Tag: Parenthood

Digging in Deeper: Proverbs 22:6

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“Point your kids in the right direction— when they’re old they won’t be lost.”‬‬ (The Message – Read the chapter) 

Parenting is tough. I can say that with confidence and I’m only ten years into it. Every season has its challenges. And every season feels like its challenges are bigger and harder than the season before it. You can’t imagine it could get any harder—or better—and then it does. If you are a parent committed to seeing your children grow to love and follow the Lord, this just adds an extra burden to the pile. This particular burden is great enough, verses like this one are often claimed as a cover for mistakes we might have made along the way. Is that okay? 

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Digging in Deeper: Psalm 78:5-7

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“He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;”‬‬ (ESV – Read the chapter)

What are you teaching your children? Because the fact is, you are teaching them something. Every single thing you do is teaching them to look at and interact with the world in a certain way. Everything. From the way you dress to how you talk to them to how to talk to their mother to the work you do to your attitude about that work to the kind of hobbies you have to how much time you spend with that hobby to all the rest. The real question is not whether we are teaching our children, but if we are teaching them by intention or by accident. 

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Morning Musing: Luke 3:21-22

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“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'”‬‬ (ESV – Read the chapter) 

This was a powerful moment. It was powerful in a couple of ways. Spiritually speaking, this was a powerful affirmation of Jesus’ identity before the people. Many, many people had been baptized that day and this hadn’t happened to any of them. It was also powerful personally. Jesus got a message from His Father affirming His identity. The spiritual side of the experience may have been important to the people around Him, but the personal affirmation would have meant the most to Him. There’s just something about hearing our parent—especially our dad—affirm who we are that means the world. 

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Morning Musing: 1 Samuel 8:1-3

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“When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.  The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.  Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain.  They took bribes and perverted justice.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

How ironic and tragic it is that Samuel fell into the same error as Eli! While it appears he was even more faithful to the Lord as a judge than Eli was, Samuel’s sons were given positions as judges over Israel because of who their father was and, like Eli’s sons, were unfaithful failures in the positions as well. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Exodus 19:5

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“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my reassured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine…”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

One of the things we are called to (and by “we,” I mean “everybody”) over and over again in the Scriptures is obedience.  We live in a day, though, when obedience is not a popular idea.  We want to be free to do as we please.  We want to loosen the restrictions on ourselves so we can pursue our hearts’ desires without any limitations.  Nobody likes the idea of obedience…except for when they do. Read the rest…