Parent Power

PROVERBS 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not return from it."


  1.) LEARN who your children are

Two common mistakes we parents make
          1) comparing them to ourselves
          2) comparing them to each other

Three practical focus points...
          1) Birth order
          2) Temperment
          3) Potential

  2.)LET your children know you

Children see more than they hear


Honesty breeds Honesty

  3.) LEAD your children to God


     Pray with them...reliance upon god
     Praise them...build self esteem
     Prepare them...study Gods word together

  4.) LOVE your children unconditionally

Never give up on them
Always believe in them

Romance Revisited

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at the first. If you do not repent, I will come and remove the lampstand from its place.


Introduction: The number one question asked a marriage counselor is:
"Why don't we love each other anymore?"


LET US LOOK AT 3 THINGS FROM THIS SCRIPTURE THAT CAN HELP US IN REKINDLING ROMANCE.
  I. REMEMBER...the good times and happy experiences


  II. REPENT...1. Change your attitude
2. Choose to act in a loving way


  III. REPEAT...Do the things you did at first.
feelings follow actions


When you first fell in love you did five things:
     1. Gave attention(Phil. 2:2-4)
     2. Gave affirmation(1 Thes. 5:11)
     3. Gave affection(Eph. 5:19) (Eph. 5:28)
     4. Gave adventure(Eccl. 9:9, 1 Tim.6:17, Mat. 11:19)
     5. Gave accordance(1 John 1:7)

HOMEMADE HAPPINESS

Click Here to listen to a portion of this message.

---

I............Create a bond of intimacy
   Three keys for true intimacy:
     1...Be loving
         Treat those closest to you as persons of worth and value

     2....Be forgiving
         Be a real communicator
           Listen genuinely Learn to speak effectively.

         Six rules of Conflict Communication:
               1. Control your temper (Prov. 12:16)
               2. Do not make accusations (Eph. 4:31)
               3. Do not be argumentative (Phil. 2:12)
               4. Listen to others point of view (Prov. 18:17)
               5. Leave the past in the past
               6. Never forget what the bible says (Prov. 15:1)

     3...(3rd key of a bound of intimacy) Be accepting

II............Create a climate of humor
   LEARN to laugh at yourself TURN trials into shared experiences and EARN happy memories

III...........Create relationships that are honest ; honest to your spouse and children ; honest to yourself and God.

"ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE"

(EPHESIANS 5:16-20)
"Redeeming the Time"... is to get the most out of every day and every situation. (verse 16)

The will and wisdom of God teaches us right attitudes. (verse 17)

---

SEVEN PLATITUDES OF AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

1   My Attitude of Gratitude at the beginning of a task effects the outcome more than anything else.(Matthew 8:13)

2   My Attitude of Gratitude towards others determines their attitude towards me.(Proverbs 18:24)

3   My Attitude of Gratitude influences othersmore than my actions.

4   My Attitude of Gratitude is either my best friend or my worst enemy.(Joseph -vs- Jonah)

5   My Attitude of Gratitude can turn my problems into blessings.

6   My attitude and not ability will bring lasting success because my attitude is who I am.(Joshua 14:10-14)

7   Attitude is always a choice.

"HAVING A GIVING HEART"

(Luke 6: 27- 38)

---

1. BE GOD MOTIVATED
     Proofs:Enthusiasm
                  Thankfulness
                  A Giving Heart


2. BE PEOPLE FOCUSED


3. BE TRANSPARENT: REALLY LOVE


4. HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS(John 13:34,35)


5. BE ENCOURAGING(John 14:12)


6. HAVE WINS UNDER YOUR BELT


7. GIVE FOR THE RIGHT REASON(Luke 6:32-34)
        WRONG REASONS TO GIVE
            Because they give to you
            For the praise of people


        RIGHT REASONS TO GIVE
            Because it's what God expects
            Because it's what God has modeled


REMEMBER: "You reap what you sow"

"BECOMING A FAMILY BIBLE CHURCH"

ACTS 11:23 - 26



THREE MUSTS FOR EFFECTIVE CHURCHES
     I. MUST BE GROUNDED IN BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GODS WORD.


       THE WORD OF GOD IS:
       1. Creative Action from the beginning.(Gen 1)
       2. Power of God given to man.(John 15:7)
       3. Truth of God for liberation of man.(John 8:32)


We see the truth about God, about our world, about ourselves


     II. MUST BE ANTICIPATORS OF GODS BLESSING AND ACTION.
(ACTS 11:24)
Anticipators of God, good, and growth


     III. MUST BE ENCOURAGERS OF GODS PEOPLE.
       This requires: Love, acceptance and forgiveness.

" Dream On"

Psalms 37:4
I. God creates Dreams
God calls Dreamers

II. Tomorrow's Dreams are determined by todays choices.
        Phil. 4:10-13

Seven Choices that help make our Dreams come true:
     1. Accept Gods timing and the seasons of life(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

     2. Put people first

     3. Learn to enjoy things without owning them.

     4. Don't let things control you.

     5. Be thankful.

"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving."

     6. Write down what really makes you happy.

     7. Don't confuse temperal benefits with eternal ones.

III. Realize to receive your dreams.

You must give them away.
Matthew 10:8