Love Your Children

Refreshment

Grab a cup of tea and ponder these verses.  Let God speak.  Don’t rush.  Don’t worry about not getting from these verses what others are getting.  Just enjoy the fact that God loves you so much that he saved these words for you AND that He has power and authority to reveal to you just what YOU should get.

Habakkuk 3: 17-19

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on high hills."

Love Your Children

How “all knowing” our heavenly Father is.  Long ago when words were given to Paul to write to Titus he wrote that the older women were to admonish the younger women to love their children (Titus 2:4).  When I first studied those words, I thought they were easy to understand and nearly unnecessary.  However, as I grow in my study of the Word, I realize that the word “LOVE” has many applications.

The admonishing that I want to give you today is that you not call it “love” when you justify unacceptable behavior.  We will discuss this more after workshop if you want illustrations.

 History

I have been so encouraged to hear many of you sharing the value of your time line.  Keep it up.  Share how we can improve (make easier) both the making and using of he time line.

A few things I’ve learned:

1. Keep it simple.  Don’t write a report but rather just the name or event.
2. Add personal touches – events from your own family history
3. If you can’t have it out all of the time, have a weekly time scheduled where you review, add to, and enjoy.
4. Keep the key purpose in mind – focus and chronology.
5. Share with others as an occasion arises.

Literature

When reading great books together consider:

1. Freely discussing why you don’t like a particular book or part of a book.  This opens your eyes to what your children are thinking and also gives you opportunity to train in literature evaluation.
2. Discussing character qualities.
3. Agreeing with what are really classics to your family.

Creation

We are always looking for ways to encourage one another in laying the proper foundation to knowledge.

In the teaching of languages, for example, can we make the connection between spelling and Creator God?  We don’t want to become trite or legalistic but we do want our children to understand that:

1. All knowledge was created by God, and
2. Our ability to understand and use knowledge was and is created by God.

Discipline

This is a good topic to discuss as a family, especially if your children are elementary age.  Discuss such questions as:

1. What does discipline mean?
2. Why do we need it?
3. Whose idea is it?
4. Who can escape it?
5. What is the goal of it?

You may be shocked at some of the misconceptions your children have of this valuable topic!