Words of Wisdom
“Children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of the youth, and happy is the man whose quiver is full of them.” (Ps. 127:3-4)
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6). I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (III John: v.4)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, to die on Calvary’s tree, from sin to set us free. Some day He’s coming back, what Glory that will be! Wonderful His love to me.”
(A Children’s Song — Author Unknown)
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Part I: Parenting on Christmas: The Age of Opportunity
This program is repeated from a series on parenting that we aired last year. In Part I, we reviewed recommendations from a book entitled Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, by Paul David Tripp.
In it, Tripp challenges parents to prepare their children for the battles they will face from a secular culture that is hostile to their faith. Parents will work to secure their children’s hearts against false gods of Pride along with others such as Power, Popularity, Possessions, Prestige, and Pleasure.
It’s perhaps the most important job a parent will ever have.
Part II: Secular Values vs. Biblical Truth
In Part II, we reviewed some of the predominant “Me” messages that culture transmits to our children, many of which are in direct conflict with Biblical principles. For example these would include:
— Me-Ism: “It’s all about Me, My feelings, My happiness, My pleasures, and My need for immediate self-gratification. It’s all about how to live My life – whether it honors God or not.”
— Evolution: “This is a false teaching that there is no God, there is no Creator, and therefore, there is no transcendent authority. It’s all about Me and the material Cosmos. It’s therefore not about being made in the image of God for His Glory.”
— Biblical Authority? “In My eyes, the Bible is just an outdated book of fairy tales and archaic rules that do not apply to Me or to My life. Therefore, I know better than the Bible does, and I can make My own rules for how to live.”
Part III: Secular Attitudes vs. Christmas Opportunities
Against this background, we invited Lisa Updike, Director of Children’s Ministries at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, to identify some Christmas activities that can help shape the hearts of our children for the Glory of God during this special Christmas season. For example:
— A Thankful Heart: To counter the sense of “entitlement” that the culture feeds our children, parents can help develop an attitude of gratitude instead. Encourage them to avoid comparing the gifts they got with what their friends received, and be thankful to God and others for what they’ve been given.
— A Giving Heart: Similarly, help them think of others before themselves. Fore example, take them along to help ring bells for the Salvation Army, sing Christmas carols for shut-ins in retirement homes, pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (still possible), and find gifts for Angel Tree Ministries.
— A Joyful Heart: Even as we re-read together the account of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2, we cannot leave Him in the Manger. We need to remind ourselves every day, not just at Christmas, that true JOY comes only by putting JESUS first, OTHERS second, and YOURSELF last.
— A Happy Home: Finally, we must always remind ourselves that every child needs a loving father and mother who are committed to God, to each other, and to them. A happy marriage and a happy home are the best gifts we can give to our children, not only at Christmas, but in every day of our lives.
Crossroads at Christmas: Where Faith and Culture Meet
For more on all of this, please join cohost Rita Peters and me with Lisa Updike this weekend in a repeat of the Crossroads program that we produced for valley radio last year. As stated. Lisa is a childen’s teacher and program director at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg.
It will air on WBTX Christian Ministries at (1470 AM and 102.1 FM) Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and again on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., followed by WSVA (550 AM and 92.1 FM) at 8:30, and ESPN (1360 AM and 106.9 FM) at 9:00. You can also listen online by clicking on the Crossroad’s menu shown on our home page at www.valleyfamilyforum.org.
Crossroads programs, have been almost entirely listener supported, and we have deeply appreciated your prayers, your encouragement, and your financial support of these programs.
We also want to thank our generous sponsors at Blue Ridge Chimney Services; Blessings Christian Bookstore; Sonshine Ministries with Christian Radio; Wishing Well Florists and Travel Services, and our good friends at New Beginnings Church and Garber’s Church of the Brethren in Harrisonburg for their past support as well.
Again, thank you so much, with our Best Wishes for very happy, Christ-Centered Homes at Christmas and throughout the New Year!
From Dean, and on behalf of the other members of the Crossroads Team.
Yes, Working and Walking Together, We Can Make a Difference, for God and Country!