Is it important to help our children obey? Is it just for our convenience or is there a benefit to them? This has become a controversial topic--even in Christian circles and that's why it's important for mothers to look to Scripture for clarity. Listen as Betsy, Emily, Jen, and Steph discuss what it means to have a healthy reverence for the Lord and how this is a pivotal peace in training our children. They even delve into practical topics such as a clean room and what our expectations should be for older children. As always staying true to the foundation of God's Word as the guide is key in Christian parenting. This lesson corresponds with Lesson 8 of Entrusted with a Child's Heart.
Scriptures mentioned:
Proverbs 1:7
Psalm 25:12
Psalm 39:19
They're the joyful agains our children
shout on the swings, the exhausting
2
:agains of cooking and laundry, and
the difficult agains of discipline.
3
:So much of what we do
as mothers is on repeat.
4
:So what if we woke up with clarity,
knowing which agains we were called
5
:to, and went to bed believing we
are faithful in what matters most?
6
:We believe God's word is
the key to untangle from the
7
:confusion and overwhelm we feel.
8
:Let's look up together to embrace a
motherhood full of freedom and joy.
9
:Thanks for joining us
for the again, podcast.
10
:This is brought to you by
entrusted ministries and I'm your
11
:host, Stephanie Hickox today.
12
:I am joined by the wonderful Jen
Frackman Emily deal and Betsy Courtney.
13
:Stephanie: This episode we are
talking about the fear of God.
14
:A godly mother trains her children to
see God as their lifelong authority.
15
:God's word tells us that there are so
many blessings when we fear God and
16
:that it is the beginning of wisdom.
17
:Before we continue with our conversation.
18
:I wanted to tell you a little
bit more about what's headed
19
:your way in the months to come.
20
:Pretty soon.
21
:We're going to take a break
from the entangled series that
22
:corresponds with the interest with
a child's heart lesson series.
23
:We're going to have several episodes
that share our Thanksgiving,
24
:Christmas and new year's traditions.
25
:Or evening going to talk about the talk.
26
:We'll also be sharing natural solutions.
27
:And answering questions, like what
do you do if it's a Friday night?
28
:All the stores are closed and
your child has an ear infection.
29
:Is there anything in your house
that can ease their pain?
30
:And even promote healing.
31
:What natural solutions are
there for beauty remedies
32
:or even What can we
use to clean our homes?
33
:That is safe and effective.
34
:Stephanie: All right, ladies, for
this icebreaker question, I'd like
35
:to ask you if you have any fears that
might seem a little silly to others.
36
:Jen: I do.
37
:Betsy: I don't want to say it.
38
:It might
39
:get sent to me in a box.
40
:Jen: I
41
:Stephanie: Yes.
42
:Jen: Can't reveal the truths, right?
43
:I have a dream.
44
:Oh, not a dream.
45
:I'm sorry.
46
:I have a fear.
47
:Stephanie: Okay, Martin, go ahead.
48
:Jen: Okay.
49
:So my fear is, but it's
a legitimate reason.
50
:I will tell you the reason I have this
fear after I tell you what my fear is.
51
:I am seriously afraid of mice.
52
:Like any, even the tiniest little mouse,
53
:oh, I will scream and freak out.
54
:I, bad.
55
:But the reason I fear them so much is
because when I was in high school, my
56
:parents went away for a weekend and I
stayed home alone and I had done the
57
:dishes the night before and I left the
dish soap water In the sink and in the
58
:morning I went to pick up the dish rag
and picked up a dead mouse and I like
59
:got the heebie jeebies and I was like,
Oh, I couldn't, there was nothing I could
60
:do to get myself to drain the water.
61
:I couldn't go near it.
62
:I was, so I had to go ask
the neighbor guy, I was like,
63
:there's a dead mouse in our sink.
64
:Will you come get it out?
65
:And so from then on, I have
been deathly scared of mice.
66
:I hate them.
67
:Stephanie: Okay, this whole episode
now is gonna be rodent stories because
68
:I know Aunt Betsy, you've got one.
69
:I've got some.
70
:Yes, I would say that's not a silly fear,
71
:Betsy: Yes, your mom is very Afraid
72
:Stephanie: She can't say the word.
73
:She cannot.
74
:She'll say, did you see?
75
:Or once we were visiting a church,
and they had a promo video of a mouse
76
:in it, and she was like, can you
believe they showed that in church?
77
:It was like, highly offensive.
78
:Betsy: Highly
79
:inappropriate.
80
:Stephanie: but she kind of trained.
81
:Me?
82
:To be afraid?
83
:I've had some scary things with
them, but I was determined.
84
:I'm not gonna pass this on to my children.
85
:Every time we read a book and there's a
picture of one in it, I'm not gonna react.
86
:I'm just not gonna do anything.
87
:And then there was a time my
husband was on a business trip.
88
:And we lived in a house that
was about 100 years old and
89
:had been completely renovated.
90
:But I was taking a shower and I get
out of the shower and there's one on
91
:the bathroom floor running around,
and I just screamed and my voice
92
:came like, Mommy, what's wrong?
93
:And I'm like, Oh no, they're going
to finally know and I am afraid.
94
:And, I have to tell the sink story
because that's where we're at.
95
:So I was just determined
to do everything natural.
96
:And not use mouse poison and all
of that at, but at this house,
97
:we did have a mouse problem and I
was up really late because I was.
98
:Doing lesson plans or something.
99
:So it's 3 in the morning and I had
had a snack and I went to put my
100
:bowl in the sink and there was a
huge mouse in the sink and I threw
101
:my cereal bowl at it I was so scared.
102
:I could not go in the
103
:room.
104
:it was terrifying.
105
:Jen: Was it alive?
106
:Stephanie: it was alive, yeah.
107
:Jen: Oh!
108
:At least mine was dead.
109
:Stephanie: It was in the middle of
the night, so I think I let my husband
110
:sleep, but then in the morning,
like, you have to go, you go, and
111
:I'm sorry, I broke the bowl, and, the
bowl wasn't broken, but the mouse was
112
:dead in the sink,
113
:Betsy: It probably hit the mouse.
114
:Stephanie: yeah, I think so, and it
115
:Emily: that was some quick reflexes.
116
:Oh,
117
:Betsy: Yeah,
118
:Stephanie: Yeah, we said we
weren't gonna make ourselves
119
:not be able to sleep tonight,
120
:right?
121
:Yeah.
122
:Betsy: Well, I do have to tell
a mouse story, I'm afraid,
123
:but I think I even share this a little
bit in, in an entrusted class, but my
124
:daughter was getting ready to go to
work and she had gone downstairs and
125
:made a cup of coffee and then took
it upstairs while she was getting
126
:ready and they lived in the country.
127
:So when fall comes, you know, all the
critters are trying to get into the house.
128
:And she drank her coffee and she
wanted another cup and So she called
129
:down to her husband Adam, would
you bring me another cup of coffee?
130
:I can't remember exactly how this
happened, but he looked at the coffee
131
:maker and there was a dead mouse in the
reservoir of the, you know, like one of
132
:those Keurig things in the water part.
133
:And so she had already drank that
full cup of coffee with that water.
134
:And then Adam, was saying, no, I, I'm
not going to bring you a cup of coffee.
135
:And she didn't know why.
136
:So she's like, Adam, will you
137
:bring me a cup?
138
:Jen: Oh,
139
:Betsy: No, I'm not going to
bring you a cup of coffee.
140
:And she runs down there.
141
:Why won't you bring me a cup of coffee?
142
:And then there she sees it.
143
:Oh, that's
144
:so
145
:awful.
146
:Jen: scarred for life.
147
:I will always check the reservoirs.
148
:Oh
149
:Betsy: They're looking for water.
150
:They're looking for
151
:water.
152
:Oh,
153
:Emily: oh, wow, girls, now I,
yes, if I didn't, I, I just have
154
:to say that I don't like mice.
155
:I have nothing
156
:Stephanie: no!
157
:It's
158
:This episode we are talking
about the fear of God.
159
:A godly mother trains her children to
see God as their lifelong authority.
160
:And God's word tells us that there are
so many blessings for when we fear God
161
:and that it is the beginning of wisdom.
162
:But we find that this is a topic
that is often misunderstood.
163
:So we hope that this episode
brings clarity and direction as you
164
:train your children in a healthy,
honoring reverence of the Lord.
165
:Aunt Betsy, I'm going to ask you to
kick us off and tell us what does
166
:it look like to have a healthy,
respect, and fear of the Lord?
167
:Betsy: Well, I think that if we've
ever been at the beach, uh, near the
168
:ocean and we've seen a huge Powerful
wave come in close to our little ones
169
:and we're running to grab them because
we know The power of that wave and I
170
:think that that is just a tiny little
Taste of the power that the water has
171
:and then and God controls the water.
172
:So he is awesome in power
He's awesome in holiness.
173
:He's almighty.
174
:He's sovereign.
175
:And when we, in our little perspective,
in our little world, in our minds, we
176
:come to a realization of who we are
in regards to Him, we are awestruck.
177
:And we know His power.
178
:And we live in some ways in
fear of that power, but that's,
179
:that's just the beginning.
180
:We know what God is capable of.
181
:So we live in a healthy
fear of not offending God.
182
:And I have a definition here.
183
:The fear of God is the reverential awe or
profound respect for the holiness of God.
184
:that compels our obedience
and anchors our trust in Him.
185
:Jen: Hmm.
186
:Stephanie: Yes,
187
:oh that's such a powerful analogy.
188
:It makes me think of just the
richness of hymn lyrics and
189
:the hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy.
190
:I took a class once and I had to memorize
those lyrics and the fact that God wants
191
:to be known, that's the only attribute
that , it says three times in scripture.
192
:This is important that we
understand the holiness of God.
193
:And his word over and over,
we are commanded to fear him.
194
:So, Emily, what does that look
like as you're training children to
195
:understand blessings of obedience
and a healthy fear of the Lord?
196
:Can you think of, in your parenting,
What has that looked like?
197
:Emily: It's modeling for them, What it is.
198
:We, we train them, of course.
199
:we train them, through scripture
memory and how we have how we have
200
:developed our home and how speak
to, why, what we do, what we do.
201
:But it's, it's truly in modeling.
202
:For them that they see the
Lord's blessing abundantly.
203
:We, prayed with our children last
summer about something very specific.
204
:And, they're at this age, this great
age that they are fully aware of all
205
:things going And, when they're young,
you can kind of brush over things and
206
:they're not always aware, but they were
fully aware and they, they prayed with
207
:us and They saw God move mountains and
answer prayer, and it was a huge huge
208
:faith building thing for them To see.
209
:So, to be able to bring them in on
the little things so that one day
210
:you can bring them in on pray as a
family together, And the Lord is so
211
:faithful to meet us in those places
when we bring our kids in, pray.
212
:And the answer praying
for was not right away.
213
:And in, in in the midst of for an answer,
there were questions from, from the kids.
214
:And, , and it was, So good to be able
to just talk through and then for them
215
:to see God answer in this mighty way was
just, something that only the Lord can do.
216
:But I think by modeling prayer
and showing it in our lives, it's
217
:just the best way that we can,
218
:Betsy: I think The fear of God helps us to
understand that we're accountable to God.
219
:And it's a serious thing because of who He
220
:Emily: Mm hmm.
221
:Mm
222
:Betsy: And you know, we obey Him
first because we fear Him, but then
223
:we obey Him because we love Him.
224
:And we don't fear Him in the
same way because We live in close
225
:relationship him and we see him as
our loving father, but we understand
226
:that those who do not fear him.
227
:Stephanie: Mm
228
:Betsy: And it says it's a terrifying
thing to fall in the hands of the living
229
:God for the person that doesn't believe.
230
:And so, we pray for people we know
who don't believe, but we, we know
231
:that there is an accountability that
all brings around the fact that there
232
:is an accountability to the Lord
233
:Emily: hmm.
234
:Jen: yeah.
235
:When I think of Fearing God,
I think of in The Lion, the
236
:Witch, and the Wardrobe, how C.
237
:S.
238
:Lewis speaks of Aslan, and, one of
the says, you know, of Aslan the
239
:lion, who, which represents um.
240
:he safe?
241
:And he says, Oh no, but he is good.
242
:And I, I love that because sometimes
243
:we think that fear is a bad thing
and fear in a sense of reverence.
244
:And knowing our place is a good thing.
245
:If you are, if you go into some royalty
and you enter into their throne room
246
:unannounced, You, in times of the
Bible, especially, you could be killed
247
:if you were un, if you, they didn't
call you and you just walked right in.
248
:So having a fear of that and a position
of someone and Their position of
249
:authority is a very good, thing to know
that you could be killed before you,
250
:walk into the room unannounced, you
might have a little bit more respect.
251
:You might have a different way of
handling things and going back to
252
:the whole thing with Aslan, like.
253
:there is a safety in knowing that
he isn't safe, but he is good.
254
:And so you're not safe with
him to just sin how you want.
255
:You're not safe with him to disrespect
and not follow his commandments.
256
:That's not a safe place.
257
:You,
258
:he good to And that if you
are following in his ways.
259
:You are safe with him, you know, so
I don't know every time I hear that
260
:we've listened to the audiobook a
number of times and I Get chills and
261
:I also want to cry at the same time
and I also want to be like, Yes.
262
:so good
263
:Stephanie: I love that
264
:Emily: Mm-Hmm.
265
:Betsy: I do
266
:Stephanie: I'm going to talk about
another movie here, but not quite
267
:as wholly of a reference, but when
my boys are little, they loved Pixar
268
:movies and the movie The Incredibles.
269
:One of the characters can put
force fields around herself.
270
:And I was trying to think about teaching.
271
:My boy's about the blessing of obedience
and about God being like a strong
272
:tower and a refuge for the righteous.
273
:And so I explained to my boys that it's
like these force fields, when you obey
274
:mommy and daddy, and when you obey the
Lord, it's you're you're like in this
275
:covering and it's protection for you.
276
:And when you choose to disobey, I
mean it's obviously like this circle
277
:of illustration and entrusted as
well, but when you choose to disobey,
278
:you are leaving that force field.
279
:And, I actually wrote a blog post about
it, and so I was looking at it the
280
:day, because my boys are older now,
but it was, I have to read this story,
281
:it was so funny, what My oldest did.
282
:So, He had disobeyed and I said, okay,
can you tell me what rule you broke?
283
:And when I explained that the
force field was taken off when he
284
:dishonored me, his eyes got wide
and we went full circle through it
285
:and I could just see it soaking in.
286
:So a few hours later,
he was disrespectful.
287
:And I said, Lincoln, did you
remember God's commandment to
288
:honor your father and mother?
289
:Do you really want to
take that force field off?
290
:And he needed a few minutes, but a
couple hours later, he came to me
291
:and said, mommy, I almost took off
my force field, but I decided not to.
292
:And he just had he had this look of joy
293
:Obviously when we relate anything earthly
to our perfect Heavenly Father, it's going
294
:to be an inadequate illustration, but I
think that's been helpful As they've been
295
:growing you know how Wonder Woman has
that lasso of truth, , it's, that's what
296
:we're supposed to do to take every thought
captive And make it obedient to Christ.
297
:Proverbs 1 7 says the fear of the
Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
298
:Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
299
:And.
300
:When we talk about this idea of being so
countercultural, it's almost heartbreaking
301
:to read that verse and to think there
are so many who are despising wisdom and
302
:instruction . but when we fear the Lord,
that's just the beginning of knowledge.
303
:I can see in my own life as an
adult, there are times where I've
304
:thought, Lord, I don't understand why
it's so important to obey in this.
305
:It's so hard, but I know your word
tells me to to honor you in this.
306
:and I can see how the Lord has grown me in
a healthier fear of him, that it's become
307
:a motivation because I delight in him.
308
:I want to honor him and things
that, that I encounter in his word,
309
:even if they're very difficult.
310
:Aunt Betsy, you've parented teenagers,
obviously the stakes get higher and
311
:they're starting to drive and make these.
312
:Big decisions, do you continue
to guide them as they grow?
313
:Betsy: Well, I think that when they're
little bitty, and we mentioned in
314
:a previous podcast that God gives
them to us as infants, and he gives
315
:them to us for about 20 years or
so, that when they're little, they
316
:can't do anything for themselves.
317
:They're completely...
318
:Dependent upon us.
319
:And because of that, we have
full authority over them.
320
:We have full responsibility over them.
321
:But as they grow up, and we've trained
them to do certain things, and we've
322
:set some foundational pieces in place,
That now we can, uh, pull back a little
323
:bit, ease up on the authority, and teach
them and train them more by guidance,
324
:a little bit more by coaching, and see
how they handle making the decisions,
325
:and if they do well, then they get more
responsibility, a little bit more slack
326
:in the rope as some might say, and then
if if they don't do well, then we kind of
327
:have to bring them back in and say let's
reconsider the choices that you're making
328
:or what do we need to be doing here.
329
:And so the heavy Authority, that
begins when they're little, ends up
330
:to be low in authority and high in
guidance over that 20 year period.
331
:There's sort of a easing off
of one and an increase of the
332
:Stephanie: Mm hmm.
333
:Mm
334
:Betsy: I think that's helpful for parents
to know because one of the big things,
335
:and I know it'll come up at other times.
336
:But is how does your
child keep their room?
337
:So we might say, when they're
little, you're going to train them.
338
:Okay.
339
:this is how, you keep your room.
340
:how you keep your closet.
341
:this is how, what you don't
do with your wet towels.
342
:And this is what you do
do with your wet towels.
343
:And, uh, this is how you make your
bed and let's make it together.
344
:And, you how do we want to put the pillows
and the animals and all these things.
345
:And then when they get older.
346
:You say, well, now it's your
responsibility to keep your room.
347
:And how do you want to keep your room?
348
:And then we have certain guidelines
to say, well, now are you being
349
:responsible with your room?
350
:Maybe they don't make their bed every
day, but we're not going to be saying,
351
:Hey, you have to make your bed every day.
352
:You can.
353
:I mean, That's that's your decision as
a mom, but we give a little bit more
354
:slack to see how they respond to the
training that they've already had.
355
:And I think they'll, they'll take, you
know, benefit of that, advantage of that,
356
:or whatever you want to say, because
they have a lot of things going on and
357
:parents will give a little bit more slack.
358
:But the ultimate thing is that you'll
be seeing No, they know what to do.
359
:They know the right response.
360
:And, as long as you know that that's
happening, we don't have to be so
361
:concerned about every, little thing
for that example, you know, of, well.
362
:They still have to have those
wet towels off the floor.
363
:Stephanie: Yeah.
364
:Betsy: That can never happen.
365
:you know, what I'm saying is
you're relying on the training
366
:that you've put in place and you're
watching it and seeing how It's
367
:going.
368
:Emily: Mm-Hmm.
369
:Jen: That's so true.
370
:It's interesting because
I'm reading this book.
371
:Actually, I just finished it this weekend
called Your Teenager Is Not Crazy.
372
:And it's written from a Christian
worldview and it talks about how.
373
:The teen brain works and how at
different portions of going through
374
:adolescence, the different parts of
the brain literally shut down and
375
:it cannot work and during that part.
376
:And so it makes sense that, sometimes
when we look at our teens and we're like.
377
:really, you got nothing there?
378
:What's going on here?
379
:And and it just has been
a helpful book for me.
380
:But as I hear you saying that we
lighten up on some of the things that
381
:we're laying the ground rules and and
teaching them and training them how
382
:they do it when they're young, when
they're old, in the book, it actually
383
:says that teens respond huge to rewards.
384
:If you are like, Hey, you know what?
385
:If you pick up your room the way
that you and I have discussed about,
386
:um, and you do that significantly
for this month, I'll give you this
387
:X reward, whatever that might be.
388
:But if you try to do that with a
little child, they can't handle that.
389
:One, they can't handle that long
of a timeframe, but also, They're
390
:not in the stage of life where
they, the reward is the benefit.
391
:They need to be disciplined and
trained how to do it and walked
392
:through and been like, Hey, good job.
393
:That's that's awesome that you did that.
394
:Let's keep doing it.
395
:As they get older, that reward is helpful.
396
:And so I feel like that was so interesting
to hear you say that about how we kind
397
:of slack off on some of the things
and we reward them when they do do it.
398
:that works really well with
the way that their brain works.
399
:Betsy: Well, we always had something
called the definition of a clean room.
400
:And I had it on the back of their doors
and in their bedroom or bathroom vanity.
401
:So every Friday night before
they went out, they had to meet
402
:the definition of a clean room.
403
:So during the week, I wasn't so
concerned about it, but they could
404
:not go anywhere on Friday night
unless that definition was met.
405
:And so they learned to not just.
406
:Stuff all their sweaters, you know, in
under their bed or whatever, because
407
:that wouldn't meet the definition and
you don't get the shortcut way out.
408
:So if you are careful with your
sweaters or whatever during the
409
:week, then you'll need less time to
meet the definition of a clean room.
410
:But I I think it's really
important that we're not going
411
:to just completely let it slide.
412
:I feel like they still need,
they still need some guidance.
413
:Because it says...
414
:I will instruct you in the good
and right way, and we want to
415
:sort of keep the standard up
there, even if we're not demanding
416
:compliance of it every single day.
417
:They know.
418
:I think that's so important, we
don't lower the standard.
419
:Keep the standard high, and they grow
into meeting it, rather than, you
420
:know, there's so much of this just
lowering the standard, lowering the
421
:standard, until there's nothing that
they're really working to achieve.
422
:Stephanie: In the last episode
you said that it's never too late.
423
:Obviously we do want to set all of
this, Groundwork this foundation when
424
:they're little, but I just want to
bring that up again, in case someone's
425
:listening and thinking, Oh no, you
know, I didn't start that early enough.
426
:It can be something dramatic, like
teaching them to fear the Lord.
427
:It's not too late to start.
428
:Or it could be something like, I
actually didn't teach them how to
429
:clean their room when they were little.
430
:It's
431
:okay.
432
:As you said last episode, it's okay
To teach them that there's going to
433
:be a new standard and that this is
the way the family is going to operate
434
:now and to train them in the right way
435
:regardless of their age.
436
:Betsy: And even Going along with that,
you could have grown up in a home where
437
:the house was just sort of messy, and you
grow up to be a real neatnik because , the
438
:pendulum swings the other way and it's
a concern for you and sometimes people
439
:just have that temperament where they
just like to be more organized, or it's
440
:frustrating for them to work in too much
disorder so it kind of depends a little
441
:bit on that so you're you're letting your
kids kind of Blossom into who they are
442
:And not just forcing them to be.
443
:who you want them to be.
444
:I mean, that's kind of what's
happening during those,
445
:those little bit older years.
446
:And it's really interesting
and fun to, to see that happen.
447
:I've seen my kids just develop
things that really, really surprised
448
:me in those those later years.
449
:And I remember Emily, when she first got
married, she said, Oh mom, I can't leave
450
:the house because there's one of those
coffee filters still in the coffee pot.
451
:And I'm like, wow, who are you?
452
:because that was such a change.
453
:And then And then the kids come along and,
then you have to flex a different way.
454
:And, when my kids were teens and they
like to cook chili or whatever they
455
:like to make, I just did not worry
about my pantry being in perfect
456
:order, which I like to keep it in.
457
:But, I'm gonna give to that a little
bit because, I'm going to have them
458
:enjoy creating things as long as
they clean up afterwards, right?
459
:Emily: We do want our homes
to be a comfortable place of
460
:learning as they're older.
461
:I'm talking teen years.
462
:I wouldn't let off on any of
the things when they were young
463
:because consi consistency is key.
464
:But giving them the wiggle
room and, and as you were...
465
:Speaking about that, Betsy, this thought
came to my mind, how the Lord allows
466
:us the process He gently leads us
along in this process of sanctification.
467
:If we allow our children to kind of
just give them a little window to figure
468
:things out, the Lord so graciously gives
that to us while He's sanctifying us.
469
:So, We can most definitely give them a
little wiggle room to figure out, a clean
470
:room and all of that when when we know
they know the baseline, but they need to
471
:figure out a system that works for them.
472
:Betsy: Correct.
473
:That's a good
474
:thought.
475
:And I think that's so important.
476
:They're going to, be figuring out
how to self govern, how to, put
477
:systems in place because we're
not going to be like controlling
478
:behavior their whole lives.
479
:We want them to.
480
:Figure out things and figure out some
things by making some bad decisions.
481
:I saw a card that said poor
decisions make great stories.
482
:And, you know, those decisions
that they make are some of
483
:the funniest things we talk
484
:Emily: It is
485
:very true.
486
:Jen: I've actually said that to one of
my children who has a fear of making any
487
:mistake, and I am constantly saying, I
would rather you try and make a mistake
488
:because you will learn more from making
the mistake than from not trying at all.
489
:So go ahead and try.
490
:And make those mistakes and then
we'll talk about it and you will
491
:have learned so much through that.
492
:And so don't fear, you know, now
this isn't anything sinful, But then
493
:with the other kids, I'm like, can
you stop making so many mistakes?
494
:The balance of children.
495
:Betsy: Yes, they're so different.
496
:So different from each other.
497
:Well, I think it's interesting to, to
think about people that fear the Lord
498
:because often in the Bible, it will
say, and the midwives feared the Lord.
499
:And so they did not, kill the babies,
in Egypt, but they Saved all the
500
:Israelite babies, things like that
you'll hear and he feared the Lord or,
501
:and he did not fear God and he rebelled.
502
:So there is obviously a distinction
in the Bible between people and
503
:people that don't, who, who relish,
cherish his protection of them.
504
:in his awesome power that he protects
them, but they have a fear of not stepping
505
:too close to danger in this lesson, and
in fact, we went through some of the
506
:the special provisions of God to people
that fear him, and we always have this
507
:lesson, uh, pretty close to Thanksgiving.
508
:Cause it's a nice little list to read.
509
:Uh, For how the Lord blesses us.
510
:And we can be so thankful that
because we fear the Lord, He has
511
:allowed special provisions to us.
512
:And we just have a little list.
513
:We actually, in the class, we have
a list of about 23, it says that,
514
:Who is the man who fears the Lord?
515
:He will instruct him in
the way he should choose.
516
:That's Psalm 25, 12.
517
:So God fearing people receive
God's guidance through his
518
:word to make wise decisions.
519
:And that's really what we were
talking about before with kids
520
:that, we were talking about guiding
kids and making wise decisions.
521
:And here's, God does this for us.
522
:For the people that fear Him and
I think that's an awesome blessing
523
:Stephanie: yes, In Psalm 3119, it says,
how great is your goodness, which you
524
:have stored up for those who fear you,
which you have wrought for those who take
525
:refuge in you before the sons of men.
526
:And I I have, a shocking
testimony from this past week
527
:of just how the Lord stored up.
528
:His goodness for our family and in a
way that made my son feel so seen and so
529
:loved by someone in the body of Christ.
530
:And it really is amazing, the goodness
of the Lord and his his provision
531
:when we fear him and walk in his ways.
532
:It really is humbling.
533
:Emily: so good for our
534
:kids to see.
535
:Jen: In our homeschool, we have a
Bible storybook that I absolutely love.
536
:In fact, I have found four
different copies of it and.
537
:I'm saving them for our children to be
able to have each of them have one for
538
:their family some day Because it is so
special and each year when we finish
539
:reading the Bible We have them write
their name and how old they are in it
540
:and it is so cute to see their little
handwriting and and how it's changed and
541
:But just a Sweet thing, but one
of the things that I love about
542
:this Bible story book is the
consistency of how she words things.
543
:The author is very close to
how it is written in scripture.
544
:It's not watered down, but
it's written in a order.
545
:And, in a
546
:Emily: Mm-Hmm.
547
:Jen: way that is easy for
children to understand, but
548
:not spoken like Talking to a
549
:Emily: Mm-Hmm.
550
:Jen: But one of the themes is that she
says often, they feared the Lord and did
551
:what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
552
:And I thought, you know, hearing that
constantly being, they feared the Lord
553
:and did what was right in the eyes of the
Lord, and then she'll often end up with,
554
:at the end, we will talk as well and say,
And it went well for them, didn't it?
555
:Like in the end, things
worked out well for them.
556
:And then at times where they did not
fear the Lord and they did not do what
557
:was right in the eyes of the Lord.
558
:And my kids will stop and be like, and
it's not going to go well for them.
559
:It's just a sweet thing.
560
:But I just think of this fear of the Lord.
561
:It's for our good.
562
:It's for our safety.
563
:It's for our, our goodness and also it's
a guidance and in a way for us to be able
564
:to know him better because if we fear
him and we have a right perspective of
565
:our position before him and his holiness.
566
:Then we can enter the throne room
with humility and, and ask for
567
:anything that he's willing to
568
:give.
569
:Stephanie: You have
570
:to tell us the title, please.
571
:Jen: Yeah, it's called the Ergomer's
Bible Storybook and I love it.
572
:We, maybe we could link
it in the show notes.
573
:But, um, yes, the book is so good.
574
:It's so well written and it
starts, from creation and goes.
575
:To Revelation, and in the one that we
have, we read six and a half pages for
576
:three days a week, and we get through
the entire Bible in a school year.
577
:it does not have Proverbs, Or Psalms
in it, which is a little sad, but
578
:I will sometimes, if we finish
early, I'll read through Psalms
579
:and Proverbs on our own with the
kids, but it's been a huge blessing.
580
:In fact, in our homeschool, if
there's things that we didn't get to
581
:in the day, but we got to the Bible,
I'm like, well, we did the most
582
:Stephanie: Mm hmm.
583
:Yes,
584
:for sure.
585
:Jen: Yeah.
586
:Every morning we started
out with reading that.
587
:Stephanie: We've been
going through a study.
588
:It's called Proverbs People
589
:By Marilyn and Rick Boyer,
and it's an older resource.
590
:I'm not sure if it's still
in print, but it goes through
591
:Proverbs and it talks about the
righteous man and the wicked man.
592
:And it's really helpful.
593
:It's just sweet to see at the end of
every chapter, it'll say, would this be
594
:a righteous person or a wicked person and
how quickly they can identify, they know.
595
:And so I think anyone who is regularly
in the word, that idea of fearing
596
:God, you hear it so much that, you
know, it's right, you know, it's true.
597
:And I think that's the best
way we can train our children.
598
:That this is good.
599
:This is for you.
600
:This is for your blessing.
601
:.
Jen: Yeah.
602
:Because isn't that one of the things
that he wants from us when we fear
603
:him is to help us do what's right?
604
:If, If we go through life and we have
no consequence and no fear of anything
605
:how foolish and unwise of decisions we
would make if there were no boundaries
606
:and we, we could just do what we want,
when we want, how we want, however we
607
:want that doesn't sound, it sounds fun
for a moment, but to live your life that
608
:way all the time, it really is not good.
609
:That's not good in any way.
610
:So yeah, it just is, this fear of God
is, it's a big thing and it's paramount
611
:to having a right
relationship with the Lord.
612
:Emily: Yes.
613
:And in the eyes of the Lord, to do right
in the eyes of Him, not in the eyes
614
:of your friends or in the eyes of what
you're feeling or you could fill in the
615
:million things there, but to do right
in the eyes of the Lord, that instills
616
:the healthy fear into them of of just
how awesome God is and His goodness.
617
:Jen: Yeah.
618
:Stephanie: I was listening to a
podcast earlier this week and.
619
:The gentleman said, when I was young,
I had multiple opportunities to look
620
:at, impure images and every time I
knew not to look because I feared God.
621
:And he said, I knew that my parents
probably wouldn't find out, but
622
:I wanted to honor the Lord in it.
623
:So he said, his parents did a
really great job of teaching him.
624
:His identity was as a child of God, but,
but also that his role was to honor God.
625
:This has very far reaching
implications, right?
626
:When our children understand
that This is the God who sees.
627
:This is the God who hears.
628
:Scripture tells us over and over.
629
:I've even done recently a
study on the eyes of the Lord.
630
:makes me think of that sweet little song.
631
:Be careful little eyes what you see.
632
:For the Lord is up above and
He's looking down in love.
633
:And I think if it didn't have that last
line, it could really be misconstrued.
634
:But when we teach he's
looking down in love.
635
:This is for your good.
636
:And there are blessings and Deuteronomy
28 and 29 are such helpful chapters.
637
:If you're wanting to understand, are
there blessings of obedience it's very
638
:clear That is a pattern in scripture
of when we choose wisely, it's
639
:not always a prescription, right?
640
:But we do have God's favor in those
choices, especially when we do it
641
:from a pure heart of honoring him.
642
:We have been so encouraged by
your faithful listening and we
643
:have a couple favors to ask of
you to help spread the word.
644
:Our desire is that this podcast
would encourage mothers who desire to
645
:parent biblically and you can help us
646
:the first way is you can write a review.
647
:Podcast platforms are more likely to
recommend this podcast to mothers if
648
:we have a greater number of reviews.
649
:So we would really appreciate that.
650
:You can also like us on social media.
651
:Our Facebook page is Entrusted
Ministries and our Instagram is
652
:Entrusted with a Child's Heart.
653
:We would still love it if you sent us
a question to answer on the podcast.
654
:And lastly, did you know that we would be
more than happy to speak at your church
655
:and encourage moms in your community?
656
:So reach out to us.
657
:You can fill out a contact form on the
Entrusted Ministries website and we'll
658
:try to get something on the calendar.
659
:We know you're busy, Mama, so
we are truly grateful you joined
660
:us for this episode of Again.
661
:If you're looking for more information
about building your home on the
662
:foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.
663
:EntrustedMinistries.
664
:com to learn more about our study for
moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.
665
:This scripture saturated study
has blessed families around the
666
:world, and we want it for you, too.
667
:Before you go, I want to pray
this benediction over you
668
:from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.
669
:We're rooting for you.
670
:To this end, we always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of His
671
:calling, and may fulfill every resolve
for good, and every work of faith by
672
:His power, so that the name of our Lord
Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in
673
:Him, according to the grace of our God.
674
:And the Lord Jesus Christ.
675
:Amen.
676
:Until we meet again.