Plenty of simple, true motivations exist for many of the things we ask of our kids:

• You put your shoes on before you go out the door so your toes don’t freeze off in the Midwest winter.

• You don’t hit your brother because it could hurt him.

• You clean your room so you can find your things (and avoid having an apple core rotting under your bed for months…not that I’ve had that happen…)

These reasons may be accurate, but in everything we do, there is a greater and deeper motivation underneath that is important to communicate to our children. The greatest, “But, why?”

Our motivations and decision-making can be traced back to God’s design for us. We were created in God’s image, to rule and reign over the earth, in a way that submits to God and honors Him (Genesis 1:27-28). God’s word gives us both specific direction and an overall narrative that show us the biblical motivation for decision-making.

So how can parents do this? Let’s use my earlier examples as opportunities to communicate biblical reasoning:

You put your shoes on to protect your feet…

…but why should we care about protecting and taking care of our bodies?

Paul reminds believers, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

So WHY should you put on your shoes? God lovingly made our bodies, and Jesus willing died for them! We honor God when we take good care of our bodies and protect them wisely!

You don’t hit your brother because it could hurt him…

…but why shouldn’t we hurt other people?

In John 13:34-35, we read Jesus’ direct command, “...love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

All people are made in God’s image, and Jesus calls us to love them well. We don’t hit our siblings because hurting others does NOT show them love like Jesus told us to show love.

You clean your room so you can find your things…

…but who cares???!

I included this one because it’s hard. There’s no verse that says, “thou shall keep your room clean.” It’s really a matter of personal conscience - but since we are parents and get to make those calls for our family, we can still have biblical foundations for asking.

So here’s the deal. When you’re part of a family, it’s reasonable to be asked to take care of your things. First, you honor your family members when you take responsibility for your area of the home, and second, all of our stuff is a gift from God. It’s not really ours anyway.

So I might say to my child, “Learning to take care of your things and your space honors God because He blessed you with these things (James 1:17). You also love our family well when you help us create a peaceful home by cleaning your room.”

Now that I’ve shared these ideas, let’s be clear on something. Do I think we need to turn every choice our kids make into a Bible lecture? No. That would be exhausting for us and our kids, and it will likely not be effective.

However, including biblical reasoning in our interactions with our kids builds their understanding of how scripture guides and supports their decision-making. As they grow into making more difficult and weighty decisions, knowing how to look for biblical motivation will serve them well!

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• Attributes of God: Mini-Series Introduction

• Attributes of God: CREATOR

• Attributes of God: HOLY

We’ve covered that God is the creator, and that He’s holy, and those characteristics help set the backdrop for our next attribute, which is that God is Sovereign.

“Sovereign” isn’t a word we use a lot in day-to-day conversation, but it’s a big theme throughout the Bible. God’s sovereignty refers to the truth that He is totally in control of everything in the heavens and the earth, and nothing can stop his plans and purposes. Said another way, He is THE King and has ultimate control over everything.

Honestly, this is a hard truth! We all like to believe we are in charge and in control of our lives. However, when we try to exert our own control outside of God’s Kingship, we always mess things up. If we believe God is good and just (and scripture teaches that He is!), then it is a very good thing that He is in control and not us.

When we teach God’s sovereignty to our kids, it’s helpful and important to include some of the other aspects of God’s character. After all, a lot of sad and hard things happen in our world that don’t feel good - if God controls everything, is He making bad things happen on purpose? When we look at God’s control through the context of his goodness, love, and faithfulness, we can see a fuller picture of what his sovereignty means.

Today, I’m going to simplify the conversation by covering just two key aspects of God’s sovereignty that help set up an accurate Biblical foundation for our kids around who God is and what it means that He is in control.

God’s Sovereignty Means He Controls EVERYTHING

God’s will is done among “the host of heaven” as well as here on earth - if he created everything in the universe, it’s a logical conclusion that He is in charge of all that He made. And scripture supports this conclusion!

In Psalms, we read that “Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses” (Psalm 135:6–7). So God is even over the weather (which my storm-loving 7-year-old thinks is so cool)!

When we show our kids that scripture says nothing is outside of God’s control, it can be a great comfort to them. Even something big and sometimes scary like the weather bends to the will of our good Heavenly father.

And yet He is also sovereign over the smallest details. Jesus teaches in Matthew 10:29 that not even a tiny sparrow falls to the ground “apart from your Father.” From earthly kings to sparrows, God sees the big things and the small things, and He is in control of them all.

Job 42:2 - “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (Job speaking to God)

Isaiah 46:9–10 - “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” (God speaking through Isaiah the prophet)

Jeremiah 10:23 - “LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.”

Mattthew 10:29 - “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.”

Response Questions:

1. Think of one small thing and one big thing that God is sovereign over.

2. Why do you think God is in control of everything?

3. Why can that be hard sometimes? Why is it good?

KEY TAKEAWAY:

God’s Sovereignty means that He is King over everything, and He is in total control over all He has made.

God’s Sovereignty is GOOD

I could list pages worth of individual Bible verses sharing about God’s goodness, but equally important is what the overarching theme of scripture teaches us about it. God’s goodness is not just in what he does for us today, but in the great story of his redemption of mankind.

Job reminds us that, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). God’s purposes are good and just - if we believe these things about God, then we can trust that when God allows bad or hard things to happen, He will use it for His people’s good and His glory.

And I think that trust is exactly what is so wonderful about teaching our children the reality of God’s sovereignty over all things. When you love God and trust Him, even the difficult parts of life have purpose. Because God is so big - outside of time and everywhere all the time - He alone knows how things work together for our greatest good.

I find it’s helpful to distiguish between God allowing evil in the world and using it for our good, versus God causing evil. We experience evil as a consequence of the fall - of our sin and the sins of others. God can’t cause evil, because He IS good. He doesn’t just do good, it’s who He is. (1 John 1:5 - God is light. There is no darkness in him at all.)

He is good. He is trustworthy. And He is in control.

God is Sovereign.

Romans 8:28 - “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. He appointed them to be saved in keeping with his purpose.”

Psalm 145:9 - “The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.”

Psalm 34:8 - “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

1 John 1:5 - “God is light. There is no darkness in him at all.”

Response Questions:

1. What would the world be like if God was not in control?

2. Can you think of a time when God used something bad that happened for your good?

3. What Bible verse could you memorize to remind yourself that God is good when things are hard?

KEY TAKEAWAY

It is good that God is sovereign over all things, because He is good and works all things for the good of those who love Him.

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This summer, one of the goals I have for my kids is to help them establish regular independent Bible reading time. I’ve encountered two main challenges as I have begun this endeavor: my kids’ enthusiasm (or lack thereof) and the building of a new habit.

Honestly, the habit-building part might be the hardest for me/them. Our kids are on break from school, and the main thing they look forward to is “sleeping in and doing nothing.” So you can imagine the groans when I presented a list of family contributions they need to help with, instruments they still have to practice, and “brain work” they still get to do. And then on top of it, Mom wants them to read the Bible and talk about it?!

Okay, I guess the enthusiasm part is a bit difficult too.

But here’s the thing: Building any new habit is usually hard. It takes time and determination and systems to help it stick. Likewise, I don’t always *feel* like reading my Bible either. But as I have committed to that habit, I have seen more of God’s goodness and have grown a hunger for His word. I trust that God can work in my kids’ hearts to grow their love for scripture just as he can mine. But the growth usually starts with putting in the time, even when you don’t want to. We cannot learn to love something we don’t spend any time with.

Let’s talk through some ways we can work with these two obstacles as we guide our kids toward the beautiful habit of time in God’s word.

Building Habits

One of the most helpful strategies I’ve come across recently is “habit stacking.” The basic idea is to attach a new habit to an existing habit, which triggers you to remember the new habit.

My kids are ages 5-11, so especially for the older ones, they are capable of working to build independent habits. But when they were little, it was still hard for me to remember the things I wanted to implement with them. Habit stacking can be helpful whether you’re a parent of a 2-yr-old building Bible reading into your pre-nap routine, or a parent of a teenager reminding them to read their Bible while they eat breakfast.

And that’s exactly the habit stack I’m currently attempting. My mantra has been “It’s time to do your Breakfast and Bible!” So far, it’s proven to be a good time of day for our family, but it’s still not a habit for the kids. I’m reminding them every day. But I’m also praying that over time, with consistency and practice, it will eventually become a habit for them.

Another helpful tip for building a new habit is to prepare for the task to make it as frictionless as possible. For example, in the evening, I try to lay out my kids’ Bibles on the table where they eat. And I’m also trying to hide the things that distract. For my kids, that’s books. It sounds bizarre, but I’m literally trying to hide all the books away from our main dining/living room area so I don’t lose my children to Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Harry Potter before I’ve even said good morning. Greg and Harry can come later, but for building a habit, they are distractions that will make it harder for my kids to remember any of their morning tasks.

Building Enthusiasm

First, a couple things to note. My older three children have all made professions of faith in Jesus Christ. So for them, I am now a sister in Christ discipling them in what it looks like to submit to and follow Jesus. Because they have professed faith, I am holding them accountable to building their relationship with the Lord through time in scripture. That is the primary way we know God’s heart, and how we learn to faithfully follow Him. I want my children to know scripture for themselves so they can know the source of true joy, recognize truth and falsehood in this world, and encounter God as He speaks to them through scripture.

Lead by example

Our kids need to see us prioritizing time in the Bible, engaging with God’s word, and enjoying our time with God. It may not automatically create excitement in them, but I can tell you for sure that no matter the age, kids don’t respond well when they’re being asked to do something that the grown-ups themselves aren’t willing to do.

A pastor once told me he intentionally planned his Bible study time when his kids would be coming downstairs in the morning. He wanted them to see him engaging in the Word, to observe it as a normal, regular, and priority time in His day. And, if he asked them to spend time reading their Bibles, they would know He was doing it too.

Give them choice

I’ve observed that enthusiasm usually comes alongside ownership. In my experience, giving children some choice is one of the best ways to get buy-in. In choosing, they become an active participant (and feel like they have a bit of power), so they naturally have more ownership over whatever it is you’re asking of them.

My kids know that I expect them to have their “Bible time,” but what they read and how they engage is up to them. My daughter told me she wants to read the Bible chronologically, “All the way through!” Sometimes I have her draw in response to what she’s read, and more often I just chat with her about what she thought about her reading. My son wants to read the book of Luke. I give him simple questions to answer afterward: What did this say about God? What does this say about me? How should I respond?

You could also invite your kids to help you choose when they do their Bible time and be part of creating the new habit. Or maybe they get to create a cozy reading nook for their Bible time so it feels special and helps them look forward to it. Each kiddo is so different, there are a lot of ways you could implement choice to help each individual child feel a sense of ownership.

Give them the “Why”

Growing up, I saw the Bible as a checkmark on the list of “things a good Christian should do.” It took a long time for me to see the Word as a vital part of my walk with Christ. It is so easy to get second-hand Bible knowledge from pastors and podcasts that I think a lot of people get stuck like I was, coasting without really reading or studying the Bible for themselves.

As Christian parents, we have the opportunity to give our children the gift of a right perspective of the Bible. It is written for all of us, not just scholars! It is the source of truth about who God is and how to follow Him! It helps us live our lives to glorify God and find true joy and peace!

Pray for them

Ultimately, the children in our care will grow into young adults who will have to decide for themselves that studying God’s word is a priority for them. Only the Holy Spirit can create this kind of heart in a person. Let’s pray for God to work in our children's hearts as we partner with Him in teaching our children to read and study His word.

Does your family have a Bible reading routine that has worked well for you? Send me an email to share any recommendations or encouragements from your experience!

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• Intro - Attributes of God: Mini-Series Kick-Off

• Attributes of God: CREATOR

Scripture clearly describes God as being “Holy.” In fact, the words holy or holiness appear in the Bible more than 900 times!

So scripture, like the Isaiah verse above, declares God as holy. But what does it mean for God to be holy? Simply put, God’s holiness means that he is set apart, completely unique from everyone and everything He created. 1 Samuel 2:2 says, "There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God."

I think when many of us think of being holy, we think of moral purity. And it’s true that God is completely morally pure. Yet scripture seems to describe God’s holiness more broadly than that.

I have come to think of God’s holiness as being about ALL of his attributes - he is so perfectly righteous, loving, just, merciful, and more, that he is altogether unique. Like we covered in the last article, God is Creator, and we are creatures. He is completely above us and uniquely set apart. He is God. And we are not. He is HOLY.

God’s Holiness Gives us Perspective

One of the ways God’s holiness has impacted my own life is to help shape the way that I see him in scripture. We live in a culture where it has become commonplace to take what we think seems fair or right to us, and then take that assumption to the Bible and attempt to find a way to make it fit. Instead, through the lens of God’s holiness, we see that He is our ultimate authority and everything we know to be fair or right originates with him.

Our children are growing up in a world that tells them it’s possible to create your own version of truth. One of the foundational ways we can combat this is to model reverence for and submission to God because he is HOLY. He is infinitely greater and more wise than we are. His moral standards will always be better than our own. So when our children have questions, taking them to our Holy God and His word is the best place to start.

Exodus 15:11 - "Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?"

Revelation 15:4 - "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy."

1 Samuel 2:2 - "There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God."

In Revelation 4:8, the four living creatures stationed around God’s throne are singing - “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Response Questions:

1. Can you name one way God is holy, or “set apart,” from His creation?

2. How can we glorify God’s name, like it says in Revelation 15:4?

KEY TAKEAWAY:

God’s holiness means that he is set apart and unique from all of His creation, including us.

God’s Holiness Gives us Comfort

It should be a great comfort that we serve a holy God. Not only is He wonderful in His holiness, but He makes us holy! In the old testament, the Israelites had to follow specific rules to be ritually pure before they could enter God’s holy presence. But when Jesus came to Earth in human form, an amazing shift happened.

God brought His holiness to us. Because of Christ's death and resurrection, we no longer have to follow the law and become ritually pure in order to enter God's presence. Rather, because of Jesus, his holiness is imputed, or credited, to us!

It is a great comfort to me to know that despite my sin and impurity, God actually sees me as completely pure and holy because I'm clothed in Christ's righteousness. And what a beautiful thing to teach our children that they too - when they put their faith in him - are made holy and pure and right before God.

Leviticus 15:31 - “You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.”

1 Corinthians 1:30 - "Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin."

1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people."

Response Questions:

1. Why is it such good news that Jesus’ death and resurrection make us holy and pure?

2. How can you thank God for making a way for us to become holy?

KEY TAKEAWAY:

When Jesus died for our sins, he made a way for us to be pure and holy before God.

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1. God Made Everything

When we pick up the Bible, the first thing we read is that God created. Before our world began, God already existed, and he alone made everything in the heavens and the earth. It’s not just in the first chapter of Genesis that we see this truth taught. Authors across all of scripture attest that God is Creator. It’s one of the ways Paul introduces God to non-believers, like when he addresses the crowd in Athens and says, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands (Acts 17:24).”

I’ve listed several other scripture references that call God CREATOR. Read through these passages with your children, and see below for suggestions on how to engage them with these passages.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
- Genesis 1:1

Psalm 33:6,9 - “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth…For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood forth.”

John 1:1-3 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

Response Questions:

1. Who created the world? (For older kids ready to dialogue more about this, the John 1:1-3 passage above highlights that Jesus was the active agent in creation - this is a cool introduction to the trinity, and to the fact that Jesus was there at the beginning!)

2. How did God create the world?

3. Who created YOU?

KEY TAKEAWAY:

Before our world existed, God existed and He made everything! “The heavens and the earth” means God made the entire universe from nothing.

2. God Made Everything for His Glory

In his Systematic Theology text, Wayne Grudem defines the doctrine of creation: “God created the entire universe out of nothing; it was originally very good; and he created it to glorify himself (p. 262).”

I think this can be one of the harder things for people to embrace, but it’s key to who God is. He is worthy of worship and glory, and creating the world for his own glory is good and right. And yet it can rub against our pride. Our sin leads us to want glory for ourselves rather than give it to God.

When we share with our children that God made everything for his glory, we get to paint for them a picture of his goodness, power, and wisdom. This world is glorious, like the God who made it! From the tiniest leaf to the vast ocean, our magnificent world reflects our magnificent God.

When we watch a beautiful sunset with our children, or they witness baby robins poking their heads out of a nest, we can help frame that this beauty and wonder reflects the one who created it.

Let’s look at scripture that reinforces the idea that God’s creation is for his glory:

In Isaiah 43:7, God says that his sons and daughters are “whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Psalm 19:1 - “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Revelation 4:11 -
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
To receive glory and honor and power,
For you have created all things,
And by your will they existed and were created.”

Response Questions:

1. What is something you’ve seen in creation that you thought was really wonderful?

2. How can we give God glory for the things he has made?

KEY TAKEAWAY:

God made everything for his glory to testify to his great worth, so creation should lead us to worship him.

3. If God is Creator, We are Creatures

God made humankind in his image, but we are fundamentally different from God. As the creator, he is ultimately in control of everything he made, including us. And thankfully, he is a good, loving, perfect, and just God, so we can trust him with this control over our lives.

I’ve been part of a children’s ministry that framed it like this:

God created everything, including me.
God is KING of everything, including me.

Remembering that we are God’s creatures - his creation - gives us the right perspective when we interact with our King. Because he created all things, we can go to him for all of our needs. Whether it’s a scraped knee or a wounded heart, God knows and understands our kiddos even better than we do. He knows their bodies, he knows their minds, and he knows what’s best for them.

Genesis 1:27 - “...God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Job 10:11-12 - You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.

Acts 17:25 - “And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”

Response Questions:

Why might it feel hard that God is in control and not us?
What are some reasons it’s a really good thing God is in control?

KEY TAKEAWAY:

God created everyone and everything, so he is King and rightfully controls all things.

Real Life Application

If your family is in a rhythm of doing some kind of devotional time, I hope this can serve as a helpful outline to dive into God’s attributes with your kids. Or maybe it’s a great time to try a new thing! We love to read a family devotional during dinner - we’re already sitting down together and the kids don’t run away because…food.

However, I didn’t make this with the only goal of having sit-down teaching time. My hope is that as we parents soak in these truths, we can more easily weave them into normal, everyday conversations with our kids.

When you witness something beautiful in creation, point it out to your kids: “I love these trees that God made! They’re so pretty!” When your child gets hurt, tell them you will take their pain and fear to God in prayer because he made them and he loves them. Simple repetition reinforces God’s identity in your kids’ minds.

Maybe your kids ask whether God made cars, because they’re pretty sure people make cars. (Not that my kids have ever done this to me…) First of all, what a great question! When kids start asking questions, they’re engaged! This specific question is a great way to talk about God making people in his image. He made us with the ability to create, like him. So it’s really cool that God didn’t just make us, but he made us with the capacity to think, create, problem-solve, and more. So yes, people make cars. And houses. And stop signs.

But who made the people who built those things? Who puts the breath in their lungs each day? Who gave us the earth with raw materials that allow us to build anything at all? God. Our CREATOR.

Thank God for creating us, for creating our kids, and for creating new opportunities every day for us to teach our children about HIM.

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Having the right perspective is crucial to parenting well, but we also need to take action. If our children are to learn who God is and what the Bible says, we need to teach them.

But what do we teach? Where do we start? This is where a lot of us get stuck. When we’re not sure what to teach, and we don’t have a plan, we can feel paralyzed and end up doing nothing.

If this is you, I suggest we start with God’s character. Who is this God that we worship? Why is He worthy of worship? It’s foundational, and it’s fun for our kids to get to know our big, amazing God who loves them very much.

Over the next several weeks, I’m doing a mini-series on several of God’s attributes. I’ll walk through one attribute (characteristic) at a time, and will provide some practical suggestions for how you can teach it to your children and bring it up naturally in everyday conversation.

I believe it’s vital that our children grow up with an accurate view of God. The God of the Bible is good, worthy of our worship and where the fullness of joy is found! I hope these next several weeks help you plant seeds of truth about God’s identity and character so your kids can see for themselves how great He is!

Who is God?

That’s a big question. It’s one we get to explore for the rest of our lives.

I teach preschool-aged children through Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), and we answer this question in one of our preschool program songs. The lyrics read, “Who is God? God is the Creator, who holds everyone and everything together. He is holy, and does not change.”

The New City Catechism is a great resource my husband and I have used for ourselves and our kids, and it frames the question this way:

Q: “What is God?”
A: “God is the creator and sustainer of everyone and everything. He is eternal, infinite, and unchangeable in his power and perfection, goodness and glory, wisdom, justice, and truth. Nothing happens except through him and by his will.”

Both of these definitions emphasize that God is Creator. He is so many things, yet this is where scripture starts: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).” He is THE Creator of everyone and everything. Knowing this puts us in a good posture to understand who He is and who we are (and are not).

Next week, I’ll kick off the mini-series focusing on God as CREATOR. We’ll look at supporting scripture, family activities that support this truth, and how to address some common questions from kids around this topic!

If there is an attribute of God you’d like me to cover as part of this series, send me an email! I’d love to hear from you.

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Parenting requires patience, and it grows patience.

I’m turning to the dictionary again to clarify what we’re talking about. According to Oxford Languages, patience is “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” It’s akin to having forbearance or being slow to anger. In other words, it sounds a lot like God. And it looks a lot like Christ’s posture during His ministry on earth.

As Christian parents, we want to grow in Christlikeness and represent God well to our children. Parenting gives us ample opportunities to do this and show our children grace by being slow to anger.

Not In Our Own Strength

Being patient with our kids sounds great, except if you’re a parent, you’re also exhausted. And you have a host of other stressors that you likely deal with in addition to your role as mom or dad.

A young mom once said to me, "I'm the kind of exhausted that a weekend away can't cure." This parenthood fatigue can make us irritable, impatient, angry, and short on grace. In those moments, we can choose to muscle through in our own strength or rely on God.

You’ll hear this from me often, but we must continually remind ourselves that we cannot do this parenting thing well without the power of Christ in us. Period.

This can sound trite, but it’s Biblical. Paul is clear about his source of energy when he writes about his efforts to proclaim Christ to the Gentiles:

We need Christ’s strength to parent patiently despite our circumstances. That is my first encouragement to you. Rest in Him, seek Him, and pour out your struggles and insufficiencies.

Practical Steps

In His strength, we can pursue some tangible steps to grow in patience. I’ve compiled three practical ideas to help you choose patience in those difficult parenting moments:

1. Pray

Pray for energy in advance, patience in the moment, and God's grace afterward. Ask others to pray for you. Pray for your kids who are testing your patience as much as you pray for yourself. Ask God for an eternal perspective and that the patience we show our children will point them to their loving Heavenly Father.

2. Plan your response

We often have recurring points of friction during our day. Maybe it’s in the morning as you’re trying to get out the door for school. Or maybe it’s the pre-supper hangry tantrum. Identify one of those friction points for your family.

Then, decide in advance how you'll respond the next time your patience is tested. Be specific: “The next time my daughter doesn’t put her shoes on after I ask, I will set her shoes in front of her, gently put my hand on her shoulder, and ask her again in a calm voice.” If you need a visual reminder, stick a note somewhere helpful.

3. Pause

Counting to 10, taking a break, walking away - whatever you want to call it, sometimes we just need to gather ourselves and breathe. The next time frustration boils up, pause. Leave the room if you need, take a deep breath, pray for God’s guidance, and then come back to address the situation.

Part of the Bigger Picture

Today, I focused on one very specific facet of parenting. There are many more practical questions when it comes to parenting. But in my own parenting journey, I have found that broad, spirit-fruit themes like patience can apply across many of the parenting issues we face.

Practicing a posture of patience toward our children reaps rewards for our own joy in parenting. If patience is effectively being slow to anger, an impatient parent might also be called an angry parent. And an angry parent isn’t a joyful parent - I know because I’ve been there. Thank God for His grace as He grows us. Just as He is patient toward us as our Father, we can learn to show that patience to our children.

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I want to examine and work through what discipleship means and looks like within the family. How do we make disciples of our children? What does that really mean?

Let’s process through a couple things together. First, what do we really mean when we say “make disciples?” Why does it matter?

Second, when we understand the call to make disciples, how does that influence the way we parent? What is our ultimate goal?

Definition

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines “disciple” as “a person who believes in the ideas of a leader, especially a religious or political one, and tries to live according to those ideas.”

I liked this definition better than some others because it includes not just the believing of an idea, but the fact that a disciple tries to live according to the ideas in which they believe.

From this dictionary definition, I saw two key things:

1. A disciple is a person who believes in the ideas of another person.

2. The disciple doesn’t just agree, but believes to the point of action.

From this definition, in a Christian context we could say that making a disciple is:

• leading someone to the person and teachings of Jesus…

• so that they come to believe in His identity and teachings…

• to the extent that they desire to live out those teachings and commands.

Scripture

The Bible tells us Jesus had disciples in his time on earth:

• “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him (Matthew 5:1).”

• “And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him (Matthew 8:23).”

• “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37).”

Jesus taught his disciples and they followed him, learning and doing alongside Jesus. But discipleship isn’t just an identity or a pursuit, it is a command - for them and for us today:

Jesus tasks us with making disciples, and specifically teaching them to observe his commandments. This is more than convincing someone to believe in Jesus, in His identity. This is leading them in both belief and in action.

Parenting and Discipleship

As parents, we have tremendous influence and access to be this kind of leader in the lives of our children. We have the privilege of being the ones to introduce our children to Jesus. And as they grow, to explain not just how God calls us to live, but why.

This year, I look forward to walking through some specific ways we can do that, as well as sharing what other families are actually doing to teach their children in this way.

But today, I want to zoom out and set our eyes on the broader goal. Our long-term aim as parents is to instruct our children - both spiritually and beyond - so they can launch into the world as capable, independent people. And as Christian parents, we have the additional goal of leading our children to become disciples of Jesus.

In light of that goal, the question I’ve been asking myself is whether my eyes are set on training my kids toward becoming their own, independent disciples of Jesus, or if I am getting lost in training for obedience and good behavior. In other words, am I training disciples of Jesus, or disciples of me?

We live in a world where it is especially easy to be a disciple of a pastor, podcaster, or a parent - to get our knowledge of Christ from second-hand sources and not really have a deep relationship with the person of Christ ourselves.

I long to see my children know and seek Christ personally and directly, through His Word. My prayer this year for my children - and their entire generation - is that they would know the truth of Christ and follow his commands because they are learning the Bible and seeking Him there.

Whether toddlers or teenagers, we get to lead our children to the life-giving words of God. And we are not alone in this work. He promises, “…I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).”

Will you join me? Let’s set our eyes on making more disciples of Jesus, starting in our homes, with our children.

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I asked lots of specific questions, like, “What did you do when..?” and “How did you deal with..?”. But the best advice she gave me was simply this: Become a student of your child. It freed me from the need to have the elusive “right” answer to choosing the best answer for that particular child.

Spend five minutes around even the youngest children, and you’ll already see what vastly different people these little humans are. Understanding each child as an individual - whether you have one or eight - is a demonstration of love toward them and the best way to know how to raise that specific child.

What makes them tick? What is a frustration for them? How do they respond to instruction? To discipline or correction? Knowing our children deeply can help us better serve them, whether we’re trying to teach them to tie their shoes or to read their bibles.

A side effect of this thinking is letting go of the judgment we can easily pass on other parents. Just as we are equipped to make the best choices for our children because we know them best, the same is true of other families.

This was such simple advice, but truly life-changing. Be a student of your child. Of each individual child. As you learn more about the nuances of their specific, God-given personalities, you will become an even better teacher, mentor, coach, and parent.

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Also, our family doesn’t do all of these! Resource lists like these can make me sweat because I feel like I should be doing all of the things. So please check this list out, and if you need ideas, try one out! If you do, let me know how it goes!

Charitable Giving

Giving is a great way to reflect God’s love to the world. You may not be in a position to give financially every year, but a giving spirit involves more than money - it’s time, it’s patience in a busy season, and it’s graciousness toward difficult family members. If you can give financially, here are some opportunities:

+ Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Our kids have been doing this favorite tradition with me for about nine years. Every November, we get shoeboxes from our local church and fill them with gifts and helpful supplies to be sent to children around the world. This tradition takes our focus off ourselves and allows us to look outward to bless other kids and share the gospel with them. It’s the perfect way to start the Christmas season.

+ Local Food Pantry

Every Christmas, our local food pantry offers the opportunity to donate gifts, food, or to volunteer your time to help prepare items for families. Check your local food pantry to discover ways you can assist those in need.

This option is a great way to show our children that because God has blessed us, we can bless others. Everything we have belongs to God - we can share those good gifts with others who need them.

+ Samaritan’s Purse Giving Catalog

If you can’t already tell from the shoeboxes, we’re big fans of Samaritan’s purse and all the work they do in Jesus’ name. They publish a Christmas Gift Catalog every year that highlights specific needs with a variety of price tags, including: feed a hungry baby, help desperate refugees, bring clean water to a community, provide baby chicks, give a copy of God’s word, and many others!

Meeting people's physical needs in Jesus' name is a tangible way to share God's love with a hurting world.

This year, we plan to gift each of our children a set amount of money, which they in turn get to use to pick an item(s) to donate toward. Maybe they’ll combine their money and get a big item, maybe they’ll each give toward something smaller, but giving our kids autonomy in their charitable giving can help build a generous heart.

Activities

Here’s a small sampling of activities to help our families anticipate Christ throughout the Advent season:

+ Kids Read Truth Advent Cards

A few years back, we purchased a set of Advent conversation cards online from She Reads Truth. These are our singular Advent devotionals at Christmas time. At dinner we read a card together, and as the kids have grown they now take turns reading the cards each evening. Each card includes scripture and 3 discussion questions.

It’s been re-designed since we purchased our set, but they are beautiful and simple and we highly recommend them as an Advent activity. (Also, we often miss days for various reasons, don’t sweat it, and skip ahead to the card for the day we’re on.)

+ Advent Blocks Set

Full disclosure - I do not have this set. But I saw it being advertised a lot this year, and from what I can tell, it seems like a great daily Advent activity that starts at creation and covers the whole story of the Bible. (Pst…do some googling and you’ll find cheaper prices available through a variety of sellers.)

I think it’s fantastic any time a seasonal resource also points us back to the overarching story of the bible, because Jesus’ birth removed from the rest of the gospel narrative doesn’t give us a full picture of what it means.

+ Memorize Luke 2 Together

I know a few families who have done this together. They shared that it was so special to work together as a family to learn and recite these 20 verses that tell Jesus’ birth story. You’d break the verses up into chunks and do it week by week, with the goal of saying the whole chapter by memory at Christmas.

Or, just reading Luke 2 before Christmas dinner is another option to refocus hearts on Jesus in the midst of your Christmas festivities.

Entertainment

Our family loves to cuddle up with a good book OR for a good movie with some popcorn. I’m sharing one book and two movies specific to holiday themes that we have enjoyed and recommend! Note: Few movies are perfect - it’s often how you engage your kids in response to what you watch that matters most!

+ The Star

This movie takes us through Jesus's birth story from the animals’ point of view. While it includes a scary villain, it clearly displays that God’s will cannot be thwarted, and good triumphs over evil. We also see forgiveness and redemption for a couple of the villains. It includes a bit of humor, excellent music, and is overall a creative re-telling of Jesus’ birth.

+ Klaus (Netflix)

We discovered Klaus on Netflix this year, but it was made in 2019. This movie follows the spoiled son of a rich man who is sent to work as a postman on the desolate and faraway island of Smeerenburg. He receives an unfriendly welcome as he learns of the decades-long feud that casts a shadow over the town. With the help of a reclusive toymaker, they begin to bring joy back to the town.

Klaus was a hit for our family for a few reasons. It has beautiful, hand-drawn animations and an excellent storyline. The main character, Jesper, grows out of his selfishness, the toymaker, Klaus, processes his grief, and a village full of hate experiences restoration.

The children also take a leading role in the town’s redemption as they pave the way for the adults to make amends. I love when stories showcase children as change-makers.

While the ending leads you toward the story of Santa (some have called it a Santa origin story), it leaves the door open for families to address that topic in a way that works for them. As a family that does not follow the cultural Santa custom, I felt comfortable with the ending as a launching point for our continued discussion of Santa as a fairy tale, not a real person. This movie felt like a rare gem and provided many great talking points to engage our children.

+ The Tale of the Three Trees

This traditional folk tale follows three trees as they grow and dream of becoming a treasure chest, a great ship, and the tallest tree that points to God. Their dreams seem broken as they are respectively made into a manger, a small fishing boat, and a beam…that would become part of a cross. You see where this is going.

It’s a beautiful story that overtly points to God, and is popular at Christmas and Easter. It provides a great opportunity to discuss God’s purposes and the different ways the trees served and honored God.

There are many unique and wonderful ways to celebrate this special time of year! What does your family do? I’d love to hear your ideas. Send me an email to share your traditions!

Merry Christmas!

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My family attended church regularly growing up, and the story of Jesus’ birth was a familiar part of our Christmas tradition as well. While it held its own magic, to be sure, a tiny baby in a dusty feeding trough didn’t captivate my heart the way that the promise of presents did.

When my husband and I became parents, we wanted to raise our children to treasure Jesus. As the first Christmas approached, we began to ask ourselves how celebrating Santa might affect our children’s understanding of the gospel. After much thought and prayer, we decided that celebrating Santa risked confusing the gospel for our children.

Be Good for Goodness' Sake

You've heard it before. "You better behave or you’ll end up on the naughty list and Santa won't bring you any gifts." This sounds a lot like “Do more good than bad and you’ll earn the reward you want.” That message is precisely counter-gospel. Training our children that they can be good of their own effort and will receive the reward they're looking for is dangerous for their hearts and souls.

Any goodness we have is from being made new in Christ. In Romans, Paul tells us:

Goodness is not the end goal. Goodness without God is death. Let's teach our kids to seek God over goodness.

A Lie is a Lie

Many families go to great lengths to maintain the story of Santa. I recognize how magical that can seem for kids, but when we participate in the Santa custom, we’re ultimately lying to our children. It feels well-intentioned and innocent, but the fact remains that we're fabricating an untrue story and telling our kids it's true.

Someday, they will learn from a friend on the school bus, a big sibling, or whomever that Santa is not real. They either quietly make the transition, knowing we told them an untruth, or they ask us, "Is Santa real?" And then we have to tell them that he’s not. I don't think it is beyond even the youngest kids to realize what that means—my parents lied to me.

We can't expect truthfulness from our children and demonstrate the opposite. Furthermore, once we have broken their trust in this small but significant way, in what other ways will they doubt us and our teaching?

Elevating Christ at Christmas

So, what are we supposed to do in a culture so entrenched in this custom?

I don't think the answer is to tell our kids that Santa is bad or attempt to completely shield them from him (spoiler alert: it’s impossible).

It brings me back to our aim as Christian parents: making known the goodness of the gospel by being honest about our sinfulness and sharing Jesus' work as the only remedy for it (Romans 5:8).

The Advent season should be full of excitement and anticipation for us and our children. Focusing our family’s celebrations on the arrival of our promised Savior should come before cultural expectations, and it models for our kids what they should be excited about.

You can find so many fun and creative activities that focus our eyes on Jesus. Or better yet, create new traditions with your kids with the aim of treasuring Jesus above all. You know your family best, and some of the most memorable family traditions are simple and unique.

The Truth Behind the Myth

There really is no hiding from Santa at Christmastime. I can’t begin to tell you the number of times an adult stranger has asked my children what they want Santa to bring them, or if Santa came to their house. When they find out we don’t celebrate Santa, most are shocked, a few are curious, but to all of them, we’re different.

So how in the world do we help our kids navigate this common custom? One approach our family has taken is to explain the truth behind the myth and share what we know about the story of Saint Nicholas. He was a real man that lived centuries ago who loved God deeply, served others selflessly, and gave his wealth generously. It allows us to use cultural Santa to point back to a true, God-glorifying story.

No, we can’t hide from Santa.

But we can choose to pursue things in the Christmas season to foster hearts that are captivated by the gospel of Jesus more than presents or Santa. Because the gospel is the real magic of Christmas, and truly the best gift we could ever hope to receive.

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The idea that we are too busy to teach our kids about God is a lie from the enemy. But only half of the lie has to do with our busyness. The root of this lie may actually be that we believe teaching our children about God has to look a certain way, and carving out special, separate “God time” feels overwhelming and impossible.

In the book of Deuteronomy, God instructs Moses to teach the Israelites how they are to raise their children to keep the faith as they prepare to enter the promised land:

Jesus is not a to-do item that we schedule into our lives in neat chunks. Our entire lives need to be saturated with Him. When we sit playing Legos, walk to the park, drive to soccer practice, or eat supper together, these are moments when we can incorporate simple spiritual conversation and instruction.

For the longest time, I felt frustrated because we could never get a good morning Bible-reading routine going. One day, as we drove my oldest to school, it hit me. All of my children are strapped down and cannot run away from me. So I started doing morning prayers or scripture memory in the car. Sometimes the kids participate, sometimes they don’t. Now it has become a habit, and I didn’t carve anything new into our morning. I used what we were already doing.

This week, look for ordinary opportunities throughout your day when you can speak truth into your children’s lives. As you continue to intentionally seek these opportunities, you’ll likely find rhythms and habits that begin to fit seamlessly into the structure of your family’s unique schedule.

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You don’t have to be a parent long to see thanklessness and entitlement demonstrated in your kids’ attitudes. It can manifest in major meltdowns at the checkout line or in the subtle expectations our children have about what they “deserve.” We could call it a lot of things—entitlement, ingratitude, discontent—but all of these are manifestations of bigger underlying beliefs.

Ultimately, ingratitude is a problem because it leads us to believe that God is not sufficient to meet our every need, that what He has provided isn’t enough, and that His good wisdom cannot be trusted. Let’s counter each of these lies with the truth of the gospel as we consider how understanding God’s character helps build grateful hearts in our kids.

Is God Sufficient to Meet Our Needs?

Western culture wants us to feel like we don’t have enough. A quick Google search shows that by the end of 2024, U.S. advertising spending is forecasted to top $389 billion—yes, BILLION. Roughly $12 to $20 billion of that is directed toward youth.

That is a lot of effort, psychology, and beautiful design thrown at keeping us discontented so we will spend more money to buy more things to make us more “happy.” Yet we know this happiness dwindles, and we’ll be left searching for the next thing to satisfy that longing.

In contrast, when we turn to the God of the Bible, we are met with the One who alone can satisfy us completely: "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things (Psalm 107:9)."

When Jesus fed the 5,000, he miraculously met the physical needs of the people following Him. Yet as he speaks to them afterward in Capernaum, Jesus instructs them not to strive for food that perishes, “but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you (John 6:26).” He continues in verse 25, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

In other words, those who put their faith in Jesus will be completely satisfied - both now and forever! He is more than sufficient to meet our needs, not just temporarily, but for eternity.

A grateful heart realizes the gravity of our sin and the generosity of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Is God Holding Out on Me?

This is a lie as old as humankind. In Genesis 3, Satan questions Eve: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” God provided Adam and Eve with everything they needed, and they lived in perfection with God. Yet, in a posture of ingratitude, they overlooked their many blessings and believed that God was holding out on them.

Satan planted the lie of discontent in Eve’s heart in the garden, and he continues to whisper it today. Because God has given us His word, we can point to stories like these to show our children the destructiveness of this mindset.

His word also shows us the many times God has been faithful, providing for his people and meeting their needs. Of course, our greatest need was met in Jesus’ willing sacrifice on the cross to save us from sin and death. How could we possibly believe God is holding out on us when he is willing to let his perfect son receive the consequences of our sin?

A grateful heart recognizes that God gives us everything we need and withholds what is not in our best interest.

Can God’s Wisdom and Timing be Trusted?

Yesterday, one of my children asked for a piece of pie for breakfast. I told her, “You can’t have the pie right now, but we’re all going to enjoy a piece after supper later tonight!” I thought this would be great news. Yay! You get pie today!

It was not.

The response I got instead was, (you guessed it), “But I want the pie NOW!!!” I know I am not the only one to face this particular style of ingratitude. We want what we want, when we want it.

Instant gratification is easily accessible today, especially for our young children growing up as digital natives. To hear “no” or “not yet” is an affront to this expectation and the control that it assumes.

When we truly trust God’s perfect timing, we can experience peace instead of anger when something we want doesn’t happen in our timing. This point drives at the core of the posture we want to foster in ourselves and our children. The focus is not on being grateful for what God gives us, but on being grateful for who God is.

A grateful heart trusts God and his timing in all things, even when the answer is no.

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We’ve been there, and I know you’ve been there too. Life becomes especially challenging when we are feeling unwell and stretched thin. Parenting becomes especially challenging.

And for many of you, ongoing struggles like chronic illness or a colicky baby can make daily life hard to endure for really long stretches of time.

My encouragement to you this week is simple: It’s okay to be sick and tired. God knows we are human, living in human bodies. Our sniffles, fevers, and fatigue bring us to our knees, and yet they provide opportunities to point our kids to God.

Pray

When our family is sick, we cry out to God together. We pray for God to heal our kids. We ask our kids to pray for us. And we thank God when we’re well again. It’s nothing fancy, but we’ve done it for years now.

I remember a specific time when our youngest was a baby and really struggling with a prolonged illness, and her 6-year-old brother told us we should pray for her. And then he prayed for God to heal and help his baby sister - without our prompting.

Let’s invite our kids into our moments of sickness and weariness so they can witness us call on God and participate in praying for us! This regular turning to the Father builds a habit so our kids learn to reflexively turn to the One who made our bodies - runny noses and all.

Sickness has a way of building gratitude for the times when we feel healthy. Thanking God in prayer for our health is another side of the same coin, and a great way to direct our kids’ hearts to feel gratitude for God’s blessing of health.

Rest

We live in a hustle culture, and it can be really hard to give ourselves the grace to rest. Being unproductive can feel like failure, or at the least make us angsty and frustrated. But we don’t see that posture from God about our need for rest.

Jesus knows our suffering intimately. He wrapped himself in flesh, living in a body just like ours (John 1:14). Throughout scripture, we see Jesus needing and taking rest, as well as encouraging it for his disciples.

We read throughout the gospels that Jesus often retreated to be in solitude with the Father - certainly an important soul rest. But the scripture that stood out to me as I was researching this topic was Jesus’ journey through Samaria, before he has his conversation with the Samaritan woman. John records Jesus’ weary body needing physical rest:

As Jesus models this rest, he also encourages it in his followers. While visiting Mary and Martha’s home, Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.” Sounds like resting to me…especially when most days I feel a lot like Martha! But when Martha complains, Jesus commends Mary’s less “productive” choice: resting at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38-42).

Jesus leads his disciples into rest after a long day of ministry as well, saying to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest (Mark 6:32).”

God does not look down on us for resting or needing a break. Jesus models it for us himself, and he instructs it - for his disciples good and for our own. And it follows that just as Jesus led those in his care to rest, we also lead the children in our care by modeling our own rest and encouraging it for them when they need it.

Encouragement

When sickness inevitably hits our homes this cold and flu season, let us cry out to the One who hears us and loves us, with our children by our sides. And let us truly rest when we need it, modeling our trust in God to our kids as we give up productivity for something eternally better: our weakness pointing to His strength.

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What we’re NOT going to do is analyze candidates or talk specifics about a particular administration. I want to zoom out and take this once-in-four-years opportunity to examine the ways we can apply the gospel in our parenting around a cultural topic like an election.

Here in the U.S., we’ve experienced a few rounds of tumultuous campaigning and election cycles over the past decade-plus. Lots of division, lots of big feelings, lots of hopes put on various candidates for various reasons.

One thing that caught my attention this time around was the chatter between 10-year-old boys in our neighborhood. I heard big sweeping criticisms and harsh attacks out of the mouths of young children.

I want us to consider the ways we as parents react to an issue like the U.S. Presidential election - both leading up to and afterward - and what those reactions communicate to our kids about God. Because the way we interact with and respond to our world always communicates something we believe about God.

For example, if we choose despair or disbelief when our preferred candidate doesn’t win, it can demonstrate to our kids that we don’t really trust that God is in control of all things. If we believe God is sovereign, then our hopes are not on a human leader but on Him.

It’s good and necessary to have dialogue around our political process, to express concerns and to identify candidates with priorities that align with our own. But how are we having these conversations - especially in front of our children? Paul exhorts his readers in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Let’s consider a positive example: If your child asks about a political sign in your neighbor’s yard that you disagree with, you’ve got a lot of choices in how you can respond. Here’s an option that can point back to God’s glory: “The election is coming up, and because we live in a free country, people can put signs in their yard to show who they want to vote for. Isn’t it great that God has blessed us to live in a country where people have the freedom to put signs in their yard if they want to?”

An election is just one of a million cultural moments where children are watching and learning, but everything’s a bit amplified. As believers, it gives us a really practical opportunity to show our kids the hope we have in Jesus: That He is in control. That we can trust Him in all things. And that we can love those who disagree with us.

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In a world of comparison, we can easily fall into the trap of setting an unattainable standard for ourselves as parents. One friend has taught her kids to put away their clothes and make their beds (such independence!), another is always so patient and fun with her kids (all the cute crafts!), one dad does an amazing job of keeping his house clean (the toilet sparkles!), and a different mom reads the Bible to her kids every morning before school (so consistent!). 

All of these parents are doing wonderful things. But they are each doing their own things well - they are not one person! We can easily feel like a failure when we compare our efforts to the collective successes of those around us. My goal at Raise Them Up is not to overwhelm or discourage you with a list of ideas to implement. While I hope to share many different ideas, resources, and encouragements to help you raise your kids to love God, I know you can’t do it all - because neither can I!

But I do believe this: All parents can share gospel truths with their children.

• It can happen through formal bible study. And it can happen at a football game.

• It can happen while your kids help you with the chores. And it can happen if your kitchen sink is stacked full of two-day-old dirty dishes.

• It can happen if you have a seminary degree (which I don’t!). And it can happen if you didn’t grow up in a Christian home.

Parenting is not a game of comparison or perfection. As we strive to parent our kids well, we will fall short sometimes. We may try a new bible reading idea that goes poorly, or we might have a hard day that ends in harsh words. Messing up is okay. God’s grace is sufficient to cover our mistakes. In truth, these mistakes are beautiful ministry moments because they allow our kids to see that we need God. And although perfect is not the goal, knowing that we need God is a pretty perfect place to start.

One of our core missions as Christian parents is to create strong biblical foundations in our children's lives that point them to Jesus. But to do that, we must prioritize our own solid foundation in Christ.

When we consider the daunting task of raising our children to know and love God, we must ensure that we are rooted in the truth of scripture. As parents, we can quickly jump to planning activities and seeking strategies to teach our kids about Jesus. But we cannot pour from an empty cup. All of the best planning and teaching will fall flat if we are not walking in relationship with Jesus. When parents prioritize their faith, they can lead by example and in Christ’s strength. As we pursue knowing and loving God more deeply ourselves, we can authentically lead our kids to do the same.

Another significant benefit of walking with Jesus and reading our Bibles is developing a proper view of ourselves. This brings us to the second foundation: having a biblical understanding of our role as parents. We are not in control of our children’s choice to pursue a relationship with God. He is. Knowing this foundational truth frees us from the burden of our children’s salvation. But God does give us the privilege of being invited into His work of showing our kids the joy of knowing Jesus. 

Raise Them Up exists to join you in this work by equipping busy parents with simple, practical resources that point kids to Jesus. I’m excited and honored to join you on this journey!

It has been a long time since you’ve heard from me, but I’m gearing up to begin posting more regular content that provides practical encouragement and resources to help parents raise their kids to know and love God.

You can expect concise and practical articles or resources (maybe a couple of times a month). My aim is always to encourage and equip you, not give you another thing to add to your checklist.

If you have a topic or question you’d like me to explore, email me - I’d love to hear from you!

I’m using this new platform, Substack, to help organize and distribute content more easily. You will get articles delivered straight to your inbox, and if this content is no longer relevant to you, you can unsubscribe at any time. I’ll be re-posting a few articles you may have already seen to consolidate all of the content, but hopefully they’re a great refresher! 🙂

I pray that God would use Raise Them Up to equip this generation of parents to effectively teach their kids the truth of God’s word and His character so that they would know Him more fully and love Him more deeply.

In the trenches with you,

Emily Lyons

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