We met yesterday for the last regular time this season. We were SUPPOSED to study "rewarding extra-good behavior" and "rewarding gratitude" and other miscellaneous rewards. But we enjoyed chatting and eating cake instead. So I promised to blog today...the first time in more than a year! (Sadly.)
It is true, we all know it, that rewards do encourage good behavior. (That applies to US as well as to our kids, of course!) Raising children is such a big responsibility. And now that mine are grown, I see that even more than I did when I hand young ones around the house. There are many, many days when I wish I could go back and "fix" the times I've failed. But God has a better plan. He will use difficult times to teach them--and to teach us. We can do better by our children when we follow his guidance--and we must strive to follow God's guidance continually. In the end, with prayer and faithfulness, God will, by his grace, grow our children strong and help us be better parents. Here are some encouraging verses from our lesson.
"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures" (Proverbs 24:3-4)
In this verse Solomon is using the illustration of a building a house to compare it with raising children. Do you see "rare and beautiful treasures" growing and developing in your children's hearts? Isn't that a wonderful prize to you? And your children can see this truth also when you teach the scripture and give him something he sees is beautiful to place in his room when he has done something good.
"Listen my son to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a gardland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck." (Proverbs 1:8-9)
It's important that we instill respect in our children--respect for the wisdom of parents and teachers. And perhaps a necklace--given as a reward to your child for her good acts--will remind her to give such respect and follow instruction.
"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." (Proverbs 10:4)
This last one is a fabulous reminder for our children to finish their chores with diligence and without being reminded...before they receive their allowance!
Be blessed, everyone, as we enter the summer season. Enjoy the times with your families, and stop in when you can--or just drop me a note. And big blessings for Chika and her family as she returns to Japan this weekend. May God grant safe travels for everyone.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, May 24, 2010
Cheating
We didn't talk much about cheating, but we all know we can be caught up in this kind of crooked behavior. Here are our two lessons from Scripture.
"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." (Proverbs 15:3)
It seems we tend to forget that even when no one else sees what we are doing, God still sees! And he's the only one we need to fear.
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (Luke 16:10)
So even in the smallest matters, we need to show we are worthy of the trust others have placed in us. Husbands, children, bosses, co-workers, friends...they all need to be able to trust us in everything.
"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." (Proverbs 15:3)
It seems we tend to forget that even when no one else sees what we are doing, God still sees! And he's the only one we need to fear.
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (Luke 16:10)
So even in the smallest matters, we need to show we are worthy of the trust others have placed in us. Husbands, children, bosses, co-workers, friends...they all need to be able to trust us in everything.
Complaining
This one sepakes for itself. "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." (Philippians 2:14-15)
Attitude
"All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast." (Proverbs 15:5)
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)
Out of the heart, we act. Attitude is our heart's preparation for action or for our words. It was wonderful to hear from everyone this morning how much we all desire that God works on our attitudes. We need to give others more grace, ask for forgivness when we err, and place our hope and trust in Christ--not in the things of this world, in our circumstances.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)
Out of the heart, we act. Attitude is our heart's preparation for action or for our words. It was wonderful to hear from everyone this morning how much we all desire that God works on our attitudes. We need to give others more grace, ask for forgivness when we err, and place our hope and trust in Christ--not in the things of this world, in our circumstances.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Attentiveness
A farmer who tends his fields will get much more for the harvest than a man who simply allows the field to grow without attention to water, fertilizer and weed control! Think of how this will apply to raising our children. Watching, listening, and teaching are essential for strong, healthy children!
Proverbs 12:11--"He who works his land will have abundant food, but he wo chases fantasies lacks judgment."
Proverbs 4:20--"My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words."
Keep studying. KP
Proverbs 12:11--"He who works his land will have abundant food, but he wo chases fantasies lacks judgment."
Proverbs 4:20--"My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words."
Keep studying. KP
Stirring Up Strife
We talked this morning about how easy it is to add to quarreling and strife--but how important God's instruction is. Here are the verses we read to help us NOT to add to strife.
Proverbs 15:18--"A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel."
Proverbs 10:12--"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins."
Proverbs 26:21--"As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife."
Patience and love. That's what we need more of. Love covers (protects, extinguishes, turns our eyes away from) all sins. It is good to help others be protected--and that we not add fuel to sins, but to help them disappear!
God bless and strengthen you all in His Word! KP
Proverbs 15:18--"A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel."
Proverbs 10:12--"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins."
Proverbs 26:21--"As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife."
Patience and love. That's what we need more of. Love covers (protects, extinguishes, turns our eyes away from) all sins. It is good to help others be protected--and that we not add fuel to sins, but to help them disappear!
God bless and strengthen you all in His Word! KP
Monday, April 26, 2010
The following is a paragraph written by T.M. Moore--a teacher and theologian whom I admire. He's telling us some truths about speech. It reminds me how much I need to think about what I might say--before I say it! Even before we speak to our children or husbands.
"We are glorifying God in our speech and conversations not merely when we are talking about spiritual matters or bearing witness to our Lord Jesus Christ with the words of the Gospel. We glorify God in our speech when our words reflect and convey something of the divine essence – His truth, goodness, peaceableness, thoughtfulness, earnestness, kindness, and love – to all those with whom we are conversing. This is definitely a learned art, but one that every Christian must work at mastering. For we do few things more each day than exercise our tongues in speech and conversation. The more we consciously and diligently seek to engage our words in a manner reflective of the character and truth of God, the more others will begin to be aware, when conversing with us, that they are in the presence of something unusual, intriguing, awesome, fearful, inviting, loving, and sure. Christian conversation is a calling and art every believer must take up and master."
T.M. Moore, ViewPoint, April 26, 2010
"We are glorifying God in our speech and conversations not merely when we are talking about spiritual matters or bearing witness to our Lord Jesus Christ with the words of the Gospel. We glorify God in our speech when our words reflect and convey something of the divine essence – His truth, goodness, peaceableness, thoughtfulness, earnestness, kindness, and love – to all those with whom we are conversing. This is definitely a learned art, but one that every Christian must work at mastering. For we do few things more each day than exercise our tongues in speech and conversation. The more we consciously and diligently seek to engage our words in a manner reflective of the character and truth of God, the more others will begin to be aware, when conversing with us, that they are in the presence of something unusual, intriguing, awesome, fearful, inviting, loving, and sure. Christian conversation is a calling and art every believer must take up and master."
T.M. Moore, ViewPoint, April 26, 2010
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