abandoned to Christ.

In short...no. We'd like the answer to be yes, but in reality, we can't control another person's heart, mind or will—only God can...and does. It's easier to parent our children with the euphoric expectation that if we follow all the rules and train them up "right" that we are guaranteed perfect results...or at least the results we always hoped and dreamed for. While this nice and neat image of a family does happens to some, it doesn't happen to all. I wasn't raised in a Christian home, but was saved when I was four, and remained the only Christian in my household throughout my entire childhood. I rode the bus to church every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. I held tightly to God's Word and His standard of living. Were there challenges? Yes. Did I behave perfectly? No. But no matter the persecution from others or my own personal failings, I always ran back to my Lord, who alone could then (and now) provide me with ...

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." ~Jesus the Christ (Matthew 7:12, ESV) Few in this world understand this concept and even fewer live by it. Too many harm others as harm has come to them. Or they withhold good from others as it's been withheld from them. Sadly, we've often heard parents say to their children, " I can't help it! I yelled, hit, scared, etc. you because that's what was done to me!" or "Well, I did without love and affection from my parents and I turned out fine. So don't expect to get love and affection from me." But it should not be so with the Christian. A Christian is saved from merely reacting to our environment and empowered from on high to respond to all things with the love, grace and the righteousness of Christ. Unlike the world, we're not enslaved or overpowered by our sinful flesh; rather, we've been emancipated by ...

Walmart has pulled a toddler Halloween costume off their shelves after receiving many complaints by outraged parents who deemed the costume as inappropriately sexual for children. The name of the costume is "Naughty Leopard", but as you can see, the actual costume itself isn't sexual or even slightly immodest. As a matter of fact, it has more material on it than most women wear, as well a what most parents dress their little girls in. The dictionary definition and common understanding of the word naughty is "disobedient; mischievous (used especially in speaking to or about children)." I honestly find this parental outrage quite hypocritical. Let me tell you why. Parents dress their babies, toddlers, children and even teen girls in clothes that are highly sexual, extremely provocative and yet, because the label that's on the name of the shirt, dress, skirt, etc. doesn't have a "naughty" name attached to it, it's okay. Ha...

I mentioned in my  last article , most of the public shaming implemented as a form of discipline have been exacted on daughters and not sons. So I want to take some time to shed light on why this is harmful to our girls and what they need to help them better understand who they are and why they exist. First and foremost, our children, sons or daughters are not here to make up for any loss childhood dreams we’ve had. They were not created so we can boast about what great parents we are. And lastly, God never created them so that we can somehow feel “whole”. God created every human being to know Him, His love and everlasting life through repentance and faith in His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Knowing the purpose in which they were created by our Creator, our primary goal as parents ought to be to share the Gospel with them, shower them with God’s grace and mercy and demonstrate in life and speech, what it means to live in the freedom Christ has given all who believe ( Rom 6...

I’m sure you’re familiar with the latest story about Utah dad, Scott Mackintosh who donned a pair of homemade Daisy Duke-like shorts while on a family outing, to convince his 19-year-old daughter Myley that her choice of immodest apparel was unacceptable. Prior to this latest escapade of child-shaming tactics as a form of discipline, there were others. Back in April 2012, 15-year-old Quandria Bryant of North Carolina was made to carry a sign on Highway 17 in New Bern that said, “I have a bad attitude. I disrespect [sic] people who try to help me.” Her father Donnell employed this public shaming tactic after Quandria was suspended from school for her increasingly disrespectful attitude toward her ninth grade teachers. My question is, was her dad involved prior to her disrespectful escalation that led to her suspension? As a parent, I know schools don’t do this without some warnings to the student and parents. So what forms of discipline, if any, were incorporated prior...

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beautiful photo used by permission: Gilbert Lennox www.GilbertLennoxPhotograpy.com In my last post , I shared why I no longer follow John Piper and "Desiring God" ministry, but I continue to love him, pray for him, the ministry, and anyone who's following them, to practice discernment and test everything from anyone (including me of course) with the Word of God, which alone is perfect. What motivated me to share this is my love for God, His Word and for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have been misled by the a recent resurgence of an article written by John Piper's, once prodigal son (now believer in Christ), Abraham, regarding 12 ways parents of prodigals can love their children to the Lord Jesus Christ. I found this article years ago, and agreed with some of it, and disagreed with much of it as it contained quite a bit of worldly psychology and little Scriptural foundation for how parents of prodigals ought to shepherd their children's he...

www.BibleScreen.com What's the very first word that comes to mind when asked, "What defines you?" Husband? Wife? Father? Mother? Son? Daughter? Brother? Sister? Friend? Student? Minister? Volunteer? Sports? Hobbies? Cancer? Or simply...Christ? If you asked what defined me 24 years ago, I would've said "work". If you asked me again a few years later, I would've said, "mother". If you waited another couple of years and asked me again, I'd say "Bible study teacher". And if for some reason you were still curious and asked me 10 years after that, I would've said "help-meet". If you asked me only five years ago, I'd tell you "diseased". But if you asked me now, I'd tell you simply..."Christ". "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before t...