

Through Our Gates
T BAR M BLOG

How Can Parents Teach the Value of Work?
Whether it’s uninvited homeschool or everyday chores around the house, our kids knowing the value of working hard at what’s before them is honoring to God. Seth tells us why and gives us some practical tips on how we can help our kids be good workers. Scripture Then He took the five loaves and the […]
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Seek to Serve the Lost, Lonely, and Needy
I can distinctly remember the smell of sweat. He hadn’t shaved in who knows how long and his clothes were probably older than me. The choir was singing Amazing Grace and from our pew I watched people politely trying not to stare. Scripture In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way […]
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How Can We Help Our Kids Struggle Well?
How often do you encourage your child to try something hard? When they do and fail miserably how do you encourage them? We often want our kids’ lives to be easy and only full of success. Rachel points us back to the truth of what we have to gain by admitting our weaknesses because of […]
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Why Be Part of A Church?
Cole reminds us of the importance of being part of a church…not just attending a service on the weekend. Rather, being in relationship with people to spur one another on is where some real, life-value is found. Scripture And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving […]
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Who and Whose are our Kids and How do we let Them Know?
The world and its evolving definitions of “cool” and “successful” will always be a temptation for us and our kids to look to for worth and satisfaction. Braxton points us back to scripture for how we can remind our kids where their true value is found. Scripture “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ […]
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How to Help Your Kids Have a Close Relationship with Jesus
Chief reminds us the best way to help our kids have a close relationship with the Lord is to have a close relationship with Him ourselves. Easier said than done, but each step toward that relationship counts! Scripture Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and […]
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How Can Scripture Memory Encourage us Toward Faithfulness?
Are you a champion at memorizing scripture? This is a tough thing to master, even for the most devoted Christ followers. Judah gives us practical ways we can get take a step at a time and grow in faithfulness by knowing God’s Word better. Scripture I have stored up your word in my heart, that […]
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Can Kids Handle Hard Truth?
Pandemic, protests, and politics…how much and what is good to share with our kids about these and other tricky parts of our world today? Ashton points us to Christ’s example in leading others in truth and grace. Scripture Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body […]
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How to Help Kids Live Missionally
There is so much value for our kids experiencing how God works for different people…be it 1 mile from home or more than 1,000 miles from home. Natalie walks us through the importance of teaching our kids to live missionally. Scripture “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth […]
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How to Create Healthy Family Culture when it comes to Technology Devices
As a culture, we have become utterly dependent on our devices. They make life convenient and efficient, and supplement boredom with ease. Kara reminds us of the importance and how do-able it is for our families to have a healthy relationship regarding our technology devices. Enjoy this repeat publishing from two years ago that is […]
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How to Help Kids Make Independent Decisions?
With school coming right around the corner and life looking a lot different than any of us anticipated this time last year, there is value in giving our kids freedom to make choices. Colby points us to wisdom in scripture and practical steps for helping our children grow in independent decision making. This article was […]
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“Just Enough” Extra Curriculars Even A Possibility? Yes!
A new season of opportunities is upon us with the beginning of a school year. How can we help our kids be involved in a healthy amount of extra curriculars, but not overdo it? Madi points us to making sure we enable our kids to sit with Jesus daily and ask His help for deciding […]
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What is the Value of Community?
Community…it’s hard, messy, yet so, so good and highly valuable. Seth shares his experience with lack of community and how God has used community to grow him in Christ-likeness. Let’s lean in to this throw-back devo one more time and enjoy the timeless truths. Scripture Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become […]
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How to Discipline Older Children with Love
Discipline styles begin to change as kids get older. The days of taking away toys and putting them in time-out are in the rearview mirror all too quickly. Ashton relays some great ideas for loving our older kids well with solid discipline. Scripture My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of […]
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How Can We Help Our Child Out of an Unhealthy Friendship?
Reality is, we all need friends! Friends are a good gift, and essential for our spiritual health. However, when a friendship takes the seat of God in our life, we’re in danger. Kara paves a way for us to steer our kids toward healthy friendships, originally two years ago, but today we get to learn […]
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Kids Managing Money? You Bet!
Take a look at these very helpful ideas from a camp dad we can use to teach our children how to navigate managing money. Another throw back from a couple years ago with timeless truths! Scripture “you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, […]
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Why We Should Have Tough Conversations with our Kids
Think of a topic you might absolutely freak out about if your child asked you about it. Now, what if you brought it up to him first? Go ahead…gasp, choke, cough, and sputter. But also take courage in the truth Seth shares with us about this very thing! (October will be a repeat of topics […]
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How Can We Help Kids Make Genuine Friends
Friends, BFFs, buddies, pals, whatever we call them, they’re important to all of us. Sometimes our kids can choose friends who do anything but point them to what’s right. Take heart! God’s Word has something to say to us about that, and Ashton points us to the truth about making good friends. (October will be […]
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Where Can Our Kids Find Their Value?
The world and its evolving definitions of “cool” and “successful” will always be a temptation for us and our kids to look to for worth and satisfaction. Braxton points us back to scripture for how we can remind our kids where their true value is found. (October will be a repeat of topics as we […]
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What is the Value of Serving Together as a Family?
Leading our kids by serving others alongside them might be easier said than done, however “D” reminds us of the tremendous value of serving together as a family. (October will be a repeat of topics as we are working to create a new Family Matters experience for you!) Scripture You, my brothers and sisters, were […]
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How Can We Please God in Our Schedules?
Ever wish you could be in two places at once? Ever try it? We might all be guilty of texting during a conversation. Kara wisely refocuses our attention on how to spend our time on what really matters. (This is a repeated article. Still great, timely truth! We are working to create a new Family […]
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How to Teach Your Kids to Pursue Christ on Their Own
Some things in life are better caught than taught. A relationship with Christ might very well be one of those things. Read what Sean tells us about kids pursuing Christ on their own, another great article from our archives. Scripture Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old […]
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Dating: Hobby vs Purposeful
Dating…fun or challenging? Now or later? Why or why not? Group or one on one? Him, really? Her, really? All these questions can come to mind as we aim to guide our kids in dating. Mark gives us solid, practical truth to hold fast to as we navigate this stormy sea with our kids! Another […]
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How to Be the “New Kid” Well
Each of us will be the “new person” at some point in life. Debbi is a seasoned mom of four who has helped her kids adjust to being the “new kid” through several Air Force moves across the country as well as internationally. You’ll be glad you listen in! Scripture The Lord himself goes before […]
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