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Raising Children for a Babylonian World
A recent article in the TableTalk Magazine gives parents wise counsel on how to raise a Daniel for the Babylonian world they will be experiencing! This is a superb article with many wise points. Preparing Our Children for Babylon
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The First Gift and the First Gift Giver
Today children see ads for toys and other material glitzy gifts, and as they shop, the world has provided all the shininess it can. But, long ago in a land far a.w.a.y. there were at least three men, called wise men or Magi, who could only think of giving, not getting! Perhaps, they had either read or learned about a King to be born in the land of Israel from the prophecy of Micah. The scriptures tell us that they made elaborate plans and chose their best gifts for this newborn king. What they probably never knew was that their wise planning would guide the newborn’s earthly parents to help…
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Thanksgiving…Serving Others
Our nation is reeling with higher prices, longer lines, and delayed products arriving at our doorstep. We have become accustomed to instant gratification only to find that old demon of frustration creeping into our lives, and Black Friday adds to that frustration. We have allowed the retail industry to follow Thanksgiving by a day that promotes greed, selfishness, unkindness, and dissatisfaction. Could the enemy be any less pleased? What are we teaching our children about life and godliness when we rise early to spend much? Do we teach our children to say please and thank you only to show by our actions that we are greedy and demanding? If…
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Teaching Children about Intercession
Like children, we love getting caught up in a mystery book with its twists and turns. We meet villains and saviors and we see how the plot thickens. God is the master of mysteries and we can use His stories to teach practical lessons for real life. Take the story of the villain King Zedekiah in Jeremiah 38 who allowed other villains to unjustly imprison Jeremiah in of all places, a cistern! Who will save him? Who will be the man of the hour? Enter Ebed-Melech, not an Israelite, but an Ethiopian. Ebed-Melech had the heart to serve no matter the cost. He was willing to step in and confront…
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What is on your wish list?
What do you want is a question Jesus asked many as he traveled around the nation of Israel. He didn’t ask them what they thought or how they felt, but he wanted to know what was on their heart. Jesus is still the same today as he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He wants to know what is on the heart of our children and your heart as well. This is a question we need to ask our children and listen to their responses. Often we will hear I want the newest game or a new toy. But, what is Jesus listening for? He is listening to hear the…
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Our very own Seana Scott just was awarded first place from the Evangelical Press Association in the freelance article category. Here’s her blog post that they chose: The Gift of a Normal Day! The Gift of a Normal Day
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When Children face the unknown
How often do we hear little ones wanting to know the outcome of something for which it seems there is no instant answer? How do we comfort their hearts? What wisdom do we offer? Psalm 121 answered that question in a conversation someone might have had with two friends. #1 friend asks: I need help to answer my question. Where does my help come?” Then almost instantly answers his own question: “My help comes from the Lord.” [vs 1 -2] #2 friend responds with this encouragement; may He not allow your foot to slip. [vs 3] #3 friend affirms those words. The Lord is your protector, he never sleeps. He…
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What’s On Your Diet Today?
Advent #14 Hebrews 5 to 7, “OR: Are you dieting?” Are you a cookie-holic? We love December for its many cooky recipes! But, alas December is followed by January, and then we find ourselves groaning as we step on the scales! We know that the last cooky or last piece of candy should be put out of sight and out of mind. And children need this reminder as well! But, alas, we fall precipitously careless when so much is offered as a gift! And so comes January and our resolution to begin the rounds of dieting by sacrificing certain those foods, like cookies, so we can bring those scales back…
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Advent and the Nativity
Advent: The The Gospel Message & the Nativity One of the things we can be certain of; Christmas will come and Christmas will go. A child anticipates the coming of Santa but is that what we want our children to remember? Or is that Christmas is the birthday of our Savior? It is all about Him, not Santa. Perhaps that is why the Apostle John spent so much time writing about Jesus, and why he chose to author five books in the NT. Perhaps it is why he left the family business to follow Christ. Perhaps that is why when Christ said, “follow me,” he left it all behind. He…
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Faith is Proven
Children’s faith is proven by their simple understanding of how they relate to others and their actions; which is how we as adults do it as well. What is faith? How do we know if a child has it, or how do we know it is real? These are questions that we are called to help them in their walk with Jesus. Faith is an intangible gift from God. You can’t see it or feel or smell it or touch it, but it is real. Faith is proven not by our feelings but by our way of walking, trusting God for each new step along a path He has ordered…
