Gifts to Give Your Children

Reading of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 The Shema.

You parenting direction determines your kid's destination. 
The goal of parenting is healthy adult relationships.
Teach your children to love God.
Worry less about today’s happiness and more about tomorrow’s readiness.

Question: What is one influential thing you learned, good or bad, from your parents?  

Giving hurts when…
We give them things they didn’t earn
One of the best things we can do is giv4e our children the blessing of earning the blessings. 

We give them praise they don’t’ deserve.

It’s better to praise the process than to praise the person. 

We give them freedom they can’t handle
Question: Did you ever give your child something they didn’t earn, or praise them when they didn’t deserve it, or give them a freedom they couldn’t handle? How did you discover your mistake?

Gifts to make the ready.
A community worth having

Listen Israel, The LORD our God, the Lord is one. Deuteronomy 6:4

Who and what you expose your children to will shape who they become and what they believe.

The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20

You can’t pick your kids friends, but you can influence the environments you put them in. 

Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

A Faith worth sharing

What if I think is too late? It’s not, because…
Nothing is too difficult for God.
Healing is what Jesus is all about.
The person who will likely heal first… is you.

Worry less about today’s happiness and more about tomorrow’s readiness.

Reflection
Is there something about my past that prevents me from exposing my kids to Jesus’ church?
How can I be better at showing the joy of loving God?