Viewing entries tagged
Parents
Five habits every Christian parent must develop:
Our lives are busy! I think every parent would agree with that. The problem is in all of our busyness, sometimes we fail to accomplish the tasks that are important to ourselves and our families. I understand that these are not new principles, but they are incredibly important, so stay with me please. Here are five basic habits that every Christian parent needs to develop.
1. Reading the Word of God.
I told you they were basic! But let me ask you, how much time have you spent in God’s Word today? As youth pastor, I am constantly trying to encourage young people to spend time in God’s Word. My prayer would be that their parents would be modeling that desire for God’s Word. Our goal as parents should be to be characterized like the “blessed man” in Psalms 1. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)
2. Studying the Word of God
Somewhere in our “Christian culture” we have made reading the Bible synonymous with studying the Bible. As parents, what are we personally learning from God’s Word? What are we actively investigating and pondering from the Bible? Our young people need parents, who are digging deep into the truth of the Scripture. There are many Christian families who are being deceived, because they are waiting to stumble across truth rather than pursuing truth. Paul urged Timothy “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Though our schedules are full, we must make time to study the Word of God.
3. Memorizing the Word of God
The first two principles are pretty standard although not always practiced. This third principle is not as common. For some reason, we equate Scripture memorization with children’s church or the Christian school. As adults we have “valid” reasons for not memorizing scripture. “I don’t have time in my busy schedule to memorize God’s Word.” “ I have a terrible memory.” The Bible makes Scripture memory an imperative! Psalm 119:11states “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Joshua 1:8 declares “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth…” Colossians 3:16 says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” During Jesus ministry, He quoted Scripture numerous times. (Matthew 4:4,7,10; Matthew 13:15; Luke 4:18-19; and many others) The reason we must memorize the Word of God is because we need truth in our hearts. Today, we have copies of the Bible on our shelves, on our mobile devices, and on the decorations in our houses, but not in our hearts. Young people need to see their parents striving to memorize Scripture.
4. Praying
What are you praying about as a parent? We all carry needs and burdens on our hearts for our families. But how much time do we actually spend in prayer. We have been commanded to “Pray without ceasing.”(1 Thessalonians 5:17) Paul told the Philippian church “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6) Prayer is a fundamental of the Christian life. E. M. Bounds said it well when he said “ The little estimate we put on prayer is evidence from the little time we give to it.” A Christian father and mother must make time to pray! We must pray with our children and for our children. Imagine the testimony to God’s power when a child sees a parent pray and God answer!
5. Worshiping and Magnifying Christ outside of Church
Colossians 3:16-17 demonstrates that we are to live lives dedicated to our Lord. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Do we give praise or sing to God in our homes? In many homes we have created an environment where their is “home life” and there is “church life”. I believe this can be one of the most confusing and frustrating situations in a Christian home. A child sees a parent “worship” God at church, but at home His wonderful works are not mentioned. D. L. Moody once said, “A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian… and most of all his family ought to know.” Sing Christ-exalting music in your home! Praise the Lord in your home! Allow your children to see God doing exciting things in your life!
These five principles are simple truths, but they are not always easy to accomplish. May we as Christian parents work hard to implement these godly habits. Yes, our schedules are hectic and our lives are busy, but these simple habits are important!
Great article by Abbi Perets from MacWorld. It's a great read for every parent!
In case you missed it...
This is a 13 week study that will help to break down the process of being transformed into the image of Christ, as well as the process of becoming an effective disciple of Christ and teacher of His Word. The class is designed to encourage an intensive daily study of God's word so that you can understand and apply biblical change in your life as a believer. We will learn how to pass these basic tenants of a spirit filled life to our children through practical and specific examples. Our journey will take us through the process of understanding and putting off the flesh, renewing our minds through a cleansing by the word, and putting on the new man which reflects God's holiness and righteousness. Come join us for weekly instruction and discussion on how to disciple our children in the truth of God's word. The recommended text and study guide can be used as a daily devotional for home study and family discussion. Rob Buchalski will be teaching this class in the upper room. We hope you'll make plans to attend!
This is the set of rules from Janelle Hofmann given to her son for his new iPhone. Although I may not agree with every sentnce in this "contract", it is wise for every parent to have rules regarding technology use.
'WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS GIFT COMES RULES': THE AGREEMENT
1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren't I the greatest?
2. I will always know the password.
3. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads "Mom" or "Dad". Not ever.
4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30pm every school night & every weekend night at 9:00pm. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30am. If you would not make a call to someone's land line, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect other families like we would like to be respected.
5. It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It's a life skill. *Half days, field trips and after school activities will require special consideration.
6. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs. Mow a lawn, babysit, stash some birthday money. It will happen, you should be prepared.
7. Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others.
8. Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.
9. Do not text, email, or say anything to someone that you would not say out loud with their parents in the room. Censor yourself.
10. No porn. Search the web for information you would openly share with me. If you have a question about anything, ask a person - preferably me or your father.
11. Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that.
12. Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else's private parts. Don't laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. And it is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear -- including a bad reputation.
13. Don't take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.
14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO -- fear of missing out.
15. Download music that is new or classic or different than the millions of your peers that listen to the same exact stuff. Your generation has access to music like never before in history. Take advantage of that gift. Expand your horizons.
16. Play a game with words or puzzles or brain teasers every now and then.
17. Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.
18. You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You & I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.
via abc.com
I read a sermon by Charles Spurgeon and this quote jumped off the page:
I trust you will never give up that excellent puritanical habit of catechising your children at home. Any father or mother who entirely gives up a child to the teaching of another has made a mistake. There is no teacher who wishes to absolve a parent from what he ought to do himself. He is an assistant, but he was never intended to be a substitute. Teach your children; bring up your old catechisms again, for they are after all blessed means of instruction, and the next generation shall outstrip those that have gone before it; for the reason why many of you are weak in the faith is this, you did not receive instruction in your youth in the great things of the gospel of Christ. If you had, you would have been so grounded, and settled, and firm in the faith, that nothing could by any means have moved you. I beseech you, then, understand truth, and then you will be more likely to hold fast by it. -Charles Spurgeon
(catechise: to instruct by asking questions, receiving answers, and offering explanations and corrections)
Starting in October we will be starting a 7 week Sunday School Curriculum "Hook, Line & Sinker" by Cary Schmidt. Our Sunday School Group will be meeting at 9:30am Sunday mornings. In a day when our families are under attack, We look forward to open the Word of God with teens and their families at the same time. I'm excited about the opportunity to dive into this great book by Cary Schmidt. The workbook is not necessary for the Sunday, but it is a good resource. It's $3.95 on Amazon or Striving Together. I hope you'll plan to join us Sunday mornings for "Hook, Line & Sinker"