Flexibility in Parenting

Kristen Mayer

Kristen Mayer cautions parents to avoid black and white thinking in our parenting. Every child is created unique and will differ from his or her siblings in temperament, learning style and response to discipline. This requires parents to be willing to be flexible in their parenting style depending on the unique differences inherent in each of their children. Fortunately, the Bible gives us direction in raising our children to be respectful of authority, submit to discipline, respect/love others, think critically, have resiliency, to name a few. No one is born knowing how to be a great parent. We need to be willing to receive feedback in our parenting and to give feedback to our friends' in their parenting.

Renewing Our Vision

Cindy Botti

Isaiah 55:8-9

Vision, whether in life in general or in parenting in particular, is important because it gives meaning to the mundane. It gives us direction, a destination. It brings our world into focus and gives us purpose. God's vision is that He values our children. They are a gift from Him. Children are also a reward from Him. God's vision is also that He gave us, parents, an important role to teach our children about Him. We can model for them how to be Spiritual Champions. We train them according to their way. We keep God in the picture, i.e. cling to His promises.

Spiritual Guidance in the Home

Jess Lowery

Isaiah 55:8-9

Jessica Lowery shares biblical principles to help you spiritually lead your children, using the example of Samuel and Eli's sons.

Connecting with the Lord in the Midst of Parenting

Rosy Talarzyk

Isaiah 55:8-9

As parents, we are so focused on helping our children grow physically and spiritually, that sometimes we neglect our wellbeing. Rosy Talarzyk shares her experience learning to stay close to Jesus in the middle of the ups and downs of parenting. We need to continue to grow with the Lord as much as our kids do. Knowing God not just for what He can do for us but for who He is in His own right. Are you making maturity in your relationship with God a priority for you and your children's sake?

Parenting Rooted in the Word

Laura Stoddard

Isaiah 55:8-9

As parents, when we are rooted in the Word, we can rest in the goodness of God, our new identity as his beloved child, and we have confidence in the direction God will give us. When we are rooted in in Him, we know have a loving God who will never leave us or forsake us, he communicates to us through the bible, and we know our needs will be met and we can grow. As we wrestle through these truths, we model for our children how to learn them as well.

Serving Love Toward the Poor

Dennis McCallum

1 Timothy 5:1-16

Paul continues his instructions to Timothy on leading the church at Ephesus. He advises him how to relate to both older and younger members of the church, but his main focus is on how to serve the poor among them, especially widows. Paul puts conditions on giving to the widows because hand-outs can be harmful. Giving financially to widows was to be after all other avenues failed. If the woman could not remarry, depend upon family or work, then she could ask for help from the church. The goal is to actually help those in need, not inadvertently weaken them.

Helping Kids Deal with Adversity

Scott Risley

1 Timothy 5:1-16

While it's tempting to to protect our kids from adversity and trouble, it's our job as parents to help them learn how to handle life's challenges. As we seek to help them step through adversity, rather than avoid it, we will help them become stronger children, and they will be well prepared for the challenges of adult life.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

Ben Foust

John 4:1-42

Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well demonstrates we we designed to live in relationship with God and when we are not in right relationship with Him, we experience thirst. Only a relationship with God our Creator can quench that thirst. Jesus is offering to reconnect us to God if we ask for that living water.

Disciplining with Grace

Bev DeLashmutt

Hebrews 12:4-11

Our discipline as parents should reflect God's approach to discipline?that it is done in love, to help train them toward maturity. God is interested in breaking us of our tendency to discipline out of selfishness, and wants to empower us to strike the balance between being too strict and being too soft or indulgent. While it's uncomfortable to acknowledge, discipline often involves pain. Bev gives some suggestions for arriving at appropriate consequences.