Build a Lasting Legacy!
In his book, A Spiritual Clinic, J. Oswald Sanders wrote about the lasting family legacies of two families from New York.
...continue reading this devotion.Parenthood
Need an Extreme Makeover?
Charles William Eliot, former president of Harvard University, had a birthmark on his face that bothered him greatly. As a young man, he was told that surgeons could do nothing to remove it. Someone described that moment as “the dark hour of his soul.” Eliot’s mother gave him this helpful advice: “My son, it is not possible for you to get rid of that hardship…But it is possible for you, with God’s help, to grow a mind and soul so big that people will forget to look at your face.”
...continue reading this devotion.Good Parenting Works; Look to Your Heavenly Father!
I ran across a profound story that shows what happens when the family structure breaks down — but this didn’t have to do with people — it had to do with elephants.
...continue reading this devotion.Birthed into His Mercy!
Pregnancy in a woman involves the intimate, meticulous development of a human life in her womb. The Hebrew word for womb is “rechem”. The verb, “rachem” (with the same root letters) means to love, to love deeply, to have mercy and to be compassionate. The connection in Hebrew between “womb” and “love” or “compassion” is literally visceral. A mother’s love for her baby, so natural, deep, tender and compassionate, beautifully exemplifies our Father’s love for us. He is compassionate and merciful toward his human creatures.
...continue reading this devotion.Wake up in Abba’s Arms!
When Elianna was two years old, we wrote this devotional fifteen years ago that I believe is relevant especially as we celebrated Father’s day around the world.
We have a cord-free, battery-free alarm clock — we call her Elianna. Like clockwork, at 6:45 each morning our 2-year old daughter, Elianna wakes up and begins calling for us to come and greet her good morning. At this point, my wife and I have come to the conclusion that those 8-hour sleep nights we used to enjoy just aren’t going to happen again –at least for a long, long time.
...continue reading this devotion.Go to your room!
As parents, we’ve had to adjust the way we discipline our children from time to time as they grow and as the culture changes….with especially major differences from the time when I was growing up. For example, when I was young and got in trouble, I was sent to my room, in which was my bed and a bunch of books. There was no TV, radio, internet, or phone. It was a time-out given to re-evaluate my attitude and behavior.
...continue reading this devotion.Discipline Training!
Nearing the ripe old age of nine, our little man — Ovadiah (Isn’t it amazing how fast time flies?), has quite a mind of his own lately. The glory days, when he used to be happy with wherever we were going and whatever we were doing — hmmmm…those days seem to be over. Now he has his own agenda. He wants to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it and boy, don’t even think about getting in his way!
...continue reading this devotion.