Raising Godly Boys Minute

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “Grow up. Be a man!” The rebuke is usually directed toward a boy who is being whiny or acting childish. But being a man involves much more than simply reaching a certain age. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Becoming a man involves physical, mental,...

How about creating a regular meeting time with your son? For years, every weekday morning, Pastor John Tyson and his son Nate would get up and do a devotional together. They called it their early morning meetings– and Tyson says it blessed both of them immensely. You can adopt this practice with your own boy. Use your morning drive time to listen and discuss a Bible passage together.  Or, choose a...

Ever wonder if your discipline and teaching is really resonating with your son? Mandy, the mom of a defiant 2-year-old, had been diligently trying to teach her son to clean with a broom and dustpan. But even after lots of repetition, he didn’t seem to be learning it at all. One night, during a temper tantrum, her son threw food on the floor. Mandy couldn’t believe it when her son got a broom and d...

Your son can learn from your inconveniences. Jack and his son were driving to football practice when they got a flat tire. By the time they had put on the spare, driven to the mechanic, and replaced the tire, Jack’s son had completely missed his practice. Jack felt bad– but he was grateful his son now knew how to handle a flat tire. When you experience things like car trouble or house maintenance...

You don’t have to get it perfect. But you do have to get it right. Raising a son can be one of the hardest experiences of your life. And it’s very easy to focus on all the ways you fall short. Although God never commands you to be a perfect parent– He does give some guidelines. Ephesians says not to provoke your son. Proverbs reminds you to be diligent in discipline. Deuteronomy encourages you to...

Are you raising a “man–ager”? Pastor Jon Tyson coined this phrase, which describes a man who is physically an adult but still living like a child– playing video games all night, living with his parents, and not pursuing higher education or a stable career. Pastor Tyson says that one of the biggest things that separates a boy from a man is the confidence to pursue hard things in life. As your son g...

“What if you could be a better husband, father, and man without the use of your legs or hands?” That was the question that Chad Hymas [hi-miss]’s father asked him,  as Chad lay in a hospital bed. He had suddenly become a quadrapaletic after a farming accident. His dad’s words sparked the hope that Chad needed– and today, years later, he is a devoted husband and dad and an inspiring speaker– despit...

Why are young boys seemingly always dirty?  As a father who has had young boys, it’s nearly impossible to keep them clean. But when it comes to spiritual things, how can we help our boys stay pure from the pull of this evil culture we live in? Psalm 119:9 says, How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. The Word of God will be the light for the path of your son. Livin...

What is a father’s most important role? Is it providing? Is it Protecting, or teaching? I believe the most important role of a father is affirmation. The word affirm means to state as fact. As fathers we are to declare to our children, especially our boys who they are and who God says they are. You can provide everything for your son and even teach him great things, but if you never tell him he is...

Why are boys so wild and crazy? If you’re a mom of boys but you never grew up with boys you may wonder why they act the way they do. Why they like to climb trees and wrestle. While they take sticks off the ground and act like they are guns. Why they are constantly dirty. The fact is boys and girls are very different. God made boys to be adventurous and risktakers by nature. They like to explore an...

When the national anthem is sung or the pledge of allegiance recited, does your son stand and salute the flag? Since 1777, the American flag has stood as a powerful symbol of American liberty and justice. The stars and stripes remind us of the sacrifice that many men and women gave so that we can enjoy this land of the free. Teach your son the meaning of the flag’s colors. White signifies purity a...

Did you know that the human heart beats about 100,000 times a day, and the average heart will beat more than three billion times in its lifetime? Many of the problems boys face today are heart-related — not physically, but emotionally and spiritually. The heart of the matter is truly a matter of the heart! As parents raising godly boys, we need to be careful to guard our hearts and help boys guard...

Can fear actually be a good thing? According to the Scriptures there are two types of fear. The fear of the Lord and the spirit of fear Proverbs says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But in 2 Timothy 1:7 it says God has not given us a spirit of fear. The fear of the Lord is that voice inside of us that tells us what we’re about to do may cause harm. It’s the feeling you get when yo...

At sea level, water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. But it probably doesn’t take that much heat to make your blood boil. Does your son pretend not to hear you? Is he repeatedly ignoring your instructions? Does he say sarcastic remarks that irritate you? Parenting boys isn’t easy. The path toward maturity is often steep and bumpy—twisting and turning in unexpected ways. And because boys have a min...

Have you ever been to a circus or zoo where animals perform tricks? Maybe you’ve seen a seal balance a bright red ball on its nose. Or maybe you’ve seen a monkey ride a tiny bicycle. Training animals takes lots of work and patience. But even more difficult than taming animals is taming the tongue. James 3:8 says, “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” The to...

What poisonous plant is easily identified by its “leaves of three”? If you said poison ivy, you’re right! When you see its “leaves of three,” you immediately step back. That’s because nobody wants red, itchy skin covered in bumps and blisters. In the great outdoors, it’s important to teach your son the hazards of poison ivy, but it’s even more important to teach him the hazards of sensuality. Toda...

Have you ever heard the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? Kids sometimes use the rhyming words as a comeback against insults. But the rhyme couldn’t be further from the truth. Words do impact our thoughts and actions. That’s why 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to “encourage one another and build one another up.” When was the last time you wrapped an ar...

Do you have a junk drawer at home? You know, a drawer where you keep odds and ends like buttons, batteries, and blue highlighters. Even though small knick-knacks can seem like junk, those tiny objects suddenly become super important when you need them. The same is true in life. At some point, your son may fail a test at school or miss a crucial pass at a football game. That’s when something as sma...

When was the last time you looked up at the moon? It’s usually there in the night sky, but we don’t always pay attention to it. And yet, the waxing and waning of moon phases is an important reminder that time is continually passing. It’s one thing to ignore the moon, but whatever you do, don’t ignore your son. No matter how busy life becomes, remember to appreciate phases of growth in your son. Wh...

Okay, let’s get serious for a moment. The fact is … belly buttons look kind of funny! Some stick out like a small marble. Others curve inward like a deep cave. Some are smooth—others super wrinkly. No matter what your belly button looks like, it’s a reminder of how your mother nourished you through an umbilical cord while inside the womb. As a dad, you weren’t joined to your son through an umbilic...

Do you remember learning to ride a bike? For kids, it’s a BIG deal. But learning to ride a bike takes time—maybe even a few falls and scraped knees. Perhaps you remember holding onto your son’s bike as he pedaled down the sidewalk. But little by little, you carefully released your grip. At first, just for a second. Then, as your son developed confidence, you let go entirely. At that point, your so...

Imagine this. At a garage sale, you wipe the dust off an old genie lamp. Smoke pours out, then poof! A genie stands in front of you. He says, “You freed me from the bottle—I grant you one wish.” You’re thrilled, but what will you ask for? A work promotion? A sports car? Tickets to the Superbowl? In 1 Kings chapter 3, King Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom and discernment. And God granted his desir...

Did you ever make a mud pie? Maybe your son has. That’s where you mix water and dirt into a thick, gooey mixture. Then after slapping the mud into a hamburger-sized patty you decorate it with twigs and pebbles. Boys still like getting dirty in the backyard. But at some point, it’s time to clean up. As a parent, teach your son that there’s a time to be messy and dirty, but also a time to wash up an...

Do you have unreasonable expectations? As a parent, you love your son and want him to succeed at everything he does. You want him to earn the highest grades in class, score the most points at the game, and have the greatest artistic talent. But unreasonable expectations can cause frustration—for both you and your son. Even though it’s fine to motivate your son to achieve success, be careful that y...

If you’re a mom or dad, you’ve probably lost your patience a time or two—or, more likely, dozens of times. That’s because training kids to get along with their siblings and behave appropriately takes lots of time and attention. It’s easy to grow frustrated at having to provide correction for the billionth time. Even though frustration is a natural human emotion, losing your temper is never right....