Recently I have been very convicted about my lack of diligence in training our children. Albeit, the past few months have been crazy, but eventually I knew that I needed and wanted things to get back to where I thought we were at least pointed in the right direction, even if we weren't making any progress. So Don and I talked about things this past Sunday afternoon. Big things like - the vision and direction of our family and small things like - what steps do we take each day to be going that direction. He asked me to start going through Proverbs and making a list of categories of verses regarding a parent's responsibility to instruct and discipline their children and the blessings and warnings given to parents and children alike if they don't heed God's instruction. This morning I read through the first 12 chapters online and though I haven't got to the classic "discipline your child" verses yet, I found many that definitely increased my conviction that this is a worthy pursuit. Once I get through the book, I'll post what I have found. I know there are several books on this subject and at least one with the very name "Proverbs for Parenting", and though I will most likely make use of those in the future, I find that I "get" stuff more if I'm the one digging it out. Pray for me that the Spirit of God will direct me as I "dig" and will show me the great wisdom of His word.
I just can't get out of Romans 8. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" I woke up this morning with thoughts of God's sovereignty on my mind. The fact that He controls everything and will let nothing go further than He has decreed. He is a kind and loving Father who I can trust. So, I don't have to worry about the events of today. Though I can't always trust other people to do the right thing (or even myself for that matter!) or put my confidence in 'things' today - I can put my confidence in my heavenly Father and rest in His adoption of me as a child. So, no need to put on the slave chains of fear again - let me just remind myself of who my Father is.