What do you see, when you look at yourself, through heaven’s eyes?
The words of Titus 3 tell us that God saved us by His mercy, so that by His grace we might become His heirs. Did you hear that? Despite our sinfulness we have been reborn and made new in Jesus Christ. We are now heirs of the King. You have a new identity. An heir of God, a person of surpassing value with a worth that doesn’t have to be earned and can’t be taken away. Now, share that worth with the person next to you in the form of love, so they, too, can see their worth through heaven’s eyes.
February 1, 2017
I’m wondering, should you pray for God to change your spouse?
If you’re married, you’ve probably prayed that prayer at least once. But how do we know if that’s appropriate or just shifting blame? Well, if your spouse is involved in sinful behavior pray for them to repent. And if they are abusive don’t tolerate it, get to safety, and pray they are convicted to change. But if it’s just a matter of preference, well, pray for your heart to change more times than you pray for them to change.
January 31, 2017
Hey Ron, can stepparents discipline their stepchildren?
Periodically I get that question because someone heard a TV talk show host say that stepparents should not discipline, that only the biological parents should do that. To be candid, that’s poor advice. What if foster parents or adoptive parents did that? It’d be utter chaos. Now, stepparents should not act independently of the biological parent, work with them. And as long as you enforce the rules you have agreed to, you can discipline your stepchildren.
January 30, 2017
When it comes to bonding with a stepchild their age matters. Children under the age of five tend to welcome new family members whereas children between the ages of 10-15 have the most difficult time bonding with stepparents. And, the adult stepchild is not looking for another parent figure but they are trying to figure out your place in the family. So if you are a stepparent find a relationship that works for both you and the child. Today that is. And trust that the door will open to something more tomorrow.
January 26, 2017
Corporations have business meetings all the time. Shouldn’t families do that? Generally, the purpose behind a business meeting is to generate teamwork and productivity. A family meeting is so much more than that. It’s about facilitating family harmony as well as making vacation plans and discussing the family calendar. You can also work through hurt feelings and support each other in tough times. And there’s a bonus for blended families: regular family meetings become a ritual that strengthens a sense of family identity.
January 25, 2017
Watch out! It’s a trap!Proverbs 22:14 speaks a great truth that we all need to hear. “The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit.” Now, that pit is hidden, a trap that collapses under you. Of course, the “forbidden woman” could be a real person. But in this day and age, it could also be a video on the internet. Protect your heart from the forbidden woman, protect your home from her enticements, and point out that deep pit to your children so they can walk around it and not fall in.
January 24, 2017
Different kid, different parenting.Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” That’s a promise, right? No, actually, the emphasis of the verse is on the child, not the path. Train up a child and move them toward their giftedness and strengths. That is challenging enough, but imagine becoming a foster parent or stepparent. Where do you start? Study the child. Talk to their parent. Pray for insight to help them be who God has designed them to be.
January 23, 2017
Today, we inaugurate not the first but yet another blended family into the White House.
Donald Trump’s family will simply be the latest stepfamily to touch the presidency. George Washington, James Madison, and Warren Harding were stepfathers. Theodore Roosevelt shipped his daughter off to relatives because she and her stepmom didn’t get along. And the Reagan’s had a stepfamily in the White House. As always, the world will be watching the first family. Let’s pray for them as they embark on their most important leadership role.
January 20, 2017