Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Grace & Obedience
Can we dialogue a little bit about teaching grace AND obedience? I feel like I am a baby when it comes to fully grasping the idea of grace, so I think just talking a little bit about this will help bring clarity to me. In the 2 examples the authors gave about how we can incorporate the message of grace, it seems to me that it is hard to get the message across that we can't be obedient on our own and that God will love us no matter what, but that we also expect them to follow certain expectations (like not disrupting family prayer). If we are telling them that "you can't love your brother like God is asking you to, so you need a rescuer to help you" and "you'll never to be able to do this on your own," but then also telling them that they need to be kind towards their brother, does this seem confusing? If they respond out of anger saying something like "well I don't want to believe in Him right now" how does discipline come into play? Does this make sense at all?
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Introductory Thoughts
I am really excited to go through the book. Elyse has some great insight amd honesty. One area that I found particularly intriguing was when she discussed the "Christian response" to Wesley's sin. I don't have a page # because I have the Kindle edition but she discusses how to respond by telling Wesley that he can't love his brother without Jesus. One of the hardest things for me to do when I am rebuking ny children is to turn them back to their need for Jesus as their Savior. Looking foward to more discussion! ~Amy Cox
How would YOU respond?
"Our Salvation (and our kids' as well) is by GRACE ALONE through FAITH ALONE in CHRIST ALONE. GRACE ALONE."
The example that sticks out to me from the Introduction is the story about the child that says, "Mom, I can't love my brother!" (Here it is, for those of you who don't have your books yet.)
"Jessica heard the terrifying scream emanating from the playroom. Frantically rushing out of the bathroom (Every mom knows what this is like!), she found her eldest son, Wesley (then four), seated atop his little brother pounding away. As she forcefully yanked Wesley off his brother, she pled with him, "Wesley, you must love your brother!"
"But he makes me so mad! I can't love him!" Wesley replied through angry tears.
How would YOU respond? How HAVE you responded in situations similar to this? Do you see this as an opportunity to share the gospel with your child?
Most of us have children too young to really be able to relate with this example, but it is coming soon!
I can pretty easily imagine myself responding with the law instead of the gospel (and as Elyse makes clear later in the book, ANYTHING that is not GOSPEL is LAW!) Something short and to the point like, "YOU HAVE to love your brother". Law. No grace, no gospel.
How amazing would it be to take advantage of this opportunity in our children's lives to gospel them and shower them in the same outrageous grace that has been gifted to us through Jesus!
The response Elyse gives on pg. 21 that models the gospel in this situation is amazing, but definitely not 2 year-old appropriate. The closest I think we get to this this with Owen is saying something like, "Let's pray together that Jesus would help you and change your heart so you can love your sister and obey your mommy and daddy."
What about YOU!? I want to hear what is sticking with you so far! Please comment away. I am learning so much already.
by GRACE ALONE,
~Adelle
The example that sticks out to me from the Introduction is the story about the child that says, "Mom, I can't love my brother!" (Here it is, for those of you who don't have your books yet.)
"Jessica heard the terrifying scream emanating from the playroom. Frantically rushing out of the bathroom (Every mom knows what this is like!), she found her eldest son, Wesley (then four), seated atop his little brother pounding away. As she forcefully yanked Wesley off his brother, she pled with him, "Wesley, you must love your brother!"
"But he makes me so mad! I can't love him!" Wesley replied through angry tears.
How would YOU respond? How HAVE you responded in situations similar to this? Do you see this as an opportunity to share the gospel with your child?
Most of us have children too young to really be able to relate with this example, but it is coming soon!
I can pretty easily imagine myself responding with the law instead of the gospel (and as Elyse makes clear later in the book, ANYTHING that is not GOSPEL is LAW!) Something short and to the point like, "YOU HAVE to love your brother". Law. No grace, no gospel.
How amazing would it be to take advantage of this opportunity in our children's lives to gospel them and shower them in the same outrageous grace that has been gifted to us through Jesus!
The response Elyse gives on pg. 21 that models the gospel in this situation is amazing, but definitely not 2 year-old appropriate. The closest I think we get to this this with Owen is saying something like, "Let's pray together that Jesus would help you and change your heart so you can love your sister and obey your mommy and daddy."
What about YOU!? I want to hear what is sticking with you so far! Please comment away. I am learning so much already.
by GRACE ALONE,
~Adelle
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Week One
This week we are reading the Foreword and Introduction - "Are You a Christian Parent?". I realize some of you may be half way through the book already... SLOW DOWN! We're going to take our time getting through this book through the summer, allowing us to dig deep and open our BIBLES as we read! Please share what God is teaching you on this site! I especially am excited to hear when God puts scriptures on your heart that are convicting and relate to parenting and this book, and your STORIES! We all are learning as we go EVERY DAY, and we have plenty of opportunities to share how things our going with our own children. Prayer requests are also ALWAYS welcome.
So ENJOY! I'm REALLY looking forward to digging in!
So ENJOY! I'm REALLY looking forward to digging in!
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