Regroup and focus, persevere.

As we ring in the New Year, so many people have resolutions and goals and the like. There is nothing wrong with that.

We are seeking the Lord in the New Year and putting our past behind us.  Reaching for a better relationship with the Lord and persevering to better understanding.

As parents, we seek to grow closer to the Lord than ever so that our children see God when they look at us. The need feels overwhelming now more than ever. It has always been our intention to raise our family for Christ but there are those moments when we have been lax and not as focused as we should have been.

It is time to focus.

It is time to but the past behind us.

It is time to persevere.

Will you join us as we focus to BE parents for Christ?

Oh Father,

Forgive us for not giving all of us to you.
Forgive us for not always seeking your heart Lord.

Teach us Father to train our children and focus on you.

Thank you Lord for your new mercies every morning.

Guard our minds and our hearts Lord.

In Jesus name, Amen.

What is your family's resolution or goal for the new year?

Does your family have a traditions or intentional things that they do to encourage spiritual growth in your home?

New Year, New Goals

The common tradition on January 1 is to set resolutions that may or may not be possible for individuals and families. We invite you to rethink your resolutions, goals, and aspirations.

Who says that your goals have to be year-long? Have you thought about having month-long goals?

Often the reason we fail when it comes to our long-range goals is because they are too big. The way to correct that problem is to make the goal smaller. If the goal is smaller it is more manageable and easier to complete, making you more likely to succeed and go on to the next goal.

If your goal is to get your family to read the bible every night together, then perhaps reading a chapter in the book of Proverbs everyday would be a good starting point. The accountability is there since there are 31 chapters and the book of Proverbs is a wealth of information when it comes to the pressures of life. Once the habit of sitting down and reading together is established, more can be added.

If your goal is for your family to be healthier in the New Year, start one day at a time. Decide how you are going to address getting healthy in your eating habits and take one step at a time. Then also introduce exercise. Family walks in the evening after dinner is great bonding time.

By having monthly goals they are more attainable, but there is an additional advantage of the family staying on the same page throughout the year and staying focused.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

We would like to wish everybody a very happy new year and we pray that you will be blessed beyond measure this year. My heart goes out to those whose lives are in turmoil. Over the last few weeks and even months I have heard of many people that I know go through such awfully tough times. I have had a friend of mine lose her baby when he wasn’t even a week old. Another lost her mother tragically and it has shaken her entire family. I have a couple of friends having marital problems and one going through a very bitter divorce. I am praying for all of these people, because they need it.

Our families are being attacked. Those of us that are Christians must stand strong and not allow Satan trick us and manipulate us. Jesus Christ himself was tempted by Satan and He won. Jesus has already fought our battles, we just need to instill our faith in Him.

Be glad about this, even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer. Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed.
(1 Peter 1:6-7 GNB)

Our children learn by our example. When we walk by faith and our children see that we trust in the Lord God Almighty, they will be more likely to follow in faith. Even in the hardest of times, the way we react is what people see. It’s similar to the example that our pastor gives on occasion; when you are using a hammer and suddenly get for thumb smashed, what comes out of your mouth? Do you say a curse word or do you praise the Lord anyway.

Going through daily trials is what makes us stronger. If things were easy all the time, we wouldn’t necessarily see a reason to turn to God. It is like in the book of Job. The overall consensus is that God had blessed Job with a wife, children, much livestock and land; so much so that he didn’t seem to need to worry about God. Then the devil started taking things away, as God allowed him to. Job turned to God. He prayed, he mourned, and even the one time he spoke against God he repented and asked forgiveness. Through all the trials he was put through, he lost his children, his house, his livestock, he had boils, and more, he still trusted God. In the end of the book of Job, Job was blessed two fold. The latter part of his life was blessed even more than the beginning of his life.

So my prayer for this New Year is that God will bless those that have been in trials and tribulations. I pray that God will bless them beyond measure.

Faith Johnson
Owner/editor
www.ParentsForChrist.com