Brandon Phillips

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Intentional

Intentional.

Today I want to come to you with one word. If there is a word that we could live by that would change our lives it would be INTENTIONAL. This word is a change of mindset. Are we going to let life come at us and react to life or are we going to intentional about the things that we allow in our lives.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

Over the past few weeks I’ve had the privilege with gathering with some of the parents at our church who want to grow in this area of their life. We are not perfect far from it and by our own admission we have a long way to go but We understand that in order to grow we have to be intentional.

We have covered the importance of passing down faith to your family and at what ages children can grasp the concepts of faith. Last night we talked about family devotions.

I want to thank Sean Aland for leading us on June 1st.

For so many of us as parents we feel unqualified or unprepared to lead our families spiritually. But we are reminded in

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 2 Peter 1:3

This includes the ability to lead our family spiritually. We wont always get it right but with all that the world is throwing at our families doing nothing in not an option.

When?

The best thing about family devotions is they are on your schedule. So, if the morning works for your then go for it. If it’s at the dinner table or in the car do it then. It doesn’t matter when just do something.

What?

So many options are available for you and you can choose what works for your family. You would want to start with the bible. A Proverb a day maybe? A simple devotion from the bible app or any daily reader is a great place to start. There are many print and digital options. I will include a few in the video notes.

How long?

You know your family. If it were up to me we would have a full on worship service each time complete with songs and preaching! But I would get a lot of rolling eyes and end up hurting the cause. So we have realized that keeping it short and simple really helps. If you have older kids they can handle a longer discussion. If younger then maybe a verse and a question is all that can be done.

As long as we intentional about getting God’s word in the hearts and minds of our family God will honor that.

Why?

God’s word and family devotion is not a silver bullet for all family problems. But what I have seen when we do family devotions is tension in our home breaking down and we can function as a family could and should.

When God is put first and your kids see that they will model what they see.

Make it priority and know that I am praying for you.

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Mutually Encouraged

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This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Have you ever just needed to be encouraged? I don’t know a single person who is positive all the time. There are times when I wake up and just know that “today is gonna be a good day” I pray “Good morning Lord! Fill me with your spirit and work in and through me today.”

On these days I can make it on the Holy spirit and His word alone.

Then there are days when I pray “good lord it’s morning! I need your spirit to fill me today just so I make it today.”  On these days I NEED other people too. I like how the apostle Paul puts it in many of his epistles or letters to the churches.

11 For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Romans 1:12

 

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

It is so encouraging to hear other people’s stories of faith. We truly can encourage one another as we talk about what God is doing. So let me ask you a question…

When is the last time you talked about what God is doing in your life with someone else? When is the last time you have been encouraged by or encouraged someone else.

Do you need to find someone today? Make call, send a message, meet up for coffee or lunch. Stay connected to the body and Christ and be encouraged!

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God’s Blueprint For Passing Down Faith

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God lays out the blueprint for how we are to excel in faith. He lays out commands, statues and ordinances that we are to learn so we can then pass them on to our families. When we follow God commands and live in holy fear, We have this desire to serve Him and want what he wants. We know that there is a way that we are to live and when we don’t live that way, when we mess up we have a great pain in out heart because we know there is a better way.

So God tells us through his word that we are to love him above all else and that we are to pass on this faith and these words to our children by the means of LIFE. Its says

  • Repeat them to your children
  • Talk about them when you sit in your house
  • When you walk along the road
  • When you lie down
  • When you get up
  • Bind them as symbols
  • Write them on the doorposts of your home.

The only way to carry on a worldview like Christianity is that it has to be all encompassing. We can't pick and choose which parts to believe and which parts of our lives we want to allow it to effect. If we do it 1/2 hearted, our families and others will be able to spot it and think that it is really no that big of a deal to us and ask why should it be to them?

We need to set our schedules in such a way that show our priorities are God first. When we do this consistently our families will pick up on that and follow the examples because there truly is not better way than following God.

What does that look like in our everyday life?

  • Model it
  • Talk About It
  • Pray About it

God help me to be an example to my family. Help me to truly love you will all my heart soul mind and strength.

 

“This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. 2 Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all his statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. 3 Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.

4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol[b] on your forehead.[c] 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

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Prayer Resources

Prayer Resources

I've heard prayer described as one of those things more caught than taught. Our direct line of communication with God is a spiritual discipline that cannot be over looked. It is a weapon of spiritual warfare and needed on a daily. continuous basis.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Historically the first week of May is set aside as the National Week of Prayer, the first Thursday in May being the National Day of Prayer. Over the years I have had the privilege to attend a few special prayer breakfasts with special speakers and programs for this day. When God's people pray something amazing happens.

Prayer gives us access to the peace of God in all circumstances.

 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

It opens up our hearts with expectation to what God wants to do.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, Ephesians 1:18

Prayer guides

Praying for your son

Praying for your daughter

7 Prayers To Pray Over Your Husband

7 Prayers to Pray Over Your Wife

30 Days of Marriage Prayers

How to Have a Holy Hour

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Family Technology Plan

Teens and Tech

A couple of months ago we hosted a meeting with parents and discussed the issue of parenting teens and technology. Below you will find the presentation with some helpful resources.

Parenting: Technology

Slide 1

Parenting is like a roller coaster. It looks big. You are a little scared but excited to try it out. Then you go on it and you are excited to do it again. Sometimes with all the twists, turns and drops, it feels like life is turned upside down. You don’t want to do it again or anymore but through all the success and failures you keep going.

That pretty much describes how I feel about parenting. I love it and it’s a joy but it also is very difficult, frustrating, and at times overwhelming to the point of wanting to give up!

Then bring in the issue that we live in a digital world. Are kids are growing up as digital natives, where they live a lot of their lives on a digital device. They are using these devices for just about everything.

Because of this it is important to have a plan in place for how to relate to these digital natives.

A couple of months ago we had a seminar where we started a discussion on these issues and I will include the outcomes and resources we compiled below.

Slide 4 What are we talking about?

When we are talking about technology what are we talking about?

Tablets, phones, tv and the content and interactions associated with these devices.

Slide 5 Why talk about it?

I want to be informed and I want to know safeguards I can put in place to protect my kids not only from themselves and their decision but also other dangers lurking in the digital world.

Slide 4 How are we going to do this?

Information

Discussion

Equipping, Tips, & Tools

Slide 7 Information

  • What are the main benefits?

Social engagement. Learning, connectivity, communication.

  • What are the main dangers?

Social engagement, learning, connectivity, communication.

  • Where are they getting ideas to search for things?

Other people, ads, games,

I remember having to get on the phone to talk to my friends. The one attached to the wall! Or losing touch over the summer with school friends. Being connected would have been nice. The reality is that we were able to leave all our problems at the door of school, literally. But now they follow them home and the hallway that’s filled with bullies, and stress is in their pocket. There are benefits to technology and drawbacks.

Slide 8 Discussion

Let’s talk about what technology means to us. I think we need to understand our relationship with tech before we can address our kids relationship with it.

  • 3 words hat describe your own relationship to tech?

Constant, distraction, crutch.

  • What is a problem you have noticed with tech in your family?

Moods, lack of focus, addiction.

Slide 9 Discussion

  • How far are you willing to go to take back control?
  • What has been successful for you?
  • What limits/boundaries can you put in place? Have you?

Slide 10 What are they using Tech for?

  • Text/FaceTime
  • Social media
  • Video games
  • Streaming videos
  • School …lol

Some of our kids are not doing bad things on their tech. Some have mad mistakes. But what boundaries have we set for them. Some encounter content they did not even know existed and it may sound silly but they didn’t know it was wrong until the shame came. They are not going to know the boundaries and limits until we set them or teach them.

Texting and FaceTime are great ways to communicate with friends and can be harmless until they become inappropriate with hurtful comments or racy photos.

Video games such as Fortnite or Roblox can be a lot of fun and your kids may not be looking for trouble but it could find them if they are friends with people they don’t know.

Some ”harmless” videos insert content via ads, comments, or links.

SLIDE 11TikTok, snapchat, Instagram, youtube, whatsapp, kik, askfm, vsco

Slide 12 Next Steps

1.Set boundaries/limits. Use a contract or tech plan.

2.Talk about technology. Find out what they are using.

3.Subscribe to s monitoring/filter service. It may cost but it’s worth it.

4.Talk to others in this community. Ask for help. Share your victories.

Slide 10 Helpful tools

  1. This community/website/email

2.Bark

3.Life 360

4.Screen Time

5.Google

I want to create a community of parents who help each other! If we are honest we all feel like we fail a lot. We need encouragement and suggestions of what has worked in your family.

Bark is a platform that we started using and it allows you to monitor, block, and filter most things on your children’s devices. Tablet, phone, xbox.

Screen Time is Apple’s built in feature that allows you to monitor how long certain apps have been used.

Google is a huge help. We may not agree with the companies political agenda but we can type in anything in the search engine and get info fast.

Helpful Resources

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