I have a deeper love than ever before for pastoring. Yes, my church is included in that, but mostly I love pastoring my home. Family worship is going well, with the boys growing and taking it more seriously each day.
The teaching part of our worship has come from a book we recently purchased. Please take note of the title, dads. It's called, "Truth and Grace Memory Book" and it is published by Founders Press, but you can get it at CBD for cheaper.
The second half of the book is a christian catechism for ages 2 through 4 grade. Each question has passages to teach the doctrine that is covered in that question. It has been great hearing the boys respond to these questions with biblical truth. (If you had checked the blog before, I erased the questions that I had listed from the book due to copyright laws.)
How I look forward to the day when these doctrines shape not only their mind, but their hearts and purposes in life. May God be glorified through it all!
"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Monday, July 16, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Family worship
We have turned a page in our parenting. I admit, it is one that should have been turned years ago, but we are just coming around to it. It comes in response to some passages we love.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (ESV, emphasis added)
Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (ESV)
And so, we have started family worship. We will not expect our kids to do the "church thing" once a week. We will do it daily. I have my guitar at home and so our times are much like Sunday mornings with worship and teaching, except that our boys are all with us and there are a lot fewer people.
Our first night worshipping together was Saturday, I must tell you that it was less than reverent. We completely expected that our first times would be more training than worshipping, and we were right. The boys had a "tough" time staying focused and not acting like... hmmm... animals. We didn't know how many nights it would take for them to begin to settle in to the routine, but we were committed to doing it.
Last night, our third night of family worship, was wonderful. The boys sat and engaged like they had not done the previous two nights. Our friends Corey and Megan were there and participated. I'm not saying that we have arrived at the ideal family worship time, I'm just so thankful and encouraged that progress is already being made.
What is the purpose and end result? Our hope is that God is glorified beyond our generation...
Psalm 78:5-7 - He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (ESV, emphasis added)
Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (ESV)
And so, we have started family worship. We will not expect our kids to do the "church thing" once a week. We will do it daily. I have my guitar at home and so our times are much like Sunday mornings with worship and teaching, except that our boys are all with us and there are a lot fewer people.
Our first night worshipping together was Saturday, I must tell you that it was less than reverent. We completely expected that our first times would be more training than worshipping, and we were right. The boys had a "tough" time staying focused and not acting like... hmmm... animals. We didn't know how many nights it would take for them to begin to settle in to the routine, but we were committed to doing it.
Last night, our third night of family worship, was wonderful. The boys sat and engaged like they had not done the previous two nights. Our friends Corey and Megan were there and participated. I'm not saying that we have arrived at the ideal family worship time, I'm just so thankful and encouraged that progress is already being made.
What is the purpose and end result? Our hope is that God is glorified beyond our generation...
Psalm 78:5-7 - He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
July 4th prayer
God,
Thank you for letting me experience the freedom that I do in America. Thank you that I do not live in fear of being tortured and even killed for speaking openly about You. Thank you for Jesus, who brought freedom to my heart.
Help me to respond in a way that is honoring to you. With much freedom comes much relaxing and laziness. Help me to speak of you. Help me to live for you in complete obedience.
Help me to love the broken and needy. Help me to see that my freedom is an opportunity to serve and love and give.
And if things continue to get more and more difficult for those who genuinely follow your word, Lord; then help us to respond as your disciples did when they were faced with arrest, persecution and death...
"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness" (Acts 4:29)
"And when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." (Acts 5:40-41)
Be glorified in your church today, Lord.
Amen.
Thank you for letting me experience the freedom that I do in America. Thank you that I do not live in fear of being tortured and even killed for speaking openly about You. Thank you for Jesus, who brought freedom to my heart.
Help me to respond in a way that is honoring to you. With much freedom comes much relaxing and laziness. Help me to speak of you. Help me to live for you in complete obedience.
Help me to love the broken and needy. Help me to see that my freedom is an opportunity to serve and love and give.
And if things continue to get more and more difficult for those who genuinely follow your word, Lord; then help us to respond as your disciples did when they were faced with arrest, persecution and death...
"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness" (Acts 4:29)
"And when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." (Acts 5:40-41)
Be glorified in your church today, Lord.
Amen.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Correction
Not that there is anything wrong with my last sentence in the previous post, but let me rephrase it for personal clarity:
Oh how I want to anticipate and long for Jesus' presence like these brokenhearted disciples did.
Oh how I want to anticipate and long for Jesus' presence like these brokenhearted disciples did.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
It's never easy saying goodbye
This morning I preached through Acts 1:6-11. One of the things we talked about was Jesus' ascension into heaven. I was almost overwhelmed as I thought and taught through this whole part.
Have you ever thought about what the disciples must have been thinking? How about what they were feeling?
They had lost Jesus once already. He was dead. Their Friend and the One who they had given up everything to follow was dead. The miracle worker was gone. Their hopes were destroyed. Their hearts were broken.
Then the unthinkable happened. Jesus was alive! He had risen from the dead! The disciples had Jesus back. If that wasn't enough to bring eternal joy, they thought that they would be with Him forever. Yes, forever. The disciples thought that Jesus was going to set up His earthly kingdom and that they would be with Him forever. They would rule with Him, they thought. There could, in my mind, have been no greater joy than this. Forever... with Jesus. Their broken hearts, now overflowing with joy, would never again ache.
They were wrong.
It says in verse 10 that as Jesus disappeared into heaven the disciples stood gazing. Once again, I can only imagine, with broken hearts.
I cannot imagine how difficult it was to say goodbye, again. I've said goodbye to many friends in this life. I've cried almost every time. But none were Jesus. None had risen from the dead. None were the Savior of the world and healer of my heart.
It's never easy to say goodbye, but oh how I want to anticipate and long for Jesus' return like these brokenhearted disciples did.
Have you ever thought about what the disciples must have been thinking? How about what they were feeling?
They had lost Jesus once already. He was dead. Their Friend and the One who they had given up everything to follow was dead. The miracle worker was gone. Their hopes were destroyed. Their hearts were broken.
Then the unthinkable happened. Jesus was alive! He had risen from the dead! The disciples had Jesus back. If that wasn't enough to bring eternal joy, they thought that they would be with Him forever. Yes, forever. The disciples thought that Jesus was going to set up His earthly kingdom and that they would be with Him forever. They would rule with Him, they thought. There could, in my mind, have been no greater joy than this. Forever... with Jesus. Their broken hearts, now overflowing with joy, would never again ache.
They were wrong.
It says in verse 10 that as Jesus disappeared into heaven the disciples stood gazing. Once again, I can only imagine, with broken hearts.
I cannot imagine how difficult it was to say goodbye, again. I've said goodbye to many friends in this life. I've cried almost every time. But none were Jesus. None had risen from the dead. None were the Savior of the world and healer of my heart.
It's never easy to say goodbye, but oh how I want to anticipate and long for Jesus' return like these brokenhearted disciples did.
Season end...
Friday was Alden's last teeball game. Not just for the 2007 season, but forever. Next year he will move on to the bigger league of coach-pitch. Things move so quickly. Not in teeball, in life.
Alden had about 2 games a week for 6 weeks. Pretty busy schedule for a 6 year old and 34 and 33 year old parents. We realized that in 4 years, Silas will be old enough to start playing organized sports. 4 boys playing on 4 different teams. Help us, Lord.
Anyway, here's a picture a friend took during Alden's last game. Enjoy!
Alden had about 2 games a week for 6 weeks. Pretty busy schedule for a 6 year old and 34 and 33 year old parents. We realized that in 4 years, Silas will be old enough to start playing organized sports. 4 boys playing on 4 different teams. Help us, Lord.
Anyway, here's a picture a friend took during Alden's last game. Enjoy!
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