As many of
you know, we are expecting a “Rainbow Baby”, and are due this summer! We typically travel as a family to deputation meetings, but I stayed
home with the girls for the conference this week, as we didn’t feel comfortable
with my going all the way to Louisiana just now. It’s interesting seeing how
one chooses to fill the long hours while Dear Husband is away . . . Simple
dinners, school work, doctor and dental appointments, lots of 2nd
trimester cleaning and organizing, dark chocolate . . .
Tonight I
stayed up late watching one of those movies that requires a handful of tissues
. . . Being a big fan of “Fireproof”,
and “Facing the Giants”, and basically
any movie produced by the Kendrick Brothers, I’d picked up a copy of their
newest Christian film - “Like Arrows”
– for myself to enjoy. What a powerful message it contains! “Like
Arrows” is one of those movies that truly makes you stop and think . . . “What
are we really doing as parents? Where
are our children headed? What are we
doing wrong? How can we improve?”
I have recently begun a study in my devotions that fits right
along with this idea of patterning our parenting after God. There are times when I stop myself and think,
“I need to eliminate that type of sentence from my vocabulary. God doesn’t parent US like that.” God doesn’t use sarcasm. He doesn’t use bribery. He doesn’t change His mind on a whim. Where do we get our parenting ideas from,
anyway?! As God’s children, we ought to
be getting them from God Himself!
I John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God . . .”
So far, I
have only scratched the surface of this personal study, as I begin working my
way through the book of Genesis. Tonight,
before I head to bed, I just want to share some of these thoughts with you.
What does Scripture
say about the parenting techniques of our Heavenly Father?
·
Genesis
3 – He used questions to make Adam and Eve think about and fully realize their
sin. He gave punishments specific to
each individual who did wrong.
·
Genesis
4:3-7 – He set up specific rules and guidelines.
·
Genesis
6:5,8 – He rewarded good and punished evil.
·
Genesis
6:14-7:3 – He was specific and detailed in His instructions to Noah; in His
expectations.
·
Genesis
7:4 – He did not keep Noah completely in the dark, but let him know some
information in advance.
·
Genesis
8:21,22/9:12-16 – He made and kept His promises.
·
Genesis
11:5-9 – He recognized potential evils and did not leave his people to their
own devises.
·
Genesis
12:2-3 – He blessed/rewarded Abraham and those of his descendants who chose to
obediently follow God.
And these
considerations are only from the first 12 chapters of the Bible!
“Train up a child in the way he
should go . . .”
(Prov. 22:6) Scripture tells us. We have
been given a sacred privilege. God has
given US the task of raising the next generation for Him. I pray that as you
head into the weekend, the Lord might bless the precious sharpening of your “arrows”
(Psalm 127:4).
Psalm 145
declares that our Heavenly Father “. . .
is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender
mercies are over all his works.” Oh that we might seek to parent as our
loving God parents us!
