June 11, 2021
(Malachi 4:6a; Ephesians 6:4) Over the next two posts I'm going to share some of the decisions the Lord led me to make as a husband and father and I pray they will encourage and/or challenge you, and either way, bless you in your walk with Him, your marriage, parenting and family. Each of these decisions flowed from the priorities that The Lord had revealed in my life for placing my marriage and family above myself and all else except for The Lord Himself. Here's... Read More
May 27, 2021
(Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Colossians 3:18-21) As we continue to explore parenting (discipling) our children according to God’s design, let’s look at three opportunities for parents to disciple and train their children in line with God's Word. These are not exhaustive or all-inclusive but they will give you some direction and ideas to implement in your family and parenting. 1) “Family Time” (“when you sit around the table, when you lie down and when you rise up”) – meals together, devotionals, family worship, etc. – all of... Read More
May 21, 2021
This will not be easy for most parents in today's culture, including most in modern church culture. My prayer is that we look to God and His Word and apply His Truth in Grace and Love as we parent and disciple our children for His Kingdom and Glory. Loving Discipline & Punishment Parenting is ultimately about discipling your children to know Christ as their Savior and Lord and to grow in Him. Discipleship includes teaching, training, Godly discipline, and loving punishment in line with Biblical... Read More
May 13, 2021
Family and Parenting in God's Design…continued (Deuteronomy 6:6-9) As parents, we all desire to have a household of peace rooted in character. Scripture speaks to the importance of character over and over again and I want to share two of those passages to encourage you as to its importance and to be sure you’re walking in the character of Christ and His Word. The first is from what many know as “The Prayer of Jabez” in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NASB): “Jabez was more honorable than... Read More
May 6, 2021
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” Proverbs 24:3-4 “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain…Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose... Read More
April 30, 2021
Navigating Marriage
Blog
Navigating Marriage...The Highest of Human Relationships (Matthew 19:4-6; Hebrews 13:4) We’ve been digging to find out what God’s Word says regarding building our relationships as His disciples under His Lordship. We’ve applied the truths specifically to marriage with the commands and keys that enable us to build marriages that are blessed and that bless our families and His Church. There are volumes, and even libraries of writings, that address the “how to’s” in marriage. The purpose here is to help us make sure that our... Read More
April 23, 2021
(John 13:34; 1 John 4:20) As we’ve shared about God’s Covenant Order and what it means to love God, yourself and others we can move forward with this new or renewed understanding. Here are three keys from the Greatest Commandments to building agape Kingdom relationships, especially marriage, according to His Word. As we build agape Kingdom marriages we then form loving families, which in turn strengthens the loving relationships that make up Christ’s Church. (Note how these principles all flow from our discipleship relationship with... Read More
April 16, 2021
We've spent a considerable amount of time laying the foundation of Christ's Lordship, our discipleship response in living out the relationship we're given with God in Christ, and doing so in Love and Humility. This requires that we do so in His Wisdom. As we begin to now focus on building our earthly relationships (check out previous articles on Love for a refresher as to God's Covenant Order for all relationships) we must pay attention to what God says about Wisdom so that it will... Read More
April 9, 2021
Living with Christ as Lord, responding as His sold-out, dying-to-self disciples so we can be salt and light to a hurting and dying world, all in His Truth and Love requires us to imitate Him. One of the simplest and most powerful Scriptures of Christ is John 1:14, "And the Word (Jesus) became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (Parentheses mine and added) Grace, simply defined, is... Read More
April 2, 2021
Let's look at the events that led to the Triumphal Entry, Passion Week, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. In John 11 Jesus is called to Bethany to heal Lazarus and he delays until Lazarus has died...doesn't seem like a very "Jesus thing" to do. However, Jesus knows it is for God's Glory and will stir the religious pot so to speak. He arrives and calls Lazarus forth from the tomb...and Lazarus walks out after being dead 4 days! Jesus literally raises Lazarus from the dead!... Read More
