Over the past three weeks, we have been looking at how to “Win Big” in a number of arenas in life. Certainly some of the principles that we have been articulating from the Bible go against the grain of modern culture. That is particularly true today. In fact, one of my goals today will be to have the truths of the Bible presented clearly in a way that will clearly be:
Challenging our Perspective! This poem helps to frame our thoughts today:
My hands were busy through the day
I didn’t have much time to play
The little games you asked me to
I didn’t have much time for you.
I’d wash your clothes, I’d sew and cook
But when you’d bring your picture book
And ask me please to share your fun
I’d say, “A little later, son.”
I’d tuck you in all safe at night
And hear your prayers, turn out the light
Then tiptoe softly to the door
I wish I’d stayed a minute more.
For life is short, the years rush past
A little boy grows up so fast
No longer is he at your side
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away
There are no more games to play
No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear —
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands once busy now lie still
The days are long and hard to fill
I wish I might go back and do
The little things you asked me to.
– Anonymous
Key Perspective: Children are gifts from God…That goes against the grain of our culture!
Psalm 127: 3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
3 ways to look at parental role…supporting a family, raising children, building the future
Here is a Biblical portrait, drawn from ancient Israel, with God instructing the people as to their relationship with Him and their responsibility to their children:
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
- Building a heart for God into your children is the most important foothold you can give them.
- 80 percent of all decisions for Christ are made before age 18.
- How many of you here had praying mothers?
The Family is the Primary Learning and Shaping Tool in God’s Hands
5 Principles on Teaching & Learning in the Home
- Loving God is all-encompassing
- What we treasure we carry in our hearts, what we think we carry in our heads
- Learning that shapes is better caught than taught
- Teaching and Learning are 24 hour roles
- God’s will is for your home to be a protected environment
10 mistakes parent’s make.(please use these notes for study later today or this week)
-Having rules w/o relationships..Romans 12:9
-Making life too easy..Romans 12:7-8, 13
-Failure to be a consistent example..Romans 12:9
-Trying to do it all alone..Romans 12:5-6
-Majoring in the minors..Romans 12:16
-Believing the myth of quality time..romans 12:10
-Witholding emotional support-Romans 12:9, Romans 12:17
-Leaving prayer out of the process..Romans 12:12
-Living life without passion..romans 12:12
-Letting your current environment cause you to lose hope…Romans 12:12, 21
“Things I’ve learned from my children”…
Here is the challenge before us: Children are stewardship from God, so parenting is a huge responsibility; that’s why our blood pressure rises sometimes. It is a huge task!
Hebrews 12: 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Maxwell…10 principles my parent’s taught me…provided as a resource for you, and can be used for further study.
-Responsibility & Faithfulness..Proverbs 3:3
-Stewardship..Malachi 3:10
-Determination..Daniel 1:8
-Potential..colossians 3:21
-Relationships..I Cor. 15:33
-Work Ethic..Colossians 3:23
-Attitude..Phil. 2:5
-Honesty..Psalm 1
-Generosity..Proverbs 22:9
-Dependence on God..Psalm 55:22
Parenting–Ten Things for Which You as a Parent Will Never Be Sorry
- For doing your level best even when discouraged.
- For hearing before judging in family quarrels.
- For thinking before speaking when emotionally upset.
- For not harboring unkind thoughts of a talebearer.
- For being generous to an enemy, perhaps the next door neighbor.
- For stopping your ears to gossip over the fence.
- For standing by your principles in dealing with your teenagers.
- For asking pardon, when in error, even of your child.
- For being square in business dealings with the newsboy.
- For accepting the stewardship of “another” child.
Encounter, published monthly by the National Research Bureau, Inc.
