A shift in mindset..

Parents - I want to share with you not something new, but rather something that has been lost, forgotten and placed on the back burner...here it is, are you ready?

YOU are CALLED to be the chief discipler of your children. Yes - YOU! Unfortunately through the passage of time and a shift in our society many churches have not only assumed this role but in some cases they have TAKEN this role from the parents and I believe that the time is NOW for parents to step up and say "We care enough about our children that we will do as Deutoronomy commands and we will train, disciple and show our children to be the Christians that Christ has called them to be."

This idea is something that Joel and I have known for awhile but really weren't sure what we were to do with it until recently. However, the past year or so God has revealed in many ways that he asking us to come alongside parents and to encourage, train, and equip them to be the primary spritual influence in their children's lives.

It is not enough to take your kids to church on Sunday morning or Wednesday night and expect the children's workers to train them - they need to see it lived out, practiced daily, and most of all they need to see you as parents taking this role.

So here are a few practical steps that we have taken with our own children that I pray will help you - however know this: YOUR children are different and may respond different; however YOU know your child better than anyone else and you know how to relate to them...

1. Set aside a time at least weekly if not daily to sit around the dinner table AS AN ENTIRE FAMILY...while at dinner, talk about what God is doing in each of your lives. Start by letting your kids know what God is doing in YOUR life...

2. Pray with your children and for your children.

3. Read the Bible together and then talk about what you have read and how God wants us to apply that to our lives.

4. Use scripture in your discipline of your children - show them that these aren't your rules but God's.

5. Be involved in your kids' lives - their activities, friends, schools, etc.

6. PRAY PRAY PRAY

So - this has been my topic of conversation the majority of the day and I thought I would blog about it since it was on my mind. Once again, not an indepth post by any means but simple and to the point....