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For children and youth in Oklahoma City the world
changed on April 19, 1995. For others it has changed
almost daily punctuated by Hollywood like scripts.
September 11, 2001 shocked all of us in an
unbelievable way. School shootings highlighted by
Columbine have sent the message to our kids that the
world in not a safe place. How do we help our kids
cope in this unsafe world?
Phillips, Craig and Dean have a song that says in
part, "I want to be just like You (meaning Jesus)
because he (the singer’s child) wants to be just
like me". As parents it starts with us. Our faith
in God and our security in Him can be contagious to
our children. If your kids are young, you are their
security. It is an awesome task but one that I believe
God equips us for. As I spend time with God and get to
know Him better, His truths become written on my
heart. God promises that, "…Never will I leave
you; never will I forsake you." He does not
promise that we will not have to endure hardship, but
that we will never face anything without Him. This
gives us strength and courage that cannot be found
anywhere else in the world. It is based on the word of
the God of the Universe. These are the truths that we
want to model for our children as we talk with them,
pray with them, and comfort them.
As our children grow into the teen years, their
awareness and worldview takes on a different
perspective. There is a natural developmental time of
questioning and seeking truths for themselves. There
comes a time that they can no longer rely on our faith
to bolster them. Faith is a personal issue and it has
to become that for them. The modeling we do is still
extremely important because as they seek truth they
receive many mixed messages. They hear different
things from teachers, peers, those in the spotlight,
and the media. As Christian parents we must hold fast
to God’s truths and not compromise them – ever!
As we guide our teens there are a few points that I
believe will help them as they seek truth:
- Encourage them to nurture and develop
relationships with Christian friends.
- Encourage regular participation in a solid
youth group.
- Discuss world events with them. Listen first,
accept their perspective, and later share yours.
- See the movies they see. Watch the TV they
watch. Listen to the music they hear. Get into
their world so you can better understand what
they are dealing with.
- Pray with them and for them DAILY.
- Do not panic. Our teens face a world that none
of us ever faced growing up. God is still in
control and He is ever faithful. Trust Him with
all your heart.
Raising children is an incredible task as they are
the future of our world. The foundation that is built
now will equip them for whatever they will face in
life. The right foundation will provide strength to
them, as the wrong foundation will crumble beneath
them. This is a crazy world but no matter how much it
confuses and surprises us, it never confuses or
surprises God.
C.F.
"Kim" Kimbeling, Jr., D.Min.
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