Search Results for: blog gods spoilt children

A Common Problem in Churches

In just about every church I’ve ever belonged to there is a common problem. Too much is left to too few people. But then it’s not just a problem with churches but a problem with any organization. What happens is a person become overcommitted, overworked and can end up burning out. So what is the solution? Maybe it’s as simple as learning to say ‘no.’ The whole problem is people can end up with a false sense of responsibility and think ‘but if I don’t do it, who will?’ No-one is indispensable. If one person does not do the job … Continue reading →

Don’t Let Guilt Get the Better of You

Guilt can be a destructive emotion. It can take over and overwhelm us. Don’t let guilt get the better of you. It’s easy said but sometimes not so easy to do. We all feel at times that we let people down, or that we don’t behave the way we should. As we’ve no doubt discovered, there will always be those to criticize and heap guilt on you. This can happen when we don’t do what other people expect us to or think we should. It can happen when, despite our best intentions, plans don’t work out and we are not … Continue reading →

Jealousy and Its Close Relatives

Jealousy is an extremely destructive emotion that often leads to other sins. The Bible recounts a number of incidents of jealousy. Here are a few from the Old Testament. Rachel was jealous of Leah because her sister had children by Jacob and she did not, Genesis 30:1. Joseph’s brothers were jealous because Joseph was the favored son of his father, Genesis 37:11. Saul was jealous of David for the praise and popularity he had with the people, 1 Samuel 18:7-9, 16. David’s prosperity because God was with him and not Saul, 1 Samuel 18:14-15 provided another reason for Saul’s jealousy, … Continue reading →

Grandparents, Are You Being Fair?

Grandparents are you being fair to your children and your grandchildren? Too often I hear grandparents say they enjoy having grandchildren because ‘I can spoil them rotten and then hand them back to their parents.’ I’m appalled whenever I hear grandparents make such comments. When my Mom was alive no-one could have loved her grandson more but she never spoilt him. She treated him the same way she treated me growing up –by showing lots of love but not spoiling him and buying things all the time and certainly not by letting him misbehave or run rampant. If he was … Continue reading →

Winning in the Game of Life

The internet astounds me. I love the way it connects us with people from all over the world and all walks of life, who might not otherwise have met. Recently Dr Jeffrey Brown, a clinical and sport psychologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, contacted me. He’d been reading some of my blogs here at families.com on Christian parenting. As a result, he thought I might be interested in reading his book, ‘The Competitive Edge – how to win every time you compete,’ and had his publisher send me a copy. If you think the idea of winning every … Continue reading →

Have You Lied to Yourself?

Have you ever lied to yourself? That’s what I realized I had been doing all day yesterday. I woke with a sore throat and clogged head but I was determined to go to singing practice. Having missed the last few weeks I desperately wanted to be there so I could help lead the singing at church on Sunday. I took the required tablet. ‘I’m fine,’ I told myself. I perpetuated the lie later in the afternoon though I started feeling worse. As we were having dinner, the rain came- driving, pelting rain. Common sense insisted it was stupidity to go … Continue reading →

7 Tips for Christian Parenting

In my last blog I looked at the way, despite a similar upbringing, children showed different personality traits and interests. But is it possible for characteristics to be attributed to environment and upbringing? Below are seven things consistent in our parenting and the results. 1. From the time our children were young, my husband and I prayed for them and with them. We prayed for their safety but also for their commitment to Jesus and their spiritual growth. They both made commitments to Christ at an early age and then grew in that faith. To help with this, we read … Continue reading →