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.
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. If the disposal of the lot is the Lord's whose is the arrangement of our whole life? If the a simple casting of a lot is guided by Him, how much more the events of our entire life-especially when we are told by our blessed Saviour: "The very hairs of your head are all numbered: not a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father." It would bring a holy calm over your mind, dear friend, if you were always to remember this. It would so relieve your mind from anxiety, that you would be the better able to walk in patience, quiet, and cheerfulness as a Christian should. When a man is anxious he cannot pray with faith; when he is troubled about the world, he cannot serve his Master, his thoughts are serving himself. If you would "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness," all things would then be added unto you. You are meddling with Christ's business, a...