Character is what empowers kids to face life’s challenges with confidence.  It is what we build into them to help them when they are afraid, tempted, lonely, or betrayed.  It is building into them:  faith, integrity, poise, discipline, endurance, and courage.  When our children see us as parents and our church leaders exercising these character traits, they are more likely to be transferred to them.  We need to put our focus on raising our children to become adults who will lead the next generation, not just making sure they get through childhood right.  That is not always the easiest thing when we see others with children that are always on their best behavior and we wonder why our children can’t just listen to us!  We can assume that our children will make mistakes and misbehave, but we must react to what they have done by correcting them and continue to build into their hearts character traits in a grace-filled way.

The final part of our house, the roof, is aiming our children at true greatness.  We all want our kids to be successful.  The world says success is wealth, beauty, power, and fame.  There is nothing wrong with wanting those things for our children unless that is all we focus on.  God places no value on those things.  They have no bearing on whether our children will grow up to be happy or have an eternal impact.  True greatness is having a love for Jesus Christ that shows itself in love and concern for others.  It is having an upward (Christ) and outward (others) focus.  We should continually be modeling and growing on our children a

1.  Humble Heart (Philippians 2:3-4):  having a reverence for God and respect for others, putting others interests above your own

2.  Grateful Heart (1 Thessalonians 5:18):  appreciate what you have been given and who has given it to you

3.  Generous Heart (Luke 6:38):  delight in sharing with others what God has entrusted to you

4.  Servant’s Heart (Matthew 25:40):  willing to take action in order to help someone joyfully

That is quite a standard not only for our family, but also for our church.  I pray that we will continue to influence our children with grace and love so that they will grow into adults who love the Lord and want to serve him in all they do.  I pray that our partnership continues to grow, that we base all of our relationships on grace, and we continue to make an eternal impact in the Kingdom for Christ.

The first idea is to develop their inner needs.  This is the bottom floor of the house.  We want to make sure they are secure in who they are, that they understand they have a life of significance, and that they have the strength to face each day.

We need to make sure that our children know they are deeply loved at home and at church.  We need to accept them for who they are and how God made them.  As parents we must be willing to allow God’s plan for our children to outshine our plan.  The verse from Jeremiah comes to mind:  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  (Jer. 29:11)  We must make sure that our children know they have a greater purpose in life, that they have their family and their church on their side.  We must give them opportunities to trust God in what they do.  Make sure they get out of their comfort zone so that they can build their trust in God.  This is hard for us as parents so to teach this to our children is even harder.  I know I am not always the best at getting out of my comfort zone.  I like being with people I know and doing the jobs I know I can do successfully.  But, where does the trust come in if I am never willing to step out in faith to do something?  I want to start living in a way that I show my children what it looks like to live a life of adventure for Christ, trusting him to take care of us.

The second idea is to give children freedoms, the next story of our house.  This isn’t to do whatever they want, but it is the responsibility to do what they should-to do things that are best for themselves and others.  We have to be willing to give our children the freedom to be different, vulnerable, candid, and to make mistakes.  We have to respect kids feelings and fears and deal with them in a grace-filled way.  This doesn’t excuse our children from discipline and learning to behave and respect others.  If we are able to discipline our children graciously, they will be more able and willing to accept the grace that Christ has shown them.  This is so important.  It is very hard to understand how someone can love me no matter what I do, but that is exactly what Christ does.  Let us help our children to learn to accept Christ’s grace by showing them grace in our home.

Next week we will look at the last 2 ideas on connecting church and home.

The first person to look to is God. God is a parent to us and how does he deal with us? He shows us love and grace. We as parents must parent from a place of grace. If children don’t see grace in our homes, they won’t be able to fully comprehend how God can show them grace. With our children we are holding a piece of the future. If we want our children to be a part of the next generation of people who love God, live for Him, and make an impact in their world, then we must start with Grace.

The 4 things that we must do for our children at home and at church are:

1. We need to meet their driving inner needs of security, significance, and strength.
2. We need to extend to them the same freedoms God gives us. This isn’t a license to do whatever we want, but the responsibility to do what is best for us AND those we love.
3. We need to build them from the inside out with character. This is what we as parents build into our children that help them when they are afraid, tempted, lonely, or betrayed.
4. We need to aim them at a future of “true” greatness. This isn’t by the world’s standards, wealth, beauty, power, and fame. This is by God’s standards, having a passionate love for Jesus Christ that shows itself in an unquenchable love and concern for others. Focusing our lives upward (on Christ) and outward (on others).

Next week we will go into a bit more depth on each one and how to make them real in our lives.

Bombs exploded. Smoke rose. Blood flowed. The finish line of the Boston marathon had always signaled human triumph. But today police tape marks off human tragedy. Mankind asks, “Why this suffering?” While we understand life hurts, we want to believe the lie that because we know Jesus, we will escape major harm.

When Jesus’ disciples encountered a man blind from birth, they also asked, “Why this suffering?” (John 9:1-7) Jesus answered, “This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Did the disciples do a double take like we may when we read these words?

Jesus never side-stepped adversity. He entered into it. He empathized with all of us who walk in darkness. Jesus explained affliction. When we struggle, God invites us to help each other and depend on Him. Jesus helped the man by putting compresses on his eyes, and then invited the man to trust God by going to the pool of Siloam to wash. Jesus enacted hope. When the blind man’s eyes opened, he saw his Savior. We hope not in our ability to see, but we hope in our Lord, who grants us the vision of a bright eternity, as well as light for our path on this earth.

Jesus hurts with Boston. He enters the homes of the grieving, the hospital rooms of the wounded, the counseling offices of the distraught. Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Jesus holds heavy hearts.

God explains His intervention in Boston. He works through His people. Some provide spiritual, emotional, and physical care. We provide prayer. James 5:16b says, “Pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Each time you hear a headline, ask the Head of the Universe for healing and thank Him for helpers.

Jesus still enacts hope. In the story of the blind man, Jesus calls himself the “Light of the World.” In John 8:12 He says, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” His light provides strength for this life, for Boston, and for eternity.

In the midst of human tragedy, the empty tomb proclaims divine triumph. Christ enters, explains, and enacts. When bombs explode in Boston or in life, we never run alone.

-Kim Davis