When our children start to marry, we enter an entirely new season of parenting. It’s a season of great joy and a season of letting go in a new and emotion-packed way. It’s also a season of much preparation and decision-making, as the couple and their families work to prepare a joy-filled wedding celebration. We’ve had four children marry in the last five years. Our daughter, Johanna, was the first […]
Read More →Twelve Ways to Minister to the Elderly
Many residents living in retirement centers and nursing homes are lonely and have little contact with their families. By investing a few hours of your time, you will not only bless the residents but also provide a great growing and teaching opportunity for your children. Even more importantly, caring for widows and the elderly is pleasing to God (Leviticus 19:32, 1 Timothy 5:3, James 1:27). If a relative lives in […]
Read More →How Do We Know What God Wants Us to Do?
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, ESV). “So, how do you determine which things God wants you to do each day?” This was a question asked in response to a recent post about doing the things God has called […]
Read More →Clearing Our View
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8) I’ve been studying the Sermon on the Mount with the aid of Kay Arthur’s study, Lord, Only You Can Change Me, and Sinclair Ferguson’s book, The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World. These words from Mr. Ferguson on Matthew 5: 8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Emphases […]
Read More →Pessimistic Prayer
My daughter Bethany and I are spending the next couple days writing in a hotel room a few miles away from home. While I focus on making some headway on other projects, I would like to share with you excerpts from her excellent post on prayer. I think you’ll appreciate it. I am a naturally gifted pessimist… The last couple years I’ve been convicted about prayer. It’s still a […]
Read More →Seven Things that God Hates, and We Should, Too
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19, ESV). Verses 16-19 of Proverbs 6 list of some of the things that God hates. Discuss these […]
Read More →Welcome to the World!
There’s a new man in my life — a very little man. He’s already mesmerized me with his charm and good looks. A text message woke me up at 11:47 last night, and kept me semi-awake the rest of the night. At 4:30 I finally got up and bustled around, waiting for the call. At last it came. “We have a baby.” “Yes?” (Come on, boy or girl?) “His name […]
Read More →“You First!”
“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 →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 […]
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