Identify Abuse and Leave It Behind

Godly parents want their children to learn, accept, and know the lesson below. Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes… Read More

Let the Healing Begin

Experiences play a leading role in our character development. Our growing up years set the stage for the rest of our lives. We can become type-cast, locked into a role that is not of our choosing, a role that responds to the experiences of our young lives. An adult who suffered abuse as a child… Read More

Gentle correction

Godly discipline allows children to please parents. It fits the punishment to the crime. Children come to understand cause and effect, sowing and reaping. Big crime gets a big punishment; little crime receives a little punishment. With abuse, punishment is arbitrary and often unfair, but Godly discipline distinguishes between a mistake and a deliberate sin. Or… Read More

Growing good citizens

I am God—yes, I Am. I haven’t changed… Malachi 3:6 (The Message) God has given us laws to live by; we know what they are. And we know we’re going to mess up. He has a plan in place for that as well: love, grace, and mercy. His people know exactly where they stand with… Read More

Parental discipline instills power and expertise

We are born with little power or expertise—we depend on those around us for everything. As we grow, we internalize and identify with how things are done, and we develop coping mechanisms based on our experiences. The power a child needs as he grows into adulthood comes from his early identification with authority. Were his… Read More

Blueprint for character building

A blueprint is a detailed plan. Building a house without one is risky if you want it to last for any length of time and withstand weather or natural disasters. You need to follow rules of design that build strength in all the right places so rain won’t come through the roof and strong winds… Read More

What shapes the inner you?

You may have heard the old saying, “You are what you eat.” What shapes your body? The way you eat, drink, sleep, exercise, heal, and live. Whether you work at it or ignore it, your body shows the effects. The inner you also shows the effects of the attention it receives. What shapes the inner… Read More