The Week in Words
Welcome to The Week In Words, where we share quotes from the last week’s reading. If something you read this past week inspired you, caused you to laugh, cry, think, dream, or just resonated with you in some way, please share it with us, attributing it to its source, which can be a book, newspaper, blog, Facebook — anything that you read.
From a friend's Facebook page:
I'm still reading A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. The chapters I read this week focused on parenting. The best thing I read last week concerning training our children in godliness was this excerpt:Being "contented" ought to mean in English, as it does in French, being pleased. Being content with an attic ought not to mean being unable to move from it and resigned to living in it; it ought to mean appreciating all there is in such a position. ~~ Gilbert K. Chesterton
Another way we train our children in God's ways is to take them -- whatever their ages -- to church for maximum, not just minimal, exposure to His people and their activities. Attend both church and church classes -- and don't miss night church, if your church has an evening service . . . Getting your children involved is vital to training them up to know and serve God.I couldn't agree more! I know it's not popular in some circles to make church attendance a priority, but my husband and I were raised to be in church every time the doors were open, and we have raised our children that way. We've seen the Lord work in our own lives, our siblings' lives, and as we've raised our children. Paired with a consistent walk with the Lord on the parents' part, church attendance and participation has proven to be the most stabilizing influence in our lives. Hebrews 10:25 - "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is: but exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching."
Granted, each opportunity in itself may not seem to offer much, but added up over a lifetime this frequent and regular exposure to God's Word and His people makes a powerful statement about our priorities and whom we serve. Getting our children to church for more than just the courtesy worship service visit (although even that can be a major accomplishment) is an essential part of training them in godliness. ~~ Elizabeth George, A Woman After God's Own Heart, p. 132-133
That is a good way to think of contentment. I've struggled with exactly what it means to be content because in one sense if I was content with everything I wouldn't pray for anything, but this quote gives some valuable insight.
ReplyDeleteI agree that church attendance is vital for any Christian.
Barbara ~~ I thought that quote gave some good insight into contentment too. It's not complacency or resignation, both of which completely turn me off. But appreciating what is in a situation does appeal to me!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the quote by G.K.Chesterton. He was quite a guy and he says a lot in just a little bit!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment after the quote by E. George. I think the most important thing for kids is to see the life fleshed out in their parents (that will. include church/fellowship---)--the daily living it out.
My quote is not on my regular blog, but here: http://devotionalstuffy.blogspot.com/2010/06/cruciform-love.html
nannykim ~~ I sure loved this quote by Chesterton. One of the hardest parts of parenting is living our faith at home in front of the children!
ReplyDeleteI have read A Woman After God's Own Heart, Loving God with All of Your Mind, and just recently purchased Breaking the Worry Habit . . . Forever! I love Elizabeth George's books. I think my girls have even read one she wrote for the younger crowd when they were in their early teens.
ReplyDelete