Through Our Gates

T BAR M BLOG

Entitlement – What prevents it?

Any disappointment in your family from a gift not received this Christmas? We’ve all been there if we’re not there now. Judah points us to God’s truth teaching us God gives everything we need…which isn’t always everything we want. Thankfully! Scripture “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will […]

The Golden Rule

“Now, would you want someone to do that to you?!” Surely there’s not a person alive who hasn’t heard this phrase from a parent or teacher? It’s The Golden Rule. Jess shares some “how to” and most importantly the “why” we should follow it. Scripture So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do […]

Partiality, Don’t Go There!

Ever been left out? Judged? Dismissed with unknown reason? These things aren’t at all what our God wants. Ashley points us straight to God’s Word to remind us to look past the surface. Scripture My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” James 2:1 […]

Family Fun is Worth It

What are some of your best childhood memories? At least a few probably include laughing with your family. Johnny sets us up for creating laughable moments within our families…’tis the season! Scripture “A cheerful heart is good like medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 Reflect This is the season we […]

Loving Those Without Their “Real” Dad in Their Lives

When asked to talk about our dad we may not all have a fully happy story with no hurt involved. That’s ok. Know someone with a story like that? Kelli richly shares how we can love those people well. Scripture He is a father to the fatherless; He gives justice to the widows, for He is […]

Above Drama with Friends

“…But she really hurt my feelings, Mom!” Parents never enjoy hearing those words from a child. Randi Beth shows us how we can point our children in a direction higher than their current drama. Tough, but so good! Scripture “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave […]

Joy in Intentional Parenting

Parenting – not for the faint of heart and definitely not a microwaveable experience. Alice encourages us to set our navigation by what is true, and she reminds us how to sail the waters of parenting with joy. Happy Thanksgiving! Scripture For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields […]

Handling Hard Questions From Our Kids

“Mom, Dad, what’s the biggest trouble you got in when you were in High School?” This may be a question sending some of us squirming in our seats! Kids can ask some tough questions. How do we field those? Johnny sheds some great light on this matter for us. Scripture “Preach the word; be ready […]

Work Like Ants!

Ever watched a colony of ants at work? Maybe you can picture that person or group of people who “work like ants.” What a compliment! Check out what Cole says we can learn from ANTS. Scripture Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores […]

Parenting Based on Performance…or Not!

It sounds ridiculous to think we would reward our children with love because a “scoreboard” reflects a positive performance, but in her 25 years of child raising Alice knows how easy this trap can be. What happens when the performance isn’t positive? Alice points us to some truth… Scripture We love because He first loved […]

Kids Owning Personal Time with God

What’s the trick? What can motivate a child to take ownership of their faith? It seems like a magic formula would come in handy in this area. Let’s see what Ben points us to in God’s Word… Scripture Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not […]

Prepare the Child for the Path

Helicopter or rocket launcher…which describes your parenting style best? How can we be a sending agent when our world is so full of evil? Thankfully, God doesn’t leave us hanging. Scripture For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10 Reflect When we enter the world as infants, we […]

Healthy Parenting

Parenting…the rich, hard, get-your-hands-dirty kind of parenting is surely not for the weak at heart. Let’s be encouraged by Johnny’s counsel! Scripture “…and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, […]

Accountability

Accountability…help in doing what’s right. Right? Well, kind of. But more. Much, much more. Scripture God is love. 1 John 4:16 Reflect When people talk to me about accountability, my mind’s eye goes to a group of people, usually the same gender, who are trying to keep each other accountable regarding their behavior. Outside of […]

Community: Family is at the Core

Who is a part of your closest community? Did you just list your spouse? Other family? Let’s see why Adam says family should be our closest community. Scripture “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to […]

Prayer 101

Ever stumped on how to pray? I think we’ve all been there a time or two. Chief points us right to the One who knows best how to talk with God. Check it out. Scripture “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, […]

Make Exercise A Lifestyle…An Enjoyable One

There are so many ways we can exercise! It doesn’t have to be hard core Crossfit all the time. What does your family do to make exercise part of your lifestyle? See what great ideas Trish suggests… Scripture Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in […]

Sexual Relationships: Parents, Talk About These with Kids.

Talk about a tough subject…When is the right time? What’s the right setting? How much do I say? Should I leave anything for later? What if I laugh like I am a Junior High kid?! Shane helps us navigate through this difficult endeavor. Scripture For this reason a man shall leave his father and his […]

Study Scripture as a Family

In the craziness of life how can we find the time to study scripture? Even tougher, how can we impress the importance of that discipline to our children? Chief breaks it down in a manageable way. Scripture These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.7 Impress them on your children. Talk […]

Read Scripture Together

I’m confident we all desire to share scripture with our kids. Does it feel like “just another thing to fit in the schedule”? Here are some practical steps for scripture to be the central focus for your family. Scripture These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your […]

Scripture…Put it to Memory

Can you finish the line to this song…”Oohhh Oohhh, we’re half way there, Ooohh Ooohh…”? Why in the world do we take up our brain space with such information?!? Well, probably because at some point in life we have heard that song many, many times. What if we applied the same principle to keeping God’s […]

Carve Out Time With God

Do you schedule your priorities or prioritize your schedule? A small change in word order can be a chasm of change in how we spend our time. Reflect on Katie’s challenge to us to carve out time to be with the Creator of the universe and the One Who knows every detail about who we […]

Integrity…Humility Helps

Are you as spiritual as most of your friends? Wow…that’s not really a good question, BUT if you’re anything like me, I imagine that has crossed your conscience at some point. There have maybe been other comparisons you’ve dealt with in life too. Katie has a great challenge for us to be who God has […]

Serving Together…it Takes Humility

Can you imagine your kids willingly doing a chore for their brother or sister…AND not asking for recognition? Sounds like it might work for another family, but not yours?! Read what Randi Beth learned about serving her brother growing up. I’d like to high five her parents! Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each […]

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