28 Days of Loving - Day 5

I'm sure many of you have watched the Toy Story movies with your kids, or grandkids, or even for yourself.  They are fantastic movies.

During the first movie, the audience is introduced to a child named Sid.  Sid is an evil boy.  He loves to play with toys, but he loves to destroy and recreate toys even more.   Sid is the villian in the movie. He makes parents think, "If he were my child, he would be disciplined."

Children are precious to all of us.  Our children's future is especially important to us.  We want our children to grow up and be valued members of society.  To use their talents to better our society and to raise a family to do the same.  To love God and live for Him.  So, how are we doing with these goals?

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way they ought to go and when they are old, they will not turn from it."  Our job is to train them up.  To train means to discipline.  To teach and guide them in what is right and good.  It is our job to parent them.

Moses tells us how to train them up to love God.  Read about it in Deuteronomy 6 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

Talk about God when you sit down in the privacy of your own home.  Talk about God on the road when you are out and about in society.  Talk about God through out your day, when you rise and when you go to sleep.  God is meant to be in your whole day.  That is how you instill a love for God in your children.

Too often parents keep God in the church building.  Couldn't He come into your home?  When was the last time you prayed together?  Read the Bible together? Talked about Godly things together?  Talked about His wisdom in making good decisions?

As you close:  Thank God for children and thank Him for the privilege in parenting.  Ask Him for His help to raise them to love Him completely.  Ask for His help in talking about Him at home and at various moments in life.

God Bless!

28 Days of Loving - Day 4

My wife and I were at a wedding this past Fall.  Some old friends were getting married and they had asked Tiffany and I to join them for the ceremony.  We accepted their invite and had a weekend getaway from all of our responsibilities.

At lunch, prior to the wedding, Tiffany and I got into an arguement.  Suffice it to say, we were not in too good of a mood and then to head off to a wedding made it worse.  I'm sure she was thinking, "How can I warn the bride of the impending doom she is about to commit to?"  I was thinking, "I hope he has a lot of patience.  He is going to need it." 

At the reception, which is where this picture was taken, I was reminded again of my own wedding day.  Almost 15 years ago, Tiffany and I were in the same shoes of these two newlyweds.  She is a wonderful woman even though she has bad days.  I hope the same can be said of me.  We were dancing on the dance floor, yes I know how to cut a good rug, and I had one of those moments.  The kind of moments when the world stops and you thank God for the spouse whom God brought to you.  The argument faded and the ride home was much more sweet.  All in all, it was a good weekend.

But, am I the kind of husband God wants me to be?  His Word explains a few thoughts about marriage.  Read Ephesians 5:22-33 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A22-33&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

God tells us to love our wife and for a woman to submit to her husband.  This is the love and respect principle in marriage.

How are you doing with this?  If you are brave, consider asking your spouse how they feel you are doing.  It may open up a new avenue of dialogue that you've never had before.

As you close:  Thank God for your spouse and ask for His help to be the kind of spouse He longs for you to be.

God Bless!