Comments on: Building Our Marriage & Strengthening Our Faith

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:35:58 +0000

This is a good topic to address in a future post. I did have a friend share a few thoughts in this post.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:41:48 +0000

Shannon,
You can have date nights @ home w out going anywhere & have a wonderful time! We have many littles in the house, plus no family near by & our church family is 40 min from here. We have a “date night” every Sat here. We put the kids to bed a little earlier & we make either a special dinner or treat…& we talk, go outside, play a game, watch a movie or so on…we enjoy the time together & alone & make the best out of our season. We have friends that live in other states that do the same thing. The season will change when we can go out but we really enjoy our time/date nights here! I look forward to it each week. One of friends that don’t live in the country as we do…gets take out each week for their in home date night. They look forward to that as part of their dates. Our kids know Sat nights are mommy & daddy date nights & I think it teaches & shows them how much we love & care about each other & make time for each other! Friday nights here are family fun night again here…where we have a fun meal & play games as a family!

By: Debra

Debra — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:43:57 +0000

I appreciate your thoughts on this. How in the world do you manage an active toddler during service?

By: Andrea C.

Andrea C. — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:38:59 +0000

Here’s a suggested book on the topic of worshiping corporately with your young children:

Parenting in the Pew by Robbie Castleman

http://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Pew-Guiding-Children-Worship/dp/0830823409/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246023454&sr=8-1

By: Mrs Wade

Mrs Wade — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:29:33 +0000

I’m so glad you found Mark Driscoll! I go to Mars Hill and his teaching has been such an encouragement to my husband and I. His example is great too, the way he loves on Grace and syncs their schedules and all that. I find that we often get so busy it seems like we haven’t seen each other, and we don’t even have kids yet! Thanks for the advice

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:46:13 +0000

Thanks for the Google Calendar tip. I just set it up and now my hubby and I will finally be looking at the same calendar on our iphones!
That right there will eliminate lots of little spats about someone not knowing as to what was on the schedule

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:24:46 +0000

This is definitely a whole another topic and a liberty garden issue for each family, so I will try to explain how the Lord has lead our family. AS to our family, we hold strongly to having our children in with us during the service. I grew up in a family that made this a priority and it made such a difference in my life. For those things we did not understand, we could talk about it at home afterwards. I grew up observing my parents worship the Lord, honor, and cherish Him. Observing this is contagious. Being together on Sundays (Rather than dispersing in many directions), was one means of keeping our family strong, and what a testimony to so many others around us. I cannot say it was always fun, but I can say that it taught me of the importance of truth and that I can participate no matter my age. I have visited churches who would not allow children in the service, and what do you think that communicated to me? Dislike of children…why should I stay in the church?

I believe that it is so important for my children to observe their parents worshipping the Lord. The OT talks frequently about the Israelites, one and all, young and old, standing before Moses reading the Law. It was important for all ears to hear the full truth of Scripture. We desire for our children to grow up among strong doctrine rather than a watered down version that often comes through Sunday school (I say often because this is not always the case). I believe the statistics that as many as 70-88% of teens leave the church before their first year of college speaks volumes to the fact that children have a hard time adjusting to adult services. There are other factors, but I think this is key. They are used to being entertained in Sunday school and then when time comes for them to sit in adult services, they consider it boring. I love the Scripture in Proverbs that says, ‘Walk with the wise and you will become wise.’ I don’t see this happening in the modern Sunday school movement. The fact is that more and more children are leaving the church. I want to be the primary teacher of my children. An excellent read with further thoughts on this topic is: Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham Jr. Highly recommend it!
Hope that better communicates our stance on this topic. We have just chosen this for our family. God bless!

By: Mrs. Jo

Mrs. Jo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:10:44 +0000

While we don’t read together much, we do love listening to Driscoll together when the kids are in bed. I have learned so much from him and from other quality preachers via video online!

By: ~M

~M — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:06:25 +0000

And don’t forget media mail through usps!

By: ~M

~M — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:03:07 +0000

Wow, thanks! They think of everything these days