It is August and summer is practically over. It is time to get ready for school again. There are multiple lists to check: clothing, textbooks, supplies, transportation, after-school activities and more. You know the drill. However, there is one important matter that you don’t want to overlook – your marriage. The challenges of school are hard on a marriage. Time, relationship,and communication can be consumed by the demands of school. The relationship between mom and dad can easily shift into one where scheduling and time pressure become the main focus. Is your marriage ready for school? Don’t be afraid to ask the question. Fathers, it would be best if you take the leadership role here. Make it a priority these […]
Monthly Archives: August 2013
36 posts
Don’t even think about hiding. Corporate worship is a time when we put our best foot forward. We want to worship well, listen well, encourage well. Another reason for having others think the best is that we are hurting and want to deflect any questions about our struggles. We are worshipping the one who knows us for what we are. I must not attempt to hide my heart from God. I may be able to come up with reasons to withhold from people, but never from God! If I am in the hiding business then I cannot be in the worship business. Attempting to hold back from God is lying to God. God knows everything there is to know about […]
Do your children believe the gospel of Christ is about His performance on the cross? Or do your kids think that the gospel means God will only be pleased if they obey him and obey you? Do your kids think that the gospel means that they must be good so God will love them? Do your kids think that they must be good for you to like them, for you to love them? Your everyday talk teaches your functional understanding of the gospel to your children. Does your everyday talk center upon grace or performance? Listen to your children talk about their understanding of the gospel. They do, you know. You may be thinking that children seldom, if ever, sit […]
“All you care about is your stupid rules! You care about your rules more than you do about me! Thanks, a lot for not caring.” With these words your 14 year-old storms back to her room. Sadly, this exchange is not unusual. Parents want to protect their children. Their teenagers don’t think they need protection. The parents make rules. The teenagers think the rules are arbitrary and say so, well, not in those exact words. The parents feel disrespected. The teenagers feel abandoned. The parents tighten up on the rules. The teenagers are convinced the parents don’t care and don’t want to care. Nothing less than wisdom from above can address this breakdown. The Holy Spirit describes wisdom from above […]
Recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with my friend, Kirk Cameron, while he was fishing with 2 of his sons. During the interview you can hear the excitement as one of the boys hooked a fish! We talk about Kirk’s knew movie, Unstoppable, family life and the importance of the heart, as well as Kirk’s deep appreciation for Tedd Tripp and Shepherd Press. It is an enjoyable half hour.
Deuteronomy contains Moses’ farewell instructions to Israel. He had led them in the wilderness for 40 years. Moses knew that he would not be able to go with them into the Promised Land. He knew that the daily reminders of God’s presence, the manna, the cloud above, the clothes that would not wear out, would only be memories. So what does Moses urge for Israel? Here it is: “But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.” Deut. 4:9 NLT So how do you hang on to these great truths […]