Raising our children for Christ part 4

April 24, 2009 on 1:12 pm | In Marriage, parenting | No Comments

Solomons templeIn 1 Chronicles chapter 22 David is preparing to build the Temple for the Lord. He has been told by God that he would not be the one to build it but rather his son Solomon would build it. This chapter offers the Christian parent a few nuggets of gold for raising our children for Christ. I’ll touch on a few.

“David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.” (v.5) David recognizes that Solomon needs his father’s guidance in order to fulfill the mission. A key to understand David’s thinking and motivation comes when he explains what the Temple should be. David isn’t focused on Solomon being great; no, David is focused on raising Solomon up so he can better glorify the Lord. We as parents must focus on raising our children so they can better glorify Jesus Christ. David also made ample preparations before his death. We must ensure we make every effort to physically set our children up for success. Make the preparations now so they will be able to build a temple worthy of the Lord.

“Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would.” (v.11) All too often we as parents set out to raise our children for Christ as we see a Christ-like life lived. We must live a Christ-like life as we believe it to be lived, but we must allow our children to live the life the Lord leads them on. We are called as parents to raise our children to love Jesus and follow His commands. Don’t place your children in a box. Allow them to freely follow the Lord.

“Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.” (v.19a) There comes a time when we’ve laid the foundation and we must charge our children. We must be prepared to give our blessing and send them out. Many parents don’t understand the importance of bestowing a blessing upon their children. Parents, your children want your blessing. They need it. Raise them to love Jesus then give them your blessing and send them out. If your children have already gone out without your blessing it’s not too late, bless them. Let them know they are blessed by you. All for God’s glory! AMEN!

Raising our children for Christ part 3

April 22, 2009 on 12:41 pm | In Marriage, parenting | No Comments

brite light“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

If your actions speak louder than words, what are your actions saying? Do you have a light shining before all men that leads them to praise your Father in heaven? Knowing that more is caught than taught in the spiritual growth of children, we must consciously develop their lesson plan and present it on the blackboard of life. Make no mistake; the lesson must be clear in your actions because that is the lesson that will be learned.

Children are very vigilant and will see through any feeble attempt to teach them something you’re not already living. If you expect your children to be honest yet conduct your own business in a dishonest manner, the dishonest model will be followed. If you desire your children to love the Lord yet you only give the Lord your time on Sunday, you should expect a lukewarm response from your children as well.

Developing a lesson plan for your children should be prayerfully thought out and implemented. Consider the traits and characteristics you wish to be developed in your child and then implement them in your own life. Be creative. Think of ways to demonstrate those traits in your everyday life. Be real as well. Remember, children will see the façade if you teach one thing but cave under pressure. And remember, the point is to develop a light that leads all men (and children) to praise their Father in heaven.

Raising our children for Christ part 2

April 21, 2009 on 12:25 pm | In Marriage, parenting | No Comments

letters“The greeting is in my own hand—Paul” (v.21) “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”(v.24) 1 Corinthians 16: 21, 24

Having established the necessity of quantity and quality time in order to raise our children for Christ, the question emerges: What if I’m not able to spend time with my children? With the increase of careers hinging on world travel and extended business trips (such as a one year military deployment) children are often left without the presence of one or both parents. So if you’re the parent who is unable to be present with your children are you forced to resign your responsibility of raising your children for Christ? No!

Paul offers an example of a spiritual parent who travels often. Though Paul can’t be physically present with all of his spiritual children, he demonstrates a true love and concern for their spiritual well being. His first letter to the Church at Corinth is the example I used, but Paul regularly wrote to his children. Though Paul couldn’t spend time with his children, he certainly spent time on his children.

Paul regularly prayed for his spiritual babes, wrote them letters pertaining to their spiritual growth, and often told them that he loved them. Certainly there was no doubt in their minds that Paul loved them and desired for them to love Jesus Christ as well. Parents, we live in an un-perfect world that sometimes causes us to be apart from our beloved children. However, we must never lose sight that we are responsible for raising our children for Christ. One day we’ll be together again and able to spend eternity in the presence of our Lord. AMEN!

Raising our children for Christ

April 20, 2009 on 12:47 pm | In Marriage, parenting | No Comments

children“And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach.” (Mark 3:14)

No one loves their children more than I love my children. I love all four of my children with a deep love that desires the absolute best for them all the time. This loving desire to offer my children the best has driven me to the Lord with the question, “Lord, what is the best thing I can offer my children?” The clear and undeniable answer to the question was a relationship with Jesus Christ. So how do we best offer this to our children?

Jesus chose twelve men who would become His spiritual children on earth. Jesus’ example as a spiritual father teaches us much about how we ought to raise our children. Mark 3:14 says that Jesus chose the twelve so they would ‘be with Him’. His chosen method of raising children who would grow up to be just like Him was…spending time with them. Jesus knew that sermons have a place in spiritual growth but more is caught than taught. The disciples would learn far more by watching Jesus’ example than by listening to a sermon.

Parents, we must understand that our example is the resounding message our children hear. If you desire the best for your children, you must exemplify the life you wish them to lead. You have 2 parts in this responsibility. 1. You must first live the life you wish your children would live. This accounts for the “quality time” so many talk about. 2. You must live this life in the presence of your children. You must spend time with them. This accounts for the “quantity of time” so many believe can be substituted for quality time only. Our responsibility in raising Godly children is to spend a quantity of quality time with them. This is a sacrificial role to take but the dividends of this investment last for generations.

Why we miss the miraculous

April 15, 2009 on 2:37 pm | In Spiritual growth | No Comments

angelic army“so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.” (1 Chronicles 14:14-16)

Have you ever felt powerless in life? Ever wondered why God doesn’t move in more miraculous ways in your life? Obviously we have miracles in our lives every day; the gift of life itself is a miracle, but why don’t we see legions of angels defeating the armies of darkness in our path? Well, David offers a good example of a man setting the stage for God to do the miraculous in his life.

The first note I must make is that David had many days in which he did not see the miraculous happen; days in which he wished he would see the miraculous but didn’t. However, we find David inquiring of God, again, for what he should do. This is Davids secret to the miraculous. Many believers understand the first part of Davids secret but not the second. We know we should seek God for our future plans, but once He speaks we take that Word and run with it. Had David taken the Word God clearly spoke to him for yesterday and applied it to today he would have missed the miraculous blessing God had in store for him.

David’s secret to seeing the miraculous happen in his life is that he completely depended on God to call all the shots in his life every day. Friends, we must not come to the Lord seeking a solution to a problem but rather as a way of life. If we seek only a solution we’ll be tempted to turn and walk away once He answers. We must continue to come to Him even once He’s answered. When we live a life dependent upon Him to call all the shots in our lives, we’re setting the stage to see the miraculous happen.

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