Author: valuesdr

New Year’s Resolutions

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Do your New Year’s resolutions only last ’till February? Yeah, mine, too. That’s why I usually don’t make them. This year, however, I’m going to cooperate with God in setting some goals and I do believe that the Holy Spirit will help me to make progress…and hopefully well past February. So here goes:

  • Complain Less. When those “big things” happen, like the washing machine pouring water all over the basement floor or a child falling out of the bunk bed and breaking her leg, usually there’s no time for complaining. And anyway, I typically can surrender those things to God because of course they happen in His Providence and for my good (Romans 8:28). However, it’s the “little things” that get me, and which I am prone to complain about. You know, like getting the wrong kind of juice for the coupon you planned on using and not wanting to go back and get it because the toddler is laying on the floor in the middle of the checkout line begging for water and the other children are starting to get glazed over looks based on how long you’ve already been in the store, and you just can’t believe they wouldn’t volunteer to send someone to get it for you.

    Ahem. Of course these are all just hypothetical situations. I do resolve (by the power of the Holy Spirit) to complain less this year, especially about those little things. “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” (Philippians 2:14-16).

  • I also want to focus more on Scripture memory this year, for myself and for the children. We are supposed to wear “the belt of truth” and, in fact, our only defensive weapon against the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (see Ephesians 6). I believe that the time is coming that we will all need to be equipped to stand firm in the Truth, and Scripture memory may well be our anchor. Regardless, it is also important for our own personal spiritual growth.
  • I want to carve out more time in my schedule/routine for personal reading, Bible study and prayer. I tend to get too busy and I do crave to spend more time with the Lord growing in my relationship with Him. Sometimes my quiet times are more for the sake of “doing” them than for the purpose of “being” with the Lord, and my attitude about that is changing. I’m realizing that I need to be more flexible about some things so that I can prioritize time with God. I also want to encourage the children to do this.

What are your resolutions this year? Judging from our recent sales of Values-Driven Discipleship: Biblical Instruction and Character Training Manual, I would guess that many of you are hoping to get back on track in the discipleship of your children, making the Word of God a more constant presence in your training, encouragement, and correction.

As well, if you’re looking for an economical way to make progress with time and money management (budgets and schedules/routines) you might want to check out our Home Management Bundle, which is only $4.95. It includes chapter excerpts from The Values Driven Family on Budgets and Schedules, a “Home Management Nuts and Bolts” seminar, several planner pages, and a Microsoft Excel workbook budget tool. Here’s what a recent customer commented about this on our Facebook Fan Page:

“OK, I LOVE THIS PROGRAM! Love seeing the year at a glance and I must admit I am a nerd because I love the pie chart! Such a God-thing that you put this up today and I can’t wait to show hubby in the morning! He too is mourning the loss of our old system and wanting structure again! THANK YOU so much!!”

We are so thrilled to know that this tool is helping families to be better stewards of all that God has provided them!

Have a blessed New Year as you grow in the Lord!

The Line

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For those who live lives of violence and revelry, the murderers and rapists, it’s safe to say they have a keen understanding of where their end leads. Scripture is clear that the Creation itself declares God’s existence and qualities, and the Spirit has placed eternity in the heart of all men. In spite of the greatest of efforts by the secular humanists and professed atheists to deceive the multitude, the spirit of every man is aware of God’s presence and essence. Conscience alone will convict such men to eternal fire, and no recourse will be attested on that fateful last day.
Likewise, the Kingdom saint, those “radical” believers who sell their possessions and give to the poor, selflessly pour their lives out as a drink offering to the Lord, committed to holiness and righteous living, wanting nothing other than to glorify their God who sent His Son, their loving Savior to the cross in their stead, they know their fate ends in glory in the presence of the King, forever praising His glorious name. Heaven’s gate is wide open for those who have sold out, surrendered all: their wants, their dreams, their wealth, their pleasures, their hurts, and even their sin, to their loving and worthy God.
The murderers and rapists, the “bad sinners,” certainly deserve hell for their deeds, most will agree. In Scripture, the devilish ones were called out as “sinners and tax collectors,” the most repugnant of all of society. Today, we single out the abortionists and homosexuals, or maybe the terrorists and child molesters. Regardless of their sinful label, there is a general cultural consensus as to the horror of their sin and the justice in their eternal consequence.
Yet most folks are not open “sinners,” the vile by the standards of the world. Sure they cuss at times, and may have a temper under their oft jovial demeanor, but for the most part, they are good people. They work their job, pay their bills, care for their family, and mind their own business. Their personal entertainments are sealed in the privacy of their hearts and homes. They aren’t hurting anyone with their appetites. Certainly hell is not a fitting place for such as these; but heaven? Hmmm.
Then there are “normal” Christians, you know, the ones who you can have a regular conversation with, not all that “in love with Jesus” freaky talk, out trying to “save” everybody all the time. They are “real” people, not the holy rollers. They might drink a beer with you, watch the game, and don’t try to make any pretense that they are any better than you–they don’t judge. Yes, they go to church, and might even occasionally read their Bible, and financially support their church with their excess. They are normal folks, they are not perfect, but who is, they surmise? They prayed to receive Christ as a youth, and were baptized in short order. But they didn’t turn into freaks. Life went on as usual: work, play, sleep, work, play, sleep…
So what of these folks, the “normal” Christians? With the sides of the line so clearly discerned, those doomed to eternal torment, and those blessed with God’s glory forevermore, what of all of men falling somewhere in the middle? Certainly God’s grace is extended to the “good” people, especially those who profess the name of Christ. No doubt, we may conclude, the line is so very clear…or is it?

Making Tough Decisions in Child Training

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Recently we went on a trip in our travel trailer from our home in Indiana to visit family in Connecticut. While we were gone, we left our 4 month-old black lab with my father-in-law (Jack) next door. After being on the road for one day, my husband called his dad to see how things were going. Jack lamented that the dog had chewed his foam mattress top, pooped on the floor, and whined in her crate at night so much that he ended up letting her sleep in his bed. To keep her from chewing on the mattress, he gave her an old pair of shoes. …

Join me At the Well to read more!

Training, Encouraging, Disciplining, and…the Holy Spirit

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If you’re at all familiar with Values-Driven, some things should be obvious: we take very seriously our parental duties of training, encouraging, and disciplining our children. We also have a discipleship focus and desire to show them a lifestyle of loving and serving the Lord. We have proactive things that we “do” to support each of these aspects of biblical parenting, but we also are well aware of the necessity of bathing our efforts in prayer. In the past few days, we’ve had a couple of instances which have also reminded us of the blessing of seeing the Holy Spirit work–God doing His part as we do ours.

When it comes to disciplining our 5 year-old daughter, Marc and I often joke that she has an iron backside and a will to match. Everything she does is dramatic–including her repentance. Once there is breakthrough, her sorrow is heartfelt and genuine. The change in her behavior is instantaneous–the Holy Spirit has obviously been doing something. Those are the moments that make it all worth it.

The other day, I saw the Holy Spirit at work when we were unaware. On Saturday morning, our 10 year-old son *sighed* about coming in for family devotions because he was anxious to try out the new bow he’d gotten as an early Christmas present from his Uncle and Aunt. Marc reminded him that nothing should come between him and his relationship with the Lord and casually said, “If anything comes between you and God, maybe you should give it away.” The reminder helped him to adjust his focus and we carried on with Bible reading and prayer as usual.

Later in the afternoon, my 5 year-old daughter was helping me cook supper. While we stood at the stove, she confessed, “Before when you asked me to do some cleaning up in my room, Hannah [her sister] did it all because I was playing with my new doll set.” (Her magnetic “dress up” doll, also an early Christmas gift from another Aunt!). “And remember what Dad said about giving things away if they come between you and God? Well, I thought I liked my set too much. And I don’t think Bekah’s [her older sister] is as nice as mine. So I asked Bekah to trade sets with me so I wouldn’t disobey you when you asked me to do something.”

After thanking her for sharing her heart and encouraging her about her decision–reminding her how much that pleased God–I had to remind myself, she’s only 5! How long did it take me to arrive at a willingness to intentionally give up things that would distract me from loving and serving the Lord? And we, as parents, had really done nothing to prompt it; it was simply the work of the Holy Spirit. All I can do is praise God!

Likewise, our ten year-0ld son came to me yesterday morning after our family devotions and said, “I’d really like prayer. I want to get back to living moment-by-moment and I know I need God’s help.” This makes sense if you’ve read the free ebook we offer on our site, Keys to Kingdom Expansion. It talks about not living “day by day,” but rather, moment by moment, purposefully living each moment to please and glorify God with the choices we make–our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Our boy has taken this to heart, but obviously felt like he had been slipping of late and needed God’s grace and power to help him in this area. Again, this was an internal struggle of which we, as parents, had been relatively unaware. His behavior hadn’t reflected any significant change; he hadn’t been receiving any more correction than usual nor seemed “off” in any way. But the Holy Spirit had obviously been working in him to persevere in walking in a manner worthy of our Lord and Savior…so of course we prayed for his cooperation in that effort.

I don’t share these stories to say anything about our parenting–hopefully you can see that these stories of God’s work in our children’s lives and spiritual growth have very little to do with us and our efforts. Instead, I share this to encourage you to remember that as we work, God works. Don’t forget to pray for your children and ask God to work in your children’s hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to lead and guide them into all truth. Encourage your children to “do” what they can to cooperate with God, but also to listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit–through the Word, through other godly Christians, or through the “still small voice” inside of them. Remind them that it’s important to listen to the Holy Spirit and obey, so that the voice of God will get LOUDER and not be drowned out by the world or by the lusts of their flesh.

Likewise, as we disciple our children in this area, I pray that we all, as parents, would model this lifestyle of listening and obeying, so that we might all the more glorify God, moment by moment.

Muddling through Motherhood?

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Are you muddling through motherhood? Does it sometimes feel like you’re just going through the paces, but not really connecting with your kids or doing the things that God would have you do? Has the thought ever crossed your mind that, yes, you love your children—but sometimes you don’t really like them? Anxious for those little ones to take their afternoon naps (or the big kids to bed at night) just so you can get away from it all?

Now…maybe you’ve always been muddling through motherhood—or perhaps it seems that way. I find that when I get into habits or feel a certain way, I can get myself discouraged and imagine that it’s always been like that. Chances are, it hasn’t. Chances are, you’ve had lots of good days and maybe just a run of bad ones. Maybe you haven’t responded properly and so you’re kind of “stuck” in some ruts. That’s where I’ve been. I guess a good place to start is to share a bit of my testimony in this area.

I have always enjoyed my God-given roles of wife and mother. Being at home has been my preference, and I dearly love my children. My heart’s desire is to love and serve God and to encourage my children to do the same. I can’t say that I’ve been a perfect mother—in fact, far from it. But there has never been any doubt in my mind that my children are a blessing from the Lord and that I take great joy in doing my small part in raising them to be men and women of God. Even when I have struggled with depression (which I have), it has never occurred to me to despise motherhood.

So how did I get to be in a phase where I’ve felt like I’m “muddling”—not only through motherhood, but even through life? Well, it began this summer when I was deeply hurt by someone that I had considered a friend. Honestly, I harbored some unforgiveness and didn’t deal with the offense in a biblical manner. As a result of my disobedience in that area, there was a certain distance between me and God. Before I was able to be restored, I found out I was pregnant—and my first trimesters are always soooo tiring! There were evenings that I would find myself inadvertently nodding off even during our evening family devotions. And get up early in the morning? It wasn’t happening! As a result, I missed my habitual morning quiet times with the Lord for about seven weeks—talk about a LONG time!! So guess what? More distance!

I believe that this was the root of my own season of “muddling through motherhood.” Add to that my husband being laid off and putting our house on the market—that created an almost constant pressure (albeit self-induced at times!) to keep the house in “showing condition.” My own personal spiritual condition was suffering, and life circumstances only compounded the problem.

I slowly began “managing” rather than “ministering” to my children. Not only was there distance between me and God, but now distance was developing between me and them. I was kind of on autopilot throughout each day. Maybe they weren’t my worst days, but I would say that there was a definite absence of effort on my part in many ways, from homeschooling to marriage-building, discipling my children, and everything in between. After a bit, my husband and I of course got around to discussing the issue. In his usual, straightforward way, he said, “Yeah, you definitely aren’t doing as bad as you could be—but you aren’t doing all that you should be.” Okay, so I got the point. I was muddling through motherhood.

So, what did I do—and what do you do if you find yourself there? If you feel like you’re not experiencing God’s best, you may need to ask yourself some tough questions—this is where I started when I realized that I had been muddling through motherhood:

  1. Have I fallen out of the will of God through some disobedience? (For me, this was true. I knew that I should have dealt biblically with an offense, and I did not.) The Bible is clear that sin separates us from God—but also that God forgives us and restores us when we turn to Him. If you feel distant from God on an ongoing basis, think about when it began and see if you can identify the cause.
  2. Am I carrying a grudge against anyone for anything? (In my case, this was also unfortunately true; though I did “want to” and “try to” forgive, it was difficult.) Matthew 5:22-24 warns against anger towards a brother and instructs us to seek forgiveness if we have offended someone. If we are to love God and love others as God’s word says, it’s vital to maintain right relationships. Interpersonal difficulties can have a spiritual effect!
  3. Do I have a substantial prayer life and a connection to God through the Word? (I would say that I attempted to sustain a substantial prayer life, but I had certainly gotten out of the habit of relating to God through His Word) Prayer life and time in the word are the most important elements in having an ongoing love relationship with God. This is how we hear from and talk to Him. We can’t move forward spiritually without them. Without them, we are bound to be dry inside—that’s where muddling through life can begin!
  4. Am I being distracted from my faith by worldliness and failing to seek God first? (For me, not true in this case—but it is certainly something we all struggle with at times.) If we fail to take the admonition of Colossians 3:1-2 to “set [our] hearts on things above,” we certainly will be focused on earthly things—and that can easily throw us off-track.

When I look back on my season of muddling, I can’t believe the number of factors that contributed to my ongoing difficulties! Yet God was—and is so faithful! If you find that there is an impediment such as one of these in your walk with God, repent. Turn to God and desire change in your heart and behavior. Of course, you’re probably familiar with 1 John 1:9, which is a scripture I remind myself of in such circumstances. It says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” And what does God do after that? He begins restoring—bringing us back to an even better place!


Exult in Tribulations; even the Great Tribulation

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By very nature we presume that pain and suffering is all bad, and never good. As a result, we automatically presume that tribulations, and specifically the “Great Tribulation,” is something that God would never desire the saints to endure. However, Scripture paints a different picture.

A future event, described to be the worst “tribulation” ever to occur in history is detailed by Christ in Matthew 24:21 (all Scripture below is NASB).

“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.”

We have seen in a prior post on the “Rapture” that the gathering of the elect (verse 31) occurs “immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days” according to verse 29.

So why would our loving and merciful God allow His saints to endure such hardship?

Well, I wholeheartedly believe that it is indeed God’s very nature, that is by His love and mercy, that He will allow us to remain to endure the hardships of the Great Tribulation.

Let me explain below. First, let’s set the stage for God’s economy concerning suffering.
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5).

Note here that the word “tribulation” is identical to the one used in Matthew 24:21 and 19. We are exhorted to exult in such times, as they will benefit us spiritually.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:6-9)

Here we see a similar exhortation as Paul’s in Romans, showing that challenges result in refinement, ultimately resulting in salvation.

Here are some more verses to meditate on:

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:17-18)

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake…” (Philippians 1:29)

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” (Colossians 1:24)

“Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3)

“Therefore…we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.” (1 Thessalonians 3:1-4, emphasis added)

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

“For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:19-21)

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” (1 Peter 4:12-19)

“Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2)

Alright, now that I have opened with a little Scripture, I have to set the stage a bit. The following dissertation is an excerpt from my newest book discussing entrance in the Kingdom of God (salvation). It is important to understand this because far fewer professing “Christians” will make it to heaven than most understand. Most professing believers are trapped in sin, pride, and worldliness, such that their doom is most assured. Yet thousands of lying preachers and feel-good resources are tickling ears and totally ignoring the clear teachings of Scripture. So below is a brief treatment on the teachings of Scripture concerning salvation. Controversial, yes. True, most assuredly. I strongly recommend “Standing Firm through the Great Apostasy” by Steve Gallagher for more on this subject. I sell it for $10—email me if you want a copy.

Excepted from “Keys to Kingdom Expansion” (free at www.valuesdrivenfamily.com)

In order to initiate a healthy, organically-reproductive discipleship movement, the right spiritual DNA must be established. Unfortunately, some bad stock has been spreading throughout Christendom for a while now. Let’s really take a good look at what the Scriptures say concerning some foundational matters.
This is the single most important book I have ever written in my life. Life and death, heaven and hell, stand in the balance. Yet I am certain to lose some of you now, because I will depart from the mainstream a bit with this teaching. But I urge you to please sincerely evaluate what I share with an open mind.
I know we all like to look at classic verses such as John 3:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9 and 13, and many others concerning salvation, because they are so black and white. They allow us to have an understanding that fits with our Western thought patterns. We are linear thinkers, and need to wrap our minds around matters to satisfy our flesh. Yet, God and His economy are much more complex and veiled in mystery. His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than ours. It is a shame that we try to unlock that mystery with systematic theologies and statements of faith. It forces us to take what He has imparted by the Spirit, and reduce it to human terms. Unfortunately, to clarify what I believe has been a radical departure from the intent of the mystery of the Gospel of the Kingdom, I will do much of the same here.
There is only one book in the Bible that was written to definitively inform believers about whether or not they will indeed enter the Kingdom of God. First John 5:13 says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (emphasis added). This verse sums up the purpose of John’s letter. Therefore, we can trust it to provide clear insight into these matters. Now I have seen this verse used in popular evangelism methods, with absolutely no reference to the content of the letter itself. This is very irresponsible.
Let’s look at some of the content of the letter:

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:3-10)

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6)

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

John wrote this letter for the very purpose of providing insight to believers so that they could know they have eternal life. As you can see, the standards are much higher than taught today. Yet, John says, “let no one deceive you;” otherwise, this is the correct standard to apply. He says that if you are born again, you will not continue to sin. Not my words, his. He also says if you claim to know Him and do not keep His commands you are a liar. Not my words, his. He also says if you have one ounce of worldliness, you do not know God. Therefore, walking in freedom from sin, obedient to His commands and free from all worldliness—this is the measure of whether or not you know the father and are indeed born again, receiving eternal life (I didn’t say it, he did).
This should not be surprising to us if we read Jesus’ teachings. He said that our righteousness had to exceed that of the Pharisees. He took the Law, and raised the bar big time—not just our actions anymore, we are now condemned for our thoughts as well. Most of us have been taught that if we enter the Gate, we are in. Yet Jesus taught of a path. The Gate is narrow, but the Way is narrower still. We wrongly assume we may live in a constant state of worldliness and this is acceptable. We assume that God will forgive us through His grace, regardless of what we do. Believers scream “don’t judge me,” and “God is merciful.” I will not judge, but God’s Word, which all believers claim is inspired, authoritative, and their guide for all matters, will certainly condemn them. Many will discount these words saying, “he teaches salvation by works.” Well James 2:24 says: “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
Further, the Bible says:

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:7-8)

What? Our fine linens being works? He must have been mistaken when he wrote that! Well, let’s read the parable of the wedding feast (a parable of the Kingdom) in light of this Scripture:

But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?” And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 22:11-13)

Might Jesus be saying that someone got through the Gate, but didn’t walk in the Way? Let’s see what the Apostle Paul had to say about the eternal consequences of living by the flesh:

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

It is no secret who will be saved and who stands condemned. Jesus taught plainly that a tree will be known by its fruit. John made it clear in his letter, and Paul confirmed it by showing us what the fruit of the flesh is. I’m sure you’re familiar with the remainder of Galatians 5 and the “fruit of the Spirit.” Concerning fruitfulness, John the Baptist said:

Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, “We have Abraham for our father”; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:8-10, emphasis added)

Jesus said just about the same thing. Check the context—He is speaking to believers here!

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. (John 15:4-6).

James said, “prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22, see also James 2:17-18). Authentic faith results in fruitfulness.
The Bible tells us to test ourselves to see whether we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5) and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12, emphasis added). Several times in the Scriptures, the saints are referred to as those who “are being” saved, rather than those who “are” saved (see Acts 2:47, 1 Corinthians 1:18, and 2 Corinthians 2:15). I think the mystery of salvation is best understood like this: do not ask a person for intellectual assent to determine whether or not the person is saved. But rather look at their life for the fruit of authentic faith indicating they are being saved. Many believe and find the Gate, but few persevere to walk the narrow path unto fruitfulness.
Understanding these truths certainly compels us to remain fruitful and on-mission to continually glorify God!
Here is some perspective on the subject of salvation from Jesus. Consider it afresh in light of John’s message in First John and the theme of this chapter:

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:13-29).

Clearly, in the end many will claim Jesus as “Lord,” but in name only. They may do good works, but they have not signed that “blank piece of paper” that gives everything to Jesus, and they do not walk the path of righteousness. Their fate is not what they imagine.
I apologize for the length of this chapter. I also know that this subject is both deep and controversial. However, a clear understanding that the authentic Christian faith results in radical transformation—and an understanding that there is no “sure thing” for the one who is not persevering in faith—is foundational to launching a disciple-making movement. So I urge you to meditate on these passages with an open spirit.

I urge you to get a free copy of “Keys to Kingdom Expansion” from www.valuesdrivenfamily.com. It details sanctification, repentance, and other vital subjects.

So here is my thesis (sorry for the length of this, but it required details for acceptance).
God, knows that most professing believers are greatly deceived, having a false hope in a watered down Gospel, and trusting in their “get out of hell free” card taking the form of a prayer or even baptism. Most believers wallow in worldliness, not knowing that this is a one way ticket to hell. They sin without discretion exclaiming “I’m saved, don’t judge me.”

Yet, God, in His tremendous love and mercy will allow His elect to suffer tribulation to be perfected. Daniel describes it like this:

“Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days. Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy. Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:33-35)
And also:

“Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.” (Daniel 12:10)

God, by His grace, in His abounding love and mercy will allow His elect, many who would not have otherwise made it, to be refined, purified, and purged so that we might actually be saved. What an awesome God! You see this in the verses above. He refines us. You see that it leads to salvation. You see that it leads to His glory. It is our privilege to partake in Christ’s sufferings. It is our destiny, Paul says. You see, most professing “Christians,” many of you reading this even, are doomed without refinement. I know you doubt what I say, but read the Scriptures. Ignore what you have been told by others. They are lies.

For those on the fence, repent. For those in the camp, rejoice. For all, give praise and glory to our loving and merciful God! Read “Keys to Kingdom Expansion”. It’s free, and only a one hour read.

Shalom and agape,

Marc Carrier

Preparing for the tribulation

valuesdr

Someone on our facebook group asked me what we should do to prepare if we are indeed going to be here for the tribulation period. Here is my response to her question.

For those who wish to be prepared for the tribulation (or any other disaster/martial law), here are some things to consider. This is not a short/simple thing, since we are speaking about game-changing historical events, with many possibilities. As a result, several contingencies are necessary to prepare for multiple scenarios.

Preparation takes several forms. The most important preparation is SPIRITUALLY! Have you surrendered all to Christ, willing to sacrifice comfort, wealth, possessions, and even your own family and life for the Kingdom? I encourage everyone to read my book, Keys to Kingdom Expansion (FREE in ebook or print at http://www.valuesdrivenfamily.com/Keys_to_Kingdom_Expansion.htm). This will give you an understanding of the times, our clear and actionable role (see Daniel 11:32-33), and help you remain fixed on the positive, not the negative. Also, I strongly recommend the book Standing Firm through the Great Apostasy by Steve Gallagher—I get this book at a discounted price and will happily give it to you for $10—just email me). These two resources are life-changing—this is not an overstatement!

You must be resolved emotionally and spiritually. Scripture says to “not fret over evildoers.” It says to “not worry about tomorrow,” but rather “seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness.” It says to trust in the Lord. Therefore, there is a fine line between being wise and preparing versus trusting in the Lord. Joseph was warned of challenges and prepared accordingly. The Lord has given us ample warning concerning His coming and we are wise to prepare. However, worrying is a sin—we must trust in Him.

Likewise, we have to be resolved to give up everything. In the end, defending our property, stashes, and even families (with violence) will cost us our life and more. We have to be resolved to maintain a non-violent posture. He who tries to preserve his life will lose it and he who gives it will save it. Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek, not resist an evil doer, to pray for our enemies, to give to those who ask, and not lay up for ourselves treasures on earth. I recommend The Kingdom that Turned the World Upside Down by David W. Bercot and The Christian in the World by Isaac D. Martin to unwind years of Augustinian influence and compromised “Christianity.” They are challenging, yet good reads. Read Revelation 13:10. Remember, our enemy is not flesh and blood. Those doing bad things to us will suffer far greater torment than what we will experience in life, if we fail to reach them. Our suffering for the sake of the Gospel will reach many. Be resolved—stand firm. Overcome evil with good.

Read Foxes Book of Martyrs or Martyr’s Mirror as a family. Understand that Jesus meant what He said concerning suffering for the Gospel. Resolve in your heart to stand firm.

Now planning logistically. First, I want you to understand the times we live in. On the negative, recognize that this nation is heading in the wrong direction. We are heading down the tubes economically and on other fronts. Take the “Crash Course” at www.chrismartensen.com. It’s worth your time. It is secular, yet prophetic nonetheless. As a result, I believe wholeheartedly (based on a lot of sources), we will face a systematic collapse. The entire “just-in-time” infrastructure will eventually fail. No food, energy, or services. Immediately we will see chaos. If this was the worst of it, I would not fret. However, the sinister side of this whole scenario is that I (again based on many sources) have come to the conclusion that this is PLANNED! There are powers out there devising to pick up the pieces with a one-world government. This has biblical significance.

Now, recognize that nearly every generation, beginning with the time of the Apostles, thought they were in the end times. However, we are unique in that the world stage is actually set up for these events. Likewise, we are for the first time in history poised to fulfill the Great Commission—a precursor to the end (Matt 24:14). However, no one knows the day or the hour.

On the positive, recognize that God is on the move like no time in history. Read Megashift by James Rutz to see the incredible movement.

In spite of recognizing that there is a minute statistical probability that we are not living close to the end times in Scripture, understand that nations rise and fall, and this one is coming down in our lifetime. World forces are on the move. Changes are coming soon. Therefore, prepare.

So where do we start with preparing? I am an instructor for business process improvement and risk management. I am a bona fide expert at planning and preparing for all eventualities. So, I will present a little of what we are doing as a family.

I have a Plan A, B and C approach.

Plan A is: the world remains stable, yet our goal is still autonomy, self-sufficiency, and deinstitutionalization (energy independence, debt freedom, self employment, home school, home church, community orientation, homesteading…)—total freedom to serve the Kingdom and prepare our families and contemporaries to do the same!

Plan B is a financial collapse and government destabilization. This includes all the things above, but is off-grid. You see how very little time, energy, or money is wasted if Plan A and B are reasonably consistent. Food, water, energy, and medicine need an alternative source. Barter considerations are wise. This is an environment that is not yet hostile to Christians. Therefore, we can plan for self-sufficiency while remaining stationary at our homestead.

Plan C is a hostile environment. In this scenario, according to Jesus’s teaching, the only option is to go to captivity or flee. I personally can’t reconcile fighting back with the teachings of Scripture. Likewise, recognize that prior to the paganization of Christianity, no saints resisted with violence. So Plan C is a mobile existence. Therefore, have preparations made to “bug out” and fast. Make provisions for life’s essentials on the move. Have a mapped route off the beaten path. I also recommend Plan C take two forms: in a motor vehicle, and on foot as soon as the gauge reads “E”.

Here are considerations for Plan B. Get out of urban and suburban environments, if possible. Think rural. Now I do not know what will be of greater value, being debt free, or being remote. We opted for selling the remote home with debt for a home with neighbors but debt free. We’ll see how that plays out.

You need information, food, water, energy, and misc supplies. Here are some big things to consider.

Information:
• The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour (MUST own!)
• Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery (Highly recommended)
• We also have books on preserving foods, root cellaring., disaster preparedness (nuclear preparedness important), cooking with the sun, drying foods, making soaps, herbal medicine, home remedies, first aid, storing seeds, gardening, natural pest control, and so on. However, the two books cited above are comprehensive. If I had to “bug out” fast, I would take The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour and my Bible and feel pretty complete. Here is a recommended DVD set on food storage: http://tinyurl.com/StoringFood
• Read www.backlistednews.com. Do not trust the mainstream media. www.drudgereport.com and www.worldnetdaily.com are mostly good. Stay abreast concerning developments in the world.
• Get a hand-crank radio, with shortwave. There will be an information blackout and propaganda machine. The only truth will be pumped out via radio and person to person.

Food:
• A garden/field
• Root cellar
• Tools (think tilling by hand!)
• Properly preserved non-hybrid seeds (we have and are affiliates for this kit http://tinyurl.com/CrisisGardening —high quality)
• Canning supplies
• Firearms and bullets (for hunting)
• Livestock
• Bulk grains
• Hand-operated grain mill
• Oil
• Canned foods
• Cast iron cookware

Water:
• Alternative ways of extracting well water off grid, (check valve and tube, bailer and twine, DC pump with solar, wind mill, or manual pump) or…
• Nearby surface water with filtration/treatment
• Recommend Burkey Lite water filter (we use it now)
• A hand-held filter for “bug-out”
• Containers

Energy:
• Multi-energy cook stove (check this out http://volcano2.com/ —awesome unit that we own)
• Wood cutting equipment
• Gas cans (full)—minimum you store is enough to get your vehicle to your “bug out” destination. Likewise, keep your vehicles full of gas. It costs you nothing.
• Solar setup (we pieced the components together, but we resell a complete unit here for those not adept at engineering a unit: http://tinyurl.com/SolarPowerSolution)
• Batteries
• We have a small cast iron cook-top stove (Plan B only): Volcano II stove is not designed for heating.
• Shake flashlights
• Matches and striker (fire starter), lighters
• Oil/kerosene lamps and fuel (we do not have, but a good option)

Misc:
• Tarps/tent
• Blankets/sleeping bags
• Laundering and hygiene arrangements
• Herbal knowledge/supplies
• Rope/twine
• Hardware (screws/nails)
• Hand drill and basic hand tools
• First aid kit
• Duct tape
• Quality knives
• Sharpening stone
• An on-property “hide-out” is recommended if the bad guys come a-knockin

Now nuclear preparedness is a whole can of worms on its own. Shelter and supplies are necessary to survive. I recommend you email me personally if you want more information.

This is a great starting point. I’m sure I’m overlooking a few items. What are your thoughts concerning what is missing?

Just email me using our contact form if you have any questions specific to your situation or want recommended shopping locations/specific items for the supplies cited above.

Glory to the King!

Marc Carrier

The Rapture–when is it?

valuesdr

Here is a response to a discussion topic on our new facebook group here.

Alright. Cindy gets a discussion going on a very controversial subject and then asks me to clean it up:-). Gotta love her. Alright then.

Well, this subject is quite controversial. However, a clear understanding of the end time events is paramount to properly preparing our families both spiritually and logistically for the events that could very well be imminent. Now I am strongly convicted that Scripture is rather clear as to existence and timing of the gathering of the elect (rapture), and all evidence points to us being here to the end. Now I know this position is neither romantic or desirable—it certainly doesn’t sell books—however, the truth is the truth.

Now many conclude that God could not possibly leave the saints here for the time of His wrath, because it goes against His nature. Well, the early church suffered persecution (they weren’t taken away during the fall of Jerusalem), nor were the Saints taken away for the communist revolutions last century). Consider for a second that the Hebrews were contempories in time, yet not in space during the plagues of Egypt. Revelation does have reference of folks being singled out (based on seals and marks) during the great trib. We may be here and protected—or maybe not. However, there is hope.

Likewise, I wish I was in ere on this one, and gladly will take the free ride out of here; but if you folks clinging to the ride out are wrong, you will be very ill-prepared and quite disappointed if you are wrong. Therefore, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst!

Now for the biblical evidence. The key passages are Matthew 24, 1Thes 4:13-18, 2 Thes 2, Revelation 6, 7, and 10, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, Daniel 11:31-35 and Chapter 12, and Luke 21:8-11. Matthew 24 has parallels in Mark 13 and Luke 21:10-36.

Here I will deal with the timing issue. I have a great little Bible study on the subject I have taught in our church if you are interested. It’s in Word—email me if you want it. It is rough because it is just my notes, but has all the verses and some good questions to consider.

For starters, simply read Jesus’ treatment of the end times in Matthew 24:1-29 and list the eight key events that occur:
1. antichrist
2. war
3. famine
4. earthquake
5. martyrdom
6. sun dark
7. moon dark
8. stars fall from sky
9. heavenly bodies shaken

Now compare to the first six seals in Revelation 6:
1. antichrist
2. war
3. inflation and famine
4. earthquake
5. pestilence (or plague)
6. wild beasts
7. martyrs mentioned
8. sun dark
9. moon as blood
10. stars fall from sky
11. sky receded, rolling up, and mountains and islands removed

The Luke 21:8-11 parallel covers the missing items: pestilence and wild beasts=fearful things. No coincidence here.

Then note that Jesus refers to these events as the “great tribulation:” the worst we have ever seen or will ever see—EVER! Jesus relates the subject to Daniel, and Daniel 12:1 uses the same imagery. Jesus clearly says the time will be shortened because of the elect in verse 24:22, and Daniel says why we are to remain in verses 11:32 and 12:10.

Now, to debunk the pre-trib rapture: read verse 24:29. When? Immediately AFTER the “TRIBULATION” we will see the following occuring:
1. Son of Man (Jesus)
2. angels
3. elect gathered
4. trumpet
5. four winds—one end of the heavens to the other

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. What elements do we see in this passage?
1. Jesus from heaven
2. trumpet
3. loud command
4. voice of archangel
5. elect gathered

Read the parallel in Mark 13:27. Elect gathered from the four corners of earth and heavens. These refer to one event!

Now, as far as the timing. Read 2 Thes 2. Paul encouraged the saints to tell them that the rapture had NOT occurred yet, since the man of lawlessness had not yet been revealed. Therefore, the return of Christ and gathering of the elect (which Paul alludes to as being one event) would occur AFTER anti-Christ is revealed.

Lastly, the Bible gives us an EXACT, specific timing of the rapture in 1 Cor 15:51-52: AT THE LAST TRUMPET! Revelation 6 has 7 seals, the last one being 7 trumpets. Revelation 10:7 is “at the last trumpet.” In that verse, it says the “mystery” (referred to in 1 Cor 15:51) is ACCOMPLISHED, as foretold by the prophets (Paul).

Now let’s stop with the hermeneutical gymnastics and take the Scripture at face value. It’s actually pretty straightforward. I would be glad to deal with the more subtle aspects of the rapture, but wanted to keep it simple, and to the point.

Read, study, pray, and allow the Spirit to reveal these things.

Much agape,

Marc Carrier

Ps. a follow up message on preparation is coming

Tips on Family Devotional Time

valuesdr

Bible reading

There are many ways to go about having family devotional times. I believe that it’s best to let the Scriptures speak for themselves, so I personally do not use commercially-written devotional guides. I simply read the Bible to the children. If I’m concentrating on a values-related topic, I will just read from a binder of verses (the “Values-Driven Discipleship” manual).

My approach is simple. I want our children to grow in God’s Word and become accustomed to hearing and understanding the Word of God at an adult level, so I always read from an adult Bible during our devotional time. The children do also have their personal Bible reading times later during the day. At those times the younger children will read beginner’s Bibles, Bible picture books, and the like, but as a family we read aloud from a consistent translation. Some people prefer KJV, while others like the readability of NIV, NKJV, or NASB. You should choose whatever is most comfortable for you.

I am a firm believer in reading for “depth, not distance.” In other words, I don’t feel it’s necessary to cover a whole chapter in one sitting. I may begin with that intention but the Holy Spirit often leads us into discussion on a particular verse or prompts us to look up other verses that help us understand a particular point in greater detail. At other times, however, I may read more than a chapter. It usually depends on our time constraints and how well I feel the children are attending to the reading.

Love for the Word, not a legalistic approach

Even if you choose the “just read the Bible” approach, you probably are aware that there are many methods for this, as well: reading straight through the Bible, going from one book to another, or doing a topical study and digging through the many relevant Scriptures. And of course, there’s what one friend of ours called the “pray and point” method of simply asking God for an applicable Word and reading whatever passage you open up to. I’ve done all of the above at one time or another, depending on time constraints, interest level, family happenings, and the like.

For us, what has been most important is that we not allow ourselves to be bound to a legalistic view of what “family devotions” should be. We let the Holy Spirit lead us and we always focus on the Bible alone. These are our only guidelines. We want to encourage in our children a love and respect for God’s Word, and we want them to know that they can and should turn to it for encouragement, guidance, and conviction—at all times! By being flexible in our family devotional time, I believe that our children will learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and trust in God for daily guidance through personal reading and application of the Word.

Edification, not entertainment

The family devotional time should be an adult-led time. This helps children develop a reverence for God’s Word and understand its importance in their lives. While it should not go on so long as to be boring for the children (they do have short attention spans!), this is a good time to encourage them to be self-controlled and put their best effort into hearing and understanding the Word. Brief discussions, occasional questions directed at the children, and the like, will make the time interactive and interesting for the whole family.

Of course, I do try to read with inflection, occasionally take turns in the reading, or even act out different verses or stories (storms are lots of fun, and there are many opportunities for drama with the parables of Jesus and the well-known Old Testament stories of Noah’s Ark, Abraham’s almost-sacrifice of Isaac, Joshua and the battle of Jericho…the possibilities are endless!) Again, however, I do believe that the focus should be on the Word itself, and not on the entertainment value it can impart. There are plenty of other opportunities to integrate this element if you so desire, but nothing compares with teaching our children to hear, obey, and revere God’s Word as the foundation for our lives. The family devotional time is a great starting point to engender a lifelong love of the Bible.

EXCERPTED FROM “VALUES-DRIVEN DISCIPLESHIP BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION AND CHARACTER TRAINING MANUAL” by Marc and Cindy Carrier, available at http://www.valuesdrivenfamily.com

Tips on Family Devotional Time

valuesdr

Bible reading

There are many ways to go about having family devotional times. I believe that it’s best to let the Scriptures speak for themselves, so I personally do not use commercially-written devotional guides. I simply read the Bible to the children. If I’m concentrating on a values-related topic, I will just read from a binder of verses (the “Values-Driven Discipleship” manual).

My approach is simple. I want our children to grow in God’s Word and become accustomed to hearing and understanding the Word of God at an adult level, so I always read from an adult Bible during our devotional time. The children do also have their personal Bible reading times later during the day. At those times the younger children will read beginner’s Bibles, Bible picture books, and the like, but as a family we read aloud from a consistent translation. Some people prefer KJV, while others like the readability of NIV, NKJV, or NASB. You should choose whatever is most comfortable for you.

I am a firm believer in reading for “depth, not distance.” In other words, I don’t feel it’s necessary to cover a whole chapter in one sitting. I may begin with that intention but the Holy Spirit often leads us into discussion on a particular verse or prompts us to look up other verses that help us understand a particular point in greater detail. At other times, however, I may read more than a chapter. It usually depends on our time constraints and how well I feel the children are attending to the reading.

Love for the Word, not a legalistic approach

Even if you choose the “just read the Bible” approach, you probably are aware that there are many methods for this, as well: reading straight through the Bible, going from one book to another, or doing a topical study and digging through the many relevant Scriptures. And of course, there’s what one friend of ours called the “pray and point” method of simply asking God for an applicable Word and reading whatever passage you open up to. I’ve done all of the above at one time or another, depending on time constraints, interest level, family happenings, and the like.

For us, what has been most important is that we not allow ourselves to be bound to a legalistic view of what “family devotions” should be. We let the Holy Spirit lead us and we always focus on the Bible alone. These are our only guidelines. We want to encourage in our children a love and respect for God’s Word, and we want them to know that they can and should turn to it for encouragement, guidance, and conviction—at all times! By being flexible in our family devotional time, I believe that our children will learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and trust in God for daily guidance through personal reading and application of the Word.

Edification, not entertainment

The family devotional time should be an adult-led time. This helps children develop a reverence for God’s Word and understand its importance in their lives. While it should not go on so long as to be boring for the children (they do have short attention spans!), this is a good time to encourage them to be self-controlled and put their best effort into hearing and understanding the Word. Brief discussions, occasional questions directed at the children, and the like, will make the time interactive and interesting for the whole family.

Of course, I do try to read with inflection, occasionally take turns in the reading, or even act out different verses or stories (storms are lots of fun, and there are many opportunities for drama with the parables of Jesus and the well-known Old Testament stories of Noah’s Ark, Abraham’s almost-sacrifice of Isaac, Joshua and the battle of Jericho…the possibilities are endless!) Again, however, I do believe that the focus should be on the Word itself, and not on the entertainment value it can impart. There are plenty of other opportunities to integrate this element if you so desire, but nothing compares with teaching our children to hear, obey, and revere God’s Word as the foundation for our lives. The family devotional time is a great starting point to engender a lifelong love of the Bible.

EXCERPTED FROM “VALUES-DRIVEN DISCIPLESHIP BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION AND CHARACTER TRAINING MANUAL” by Marc and Cindy Carrier, available at http://www.valuesdrivenfamily.com