Parenting

Helping Our Children Influence Culture
Helping Our Children Influence Culture

As Christians, we often wrestle with questions concerning the state of our world and the role our faith plays out in our culture. Research shows we are gaining converts but losing influence. How do we influence the culture we live in when so many are opposed to our...

Feelings vs. Truth
Feelings vs. Truth

As parents, we must ask ourselves, “What do our teens typically base their decision-making on: Feelings or Truth?” We must ask this question of ourselves as well and model healthy decision-making as best as we can. In our feelings-driven culture, biblical guidelines...

Evolving Technology
Evolving Technology

Technology is constantly evolving in our culture. There will always be the next, best thing that grabs the attention of society, which brings unique challenges of how we are to deal with the ever-changing culture as our children are often very invested in these...

How to Keep Christmas Focused on Christ
How to Keep Christmas Focused on Christ

Navigating through a year filled with challenges, many of us have felt the weight of heightened stress and concern. We are more than ready for a season of peace and joy. In the midst of the chaos, we need to be extra intentional to keep the quickly approaching...

Family Faith Moments
Family Faith Moments

Can you relate to any of the following statements?  We are too busy to incorporate regular family devotional times into our schedule. My parents didn’t model faith moments, so I don’t know what it looks like. We didn’t start out doing this, so I am not sure how...

Mom and Dad: Fear Not, Love, Jesus
Mom and Dad: Fear Not, Love, Jesus

What do you do when you are afraid? In that moment of discomfort, do you withdraw? Maybe when panic rises, you lash out in anger. Some turn to substance abuse to numb anxious feelings, while others go for a hard workout. Have you ever just sat with your fear and tried...

Understanding the Biblical Role of Grandparents
Understanding the Biblical Role of Grandparents

What is the biblical role of a grandparent? Biblically, every member of the family has been given an important, God-ordained role that is not interchangeable with other members of the family. Husbands, (Ephesians 5:23), wives (Genesis 2:18; Ephesians 5:22), and...

Daily Faith-Talk Starters
Daily Faith-Talk Starters

Parents serve a critical role in the transmission of faith to the next generation. Unfortunately, many parents consider their role to be that of chauffeur, transporting children and teens to church so the “professionals” can be in charge of spiritual development. As...

How to Connect With The Heart of Your Teenager
How to Connect With The Heart of Your Teenager

Relationships are central to making a spiritual impact on children. Children and teenagers tend to embrace their parents' faith if parents have heart connections (relationships) with them. If a parent and teenager grow distant from each other, the parent will probably...

Breaking the Cycle of Hopelessness and Negativity In Your Teenager
Breaking the Cycle of Hopelessness and Negativity In Your Teenager

The image of the angry, depressed, cynical, and lazy teenager is common today. Teens are often portrayed as feeling entitled, being unwilling to work, having many dreams but few plans for making them a reality. That portrayal is exaggerated. Many teens have a positive...