The man your kids can be proud of Proverbs 17:6

 There is no greater job than being a father. It is a huge calling. The desire of every father's heart should be that their kids know that they are loved by them and loved by the Lord. Their desire should be that their children follow Jesus and chase after him all the days of their lives. There is a gr eat weight to that and we will all stand before God and have to give account to what we did for the children we have been entrusted with.

National Fatherhood Initiative

Those that end up in juvenile detention centers, a large portion come from fatherless homes. Children that come from fatherless homes have a 2X likelihood to be in jail by 30. They have  a 4X risk of being in poverty. A majority of youth suicide come from children of fatherless homes. There seems to be a link to adult depression and growing up without a father. Little girls without fathers are 7X more likely to become pregnant as teenagers. Fatherless children are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.

It is not enough to just exist in the home. It is important to be loving and stable and spiritual. 

New study from the Institute for Family Studies

-People who had a "very good" relationship with their father have a 73% odds of having a belief in God. -They also found out that when a father monitored their children's tv and internet usage, their children were far more likely to pray daily, identify as a Christian and believe in Jesus as adults.

National Study of Youth and religion (02-03) 3500 people from 4 generations

-Children raised by a loving and close father were 2X more likely to adopt and maintain their parent's religious faith compared to children who said their fathers were cold or distant or authoritarian.

-The emotional quality of a child's relationship with their father had a significantly stronger statistical correlation to long-term faith retention than their relationship with their mother.

1994 Swiss Federal Statistical Office Study on the demographic characteristics of language & religion.

-When only mothers took children to church, children had a 15% chance of continued attendance.

-When only fathers took children to church, children had a 55% chance of continued attendance.

-When both parents took children to church, children had a 72% chance of continued attendance.

1977 Journal for Scientific Study of Religion (Early childhood 4-11 yrs. regardless of race or wealth)

The found a correlation between subjects' images of their fathers and those of God, but no correlation between their image of their mothers and those of God. Those with the most negative image of their father had the most negative image of God.

The way that our children view God is a huge reflection of how as fathers we are raising them.

Raising children is not just women's work. Fathers play a roll too. You are shaping your child's view on who God is. So what do you do about it?

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (ESV) "Now this is the commandment-the statutes and the rules-that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 'Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.'"

Your faithfulness affects generations...also eternity 

Your faithfulness or lack of faithfulness affects generations. Many are in church because our parents taught us about the Lord, and many of our parents' parents taught them about the Lord. We should pray for our children that they would be saved, that they would grow in faith. We should pray for godly spouses for each of them. We should be praying for their children to also be saved. We should pray for every person in your line to be saved until the Lord returns.

Fathers, you are the shepherd of your family. 

The teaching in Deuteronomy means that you are the chief educator when it comes to teaching your children the faith. You should enlist your wife in this and always be on the same page. You are to pass it on to your family. You are the "pastors" of your family.

Principle Disciplinarian  

"Wait until your father gets home!"

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV) "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Dads you sometimes have to be the bad guy and moms you have to let him lead. Guard you heart, correct them because you love them. Do not provoke them to wrath.

Proverbs 13:24 (ESV) "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him."

If we love our children we can't let them have everything they want all of the time. We have to set up boundaries for them and stick to them. We have to be men of our words and stick to them.

 Be a persuader, an encourager and a motivator! 

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (ESV) "For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."

Your are persuading them toward the truth, you are encouraging them and motivating them to walk in truth.

Be a provider 

1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV) "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

It is hard today, but it is something God has called us to provide.

Be a protector 

Nehemiah 4:14 (ESV) "And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and the officials and to the rest of the people, 'Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your homes.'"

Ephesians 5:25 (ESV) "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, "

We as fathers should lay down our own wants and needs for your family. If someone must go without.... it needs to dad. Dad you are the last line of defense for your family. God has called us to protect our families. We are to protect in a physical sense, but also emotionally and spiritually, we are to protect our family in every way.

Be there and be present. 

All the stuff in the world will make up for your presence. You cannot teach, train, discipline, love...if you are not there. Be present. Prioritize them over the game, the fishing, the hobby, time with friends. Family First!

Be Great! 

God has given everyone of us a gift. He has given you a task, a job, be the best you can be at that job. Use your gift! Also as a father set an example and repent of your sins, don't let anything hinder you and sin that entangles you!

Proverbs 17:6 (ESV) "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers."

"The glory of children is their fathers." What does this mean?

"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a father who is evil, who is notorious for his terrible deeds? You, as the child, would feel the humiliation of it. There would be a residual shame where you, as the man's child, would be embarrassed to be related to him. You'd be tainted by his legacy. You might even consider changing your name so people would stop asking, 'You're not related to that guy, are you?' 

On the other hand, have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a father who is great, who is known for doing very good things? As his child, you would wear his name with pride. As a family member, you'd feel the thrill of being related to him. There would be a residual glory that would extend for many generations. You'd feel good when someone asked., 'Oh, are you related to that guy?' -Tim Challies

Be the man that you kids can be proud of and look up to and say "That's my dad!"

Honor your father 

Honor him with your presence, your words, your gifts, provide for their needs. Have some grace for your dad. Spend time with him. Ask him how you can honor him and love him better. 

Closing Scripture

Proverbs 23:22-25 (ESV) "Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice."

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Dealing with Personal Baggage

 When counseling, a distinction must be made between marital issues and personal issues.

Marital issues are problems caused by becoming married. This might include finances, discipline of children. Issues that did not exist before marriage.

Personal issues are problems that are emotional issues that a person has before marriage. Problems not caused by the marriage union. These problems are brought into the marriage.

Emotional baggage might be...anger/violence, stubbornness, fear, suspicion, unwarranted jealousy, domineering,  insecurities, chauvinism, skepticism, fear of bonding, fear of intimacy. These are often hidden/ masked during courting, but surface in intimacy of marriage.

Descriptive Terms to help define...

1. Baggage- because it is brought into and unpacked in marriage.

2. Personal- because it belongs to you, not your spouse!

3. Emotional- because these are deep seated feelings. These feelings may be untrue. (anorexia/ inferiority complex/persecution complex) Feelings tend to be LOGIC RESISTANT.

4. Unresolved- because they are not dealt with/not cleared up before marriage.

5. Problem- because it is a problem. It hinders personal development. It damages marital relationships. It negatively affects your kids.

Origins may be...

1. Inherited DNA stubborn/depression/anxiety

2. Learned example- Kids passed around in foster care

3. Absorbed kids grow up believing that their parents are right, some are wrong.

4. Combination of the above.

Whatever the cause, the outcome is unhealthy feelings and leads to improper actions and relational turmoil.

All marriages experience tension. Why tolerate unnecessary tension?

Observations 

1. We all have emotional baggage 

Romans 3:23 (ESV) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

We are sinners who are raised by sinners and we live in a sinful world.

2. Emotional baggage comes in all sizes. 

You might have a little handbag of baggage or a steamer trunk. But even small baggage can do damage. 

Illustration: Tornados average $10 billion dollars of damage in the US yearly. Termites average $30 billion dollars of damage per year. $5 billion dollars is spent each year on termite control. The problem with termites is that they are not visible. It is quiet damage being done. A lot of baggage is the same way, quiet and tearing down the home. 

3. The emotional health of a marriage cannot exceed the emotional health of the people in the marriage. 

"A __________ marriage is made up of _______________ people." 

A healthy marriage is made up of healthy people.

An unhealthy marriage is made up of unhealthy people.

4. The emotional health of 1 partner cannot (fully) compensate for the emotional baggage of the other. 

Marital math: Emotional health of one is 7, the partner is an emotional health of 3...they don't make a 10, they are a 4! It is not addition it is subtraction. The emotional health of your partner can drag you down.

5. Emotional issues in 1 partner tend to create emotional in the other partner. 

If one partner is an abusive alcoholic it can drag the partner down.

6. Emotional issues in the parents tend to create emotional issues in the children.

Who is most likely to be physically abusive in a marriage? One that came from a physically abusive home. Who is more likely to be sexually abusive? One that came from a sexually abusive home. This is where we get "chains of baggage" 

Your emotional health affects 

1. Your personal development

2. Your relationship with others

3. Your influence/impact on others, especially your kids. 

Sin is any attitude, behavior or response outside of or contrary to God's will for you.

The sin is not having emotional baggage, the sin is refusing to recognize and deal with it. 

Unbiblical Response

1. Denial of the problem. Refuse to accept, refuse to recognize the problem.

2. Indifference of the problem.

3. Down playing the issue

4. Stonewalling (I shall not be moved)

5. Blame transfer (Not my fault)

6. Defeatism (I can't help it or I can't fix it.)

Biblical Response  

1. Examine self- in light of God's word.

James 1:23-25 (ESV) "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who act, he will be blessed in his doing."

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

2. Admit to yourself

1 John 1:8-10 (ESV) "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

3. Repent 

Military term...about face...turn and go the opposite way.

4. Correct your behavior

2 Timothy 3: 16-17 (ESV) "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

5. Repeat because this is an ingrained lifestyle. If you need help, get some help.

Question  for you...John 5:2-6 (ESV) "Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids-blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be healed?'"

Do you want to get well? A lot of people don't want to get well. They think that they are always right? 

Question... Who is the boss of your life? 

In your heart is a throne. 

1. I am the captain of my own ship. Right now you are on the throne of your heart and Christ is on the outside of your heart and life. You have never accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior.

2. You have asked Jesus into your heart and you have been saved, but you put Jesus at the foot of the throne. He is not the boss, he is just their for salvation and eternal life.

3. Jesus is on the throne and you are at the foot of the throne. This is the way it is supposed to be.

Who is the boss of your life, who is the boss of your marriage, who t is the boss of your parenting skills. The way it is supposed to be. You respond to Christ, not your own logic, not your own feelings, not you raising, not to what your parents taught you unless they taught you according to God's word. 

Touchstone verse: Proverbs 14:1 (NIV) "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."

We have a choice to building our home, building our family, building the legacy up....or tearing it down. These issues that we have been talking about make a difference. It does not mean that you are a terrible person if you have baggage, but you will be a better person if you deal with it.

Closing Scripture

Romans 6:11-14 (ESV) "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you, since you are not under law but under grace."

 

On Mission Together! Day Camp Commission!

 Is Day Camp worth it? How do you measure success of Day Camp? We will be ministering to hopefully over 100 kids a day. We have a great opportunity in front of us this week. Day Camp can change a child's life.

Children's Ministry and VBS Statistics

Child Evangelism Fellowship study: 63% of all believers profess between the ages of 4-14. Other studies say 83% of believers are saved before the age of 18. In 2020 Awana partnered with Barna group to look at the resiliency of youth in church post-graduation. They discovered that when kids have a meaningful relationship with an adult in the church, they are twice as likely to have an ongoing relationship with the church. They are 3 times more likely to be engaged in Scripture including understanding the metanarrative of scripture and integrating biblical principles in their life. They are twice as likely to say church matters to them, 3 times as likely to see church as a highlight, and 3 times as likely to read the Bible on their own. The conclusion drawn by the Barna Group? "The meaningful relationships individuals have as children fundamentally influences the stability of their future faith."

Barna study: 60% of all American adults attended VBS69

Lifeway study: 50% of all VBS attendees do not regularly attend church (they are unchurched kids). 69% of parents say they would encourage their child to attend VBS at a church they don't attend if a friend invited them. Most American adults who attended VBS as children say they have positive memories of VBS and that it helped them understand the Bible better and positively influenced their spiritual growth.

Biblical Recorder study: Over 95% of parents whose children attend VBS view the program positively, stating it aids in their child's spiritual growth and understanding of the Bible. 25% of all SBC baptisms result of VBS.

Stats about children who serve with parents are more likely to stay engaged with the church.

1. If you invite them. They will come. 

Luke 14:21-23 (ESV) "So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.'" This is the parable of the great banquet and show the heart of God.

John 1:43-51 (ESV) "The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!' Nathanael said to him, 'How do you know me?' Jesus answered him, 'Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.' Nathanael answered him, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!' Jesus answered him, 'Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.' And he said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'" 

Philip invited Nathanael to meet Jesus. Jesus did the rest.  DL Moody became an evangelist because his Uncle made him go to a Sunday School Class. The teacher, Edward Kimball, went to the shoe store where Moody worked to talk to him about Jesus. "If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God!" DL Moody.

2. Bring them to Jesus, don't push them away! 

Luke 5:17-26 (ESV) "On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, 'Man your sins are forgiven you.' And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, 'Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?' When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, 'Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say Rise and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins'-he said to the man who was paralyzed-'I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.' And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, 'We have seen extraordinary things today.'" 

Jesus blessed the faith of the man's friends. We too are blessed for working in Day Camp.

Mark 10:13-16 (ESV) "And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them."

Bring kids to Jesus, don't push them away. We see Jesus get angry only a few times in Scripture, but this time in Mark, Jesus was angry w"ith his own disciples. He made time for the children.

3. A word for the kids 

Proverbs 20:11 (ESV) "Even a child makes himself know by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. "

1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV) "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

Kids, you will get a reputation this week. It will either be a good reputation or a bad reputation. People will recognize how you talk, how you treat your teachers, how you treat each other. The way you act and the way you live matters and it will reflect back on your parents and your church. If you have accepted Christ....it will reflect back on the Lord. You need to act the best this week. Set an example for everyone else. Day Camp can rise and fall on a few good kids. Don't be foolish.

4. Don't grow weary 

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Galatians 6:9 (ESV) "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Day Camp workers don't grow weary. Spend time with the Lord yourself. It is so hard to pour out into others if you are emptied out. You need to be filled back up everyday. God blesses faithful servants.

5. PRAY 

Pray for Day Camp

Pray for your own children/grandchildren

Pray to see the kids the way God does...And pray for that special child. 

Amram and Jochebed: Shaping Children. Shaping a nation

 There is no greater responsibility than being a good husband and father. God has entrusted you with your children. When I die I want my kids to say that I taught them to love the Lord. The greatest mission field that you have is in your home...with your children.

Amram and Jochebed were the parents of Moses, Aaron and Miriam. Moses, Aaron and Miriam shaped a nation.  Moses was the leader who lead Israelites out of Egypt and slavery. He knew God and spoke to God. He gave the law to the people. Moses was an amazing man, but he also sinned and therefore was not allowed to enter the promise land. Aaron was Moses' older brother and Moses' mouthpiece. He was the first high priest. Aaron also sinned (the golden calf) and did not enter the promise land either. Miriam was the oldest child. She waited by the river when they put Moses in the basket and placed it in the river. She convinced Pharaoh's daughter to allow her mother to be a wet nurse for Moses. Miriam was a prophetess. She was jealous of Moses and was stricken with leprosy and Moses had to pray for her to be healed. She too did not enter the promise land.

Don't raise your children to conform to the world, but to change the world.

Hebrews 11:23-29 (ESV) "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned."

Exodus 6:20 (ESV) "Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father's sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years."

1. Have Children! (Get married first)

Genesis 1:28 (ESV) "And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"

Habakkuk 2:14 (ESV) "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."

God will accomplish this through evangelism, but also through our own children. Holding your own children for the first time changes you. It is a huge blessing. If you want to change the spiritual make up of this country. Christians need to have kids and raise them to know and love God. Atheist and Secularists are self absorbed and do not have many children, but they can come after yours that is their plan. 

Psalm 127:3-5 (ESV) "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."

The enemy hates babies, God loves them...so have them!

2. Your Child is Special 

1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV) "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

That child that God has blessed you with is your responsibility. You are that child's hope and future. No one can do what you can do for them. God will judge us for how we parent. Your discipline, your words, your teaching and training are important.

Romans 14:12 (ESV) "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God."

3. Submit to God. Not to Pharaoh. 

The general disposition of this country is not to help raise Christian children. We need to make God's word as our standard. 

4. Never underestimate the seeds you sow. 

Everything we do with our children matters. The time that you have with them in your home is so special. Even the time you have with them once they  are grown is special. The seed that you sow in their hearts when they are young is so important. The prayers that you pray for your children are not said in vain. God hears those prayers.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Jochebed nursed Moses and raised him until he was 2-5 years old. The lessons taught him early remained with him and shaped his life. He identified with his people and not the Egyptians. 

Deuteronomy 6:4-10 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob to give you-with great and to Jacob, to give you-with great and good cities that you did not build."

When should you be teaching your children about God? EVERY DAY....ALL DAY! We should be looking for opportunities" to bring your children along.

Ephesians 5:16 (ESV) "making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

Model behavior just as much or more than you preach it. Jesus modeled behavior for his disciples.

"Nothing trains and teaches so powerfully as love. Love attracts it does not coerce. If the aim of parents is to teach their children to love God they must show their love for him by loving each other and loving their children." Elizabeth Elliot

Don't quit when your grow up. They still need to have a good relationship with you. Grandparents don't give up on your grandchildren. You can be a huge influence on their lives and teach them to love the Lord. 

Deuteronomy 4:9 (ESV) "Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children"

5. Train them to fly 

Psalm127:3-5 (ESV) "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."

Arrows are meant to leave the quiver. Celebrate when your children fly.