Intentional Marriage & Family

Dave and I were ready for “happily ever after” when we got married.  However, within weeks of our wedding, we had more fights than we ever had, misunderstandings and tears happened every day, and I thought, “What did I get myself into?”  I knew I loved Dave, but I wasn’t expecting this!  I thought of the many couples we had talked with, asking them what made their marriage successful.  They all echoed 4 strengths of a healthy marriage.  Through the years, we realized that these 4 characteristics also brought life and strength to our children.  We call them the “4 C’s”. 

The first is CHRIST.  As human beings, we are broken.  We bring our brokenness into our marriage and family.  The only way we can mend and restore this mess is by calling on our Creator, the one who understands our plight.  He knows us, he understands, he forgives, he heals, he restores, and gives us a beautiful future.  He performs this in each of us…personally.  How? …by making Christ our focal point, the center of our thoughts and desires; and by doing what he tells us.  When we fix our eyes on Jesus, our intentions and actions change for the good…for our marriage, and ultimately for our children as well.  Our children see the difference in our life.   

Count each day as an opportunity to intentionally focus on Christ, and experience his goodness!

Heb. 12:2  “…lay aside every encumbrance…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…”

Psalm 136:1  “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good…”

God is for Real

I just finished reading “Heaven is for Real” by Todd Burpo.  It’s about his 3-year old son, Colton, and his “trip to heaven” as he was in the hospital with an emergency appendectomy.  The stories Colton tells are amazing!  They have enlightened and encouraged me.  With his simplicity and candidness, I am reminded of how Jesus speaks to children!  Jesus loves children and wants to reveal Himself to them.

As I ponder that, I realize that God is taking care of my children.  He is revealing Himself to them.  He is speaking to them in their particular circumstances.  He is showing them who He is.  As their parent, I have the privilege of helping them hear His voice, of praying for them and with them, of having relevant conversations with them about their world, and how much God loves them.

Ask God for wisdom in “spiritually mentoring” your children.  Read God’s Word to them.  Pray with them.  Let them hear you pray, then encourage them to pray their own prayers, outloud.  When you notice that God answers a prayer of theirs, point it out and thank Him together.  Talk about what God is doing in your life, and what you see Him doing in their life.  Then, walking with God becomes real to them!  They learn by doing.  And you as a parent will grow in your faith as well!

I remember one of the girls had lost a toy, and she was sad about not having it.  So she asked God to help her find it.  It wasn’t but a few minutes later that she found it and she was so excited!  She knew it was God that answered her prayer!

“And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons (and daughters) and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”  Deuteronomy 6:6-7