Parenting is more challenging than I imagined. It all seemed so clear-cut before kids. (Ha ha!) But God tells us that His word gives us all we need “for life and godliness,” and it’s true! We just need to dig in!
Growing up in a pastor’s home, I heard a significant amount of Bible teaching on child-rearing and the home. While attending a Christian university, I took an elective class on God’s design for the home. And before children came along, we attended a church that led Sunday School classes or book studies on parenting. But now, with three children three and under, I sometimes–actually, daily–need a refresher, now that I’m trying to apply all these concepts to real life.
My former pastor, Eric Sipe, has several dozen messages on Sermonaudio.com. (A disclaimer: this is not an endorsement of all speakers/topics/messages on Sermonaudio. I’m just sharing my former pastor’s messages, knowing that he seeks to be God-focused and biblically-based in his sermons.) Recently on Sermonaudio, I discovered his messages at a parenting conference in California in 2006. I’m so grateful for all the technological resources we have these days!
So today, while decorating Micah’s birthday cake and wrapping presents, I also “attended” the first session of a parenting conference taught by my former pastor. If you’re interested in listening too, click on this link! Maybe it doesn’t work for you to listen while you work around the house. (Sometimes I have to listen two or three times before I feel like I actually heard the message!) But maybe after the kids are in bed or during their naps or room-time, you want to pull out your Bible and a pen and join the conference.
I will warn you though: If you’re just wanting to see change in your children, these messages start first with you.
So be prepared to let God show you some areas of your life where you as the parent might need to grow and change first! As each one of us submits to Him, our families and marriages will bring God glory.