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<\/div>\nOne of the first things you do when you turn on your GPS is \u201center the destination.\u201d \u00a0Many conflicts between spouses occur when they don\u2019t see the same destination for parenting. \u00a0Many of us are angry at God as a parent because His destination and ours seems out of sync. \u00a0We want to be happy; He wants us to be holy. \u00a0One spouse wants our kids to \u201cobey us,\u201d while the other wants children to \u201cfeel good about us and themselves.\u201d \u00a0So let\u2019s begin by plugging in the right destination.<\/p>\n
A. Godly Parenting System is Not…<\/strong><\/p>\n Destination Carnation<\/span>: Everything is about relational self-discovery\/awareness.<\/em><\/p>\n Carnation parenting is neither concerned with suppressing evil in a child, nor elevating good. The method of self-discovery is elevated above results. \u00a0Conflict avoidance is more important than conflict resolution.<\/p>\n Destination Citation<\/span>: Everything is about rules and regulations.<\/em><\/p>\n This authoritative style is about power. Obey, or else. Fear of reproof motivates rather than a love of virtue.<\/p>\n B. God\u2019s Parenting System is…<\/strong><\/p>\n Destination Impartation<\/span>: \u00a0Implanting into a child\u2019s heart a love for virtue and a trust in God and His commandments.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Here is the point: God wants us to love and trust Him. To develop our hearts to trust that His way is best.\u00a0 He wants us to obey Him because we know He loves us and in response, we trust Him and love Him. There will be external guidelines, but rather than obeying for the sake of obeying, he wants us to trust Him and thus, obey Him as a result. He wants us to do hard things rather than just always feeling good, and trust Him along the way. \u00a0When you trust someone in your heart (that means that you trust they know best and have your best interests at heart)\u2026you will obey. \u00a0\u00a0Grace allows us to have a pure motive for obedience.<\/p>\n How does God win our hearts? How is this message different from DESTINATION CITATION (all about rules and regulations)? \u00a0How is this message more than DESTINATION CARNATION where it\u2019s all flowery and self-image?\u00a0 The main message of the Bible allows for a pure motive. \u00a0Why?\u00a0 If you are motivated by rules, you are either motivated by fear of breaking them, or fear of not being accepted. You are motivated by guilt of not wanting to be more guilty, or pride \u201cLook what I did.\u201d But Grace is the message where God says, \u201cLove me with all your heart, soul and mind.\u00a0 Love me with all your strength, because (if you accept and believe it), I make you acceptable to Me. \u00a0There are many wonderful religions and ethics in the world, but the motive for obedience is always about trying to seek favor with God.\u00a0 Acts of goodness are merely steps to obedience with God, but NOT so with the Christ-follower. \u00a0Christ-followers know they are already accepted by God. They know they are already forgiven for past, present, and future acts. They know they are fully and completely loved by their Creator. They trust Him with their eternity and therefore want to trust Him with their lives. \u00a0Our goodness therefore is a love response to God rooted in a relationship with Christ. \u00a0\u00a0We treat others well because God treated us well, and we value others as much as He valued us.<\/p>\n I heard a story of two parents who saw this in their daughter\u2019s love for her doll.\u00a0 One Christmas, Jennifer received a Holly Hobbie Doll that she loved and cherished for years. \u00a0One day she turned to her dad and asked him to hold the doll while she made up its bed. \u201cBe careful how you hold her Daddy,\u201d was a common instruction. \u00a0Mom and dad saw this patched up doll, with its stained clothing and missing hair and were tempted to focus on its material value. \u00a0The doll was not worth the cloth is was made of anymore. To them, the doll was valueless, but not to its owner. To Jennifer, the doll was precious. The more tattered it became the more care and love she gave it. \u00a0Her words, \u201cBe very careful how you hold her,\u201d governed her care.\u00a0 We held that doll, not based on our perception of its value, but on the value assigned it by its owner.<\/p>\n The same is true with God. He tells all of us…look at what I did for you. This passage in Deuteronomy reminds them that HE delivered them from Egypt. HE thought them to be so valuable, that HE went to create lengths to secure their freedom. HE found them when they were rebelling against Him. HE made a way through the Red Sea to freedom. And now, in light of what God has done for them, He says, Trust me with your heart. Love me for first loving you.<\/p>\n For the free first thirty minute session of Godonomics, visit:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.godonomics.com\/watch-session-1<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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