Skip to main content

discipling our kids

Perry Noble posted early this week something that hit my heart.  We have to think about this one LOTS.  Please join me in prayer and in doing the right things as it comes to our kids.  So, without further words, here is Perry:

Three Things For Pastors To Keep In Mind–Part Three

This is the final post in this series…

#3 - Your Kids Are Your Number One Discipleship Opportunity And Should NEVER Be Abandoned For The Sake Of The Church.

Your kids are a blessing from the Lord! I know Charisse is a blessing!!!

I know way too many pastors who will neglect their family (especially their kids) and then claim, "God has called me into ministry and what I can't give my family He will make up for supernaturally!"

A pastor who uses this excuse needs to have his man parts removed!!! Seriously! The excuse used above is cowardly and pathetic!

Pastors, my daughter isn't impressed with me! She could care less that I speak to thousands every week…but she does care about whether or not I take her outside to swing…or I chase her though the house…or we take a trip to see the ducks.

Dude, I've GOT to be honest here…if you neglect your kids for the sake of ministry…it will come back to haunt you. I know a lot of older pastors who pushed their kids to the side and now have horrible relationships with them.

We can't push our kids aside "for the ministry," they ARE OUR MINISTRY! AND…in several years they won't be running around screaming for the church to disciple them because we actually embraced that role and discipled them ourselves.

Our kids are a blessing…we need to prioritize them and treat them that way.

"But how," you ask…you've got to SCHEDULE TIME & FOLLOW THROUGH…even when you feel like the work at the church is incomplete. And by the way…when was the last time you felt like everything at the church was "done!"

I am NOT an expert at this…but I am learning.  AND…I know if I do not schedule things and place them as a priority…they probably won't get done.

For example…every Monday and Tuesday night I have dinner at home with 'Cretia and Charisse…and I hardly ever let ANYTHING get in the way of this.

Wednesday night is date night for 'Cretia and I…ALWAYS!  The best think I can do for Charisse is have a dynamic relationship with 'Cretia!

On the weekends I am almost ALWAYS with my girls!

And…on Saturday mornings…that's the day 'Cretia gets to sleep in…and I get up, get Charisse up, give her breakfast…and then we go "on a date!"  AND…I do just about everything in my power to MAKE this happen…and I DON'T USE MINISTRY as an excuse!

Dads…let me be very clear…I've always heard that they "grow up fast" and I now believe it.  It seemed like I blinked and she was born…I blinked again and she was one!!!  She'll be gone before I know it…and I don't want to be the guy saying, "I wish I had spent more time with my family!"

Your family deserves your undivided attention! YES, it's tough…but you and I have GOT to be there for them!

God will take care of HIS family (the church)…He wants us to take care of ours!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan.  His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God.  Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st.  The book is Forgotten God .   This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into.  All of it is within the Holy Spirit.  Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people.  It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about.   And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts.  We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things.  It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...
Post a Comment
Read more

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share.  For me C.S. Lewis is one of those.  He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class.  It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before.  He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born.  It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian.  He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...
Post a Comment
Read more

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!
10 comments
Read more