Raising Godly Boys Minute

Does your son have a nickname? Many kids do. Some nicknames like Ace or Champ are fun and cute, while others like Rooster, Zippy, and Waffle usually come from some hilarious event or personality trait. Nicknames are common, but there’s a nickname that only your son can call you. That’s the exclusive name of Dad. It isn’t by accident that God gave you to your son, and your son to you. In his all-kn...

How do you like your eggs prepared? Scrambled and sunny side up are the most popular, but some people like them hard boiled or over easy. Just as there are many ways to cook an egg, there are also many ways to discipline your son to correct wrong behavior. Of course, you wish discipline were never necessary, but that’s an unreasonable eggs-pectation. When your son blatantly disobeys, don’t let his...

If you have a kindergartener, have you taught him to drive yet? If you have a teenage son, are you giving him tummy time? Of course not, but in the busyness of everyday life, you might forget where your youngest and oldest children are in their developmental process. Understanding the specific age and stage of each child is vital in seeing where he’s come from … and where he still needs to go. So,...

The human eye is incredible! Even though it has over two million working parts, it’s the fastest muscle in the body. It also distinguishes millions of colors. And yet, our eyes often miss what’s most important in life. When your son is on the soccer field, are you watching, or are you scrolling through social media on your phone? Can you detect when your son is frustrated, or do you not even notic...

The kindergarten teacher looked at the parents and frowned. “Your son just won’t sit still,” she said. “He always wants to move and look at things throughout the room.” The boy’s mom furrowed her brows. “Not to be disrespectful, but why is sitting still an important skill for a five year old?” That boy’s mom was asking an excellent question. While there is a time and place to learn how to focus, n...

When was the last time you had to remind yourself to breathe? Unless you're exercising, breathing is the most natural thing. But what isn’t easy or natural is using our breath the way God intended. Too often, we use our breath to say words that are mean, sarcastic, and rude. Our kids hear our speech and begin imitating our volume, tone, and vocabulary. Instead of using our breath in negative...

What do you worry about most? Is it your finances, health, family, or something else? The Bible tells us to give our worries to God. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6 You can’t work your way into peace. You can only experience peace by taking everything to God with a heart of praise and prayer. T...

Nearly 70% of Americans own a pet. But can you guess what kind of pet is the most popular? If you answered dog, you’re right! From pugs to poodles . . . from beagles to bulldogs—canine companions share a place in our house and in our hearts. That’s why they’re called man’s best friend. Dogs are definitely cute, but they’re also a great way to connect with kids. When it’s time for your son to walk...

Have you ever picked up a large rock and dropped it into a still pond? After the initial plunk, circular ripples will flow out in every direction. The ripple effects are inevitable, just like the aftereffects of sin are inevitably felt in our lives and the lives of those around us. First Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he wil...

When you have a problem, do you usually ask for help or try to figure things out on your own? One hindrance to the power of God in our lives is our unwillingness to reach out to him for help and trust him to meet our needs. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 We limit what God wants to do for us when we don’t trust him to me...

When have you felt a “healthy fear”? While working with electricity, you should have a “healthy fear” of its power and take the proper safety precautions. The Bible talks about having a “healthy fear” of the Lord. The all-powerful and all-loving Creator of the universe fully deserves our fear and respect. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Fearing God gives us...

What does it mean to “guard your heart”? Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” This proverb is written by a father to his son, but the instructions apply to everyone — no matter their age. Your heart is the source of your thoughts and feelings. Guarding your heart requires keeping your focus on the things of God. So many things in our world can pull o...

Does anyone like to suffer? The apostle Paul knew a lot about suffering. He suffered beatings, imprisonments, and shipwrecks. In Colossians 1:24, Paul said he “rejoiced” in his sufferings. What? How could he rejoice in suffering? Because God used it to advance the gospel. Paul also pointed out that suffering strengthens our perseverance, character, and hope. Most of us have little experience with...

Have you ever had a divine encounter with someone who came into your life at just the right time, and you knew it was a “God thing”? I heard about a family that had a flat tire at Christmastime. They pulled into the closest repair shop they could find. The technician who came out to help them was named “Emmanuel.” He agreed to fix the flat even though the shop had just closed. Every Christmas, thi...

Do you find yourself playing the comparison game, comparing yourself to others? If so, you need to remind yourself of this truth: You are created uniquely by God — “fearfully and wonderfully made.” There isn’t another person in the world like you. It’s a message we share with our kids regularly but don’t apply to ourselves enough. When we fail to remember that God has created us uniquely and has a...

Do the things you say build people up or tear them down? Our words have more power than we realize. Proverbs 15:4 says, “Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” King Solomon, who wrote much of Proverbs, points out the pain caused by our hurtful speech. Harsh words cut deeply, and their damage is long-lasting. On the other hand, Solomon also points out the power of...

What’s love got to do with it? Well…quite a lot. Jesus spoke about love often and at one point was quoted as saying, “love your neighbor as yourself”, which was a reference from Leviticus 19:18. But how do we do that? There are many people who do not love themselves or see the value God has placed in them. How can we properly love others as ourselves when we despise ourselves? In order to love oth...

Have you ever ordered a product through Amazon Prime? If so, you’re not alone. Over 50% of American households have a Prime membership. From toys to tools, and from shoelaces to shampoo—people love Amazon because of the HUGE variety of items they sell. But there are some things you can’t buy at Amazon.com. You can’t buy your son a hug. You can’t order him a hearty laugh for $19.95. And you can’t p...

Boys sometimes get hurt. That’s a fact. But when your son cuts a finger or scrapes a knee, what do you do? If the cut looks dirty, dabbing iodine on it will keep infection away. Even though the antiseptic stings, you know it’s for your son’s own good. You want him to heal. The same is true in parenting. At one point or another, you’ll have to correct your son when he lies, cusses, or misbehaves. P...

How are you doing with your new year’s resolutions? Every year many people resolve to exercise more and eat healthier. The Bible tells Christ-followers to take care of their bodies. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” First Corinthians 3:16-17 Along...

Nathan was going to buy a motorcycle– at age 15. He wanted the bike to ride it to his job at a pizza shop. HIs parents told him it would be too dangerous, and suggested a car, instead. Nathan rolled his eyes.  But one day, Nathan announced that he was going to buy a car, instead. His boss at the pizza shop said a motorcycle would be too dangerous. Nathan’s parents glanced at each other, and smiled...

Here’s a simple way to boost your son’s development today. Researchers have coined a term called “joint attention sequences” to describe what happens when you make a connection with your son. This can happen when you look him in the eyes, laugh when he makes a joke, read stories with him, or praise him for an accomplishment. In his book Raising Boys, author Steve Biddulph [BID-dulf] says these seq...

As a parent, you want to give your son the world. But of course, time, resources, and energy are limited. When you have to tell your son “no, I can’t play with you right now,” or, “No, we can’t buy that toy right now,” you may feel guilty. But don’t feel bad. Even God, our perfect Father, often answers our prayers and requests with “not right now” or “no.” As you teach your son to wait, you teach...

When you were a kid did your parents warn you not to look directly into the sun because it could damage your vision? When you stare directly at the sun—or other types of bright light such as a welding torch—ultraviolet light floods your retina, literally burning the exposed tissue. However, there is a Son we need to continually look at — the Son of God, Jesus Christ. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,...

What are some things that rise? Maybe you’re thinking about prices, or helium, or a hot air balloon. But by far, the most amazing thing that has ever risen is the Lord Jesus. If he had stayed dead, people would have no hope and no future. But after three days in the tomb, Jesus conquered death and rose victoriously. And because of that, we can be redeemed. Have you and your son accepted Jesus Chri...