This Week in Faith 2-8-19

What Narrative Are We Telling Our Children

With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s important for us to consider the foundation we are laying for our kids when it comes to their views of love and marriage. The Bible doesn’t promise that everyone will get married. In fact, it elevates the value of the single life. So, while we often have good intentions in describing all of the wonderful things about marriage, we can inadvertently communicate that the single life is a second class life. Personally, I am grateful for the single adults we have as leaders in our student ministry because it gives our students a first hand look at the ways God is glorified in their singleness, and even because of their singleness. He gives two very important reasons we should be careful of the message we are passing on to our kids about singleness and marriage. This was really helpful for me to think about.

Click here to read the article by Chap Bettis.

In Praise of Useless Reading

One of my kids asked me the other day, “Is it ok that I would rather sit and read than play video games right now?” I am grateful that my kids are developing a love for reading. I went through most of my life before I really started to enjoy reading. Christians are people of a book so a love of words is vital. Jesus is the Word. But our next question becomes, what should I read. As long as it took me to enjoy reading, it has taken me even longer to appreciate fiction. And yet, there is a valuable lesson for us in the fact that Jesus so often taught in stories. There is a beauty in stories that captures our imagination and points us to the author of THE story. I have really started to enjoy fiction. And fiction has spurred so many good conversations for my kids. I am currently reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time. What are some of your favorite books of fiction or poetry?

Click here to read the article by Jessica Hooten Wilson.

Let Children Get Bored Again

“I’m bored!” How many times have you heard that as a parent? I waiver between frustration, ambivalence and guilt when I hear this from my kids. But there is something so valuable about boredom. I love some of the points she makes in this article about why we need to give our kids more chances to be bored…and not feel the pressure to rescue them from it.

Click here to read the article by Pamela Paul.

Trusting God During the Temper Tantrums

Whether you are dealing with the tantrums of a 2 year old or the grumpy attitude of a 14 year old [not that I have experienced both in my house this week or anything!], finding the motivation and endurance to keep parenting well can be hard. This is why we need to run to the gospel- for our sakes and for theirs. The only place we can find deep resources of patience and grace for our kids is the patience and grace of our heavenly Father towards us. I hope this article can be an encouragement to those of you that are exhausted from the week that the hard work of parenting is worth it in the end because it glorifies God and points our kids to Jesus.

Click here to read the article by Jason Thacker.

As always, you can reach me at stevenb@faithpcachurch.org if you have any feedback, questions, or ideas for future posts. Have a great weekend!

-Steven Brooks