“You don’t have to be a perfect parent, but you do have to be present.” —Perry Black
Parenting is not for cowards.
New Survey shows Only 32% of American
Children believe in God!
I Tim 6: 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life…
I Pet 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith…
We will be remembered for the problems we create or the problems we solve?
You cannot correct what you are not willing to confront.
Anything you permit will increase.
What you can tolerate you will not change.
Who will Stand in the Gap for this Generation?
In Nehemiah Families Stood Together:
Neh 4: 13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places,
I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
Lamentations 3:27 (NIV)
It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
Deuteronomy 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deuteronomy 12:28 (KJV)
Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest [that which is] good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
Prov 22: 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
The children of Israel had to defeat the enemy their parents didn’t fight.
Gideon was told to Tear Down his Fathers Altar & Build a Proper Altar to God!
What characteristics in your life do you want your children to imitate?
What is there you do not want them to imitate??
We are like grasshoppers in their eyes….
Proverbs 19:18 (NIV)
Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.
Proverbs 29:17 (NIV)
Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.
5 C’s of Raising Champions for Christ
1)Clearly Communicate Expectations
2)Be Consistent in Accountability
3)Correction equals Protection
4)Build their Confidence as a Role Model
5)Be Compassionate & Encouraging
In their Own Words:
Leah - Educator Wife & Mother of 2
You didn’t let me hang out with “the wrong crowd” and we only had sleepovers with “good kids”
You lived by example…..role models.
Y’all told us u loved us and were proud of us.
Stacy - Business Major Wife & Mother of 5
You Showed Unconditional love
You Practiced Protective parenting
You knew who our friends were, where we we were allowed to go, and with whom.
You lived Biblical and ethical values
You kept Close relationship with us
You held us Accountable for our actions
Brayden-23yr old married guy
I would say I was taught the value of being financially wise, the value of going to church, and I had good marriages modeled for me to help me later in life in my own!
Maddy: 22 yr old girl
Something my parents did right in raising me was teaching me the Word with the knowledge that my Salvation must be MY decision and that they can’t bring me to heaven, my relationship with God is determined by me.
They disciplined me!! Discipline is a sign of their love for me whether I always recognized that or not.
They set a standard for me, giving me rules, and ALSO living them out themselves created structure in my life and instilled discipline in the way I carry myself and those standards became mine as well.
I needed my parents to hold me accountable, lead me in the way I needed to go and who would demonstrate God’s love in the way they loved me!!
They were ULTRA involved and that’s what I needed.
Kinley: 19 yr old girl
1: I think one of the most important thing I was taught was to be considerate. I’ve seen it everywhere where people just have 0 care for others and it’s not even a thought that crosses their mind. My whole mindset everyday is thinking of who I can help, how something I do will affect someone else. Even as simple as cleaning my dish instead of leaving it for someone else because I’m “tired”.
2: I was taught to always be kind.
I lived in an environment where being kind to myself and others always came first.
You never know someone’s struggles and I was always taught to be kind to others no matter what, even if I may not get along with them very well. Your relationship with someone or your current mental attitude does not change whether you can be kind to someone or not. Everyone deserves kindness, even if you may not think they should get it, give it to them anyways.
3: Lastly, I was taught that respect should be given to everyone. Not just those older than me. Anyone. Respect doesn’t need to be earned. It should be given at the start and can be lost if that person doesn’t treat you with respect as well.
They Corrected & Protected me!
And while they may have been a bit strict and overprotective, there were times where they let me make some mistakes to help me learn and I think that can be important.
Obviously nothing that could leave me injured or possibly kill me, but some simple things that are better learned from experience.
They let me make those mistakes and I think if they hadn’t, it would have either happened eventually or I wouldn’t understand that danger for my kids and it may have happened to them or I wouldn’t have been aware enough to protect them from it
JP: 17 yr old guy
1.Always knowing what’s right vs what is wrong
2. Always surrounding yourself with people that make you a better person
*BD: 18 yr old guy *
1. Didn’t let me have a phone until 13
2. Knew how to discipline me.
Praised my successes & encouraged me to do better when I didn’t do my best.
Be That Man!
When the cool guys at high school sneak out to the parking lot at half time to drink some beer but one guy says it’s not worth it.
Be that man!
When the childhood buddies from church decide at 20 that the church isn’t relevant anymore. But one young man finds a place to serve in the church!
Be that man!
When a bride walks down the aisle with shining eyes, convinced with all of her heart that her groom loves God and loves her with his whole heart!
Be that man!
When it’s 4 AM, and a little girl sees the light on in her daddy‘s bedroom and knows he’s studying God‘s word because that’s the only chance he’ll have during the day!
Be that man!
When your son or daughter comes home with a story of heartache or disappointment, and open arms and a listening ear are offered!
Be that man!
When a spouse of many years becomes ill, and needs her hand held accompanied by the whispered reassurance of his love!
Be that man!
And when we stand before the Lord at the final judgment day, and He declares well done good and faithful servant.
BE THAT MAN!
II Chron 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him
1 Peter 3:12 (NIV)
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
The Jailer and his Family
Act 16:30
Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.