Faith in Parenting

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Sorry for the absence! I was blogging on my husband’s blog while he was in Africa! He’s back now, and you can check out the blog at http://christopherbwolf.wordpress.com.

Meanwhile, I’ll be catching up here this week.  Sorry for the lapse!

Blessings,
Jen

What “yardstick” do you use to determine whether a certain video or computer game is appropriate for your kids? That’s our topic for this week’s Faith in Parenting Support Call.

To participate, just dial (218) 486-1300 at 2:00 pm (ET) and enter the access code 669379. The call is free, aside from any long distance charges you may incur.

For those in other time zones, the call will take place at 1:00 pm CT, 12:00 noon MT, and 11:00 am PT.

Hope to “see” you there! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Blessings,

Jennifer

Directions for Joining Us on the Weekly Support Call:

• Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2008
• Time: 2:00-2:35 PM (ET)
• Telephone Number: (218) 486-1300
• Access Code: 669379

Can you believe what an assumption I put right there in the title of today’s entry? Yes, I’m putting it out there in “black and white,” affirming that we, as human beings, experience doubt.

On this earth we’re so separate from God. Yes, we have the Holy Spirit to walk with us and intercede for us, and we have other believers to encourage us in our faith and instruct us, but even in the midst of those great helpers, we’re prone to question. But, before we judge ourselves or even write off our faith, let’s take a look at where our doubting has the potential to blossom into an even stronger belief.

I think James 1:5 is a great reminder for us as moms, and that’s why I chose it to be included in the heading to this blog. It reads “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

What an awesome reminder for us! I don’t know about you, but there are plenty of times when I second-guess my decisions as a mom and wonder if I’m doing “the right thing.”

The passages goes on to talk about doubt. Verses 6-7 read:

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts in like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Those who doubt should not think they will receive anything from the Lord; they are double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

It’s tough to ask without any doubt running through the back of our minds, isn’t it? We’re prone to running contingency plans in the backs of our minds. I think this is especially true for moms, because we’ve trained ourselves to foresee all of the dangers and possibilities for any scenario ahead of time, haven’t we? So when we approach a big prayer need, it’s almost natural to ask for God’s healing hand and intervention in our lives, while at the same time, preparing ourselves in the event that our request goes unanswered.

So what are we to do with our doubts?

• First, pray. Be honest with God about how you’re feeling. You can even say, “Lord, you already know that I’m having trouble with this. Let me know that you’re real and that you’re here in the midst of this situation.”

• Second, I think it helps to look back on your life and see how God has carried you through so many other circumstances. That’s why I like to underline or highlight special passages in my Bible. It just helps to open it up during a difficult time and see where He has spoken to me and nurtured me in the past. So what about you? What prayers has He answered in your history together? How? And what was your response, before and after your prayers were answered? Thinking back through these experiences can be a big encouragement.

• Third, I think it’s important for us to be in the Word regularly, and especially during difficult times. He just speaks right to us sometimes, doesn’t He? I mean, how many times have you been reading a daily devotional and found that, on certain occasions, the “chance” daily reading was one that spoke right to your heart and ministered right to you? Being in the Word regularly also prepares us for difficult times, because then when we open it up during a time of trial or great difficulty, the words are so familiar! It’s like being “home.” If you haven’t yet begun the habit of reading the Bible regularly, I’d encourage you to give yourself this gift.

• And finally, I think that being in fellowship with other believers can be a huge help during those times when we’re praying and yet doubting at the same time. God gave us the Holy Spirit to walk with us here on this earth, and He also gave us other believers to encourage us and pray for us. So don’t be afraid to admit to a brother or sister in Christ that you have doubts and need their prayers.

Friend, these are just a few suggestions for how we can respond to doubt in our lives. But more than anything, I want you to know that we all have them! And what was Jesus’ response to Thomas when he demanded to see and feel the evidence that Christ had indeed risen from the dead? Did he scoff at him? Declare him an unbeliever, or cast him out of the inner circle of disciplines? No, Jesus met his need. Check it out for yourself in John chapter 20.

He’ll meet yours, too.

Blessings,

Jennifer

I’m so excited about having the chance to host these weekly support calls! This week’s topic for “Tuesdays at 2:00″ was helping our children choose friends. If you have a chance, take a few minutes to listen in on the call. I think you’ll see that it’s a very informal, supportive gathering where moms can talk through issues related to Christian parenting, which is the whole idea!

This week we focused on how we can explicitly teach our kids to make and choose friends, positive ways we can be involved in their friendships, and how we can be available to them when difficulties arise.

(Unfortunately, though, only about 2/3 of the call was successfully recorded because the battery of my cordless phone expired mid-call!)

As always, if you have any thoughts about the call, or if you’d like to suggest a topic for an upcoming support call, don’t hesitate to E-mail me or leave a comment below.  And if you haven’t signed up yet to receive weekly updates with the topic of the week, access numbers, etc., fill out the subscription box under “Getting Started” in the sidebar to your right.

Blessings,

Jennifer

Listen to the call: Helping Our Children Choose Friends (October 16, 2007)

One of our responsibilities as parents is to help our kids make friends. From helping them learn how to introduce themselves to a new friend on the playground, to working through the challenges of sleepovers and peer pressure as they grow older, helping our kids navigate relationships is a job that’s never “done.”

See, we’re always modeling; so even if we’re not giving direct instructions with our words, know that our kids are paying attention and learning from what they see and feel as a result of our own interactions with others.

And a big consequence of the lessons we teach our kids about relationships - whether we choose to teach them intentionally or not - is what our kids will later bring to dating relationships and even, potentially, to marriage, about how to effectively relate with others.

It’s daunting when you think of that connection; what we teach our kids today about relationships will impact their choices down the road when it comes to choosing their best friends (huge influences!) and even their spouses.

That’s why this week’s “Tuesdays at 2:00″ topic is Teaching Our Children How to Choose Friends. We’re going to focus on three different areas:

1. What we teach our children directly about how to make friends
2. Being involved as parents in our kids’ friendships
3. Being available when problems and conflicts arise

Here are the directions for accessing the weekly support call:

• Date and Time: Tuesday, October 16, 2007, at 2:00 PM (ET)
• Telephone Number: (641) 715-3200
• Access Code: 229468#

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me. In addition, please don’t worry if you have little ones in the background. I’ll explain how you can “mute” out any background sound so that you’re free to enjoy the call without worrying that we can hear you serving lunch or tending to your little ones!

Hope to “see” you there!

Blessings,

Jennifer

Psalm 118:29 tells us to “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.”

As parents, we want to teach our children to appreciate all that the Lord has blessed them with, from their siblings to their toys and collections. But teaching that “attitude of gratitude” isn’t always easy, especially in our materialistic culture.

It’s important, though, because as Christian parents, we’re not just teaching our children to be grateful so that they can be polite and mannered. We have a higher goal in mind! Teaching gratefulness is one step toward helping our kids develop an attitude of worship toward the Lord.

So how do we do this? That’s our topic for this week’s “Tuesdays at 2:00” support call. We’re going to talk about how we can teach gratitude in three different areas of our kids’ lives:

• Their possessions
• Provisions
• Relationships

We’ll share practical ideas for instilling an attitude of gratitude in each of these areas; and with the approach of Christmas just around the corner, I think you’ll find the discussion to be particularly timely, too!

Remember, participating in the call is absolutely free, with the exception of any long distance charges you may incur, and you’re welcome to invite your friends to join us.

Here are all the details you’ll need:

Date and Time: Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at 2:00 PM (ET)

Telephone Number: (641) 715-3200

Access Code: 229468#

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

It’s hard to believe October is here already. It seems like I was just saying to a friend, “Yeah, I am looking forward to school starting again. I think we could all use the routine.” You may have spoken similar words yourself back in the heat of August.

Well, how is the routine going? Are the routines of the school year proving to be helpful to you, or stressful?

Today I want to share a word with you, a word about that very thing. It’s from Matthew 11:28-30. You may be familiar with this passage, which in the NIV is written as: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Now, take a look at how it’s written in The Message Bible:

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

“The unforced rhythms of grace.” Does that explain your life, Mom? Where, where, are the unforced rhythms of grace in our lives?

Well, actually, they’re really there. Take a look. I imagine that unforced rhythms of grace might be found at bedtime, when you’re reading to your kids. Or in the moments when you’re sitting outside in the sunshine, watching your preschooler ride her bike up and down the sidewalk, up and down, and then up and down again.

There are many rhythms to our days, especially as moms caring for young children. Let’s seek them out and ask the Lord to show Himself there, in the surrender to the everyday.

Lord, Sometimes being a mom feels tiresome. We love it, and we know we’re so blessed! But some days it takes more energy than we can muster ourselves to go through the repeated tasks and routines with enthusiasm and joy. Fill us, Lord, with your joy. Prepare us and teach us to find YOU, right there in the routines of everyday life. Bless us by your hand as we seek to raise up these little ones to know you.

~Amen