PARENTING/DISCIPLINE IN PROVERBS - Chapter 13

13:1 "A wise son accepts his father's discipline (instruction), but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke."

~Assumes that a father is indeed instructing his son - this won't happen by accident - it must be intentional.

13:3 "The one who guards his mouth preserves his life, the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."

~Choose my words CAREFULLY

13:13 "The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, but the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded."

~Can't really tell if this is Word as in Scripture or word as in words taught from others....but in any sense...it was a reminder to ME not to underestimate the power of the WORD in my children's life and in my parenting.

~Teach my children to respect the Word of God and the word of those in authority over them.

13:18 "Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline/instruction, but he who regards reproof will be honored."

~I must not neglect the instruction of my children - this is Godly parenting.

13:22 "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous."

~Remember what we said about Proverbs being a poetic/wisdom book full of short maxims....that aren't necessarily absolute doctrine nor promises we can claim....this verse is sort of like that....I know MANY good men who have been poor and had nothing to leave to their children having grown up in 3rd world countries.....but....

~This is a good reminder that it's not all about ME. {G}

13:24 (did you think I'd shy away from this verse? Not a bit - it's the Word and I esteem the Word) "He who withholds his rod, hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently."

~The first 1/2 of this verse is most often quoted "spare the rod, spoil the child" without any reference to the rest of the verse...and modern meanings of words are used without any further study into WHAT the verse means. For further word studies on both rod and discipline click parenting and then scroll to Oct 25 - 28th. That being said...here are my thoughts...

~Since the remainder of the verse speaks of discipline (oral instruction),I take rod here to to be symbolic and not a literal branch/weapon/club. I know that some use "rod" to symbolize a wooden dowel, glue stick or striking with hand....I don't see that in my study of the word. I believe rod symbolizes authority, leadership, family connections and protection.

~So.....taking the word studies back to the verse (and feel free to read the extensive word studies I've done or do your own - these are MY convictions, they do not have to be yours - that's between you and God) I read the verse this way

"He who withholds his {leadership, protection, family connections}, hates his son {off spring - can be generic for both male and female}, but he who loves him {orally instructs him based on God and His character} diligently.

*The Complete Book of Christian Parenting and Childcare by William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN*

This book is offered to us by a Christian husband/wife medical team, parents of 8, and familiar to many through the La Leche League.

This book is reminds me of the "What to Expect" books that are so popular right now. The Sears cover a similar variety of topics, all from a Christan view point.

The book begins with pregnancy and progresses through disciplining and spiritual behavior in 3 - 6 year olds. I'm about 2/3's of the way through this book. . . but don't plan to read it page by page so thought I'd post a blurb now.

While I'm fairly certain I don't agree with everything in this book, this was another great find on Paperback Swap....one that I will be keeping. I think I'll put the "What to Expect" books on PBS instead. LOL

Menus:

Breakfasts:
Fruits
toast
granola/oatmeal
pancakes
smoothies

Lunches:
Encore Presentations
sandwiches
salads
smoothies

Dinners:
Oven "Shake and Bake" Chicken
Beef Stroganoff (GOING TO DO IT THIS WEEK - KEEP SKIPPING IT!)
Taco/enchilada night
Burger burn
Pizza
Cheese Topped Chicken Breasts (adapted from QB's blog)

~salads, fruit and veggies at each lunch and dinner

~Have a pie social coming up next week so I MUST figure out this whole wheat pie crust this week and I'd like to come up with an adaptation of a pecan pie that tastes good and has ingredients I feel good about.....

~I also want to get more Italian and Cinamon bread in the freezer....maybe 4 loaves of 7 grain too....these would make nice hostess gifts through the season - I think. Maybe combined with a pint of local honey or some honey butter or toasted sweetened pecans....

*Fasting for Spiritual Break Through by Elmer L. Towns*

This book came highly recommend to me from many trusted friends, who knew I had been led to recapture some of the very basic spiritual disciplines in my life, over the past two+ years. Yep - and I've still not read the Foster book - I may need to look that one up soon. ANYWAY - I was thrilled to be offered this book from a Paperback Swap member.

Elmer Towns is the Vice-President of Liberty University. His book is recommend by the likes of Pastor Jack Hayford, C. Peter Wagner, H. B. London Jr and Bill Bright.

In this book Elmer Towns describes 9 Biblical fasts. He seeks to show the purpose of the fast and how to conduct each type of fast. To do this he chooses Biblical examples. I'll admit he lost me here big time. I'm always a bit lost when authors begin to say "this symbolizes that". I was lost when Kay Arthur said an OT tribe symbolized the flesh and water symbolizes the Holy Spirit...and I was lost here as well. I'm always left saying WHO says it means that? WHY does it mean that? How can you say it ALWAYS means that....just sharing that this was slow reading for me. LOL However, the book IS full of very helpful advice and insights concerning fasting.

The appendix contains snippets from Christian leaders on fasting, a helpful glossary, instructions on how to keep a spiritual journal and an excerpt from Dr. Rex Russell on fasting and physical health.

I do think the book deepened my understanding of the spiritual discipline of fasting.

Sunday

The day began well. We arrived EARLY to Sunday School. The children are all working on the Christmas Program, which they will share on 17 December in the Traditional service. Zander, Stacia and I went to Mike's office.

We picked up the children and headed to the commissary. I needed to buy some sprinkles to make Christmas Cookies. We planned to be back at the chapel (with cookies) for this year's advent wreath workshop.....this seems to be a chapel tradition. We've done this at every base we've been too....it's usually a joint Catholic/Protestant family time. We had planned to send this wreath to Mike or someone else deserving of a wreath as we are getting quite an extensive collection. The workshop was 3 - 5 p.m. and Contemporary service begins at 6:00.

We headed for lunch. We are trying to find a Chinese place that will also serve American...can't find it around here. We settled for a steakhouse that comes highly recommended. Unfortunately, Zander threw up.

We spent the afternoon at home and have plans for an early evening. I'm praying that he and Stacia will sleep. I'm tired. I am blessed to have an unexpected day at home (Choosing Joy).

Heather, the chai tea is great. I wonder why I never thought to add sweetener and cream before. LOL

TOASTED SWEETENED PECANS
From Feeding the Healthy Vegetarian Family

2 T water
1/4 C rapadura*
1 1/2 C pecans

Heat water in skillet. Add sugar and heat to dissolve, stir in pecans, up heat, stir and toast 2 min. Spread in single layer on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 350* for 7 min - to toast and dry out sugar. Stir after 10 min. Cool completely. Store in airtight container.

I use these in salads...or for snacks.

*originally called for packed light brown sugar

PARENTING/DISCIPLINE IN PROVERBS - Chapter 12

12:1 "Whoever loves discipline/instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."

Discipline means oral instruction according to my study. Instruction that is God centered and God natured.....the NASB puts the word "instruction" in their end notes with this verse....just a confirmation that my word study was going in the right direction. {g}

~*I* must be teachable, I must welcome reproof

~I must encourage my children to also have teachable spirits...this will be impossible for them to develop if they observe me being "smarter than all else" or defensive when corrected by those whom are my authorities.

~Many modern day Christians read this verse like this "Whoever loves spanking loves knowledge...." and the word simply has nothing to do with spanking. I'm not sure when we began to assign "physical punishment" for a word that means "oral instruction" but we have.

12:11 "He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense (heart). "

~ tilling is work without immediate results, it's looking ahead to a reward

~Am I "tilling" with an eye to the future?

~Am I pursuing worthless things? "Worthless" things could be things that are good - but comparatively they are worthless....

12:18 "There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

~I am not alone in admitting that the tongue is one of God's greatest work projects in my life. Many women struggle with this...angry outbursts (often excused by PMS), unthinking words, harsh words, sarcastic tones, put out attitudes....are not pleasing to our Lord.

~Are my words used to defend my position or attack my child? Do I use my words as a sword in a sword fight or to bring healing to my child's heart?

12:27 "A lazy man does not roast his prey, but the precious possession of a man is diligence."

~FOLLOW THROUGH! As in the verse above I am called to have a big picture view of my children/life/goals.....

~A person who would hunt and not prepare the meal is the ultimate in lazy...but do I do that in parenting? Do I prepare my child's heart to receive teaching and then not deliver the teaching? Do I prepare the soil and give up during the tending and watering process? My precious possession is diligence....and I must remain diligent in my parenting...regardless of the length of the process, the lack of visible results or the discouragement of the day. Catch sight of God/Holy Spirit and follow Him forward!