Yesterday evening ended with my younger sister Diana processing from the living room to the dining room to, in her cap and gown (baseball cap and bathrobe) "graduating" from 3rd grade into 4th. IT had been a relatively normal Father's Day with s special meal, presents and pie. After the evening service, mom decided to have a little "graduation" for Deborah and Diana as they moved up.
So, Dad found Pomp and Circumstance online and David grabbed his snare drum. Dressed in their "caps and gowns" they processed from the living room to the dining room, while acting as silly as possible and plugging their ears to Davids loud drumming. Solemnly (w/ some giggles) they shook mom's hand and switched the ribbons, taped to their caps,to the other side. Amidst much giggling and drumming my dad gave a silly speech about their future impact on the community at large (a fat joke). I videoed and photographed the whole thing while laughing uproariously. All the while thanking God for my precious family!
Now you've gotten a peek into my family, and if you didn't find it funny well.... What can I say? You had to have been there!
(And, no don't even think I'm gonna share pictures. Those are strictly blackmail material only.)
I thank God upon every remembrance of my precious family.
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Monday, June 18, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
What is a biblical Father?
The father’s first duty is to be
an image of Christ as with all believers so this section will focus on what is
commanded specifically to fathers, not the father’s responsibility as a
believer. That being said everything that the father is commanded to or that is
expected of him is building on his relationship with Christ.
The father is the head of the family, laid out in 1
Corinthians 11:3.[1] He
is head of the marriage, and head of each son until the young man is of age, and
daughter until his headship is transferred to another man. As the head he is
morally responsible to God for his family.
The husband is the spiritual leader in the marriage and if
God should bless them with children the leader of the family also. As such he has
the highest priority to lead his family spiritually.[2]
To lead his wife spiritually is his very highest and first priority as leader.
As he leads her closer to the savior their marriage will grow closer and they
will continue to become one in Christ. As he leads her he will also be leading
their children. Though the job of spiritual teaching is a joint effort by the
parents the husband is responsible to lead.
“As you know, like a father with his own children, we
encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who
calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 1:11-13
The Apostle Paul desired extremely that his spiritual
children grow and learn spiritually; even in the same way fathers should desire
the spiritual growth and maturity of their children. It cannot be emphasized
enough that this goal of spiritual maturity for his children should be the
highest priority, the most prayed and hoped for wish.
A father is
responsible to teach his children by example to walk in the light.[3]
In the Old Testament the Lord commanded:
“These words that I am giving you today are to be in your
heart. Repeat them to your children.
Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let
them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house
and on your gates.”[4]
As he acts as head, teaching his
wife and children, the husband/father is also responsible to provide for the
family God has blessed him with. The Apostle Paul says:
“Command this, so that they won't be blamed. Now if anyone
does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for his household, he
has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Tim. 5:7-8
The woman is the weaker vessel, through the man God provided
a way for her and the children to be provided for. This does not mean that man
is put this priority above following God’s call. A husband must remember that
he cannot provide for his family without God. God is the ultimate provider,
working through the husband and church.
In the same way husband/father cannot fully protect his
family without God. His responsibility is to protect his family from harm and
to help them to “remain unstained by the world”.[5]
But as before, a father must remember that God is the ultimate protector[6]and
he cannot do anything without HIM.
A final word to Fathers:
As all these principles are exercised keep in mind that the
way it is gone about so as not to arouse anger[7],
cause discouragement[8]
but rather to inspire respect and honor. Also it must be remembered to use
discipline[9]
so that the child is ready to hear the word of the Lord.
[1]
Lit. “Husband head of wife.”
[2] No
matter the action of a man he is leading. As a man he can simply not avoid it.
The difference is whether he is leading well. So the man’s greatest
responsibility more clearly defined is to lead the family correctly and well
spiritually.
[3] 1
John 1:7
[4] Deuteronomy
6:6-9
[5]
James 1:27
[6]
Psalm 91:1-16
[7]
Ephesians 6:4
[8]
Colossians 3:21
[9]
Proverbs 29:15, Proverbs 13:24
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Corrupted Family
The picture painted of God’s
family is not only perfect, but it appears perfectly ridiculous. Why is this
so? The perfect example of family was marred when Adam and Eve chose to rule
themselves instead of submitting to God’s rule. This world has never seen a
perfect family since. The very concept of a perfect family is foreign to sinful
human kind. It is also completely unattainable. Since sin entered the world
families have become, even in the best situations, horribly marred by sin.[1]
Now the world is filled with dysfunctional families, single parent families,
divorced couples, homosexual families, and many other perversions of God’s
perfect intent.[2]
In a world that accepts any definition of
family that allows for its own desires to be placated and openly scorns God’s
best, how can a perfect family be discussed and what is the purpose? The reason
for discussing the perfect family is found in the discussion itself, namely to
become aware of the goal/ standard/hope to have for families.
“For God is my witness, how I
long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your
love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so
that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and
blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of
righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise
of God.” [3]
What the Apostle Paul desired for
his spiritual children, and that the good work[4]
will be completed in families is the hope.
That is the hope to pray towards, to work towards, and to change
towards. That is the purpose of learning God’s perfect intent for the family.
The Perfect Family
“Family” is a very ambiguous[1]
term in the modern world. It can mean any of these things:
“A group of
individuals living under one roof”
“A group of
persons of common ancestry”
“The basic unit
in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children”
“Any of various social units differing from but regarded as
equivalent to the traditional family”[2]
But what is the does God mean
when referring to “Family” in the Bible? What is God’s definition of a family?[3]
What does that family look like?
Drawing solely from the scriptures
(God’s word), Family means: One man married to one woman for one lifetime,
(Gen. 2:24) blessed with children (Psalm. 127:4).
This family looks like Christ.
More specifically: Man leading his wife and loving her as Christ loves the
Church; (Eph. 5:25, 1 Cor. 11:3) woman reverencing her husband and submitting
to him as the Church submits to the Christ; (Eph. 5:24) the children being
trained up in the fear of the Lord, to become Christ-like adults (Prov. 22:6). The unit of the family provides an environment
for “iron to sharpen iron”[4]as
each member grows toward godliness.
A biblical definition of the
family is a perfect one, the highest goal, the ideal. God is perfect, His word
is inerrant; therefore, when God created the family, he created something perfect,
and called it “good”. God’s intent for the family was perfect, and His
definition of the family is nothing less than perfect.
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