Ephesians Week 6

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 Ephesians 5   5  1  Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children   2  and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3  But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.   4  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.   5  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [ a ]   6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.   7  Therefore do not be partners with them. 8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light i...
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Aiming for the heart...

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Let me let you in on a secret; parenting is hard work and it certainly isn't for cowards. Children are selfish, liars and thieves...at least in their natural state. LOL... What do we do? We aim for their hearts. This is the only way to have lasting change, in any of us. Jer. 17:9 tells us The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Oh, how I have learned that our hearts will lie to us. We have to teach our children that fact and we have to counsel, instruction, and nurture them to live beyond what their hearts are telling them is true ..or telling them to do.

Instructing a Child’s Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp is a great book for trying to change the heart, thus changing the behavior. They tell about the biblical adjectives that describe the heart: The heart is adulterous, anguished, arrogant, astray, bitter, blameless, blighted, broken, calloused, circumcised, contrite, crushed, darkened, deadened, deceitful, deluded, devoted, disloyal, envious, evil, faint, faithful, far off, fearful, foolish, grateful, happy, hard, haughty, humble, mad, malicious, obstinate, perverse, proud, pure, rebellious, rejoicing, responsive, righteous, sick, sincere, sinful, steadfast, troubled, unfeeling, uncircumcised, upright, unsearchable, weary, wicked, wise, and wounded.

No wonder parenting is so hard, but it is so worth it....
still aiming for their hearts,
Rachel

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