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Category Archives: Family musings

3 Ways to Pass Faith Down with Purpose

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We are just one generation away from godlessness.

This sobering statement is unfortunately true. Last week we began a series on passing down a spiritual legacy. Today, we’ll see we must be purposeful in our efforts.

spiritual legacy, Deut 6:7-9

My father with my grandson

Consider the Israelites after they entered the Promised Land. For forty years, God showed Himself to His children in powerful and miraculous ways. He broke their bonds of slavery in Egypt, led them through the desert with His presence, provided for their every physical need, and gave them victory over their enemies in Canaan.

Yet, not long after the last battle was won and they had all settled down to enjoy homes they did not build and fields they did not plant (Deuteronomy 6:10-12), we read this sad statement:

 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what He had done for Israel. Judges 2:10, NIV

In the following verses, we discover that this “godless” generation completely turned away from God. Instead of following the One who had saved them, they chose to serve and worship the false gods of the surrounding cultures.

How did this happen?! What did their parents do wrong?

Their parents didn’t do anything. That was the problem. The only thing needed for a new generation to turn away from God is for the previous one to do nothing.

Inaction invited godlessness

The parents failed to obey the command God gave them when they prepared to enter the Promised Land:

7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:7-9, NIV

Basically, God calls parents to purposefully integrate our faith in God into our family’s daily life. As we get ready for school and drive carpool and do homework and watch TV, we continuously refocus ourselves and our family on God.

3 Things Parents Can Do

Based on this passage, here are three ways we can purposefully pass down a legacy of faith:

  1. Look for teachable moments – Use God’s Word to guide family decisions and choices in your children’s life. Pray with your children throughout the day for people and circumstances. Highlight God’s truth against what your family sees on television, movies, and in the world.
  2. Share your own journey – There is something precious about faith handed down from generation to generation. It’s a cherished possession not easily tossed aside. Allow your children to witness the personal nature of your faith. Talk about what God is teaching you. Share your victories and struggles.
  3. Tell your “remember when” stories – Tell your children about what God has done in your family, church, and community. We all have eyewitness accounts of God’s activity around us. Make sure your children know them!

What teachable moments has God given you recently? How did you make the most of them?

 

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Building a Rock-Solid Legacy of Faith

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Four generations of my family gathered this week at my parents’ home. My mom and dad longed to see their first great-grandchild, but cannot make the long highway drive to go to him. So, I traveled from Houston to Dallas, picked up my daughter Kelley and her one-year old Micah, and together we made the trip to Shreveport.

legacy of faith

My mom, daughter, father, and grandson

It’s a little weird being in the middle of the generational line. I am that proverbial “sandwich.” On one side, I’m pressed by the bittersweet journey of watching my aging parents and all that comes with the process. On the other, stands the joyful excitement of walking with my daughter and son-in-law as they parent my first grandchild.

Cord of Faith

As I contemplate this inevitable life role, I am thankfully aware of an invisible, but strong, cord running both directions. From my parents through me to my daughter and beyond, flows a current of faith in Christ our Savior. It binds our hearts and lives together now and into eternity.

My mother and father’s commitment before my birth to obey God’s call to parents initiated this faith flow. They took God’s Word seriously.

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9, NIV

My parents’ obedience not only pointed me toward a saving relationship with Christ, it also fostered a desire to continue this legacy of faith as my husband and I raised our own children. And now Kelley and Jeremy embrace the same responsibility with precious Micah.

Leave a Spiritual Legacy

In honor of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, this post is the first in a series about building a legacy of faith in our families. For the rest of May, we will see what the Bible says on the topic and consider practical ways we can foster faith in Christ in the heart of our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and anyone else God has placed into our lives.  I’d love to have you along for the journey!

Did your parents work to pass down a legacy of faith to you? If so, what difference did it make in your life? Have you committed to passing along your faith to the next generation?

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Do you ever throw a fit with God?

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I love watching my daughter parent my one-year-old grandson. She’s a great mom – loving, kind, and patient. But of course challenges pop up constantly.

Micah smile

Micah is a happy, sweet boy! Most of the time.

Recently for instance, Micah has been throwing a fit whenever something doesn’t go his way. And not just a pouty face with a few tears. These are lay down on the floor, kick your legs, and bellow fits.

Toddler tantrum

Micah in the midst of a toddler fit!

For fun, she sent me a list of some things that set him off. (And by the way, I did get my daughter’s permission to share!)

Things she wouldn’t let him do:

  • Grab the hot pot on the stove
  • Pull an electrical cord out of the outlet
  • Shut a door with his fingers in the hinges
  • Dig in the trash can
  • Pull the lamp off the table
  • Lick the bottom of Dad’s shoes
  • Suck on the acorn he found in the yard
  • Tear a page out of her Bible

Things he did and then didn’t like:

  • Pulled the stopper out of the tub and lost all the water
  • Crawled under the ottoman and got stuck

Things she did he didn’t like:

  • Shut the fridge door
  • Shut the dishwasher
  • Made him ride in his car seat

Even though Kelley acts completely in Micah’s best interest or to prevent unneeded destruction, he rebels. Kelley sighs; I laugh. (Nanas can do that.) But, Kelley is handling it well. Micah will soon learn that this kind of behavior is not productive.

Trying to Manipulate

When we were toddlers, most of us eventually learned that tantrums and fits were not acceptable behavior. Most of our parents did not fall for that kind of manipulation. We never allowed our children to manipulate us like that. So why do we still sometimes try it with God?

  • God, if you’ll do this for me here, then I’ll obey you in that.
  • If you’ll let me get away with this one time, I won’t ever do it again.
  • I can’t believe you aren’t going to let me have that!

The Perfect Parent

God is the perfect, ultimate parent. He only acts in love toward us and for our good.

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that me may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  Hebrews 12:10-11, NIV

Whether God withholds something we want, stops something we’re doing, or does something we don’t like, we can fully trust that it’s for our good. Even if it seems painful at the time.

God is working for our spiritual health and eternal welfare. Yet sometimes we end up on the floor, kicking our legs, and throwing a fit. Wait… maybe that’s just me.

Don’t leave me hanging! Tell us about a time you threw a fit with God!

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Brown Trails, Diaper Pails, and a Hard-learned Lesson

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I spotted the brown goo on Micah’s hands as he crawled past me on the kitchen tile. What is that?

Taking a closer look, I discovered both of my 10-month-old grandson’s hands were smeared with something dark and sticky. The trail on the floor led from Micah’s current location in front of the refrigerator, out of the kitchen, across the hallway, and into his room.

Grandmother learns a hard lessonI was talking to Kelley, my daughter, on the phone. She had just called from work to check on us. As I followed the brown trail, I mentioned to Kelley that Micah had gotten into something and I was investigating.

When I entered the doorway of his room, the answer hit me. Kelley, gotta go!

Used diapers lay scattered and open on the floor. Their previous contents were also dispersed in various locations on the hard wood and area rug.

I snatched Micah up and hurried to the bathroom. First, I conducted a thorough inspection of his face, lips, and mouth. Clean, thank you Lord! Next, I washed his hands and forearms, digging brown particles out from underneath his tiny fingernails. Amazingly, his clothes were goo-free.

The next step was the floor. I plopped Micah in his crib. From his safe vantage point, he watched Nana undo the mess he had made. Diapers. Brown blobs and smears. Floor. Carpet. Disinfectant.

Micah is my first grandbaby. My baby skills were flabby. Nana learned the hard way that the diaper pail is not baby proof. I also got a nasty reminder that it doesn’t take but a moment for little ones to get into something.

Caring for little ones requires diligence, constant supervision, and eyes in the back of your head. I dropped the ball this time, but I learned my lesson. Micah will not get in the diaper pail again on my watch.

Unfortunately, I don’t learn spiritual lessons as quickly. I get myself into a sinful mess, my heavenly Father picks me up, cleans me up, and sets me on the right path. Sometimes I learn to avoid that mess, but sometimes, before long, I’m right back to the same gooey pile.

Oh, Lord, help me to be quick to learn. Help me to respond to your discipline. And thank you for picking me up, again and again.

What about you? Has your heavenly Father cleaned up any of your messes lately?

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They can steal your clothes, but not your joy

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Discarded clothes piled high on the dressing room floor around my feet. Why is it so difficult to find something that I not only like, but that also fits properly?

It was almost time to pick up my son from after-school football practice so this torture session had to come to an end very soon.  I just wanted to try one more size. Maybe I’d get to leave with a new pair of jeans. Taking my purse with me – safety always comes first – I hurried out to grab that one last thing.  I quickly ran to the jeans rack with store tags bouncing from both my shirt and my pants.

I couldn’t have been gone more than two minutes, but when I returned the dressing room was empty. I was sure I’d entered the right one, but checked the others close by just to confirm. No, this was the right one. Same stain on the carpet.

But the room was completely, totally empty. All of the clothes I had tried on were gone – no big loss – but so were the clothes I had worn into the store. Someone had taken my clothes!

Joy can never be takenI had to find my clothes fast. I ran out of the dressing rooms and scanned the floor for an employee, but there wasn’t anyone in sight. So I headed to the closest register and interrupted the sale in progress to report my missing clothes, emphasizing my time constraint. She didn’t seem too thrilled about helping me, but agreed to call someone.

After waiting a couple of minutes for someone to show up, I decided I had to take action. I would conduct my own search. If I didn’t find my clothes quickly I would just have to risk a shoplifting charge and pick up Mark in the ones I had on.

I checked the rack outside the dressing room where unwanted clothes get returned. Not there. Next I began to check the other racks starting with the ones closest to the dressing room and working my way out. It didn’t take long before I spotted them. My shirt and pants had been hung on a rack among clothes displayed for the customers.

They didn’t have price tags. They didn’t have security tags. But there they were.  Seriously.

My stolen clothes were found. A super-quick change later and I was in the car on my way to pick up Mark.

I learned a valuable lesson that day. Keep a close eye on your clothes in the dressing room. They can be stolen.

Other things can be easily stolen too. Bicycles. Wallets. Cars. Even your identity.

And we talk of our joy being stolen. But Jesus said the joy He gives us can never be taken away (John 16:22). That’s because the joy He gives us is based on eternal circumstances that can never be stolen or shaken or changed.

Our joy in Christ comes from the salvation He gives. “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).

Lasting, inexpressible, glorious joy! That can never be taken away! Hallelujah!

Have anything important ever been stolen from you? Do you feel vulnerable to theft? Is it reassuring to know that your joy in Christ is secure?

 

 

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