Teaching Our Boys the Gospel

By on January 25, 2011 in growing godly men, the heart

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:7

This is quite a task, to teach our children the Gospel. We are clearly commanded in scripture to take every opportunity to point our children to Christ. We must be able to clearly, concisely explain to them the Good News about Jesus.

As a mom, I am so thankful for my “Crusade Days”; my time as a missionary to college students. Through those days I was given many opportunities to share my faith, and this evangelism training has been incredibly valuable as I trust the Lord for the salvation of my children.

We must stick to the basics and emphasize truths sequentially, when it comes to presenting the Gospel. To do this, we need to know the main points of the gospel well, so that we can impart each truth when the moment arises.

1. God loves you. We must give our kids an ever-growing base of believing right things about God. I love the way the Jesus Storybook Bible portrays the love of God: “His Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.”

2. You are a sinner and therefore separated from God. We see the sin in our boys every day. However (just like their parents) they are slow to see their sin as sin. Sin is missing the mark; anything less than perfection. Before they can understand the value of Christ’s sacrifice for them, they must see their need for Him.

3. Jesus is the only answer to your sin problem. Period. Not by first-time-obedience. Not by going to church. Not by {fill-in-the-blank}. Just Jesus. We must point our boys to the cross of Christ as their only hope.

4. You must make a choice to accept God’s gift of grace, through Jesus. The only part we have in our salvation is faith. Our boys must recognize that God loves them, that they are a sinner, and that they so desperately need Jesus. Once they do recognize these truths they have a choice; to choose whether or not to submit themselves to Jesus, as their Savior and Lord.

While ultimately it is God who will draw our boys to Himself, we have the great privilege and responsibility to point our children to Christ. Let us be prepared for each moment the Lord gives us to teach the gospel to our children. In the months to come, we will be taking a deeper look at each of these four truths, and how we can use them to diligently teach our children about the Gospel.

{Lord, we pray that you would grant repentance to each of our boys, and that by grace, through faith they can enter into a relationship with you!} Ephesians 2:8

What are some ways that you all are imparting each of these truths as you “sit in your house” and “walk by the way” with your kiddos?

A great resource to help you teach the gospel to your kids is Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp.

*The four main points of this series follow the outline of The Four Spiritual Laws.

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For Those Weed Pulling Parenting Seasons

By on January 24, 2011 in a mother's heart, connection with boys, Uncategorized

This child is not one to wear his heart on his sleeve. He is more fighter than lover. In the past, he’s shown love in many ways, like singing with me to the car radio. Still, his status quo is to forgo the mushy stuff and put on the brave I’m-really-10-years-older-than-I-am face.

But lately? This 11 year old has been living love to me like I’ve not seen since the toddler years. He snuggles me. He tells me he loves me multiple times a day. He asks my advice.

And he listens to what I say. Sometimes.

His passionate personality knows no middle ground. This child has a strong willed nature that runs a mile wide and I’ve been on my knees more than a few times begging for parenting smarts. When times are hard I can feel like I’m not qualified to parent a fence post much less any child.

Then God gives a gift of grace here and I get to see some fruit from these prayers. God is refining our boy and filling in the gaps. Some of our words and the Word are sinking in. I’m relishing this season when he is putting his passion towards a little demonstrative love rather than something negative.

“Like a gifted gardener, a mother’s role in nurturing her children is both difficult and delightful. Sometimes we get to enjoy beauty and sweet fragrance, and other times we’re sweating and pulling weeds in the heat of the day.”

Scharlotte Rich from The Promise of a Mother’s Prayers

We aren’t done yet, and heaven knows there’s still opportunity to do some (more) damage. Those teen years are coming and we have plenty of time for him to ping pong back and forth between his desire to grip childhood and grab adulthood. That strong willed nature isn’t gone for good; we will butt heads again. Just the same, I’m treasuring these times now, enjoying the fragrant garden after a season of serious weed-pulling. I don’t know how long it’ll last…maybe ’til tomorrow or maybe much longer. So, I’m going to savor and stockpile this ’til I’ve got a good deposit for those days when he wants to withdraw some independence and keep Mama distant.

Are you in a season of parenting weed pulling? Do you feel like all the yanking in the world won’t make those stubborn weeds give way? Take heart! That’s the perfect spot to be in for God to do His thing. You don’t have what it takes on your own, but He has what it takes and then some. Keep pulling and pruning and watering. Invest time and effort and attention into your children and the fruit will come. Pray for them in your quiet time, in the car, in their beds as they sleep. Allow mistakes for your kids and yourself. Model His mercies that are new every morning and His unlimited do-overs.

And watch your garden grow.

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I Just Can’t Be Good…

By on January 21, 2011 in Uncategorized

I sit and hold my son’s hand and rub his back. Huge crocodile tears are dripping down his sad face; lips trembling and breath catching between whispered words.

“I just CAN’T be good…”

He has been struggling lately, my precious boy—teetering wildly between extreme hyperactivity and extreme emotional outbreaks, not sleeping, not eating, acting up in school.  We are having to adjust his medication for ADHD, and the change is taking its toll as he is able to “feel” for the first time in years. He doesn’t quite know how to handle the emotions going on inside him, and in his own words he calls himself distracted, dumb, unhappy, bad.

My heart hurts for him as we try to do what’s best for him; which sometimes seems oh so wrong. I collect my thoughts, speak Truth instead of momma doubt and uncertainty about decisions we have had to make regarding his medication.

I tell him God always makes each of us special. And it is our job to accept our specialness and take it as high and far and wide as we can to find ways to praise Him.

I tell him not a single one of us is perfect and can’t be good always ever, and he chimes in with a small smile

“Except Jesus!”

“Yes, sweetie, except Jesus…”

I tell him that God loves us no matter what; even on the days we just can’t be good. In fact, God loves us harder and deeper on those days, showering us with love that will help us see our need for Him. Wrapping His arms tighter around us to remind us of the mercies anew every morning- the unconditional grace that allows a fresh start always.

I tell him that our God will help us, teach us how to be good in a way that honors Him, and Him alone.

“Like that sentence you were reading earlier?”

I think back to what I was reading out loud in my quiet time and smile…

“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” – C.S. Lewis

Ah, yes. A sweet reminder that our Father’s love always equips, provides, heals, paves a new way…sometimes second by second. And that it’s okay to fail over and over, as long as we run back home.

In what ways do you remind yourself of God’s continual gift of grace and purpose for your life when you “just can’t be good?”

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Look Past the Same

By on January 20, 2011 in Uncategorized

They say it’s a new year.

I put up a new calendar, but when I look outside it looks like it did yesterday. When I look in the family room, it pretty much looks like it did two weeks ago. Still crazy, still cluttered with trucks and blocks.

And this time of year, it’s pretty easy to grow weary… and not feel so new.

So, how do I start fresh? I ask the Lord for a new perspective.

When the view outside the window and in the toy-cluttered family room seems ever the same, I search my Bible for verses that remind me of the beauty of a new beginning. Here’s what I find:

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

When life seems the same – just a little gray, bone-chilling cold, and covered with snow – and when the boys seems the same – like a loud, messy, ever-squabbling crew of little pirates – I need that reminder. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

In its time. Not in June, when the shining sun calls us outdoors. Not in two years, when he’s finally potty-trained and they’ve learned to get along, sort of.

He has made it beautiful now.

How can that be?

Those precious bundles of energy and noise leave messes everywhere. The clothes are ever soggy and stained. And they smell. Beautiful?

Lord, give me a new perspective, I pray. And what do I see?

The blessing of creativity. Wonder. Energy that, if bottled, could put 4-hour energy drinks to shame.

I see the joy of a carefree spirit. I’m reminded what a blessing an uncluttered soul and mind can be, and I’m encouraged to step away, to rest, to unplug.

“He has set eternity in the hearts of men.” I reach down inside mine and warm to the gift of life everlasting. And I look at my little men and know He has set eternity in their hearts, too.

With a fresh start, a new perspective, I look past the piles, the trucks, the noise. I step toward all that is beautiful with little hands in mine.

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