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"Wanted, Super Nannies in the Church"

Title: “Wanted: Super Nannies Needed at Church” Author: JoyPals.com-ReformedWomen, Editor-Publisher --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Eph 6:1-4

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What would you say if you saw a newspaper ad like this in the religious section of your local newspaper? You would probably have a reaction of utter disbelief and exclaim “are you kidding, what’s next”? Well, if we are completely honest and are “thinking and acting biblically,” we would fess up and say yes, our children are much like the world’s children, doing what they are naturally inclined to do, sin, rebel, buck authority and do what is pleasing to their own selfish desires and self-interest. Wow, that’s pretty tough language and a pronounced judgment on our children isn’t it? No, on the contrary, it’s not fluff, psychobabble or soapy sentimentalism, it’s biblical. It is what God’s Word says about children in their natural estate:

The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth… Gen 8:21

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. Pro 22:15

Thus, if we are biblical in our application of Scriptural principles and truth, we will say that we need help as parents, especially God’s help, so that we can nurture, train and discipline our children in a consistent and godly manner so that they will honor and obey us and bring glory to God in their lives. We don’t need a “Super Nanny” to train us how to be biblical parents in our training and discipline of our children. We have the “best” Super Nanny of all, God’s Word and it, and it alone, gives us the biblical answers to raise them in all of those good and godly attributes that will make them obedient children, good citizens and godly examples of a Christ-centered life.

On the other hand, if we are not biblical in our training but use the world’s methods, terms, psycho-applications, warm and fuzzy feelings of motherhood and child rearing, and other like-error, we will reap what we sow and especially so in the Church itself, both spiritual and corporate. Why is that? Because it takes our spiritual temperature and will speak volumes of whom we are as Christian parents. It will be a poor example to other Christians and the world of what a Christian child and family are and do and more importantly, it dishonors God and brings His Word and promises into question. It says, in essence, that being a Christian and raising children biblically makes no difference whatsoever and that the “ways of the world” in their Freudian thinking and practice is more successful and a “better” way to raise children. That, in itself, gives glory to the false, liberal thinkers and psychobabblers, agents of the evil one rather than to Jesus Christ, the Author of life and breath and the Providential God to whom we have to do.

So now you say, “What has this got to do with the Church corporate”? What it is saying is this: If we do not respect God in our homes by obedience to His Word and honoring our parents, it will reflect how we behave outside the home. We attend Church, the corporate worship of God with the brethren to worship, praise and adore our God. We come on His day with obedient hearts, minds and attention focused on Him in exercise of praise and worship. We come with a quiet and meek spirit, with confession and prayerful preparation. We come bringing Him our full attention so that we can worship Him as He has commanded. So then, as obedient and worshipful parents, we train our children to do likewise. We train them to listen, to worship, to praise, to confess and they show their love and obedience to God by obeying us in their behavior. It is our responsibility to train them for worship that is according to Scripture. We do not train them as the world trains their children, that all things are acceptable in religious worship, i.e., eating and drinking, playing with toys, talking and visiting, running around between pews, standing on their heads, not participating in singing or bowing their heads in prayer, or following along in Scripture readings. We train them that to take their attention away from worship with God’s family and God’s ministers bringing His Word to them, is to rob God of His offerings and is disobedience and an affront to our Holy God. We train them that true happiness and joy in their life is through obedience and especially obedience in the worship of their God who has given them life. We make this a priority in our own worship and in the worship practice of our children so that our great and loving God is honored and obeyed and we are blessed.

If we truly want what is best for our children, we will do it God’s way and if God’s way, there is no need for a Super Nanny, but rather obedient parents bringing their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord through His Word. If you truly want blessed children begin discipline in the nursery, in the home, in public places and carry it on into the corporate worship of God. Do not “spare for their crying” or be lazy in discipline but pursue diligently all of those things that God’s Word has commanded you to do as you train (catechize) your children. Train them, love them, be gentle and tender with them but discipline them as God has commanded. He has given you “super” responsibilities and support to be biblical trainers and godly examples to your children and placed them and the nurture of their souls in your hands.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Eph 6:1-4

For the glory of God…..for the life and joy of our family…for the good of the body of Christ….let it be so.

JoyPals.com, Editor & Publisher, “Heavenly Notes 2005” Rev. 2008 Copyright 2005-8, All Rights Reserved

Further reading: J.C. Ryle: “The Duties of Parents” Sinclair Ferguson: “Little Innocents” Jay Adams: “Christian Living in the Home” William & Colleen Dedrick: “The Little Book of Christian Character and Manners” Bruce Ray: “Withhold Not Correction” Wayne Mack: “Your Family, God’s Way” Donald Van Dyken: “Rediscovering Catechism”

Important Scriptures: Pro 13:1 A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. Pro 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. Pro 15:5 A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. Pro 23:13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. Pro 23:14 If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Pro 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

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John Piper and the Prosperity Gospel

This is what God's people and the church needs to hear -- a short and amazingly profound video that is a must see and hear!

John Piper and the Prosperity Gospel

God's Divine Promises

God’s Divine Promises « ReformedWomen

Josh Groban "Amazing Grace" Music & Movie

The beautiful "Amazing Grace" -- how sweet the sound!

JOSH GROBAN AMAZING GRACE

Amazing Grace (How sweet the sound) That sav'd a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears reliev'd; How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snare, I have already come; 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease; I shall profess, within the vail, A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who call'd me here below, Will be for ever mine. * * * John Newton

Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism

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WHO IS THE GREATEST?

WHO IS THE GREATEST? J.C.Ryle Let us observe, in this passage, how firmly pride and love of preeminence can stick to the hearts of Christian men. We are told that "There was a dispute among the disciples, as to which of them should be considered the greatest." The strife was one which had been rebuked by our Lord on a former occasion. The ordinance which the disciples had just been receiving, and the circumstances under which they were assembled, made the strife peculiarly inappropriate. And yet at this very season, the last quiet time they could spend with their Master before His death, this little flock begins a dispute, as to who should be the greatest! Such is the heart of man, ever weak, ever deceitful, ever ready, even at its best times, to turn aside to what is evil. The sin before us is a very old one. Ambition, self-esteem, and self-conceit lie deep at the bottom of all men's hearts, and often in the hearts where they are least suspected. Thousands imagine that they are humble, who cannot bear to see an equal more honored and favored than themselves. Few indeed can be found who rejoice heartily in a neighbor's promotion over their own heads. The quantity of envy and jealousy in the world is a glaring proof of the prevalence of pride. Men would not envy a brother's advancement if they had not a secret thought that their own merit was greater than his. Let us live on our guard against this sore disease, if we make any profession of serving Christ. The harm that it has done to the Church of Christ is far beyond calculation. Let us learn to take pleasure in the prosperity of others, and to be content with the lowest place for ourselves. The rule given to the Philippians should be often before our eyes--"In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves." The example of John the Baptist is a bright instance of the spirit at which we should aim. He said of our Lord, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (Phil. 2:3; John 3:30.) Let us observe, secondly, in this passage, the striking account which our Lord gives of true Christian greatness. He tells His disciples that the worldly standard of greatness was the exercise of 'lordship and authority'. "But you," He says, "shall not be so. He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that serves." And then He enforces this principle by the mighty fact of His own example--"I am among you as he that serves." Usefulness in the world and Church--a humble readiness to do anything, and put our hands to any good work--a cheerful willingness to fill any post, however lowly, and discharge any office, however unpleasant, if we can only promote happiness and holiness on earth--these are the true tests of Christian greatness. The hero in Christ's army is not the man who has rank, and title, and dignity, and chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. It is the man who looks not on his own things, but the things of others. It is the man who is kind to all, tender to all, thoughtful for all, with a hand to help all, and a heart to feel for all. It is the man who spends and is spent to make the vice and misery of the world less, to bind up the broken-hearted, to befriend the friendless, to cheer the sorrowful, to enlighten the ignorant, and to raise the poor. This is the truly great man in the eyes of God. The world may ridicule his labors and deny the sincerity of his motives. But while the world is sneering, God is pleased. This is the man who is walking most closely in the steps of Christ. Let us follow after greatness of this sort, if we desire to prove ourselves Christ's servants. Let us not be content with clear head-knowledge, and loud lip-profession, and keen insight into controversy, and fervent zeal for the interests of our own party. Let us see that we minister to the needs of a sin-burdened world, and do good to bodies and souls. Blessed be God! the greatness which Christ commended is within the reach of all. All have not learning, or gifts, or money. But all can minister to the happiness of those around them, by passive or by active graces. All can be useful, and all can be kind. There is a grand reality in constant kindness. It makes the men of the world think. Let us observe, thirdly, in this passage, our Lord's gracious commendation of His disciples. He said to them, "You have remained true to me in my time of trial." There is something very striking in these words of praise. We know the weakness and infirmity of our Lord's disciples during the whole period of His earthly ministry. We find Him frequently reproving their ignorance and lack of faith. He knew full well that within a few hours they were all going to forsake Him. But here we find Him graciously dwelling on one good point in their conduct, and holding it up to the perpetual notice of His Church. They had been faithful to their Master, notwithstanding all their faults. Their hearts had been right, whatever had been their mistakes. They had clung to Him in the day of His humiliation, when the great and noble were against Him. They had "remained true to Him in His time of trial." Let us rest our souls on the comfortable thought that the mind of Christ is always the same. If we are true believers, let us know that He looks at our graces more than at our faults, that He pities our infirmities, and that He will not deal with us according to our sins. Never had a master such poor, weak servants as believers are to Christ--but never had servants such a compassionate and tender Master as Christ is to believers! Surely we cannot love Him too well. We may come short in many things. We may fail in knowledge and courage, and faith, and patience. We may stumble many times. But one thing let us always do. Let us love the Lord Jesus with heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. Whatever others do, let us "remain true to Him," and cleave to Him with purpose of heart. Happy is he who can say with Peter, however humbled and ashamed, "Lord, you know that I love you." (John 21:15.) Let us observe, lastly, what a glorious promise our Lord holds out to His faithful disciples. He says, "I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed unto me; that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." These words were our Lord's parting legacy to His little flock. He knew that in a few hours His ministry among them would be ended. He winds it up by a wonderful declaration of good things laid up in store for them. We may not perhaps see the full meaning of every part of the promise. Enough for us to know that our Lord promised His eleven faithful ones--glory, honor, and rewards, far exceeding anything they had done for Him. They had gone a little way with Him, like Barzillai with David, and done a little for Him. He assures them that they shall have in another world a recompense worthy of a king. Let us leave the whole passage with the cheering thought that the wages which Christ will give to his believing people will be far out of proportion to anything they have done for Him. Their tears will be found in His bottle. Their least desires to do good will be found recorded. Their weakest efforts to glorify Him sill be found written in His book of remembrance. Not a cup of cold water shall miss its reward. Read: Luke 22:24-30