Adventurez in ChildRearing: 7 Tools Book Club

Our Mission is to prepare them (our children) to fulfill the God-ordained places in this world – their occupational calling, their calling as future spouses and parents, their calling as citizens, and their callings as Christians.” -pg. 20

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30: 21

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness…but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 38:8-10

In our family - we've decided that time is one of the main factors in training and preparing our children to lead the life God has for them. Each of them has special gifts and character traits God intends to use for good in this life. It's our job to nurture and encourage them.

God puts families together in various ways - through birth and through adoption are the ways He chose to put ours together. As parents, we need to believe that He gives us the resources and abilities we need to nurture and train our children to serve Him.

“Train up a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

We lead by example. Our children are ever watching and listening to the way we handle life's challenges. When the going gets tough . . . they see to Whom we turn for direction. When others don't see . . . they do. Our children know our hearts and they follow our lead.

By investing time in our children, by leading a good example and continually turning to the Lord - by listening carefully to their needs, thoughts, and desires - and loving unconditionally we can show them Jesus.

We prepare and teach them in many ways including discipline, responsibility, accountability to God. We teach obedience to God, and personal relationship with Him. We lead the way by digging in and sharing the Word with them.

We can't be afraid to admit when we are wrong, and to ask them for forgiveness. We must be quick to forgive and quick to point to Jesus. We must open our hearts and share our failures, not be (or appear to be) something they can never live up to.

We must remind them in word and deed that God has a plan for their life and expect them to live up to that potential. We must encourage and build them up.

God has placed our children in our homes because we have what it takes to train them. If we only lean on Him - seek His truth for them and rely on God's Word and the Holy Spirit to guide us- His plan will be fulfilled in our families.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 5-6