Thursday October 21, 2010

Speaker: Rick Enloe

Theme: The Kid Factor

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) - Paul Baloche, God Is With Us - Michael Olson, Cannons - Phil Wickham, Lead Me to the Cross - Hillsong

Read: Ephesians 6:4, Luke 19:1-9 

Think: This Sunday we heard from guest speaker Rick Enloe. Continuing the series ‘I want a new marriage’ this week we looked at ‘the kid (or no kid) factor’ 

Every day we see how “children are affected by the way they are raised”. On my wall I have a verse called ‘children learn what they live’. My niece recently posted her status on Facebook “I hate it when parents split up and start to compete with each other”. Sadly my niece is learning how to act badly when you break up with someone. 

In a marriage that has two people putting in effort children can learn to deal with disagreements, to stick with something even when it’s tough, to focus on God and make even tough situations work. This not only equips them for their future marriage but with things that will happen in life. The best thing we can do as parents is to set a good example, respect our partner and show how to cope with life when reality hits. 

We have a responsibility whether as parents, leaders or simply as someone in their lives to set an example of how to live. In Jesus life we saw him teaching by example not only to children but to all his followers of how we should be with other people and the effect it can have on their lives.

Children learn what they live…

If a child lives with criticism he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility he learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule he learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame he learns to be guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement he learns to confidence.

If a child lives with praise he learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness he learns justice.

If a child lives with security he learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world. 

Do: Think about what you are teaching those children around you, how the stability of your life affects them and what changes you can make to improve your effect. 

Pray: Lord thank you that we are brought up in families and you have given us parents to teach and nurture us in how to live. Thank you for all those who have set good examples in our lives. We ask for your blessing as parents and as children. Please help us to be the example in life that the people in our lives need. Amen 

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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