Parent's Theme verse – if there was one

I have been reading in Psalms since last Sunday - reading and re-reading Psalm 145 – if there was ever a theme verse for the responsibility of parents to live out and express the mighty works of God to our kids, then Psalm 145 contains it (them, actually) – maybe I should call it a theme "passage". We talked through it last week at the Adult Bible Fellowship led by a couple of guys from the leadership here at Osceola Grace and then we prayed through it to give praise to God. That night at small group, we looked at it again and talked about these verses:
(Psalms 145:1-7 NIV)
This first part is the parent's commitment to God

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. {2} Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. {3} Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

This second part is the parent's commitment to pass on the results of their faith

{4} One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. {5} They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. {6} They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. {7} They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

I thought – how will our children know about what great things God has done – not only in biblical times but in my lifetime and, more specifically, in my life if I never share those things? My children need to know that the God of the Bible is working today in my life. I am not talking about only the huge things but even in the small things – A transformation of my mind and my thinking is something that my children should know is taking place.
"Hey kids – God showed me something in His word today that I have not really every let sink in before – here it is, let's read it and let me share with you how God opened my eyes a little wider today."
Real Life with Real People means relationships that are connected well enough that we are passing on more than just the truth of the Word in our mind but the deeds of God in our lives. How has God worked in your life lately? Have you shared that with your children? Let them see that God's mighty deeds are alive and well in you, too! Our kids need to see our need for God in everyday life – not simply in crisis.
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It’s Forbidden

My oldest son used to love the Disney version of the animated "Beauty and the Beast" and had watched it so many times as a four year old that he could quote almost any part of the movie. As a matter of fact, he can quote large portions of almost any movies that he watches! As a college student today – he gets great joy out of quoting Disney movies with the right voices and inflections and everything (it's weird).

There was a time when my son would walk around the house making the umpire's "SAFE" motion with his arms and then say in a really deep four year old voice "It's FOR BENDING". We kept wondering why he was saying that and so we asked him and discovered this:

There is a place in "Beauty and the Beast" that Belle asks the Beast about a certain wing of the castle and he replies that it is the west wing and she want to go there and he shouts "No, it's FORBIDDEN". But the way that he said it, my son thought he was saying, "It's FOR BENDING". We still occasionally tease him a little about that because it was SO cute! He doesn't think that it is so funny anymore but we do!

The funny thing about that is that we sometimes get the wrong story or only part of the story because we are not really listening. It happens to all of us at times but the point is that it makes the other person feel more valued if you are present and attentive in the conversation. Ask questions, respond with clarifying statements and above all – look at them! People want to know that what they are telling you is important to you, too. When you are a good listener – you show people that you care. Jesus said, "People will know you are my disciples if you love one another." There is no better way for people to feel loved than when you are engaged in the story of their life and what is happening in their life at this moment.

Do you care? Then become a good listener. That way you don't go away and think you heard "It's FOR BENDING" when the person said "It's FORBIDDEN".

Here at the Osceola Grace you can find Real People living Real Lives and striving to find Real Answers.