Papa B
Archive for Family
Back by popular demand - Family Prayer!
Last September I adjusted my work schedule an hour and a half earlier so that I would have more time in the early evening with my family before the kids had to head to bed. My family has a fairly integrated schedule, that is to say, we don’t go our separate ways and do our own things. So my schedule change was a major change to our lives.
For years, before I left home each morning, I would gather my family together for a prayer. It was a great way to start of the day and set things on the right foot. This was also the time that I would read the Bible to my kids. We would alternate between an Old Testament book and a New Testament book. (When I would tell people that I was reading Judges with my girls their eyes would go wide)
That all came to a screeching halt when my schedule changed. I found myself getting up before anyone else and leaving the house before most of my family was even awake. I had hoped that my family would be able to adjust to the change and wake up and get going in enough time, but that really didn’t happen. Over time my youngests would peek out in time to give me hugs before I left but somehow we lost the Family Prayer.
I can’t take it anymore. I gathered my family last night and declared that Family Prayer is back! I’ll gather who ever is awake and we’ll pray before I leave.
To Him be the glory?
Did you survive the season? Did you, like many others, hope that your kids set aside their desire to get more stuff and focus on the “true meaning of Christmas”?
My wife and I tried something new this year. Last January we ordered a catalog from World Vision and created the “farm jar”. If you haven’t checked out World VisionI highly recommend that you do. They are an organization that provides relief to poor countries by creating a catalog that you and I can order a cow, chicken, llama, water well or a bunch of other needed items.
My family raised $505 this last year. For a bunch more info on what we did, check out my wife’s blog at www.mamakay.com
“Tut-tut, it looks like rain”
My wife is eight months pregnant with our fifth child and, since we live in Phoenix Arizona, it’s a hundred and Hades outside in the shade. I suggested we get out of heat and go camping. We successfully camped at Knoll Lake at the beginning of June so I figured before the next child comes we could have some family bonding time up in the mountains. We decided to go to Rock Crossing, it is in the same area as we camped before.
The weather service forecasted 60% chance for rain. I figured that meant we had a 40% chance of it not raining. I guess it doesn’t really work that way. It rained. Our tent leaked. We did pack up in the rain and came home a day early.
God is good. We spent most of Saturday enjoying each others company and God’s creation.
Faith of our Fathers?
I ran across this article about statistics related to the impact that fathers have on their children’s faith. This has cause some interesting conversations. I thought I would share it with you.
The Truth About Men & Church:On the Importance of Fathers to Churchgoing
By Robbie Low
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/1crazylady5kids/22206/
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
As parents we sometimes over spiritualize our children’s actions while at the same time not applying the same spiritual understanding to our daily life. Let’s take the simple phrase “I just want to get what I deserve.”
Simple enough.
If we as God fearing parents ever heard that phrase escape the lips of one of our children, we would immediately expound upon the need for grace and how much we have been forgiven and therefore we should always show mercy to others and that we should always turn the other cheek because Jesus paid the ultimate price for us and we should not be like the ungrateful servant who received pardon from much but won’t forgive a little debt and look what happened the children of Israel when they complained — it didn’t work out for them did it– so we should forgive others because as we forgive we are forgiven because that’s what Jesus said! Amen, stand and sing.
Then we get in the car and drive somewhere.
I think one of the hardest parts of parenting is living out your faith in front of your kids. It is a humbling experience to hear God preaching to me in my own voice as I “train up my child”.
Proverbs 3:6 says to acknowledge God in all your ways and HE will make your paths straight. I am grateful for his help.