How Big Is God

There's an old song that I have loved for many years that I'm sure many of you are familiar with. "How big is God" is such an awesome description of the vastness and wonder of God.

One of my greatest fears over the past several years has been the teaching of the friendship theology and humanization of God by many churches today. Yes, I believe it is important to teach that Jesus became man in order to pay the debt of our sin, but we must not forget the fact that He is still an amazing and Holy God!

This afternoon as I took some time to float in the waves of Tybee Island, Georgia, I layed looking out to the vastness of the ocean and, as I always do when at the beach, thought of how far it is to the next peice of land. It is quiet an amazing thought. . . and ever greater still is to think about the God that created this huge ocean. "He's big enough to rule the mighty universe, yet small enough to live within my heart."

Until next time,

Shawn

How to grow a happy child

1. Be a good husband/wife.
If you are married, have a more active relationship with your spouse than you do with your children. Spend more time in the roles of husband and wife than you do as mother and father. Nothing causes a child greater insecurity than sensing that his parent's marriage is not the most solid, permanent thing in his life, and vice versa.

2. Have an active life outside of parenting.
If you are single, do not be married to your children. Have an active life outside of your role as mother/father. Be an interesting person to your kids. The well-being of a single parent is essential to the well-being of his/her children.

3. Expect your children to obey
Expect this calmly as you take their obedience for granted. Who is the happier employee: the one who frequently attempts to get away with breaking the rules or the one who obeys the rules? Substitute child for employee and the answer is the same. Disobedient children are not happy campers. Said another way, the most obedient children are the happiest.

4. Expect your children to be responsible.
Expect your children to be responsible citizens of your family. From the time they are 3 years old, assign them chores to do around the home, chores that mean something. You may find yourself surprised when you see your children actually take pride in their tasks.

5.Teach your children that happiness is not a matter of how much you have.
It is so important that our children understand that material things are not what is important in life. They need to know that family, spiritual closeness with God & helping others is where the true riches in life lie. This MUST be done from an early age, and must be reinforced over and over by parents, because everything in this world tells them otherwise.

6. Let television and video games have very little impact in your children's lives.
Am I saying that they should have NO contact with this type of media? Not at all, but both should be screened, monitored and limited.

7. Help your children develop hobbies.
Whether it's as simple as working on a train set or as complex as learning a musical instrument, it is very important that your child get involved in something that will help them define their talents. Experiment in different areas to allow the child to find something that really excites them. Most importantly, do it TOGETHER!

8. Teach your children good manners.
There is nothing as impressive and respected than a person with good manners. In a world where everyone is concerned with what they can get out of everything, manners teach your children to respect the thoughts and feelings of others, and is greatly sought after, even in secular jobs.

9. Stay rooted in Scripture
It is so important that your children know from BIRTH that the Bible is not just a historical book, a collection of stories, a book of morality or even A way to God. You must teach them by reading AND LIVING God's Word regularly and consistantly.