Ken Lovelace Ministries


F a i t h M a t t e r s with Dr. Ken Lovelace Emphasis: Survivor Series Surviving Parenthood -- Part 3 - Psalm 127; 128 For the past few weeks, we've been looking at a Survivor theme. Today we are considering part 3 of Surviving Parenthood. If you are just now joining me in this study, please take a moment to catch up. If you'd like to read Part 1 of this Surviving Parenthood devotional series, click here. If you'd like to read the introduction to the Survivor series, click here. Below you'll find Part 3 of Surviving Parenthood. IV. Keep the Goal in Mind The old saying, "You can't see the forest for the trees," is especially true in parenting. Seeing the overall picture and goal is often hidden by the daily routine, and sometimes drudgery, of parenting. Keeping the goal in mind is incredibly important if we are going to thrive as parents, otherwise we get bogged down in the daily grind and lose sight of the vision. The goal, like a coin, is two-sided. On one side… A. The Goal is to Develop Kids Who are Well-adjusted and Able to Cope - Over the past few years, the word "dysfunctional" has become an overused buzzword for more things than we can possibly imagine. But that word describes that which we try to avoid in raising our children. Hoping, praying, that they turn out okay, we work hard to give them what they need. Most of the important things they need to turn out well can be boiled down to one word: time. Working 12, 14 hours a day is one of the best ways to ensure they don't get what they need. B. On the Other Side, the Goal is Disneyworld - Yes, you heard correctly, Disneyworld. Perhaps you've seen the commercial where the last kid is loading his car for college. The parents are standing there with him and everyone looks sad. As he pulls out of the driveway and disappears in the distance, the parents' frowns turn upwards. Smiling, they press the garage door button only to reveal a fully loaded car with a sign on the back: "Disneyworld or Bust." They hop in and off they go on a trip all by themselves. That may sound silly, trivial, and unspiritual; it may even sound inappropriate. But I can assure you that there will come a time in your parenting adventure, if it hasn't already, when you will long for time alone with your spouse, for those simple days when it was just the two of you, and for the encouragement that the spouse alone can bring. Look again at Psalm 127: 3-5: Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. And let's reread Psalm 128:3-4: Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. Yes, children are a blessing, an inheritance from the Lord, and, according to Scripture, the more the merrier. We need to acknowledge that, yes, but the time comes in the midst of all the blessings when you long for Disneyworld. Disneyworld is just a word to describe a place, an event, where you, as parents, want to go together. A romantic get away, just the two of you. Keeping the fire alive, and the dream, will help you through the tough days of parenting. This concludes the Survivor series. Thank you for your time and attention. God's blessings on you! Copyright © 2010. Faith Matters by Dr. Ken Lovelace. All rights reserved. KDT031510

F a i t h M a t t e r s
with Dr. Ken Lovelace
Emphasis: Survivor Series

Surviving Parenthood -- Part 3 - Psalm 127; 128

For the past few weeks, we've been looking at a Survivor theme. Today we are considering part 3 of Surviving Parenthood. If you are just now joining me in this study, please take a moment to catch up. If you'd like to read Part 1 of this Surviving Parenthood devotional series, click here. If you'd like to read the introduction to the Survivor series, click here. Below you'll find Part 3 of Surviving Parenthood.

IV. Keep the Goal in Mind

The old saying, "You can't see the forest for the trees," is especially true in parenting. Seeing the overall picture and goal is often hidden by the daily routine, and sometimes drudgery, of parenting. Keeping the goal in mind is incredibly important if we are going to thrive as parents, otherwise we get bogged down in the daily grind and lose sight of the vision. The goal, like a coin, is two-sided. On one side…

A. The Goal is to Develop Kids Who are Well-adjusted and Able to Cope - Over the past few years, the word "dysfunctional" has become an overused buzzword for more things than we can possibly imagine. But that word describes that which we try to avoid in raising our children. Hoping, praying, that they turn out okay, we work hard to give them what they need. Most of the important things they need to turn out well can be boiled down to one word: time. Working 12, 14 hours a day is one of the best ways to ensure they don't get what they need.

B. On the Other Side, the Goal is Disneyworld - Yes, you heard correctly, Disneyworld.

Perhaps you've seen the commercial where the last kid is loading his car for college. The parents are standing there with him and everyone looks sad. As he pulls out of the driveway and disappears in the distance, the parents' frowns turn upwards. Smiling, they press the garage door button only to reveal a fully loaded car with a sign on the back: "Disneyworld or Bust." They hop in and off they go on a trip all by themselves.

That may sound silly, trivial, and unspiritual; it may even sound inappropriate. But I can assure you that there will come a time in your parenting adventure, if it hasn't already, when you will long for time alone with your spouse, for those simple days when it was just the two of you, and for the encouragement that the spouse alone can bring.

Look again at Psalm 127: 3-5:

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.

5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

And let's reread Psalm 128:3-4:

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.

4 Thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.

Yes, children are a blessing, an inheritance from the Lord, and, according to Scripture, the more the merrier. We need to acknowledge that, yes, but the time comes in the midst of all the blessings when you long for Disneyworld. Disneyworld is just a word to describe a place, an event, where you, as parents, want to go together. A romantic get away, just the two of you. Keeping the fire alive, and the dream, will help you through the tough days of parenting.

This concludes the Survivor series. Thank you for your time and attention. God's blessings on you!

Copyright © 2010. Faith Matters by Dr. Ken Lovelace. All rights reserved.

KDT031510