Reverent

Hebrews 12:28 “Let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” What does it really mean to be reverent? Is it just a matter of displaying respect? According to the original Webster dictionary, as a verb, reverence is “to regard with fear mingled with respect and […]

Tender-Hearted

Proverbs 27:14b – Whoever hardens his heart will fall into trouble. When was the last time your heart was hardened? Do you remember to whom it was hardened towards? Your spouse? Someone at work? Maybe your son or daughter? What caused it? Jealousy? Offensive action or words? Regardless of the situation, we know that the […]

Hopeful

“Set your minds on things above not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2 When you hear the word hope, what comes to mind? Wishful thinking or something deeper? In the book of Job, we are presented with a man so righteous that Satan desires deeply to demonstrate that the reason behind Job’s righteousness is the continued […]

Sincerity

“Our goal is love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5 How would you define sincerity? I mean, we all know what it feels like because we have experienced both sincerity and insincerity. Curious as to how my kiddos would define it, I posed the […]

Generous

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart…for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 When our kids were little, one of our favorite books to read together was The Giving Tree. Are you familiar with this children’s book?  It follows a boy through his childhood and into adulthood all while […]

Discernment

Hosea 14:9 “Whoever is discerning, let him know them, for the ways of the Lord are right.”   Charles Spurgeon, a late 1800s preacher, wisely stated “Discernment is not a matter of telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.” We all know that discernment […]

Alertness

Mark 14:38 – Be alert and pray, so that you do not give in to temptation. You may be wondering why alertness would even be considered an important characteristic trait to learn during the preschool years. Well, the first five – six years of a child’s life is the time when development and awareness of […]

Obedience

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 This might seem like an overwhelming task…asking your child to do something without grumbling…but with the right amount of love and coaching, the reward will be well worth the labor! Consider for a moment this St. Augustine quote “The cost of obedience is small compared with […]

Protected – My belief in God protects me from things that are not good or true

“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all of the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16 Are you weary from the daily battles that are occurring in your life? Do you feel vulnerable and open to attack spiritually, mentally, emotionally? Maybe you feel physically bombarded […]

Unafraid – God keeps me safe and His Word is my weapon

“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17   Is fear something that we are born with (instinctive) or is it something learned (reactive)? It’s an interesting question to think about when one begins to consider the things that make us afraid.  Often times […]