“While generosity may be the antidote for the dizzying effects of wealth, your appetite for more may function as an antidote against God-honoring generosity.  Your appetite for more stuff, status, and security has the potential to quash your efforts to be generous.  And that’s a problem.”  – Andy Stanley

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”  Proverbs 9:9-10

M46 Challenge:  Teach your child about what it means to honor God.  “The fear of the Lord” simply means to honor and respect God.  Explore different ways to honor God in your daily life.

As we parent our children and lead by example, where does God fit in?

Do we put him first?

Do we openly share our faith?

Do we give thanks?

And…this is a tough one…do we do and say on Monday through Saturday as we do and say in church or Sunday school…even when we get cut off in traffic, or someone gives us every opportunity to react poorly?

Do we commit random acts of kindness?

Do we regularly give of our time in service to others, including our children so that they may share in those experiences?

Do we seek opportunities to give of our resources and make a difference for others?

Do we check our own humility and adjust our own sense of importance, and our own need for “more”?

Do we demonstrate sacrifice?

Do we acknowledge when we have failed to act out of honor and respect to Him, inasmuch as we may quickly call our children out for the very same?  For me, none of this comes easily – and I don’t always do it well…and so, I ask for forgiveness and try yet again.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, help me teach my children to honor You.  Use my life as a living sacrifice to have a personal relationship with The Living God.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thoughts:  Exodus 20 comes to mind.

Until next time, when we will get into the importance of choosing good friends…

Keep it Lit,

T.