HOW WELL DID I DO RAISING MY KIDS? - "EMPTY NESTERS" LOOK BACK - GOOD!

AS ARROWS ARE IN THE HAND OF A MIGHTY MAN; SO ARE

CHILDREN OF THE YOUTH. HAPPY IS THE MAN THAT HATH HIS QUIVER FULL OF THEM. PSALM 127:3-5

Do I even dare think about it? -- As an "empty nester" looking back.

I recall that saying, "Don't ask the question, if you can't STAND the answer.

In many of the ordinary things of rearing my kids, the answer is - ok, but not great.

But, I thank God, that in that most critical God-connect thing, -- I say - pretty good.

I mean like that heart warming passage, the Apostle Paul writing to his "son in the faith," his protege' Timothy. 2Timothy1:5:

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

I'd say the ladies outdid me, but I'm still reasonably pleased.

I see Christian's kids who follow after the folks in dutifully "warming the bench," in church on Sunday.

Although, I hear many many of Christian's kids, just "chuck it," when they leave home, they jettison the religion thing.

But, what I have intended for my kids -- that genuine faith as in the great words from the Prophet Jeremiah, -- chapter 20:9:

Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

I mean that "fire inside." That special "flame!"

As Paul sees in Timothy, that "unfeigned faith."

I remember my Grandfather -- not great in any ordinary sense -- even told "colorful" jokes at the diner table.

But, OH, when he prayed for the meal, and in the bent of his conversation -- you could not mistake that deep, sincere, "unfeigned faith."

I'm thankful to God for that same genuine, true, faith in God, that I believe, I see in my four sons -- now grown up and moved out.

My daughter, I adopted, -- care much for her -- I think it is there, too, deep down, but harder to notice -- but, I hope and pray.

We cannot MAKE our kids embrace Jesus Christ - but we should do our best.

Back to my Granddad -- he offered one of my brothers a quarter if he would memorize John 3:16:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

A quarter was worth something back then.

But, looking back, this shouted out, load and clear, to my brother and I -- my Granddad was a GENUINE believer in Jesus Christ.

Only this can explain his actions.

I do not have anything God has not, just, plain, given, me.

But, I rejoice, that in my 4 sons, I believe I see, that same AUTHENTIC faith in the true God, as in my Granddad, Timothy, Jeremiah, etc.

Sometimes someone asks if I have a book they can give their kids.

It is vastly better to BE as my Granddad -- one who cannot HELP, like Jeremiah, cannot HELP IT -- proclaiming from that genuine heart of faith.

Hebrews 11, often called, the believers "hall of fame," has many such examples.

I include the whole of Hebrews 11 at the end of this page.

If you read that chapter, note, the verbs are ACTION verbs.

That is, By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, PREPARED (ACTION VERB), an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Note that Noah's actions were a clear testimony to the world.

Some of the ordinary things of child-rearing, I let slip. - Did ok, but, not good.

My sons are all "good" in the usual ways.

But, I do rejoice that the "content of their faith," in Jesus Christ is authentic.

KIDS AND MORE KIDS

LO, CHILDREN ARE A HERITAGE OF THE LORD: THE FRUIT OF THE WOMB IS HIS REWARD. PSALM 127:3-5

I see many Christians -- better people than I -- their kids are "good," but no "flame" inside like Granddad.

I must give God the glory and thanks for that "flame" I see in my kids.

But in terms of what I did -- at risk of bragging -- yes, MY REAL interest and faith, yes --

My kids could not avoid me, or not help but notice me, in this regard -- my flame -- like Granddad.

Many times as I "talked" to them at the dinner table -- they may have wished they could avoid me.

I very strongly re-iterate -- I strongly advocate, and strongly employ the "JURY DUTY," METHOD."

Nothing mysterious here, a jury will be strongly convinced by testimony PLUS physical evidence.

LIKEWISE THE KIDS!

Secular eduction relentlessly chips away at the veracity of Christianity in every area possible.

I WON MY KIDS, not meaning to brag, nor overlooking God's indispensable movement in their hearts.

Same as a trial lawyer wins the minds of the jury by the shear cogent combination of testimony and physical evidence.

I LEFT MY KIDS NO CHOICE - they could not resist the shear power of the testimony PLUS physical evidence combination.

CHRISTIANITY IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH.

BUT, MOST CHURCHES HAVE THEIR FLOCK SO DUMBED DOWN due to withholding and ignoring of physical evidences --

-- That the secular, anti-Christian system wins by default.

I absolutely hate it when I hear some preacher speak of "apologetics," as though physical evidences are an optional extra.

Ask any trial lawyer if physical evidences are an OPTIONAL EXTRA.

Oh sure -- an optional extra -- if you want your kids to grow up to be church seat warmers, or worse, chuck the whole thing.

It's hard to argue with success.

People can find fault with me.

But I can point to 4 of my grown-up kids that are visibly MORE than church seat warmers.

At this web site, by God's grace and enablement, I have put many articles of the "Jury Duty," kind.

JESUS SAID, SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN, AND FORBID

THEM NOT, TO COME UNTO ME; FOR SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN -- MATTHEW 19:14 (NEW TESTAMENT)

WHAT IF - AS AN "EMPTY NESTER" LOOKING BACK - YOU HAVE REGRETS.

My grandkids come over - yours will too.

My Dad and his brother, my uncle -- sad to say -- I saw no FLAME in them.

Like maybe God skipped a generation, my Granddad, then to us grandkids.

God can still mightily use you - Gramps. You too, Granny.

I miss my Dad.

I was with him, at his death bed.

Sadly, his last words were, "I have never wronged any man."

He was a straight-arrow, and I believe him.

But, that non-embracement of Jesus Christ was still there, as it had been throughout our upbringing.

We believing kids had spoken to him many times, in various ways.

I was not close to him in my early youth and adulthood --

But in my 40s I sought to visit him.

He had a lot of political and economic savvy.

I would call him on the phone, with my absentee ballot open before me.

He knew all the issues, all the candidates.

I just checked off the boxes on my ballot.

I miss those times with him.

I hope, somehow our words, and surely the words of his believing Dad connected with him in his final moments.

Point being -- if you and your adult kids still live -- there will likely be opportunities.

Perhaps to try to do, what you are sorry now, you have not done so far.

Someone said, success, is when preparation meets opportunity.

So, prepare now.

Have a an assortment of things in your quiver, your arsenal.

Romans 1 shows that the proper Gospel presentation starts with Special Creation.

Romans 1:18-20:
¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
¹⁹Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
²⁰For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

We are all (before salvation) on death row, God putting us on notice, through his witness in his Specially Created things.

But God sent his son to be our Savior.

Creation is the right starting point for the Gospel.

I have several pages at this site showing this.

Current issues is another area likely to come up in family discussions.

Be ready - have a prepared viewpoint which will allow you to point to God.

Like my Granddad, offer a buck to grandkids that memorize John 3:16.

JESUS SAID, EXCEPT YE BE COVERTED, AND BECOME AS

LITTLE CHILDREN, YE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN -- MATTHEW 18:3

Hebrews 11: (See also -- Jamieson, Faucett, Brown Commentary on Hebrews 11)

¹Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

²For by it the elders obtained a good report.

³Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

⁴By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

⁵By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

⁶But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

⁷By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

⁸By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

⁹By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

¹⁰For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

¹¹Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

¹²Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

¹³These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

¹⁴For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

¹⁵And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

¹⁶But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

¹⁷By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

¹⁸Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

¹⁹Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

²⁰By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

²¹By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

²²By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

²³By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

²⁴By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

²⁵Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

²⁶Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

²⁷By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

²⁸Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

³⁰By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

³¹By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

³²And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

³³Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

³⁴Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

³⁵Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

³⁶And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

³⁷They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

³⁸(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

⁴⁰God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

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