Sunday, November 13, 2011

Are you raising a Pharisee or a Lover of Jesus?

Is there a book that you've recently read that has stopped you in your tracks? One that rocks you to the core of your being and makes you rethink your Christian walk and how you live your life? "Give Them Grace - Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus" by Elyse Fitzpatrick & Jessica Thompson is the book that has done that for me recently.   It's a must read for every Christian mom & dad.  I know that you hear that time and time again but this book will change your perspective not only in the way you interact with your children but it will open up your heart and see how you truly see your Saviour.  Do you see him as the Lawgiver and Judge? As the disappointed Father every time you sin? No, He is the God of Grace who loved me even though I was sinner and paid the price for me, not so that I would live perfectly but live in the grace that He's bestowed on me by paying the price of my sin with His perfect life and sacrifice.
This book isn't a "how to" raise godly children.  Are you disappointed? It's a book to show you that your children need the gospel not the law.  What saved us in our trespasses? Not the law, but His grace! Hallelujah for God's grace.  Hallelujah for a Christian parenting book that finally preaches the truth of His grace and not the burden of the law.

"Nearly every parenting book you'll read will tell you how to be a successful parent of successful,
seemingly sinless children.  Our modern worship of personal success stories is clearly seen
in the number of books that outline the methods for producing spiritual giants.  Whether
they encourage family-integrated education and worship, public schools, immersing our family in the culture, or moving to a little house on the prairie, being a successful parent and raising
successful kids is the only paradigm we seem to be willing to accept.  But what if we're measuring
success in the wrong way?  Could it be that our perception of success isn't God's plan
for us or for our family? What if he's going to use our failure and our children's rebellion to make us humble comforters of other sufferers for his glory?" pg.148

"Do you hear the underlying message of that best-selling book? Your child's success depends
entirely on your ability to communicate to him in the right way. "If we do our job right as parents to instill these values, our kids will be a success at whatever they do! We'll have trophy kids!  This is the message of every book about parenting that is not rooted in the grace of God demonstrated
in the gospel. ..... parenting books are not Christian if their primary message is law.  If their
message isn't rooted and grounded in the truth that you and your children are deeply sinful
yet deeply loved, in reality its nothing more than a glorification of the will and work of the parent.
Aside from placing a crushing burden of guilt and fear upon the backs of dads and moms, the thought that we can change any one's heart is laughable. Change our children's hearts?
Only God has the power to change the heart!.....

When we make parenting more complex than God has made it, we afflict ourselves with burdens
too heavy for us to carry, and we are unintentionally presuming that the good news of the gospel
is insufficient." pg 161

There isn't a page in this book of mine that isn't highlighted in yellow.  These are only some of the quotes that made the ground underneath me move and quake that I walk on daily.  If you know me you wouldn't think or even suggest that I am legalistic or struggle with that in my Christian walk but this book really made me examine how I have explained or have been an example of what the gospel is to my children. 
A few weeks ago I was driving my oldest son to school and I asked him, "What makes a person a Christian?" He proceeded to give me a list of things Christians don't do.  My worse fear may have come true.  Have I raised a Pharisee? Have a raised a rule keeper or a Jesus' lover? I proceeded to tell him that a Christian isn't necessarily a person who goes to church, doesn't cuss, doesn't do drugs, etc.  Just because you do those things isn't what makes you a Christian.  It's what you love and do you love Christ more than anything and want to live your life for Him is why you do or don't do those things.  We go to church because we love Christ and want to worship Him and be with His people.  We try to live holy lives because He is holy and we love Him and want to please Him, but doing those things doesn't make us holy or make us right with Him.  He has done that already by His death on the cross. 

I want to get this book in parent's hands so I will be doing a book giveaway Sunday, November 20th & Sunday, November 27th. You can enter numerous ways and each one will give you another entry in the giveaway.  You can  follow my blog, "like" my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, repost & retweet the giveaway on your pages or blogs. I will keep all entries till we give away both copies of "Give Them Grace" on Nov. 27th.  Leave comments on my blog to show me which way you've entered the giveaway.  Please include me in your reposts so I can accurately keep track of your entries. 
I will continue to post my favorite quotes of "Give Them Grace" during the duration of the two giveaways. 

30 comments:

Jen said...

Yea for this giveaway! I'd love to have this book. So here's entry #1: I follow your blog in Google Reader.

Jen said...

And I "like" your page on Facebook.

Jen said...

And I follow you on twitter (I'm "jkpstrange").

Jen said...

And I've tweeted about this giveaway (http://twitter.com/jkpstrange/status/136219294882209792).

Autumn Beck | All About Cloth Diapers said...

i follow your blog

Autumn Beck | All About Cloth Diapers said...

I liked your FB page

SomeGirl said...

I tweeted! :)

Dennis said...

I have tweeted your giveaway @solagratia.

Unknown said...

I follow your blog via Google Connect

Unknown said...

I like your Facebook page

Jena-Marie said...

Oh- I'd love to have this book. I've heard so many great things! Entry 1- I now follow you on twitter

Unknown said...

I now follow you on Twitter! (I want this book so bad!)

Jena-Marie said...

I follow your blog on my google reader

Jena-Marie said...

I retweeted the giveaway

Jena-Marie said...

I "like" you on fb

Jena-Marie said...

I posted the giveaway on fb.

The Ziglar's: family, gardening and delicious food said...

I have heard this book is awesome. Our pastor references is quite often. I would love to have it! I am now following your blog.

The Ziglar's: family, gardening and delicious food said...

I have also added the giveaway to my Facebook page.

Jessica Thommarson said...

I liked your FB page & shared your give-away on my page!

Jessica Thommarson said...

I'm now following your blog!

Jessica Thommarson said...

I'm following you on Twitter (@toettoo) and I retweeted your give-away. :-)

Sara H said...

New follower of your blog! Thanks for the giveaway!

Sara H said...

I liked your facebook page.

Sara H said...

I posted the giveaway on facebook.

jamie b said...

I'm following you on twitter!

sarah said...

I like your FB page

Anonymous said...

Hi! Liked and reposted on Facebook!

Anonymous said...

I tweeted as well!

Unknown said...

I "liked" your facebook page, but for some reason your hyperlink for following you wouldn't let me follow. Thanks for the give away, would LOVE to read this book!
Amy

Unknown said...

I "liked" your facebook page (Amy Rohrbeck Schaffner), and I tried to follow you, but your hyperlink wasn't working. Would LOVE to read this book!
Amy