 Our boys aren't little kids anymore.
The way they think, talk, act...it's changing. Sometimes, I feel like I'm speaking with adults. I can't just talk with them about the 7 days of creation (although that is foundational), or the fact that God created them and loves them (also critical), or simply have a short devotional and prayer time together. As they age, I need to provide them with adequate, meaningful teaching so they can grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (see 2 Peter 3:18). Here's how I'm changing my approach and going from doing devotionals to discipleship...  How are you and God doing?
How are you, AND your family, and God doing? Simply put, having a pulse on spiritual matters means knowing where you and your family stand with God. Have you heard from Him lately? Are you building a daily altar? Do your children know Him and walk with Him? (Or, if they are young, do they at least know the fundamentals of our faith?) Questions to consider:
 Parents, we need to know how to make a case for the truths and teachings of Christianity and how to apply them to every day life. Call it apologetics, call it theology, call it what you will - we need to do it.
This doesn't always entail a sit-down session but it should. Often, it will be in passing, when we wake, when we travel, before we go to bed, etc. It will/should also take place when tragic world events happen, when a loved one passes away, when a friend betrays us, when you lose a job, and so on. Before they're adults, use those circumstances to draw near to God and the counsel of His Word, together with your child(ren). Here's a short list of three important topics to discuss...  A Truth a Day is a new resource that will be available on Altarpreneur Kids. It is a simple tool to help bring structure to your devotionals; It includes a weekly topic and 3 short teaching/discussion ideas. It was created especially for fathers, to take the guesswork out of what they will teach their children from the Bible during the week. It came about from my own dilemma of wanting to share at least one truth a day from God's Word (hence the name). With God's help, I finally put the 'pen' down and created a weekly guide that I can continue to use and adapt as our boys get older and more (spiritually) mature. Now, you can too!  A image like the (green) one above will be provided with each weekly topic along with 3 ideas for discussion/teaching. Here is a sample of the 3 ideas:
A) Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. We know the song and it's important to know God's Word. Here is a sermon by John Piper, which covers this passage. Listen, reflect, discuss! B) Talk about the danger of disobedience. Here is a short clip from Ligonier Ministries that might help. C) Talk about what sacrifice looks like today. Here is a video called The Priority of the Altar. In the first part, I describe elements of the altar, then and now. Stay posted for updates on this resource. Keep the Fire Burning, Danny There is one thing in common with all the professional plays and theater performances I've seen - I never saw what was happening backstage, behind the scenes. In parenting, this is not the case.
Training your children in the path they should go (see Proverbs 22:6) is not seasonal or short-lived. Parents, to put it simply, we are always on stage. Our actions, our reactions, our words, our silence, our habits, it's all being observed. Today, give some thought to how you are living your life and the example you are setting for your children. Ask:
This is certainly a shortlist to keep in mind. There will be days when you feel like hiding backstage. Turn them into teachable moments. Keep the fire burning, Danny One night, Levy asked me why only the priest was allowed to meet with God (in the holy of holies, as we read in the Old Testament).
What a question, from a 5 (almost 6) year old. I did my best to explain to him that this was a special work established by God, to be conducted by appointed men, for the purpose of meeting with God on behalf of His people. I tied in the fact that it was a symbol (foreshadow) of the work of Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest; He died once and for all so that anyone can have a relationship and direct access to God, by faith! For all you (newer) parents with young children, here's a quick pocket-guide to being able to answer your children's questions about God and all things spiritual. It's important that you don't just brush them off with a quick answer or revert to the not-so-meaningful 'because I told you so.' 1) First, know the Bible! You cannot make it up. Kids have a way being able to tell when you're not sure about something. When they ask you a Bible-related question, use the Bible to answer them. 2) Keep it simple. Don't get ultra-theological. Speak at their level, as Jesus did with the rural listeners in his day; remember, even children were attracted to Him because He not only came down to earth, but He was down to earth. Explain things in terms they can relate to. 3) Connect it to daily life. Make a connection to every day life and explain how His Word is a light and a guide for us. Relate the answer you give to a spiritual discipline, principal, or truth from the Word of God that they can apply. Keep the Fire Burning, Danny Ephesians 6:4b - "...bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." The other night we went to sleep without praying together as a family. It doesn't happen very often. I used to feel very bad about it, even to the point of frustration, but I don't feel as bad anymore. I know this may sound spiritually negligent, but I've learned that I need to build an altar throughout the day, and give God my best, not just at key hours of the day.
An altar is anywhere you meet with God. It's intentional, but it doesn't have to be too structured. Sometimes it's all about praise. Sometimes it involves repentance and weeping. Other times we build an altar of thankfulness. Altar building can, and should, happen at any time during the day. It needs to be a lifestyle, springing forth from the heart, not a date/time on a calendar. Don't segregate God. He is omnipresent. He is pleased with you wanting to please Him by being disciplined with your time and allotting a 'spiritual' slot into your schedule. But it's such a limited perspective of our deep relationship with Him. I enjoy it far more when I connect with my children throughout the day and take the time to be with them no matter how 'busy' I am. And I know they do too. I like it when they come to me out of the blue during the day - with a new drawing they just completed, or a game they invented, or an idea they had. This brings me so much joy and makes me smile. Get in a holy habit of keeping God at the center of all your daily activities. Make Him smile. Today, 'surprise' Him and build an unscheduled altar. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words that I give you today. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re at home or away, when you lie down or get up. Write them down, and tie them around your wrist, and wear them as headbands as a reminder. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. - Deuteronomy 6:5-9 They say, It takes a village to raise a child*. Well, the problem is, you never know who's in that village and what they're teaching.
I can't abandon my principal responsibility as a parent to raise my children in the ways of the Lord. It is my only unique leadership role in life. And a very serious one. It cannot be replaced by any other. Every other leadership role, be it pastor, director, business owner, and so on, will pass. If I have 'succeeded' everywhere else but have failed at home, have I really succeeded? So, if you've been a bit disconnected from your children lately and feel you haven't done your part, there's hope. Start today. If they're young, re-evaluate the foundations you've been setting and start building on the truth clearly found in the Word of God. If they're older, repent and reconnect. Be there for them. And create the environment and emotional atmosphere where they want to be there for you. The 'village' has too many unknowns. It can certainly be helpful and I know from experience that there have been a handful of people in my life, outside of my family, who have made a significant imprint on my life, for the better. But, still, there's no place like home. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 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. - Deut. 6:6,7 *It is said that this phrase is attributed to an Igbo and Yoruba proverb. The origin is a mystery. Some people believe it originated in an ancient African proverb; others believe it came from a Native American Tribe (quora.com) |
ABOUTBiblical, on-the-go, tips for meeting with God. Written from our experiences as parents. This is our digital space for jotting down learning moments from our devotional time throughout the week. ARCHIVES
November 2023
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