As far as reading the Bible to our kids goes, there is a book that has had a HUGE influence on my husband and me. It is titled Ten P's in a Pod. Looking at the cover of this book, you might think that it's a sweet, anecdotal book about a Mom and Pop and their eight kids and all the situations they find themselves in and the outcomes of those situations. Well.......yes. But there is so much more.
The Father of this family, Arnold Pent, was truly a man who obeyed God's command in Dueteronomy 6:4-9.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
The Pent family traveled together, spreading the Word of God and they were REAL. They meant every word they said when they spoke of Christ because they were immersed in the Bible. As a family, they read the Bible three times each day AND they each had their own personal Quiet Time with God. Scripture had a real meaning to them and they were able to be effective in their ministry because of it. And even though they're not traveling around together today, the testimony of how they lived their life and loved their God shines through in Ten P's in a Pod and is still affecting others for Christ today.
The Pent family sure have affected how my Husband and I are approaching life with the fam. Our goal now is to read to our kids from the Bible three times each day. It's a shame, but we find it a struggle to achieve that goal. We've got twice each day under our belts, but man, are we struggling with "finding time" to fit in that third reading. It's hard to give up our worldly goals for a squeaky clean house, certain activities for the "good" and "benefit" for the kids, and even academic goals. These are our own issues that we know we have to work on surrendering to God.
More to come.....
That is a great book, and a great goal to follow. But remember, your family is not the Pent family, and you may not be called to live just as they do! (Not many people could live as they do!) :-) Don't beat yourself up over what you are not doing, or not yet doing!
ReplyDeleteNever fear, we don't feel hugely stressed over our new goal. We know we will get there and are honestly not being hard on ourselves over it. Just realistic, if that makes any sense.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that we are to look to each other as examples. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." Paul is a great guy to look to for an example, and my husband and I feel the same about the Pent family and their Bible reading habits. We choose to follow their example. :-)
Love,
Becca