Monthly Archives: January 2021

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We all have had a conversation with a boy who proclaimed he was going to do great and mighty things. Listening, you smiled, affirmed, and encouraged him as he spoke, but inwardly you wondered, “Will he actually do it?”

Have you noticed that doesn’t just apply to boys? A few months back, I was visiting with my son, Nathan, and his wife, Melanie, on the driveway when they were dropping something off. At one point in the conversation, I commented that I still wanted to lose ten more pounds, and I was going to do it. They responded with appropriate smiles and encouragement. Well, three months later, not only have I not lost those pounds, I have packed on a few more.

Aren’t we glad Noah, Moses, and Paul were men of God who put action to their words? What if Jesus, when in the garden, had called down legions of angels to avoid going to the cross? We all would be headed for eternity in hell. “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53).

What have you said you would do and haven’t? First in priority is our relationship with Christ (Col. 1:18) — in the Word every morning and praying (1 Peter 2:2). Make sure you are involved in a Bible-believing/preaching church each week (Hebrews 10:25). What about investing in your marriage (Eph. 5:25) and relationships with your children (Deut. 6:7)? (Don’t believe the quality versus quantity lie!) May we be men of our word.

Committed to Training Our Children

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God gives us untrained children. From then on, everything we do or don’t do—our passions, subtile pleasures, self-discipline, reactions, what we hate, what we love —are all imprinted on our children. Whatever measure of rebellion, disrespect, or lack of self-control in our children that we accept is part of the “training process.” To top it off, how the child perceives our love of God, our worship, and time in His Word, can affect him for eternity. Self-control is one of the most important things for our children to learn.  

One tool that facilitates the whole family learning self-control is a daily, home schedule. Not only are needed things accomplished, but it helps a child (everyone for that matter) develop self-control. To submit to boundaries and structure is critical for life. The flesh wants freedom and nothing external telling it what to do. However, we are bought with a price. All of our time and our whole life is owned by our God. His yoke is easy for the obedient but not for the rebel. There are times to sit still and be attentive (church) and times to be active. Each must learn to rule over himself in order to submit to the One Who owns us.  

If you would like help in this area these resources have proven beneficial in tens of thousands of lives: Managers of Their Homes and Redeeming the Time.   

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).

SUCCESS ORIENTED

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 Most parents would love for their children to sit still and be attentive at church. The question is how many are willing to invest in their children to achieve that end. If you are, it’s achievable, and family Bible time is the ideal training vehicle with the side benefit of them learning self control.

Begin with a mental checklist of Bibletime-behavior goals for your children. Make your guidelines achievable, and explain them to all the children when you begin. Don’t resort to the bad idea of allowing children to play with toys during this time as it teaches them to think about things other than God’s Word. 

Even little ones love how good it “feels” when they are praised by the family at the end for sitting still and having been quiet. Encourage/remind the older children that their example influences the “youngers.”

I watched my son, Christopher(six children ages 1 to 8), improve upon what we did in our home for family Bible time. I am blessed by his faithfulness and diligence in this. To help the little ones when beginning Bible time, he holds up one hand and then sequentially points to each finger associating a behavior with it. 

o Hands busy (hands clasped together)
o Sit up
o Feet down
o Be quiet
o Listen carefully

Over time, he no longer needed to rehearse these each night. Often, when they have done exceptionally well, Christopher will reward them with something active a little one would enjoy.

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments” (Psalm 119:9,10).

In the Word: The Right Priority

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As the year closed and the new one began, did you evaluate yourself spiritually, looking back and looking forward? Can you see spiritual growth in your life? If so, do you want more? If not, do you want it this year? Bible reading is the right priority in your life, and it is key to spiritual growth.

God’s Word

God gives us the path to spiritual growth. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). 

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Too Busy? Too Tired?

I’ve learned something about people. They find time for things that are important to them. The Word is what nourishes and sustains our souls and keeps us going when things are crazy, hectic, overwhelming, hurtful, or troubling. You name it—God’s Word helps us with it. Bible reading is the right priority. Therefore, I must be in the Word. We make time to eat physical food. Nourishing our souls is just as critical as nourishing our bodies. I remember the days of babies, preschoolers, and homeschooling. I heard moms in that stage of life say, “I don’t have time to read my Bible. I would like to, but I have so much to do, and I am too tired to get up early. God understands. This is just a stage in my life. Things will be different later.”

While that sounded appealing to my flesh, my soul had a deep need. Like that newborn baby Peter talks about, I longed for the milk of the Word so I could grow spiritually. Sisters, you know babies aren’t put off easily from eating. They are insistent and demanding. That is the attitude we need toward time in the Word—an attitude that nothing will keep us from it. 

Early Will I Seek Thee

I understand the problem of not having time for Bible reading, but I also learned the solution. Make a scheduled time, an appointment if you will, with the Lord and your Bible. When you get up early to read your Bible before family life begins, you have fewer interruptions, you gather spiritual manna to carry you through the rest of the day, you focus on what is truly important, and you begin the day abiding in the Vine. You carry truth from the Word in your heart and mind as you move into your daily tasks. “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is” (Psalms 63:1).

Starts Even Earlier

Here’s the secret to getting up early to have time with the Lord. Go to bed early! You won’t get up with your alarm if you haven’t had enough sleep. I can almost guarantee that. You will make an excuse about needing more sleep, roll over, and go back to sleep. And in doing that, you reap negative consequences all day. How sweet it is, though, to rise before the children, get your Bible, and spend time with your Lord—praising, worshipping, delighting, feeding, learning, growing, and being nurtured. 

You might tell me how much you have to do at night and that you can’t go to bed early. Sister, evaluate your priorities. Is texting, computer time, dishes, laundry—whatever is keeping you up—more important than Jesus, more important than drinking the sincere milk of the Word, more important than the fruit of the Spirit in your life?

If you are staying up late for those tasks, implement a daily schedule, and they can be accomplished before bedtime. 

Dear Sisters, no more excuses, no more wishing it was different, no more living without spiritual milk and manna, no more good plans for tomorrow. Choose today, the beginning of a new year, to do what God tells us will help you be what He wants you to be and what you want to be as well.

Do you need help putting together time in the Word? If so, we have two resources available: Managers of Their Homes (for scheduling) and Sweet Journey (for spiritual discipline).

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Posted in: Mom's Corner

Starting

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To get it right, start early. However, infants are too young for church-type training so parents will do well to preemptively manage the child’s sleep, feeding, and hygiene needs. In the event that plan fails, head for the cry room.

As he gets older, training can begin. Using every opportunity, once a baby can sit in a high chair to eat, meal prayer times are perfect for simple training. Teach your children these three basic rules for praying: hands folded, eyes down, sit still. Of course, it will be funnier than effective at first, but you’re committed, remember? 

Start with short prayers and over time, move to progressively longer ones. If you are implementing this with toddlers, tell them you will be praying with your eyes open so you can make sure theirs are closed. If they aren’t successful, they can practice longer while others are being served their meal first. 

Don’t underestimate your child’s ability to understand when his behavior is pleasing you. Tones and smiles communicate a lot to your small children before they can speak. More next time on other opportunities to help your children develop self control. 

“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right” (Proverbs 11:20).