"The Center"

When Hunter and I are traveling around in our RV on Sunday we choose a church to visit nearby the campground where we are overnighting. One such church last Sunday was "The Good Shepherd Church" in Loveland, Colorado. Unfortunately I can not remember the pastor's name who delivered the message but it was so good that I want to share his "points" from the Summer in the Psalms series he was preaching. This particular Sunday he was focused in Psalm 127. It is one of the 15 ascent Psalms, which the Jewish people would sing on their walk to Jerusalem to celebrate a holy holiday. 

This particular psalm addresses the blessing of children (grandchildren). He said there are two things our children need from us:

1. Homes built around God as the center!

We are responsible to pass along our faith to our children (grandchildren). We must teach them that they were created for God's glory. In today's culture we too often "labor in vein" to teach our children the importance of the 3 As: athletics, academics, appearances. Instead we should teach our children the importance of reading the Bible, praying to God both alone and as a family, and making church a priority. After all, what are they going to be talking about 20 years down the road: their recent soccer match, their cool jeans, their A in spelling or what God has and is doing in their life??

2. Adults who BELIEVE in them!

Are we challenging them to rise to high expectations in integrity, work ethics, character development-modeling the fruits of the spirit daily (Gal. 5:22 "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control")? Are we teaching them to lead or are we saying "you aren't old enough or capable of this". "We don't trust that you can do it,yet." 

The psalm states that "children...are like arrows in the hands of a warrior". Arrows are weapons-right? Weapons are dangerous-right? Are we teaching our children to be "dangerously good", "dangerously courageous" for God's kingdom? Will our children be world changers, arrows not just staying in the quiver but shot out into the world??

Our homes and our lives will impact generations to come! It all starts with each of us adults as we make Jesus first in our lives and our homes!

Bless the children. They "are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him". Psalm 127:3