We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4b) The other day I was at my cousin's wedding with my little girl, and she was have a grand time dancing. I'm not going to lie: it was incredibly hilarious and hideous at the same time. As a 17-month-old, I'm not sure she'd win any dancing competitions, but she gave it her all. The ... [Continue Reading]
Not Me! (Isaiah 5-6)
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) Life with a one-year-old certainly presents some interesting learning situations. Right now we're working on teaching Madelyn to eat whatever is given to her. She has a special gift of evading a spoon full of food that she doesn't want ... [Continue Reading]
Setting the Direction (1 Kings 15:25-16:34; 2 Chronicles 17)
[Nadab] did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his father and committing the same sin his father had caused Israel to commit. (1 Kings 15:26) If you have children, then you, as a parent, have the responsibility of setting the direction for your family. Your kids take their cues from you, and the future and legacy of your family depends on the direction ... [Continue Reading]
Listen Up (Judges 14-15)
His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” (Judges 14:3) When I was young I always felt that my parents didn't really know what they were talking about. After all, ... [Continue Reading]
The Praying Parent (Judges 12-13)
Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.” (Judges 13:8) Parents have a responsibility to pray for their children. I'm a relatively new parent, and I'm learning the value of prayer in relationship to my new role. How do I be a good father? ... [Continue Reading]
One Generation (Judges 1-2)
After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10) All it takes is one generation to make a difference. One generation has the power to be a force of positive change, and it also has the power to drive a nation to its knees. There was a generation in ... [Continue Reading]
Instilling Faith (Deuteronomy 11-12)
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 11:18-19) Parents have an enormous responsibility of passing their faith on to their children. I ... [Continue Reading]
Little Eyes Are Watching (Genesis 25-26)
When the men of that place asked [Isaac] about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.” (Genesis 26:7) Where did Isaac learn to say that his wife was really his sister? He probably learned it from his dad. It's amazing that ... [Continue Reading]
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