Loving Encouragement

One of my favorite things to do is to sit with each one of my sons and listen to the things that motivate him and affects his life. Seeing and hearing the passion and listening to his strategy and plans to overcome. I love the connection I feel and the opportunity that time provides to lead thoughts toward godly responses.

Fathers, there is no greater way to lead your children than with a loving touch and encouragement to live godly. Paul wrote, “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God…” 1Th 2:11-12

He speaks here of exhorting (drawing our children near) in comfort and encouragement so that as we charge (give instruction) to walk worthy of God there is safety, love and genuine concern. These active attitudes will open doors to your children’s hearts and lives that pressure and force never will.

Revelation Parenting

As parents, we are wearily aware of the advice offered regarding the rearing of our children. This advice comes from an amazing variety of sources. Some words from the wisdom of experience, some the speculations of fools, others the beliefs of misguided philosophies but most tainted by the fallen minds of humankind. There is however, one source too often ignored or refused, God’s Word, the Bible.

There is much about life, including child rearing, we may never fully understand. Some of those things are simply secrets God keeps, because He always knows best. So what are we to do? We are to parent our children according to the instructions God revealed.

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29

We can neither do nor teach what we do not know and understand. Like so many areas of life, we often will “fill in the blanks” with things we have heard or with speculations. Over time, the truth reveals our folly; unfortunately at our children’s expense. God’s Words must take precedence over society’s fads.

SON-rise of HOPE

 Have you ever experienced the beauty of sunrise after a long dark night of worry and fear? The first rays of light that pierced the darkness seemed to carry real hope of a better day. The warmth and energy the dawn fed into your body and soul; the colors flooding over the darkness, revealing the life and hope so far away all night.

Imagine how beautiful and exciting the morning must have been when they heard the angels say, “…Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen:” Lu 24:5-6 Hope restored and renewed excitement because Jesus was alive! The Son had risen!

Do you remember how beautiful it was when the light of Jesus shone into your heart? The SON-rise in your soul, the relief, the warmth and exhilaration of hope it brought.

The sun rises every day driving life here on earth, providing energy for the water cycle and the transformation of basic elements into the foods that sustains us.

Let us celebrate the rising of the Son of God every day. Let us fulfill our calling to be the light of the world by embracing the rising of the Son of God, our Savior every day. Let it energize and drive the transformational work that brings relief and warmth and hope to all that remain in the darkness of night. May the Son rise in us today and every day ‘til He comes again!