I’ve been looking forward to this since I was with my dear friend in Texas back in September. We actually purchased these tickets for her and the kids while I was in Texas. We hope to make this a tradition to have her and the kids out each year.

So, on Wednesday night I eagerly left for the airport to pick her up. It was such a delight to see their faces at the baggage claim! Welcome to Maryland! The kids were absolutely adorable with their little backpacks and Benjamin was his Mommy’s big helper! He pulled the big suitcase on wheels (well, it looked big behind him)! Wish I’d gotten a picture of that, too!

We had a very eventful few days, but a lot of our time was just spent living life together. We had to get everyone dressed, fed and disciplined…just like when we’re apart. But, sprinkled in the midst were many wonderful conversations where we were able to encourage, exhort, comfort and listen to each other.

Thursday we didn’t do anything but stuff around the house. The kids played and played. They had outside time with Snowflop, the bunny.

and took turns jumping on our inflatable trampoline

On Friday we had more time around the house and then went to our church Single’s meeting that night. I told Tamra that if it weren’t for me pushing around a double stroller she would’ve fit right in! We did feel a bit strange in the midst of mostly young college aged singles! We thought it was going to be about how to honor God with your money, but it was a continuation from the week before about how to honor God with your body. We had planned to go to a Moneywise Workshop at the church on Saturday morning, but while there Friday night we discovered that you could buy a packet in the bookstore of the paperwork and 3 cd’s of the messages for $5. So, we decided to skip the meeting and do our Michael’s shopping instead. We took the girls (Lela, Cait and Brianna) and left Jeremy to have Treasure Hunt with the boys. Aunt Tamra had brought a goody box full of the necessary supplies (she thought of everything). Here’s what we found when we got back…and boy I wish you could hear the music Mr. Jeremy put together for the adventure.

Friday night Tamra helped me work on Justin’s missing year in his scrapbook. The whole 2003 year was non-existent. It is such a blessing to have that done! We worked on it throughout the visit (mainly REALLY late at night). She also helped me by framing pictures in my stairway of the kids…it looks so good. Then we bought the girls names in white letters and hung them in the room with different ribbons. This was AFTER we rearranged every piece of furniture in the room (more than once)! Yes, Jeremy wanted to use a tape measure, but we assured him that sometimes you just have to see what it looks like even if it might not “fit”. Having these things done makes my house feel more like a home! THANK YOU TAMRA! You were so willing to help even when you were feeling so bad. I hope all the supplements and lemon water helped to ward off the infection that your body was fighting.

While she was here we kept watching the weather in Dallas. When we scheduled the trip for early January I was concerned that she’d get snowed out or snowed in, but I never thought it woudl be because of the Texas weather! Anyway, in God’s providence the weather allowed us to change the flight to later in the day on Monday. The night before during a nightly activity of playing with glow sticks (that Aunt Tamra had brought along) in the dark Cait got dogpiled by my 3 boys. We thought she’d broken her collar bone, but after a trip to the ER and Cait wetting on Tamra a few times too many we discovered that she was just having neck spasms. This is what she looked like the whole next day (she would not move and screamed from pain). It was heartbreaking. Her only comfort was Mystie…and Justin was hardly ever away from her side. He was so sweet to take care of her and play with her (for pics of this see: www.strengthfortoday.blogspot.com.

The meds were not helping her at all. Finally after talking to her doctor in Texas a few times we started giving her Motrin (thank you, Mary!) and this seemed to take the edge off. This was shortly before we had to leave for the airport. They made it home safely and the Lord answered our prayers and provided the help Tamra needed with the kids and the All in One stroller carseat that I sent her home with. All that to say, I can’t WAIT to see this again…….

I love you friend and Thank God for you! Thank you for saying what I need to hear even when it’s hard to say! I need it!

Our Granny Sue (Jer’s step-mom) was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer. It is an amazing work of God’s grace that they found this cancer. She was in for a routine doctor appt. and the doctor recommended a stomach scan since she is now a certain age. In the scan they discovered the cancer. So far it appears to only be in the one kidney. On Friday she goes for a bone scan to make sure it’s not in the bones and then on Tuesday she’s supposed to have a stress test to make sure her heart is ok for the surgery. The surgery to remove the kidney will be sometime in early February.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns your life with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5

Please pray for our Granny Sue!

Having not grown up in a “Christian” family I often wonder what it’s like and how Jer and I can make sure that our children’s faith is real and not just learned behavior or succumbing to external expectations.  I look forward to reading this book and found this blog from one of our pastors encouraging.  Grace, Min

The Dynamics of Growing Up Christian at The Family Room
Published by Brian Chesemore January 16th, 2007 in Uncategorized

We live in a local church culture defined by grace, shaped by the gospel. But as a parent I need to remember that my rich experience of grace and the blessings found in Covenant Life don’t guarantee an effortless ride for my sons into conversion or holiness.

Our very own Karl Graustein has written an excellent book, Growing Up Christian. In his book he addresses the danger of false assurance. As parents must be aware of this danger and skillfully lead our children by God’s word. We asked him share his needed perspective on the Family Room blog:

Have you known anyone who seemed to be a Christian throughout his teenage years, but when he went off to college dropped his faith and stopped following God? Have you known anyone who actively participated in youth meetings and church missions trips, but after high school no longer pursued God or the things of God?

Sadly, I know too many people like this, and you can probably quickly list a few names yourself. Growing up around Christians doesn’t make anyone a Christian. Nor do we inherit our Christianity from our parents. We need a faith and a walk of our own. We need to personally know and respond to the gospel message. We need to personally respond to the call of our Lord on our lives. And we need to personally live for Christ.

Growing up in a Christian home is a wonderful privilege. Church kids have been given so much: godly parents, training in the Word of God, friends from Christian homes, support from a Christian church community, and most importantly an opportunity to know God at a young age. Throughout our lives, we are repeatedly taught about the love of God, his plan of salvation, ways to recognize and resist sin, and living for the glory of God.

Not only are church kids given much, we are also protected from much. Our God-fearing and loving parents wisely limit our entertainment options—television, music, movies, books, and magazines. They carefully monitor our friendships and our exposure to the message of the world. We learn about the lies of secular values and other religions. We are trained to evaluate all of life according to the standards of Scripture.

Daily, I benefit from years of being taught the truths of Scripture and from countless hours of reading the Word. My parents have provided for me a clear example of living all of life for the glory of God, maintaining a strong marriage, and raising children. Because of faithful training by my parents, teachers, and church leaders, I have not had to break many bad habits and regret years of godless living. It truly is a great blessing to be a church kid.

Yet, church kids do face some unique challenges. Though surrounded by the things of God, we can still be drawn to sin and live double lives; we can easily assume we are saved even if we are not; or we may be driven by a desire to be popular more than a desire to live according to biblical values. While it is a great blessing to grow up in a Christian environment, if we are not careful we can make some dangerous assumptions about ourselves, which have serious consequences.

I know first hand what it is like to simply copy our parents’ beliefs and convictions. I know how difficult it can be to live according to the standards of the Bible and our parents. I know what it is like to obey to avoid punishment instead of truly wanting to please God or my parents. I have had friends who appeared to be Christians in high school, but later walked away from their faith. I’ve known individuals who have partied on Saturday night and put on their Sunday best for church the next morning. I have observed students act one way when an adult is present and completely different when they think no one is watching. I have watched students be attracted to the values and practices of the world around them and believe the lies the world promotes. I have had students lie to me in an attempt to avoid discipline.

Let me end by quoting J.C. Ryle from in his book Holiness. He reminds us of the privilege of having religious parents and warns us about the dangers we face.

“I ask the children of religious parents to mark well what I am saying. It is the highest privilege to be the child of a godly father and mother, and to be brought up in the midst of many prayers. It is a blessed thing indeed to be taught the gospel from our earliest infancy, and to hear of sin, and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and holiness, and heaven, from the first moment we can remember anything. But, oh, take heed that you do not remain barren and unfruitful in the sunshine of all these privileges: beware lest your heart remains hard, impenitent, and worldly, notwithstanding the many advantages you enjoy. You cannot enter the kingdom of God on the credit of your parents’ religion. You must eat the bread of life for yourself, and have the witness of the Spirit in your own heart. You must have repentance of your own, faith of your own, and sanctification of your own.”

No Responses to “The Dynamics of Growing Up Christian”
Feed for this Entry Trackback Address

1. No Comments

Posting Your Comment
Please Wait
Leave a Reply
There was an error with your comment, please try again.

Welcome back Mindy (Change) (Close)

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

The other nigh as I was talking with Justin at bedtime he was asking questions about who was my first child.  He asked if he was and I told him no.  Then, he was saying Nate was the baby first and then Lela was a baby and then he was a baby and then Caleb was a baby and now Brianna is the  baby and next the twins will be the babies and I said “What twins?”  He said, “The ones you’re going to have next”.  I said, “Oh really! and when is this going to happen?”  He said, “In 50 months!”  I said, “O.K., I’m gonna write that down.”  So, there ya go…we’ll see what happens in 50 months!