One thing that I have been thinking about recently is how patient God is with us – in my case even though I was saved at a young age it took many more years to truly begin to put into action so much of God’s Word and begin to strip away my own idols of selfishness and a need for control to allow God to make some serious progress in my heart.

So I am trying to remember that as we tackle sin issues with our children – that when it seems to just be getting better and then makes an appearance that is stronger than ever. Patience. If I am supposed to be giving my children an example of the relationship they will someday have with Jesus, then patience is not an option and I need supernatural strength in order to model that for them. And I also need the Cross for the many times that I will fail.

I ran across this blog recently and have only followed it for a couple of days but here is a quote:
“Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, not so much through external troubles surrounding us but through problems in our thinking. ”
(the full article can be found here: http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/11/24/devotion.aspx?year=2008)

Just like I tell my children countless times that of course they cannot obey mommy and daddy in their own strength, I also need to listen to those words. When I lose my focus and lower my eyes focusing not on God, but my own frustrations, I will lose my footing. My prayer is that God will reveal this to me promptly so I can correct it and get back on track to this beautiful act of servanthood that is raising our little arrows.

GREAT book, and I think it is one that does need to be reread. I don’t think you can be too intentional about striving to have a godly home and a godly family.