Daly Focus Blog
Parents often believe three common myths about discipling their children in the Christian faith:
“The perfect environment will guarantee that my child will become a Christian.”“The ultimate goal of my Christian life is to have children who follow the Lord.”“My child’s salvation is all up to me.”
The truth is discipling children isn’t like following a recipe where the right ingredients mixed together the right way guarantees success. Children have free will to embrace or reject wisdom.
Imagine this: You’re the lead detective on an important case. Your job is to search for clues that reveal who, what, where, when, and why a crime has been committed. What evidence would you look for?
What if the case was finding proof for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Is there evidence of that?
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “The Proof You Need to Believe in Jesus Christ,” we’re putting you in that lead detective scenario.
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Finding Your Identity in Jesus Christ,” Susie Larson says, “I believe the enemy sees your potential long before you do. How did he come against you in your childhood? His threat to you is connected to your threat to him. But when we live in response to God’ love, it changes everything. It empowers us to stand strong and be who God always intended us to be.”
When Susie was 9, she was attacked by her brother’s friends.
Anger gets a bad rap. Many people consider it be destructive and bad. All of the time.
But anger can actually be good for us in many ways. It’s a God-given emotion that motivates us to right wrongs and to solve problems. Nathan the prophet was indignant when he confronted King David about committing infidelity and killing Bathsheba’s husband. Jesus was angry when he overturned tables in the temple. Anger can empower us to pursue a better career, to end a bad relationship, or to make positive changes.
Coach Joe Kennedy’s victory at the Supreme Court today is a win for religious freedom. The fact that a majority of the justices upheld the right of a high school coach to kneel down after a game to give thanks for keeping his players safe strikes me as not just a victory for the First Amendment, but a victory for common sense.
Why is it that our kids can be exposed to all kinds of negative role models in schools today, but not a positive one like Coach Joe?
First Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Life often gets in the way of our desire to connect with Jesus as our source of contentment and joy. We get busy raising children, investing in our marriages, and building our careers. We get distracted by technology and lost in tough circumstances. Life overwhelms us, and we disconnect from God.
When my two sons, Trent and Troy, were born, I thought Jean andI would be able to raise them the same way. Boy, was I wrong. When it came to parenting, what worked for Trent didn’t always work for Troy.
Trent and Troy share a lot of the same interests, but spend an afternoon with each of them, and you’ll discover just how different they are. Trent is thoughtful and smart, but sometimes he struggled in school.
As we approach Father’s Day this Sunday, a thought:
It’s been said that it’s easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.
Sadly, that’s becoming more and more common.
There’s no test or final exam to qualify for fatherhood, though it would seem like a good idea if somehow there could be.
But some years ago, I developed what I call “Dad’s Report Card” for our boys, Trent and Troy – to evaluate me!
We all like to be liked.
But that raises questions.
Doesn’t the Bible instruct us to serve others by putting their needs before our own?
If so, where is the line between being a pleasant person and being a “people pleaser”?
The boundaries can be murky.
In high school, my wife Jean once said yes to three different boys who asked her for a date on the same night.
Dr. Mike Bechtle, a writer, public speaker, and communications expert, had trouble telling his children no because he wanted them to like him.
Have you ever noticed how often Jesus’ ministry was centered around meals?
Among others, there was the wedding at Cana, a dinner with the reviled Zaccheus, and the beautiful symbolism of the Last Supper. Jesus was even criticized for eating with “tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 9:11).
As one scholar put it: “Jesus ate his way through the Gospels.”
For author Bri McKoy, Jesus’ ministry through meals became a model for creating community and sharing God’s love with people He brought into her life.
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
