What is your legacy? There is an old song Christian artist Steve Green sang called “Find us Faithful”. A line in the song says, “When your children sift through all you’ve left behind, will the memories they uncover…?” I recall hearing that song when my boys were young and I was always convicted! I was concerned about the memories I would leave behind for my boys.

Most parents want to develop a close, lasting bond with their children that goes beyond the years a child lives in the home. Having a relationship with children that transcends time begins early in a child’s life as the heart of the child bonds with the heart of the parent.

Most Christian parents want to encourage their children to mature spiritually, but they do not know how. I am not an expert at this and I am still learning, but my boys are incredible men of God and they sincerely seek after Christ into their young adult years. Here are some thoughts for producing children who desire to grow spiritually:

Recently I spoke on parenting at Grace Community Church. This was a tough message because I addressed some problems I see with much of today’s parenting, but it is a message I feel needed to be given.

To spank or not to spank…that’s probably one of the most frequent debates I have heard about parenting, but something seldom talked about from those who teach on parenting. I suppose I should not be surprised when I am addressed with this question often since I frequently teach on issues such as parenting, marriage and the family. Recently when I spoke on 5 Words to Shape Your Parenting, I received several questions again about this subject.

Recently I spoke at Grace Community Church and posted about 5 words to shape your parenting. (You can watch or hear the message HERE and read the post HERE.) Since then I have been asked several times for more specifics about parenting. There was a special interest in the subject of spanking; whether it was appropriate or not and whether I believe in it or not. While I believe discipline is a personal topic for parents to decide where they land, I do believe there are some principles that are helpful for all parents to follow. I am probably less inclined in this area to talk about what I did and more inclined to talk about the principles I believe are even more helpful.

Yesterday I spoke on 5 words to shape your parenting. These are principles that can greatly increase your success as a parent. Keep in mind that principles are not promises or guarantees, but you have a better chance of success if you follow them than if you do not.

What an impact a father has on his family. I can honestly say I have never met a woman who would not faithfully serve the Lord if her husband did. Most women I know, even very independent women, welcome their husband assuming the spiritual leadership of the home. Women are freer to serve Christ and be fruitful for the Kingdom when they have a supportive husband who surrounds her with unconditional love.

I love his father’s day appeal to fathers also. It’s a great standard for which all fathers should strive. His encouragement: To be a better father than you had. All of us can make small steps of improvement, maybe even large steps, but the key is that we try to improve from generation to generation. I have told my boys many times that I hope they improve upon what I have done as a father. My father brightened my day recently by telling me he is thankful for the father I have tried to be.

The shortest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 117. I have often wondered what was going through the Psalmist’s mind when he recorded his thoughts for this Psalm. Was he finished? Did he get interrupted? Was there something else he wanted to say? Was he satisfied with his work? (Obviously God was.) This shortest chapter has huge meaning. If we were to memorize just these two verses and implement them in our life, I think it may make a difference in our perspective on the world and the situations in which we find ourselves.