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The How-To’s of Parenting?
In my post, Is it Enough?, I wrote about how we need to equip our kids to handle all that life throws at them. The hard part about parenting is, we can’t anticipate every…little…thing.
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The Armor of God
In my last post, Is it Enough?, I talked about how much the world throws at our kids every day. It really hit me how important it is for us to equip them with tools they can use when they are subjected to all the temptations and Satan’s lies. After being super convicted that we haven’t been doing enough to help our kids, I studied out Ephesians 6. I really appreciate Paul’s use of imagery when he describes The Armor of God –
But to do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval. Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God. In every battle, you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit – which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:14-17 LAB
As I started writing, I began by breaking down each part of Paul’s description.
The Strong Belt of Truth…The Breastplate of God’s Approval…Shoes to speed you on…Faith as your Shield…The Helmet of Salvation…The Sword of the Spirit – which is the Word of God.
And, then I realized, I didn’t need to break it down. Right now, I need to focus on what should be the foundation of it all.
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Is it Enough?
It’s hard to believe the kids are starting their second month of school today. It seems like we were just going back-to-school shopping… But, as they rushed around this morning, getting themselves ready to head out the door, I found myself wondering, is it enough?
I wasn’t thinking about the clothes they were wearing, or the supplies they were stuffing into their backpacks. Nope. Thankfully, those items are well-stocked so I don’t worry about those so much.
Instead, what really makes me stop dead in my tracks from time-to-time is when I think about everything that the world throws at them.
Every. Single. Day.
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6 Steps for Finding Joy in Back-to-School Shopping
Yep! It’s that time again. I couldn’t believe it when I heard the first commercial advertising a back-to-school sale. It didn’t seem possible. Didn’t the kids just get out of school? I have no idea how this summer flew by!
The school supply list arrived just a few days after I heard the commercial, so it confirmed that our lazy (ha!) summer days were numbered…
I don’t know about you, but even the thought of back-to-school shopping tends to send shivers up my spine. It can be a rather stressful experience. The stores are always chaotic and crowded, and half the time, we leave the checkout without something on the list. Regardless of if it was forgotten or the store was sold out, it means the same thing – ANOTHER TRIP. Not really a cause for celebration or one that brings immense joy…
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Parenting Before the Storm
Last weekend, Brad and I were asked to participate in a parenting class at church. The topic was Parenting Elementary School Children with a focus on relationships. We are definitely not experts on the matter. But, as we have one who has passed that stage, and one almost through, we certainly have experience!
When Brad and I first started talking about what we wanted to share, he immediately came up with the title, The Calm Before the Storm. I thought that was absolutely perfect. In elementary school, our kids still accepted us as the authority figures, and there really wasn’t that much backlash. Not that it’s been easy easy, but it hasn’t been as difficult as other stages have been and those I fear are coming…