O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 Parents, you should not expect or trust the news media to tell your children the truth about God and his power. The press of the 21st century will not knowingly do that. “So,” you might reply, “what’s the […]
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"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live […]
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 In the latest mini-post I referenced the death and destruction that have occurred in Burma and China in the last few days. As of this date the AP reports that in Myanmar as many as 128,000 have died and over 2 ½ million have been severely impacted by the cyclone which devastated that region on May 3rd of this year. In China, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck the central part of that […]
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea… Psalm 46:2 You have, no doubt, read or heard of the devastation in Burma and now in China. Tens of thousands are dead and many more are homeless. What do you think of these events? Why did they happen? Your children are asking these questions. God wants you to give answers that will bring honor to him. If you have questions about these events, please share them with us. The next post will look at what God has to say regarding what he has brought about.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 Modern culture has developed a curious practice for giving appreciation to others. It is a mixture of style and substance, with the emphasis on style. This practice is called Day. Day is an extremely flexible and adaptable concept. While Day has no particular religious significance, it is nonetheless observed with ritual and sacrifice. […]
The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72 Parenting that honors God must be consistent with what God says about himself in Scripture. Your appreciation and awe for God and his Son must increase, not decrease. In any relationship, if you begin to take someone for granted the strength of that relationship begins to decrease. Taking God for granted, as in not having growing love for him, will lead to inconsistency in the things you say and the things you do. Children show particular expertise in detecting inconsistencies in parents. If you talk to you children about a God who is wonderful, about a Savior who means […]
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. —Isaiah 40:31 The Bible frequently describes the Christian life using the language of warfare. We are to overcome evil with good. We are to fight the good fight. We are to put on the full armor of God. The Word is the sword of the Spirit. This imagery is not given to alarm us but to remind us that the world around us is not a friendly place for Christians. But while the world is not friendly, God himself provides refuge and encouragement. The […]
I run in the paths of your commands, for you have set my heart free. —Psalm 119:32 In our last full post we talked about teaching our children to evaluate the impact of the entertainment in their lives. This raises an important point about the role of the Bible in parental instruction. God wants us to rely upon the Scriptures in all areas of our life. On the basis of passages like 2 Peter 1:3-4 and 2 Timothy 3:15-17 we affirm that the Bible is the only perfect or infallible rule for faith and life. I
Since there have been a few comments regarding the posts on praise and criticism here is a mini-post addressing a question from Dan. Sometimes parents hesitate to give praise for fear of encouraging pride and boasting. That is certainly understandable, and we need to think carefully how we offer praise so we’re not simply building up an ungodly, self-centered arrogance. Godly praise, on the other hand, is an opportunity to encourage your children by acknowledging God’s help and kindness to them. For example, Yes, Cameron, I saw you gave your truck to Colin. Remember how we prayed that God would help you to be unselfish? I think he answered that prayer and helped you to share, didn’t he? That’s wonderful! […]
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. —Colossians 2:8 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. — Proverbs 4:23 A Guide to Entertainment You and your children are targets of a subtle but vicious enemy. The enemy is a master of deception and stealth. He knows that if he attacks openly he will be recognized for who he is. So this enemy plans his attacks when they are least expected. He has no sense of fair play. He looks for the times when you and your family are […]