Obstinate Youth

A fool despiseth his father's instruction, but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. --Proverbs 15:5

Alas! we cannot wonder at this folly. Remember the birth of the fool, "as a wild ass's colt" (Job 11:12), despising discipline and restraint. Yet subjection to parents is the law of nature, recognized by the most uncivilized nations. Much more is it the law of God. The authority of parents is the authority of God. 'The wayward resistance of the ungodly will be fearfully scourged.' (1 Sam. 2:22-25.) And even the Christian penitent has felt the smart of the rod to the end of life. If example would put this folly to shame, do we not read of the One child, able to teach, yea to command, his parents, who yet exhibited the lovely pattern of filial subjection? But pride must be broken down, and the "clothing of humility" worn (1 Pet. 5:5), before the child will see that his parents know better than himself, and that to count their word law--to "bear the yoke in his youth" (Lam. 3:27),--and to regard reproof, is the path of prudence (Proverbs 15:31-32; 19:20), no less than of honour. (Proverbs 13:18.) Solomon's wisdom, though the special gift of God, was doubtless connected with his filial regard to his father's instruction. (1 Chron. 22:11-13; 28:9,20.) Will those, who despise their earthly father's instruction, listen to their Heavenly Father? How surely therefore will this untractable spirit exclude from the Kingdom of God!

-- Charles Bridges, Proverbs, 1846

Are Your Children Praising God?

Have you ever thought of the scripture, "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments." ?

I remember a time in my early years of being saved how I very earnestly wanted my little ones to love the Lord. I wanted them to know Him and serve Him. After reading the scripture just quoted, I set the kitchen timer for one hour and told them we are going to stop everything we are doing and praise the Lord every time the timer went off. We went on our knees and praised God for a few minutes every hour when we heard the timer, it only lasted part of one day but it was great fun for us!

I learned soon after that to praise Him through out all the day, no timer needed.

Oh there are so may ways to praise the Lord! We can praise Him with thanks for everything around us, what He has provided and the miracles He keeps bringing into our lives!

We can take a walk with our children in the winter and point out how the snow and the ice crystals bring glory to God and praise Him. Or how the flowers in the Summer glorify Him! How the sky and clouds speak of Him. . . it's endless, the ways we can point our dear ones to Jesus our Lord!

Do your children praise God continually? Do you?

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.


Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!


Praise and thanks to God is what He has instructed us to do! Always!

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Let us set the example before our children to see, so that they might understand better and learn to do well!
Praise our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ always! Praise is good let us praise God even when things are hard or bad things happen! This is a sacrifice of praise.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.