Deuteronomy 6:6-9..."These commandments that I give you today are to be upon YOUR HEARTS. Impress them on YOUR CHILDREN. Talk about them when you sit AT HOME and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.Write them on the door frames of YOUR HOUSES and on YOUR GATES." Emphasis added
Impress them on In my last blog I wrote about God's call on believing parents to be their children's primary spiritual teacher, mentor, and example in life so if you want to know more about why I think it's important please read that post first then this one.
If Kristen (My first born) was the child that started the process in my heart and mind, an experience with my second daughter Kaiti, pushed me to take action on it. She was in the 4th or 5th grade when we were sitting in a church service listening to a sermon being delivered by a very well known and accomplished pastor. He had published several books and started many churches all over the world. I can't recall what he was preaching about that day or what the statement was that caused Kaiti to react, but she poked my arm with her finger to let me know she had something to say. I leaned down and the 6 words that came from my Lord through my little girl that day confirmed for me that it was time to quit thinking good thoughts about having family devotions and take an action step to make it happen. She asked "Is what he saying true Dad?" Those words may not seem like much on the surface, but because the Holy Spirit had been working on my heart they were translated..."Dad, you are her finally authority when she hears things she questions, thinks she understands or doesn't understand. She could just assume that anybody in the pulpit is saying the truth and never question it, but she doesn't. She asks you if it's the truth? You are her standard for accurate truth Dad. She trusts your word more than any one else at this age. That might change some day, but for this time in her life don't miss your call!"
I was more than inspired to follow through this time and after giving thanks to The Father for continuing to chase me on this issue I located the resources I mentioned in part I of this blog.
Kaiti is 22 today but God still uses her in my life to remind me that the choices I made to get more serious about God were right ones. While the world tries to make me feel extreme about my faith she says and does things that confirm for me that she's comfortable with the way she was raised, and the values that are in her life. She expects me to still be a leader today , even though both of our lives have changed more than we ever thought they would. She's not perfect and neither am I, but her love and respect for me show me that she expects me to talk and pray about my relationship with God out aloud, to have opinions that aren't popular ones, and to make sure God is a priority in all the Marshes lives. Recently she told me that even though it's not intentional, she realizes she finds herself attracted to and respects guys that value the kinds of things I value, and have a similar kind of personality. What better compliment to a Dad could there ever be? I love you KaitiBop
She's blogging about life on her own page now. If you'd like to keep up with her check out....
http://kaitibop.blogspot.com/
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