“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another” (Rom 12:10). Have you ever wondered, like I have, why brotherly love is held up in Scripture as an example of love to pursue? It seems like brotherly love often doesn’t look much like love. It looks more like a wrestling match or competition, with one brother continually trying to outdo or one-up the other. Encourage […]
Read More →Author: Pam
Finishing What God Has Given Me to Do
I think I know what I would like carved into my gravestone someday. (How’s that for a morbid thought on Valentine’s Day? 🙂 ) Here it is: “I have finished the work which You have given me to do.” Jesus prayed these words before Judas betrayed Him. It would only be a few hours before He went to the cross (John 17:4b). Elisabeth Elliot, in her insightful (and highly recommended) […]
Read More →Encouraging a Thankful Heart
A thankful heart is a heart that is ready to obey. It’s so easy for children to be unaware of the many ways their parents serve them. We need to help them learn to be thankful. Sit down with your children and make a list of all the ways their daddy serves your family. Talk together, ask them leading questions, and give them some suggestions. Assign one of the children […]
Read More →God’s Word — The Soldier’s Sword
A visiting pastor read this old poem about the Bible during his sermon on Sunday. It’s a good reminder. This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to […]
Read More →Good News!
You’ve seen it… Two children are playing. Child No. 1 sets down his toy to pick up a new one, and suddenly Child No. 2 is discontent. He no longer wants what he already has. He wants what the other child has. He reaches out for the toy and yells when he can’t have it. He fusses and cries, and seeks to get his way. He’s coveting. Next time you’re […]
Read More →Lesson in a Coffee Shop
He’s charming in his little black coat. He leans forward in his stroller and makes a desperate, I-want-some-now noise. His mama smiles, gently waves her finger, and almost sings her quiet “no” while she holds the spoon back in her other hand. He sits back and waits and the spoon travels to his mouth. He’s happy. Then the anxious sound again. Again the gentle counsel. Again the baby’s quiet response. […]
Read More →One Thousand Gifts (Review)
As I think back over the years, three books stand out to me as ones that have especially impacted my life. Mary Pride’s The Way Home confirmed my conviction that children were a blessing, and that we should welcome as many as God wanted to give us! Her creative, entrepreneurial spirit also sparked ideas and projects that eventually turned into our family business, Doorposts. Edith Schaeffer’s The Hidden Art of […]
Read More →Thank you, Mamas!
After a delightful but tiring thirty hours caring for two of my precious granddaughters (while their parents take a break at the beach before baby #3 makes his/her appearance very soon) , I want to thank my daughter and daughters-in-law for being the amazing ladies that you are! Thank you for welcoming the privilege of nurturing a new little one in the womb — even when it means morning sickness, […]
Read More →Sharing for Jesus’ Sake
When it comes to teaching our children to share, there is no simple “follow-these-five-easy-steps-and-you’ll-have-a-child-who-shares” formula. Children are born with old sin natures; they inherited them from us. We shouldn’t be surprised when they don’t want to share. Instead, we should thank God for the opportunity to help our children understand and appreciate what Jesus has done for them – and us. Scripture is full of commands that we and our […]
Read More →Jesus Has Accomplished What We Can’t
I’m reading Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus, by Elyse Fitzpatrick. I love the quote from Martin Luther that she opens Chapter 3 with: The law says, “do this,” and it is never done. Grace says, “Believe in this,” and everything is already done. We will never be perfect parents. Our children will never be perfect children. We will become discouraged or angry or just […]
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