Instilling Faith as Our Kids Grow

My boys got their start in God's Word pretty early in life. Almost from the time they were born we were reading them Bible stories and taking them to church. However, as they have grown {They are currently 14 and 18 years old.}, the way we approach biblical teaching has had to change. Gone are the days of us sitting down together a reading a chapter in the Old Testament as we learn Biblical history. Gone are the days of us reciting verses together. As they have aged they have changed and we as their parents have had to do the same.

Come join me today at Future Flying Saucers as I discuss ideas on how to help your teen apply God's Word to his or her life...

The Throne of Grace (31 Days)

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:14-16

Dear Zach and Noah-

I am so glad that we have a God that gets us.  He truly understands where we are coming from. We can go to Him at anytime asking for grace and mercy when we struggle.  I used to think I had to be perfect to receive favor from God. I used to think I had to have it all together to be acceptable to Christ.  But that is not the case.  God is gracious.  He gets our need for grace.  He sees our weaknesses and sits quietly on His throne waiting for us to call out to Him.  It is my hope and prayer that no matter what befalls you in life that you will always remember that you have a heavenly Father that you can run to in your time of need.

With Love,
Mom



It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

Mercy over Judgment (31 Days)

Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!  James 2:13

Dear Zach and Noah-

At some point you will hear me say that forgiveness has become a theme in my life.  God has put situations (think, "people") in my journey that have caused me to grapple with the idea of extending mercy and grace to those that don't deserve it.  Grace always conquers the critical spirit.  Mercy mows over the hatred growing in our hearts towards another.  Forgiveness vanquishes our judgmental attitudes. We all want to be shown mercy instead of criticism, but in order to gain that mercy we must show it to others.  Be merciful. Because mercy always triumphs!

With Love,
Mom

It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

Do it All (31 Days)

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17

Dear Zach and Noah-

Everything we do can be done in the name of Jesus and for His glory. Sure, there are many things in life that aren't fun to do...in my case, I can think of a few like housework, paying bills, etc. But everything can be done with God in mind, thanking Him that we have the ability to do even the most menial tasks.  It is my prayer for you that you will always be mindful that God can be in everything that we accomplish on a day to day basis.

With Love,
Mom

It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

Contentment (31 Days)

{Contentment in a puppy}

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  I Timothy 6:6-7

Dear Zach and Noah-

There once was a rich man who had "Bigger Barn Syndrome" (Luke 12:16-21).  It really didn't turn out well for him.  One of my biggest goals in life is to be content whether I have much or little.  We really don't own the world like so many think, but if we are stuck on our possessions they do own us. We came into this world empty-handed. We will exit the same way. The only thing we can possibly gain and keep is Christ.  He is our very great reward (Genesis 15:1)!

With Love,
Mom


It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

Holding Me Together (31 Days)

{Created by a family friend}

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  ^{Colossians 1:17}

Dear Zach and Noah-

Ever feel like you are falling apart?  Job did in his losses.  Jacob did when he went to meet his enemy brother. David did in his sin. Hagar did in the desert with a son to care for.  Yet, we don't have to hold ourselves together. God does that. It is crazy to think that we can even hold it together.  We just don't have that ability.  Peace comes when we realize that there is only One person who can keep us from falling apart.  And it is not ourselves.

With Love,
Mom


It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

Immeasurably More (31 Days)

{Several generations ago...your great-great grandma with her sisters}

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

Dear Zach and Noah-

God works through our generations.  Over the years.  To bring about His will and to wow us with His power.  He works in our circumstances to show us that He can be and do far more than we ever imagined. These verses became powerful to me because of what God allowed in my life over a decade ago...the year I lost two babies.  I was really beginning to feel that Zach would be an only child, but then the unimaginable happened.  We had Noah.  God can do what we think is impossible.  It happened in my generation.  To me.  It will happen in your life, too.  Pass it on to the next generation.  Tell them of His wonders and how He does more than we could ask or imagine.

With Love,
Mom


It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

Approval (31 Days)

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.  Galatians 1:10

Dear Zach and Noah-

I have to admit.  I am a people pleaser.  Especially in my younger years.  As I got older I had to make some tough decisions in life.  Decisions that others don't always agree with.  They were decisions though that were healthy for me and for you. They changed the course of our family. God has honored those decisions.  Some people have not.  I have had to learn over the years that I will not win men's approval all the time.  Frankly, it isn't even worth seeking it.  But I can seek to be a servant of Christ.  Following Him.  Seeking to please Him. May you realize in life that the approval of men means nothing.  It is God's stamp of approval that we should seek.

With Love,
Mom


It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

Grace and Truth (31 Days)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  ^{John 1:14}

Dear Zach and Noah-

Grace and truth. I have to admit that as an adult I have struggled with finding the line I need to walk to possess both grace and truth.  Grace gives people the benefit of the doubt.  Grace looks beyond the offense and sees not the offender, but a person.  Truth tells others like it is. It looks at what really happened and doesn't mince words.  Jesus was full of grace and truth.  He did both.  At the same time.  Perfectly. We, however, fail at this balancing act.  Sometimes we have too much grace and we become wishy-washy.  No backbone.  We do people a disservice because we have no truth in us.  Other times we give too much truth and we decimate those around us.  My prayer for you is that you will be men of grace and truth.  That you will find that line and walk it as you follow Jesus.

With Love,
Mom


It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

Give You Rest (31 Days)

{My grandparent's ranch}

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Dear Zach and Noah-

It used to be (before my grandparent's time) that you broke up the ground with oxen under a yoke.  Nowadays there is machinery to do the job. A yoke helped a pair of oxen do the work together. It was a symbol of them being joined (the word "yoke" comes from the word "to join"). God asks us to join with Him in His work.  To not work against Him.  He is not a hard slave driver.  He is gentle and by joining Him we will ease our burden whatever it may be.  It is when we strive against Him that the work become laborious.  But under His yoke, a symbol of work, we actually find rest.

With Love,
Mom


It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

A Broken Genealogy (31 Days)

{Your  great grandpa with his parents and sister}

A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:

² Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

³ Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,

⁴ Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,

⁵ Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,

⁶ and Jesse the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

⁷ Solomon the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,

⁸ Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

⁹ Uzziah the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

¹⁰ Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,

¹¹ and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

¹² After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

¹³ Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,

Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,

¹⁴ Azor the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Eliud,

¹⁵ Eliud the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,

¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.  Matthew 1:1-16

Dear Zach and Noah-

You are probably wondering why in the world I would share Jesus' genealogy with you.  They don't seem like very inspiring verses, now do they?  But look closely at Jesus' family...you will find a liar or two (Abraham and Isaac), a man that sold his brother into slavery (Judah), a prostitute (Rahab), an adulterer and a murderer (David), and a few bad kings.  And that is only the list for those that we know about!  I used to think that I lived in a perfect family.  Through the years I began to realize that no family is perfect.  Even Jesus had issues with his family!!  We live in a world of sin, therefore all families are dysfunctional on some level.  I am praying that we have broken the cycle of dysfunction for the most part and not passed in on to you.  But I know the reality.  The reality of Jesus' family.  The reality of every family.  We will pass it on to you. We already have.  It's called the sin nature. So I pray and hope that through the dysfunction you will see Jesus...because after all isn't that what this genealogy is all about?  To see Jesus in the end of it all.

With Love,
Mom


It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

God Sings (31 Days)

The Lord your God is with you,
    he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
    he will quiet you with his love,  he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Dear Zach and Noah-

I have never really envisioned God as a singer.  I am not sure why.  I guess because I just assumed that everyone would sing to Him instead. But God singing to us?  It seems kind of strange, doesn't it?  Yet, that is what He does.  He doesn't just sing, but He rejoices over us as we sing!  Amazing to think that God loves us so much that it would cause Him to sing!  The next time you are in church singing remember that God is also singing over you...

With Love,
Mom

It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

The Feet of a Deer (31 Days)

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,  he enables me to go on the heights.  Habakkuk 3:17-19

Dear Zach and Noah-

We praise Him even when everything is falling apart because thanksgiving brings on miracles. When we are burdened, trampled, and under a weight of misery the only way to rise above it is to rejoice in Him.  He will take us to new heights as we praise Him for ALL of it--the blessings and the bad parts of our lives.  Never forget to continue to thank Him...

With Love,
Debbie
It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

Forfeiting Grace (31 Days)

“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." Jonah 2:8

Dear Zach and Noah-

Idols...it is not like we have a lot of those around the house. Little statues of men with big bellies.  But do we?  Anything that replaces God is an idol.  It doesn't have to be a statue.  It doesn't have to have a belly. Jonah knew about bellies...the fishy type.  He had put his comfort and desires above God's. Jonah's desires became his god.  It landed him in a "watery grave" for three days.  It is my prayer for our whole family that we will embrace God first and as a result receive His grace.

With Love,
Mom



It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

The Whirlwind (31 Days)

“They sow the wind  and reap the whirlwind."  Hosea 8:7a

Dear Zach and Noah-

We think it is just a little "mistake" (read: "sin").  However, it blows up in our faces.  God knows how this works.  A little lie only needs to get bigger to cover the small one.  A small criticism to a friend can bring devastation that we can't even imagine.  A little pride can grow into a big fall.  We think we are only dealing with a wind, a gentle breeze.  It turns into a raging storm.  This verse in Hosea always reminds me that sin is far more reaching than we ever realize.  It destroys relationships.  It eats at our souls.  It spreads its venom quickly and lethally.  It is a reminder to be careful with our words and our actions.  It is also a reminder that when we deal with others' sin that they too have no idea how pervasive the damage can be.  We can give them grace knowing that they "do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

With Love,
Mom

It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

On Becoming a Cow (31 Days)

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.  Daniel 4:37

Dear Zach and Noah-

What is the quickest way to become a cow?  Ask good 'ole King Nebby.  He knows.  Being full of yourself is a one way ticket to devastation.  Being prideful leads down the road of ruin.  Thinking you are "all that" only leads to a bovine existence. (Daniel 4)  Always remember that you are cherished because you are made in the image of God.  However, you are NOT God, which is what pride tries to prove.  Pride says, "I am in charge."  Pride says, "I am so great." Pride says, "Look at me.  Not at God."  Taking a prideful stance will always lead to a fall.  I am praying that pride doesn't destroy you, but that you always know that you are loved beyond measure because you are His.

With Love,
Mom


It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?

Broken Cisterns (31 Days)

“My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
    the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,  broken cisterns that cannot hold water.  Jeremiah 2:13

Dear Zach and Noah-

We need to be filled.  It is just a matter of what will fill us.  Will it be the things of the world?  Things that don't hold water?  Or will it be God, the Spring of Living Water?  As human beings we tend to want to fill ourselves in the easiest way possible.  With those things that we can touch, feel, and see. But all the things of the world will never satisfy forever.  We have to keep going back again and again.  Only God fills the void. It is my prayer that you will seek Him to fill those empty spaces instead of the quick fix of the world.

With Love,
Mom


It is my goal in October to post 31 days of Bible verses/passages that I want to pass on to my kids.  My hope is eventually to buy Bibles to highlight these verses and then give them the Bible when they graduate high school. Won't you join me on my journey through God's Word?