Raising Godly Boys Minute

What’s the most important question you’ve ever asked or been asked? Will you marry me? Did I get the job? Is the cancer in remission? While these are all important questions, life’s most important question is found in the Bible in Matthew 16:15-16 when Jesus asked Simon Peter, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” and Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” What some...

Did your parents ever say, “This is going to hurt me more than you.” This saying reminds me of Hebrews 12:11. “No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.” When God disciplines his children (believers), he does so out of love. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father,...

How many weeks will you have with your child before they become a legal adult? There are approximately 936 weeks from the day your child is born until he graduates from high school, and the weeks move quickly. You need to make the most of the time you have with your child. Parenting is a never-ending process, but the developmental years are crucial. I recommend that you fill a jar with marbles — o...

It’s been said that unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. When we choose not to forgive, it hurts us, not just the person who has hurt us. Jesus said a lot about forgiveness in the Bible. He taught, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” When Peter asked Jesus how often it is necessary to forgive, he replied, “S...

Have you ever tried putting something together without looking at the instructions? I heard about a man who did this once with a wagon his son got for Christmas. Unfortunately, he put the wheels on wrong. Each time he pulled his son in the wagon reminded him that he should have read the instructions first. Thankfully, God has given us instructions to follow in his word. The Bible is God’s big inst...

What’s the first thing you do when you or your child is struggling with something? Is it to pray? Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort. There is power in prayer. Stormie Omartian (stor·mee ow·maar·tee·uhn) writes this in her book The Power of a Praying Parent: “When we pray, we bring that power to bear upon everything we are praying about, and we allow the power of God to work...

When it comes to toilet paper placement, do you prefer the paper to flow over or under the roll? Well, according to recent surveys, around 70% of Americans prefer the toilet paper to roll over the top. This may not seem like a big deal, but for some people, toilet paper placement causes controversy, chaos, and conflict. We laugh at such pettiness, but the truth is we often major on the minor thing...

If you don’t give your son a challenge, he will challenge you. Julie was frustrated that her teenage son, Tyler, wouldn’t help with any chores around the house. But when Tyler’s dad asked him to repair the fence in the backyard, Tyler jumped at the opportunity. Why? Boys are uniquely wired to crave adventure. So much so that they often lose motivation when things are too easy or simple. This is wh...

Have you watched the track and field events at the Summer Olympic Games? The training that goes into running a marathon is much different than what a runner needs to do to prepare for a 100-yard dash. Raising godly boys is more like a marathon than a sprint. Parenting is a lifelong process filled with seemingly insignificant moments. We must take advantage of every opportunity God gives us, whethe...

Have you heard of The Greatest Commandment? It’s found in the Bible in Matthew 22:36-40, where Jesus says: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” These verses can be summed up as “L...

Does your son play a musical instrument? Maybe the piano, trumpet, or violin? The process of learning how to play an instrument is a lot like parenting. It requires patience, persistence, and a passion to improve. During the parenting process, mistakes will inevitably happen. Improper technique may cause squeaky notes. Your instruction may fall flat or be off key. And despite your best efforts, yo...

Have you ever seen a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat? Maybe you stared in wonder as he made someone suddenly disappear. Kids think magic tricks are super cool, but performing these illusions requires lots of practice. As a dad, you might not be a professional magician, but you can still perform magic in 3 simple steps: Step 1: Wrap your arm around your son. Step 2: With heartfelt meaning, say,...

Hola. Bonjour. Konnichiwa. [kon-nee-chee-wah] You may not know Spanish, French, or Japanese, but make sure you understand your son’s love language. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages of Children, lists important ways to show how much you care. The 5 love languages include: Physical Touch Words of Affirmation Quality Time Gifts and Acts of Service By taking time to understand your son’s p...

Your son probably thinks Valentine’s Day is silly. But it’s actually much more important than he realizes. When your boy sees you buy your wife flowers, or dress up for a date with your husband, you are sending several important messages. First, you are showing your son that you have a healthy marriage– something that psychologists say is crucial for a child’s well being. Boys who are raised by ma...

Is social media hurting your son’s self-esteem? Social networks often create unreasonable expectations of what a man is. And because of that, boys may look at their flaws and failures and think that they’re not good enough.   As a dad, remind your son that even great men from the Bible experienced physical and spiritual weaknesses. Moses stuttered. Jacob was a cheater. Elijah wrestled with depress...

No one wants to think about death, but if you’re a Christian, you know that Christ has conquered the grave. Still, at some point, physical death will separate us from our loved ones. The question is: What kind of legacy will you leave behind. How will your children remember you? Billy Graham, one of the most widely known evangelists of the 20th century, said, “The greatest legacy one can pass on t...

Have you ever asked yourself, “What does God want my son to see that he is not seeing, and how can I help him see it?” Because sin is deceptive, it can blind your son to the sin in his own heart. Let’s look for chances to be a tool to help him see it. When you help him see what motivates his desires and actions, you are doing what God has called you to do as a parent. Parenting is not about gettin...

Have you ever found something you thought you had lost forever? How did it feel? Imagine completing a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle, except for one missing piece. You could look everywhere until you give up hope of ever finding the piece, only to have it turn up when you aren’t looking for it a few weeks later. Imagine how excited you’d be to finally complete the puzzle. In Luke 15, Jesus talks about se...

Did you know that 3,160 tons of water flow over Niagara Falls every second?   Like water flows over the Falls, the words and actions of your son flow out of what is in their hearts.   To raise godly boys, we need to remember the advice the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, gave to his son: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23   Your son’s...

Has the grumble monster invaded your home? You may not see him, but he leaves everyone feeling grouchy and grumpy. These emotions often lead to frustration when life is hard. Perhaps your son struggles in school, or maybe he’s hanging around friends that aren’t a good influence. You wish life didn’t have so many trials and troubles. During these times, it’s easy to complain. That’s why Philippians...

What comes to mind when you hear the words “mercy” and “grace”?   Pastor and author Paul Tripp defines mercy as “tenderheartedness and compassion toward someone in need.” John Newton wrote about God’s “Amazing Grace” in his beloved hymn.   I like this definition: Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.   “Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with con...

When was the last time your plans were suddenly ruined? Maybe you had organized the perfect family road trip. But then, the day before leaving, one of your kids got really sick. Life doesn’t always go according to plan. There are countless variables outside our control. But we can control how we react when receiving bad news. When disappointment strikes, be intentional in teaching your kids an imp...

What comes to mind when someone mentions a chameleon? Most people think of the scaly lizard that changes color based on its surroundings. These cold-blooded reptiles blend into their environment by camouflaging their appearance. They can even adapt the brightness of their skin for strategic purposes. Chameleons are fascinating, but they’re NOT an example of how Christians should act in today’s wor...

Do you have a smartphone? If so, in addition to making phone calls and sending text messages, you probably use it to take pictures. Of course, when kids are young, parents often take thousands of pictures. But as those same kids enter middle school and high school, life becomes so busy that parents sometimes forget to take pictures. Be intentional in capturing both the big and small moments of lif...

You glance at the clock. It’s 9:17 a.m. “Hurry up!” you holler from the kitchen. “Church starts in less than 15 minutes!” Your kids dash from room to room, grabbing their Bibles, their shoes, and maybe even a Pop-Tart. Then you’re out the door and in the car. Yet despite your best race car driving skills, you’re late to church—again. Can you relate to this? Do you find yourself constantly late to...