Archive for Live It Out
Lost: A Battle for Character – Part 3
Posted by: | CommentsIn this series LOST: A BATTLE FOR CHARACTER, we will be taking a closer look at the pillars of character that has been shaping our world since God created it. Character are those qualities built into your life that determine your response, regardless of circumstances. And like the brilliance of a diamond, success in every area of your life will be enhanced as you develop each facet of your character. As imperfections are cut or polished away, you can reach your full potential.
Have you Lost the Character of….
Integrity: The best definition I’ve ever heard for Integrity is when your behavior matches your beliefs, essentially “what you do when nobody is watching”. A person of integrity won’t roll the stop sign in the middle of the night, or cheat on his tax returns to save a buck, or as scripture says in Psalm 15:4 “…keeps his oath even when it hurts.” The benefits of Integrity include having a constant peace in your heart, gaining the trust, respect, honor and influence of those around you, and walking closely with God. Jesus showed us many times God will be harder on hypocrites than on sinners! Think about this: when you have integrity, that’s all that matters, and when you don’t have integrity, that’s all that matters. The Character of Integrity: FOUND
Hope: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast…” Hebrews 6:19. What do we have if not hope? Without it, people are angry and depressed and isolated and scared and dying. Yet, those who believe are given eternal hope. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give to you a future and a hope.” Jer 29:11. Know God, Know Hope… No God, No Hope. The Character of Hope: FOUND
You won’t want to miss our next installment on these lost qualities of character, so make sure to subscribe to the feed above, and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook as well. In part 4 of this series we’ll look at the next two pillars of character nearly lost on this generation.
The Verbalizing Dad – Part 3
Posted by: | CommentsNow that you know the importance of being a verbalizing dad (or mom), here is a snapshot of Action Points for the Verbalizing Dad:
● With your daughter, think “face-to-face” love — a direct approach. With your son, think “shoulder-to-shoulder,” although he needs some “face-to-face” love too.
● When you’re correcting or disciplining your child, remind yourself that you need to express your love for him even in that situation.
● Express your love for your children verbally. Talk about the pride that swells in you when you see them in particular situations. Praise a character trait or an accomplishment. Or just look in their eyes and say, “You know, it’s really great being your dad.”
● Do your kids ever say, “If you loved me, you would …”? Don’t get dragged into those arguments. Just keep loving him or her, and let your actions speak for themselves.
● Count the number of affirming touches you give your kids in a day, then seek to double it the next day … and again the next.
● Take very seriously the way you model for your kids who God is as their heavenly Father. You can’t be perfect, but strive to love them unconditionally … and seek their forgiveness when you don’t.
● Take the time to Write a Letter of love and affirmation to your kids. There is nothing more powerful for a kid, than a keepsake letter from their dad. I have one from my dad framed in my office from when I was about 13 years old. My girls have letters tacked up in their room or folded in their diary from me to them. When writing letters, describe positive character qualities, and give examples whenever possible.
So that’s it on this series: The Verbalizing Dad. If you’ve gotten anything out of it, connect with us on Facebook, Click “Family-iD” below, and “Like” or “Share” it with those you love and lead.
The Verbalizing Dad – Part 2
Posted by: | Comments“I have a hard time even praying the Lord‟s Prayer,” she said. “The first words, ‘Our Father’, always remind me how disappointed I am with my father.” Others in the circle nodded their heads, some wanting to say even more. What a sad situation… Every earthly father disappoints.
“But even as he spoke, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” Matthew 17:5
Not to be able to call God a heavenly Father… Part of the problem rises because of definitions. We forget sometimes that God isn‟t called heavenly Father because he is like our dads; rather we all have fathers whose responsibility is to remind us by their character and actions of our perfect heavenly Father. Yes, every earthly father disappoints. The tragedy comes when we allow those disappointments to cut us off from our heavenly Father.
In his book Raising a Modern-Day Knight (Tyndale House), author Robert Lewis points out that parents can gain some priceless direction from the way God the Father treated God the Son. These insights are particularly powerful in a father‟s relationship with his son. Lewis uses as his starting point the several occasions in which God the Father made public pronouncements about his Son.
Those statements include three ideas children need to hear from their parents: 1) I love you (“my dearly loved Son”); 2) I‟m proud of you (“who brings me great joy”); and 3) you have skills (“listen to him”). The third one requires extra thought because it is specific to each child, highlighting his or her skills. Read through each of these again and ask yourself when was the last time each of your children heard any or all of these from you.
There are many ways to get these points across, but speaking them must be part of the equation. Parents often try to get by, saying, “I show my kids I love them.” There‟s nothing wrong with that as long as it‟s not a substitute for speaking the words. Yes, they can be surprisingly hard today (particularly for men). But many children (perhaps even you) would admit that the most manly, godly thing your father ever did (or could have done) was to put those messages into words for you.
Whether or not you heard them, make sure your kids don‟t leave home without hearing them from you. Join the movement of great dad’s (and mom’s) who commit to Verbalize their love, pride, and support of their children. Click “Like” below if you are one of those committing today!
