But each is in need of the same renewal and victory over sin that is found in Christ alone. Psalm 62 says this: Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he […]

Are We God-Proof?

Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. The video images of  skyscrapers in Tokyo, swaying back and forth during this weekend’s monster earthquake, demonstrate this point. The fact that these buildings swayed, but did not fall, is a tribute to Japanese technology and planning. The problem is that there are few skyscrapers in the city of Sendai, which lies along the eastern coast of Japan, just miles from the epicenter of Friday’s massive earthquake. The most prominent structures in Sendai are homes, businesses, and nuclear power plants. These were all ravaged by the devastating force of the 8.9 earthquake and the tsunami that followed. Breathtaking videos showed the raw power of God, as boats, cars, […]

Parenting is not just Child Care

This post was excerpted from Chapter One of Instructing a Child’s Heart, by Tedd and Margy Tripp.  This section provides you with keen insight on the importance of formative instruction. The life classroom is constant, compelling and comprehensive. The same is true of our homes as well. They are environments where our children are constantly learning. Not only that, but we are always teaching our children. Our every response, whether it is instruction or silence, teaches. Our behavior and our love teach. But in addition to that natural process, God calls us to instruct our children about what to believe, how to think from the Scriptures, and how to live. In this book we will call that deliberate teaching “formative […]

God, the Middle East & the Oscars

This post is taken from our latest newsletter. The theme of this newsletter is to help people see that God is vitally involved in all that happens in life. So on the surface the turmoil in the Middle East and the Academy Awards may seem to have little to do with each other. But God rules over each and every fragment of life. The solution to the impact of sin is always bowing to the will of God and his Son. In this sense all of life is connected to the plans and purposes of God. Please pass the newsletter along to those you know. It is a great way to know what is going with Shepherd Press and perhaps […]

Get Wisdom on the Radio

Pastor Kevin Boling, of the Knowing the Truth radio program, will interview Ruth Younts about Get Wisdom! today at 1 p.m. Below is a link to the Knowing the Truth home page. The link below will allow you to access both the live broadcast and the archived version of show for later listening. Let us know what you think. Here is the link.

Who Is Telling the Truth?

Here is a comment from one of our readers about an issue related to lying. These kinds of comments are always welcome and I thank Michael for posting this. Thank you for these posts on lying. My 12 year old has participated in the sin of lying several times over the years causing him to be caught in it several times. He struggles with self-pity and I had never thought that it could be the root of his lying. Recently his 9 year old brother has contradicted his claims to the truth of a matter several times. Most recent it was concerning whether the 12 y.o. was playing a computer game when not allowed. As the parent I have no […]

Red Like Blood on Knowing the Truth

Bob Bevington, co-author of Red Like Blood was recently interviewed on the Knowing the Truth radio program by Pastor Kevin Boling. You can listen to the interview anytime by going to this link. Knowing the Truth Pastor Boling will also be interviewing Ruth Younts, author of Get Wisdom!, this coming Tuesday, March 1. More details next week.

What to do about lying

Children’s lies are a harsh reminder of the nature of sin. To fully appreciate the immense power and value of the cross in our lives, we must have a profound sense of the ugliness of sin. This awareness must extend to your children as well. My children and your children come into this world as natural enemies of God. Telling the truth and avoiding deceit  is not natural for them. They seek first and foremost to gratify their own passions and desires, even if it means that others will be harmed. They are by nature children of wrath.

Lying to God

In one sense all lies are lies to God. However, as the passage below shows, there is a particular type of lie that qualifies specifically as lying to God. I think of this as “lying on steroids.” Often, this lie is not about hiding things that are wicked, but about misrepresenting things that appear to be good, even righteous. This is where the greatest danger lies for children raised in Christian homes. That is why your parenting must go beyond addressing behavior.