Fostering Growth

I can see that God continues to work on my heart. Once you've open up to Him and His ways you never stop growing spiritually and that will change you.

I remember years ago, before my awakening, I used to tell Jacob, "I don't want to become like those Christian people that don't ever do anything fun and do nothing but read the bible and listen to Christian music. I'm pretty sure this is the same kind of thinking of a lot of people but, I believe we think this way because we haven't felt the pull or yearning to follow God. I still don't want to be like those extreme Christians that feel guilty to enjoy life to it's fullest. I don't just want to read the bible and go to church then back home then repeat week after week. I think those things are important but I don't believe that's what life is completely about.
Now that we're both matured and want to grow spiritually and live a life that's honoring to God, we have picked up on some of those Christian habits. We read the bible but, mostly both Jacob and I read self-help books, devotionals and memorize bible verses. We actually enjoy learning more and more about the bible, how life used to be back then, how Jesus used ordinary {some awful} people to do great things, and how awesome it would have been to have seen Jesus in physical human form and to hear Him speak.
Although Jacob listens to Christian music I have yet to do the same. I know I've mentioned this before but Christian music immediately depresses me. Listening to it makes me so sad. Having experienced depression myself and having had to be on medication for it the last thing I want is to purposely listen to music that will get me down even though Christian music is meant to uplift but for whatever reason it has the opposite effect on me.
But, like I said above ... God continues to work in me. I recently added two children Christian stations on my Pandora play list, mostly for Riley's sake. Now with Riley I want to be more intentional in the way we raise him. I want him to get used to going to church on a regular basis, to listen to children's Christian music and actually enjoy it, and we've also began to have family devotional time every Wednesday here at home {going on three months now}.
So, whenever we're out running errands I put on one of the children's Christian stations. I've noticed that Riley is calmer and more tender. That's what I want ... for his little heart to know the power of His word and to grow up to be a compassionate person. Of course, us grown ups are also making every effort to model Christian like behavior at home, because we all know that it all starts at home.

Right now I've been teaching him that people are all different and even if they look different than us we have to treat everyone nice even if at times some people look scary. Also teaching him not to talk about people is another thing that we're currently educating him on. We tell him that it's never ok to say anything mean about someone especially in front of that person. If he needs to tell us something about someone he has to wait until we're in the car or at home.

For me the challenge lies with my older kids. Teenagers can be immature, we know that and when they're being goofy they forget sometimes that they have a little brother that is watching everything that they do and say. I constantly have to remind them not to use certain words in Riley's presence or to not listen to certain music. They do tone it down but this is something that needs reminding. This is where I'm at with my kids.

Jacob has been the one to tuck Riley in for the night since he was a toddler. That's something that Jacob cherishes. That's their bonding time. I want Riley to constantly hear the name of Jesus and God in our home on a daily basis and I also want him to grow up listening to bible stories and/or good wholesome children's stories. So, Jacob has also began to read one short story at night to Riley then he'll ask him questions and it surprises us how well he pays attention even though he's squirming in bed or looking away. He answers all the questions right and you know what is also so great about this is that I am also learning something every night just by listening to these children's stories.

We will continue to be intentional with all of our children but it's especially important to make sure that we educate Riley in His word and in how he should behave and treat others. He's at the perfect age where these teachings will take root and blossom if we stay consistent.