“Where do babies come from?” At some point, you can count on being asked this question by your child. Preparing ahead of time can help make conversations more casual, more natural, and consequently, more effective. Children ask: “Where do babies come from?” because they are curious. Their question is not about sex. They want to know where they came from before they were born. The question is a...
Pastor Dan sat alone in the office feeling a bit overwhelmed by anxious thoughts and an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had just finished reading an article on his favorite news site describing the attempts of some state legislators to codify requirements for all counselors in his state, which, he presumed, included his counseling ministry as a pastor. The writer mentioned...
What comes to mind when you think of Psalm 22? It is best known for containing the words that our Lord Jesus Christ quoted while suffering the punishment for our sins on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” That first verse of David’s psalm was experienced by the Son of David, Jesus the Messiah, as he endured the judgment we deserve, so that we might never be forsaken by God...
When you reflect on your own childhood, what do you remember your grandparent teaching you? Was it some particular skill, like how to make the best chocolate chip cookies or how to catch the most fish? Or was it a life lesson such as the importance of keeping your word or how to show proper manners when meeting someone for the first time? Although we might not have fully appreciated the input...
Children have lots of questions about God and heaven. While most kids have ideas of what heaven will be like, do they know what God says? Kids (and many adults) picture heaven as up in the sky, among the clouds, with angels who have wings and harps. They have a general understanding that heaven is with God, but few realize our ultimate destination is not up in the sky. In God Made Me for Heaven:...
