What Kind of a Dad Would Jesus Be by Samuel Martin

What Kind of a Dad Would Jesus Be by Samuel Martin 

1) Jesus bathes His own children. (John 13:4-14)

2) Jesus is a merciful father to His children even when they are in the wrong. (John 8:1-11)

3) The Lord Jesus prepares his own meals. (John 21:9-12)

4) The LORD wipes away tears from His children's faces. (Isaiah 25:8)

5) The LORD sets the table for His family to eat. (Psalm 23:5)

6) Jesus is a long suffering, patient parent who shows perfect love to His children, even when they don't exhibit the same feeling back to Him. (John 21:15-17)

7) Jesus is a parent who would go without food and water to care for His children. (Matthew 4:1-2)

8) Jesus uses the example of quiet correction for sin. (John 8:1-11)

9) Jesus is a father who is ready to bind up our wounds. (Matthew 9:20)

10) Jesus is a parent who would die (and did die) for His children to keep them safe. (The message of the Gospel).

No Biblical Text Is An Island

No Biblical Text Is An Island

This post has been republished in a new book referenced below:

Amazon.com: Thy Rod and Thy Staff They Comfort Me - Book IV: Selected Essays on the Subject of Spanking Children in Support of Peaceful Parenting (9780978533984): Martin, Samuel: Books

Be careful of the "Tip of the Iceberg" theological thinking

Be careful of the "Tip of the Iceberg" theological thinking

This post has been republished in a new book referenced below:

Amazon.com: Thy Rod and Thy Staff They Comfort Me - Book IV: Selected Essays on the Subject of Spanking Children in Support of Peaceful Parenting (9780978533984): Martin, Samuel: Books

Guest post from SR - Know your children - A Father Shares How Knowing His Children Makes For A More Successful Family Life

Guest post from SR - Know your children - 

A Father Shares How Knowing His Children Makes For A More Successful Family Life

Note: It is my honor to have this word of exhortation here on my blog from SR. You may have read this other post from this dear father of four (pictured above with his beautiful family). 

http://samuelmartin.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-father-of-four-shares-his-journey.html

This post is guaranteed to minister to your soul. It certainly has to mine! Thanks SR!

"I have discovered that with parenting, a good defense is the best offense. When I take the time to know my children and set them up to succeed, most of those tension-filled moments when I am tempted to spank disappear.

One of the most beautiful passages in the Bible is Psalm 139, where David illustrates the intimacy God the Father has with His child. The first four verses read:

¹ O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
² You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
³ You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

This reminds me of how I know my own sons. I know what time they go to bed, and I know when they get up. I can tell you the order they will wake up, too, because it is almost always the same. I know what they’re thinking and what they enjoy. I know who likes apples, who likes fish, who likes juice, and who my chocolate milk drinker is. I don’t even have to ask them their preferences on so many things because I already know what they will choose. Sometimes they think they want something and I respond, “No, you won’t like that.” How do I know? Because I know them even better than they know themselves. This is how God is toward us, and it makes life so much better.

The key to all of this is the first verse where we find that God has “searched me and known me!” God desires to know us and have a relationship with us. This makes all of the other elements of our lives easier. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.” But how does He know our abilities? Because He knows us.

As a father, I can bless my children so much by searching them and truly knowing them. Then I will know what they like and don’t like. I will know what will trigger outbursts of anger or feelings of being left out. I will know how to calm a situation and bring about peace between squabbling siblings. I will help prevent those tempting situations where they will seem out of control and when they say and do things I know they do not mean. I parent like God when I do not allow them to be tempted (put into situations) they cannot handle. One recent example of a change we have made in this regard is avoiding food coloring and artificial flavors. These tend to make my kids act too hyper and dramatic. We like to celebrate and give treats, but we avoid the ones that will make it difficult for them. This is not “babying” them; this is setting them up to succeed.

Finally, David says to God in Psalms 139:5 that “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” This is how I strive to be. I try to surround my children with opportunities to succeed and be safe. I try to make it easy for them to be “good.” And in the process, I try to place my hand on them to let them know I am there and I love them no matter what. 

"Mothers - Follow Your Instincts" - A Guest Post by Debbie Davidson

"Mothers - Follow Your Instincts"

A Guest Post by Debbie Davidson

Note: Many of you have rejoiced with me at some of the deeply important posts that Heather Schopp has graced this blog with. 

Now, I am honored to say that Heather's sister, Debbie, helps us appreciate an important message that she first shared with Heather a number of years ago. 

What was that message? Simple. "Follow Your Instincts"! In this case, we are here talking about your maternal instincts. 

I've taken a bit of a risk and shared some of my own experiences in several posts on this blog about information I have heard from mothers over the years. Note one of those posts here:

http://samuelmartin.blogspot.co.il/2012/07/womens-intuition-did-you-feel.html

After hearing it over and over again, I finally saw that what we might call "that still small voice", "mother's intuition", a "moral center" or however one wishes to define it is so important for mothers to listen to and heed. 

Of course, in the context that I heard about mother's intuition, it was always in the context that the mother's I was hearing from were saying things like spanking "never felt right", "didn't sit well with me", "I did it against my will", etc. I have heard this same message scores of times and one can easily search the web for these phrases and one will come up with dozens of blogs with mothers saying exactly the same thing.

We can see stories these days all over the web of the guilt and shame mothers felt when they listened to the advice of well-intentioned but often misguided religious leaders telling women messages that were diametrically opposed to what their own motherly voices or personal intuitions were telling them and guiding them.

Thankfully, today, many more mothers are open to listening to these voices because a new environment of women's empowerment exists which in times past just did not exist. 

Join me in here sitting at the feet of some great teachers who I am deeply honored to learn from. These messages are words spoken by sincere God loving Christian women who call on the name of the Lord Jesus with the deepest reverence. Let these words minister to you as they have to me because they come from a very special place in the heart of a Christian mother.

What you will find here is truthful, simple, practical, elegant, lovely thoughts that will touch your soul.

To find my name mentioned among these words is indeed a deeply special honor which I find so touching and humbling.

"wise words from my sister Debbie Davison, who was the first 

person to tell me "follow your instincts" ..... Heather Schopp

"It took years for me to realize that my motherly instinct was a 

gift from God, something to be listened to; not ignored and stifled.

It took many years to slowly awaken to the reality and truth that 

insights I offered as a mother were more valuable than the latest

in child discipline (even those which came from Christian

leaders like Dr. Dobson, who I followed) or church leaders.

 

In addition, much of the counsel I received from my obstetrician

and pediatrician about childbirth and nursing was downright

wrong.

Fortunately, I followed my instincts on some things. On other

issues, like child discipline, however, I followed inaccurate

Scriptural interpretations.

For that I am not only deeply grieved, but angered: that hitting 

children was and is still promoted by many Christian leaders.

Since we are Christ followers, Christians, of all people, should

be advocates and protectors of those who are vulnerable, just as

He was. This includes children from the moment of conception.

Mothers, if you are told to do something that is cold and harsh

to your child, the person telling you, whether a husband,

grandparent, physician, or pastor, is very likely wrong.

I implore you to read books by Samuel Martin and Stephanie

Cox which address Scriptures quoted by pro spanking

advocates.

As a Christian, I believe that Scripture is God given, inspired,

and relevant to our daily lives; however, it behooves us to ensure

it is being interpreted properly.

History is rife with examples of the misinterpretation and 

misapplication of God's Word. It is very difficult to revisit a

topic like spanking, particularly if the deed is done.

However, it is always appropriate to study God's Word,

especially on such an important subject as child rearing.

And it is never too late to either change our behavior or 

acknowledge that our choices were misguided and wrong and 

ask forgiveness. 

For those of us who have the privilege of being grandparents, it is 
a precious option." 

Note: For more information about Stephanie Cox's book (which I have wholeheartedly endorsed, please visit Stephanie's FB page here - https://www.facebook.com/GentleFirmness

Download my free ebook here - http://www.biblechild.com/assets/thy-rod-and-thy-staff-they-comfort-me-mar-2013.pdf

Hard copies of my book available on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Thy-Rod-Staff-They-Comfort/dp/0978533909

A Plea to Mothers - Guest Post from Heather Schopp

A Plea to Mothers - A Guest Post By Heather Schopp
You are your own, and your child's, biggest advocate and protector--and you were made to be that. Own this, accept it; and never forget it. 

We women have been engrained with the thinking that our doctors, preachers, husbands "lead" us and should have the last word. we are told to conform to rules, expectations, routines, schedules set by others who "know best" for us and for our children. we are told we are disobeying God, we are being negligent, we are unwise, we are spoiling and being manipulated by our children, if we do not listen to the "experts" and the "authority."

Here's the thing: God has given us a gift, a voice He hasn't given to anyone else--the gift of maternal instinct. When we are told to follow another's advice at the expense of our instincts, we are being told to disregard this God-given gift (....to quench the Holy Spirit).

Years ago I was talking to a mom about her colicky baby. She told me her doctor said to put the baby in her crib, leave her, and let her cry--there was nothing else they could do for her. I did not express outwardly the grief I felt and said "God has given you instincts that He hasn't given to the doctor, I encourage you to consider those as well." she bristled and said tersely "we trust our doctor and do what he says."

It's not about shaming, insulting, denying medical studies and facts, not considering others' opinions or shutting out others' wisdom; it's about trusting that our instincts are valid and worth heeding and following.

...but sometimes it is about a paradigm shift in our thinking, even in our spiritual beliefs, and recognizing the authority and insight God has given us as women; and it may mean acknowledging the times we haven't responded according to our intuition (whether purposefully or not), and apologizing. That can be painful--has been for me anyway, because I've had to take ownership for the choices I've made that caused pain in my children. and I will have to continue to do so.

But children are quick to forgive, and through my apologizing and their forgiving I believe they heal and grow. and so do I.

God is THE expert and THE authority and only He can speak to you through that inner voice. What a gift He has given us--an inner guide and source of strength and wisdom....Use it!!!!