Healing Through Repentance
Family conflicts start very early in life and are rarely one-sided. Unfortunately, It’s not always easy to recognize or focus on our part in the conflict.
3 Phases of Forgiveness
Forgiveness and reconciliation is a three-phase process, and I will summarize it here. I don’t want you to be overwhelmed. What can be written in just a few pages may take years for the Lord to accomplish. In the chapters ahead, we will consider the small steps God...
Pray for Your Own Heart
When I am in the middle of a blowout conflict with one of my sons, I am squarely focused on his disobedience, his bad attitude, his irresponsibility. Obviously, the entire reason why we are in this situation is that he dropped the ball or was disrespectful. Rarely is...
How Many Times Do I Need to Forgive?
When a family member does something that hurts our feelings a couple of times, it may not feel like a big deal to forgive them. What if they do it ten times? Fifty times? Now it is a different story. You may remember that Jesus’ disciples asked Him about this. “Then...
The Crucible of Family Relationships
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17–18 Your family is like a...
Every Family Is Hurting
Every family experiences conflict, hurt, and brokenness. There are two big reasons for this reality. First, each of us struggles with sin and character problems. Therefore, when multiple people with character problems live together under the same roof, you get lots of...
How to Talk with Your Kids About the Coronavirus
All of our lives are being impacted by the Covid19 virus. Don’t miss this opportunity to talk with your children. Here are seven things your kids and grandkids need to know. 1. God is in control. None of this is a surprise to God. This did not catch Him off...
Your Family & the Glory of God
Perhaps you have heard the phrase, “only for the glory of God.” This is a theme that runs through the entire Bible, that all of creation exists for His glory. If this is true, then God created your family to glorify Him. But what exactly is “the...
Encouragement for Teens: Living for Christ at Home, Part 1
This is the first in a series of posts by Lissy Rienow that will address how, as teenagers, we can learn to be Christians with our families.
Impressing a Child’s Heart
Think about the things your parents taught you growing. Corny sayings? Some jokes? A few snippets of wisdom? But what deeply impressed your heart? What will impact your kids’ hearts?