Raising Godly Boys Minute

What is Black Friday, really?  What is it about?

Pursuing hard-to-find items only available for a short time is a treasure hunt to many.

How can you use Black Friday to teach your children about faith in Christ?

The bible says few find the path to salvation, and this short life is the only time we have to find it.  In some ways, Black Friday is like the man who found a hidden treasure in a field and sold everything he had to get it.

Give your children every opportunity to know the love of Christ.  Teach them to cling to their faith as the most precious, hard-to-find treasure they’ll ever know by living that faith in your own life for them to see.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

What is your son thankful for?

The Pilgrims were thankful to be alive.  They fled from religious persecution, faced the terror of the North Atlantic in a tiny ship and potential starvation when their supplies ran out.

Today, your son faces new and harsh challenges to his faith and even his identity as a male.  How can you help him navigate past his obstacles into godly, thankful manhood?

Model Christ for him.  Live out your faith.  Teach him to love the word of God.

Also, give him godly mentors and surround him with others on the same path.  Provide carefully selected challenges to strengthen him.

The joy of his journey and his success as a godly man will make you both thankful.

For more information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

“I guess I haven’t learned that yet.”

That’s a phrase coined by author Shauna Niequist.  After her two sons, Henry and Mac, had lived in a small town their whole life, Shauna and her husband moved the family to New York City.

As her sons struggled with the transition to city life, Shauna pinned a piece of paper to the wall with the phrase “I guess I haven’t learned that yet” on it. She reminded her boys that everyone is growing and learning, and that it’s fine to not know everything.

Your son might need to hear that, too. When he makes a mistake, reassure him that it’s a normal part of growing up. Remind him that God’s grace is sufficient to cover every last one of the things we haven't learned yet.

For more ideas to raise boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

One educator said we live in a day of hurried loneliness, with hundreds of Facebook friends but not two with whom we think and share deeply.  Families rush from one activity to another.  To some people, the idea of a family sitting down together and leisurely sharing a meal is an idea from a Norman Rockwell painting.

Parents, we must plan to make meaningful conversation happen. 

We can embrace intentionality. Without it, family devotions, meaningful conversation, and spiritual practices won’t happen.  We will just stay busy. 

As Thanksgiving approaches, stop for a few moments and make a plan.  Ask, “How will I intentionally help my family practice gratitude the next two weeks and have meaningful conversations?

That will produce beauty greater than autumn leaves.

For information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

For what are you thankful?

Author Jerry Bridges called unthankfulness one of our “respectable sins,” easily accepted as normal.

The Bible exhorts believers to live a life of habitual thanksgiving. In our day of consumerism, we are wise to practice the habit of gratitude and teach our families to do the same.

Don’t lose the spirit of Thanksgiving.  Claim it, prepare for it, and practice the art of that holiday.
Regardless of our circumstances, we can give thanks.

Father figures can thank the Lord for our abundant blessings. Even the giving of thanks in difficult or disappointing circumstances can be done based on God’s promises.

As we move through November, let’s practice gratitude, and influence the boys in our lives to do the same.

For information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.