Dave Stone - Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord

RAISING YOUR KIDS
TO LOVE THE LORD

BY DAVE STONE

Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord

2012 by Dave Stone

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations marked NIV 2011 are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION. 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by Permission.

Scripture quotations marked PHILLIPS are from J. B. Phillips: THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MODERN ENGLISH, Revised Edition J. B. Phillips 1958, 1960, 1972. Used by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from KING JAMES VERSION.

ISBN-13: 978-1-4003-1871-1

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DEDICATION

To Beth

God answered my prayer when you said yes to my proposal twenty-seven years ago. One of your deepest desires was to be a mom. Its obvious why... you do it better than anyone I know. Your fingerprints are evident on each page of this book.

Thanks for loving the Lord and me. Cant imagine doing life without you beside me.

Your very grateful husband,

Dave

This book is also dedicated to Life in Abundance International (www.liaint.org).

Your outreach ministry in Kenya has left an imprint on our family that will not fade. You are transforming families in some of the poorest regions of the world. Your prayer life inspires us, your example motivates us, and your love for the least of these compels us.

Dave & Beth

THE STONE FAMILY
LIGHTING HIS WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY, TYLER PELAN

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Savannah, Sadie, and Sam: You all bring so much joy and fulfillment to my life. This book couldnt have been written unless you each were a godly kid. (Try to stay out of prison at least until this book has been released.)

Patrick: You are an awesome son-in-law. Thanks for your help on the title.

Mom and Dad: Thanks for doing and being whats in this book and a whole lot more.

Lisa Stilwell & Laura Minchew: You have been great to work with and represent Thomas Nelson Publishing and Christ quite well.

Penny Stokes: What can I say, you be very grate writing coach. I tell people you work marigolds with my writing. (You rock, Penny. Thanks for your patience and help!)

Jack Countryman: Thanks for believing in me five years ago.

Thanks to the Southeast Elders for allowing me to write and to Kyle Idleman, Debbie Carper, Laura Williams, Dave Kennedy, along with Jimmy and Macie Allen, for your encouragement. Ben Cross youre a bloodhound when it comes to finding sources. Thanks!

Thanks to my team of encouragers and readers: the Rusaws, the Harlows, Laurie Allen, Sara Burke, Carl and Lindsay Kuhl, Tish Cordrey, Lance and Kisa Hoeltke, Mary Leslie, Mandy Laurin, Rebecca St. James, and Brenda Harrell. Your insights greatly improved this book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1
TOP-BUTTON TRUTHS

T he hallway was packed, but Heather seemed oblivious to the crowds jostling around us. She was new to the church, visiting at the invitation of a friend. We chitchatted for a moment, but the small talk changed dramatically when I asked what she hoped to gain by worshipping with us at Southeast.

Tears filled her eyes, and she said, Dave, I just want my kids to grow up and love the Lord.

Heather is not alone. Plenty of people want faith for their family.

I do. You do, too, or you wouldnt have picked up this book.

Parents look in a lot of different directions to ensure that the spiritual baton is passed on to their children. Some, like Heather, rely on the church or a Christian school. Others will turn to close relatives, camp, or a parenting book.

I commend those choices; they can all be helpful. But theres a better place to begin.

If you want your kids to grow up to love the Lord, it all starts with...

You.

TOP-BUTTON TRUTHS

Have you ever gotten to work, or church, or your kids school play only to look down and realize that your shirt or blouse is buttoned the wrong way?

Its a minor embarrassment, but its also a metaphor for spiritual truth. If you start at the top and work your way down, the rest of the process comes quite naturally. But if you button the top one wrong, things will be skewed from the start. You can keep on buttoning, but eventually youll have to start over. It pays to start right from the beginning.

For some, this book is a chance to start over from the top. For others, its positive reinforcement to stay the course.

In this book youll find practical suggestions and creative ideas that will be helpful to you regardless of your family dynamics. Youll have a chance to get refocused on those top-button truths, the principles that make all the difference in your own spiritual life and in the lives of your children. Youll learn that when your heart truly beats for the Lord, when godly living is your priority, it becomes more natural for your children to embrace faith. Real faith.

I know youre thinking it, so go ahead and ask: Who is this guy anyway? What makes him such an expert? What gives him any wisdom for my family?

Well, let me just say right up front that I am not a child psychologist. I do not have a counseling degree.

I am a parent and a Christian. I love the Lord.