Our Children

This message has been on my heart and mind for afew weeks now. One day I'll learn when the Lord puts a message on my heart I need to share it right away. Too often by not sharing it at the appointed time someone looses a blessing.

I'm still a young man of 59 years and my children are in their early to mid thirties, I'm also a grandfather of four grandsons.

Our children and grandchildren are all walking with the Lord, but I as Job pray for my children / grandchildren daily. My wife will tell you that I'm not perfect in fact I make mistakes every day. Karen and I pray daily for our family before 6am each morning.

Fathers it's my pray that you will get something out of this message.

When a father does not fulfill promises... Our children get wounded spirits.
When a father does not admit he is wrong... Our children lose confidence in our leadership.
When a father refuses to ask for forgiveness... Our children react to our pride.
When a father does not have right priorities... Our children feel that we are too busy from them.
When a father is too strict in discipline... Our children have their spirits broken.
When we fathers give too much freedom to our children... Our children see freedom as a form of rejection.
When a father neglects his parents... Our children do not honor the counsel of their grandparents.
When a father puts his parents in a nursing home for the sake of convenience... Our children are taught to reject older people.
When a father does not love his wife... Our children take up offenses for their mother.
When a father neglects God's word... Our children reject the authority of God and the Bible.
When a father sacrifices his family for a better retirement... Our children develop a temporal value system.
When a father disciplines in anger... Our children have seeds of bitterness.
When a father delegates his children's education to others... Our children cease to respect him as a teacher.
When a father does not teach his children how to please him... Our children feel frustrated and rejected.
When a father focuses on the outward beauty of others... Our children feel inferior and reject themselves.
When a father is impatient with his children... Our children seek approval from friends.
When a father has inconsistent standards... Our children despise us.
When a father tries to warn his children only of the consequencesof sin... Our children are challenged to be successful in avoiding the consequences.
When a father lets his wife assume spiritual leadership... Our children may regard religion as childish when they grow older.
When a father does not have personal convictions... Our children accept situational ethics and excuss in excess what their father allowed in moderation.

CAN YOU DETECT WARNINGS OF REBELLION?

AWARNESS OF TENSION BETWEEN PARENTS: When a child senses conflict between the parents, the child tends to take up an offense against one or both parents and ultimately rejects the authority of both parents.

ACCUSATIONS THAT PARENTS ARE SHOWING FAVORITISM: A child has a keen sense of fairness. Once a parent shows unfairness, the child will feel rejected and accuse the parents of favoritism. This will produce seeds of resentment which grow into rebelliousness.

FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY AND EVIDENCES OF SELF-REJECTION: If a son or daughter rejects the design of unchangeable features, he or she will also tend to reject the designer and his authority in daily living.

LOYALTY TO FRIENDS WHO REJECT AUTHORITY: Wrong friends corrupt right living also, a son or daughter tends to choose friends who will openly do what that son or daughter secretly wants to do.

LACK OF CLEAR OR SIGNIFICANT ANSWERS TO THEIR PRAYERS: A child who "Gives up his or her faith" is usually only giving up the parents' faith because the child has never experienced any convincing evidence of a living and loving God.

EVIDENCE OF PERSONAL MORAL IMPURITY: A child who violates God's moral laws will experience guilt which, if not dealt with, will produce rebellion to parents, to the Bible, and to God.

ADMIRATION OF THOSE WHO MOCK AUTHORITY AND ENCOURAGE REBELLION: Scripture warns about the devastating influences of teachers who reject God's principles of authority. These teachers will corrupt the obedient spirit of a son or daughter.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE: When a son or daughter begins to question the accuracy of the Bible, the authority of the Bible is also in question.

LACK OF CONSISTENT INTEREST IN THE BIBLE OR CHRISTIAN ACTIVITIES: Satan's program of destruction beginning with separation from the Bible and Christian friends, and then doubts and defeat follow.

Brothers it's my hope that we all can share and grow in our faith. Children are a blessing and we must never forget: WHAT WE FATHERS ALLOW IN MODERATION, OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS TEND TO EXCUSE IN EXCESS.

Have a wonderful weekend.

God's Servant,
Jim