Responsibility and Kids- a different perspective

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Responsibility is a hot topic for parents. As a mom, I spent several years telling my kids that having a dog was a big responsibility.  I told them when they could be responsible for getting their dirty clothes to the laundry room, then I might be able to trust them to be responsible for an animal. It was all about being trusted with the little things so that I could trust them with something bigger.

This month on Route 252 we will be looking at responsibility from a Biblical perspective.  Responsibility is defined as showing that you can be trusted with what is expected of you.  Responsibility is a heart issue that is a reflection of and impacts our relationship with God. Seeing responsibility as a way God works through us is likely a new perspective for kids and parents alike.  The parable of the talents in Matthew 25  is an example of this virtue.  From earthly standards, all three servants would have been considered responsible.  No one lost any money after all. They did what was OK,  but one chose what was best. God expects us to use what He has given us in the best way, in a way that honors Him and shows we can be trusted. When we teach kids to use their talents, abilities, knowledge, and whole lives to honor God, we are teaching them responsibility from a Biblical perspective.  As we teach our kids about daily responsibilities, remember to teach them that they are being trusted with small things so that one day they can be trusted with bigger things.

 Remember, we aren’t trying to teach our kids to just be “good;” we are teaching them to live Godly lives.  What a privilege and responsibility!

Raising Godly Kids

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The goal isn’t to raise “good” kids. The goal is to raise GODLY kids.

There is a difference.

Raising good kids could mean a lot of things. Most parents would think of good behavior… raising well behaved kids who are obedient and self-controlled. It could also mean raising kids that are good at something, like sports or playing a musical instrument. Or maybe “good” kids are the ones that do well in school. Good is subjective. People have their own definition of what is good. And some would say “good” isn’t good enough. There’s always something better than “good”. You can waste a lifetime pursuing it and still not be good enough.

On the other hand, raising Godly kids is a worthy pursuit. The key to raising Godly kids is being Godly parents. It begins with knowing God and believing that He loves us, is faithful, and wants the best for us. How do we apply these things to the way we raise our kids?

God is love

When we love our kids the way God loves us, they experience unconditional love. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love or make God love us any less. We may get upset when our children misbehave or don’t do their best at school but we don’t stop loving them. There are no conditions or requirements for giving or receiving unconditional love. When kids feel loved by their parents, they can begin to understand how much God loves them.

God is consistent

To be consistent means to be reliable, dependable and constant. Psalm 33:4 says we can trust God because He is faithful in all He does. We can depend on God to be and do exactly what His Word says. There is so much inconsistency in the world. Kids rely on their parents for security and a solid foundation. Parents need to be consistent in their actions, especially when it comes to discipline. Kids need help learning to make good choices, which means allowing them to suffer the consequences for misbehaving or making bad choices.

God wants the best for us

God doesn’t want us to survive. He wants us to thrive! God’s plan is the very best plan for each person. We need to seek God’s will and trust Him. Even when things don’t make sense, we can still trust that God is in control. As parents, we need to accept that God has a plan for our kids’ lives. Our job is to prepare them to live out that plan. Every parent has dreams and expectations for their kids. Ask God to align them with His plan.

Godly parents raise Godly kids by loving them unconditionally, being consistent in their actions, and seeking God’s best for their family.

Hope

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This month’s virtue in KidzCentral and on Route 252 is Hope: believing that something good can come out of something bad. Throughout the Bible, we see God bring good from situations that are bad. No one wants to find themselves in a bad or difficult situation, but the reality of life is that situations will arise that are hard. When difficult things happen, we have an opportunity to help kids see God. We can guide them to see that He is always with them and He is faithful to bring good from the bad. Sometimes it is easy to see the good and sometimes it isn’t. This is how God grows and matures us. We have hope because of who God is.

This month we are studying the last season of Jesus’ life. Kids will see that the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus seemed bad, but that they were part of God’s perfect plan for salvation. Kids will learn about Jesus’ promise of eternal life, how they can receive that life, and how they can share it with others.

Families will be provided with a rice and beans devotion kit. This devotion introduces families to the Dixon Family and the ministry they will have serving n Guatemala. It is hard to imagine leaving everything behind to go live in another country that is very different. It may even seem like a “bad” thing. Obeying God’s calling is always a good thing, no matter how difficult it is. The Dixons will help people in Guatemala learn about the Hope of Jesus!

Hurry Up and Wait

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In today’s age of technological speediness, we seem to get easily upset when things take longer than expected. Just this week, our home microwave has decided to stop working! Our first thought: “What are we going to do, how do we cook our dinner!?” Then it hit us that life actually happened before microwaves and people were still able to eat dinner. They had these things called stoves and ovens that heat food slowly. Oh yeah.

Now that it is a little bit extreme, since most homes still have ovens and stoves and the microwave is a handy addition. But we’ve all experienced slow internet  or computer speeds at one time or another. When I click on a link, it should show up instantly, right? I mean, I am on “highspeed” internet!

As things such as these become commonplace in our society and help us be more efficient and speed up our processes, we begin to take them for granted. Sometimes we even forget what it was like before these things were available.

One thing we do not want to speed up or take for granted is God’s most valuable gift to us . . . our children. My family is like most, always rushing from one thing to another. I recently began to think about how often I tell my children to “Hurry up!” and what they are learning from me?

  • “Hurry up and eat.”
  • “Hurry up and get dressed.”
  • “Hurry up and get out of the shower.”
  • “Hurry up and get done.”

With all these “hurry ups,” that must mean that life is hurried. But that is not what God’s Word teaches. He tells us to be patient, to wait, to not be anxious, to be still.

I know those of you who are reading this and whose children are teenagers, young adults, or older probably have times you wish your children could be young again. Maybe you remember those childhood years and memories with fondness and maybe with a sense of nostalgia. My kids are 7 and 9. Many of the “seasoned” parents in my life offer the same advice. Make the most of the time you have now. Don’t rush your children’s childhood. I have to agree. I must agree.

So in today’s “hurry up”, instant culture, maybe it is time to hurry up…Hurry Up and Wait! Wait for your children to become the man or woman God planned for them to be. Hurry up and stop hurrying their childhood. Let them be who God created them to be at this time: your kids! Hurry up and spend some quality time with them, while you can.

From a still recovering parent of “hurry-itis.”

At the Core

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Many of you reading this post will remember this commercial. Maybe like me, you remember the old cartoon version from the 60′s and 70′s.

The idea of something being different in the center was unique as it relates to candy, but not so much as it relates to people. That idea has been around for 1000′s of years. Just listen to what God said about Caleb from the book of Numbers. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. ~ Numbers 14:24.

If you don’t know the story preceding this quote, the Israelite spies had just returned from checking out the Promised Land. The majority of the spies gave a bad report, but Caleb along with his bud, Joshua, were being positive. God recognized that what was inside of Caleb, his commitment, his obedience, his solid foundation, and his preparation were based on Him, not on the external circumstances.

It might not have been easy to see Caleb’s internal qualities at first, just as it’s not easy to see what’s inside the Tootsie Pop. However, soon it was very evident what was at Caleb’s core. The best thing is (unlike a Tootsie Pop) he didn’t have to break before it showed.

What’s at your core? Is it evident to others, or do you have to break or be worn down before it shows?

Camp Tsungani is Central Church’s week-long residential camp for kids who have completed 3rd – 6th grade. It will be May 28 – June 2. The counselors and staff will be helping the campers develop a solid one; one that is Commited to God, Obedient to His Word, Rooted in Christ, and Equipped to Serve. We will be studying several Old Testament examples as well as a few from the New Testament. If you have kids in this age range and haven’t signed up yet, you’d better do it quick. We are over 3/4 full!

Our prayer is that when the campers leave Tsungani their solid core in Christ will be evident and not have to be worn down or broken before it shows. We’ll be living inside out!

So how long does it take to get the center of a Christian?

D6 Families

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Yesterday, we looked at Deuteronomy 5 – 7. This is a great passage for parents, especially 6:4 – 7. I like what Mark Holmen says about these verses in Faith Begins at Home: If we want our children to have a faith that influences the way they live their lives, then in our homes we need to be modeling faith through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He challenges families to take intentional steps to make Christ the center of their homes and lives.

The time families spend together are wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth. Here are some simple ways your family can become a D6 family by including Jesus in your daily routines

  • Have a regular dinnertime. Turn off the TV. Sit together and talk during meals.
  • Before everyone leaves the table, read a passage from the Bible or a story from a Bible story book and talk about it together.
  • Help your child connect God’s Word with things that happen during the day. Ask questions, share stories.
  • Pray with your kids. Bedtime and mealtime prayers are great. So are spontaneous prayers during the day to thank God when something good happens or ask for His help when faced with challenges
  • Get involved at church. Make regular attendance a priority.
  • Build relationships with people at church. Get to know the people that teach your children. Help your kids develop friendships with children in their classes and get to know their parents too.
  • Use the KidzCentral widgets to reinforce each month’s virtue. This month, we gave out STAND Tags to teach “conviction” – standing up for what is right even when others don’t. 
  • Make the most of time spent driving in the car or doing regular family activities. Talk together – share, ask questions, and listen. The Parent Cue app is a great tool for this.
  • Find a place or some way your family can serve together. Check out this list for ideas.
  • Intentionally focus on your own spiritual growth – read the Bible, pray, join a Bible study or small group; intentionally live your life to obey and honor the Lord.

How about your family? What are some ways you are living out Deuteronomy 6:4 – 7?

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Today in the Chronological Bible Reading Plan, we’re in Deuteronomy 5 – 7.

The Israelites are camped on the east banks of the Jordan River. After wandering in the dessert for 40 years, they were finally going into the Promised Land. But first, Moses prepared them for this long-awaited event.

In the first four chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses reminds them of the way God faithfully led them and lovingly provided everything they needed. Then he shifts gears in Deuteronomy 5 and focuses on the importance of obeying God. Every parent should read these three chapters often and use them as a blueprint for raising their children. Moses advice to the Israelites is practical, relevant and appropriate for parents today. Here are three reasons why:

Listen, Learn & Obey

Deuteronomy 5:1 contains three words every parent loves. Moses called all the Israelites together and told them to listen carefully to God’s Word so they may learn it and obey it. Next, he repeats the 10 Commandments God gave them at Mt Sinai. He explains the blessings that come from obeying God and the trouble that comes from disobeying God.

Application – We expect kids to listen and obey. Sometimes we forget about the “learning” part – understanding what has been said, connecting it with God’s Word, and figuring out how to do it. Kids need help “learning” how to obey. This is an important part of parenting. It takes time but has huge rewards!

Make a Good Impression

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 is the foundation for Biblical parenting. Moses shared this important message with the Israelites as both instruction and encouragement. He also told them to make sure their children heard stories of God’s faithfulness (see Deuteronomy 6:20 – 25.) The heart of the message . . . put Christ first in your life and then help your kids do the same:

  • There is one God
  • Love Him with all your heart, soul and strength
  • Wholeheartedly obey His Word
  • Teach your children to do the same

Application – Parents are instructed to “impress” or diligently teach their children to obey God. The Hebrew meaning is to “whet, or sharpen”, as in piercing deeply into their hearts. Do you want your children to faithfully follow God? Then show them how. Life gives plenty of opportunities everyday for parents to demonstrate what it means to trust God. When kids see their parents’ faith in action, it leaves a lasting impression. According to this passage, children learn best by example and repetition, during the daily routines of getting up, eating, going to bed and being with their family.

Truth & Consequences

Deuteronomy 7:9 is a key verse for the whole book of Deuteronomy. God is the one true God. He is faithful. He keeps His promises from generation to generation. God’s love will never fail and He freely gives it to all who love Him and obey His commandments. Moses made sure the Israelites knew that God was bringing them into the Promised Land and had specific expectations for how they were to obey Him. There were consequences for both obedience and disobedience: blessings for obedience; judgment for disobedience.

Application – Obeying God is more than just knowing right from wrong. Obedience is a commitment based on loving God. God loves us and we can trust Him. Obedience is choosing to follow God, to do things God’s way. When we choose to ignore God, our actions hurt ourselves and others. Kids need to learn there are consequences for the choices they make. They will be making choices for the rest of their lives. Teach them how to make good choices and be willing to carry out the consequences – both good and bad.

Check back tomorrow for practical ways to incorporate following Jesus into our daily lives.