Just having a little fun!
Ok... How do we transfer dependance? I'm going to give us two steps out of Deuteronomy 6.
1. Love Our God
2. Lead Our Families
These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Basically, God is saying, "In everything you do and everywhere you go I'm supposed to be in your life." God-like talk isn’t just a Sunday morning thing. It's an all the time thing. Our children have to see our Christian walk as something we are, not something we do. And if we're not the ones taking the lead on living out Christ... they usually won't. Why? Because, parents, you are the leaders of your family.
The Duke of Windsor said, “The thing that impresses me most about America is the way parents obey their children.” We've seen it. You're at the grocery store and some snot nose kid flops around on the floor begging for some Double Bubble. You shake your head in disappointment, get your composure and say, "Son, get off the floor. I'll gitcha the gum."
2. Lead Our Families
These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Basically, God is saying, "In everything you do and everywhere you go I'm supposed to be in your life." God-like talk isn’t just a Sunday morning thing. It's an all the time thing. Our children have to see our Christian walk as something we are, not something we do. And if we're not the ones taking the lead on living out Christ... they usually won't. Why? Because, parents, you are the leaders of your family.
The Duke of Windsor said, “The thing that impresses me most about America is the way parents obey their children.” We've seen it. You're at the grocery store and some snot nose kid flops around on the floor begging for some Double Bubble. You shake your head in disappointment, get your composure and say, "Son, get off the floor. I'll gitcha the gum."
Yeah, this guy is out of his mind.
Let me ask you, are you leading your children or are your children leading you? We are responsible for setting the tone in our homes. And it doesn't just happen. If I let me kids take control of everything we'd watch movies all day and eat pancakes for every meal. We have to be purposeful about the way that we lead our kids. We should lead them in intentional ways. We should lead them in ways that will build their character and prepare them for life separate from our care.
I want to give you a short list of some of the things we find important in our house. Allie and I intentionally lead our children in these ways. WARNING: Not all these fit your specific situation. I'm just giving you an idea of how we lead intentionally.
Ways the Rhodes' Home Leads Intentionally:
I want to give you a short list of some of the things we find important in our house. Allie and I intentionally lead our children in these ways. WARNING: Not all these fit your specific situation. I'm just giving you an idea of how we lead intentionally.
Ways the Rhodes' Home Leads Intentionally:
- Allie home schools Maggie. Maggie isn’t just learning her ABCs, even at this age we’re teaching her the Bible. We’re training her up.
- We read to our kids. We try to read the kids at least one book a day. We know that reading is important, and they need to know we value it in the Rhodes' home.
- We have family devotions almost every night of the week. Some nights we get home from church really late, and our kids are in no mood for anything, let alone Bible time. But for the most part we make sure we're having family devotions.
- Memorize scripture. We use little one sentence scriptures. They aren't hard at all!
- We make sure we’re all in church together. Every week (Even on vacation. We don't take a vacation from God.)
- We show our kids what a real husband and wife relationship is. We flirt, have fun, go on dates, and exchange small kisses infront of the kids.
- We take time to just have fun with each other. I want my kids to remember following Jesus as a blast.
We're transferring dependance from us to God, but t's not just going to happen. We have to be purposeful and intentional.
What are some ways you lead your family intentionally?
Also comment to win the action Bible this Sunday (May 13, 2012)
