How do you help your children...
 

develop a love for God, and a relationship with Him?

Obviously taking them to church every service isn't enough.

Re: How do you help your children...
 

IMHO, it is more in deeds than in words...

Only speaking from personal experience, children for the most part follow the example or pattern set before them...at least that's the way it was in our family.

Growing up, my brothers and me saw our parents devoting time to prayer and study.

We witnessed the hours they gave to Sunday School preparation and years of teaching.

We experienced the joy of giving of time and sustenence, not seeking a reward, but seeing the return come anyway.

Some might say, and rightfully so, that deeds do not always indicate a heart after God.

But in the case of my family, we knew that the service done for Kingdom sake was due in large part to the heart service our parents rendered on a daily basis.

They were not perfect, but they taught us by example to love the Lord with all our heart, and to be up and be doing.

Re: How do you help your children...
 

It isn't? I just assumed that bringing them to the house of God, every SINGLE time the doors were open, was enough. Rain or shine. Sickness or death. I'll be there.

UPCI
St Louis, MO

Re: How do you help your children...
 

No, that's not it. ;)

So what do think is the answer?

Re: How do you help your children...
 

I know that isn't it. Just joking around. Although while we were in the Org during the 80's that WAS the number 1 method taught for accomplishing what your asking.

Honestly, the bible says you will know them by their fruits. This goes for children and how they see their parents.

It is by teaching them WHAT to do, but just as importantly, showing them what to do by example.

Re: How do you help your children...
 

I knew that you knew, I was just wondering what you thought really did work.

I'm seeing a lot of really good people, (not dogmatic) who truly love God, have children who turn their back on God. Usually not all of their children, but one or two.

I'm just wondering if there's something we could do to tilt the scales the other way.

Right now, my main plan of action is praying. Asking God to turn their hearts toward him. I honestly don't know what else to do. But I'm wondering if there is more I should be doing.

Re: How do you help your children...
 

I don't know. Our children aren't grown yet, so we can only hope we're doing it right.

We do try to make God the center of everything. We make prayer a quick and easy option, we encourage them to read scripture on their own, and we try to instill scriptural principles in them instead of specific rules.

My husband says that in order for someone to really get something, they have to "buy into it." With children, I think that means using just about anything and everything as a learning opportunity, and eliciting the principle from them via their cognitive processes rather than parental imposition.

That was clear as mud, so let me try again...LOL!!! Instead of telling your children, "Don't steal", ask them questions, read them relevant scriptures, and try to lead them to state their own conclusion about respecting the property of others. Now, I don't think that means you can't teach them black and whites--there are lots of absolutes and black and whites. But even then--they need to know why the absolutes are absolute.

I would say in order for them to develop a relationship with God, they have to start with a basic understanding of who God is, why they would want to have a relationship with Him, and be apprised of their need for Him in such a way that they want to pursue it further.

Your first mission field is your family, AQP! :) Minister to them the same way you would minister to an unbeliever, at least, with the same end goal in mind.

Re: How do you help your children...
 

AQP!! I don't want to talk about children today!!! My son is an absolute heartbreaker! He broke up with his girlfriend of over two years and she is devastated! I just got home and she is on the ID Caller - again!!! I don't know what to do for her!! Lord!! :tissue

Guess I better call her back...... :sad

Re: How do you help your children...
 

My husband and I took both of our children, who are now grown men, to church as often as we could. I read and sang lots of things to them about God and living wholesome lives. We showed them as much of the love of God as we knew how.

We can try very hard to instill in them the things that are right, but we all know, in the end, it will be their decision on which path to take and how they view God.

Thankfully both of our young men took the right one and are now teaching their children to follow and love God too.....

Re: How do you help your children...
 

Oh, boy. It's really hard if you loved the girl, too!

I went through that a while back, and I hope I never have to again!

Sorry you are. :(