Five @ Free Flow Friday!

Unlike last week, this one – for me – has FLOWN by. Honestly, it’s hard to believe it is Friday.

But do you know what?

IT IS!!!!!!!!

Happy Friday Everyone.

Today’s 5 @ FFF are helpful, I think, for everyone – in particular – for parents.

I know what you’re thinking – “Another set of articles on parenting??? But Pastor Matt, it’s so easy being a parent in 2014!” I know. But still, some – from what I hear – need all the help they can get with parenting.

Oh, and by the way, the author of this blog is one of those people. 🙂

Enjoy.

#1. Distracted From Shepherding a Child’s Heart by David Burnette

“The call to talk to our children about the things of the Lord as we go about the everyday routines of life should be a delight and a privilege for us.  This doesn’t mean we have to feel guilty if every waking second isn’t accompanied by a Bible lesson or a memory verse, nor does it mean that there is never a time for using mobile devices simply for enjoyment. However, if our attention is constantly drawn to Facebook or Twitter or anything else in cyberspace, we won’t be engaging the hearts and minds of those closest to us. Instead of teaching our kids how to look at the world through the lens of God’s Word, we’ll be staring at a screen. We can’t possibly listen to their struggles if we can’t look them in the eye.

At some point, putting the phone down becomes a matter of spiritual warfare.”

 

#2. Don’t Text While Parenting – It Will Make You Cranky by Alice Park

“The data provided an unvarnished look at how absorbed many parents were by their devices. One child reached over in an attempt to lift his mother’s face while she looked down at a tablet, but to no avail. Another mother kicked her child under the table in response to the child’s various attempts to get her attention while she looked at her phone. A father responded in curt and irritated tones to his children’s escalating efforts to tear him away from his device.”

Parents – can we hold each other accountable on this? PUT YOUR PHONE/TABLET/DEVICE DOWN!!!

 

#3. How Should We Talk about Sex? by Ed Stetzer

“‘How should we, the church– and church leaders in particular– speak about sex?’ I’d like to encourage us to do so in five ways.”

What are your thoughts after reading Stetzer’s five suggestions???

 

#4. 8 Paradigm Shapers for Making Discipline Decisions as a Parent by Ron Edmondson

“Let’s face it…parenting is hard work. I’m hesitant to say anyone is an ‘expert’ in this subject. We all have room for improvement. I’m not assuming you will carry around this list in your pocket, whipping it out at the appropriate time of need, but I do believe having a framework of this sort in your schema will help you better address the issues of discipline you face as a parent. In the end, having this type of paradigm thought process, before the need for discipline arises, should help us be better parents.”

 

#5. 10 Ways to Positively Influence Your Grandchildren by Steve Pearson 

“Sit around a table and talk to them during and after a meal.
Plenty of people pay good money for entertainment far less rewarding than this. You’ll hear some quotes you will never forget. And your shared laughter will be priceless.”

I can vouch for this one – THIS MAN HAS ALWAYS MODELED WHAT HE SAYS HERE – children (his own) AND his grandchildren.