The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to

make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-12)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night,

but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you

delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the

people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; "He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in

him!" Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me

trust you at my mother's breasts.

On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet -- I can count all my bones-- they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! (Ps 22)

When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died,My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God!All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down!Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,Demands my soul, my life, my all.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and

instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

Practical Parenting From Proverbs

Practical Wisdom For Parents• Live with a daily awareness of the value of your children

and your work as their parents: – Parenting can be frustrating… it requires time, sacrifice, love &

patience. Children are a joy, but sometimes a challenge! – They are a heritage from the Lord… Our inheritance (Ps 127:3)

• They are God’s gift to us, even if we feel like our quiver is full!• Be careful how you talk about your children! Do you describe them as

irritants in your life, inconveniences, problems, etc?• Words can become habitual. Careless words can be heard… eventually

those careless words take root in our hearts.

– Children impact their parents for the rest of their lives for good or evil! (Prov. 10:1; 15:20; 17:21; 19:13)• Too many parents wait to care, until it is too late to care – Ask David! • They are our heritage… Gifts of God to mold and shape. The phrase, “It’s

for your own good…” applies to parents as well!

Practical Wisdom For Parents• Live with a daily awareness of the value of your children

and your work as their parents: – The ultimate goal of parents is to raise their children to love and

serve God (Proverbs 22:6; Eph. 6:4)• What do we want your children to become? It shows in the way we raise

them… in the priorities, emphasis, and direction we give them.• Some seek to raise athletes, socialites, scholars, successful business

people. What if they miss practice? Don’t get homework done? • Are we raising Christians? If so, that will be the overriding focus we put

in our lives and in theirs Nurture and admonition of the Lord • Do we fill their daily lives with a spiritual emphasis? Do we talk about

God and His word? Do we serve God with them? Do we pray?

– Spiritually we must a place of refuge for them! (Prov. 14:26)

Practical Wisdom For Parents• Train Up A Child… But How? Some practical instruction: – Parents raise up their children through consistent example:

• God had commanded the Israelites to be an example to their kids… don’t just tell them God’s law, live God’s law! (Ex. 12:24-27; Josh 4:5-

7)• What kind of inheritance are you leaving? Integrity is an inheritance that

will last forever and guide them always (Prov. 20:7)• Remember, children learn what they live. Children also will learn what

they see in us. Words are almost always trumped by actions! • CHALLENGE! How often do children rise above the level of faithfulness in

their parents? Often they don’t! What do you want them to be? • Even the little decisions matter because little eyes are watching… when

we hit our finger with the hammer, cut in line, tell a lie, hurt others

• “Wise parents use the world and all its illustrations as a living laboratory and the Scriptures as the textbook” (Wiersbe)

Practical Wisdom For Parents• Train Up A Child… But How? Some practical instruction: – Parents raise up their children through diligent instruction:

• The children of Israel were also to be diligent in teaching their children God’s word throughout the day, every day (Deut. 4:9-10)

• Prov. 22:6 – “to train” literally means “to put into the mouth” - think of a mother bird chewing the worm up then giving it to the babies

• Want your house to be a place filled with all kinds of pleasant riches? It has to be filled with knowledge first! (Prov 24:3-4)

• Ornaments & chains (Prov. 6:20-23) – Signs of wealth & status… The only wealth and status that really matters is what we send them out into the world with spiritually. Are we leaving a spiritual legacy?

• We give our children wise sayings & make sure they learn schoolwork… Does God’s word & spiritual wisdom take a back seat?

• Notice that Solomon described both the mother and the father working together in giving this instruction (Prov. 1:8; 6:20-21). This takes not only cooperation, but being on the same page spiritually.

Practical Wisdom For Parents• Train Up A Child… But How? Some practical instruction: – Parents raise up their children through loving discipline:

• Many children receive no discipline because they have no discipline! • Modern psychology denies discipline… The popular idea of our day is to

be the friend first. Parents act more like peers than parents!

“Parents should always try first to obtain voluntary cooperation from their children by encouragement, being cooperative themselves, and

by using democratic procedures in the home. If these fail, parents should fall back on the method widely known as natural and logical

consequences…

“The bathroom technique is almost absurdly simple: When children press you with their demands withdraw to the one room in every household in which a person can

barricade himself – the bathroom! We recommend this technique to mothers harassed by demanding younger children. The mother who wants to escape the tyranny of her child’s demands enters the bathroom and locks the door. While there, she does not respond in any way to the child – even if he whines, cries,

screams, or hits the door. If he continues she turns on the radio, and if he persists, she takes a bath! She concentrates on composing herself, but at the same time she is training her child. When all is calm, she comes out with a smile. But if the child reasserts his demands or exhibits other undesired behavior, back she goes to the

bathroom” (Dr. Rudolph Dreikurs)



be the friend first. Parents act more like peers than parents! • God’s plan includes the use of physical discipline (Prov. 29:15; 22:15)…

This is wisdom comes of the eternal God… It’s not outdated! • It must always be done out of love (Prov. 3:11-12; 13:24) – There is no

discipline without love and no love without discipline! If you love your child too much to discipline them, you don’t love them at all!

• Discipline is time sensitive:– A CHILD left to himself brings shame… (Proverbs 29:15)

“The proper time to begin disarming the teenage time bomb is twelve years before it

arrives. How does a 100 pound momma handle a 220 pound sixteen year old boy? By

disciplining him when he weighed 20 pounds.” (Dr. James Dobson)



be the friend first. Parents act more like peers than parents! • God’s plan includes the use of physical discipline (Prov. 29:15; 22:15)…

This is wisdom comes of the eternal God… It’s not outdated! • It must always be done out of love (Prov. 3:11-12; 13:24) – There is no

discipline without love and no love without discipline! • Discipline is time sensitive:

– A CHILD left to himself brings shame… (Proverbs 29:15)– Discipline should start when foolishness is present (Prov. 22:15)– Discipline needs to take place promptly (Prov. 13:24)

• Child to be determined not to act that way again (Prov. 23:13-14; 26:3) • But discipline isn’t just physical – Rod & Reproof! Sometimes you need

to be negative to produce positive results! (Proverbs 29:15)

There is a perfect Father… will you be His child?

“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God,

through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”(Galatians 3:26-27)

Documents

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he