I am reading my first book of the new year that Justin picked out for me. It is called GOSPEL-POWERED PARENTING by William P. Farley. I am only on the third chapter, but it is really challenging me in all areas of my parenting: how I look at parenting, the goal of parenting, etc. Here are just a few quotes to wet your appetite for this book:
"Morality is important, but it follows faith. It does not produce it." (p. 42).
"Well-behaved children are not the ultimate end." (p. 42).
"..the goal of Christian parenting is heart transformation." (p. 43).
" In conclusion, it is positively hurtful to build your lives around your children instead of God. It damages children, it tears down our marriages, and most importantly, it displeases God." (p. 36).
Chapter 3 is about gospel fear, what it looks like and how it should govern our lives and parenting. This excerpt brought back so many memories of my dad, he too showed me balance between fear and love of him, that made it so much clearer what the fear of God looks like.
"Fearing our heavenly Father is something like fearing a good earthly father. I feared my father. I knew that he would inflict whatever pain was necessary to instill in me obedience, loyalty, hard work, and perseverance, among other things. But I also hoped in his love. I felt secure in his presence. I knew that he would not reject me-that no matter what I did, he would never stop loving me. I could disappoint him. I could grieve him. But I could not motivate him to withdraw his love from me. Many reading this paragraph did not have a father like this. Whether you did or you didn't, this is what God's love is like. This is what fearing God is like." (p. 66)
I always feared the punishment that I would receive when I was disobedient, but I also knew that I felt the safest in his arms. Dad, thank you for showing me how to fear God and for being such a godly Father. You will never know how much I love you, and I pray that this legacy will be passed down to my children and so on.
I will have more on this book later. God is so good to give us wisdom and lead us in the best way to show the gospel to our children.
4 comments:
Wow! What an interesting book for you to read. Those quotes that you listed on this woke me up. Very interesting book.
I too am thankful for my Daddy who was the Judge when I grew up. I did needed a lot of those spanking and correction. Yet, I love him and miss him so much. Including miss having my fishing buddy when we go fishing.
Hungry to eat His Word,
'Guerite ~ BoldLion
Chris and I will have to add this one to our reading list-thanks for sharing!
sounds awesome! We know the author's daughter...pretty cool!
I will be picking that one up myself...thanks for the recommendation and excerpts! I am so thankful I had a dad like that too! May our husbands be father's like that too!!!!
this is Tess. Your post inspired me to pick up my copy of the book and start reading. I have read the first 2 chapters and started # 3 as I am snowed in and the kids are out and about playing in the snow. This is a great book. Thanks for the inspiration!
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