7 Warning Signs You are Drifting from God

by Stephen Altrogge

Big sin is always the sum of a thousand tiny choices.

Most Christians don’t suddenly fall into terrible sin. A guy doesn’t simply wake up one day and say to himself, “Boy, today is a great day to start a raging heroin habit,” or “You know what, I’m in the mood to commit adultery today.” That’s not how it happens.

Big sin is always the sum of a thousand tiny choices.

That’s why the author of Hebrews says:

Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (Hebrews 2:1)

One of our greatest temptations as Christians is simply to drift away from Christ. We’re not actively running away, just slowly drifting along with the lazy, warm, comfortable current of the world. And the scary thing is we don’t usually notice when we’re drifting. We raise our heads and suddenly realize that we’re a mile away from land.

How can you tell if you’re drifting? Here's a list of early-warning signs:

• You spend little, if any, time reading God’s Word and praying – “I’m just too busy right now to read and pray.”

• The gospel doesn’t affect you like it used to – “I’ve heard it a thousand times before…it just seems a little old.”

• You don’t spend much time fellowshipping with other Christians – “I’ve worked hard, I’m tired, the last thing I want to do is go and be with other people.”

• The sins that used to bother you don’t really bother you anymore – “This show isn’t that bad. It doesn’t really tempt me too much.”

• You find yourself quieting your conscience more frequently – “I know it was wrong, and I’ll pray about it tonight.”


• You keep promising yourself that you will stop – “Okay, this is the last time I look at porn.”

• You find yourself making excuses for things – “I’m only chatting on Facebook with the guy; it’s not like we’re sleeping together.”

The good news is if you find yourself drifting, you can put a stop to it! God loves to help us stop drifting. He loves to give us the power to change. If you find yourself drifting, there are three things to do:

• Repent of your sins and receive the wonderful, complete, free forgiveness from Christ. Christ delights to forgive drifters.

• Tell a close friend of what has been going on.

• Return to the things you used to do, and don’t let condemnation stop you. Go to God’s Word, prayer, fellowship, fighting temptation, and listening to the promptings of your conscience.

Don’t let yourself drift. Drifting is dangerous. Sometimes, it’s lethal.

10 Books you MUST get your hands on!

For Spiritual Growth:

1. Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
2. Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro
3. Crazy Love by Frances Chan
4. Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick
5. The Bible--a version you can understand... supplemental books are great but let's learn from the best example there is!

For Parenting Growth:

1. Have a New Kid by Friday by Leman
2. Leading your Child to Jesus by Staal
3. One Year of Dinner Table Devotions by Guthrie
4. Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna
5. The 5 Love Languages of Children by Chapman




The links for these are the cheapest I could find them for you, all between $.75 and $5. A leader is a reader!


For Spiritual Growth:

1. Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ99575891
2. Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ74885257
3. Crazy Love by Frances Chan http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ64353520
4. Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ80576977
5. The Bible--a version you can understand... supplemental books are great but let's learn from the best example there is! I personally love the NLT version


For Parenting Growth:
1. Have a New Kid by Friday by Leman http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ61816109
2. Leading your Child to Jesus by Staal http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ47971286
3. One Year of Dinner Table Devotions by Guthrie http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ66130204
4. Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ70415735
5. The 5 Love Languages of Children by Chapman http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ907664

Articles JUST FOR DADS!!!

Check out this site for ALL kinds of dads! Dads with young kids, teens, and adult kids... married, single, military, working, or divorced and step dads!

Great stuff here!!!

http://www.allprodad.com/articles/

25 Characteristics of a husband who truly loves his wife

25 characteristics of a husband who truly loves his wife

By: Dr. Robert Lewis

 

1. Includes his wife in envisioning the future.
2. Accepts spiritual responsibility for his family.
3. Is willing to say "I'm sorry" and "Forgive me" to his family.
4. Discusses household responsibilities with his wife and makes sure they are fairly distributed.
5. Seeks consultation from his wife on all major financing decisions.
6. Follows through with commitments he has made to his wife.
7. Anticipates the different stages his children will pass through.
8. Anticipates the different stages his marriage will pass through.
9. Frequently tells his wife what he likes about her.
10. Provides financially for his family's basic living expenses.
11. Deals with distraction so he can talk with his wife and family.
12. Prays with his wife on a regular basis.
13. Initiates meaningful family traditions.
14. Initiates fun family outings for the family on a regular basis.
15. Takes the time to give his children practical instruction about life.
16. Manages the schedule of the home and anticipates pressure points.
17. Keeps his family financially sound and out of harmful debt.
18. Makes sure he and his wife have drawn up a will.
19. Lets his wife and children into the interior of his life.
20. Honors his wife in public.
21. Explains sex to each child in a way that gives them a wholesome perspective.
22. Encourages his wife to grow as an individual.
23. Takes the lead in establishing sound family values.
24. Provides time for his wife to pursue her own personal interests.
25. Is involved in a small group of men dedicated to spiritual growth.

Topic: Lying Part 2: 3 Truths about Lying

It's true--kids lie. A recentstudy by the Social Cognitive Development Lab at Brock University shows that lying starts as early as the age of 2 in some kids, and that the amount of lying peaks around the ages of 4 and 10. The study suggested that lying can be a good sign, and that it means a child is thinking deeper and more creatively.

I know we all want smart kids, but a child who understands the difference between right and wrong seems to be more ahead in the game of life to me. This week, we'll shed some truth on lying and give you some tips to help keep your kids' pants from catching fire.

Truth 1- Kids respond better to praise

You never want to shame or threaten a child into doing anything. That should never be the goal. Kids respond better when you praise them for telling the truth instead of punishing them for lying. In the study by Brock University, researchers found that when parents tell their kids stories about people who told the truth and were praised for it (think George Washington and the cherry tree), lying dropped 30 percent. Compare that to a University of Toronto study that found kids who received corporal punishment were better at lying and more likely to do it again.

Truth 2- Kids learn to lie from us

In an article by New York Magazine, Dr. Victoria Talwar, an assistant professor at Montreal's McGill University and a leading expert on children's lying behavior, says that adults unwittingly teach kids how to lie. She writes, "Encouraged to tell so many white lies and hearing so many others, children gradually get comfortable with being disingenuous. Insincerity becomes, literally, a daily occurrence. They learn that honesty only creates conflict, and dishonesty is an easy way to avoid conflict. And while they don't confuse white-lie situations with lying to cover their misdeeds, they bring this emotional groundwork from one circumstance to the other. It becomes easier, psychologically, to lie to a parent."

What can you do? Simply watch what you say and encourage parents to do the same.

Truth 3- Lying can be stopped

Don't think that just because they're young, kids will grow out of lying. If you don't try to correct their behavior, they can continue to lie. The idea is to catch it early. Be firm, fair, and forgiving. Many experts agree that kids should feel free to tell the truth. Create an environment in your ministry that welcomes truthfulness. Let your kids know that they can tell you the truth no matter what. And don't label kids as liars, or they might be more likely to take on that role. By helping them understand why lies are wrong, we can help themsee the truth.

I want to know what you think. How tough should you be on lying? Is there such a thing as a little white lie? What are some lies we tell our kids?

Topic: Lying Part 1: What do when your kids lie

Everyone lies. But the way young children lie is different from the way adults lie.

Three- and 4-year-olds "live by a simple rule: Good people do good things," says Lawrence Kutner, Ph.D., author of Parent & Child. "By lying, [a preschooler] is, in essence, protecting his ability to be loved by you."

Older children know what a lie is but don't consider its consequences. "[Children are] aware of the probable unpleasant consequences of [what they did] and are simply protecting themselves," says Kutner.

What should you do if you suspect your child is lying?
* Give children alternatives to lying. For example, let them know that breaking a vase accidently won't be treated the same as breaking it on purpose. Help them understand why lies aren't necessary or helpful.

* Talk calmly. Focus on the child's action-not the lie or the child. Don't ask accusatory questions and don't press for a confession. Just present the facts as you understand them. For children up to the age of 5, parents should just say, "I saw you do it, and that isn't nice." Then suggest an action that would've been better.

* Avoid harsh punishment. "[Harsh punishment] creates a fear of punishment, rather than an internalized belief in moral behavior," says psychologist Paul Ekman (Why Kids Lie). Use a story such as The Boy Who Cried Wolf to help younger children realize the damage lying does. Use object lessons from the news for older children. Or talk about what the Bible says about lying (Proverbs 19:22).

* Set an example. Admit your mistakes. When children see you handle mistakes, they'll be more able to cope with problems. And avoid telling lies yourself.

Children as young as 4 can tell deliberate lies to get out of trouble, according to researchers. But the fear of parents' disapproval discourages them from lying.

Ninety-two percent of 5-year-olds thought it was always wrong to tell a fib. But by the age of 11, only 28 percent said they "never told a lie," according to research.

Parent Prayer Calendar

Here's an example of a prayer calendar for you, parents!   This is a great tool to put in your hands to help equip you to pray for your child on a daily basis.




http://www.scribd.com/doc/101481172/Parent-Prayer-Calendar