“Everybody’s doing it.” – “Well, then, you should have no problem finding someone else to do it with.” “I want to show my love to you in a real way.” – “I wear a size five ring. No less than two carats, please.”

“It’s my hormones. I just can’t help myself.” – “I’ll bet if my 6’2” daddy was in the back seat, you’d be able to help yourself.” “It’s only natural.” – “So is diarrhea.”

A generation-spanning faith will be found to be: – Convincing – Consistent – Contagious – Confident

Adversity will happen, to you or and your children. Pay attention to how you react (initially and long-term) to cycles of adversity. Do not be ignorant of the potential severity for adversity in your lifetime. (Y2K)

In order to endure any “how” that comes along in life, it is important that our children understand the “why” first. Teach your child how to articulate and defend this type of faith. Teach them to stand in the gap.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

A husband and wife are capable of producing far more than individually possible. We provide support and comfort to each other. What could overpower us individually becomes feeble against both of us.

By creating a person like Adam yet very unlike Adam, God provided the possibility of a profound unity that otherwise would have been impossible. There is a different kind of unity enjoyed by the joining of diverse counterparts than is enjoyed by joining two things just alike. When we all sing the same melody line, it is called unison, which means “one sound…”

…But when we unite diverse lines of soprano and alto and tenor and bass, we call it harmony; and everyone who has an ear to hear knows that something deeper in us is touched by great harmony than by mere unison. So God made a woman and not another man. - John Piper

Proverbs 18:22; 19:14 Proverbs 15: Peter 3:7

Proverbs 31:10-12 Titus 2:4-5 1 Peter 3:3-4

God uses the harmony of our roles. Are you living these passages at home? Does your spouse see your commitment as expressed in these verses? Do your children see you modeling these verses in your daily walk?

So long as we have homes to which men turn at the close of the day, So long as we have homes where children are and women stay, If love and loyalty and faith be found across these sills, A stricken nation can Recover from its gravest ills.

So long as we have homes were fires burn and there is bread, So long as we have homes where lamps are lit and prayers are said, Although a people falter through the dark and nations grope, With God, Himself, back of these little homes we still have hope. - Grace Noll Crowell

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD. The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies at the gate. Psalm 127:3-5