Podcasts about dragonslayerbook

It seems that for the last few months I've not been receiving email sent to me from ANY of my websites - so if YOU have sent me an email at any of my email addresses, I have not seen it yet. This includes email from any of the following websites - MorningMindsetMedia.com - CareyGreen.com - DragonSlayerBook.com. I'm working first off to gain access to my email online so that I can reply to you, then secondly, I'll be working to get the technical problem resolved. I'm so sorry and hope to reach out to you soon if you've emailed me over the past few months. I so I appreciate your patience.

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:  John 20:30-31 - Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. MENTIONED ON TODAY'S EPISODE: Discover my Christian Fantasy Fiction Series, "The Dragon Slayer Chronicles" : https://DragonSlayerBook.com  ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 15:7-16 - And He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring Me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 And he brought Him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. 17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”” MENTIONED ON TODAY'S EPISODE: Discover my Christian Fantasy Fiction Series, "The Dragon Slayer Chronicles" : https://DragonSlayerBook.com  ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:    GENESIS 12:1-3 - Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” MENTIONED ON TODAY'S EPISODE: Discover my Christian Fantasy Fiction Series, "The Dragon Slayer Chronicles" : https://DragonSlayerBook.com  ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 2:4-5 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, MENTIONED ON TODAY'S EPISODE: Discover my Christian Fantasy Fiction Series, "The Dragon Slayer Chronicles" : https://DragonSlayerBook.com  ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 4:7 - But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. MENTIONED ON TODAY'S EPISODE: Discover my Christian Fantasy Fiction Series, "The Dragon Slayer Chronicles" : https://DragonSlayerBook.com  ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

In this episode, you'll also hear:How Carey went from hating anything to do with developing good writing skills to enjoying the process of writing fantasy fictionWhat Carey would do differently if he could go back and write his first books againHow you can use your gifts to spread the message God has given you in many more ways than just publishing a bookA very special offer to get FREE access to Carey's course that takes you from idea to polished, published podcast in 14 modulesCarey's advice for the author who has a message but doesn't know what steps to take nextBe sure to read all the way to the end for that FREE course access and other important links!“You should write a book.” If you are a person with a lot of life experience or knowledge to share, chances are at some point you have heard these words. In fact, it's a pretty common suggestion. We're often told that everyone has a book in them, and you may even feel called to use your gifts in writing to further the Kingdom of God. But what if you're not sure it's something you want to do or feel ready for? If that's you, you're not alone. Carey Green had to navigate this exact same terrain, and now he's able to help others find their way through it. In his own words, “It's always good to have someone in your corner who can help you keep your spirits up and your focus clear.” So if you're feeling that you might be called to share your story with the world, but you aren't sure exactly how to use your gifts to do so, Carey has some words just for you. Journey to Writing Fantasy FictionAlthough Carey was drawn to writing as a teenager, at the same time, he didn't think it was the right path for him. “I had a desire to express myself in writing, but I wasn't really any good at it,” he recalls. “I just knew that it was going to take a lot of time to get that developed. And I wasn't even sure it's something I should be doing.” With a self-proclaimed hatred for anything to do with developing good writing skills – grammar, sentence diagramming, etc. – Carey didn't dwell on the idea of pursuing writing seriously until years later after he became a pastor. That was when he put out his first published works in the form of curriculum: trainings, Sunday School lessons, and the like. Around that same time, he found himself telling stories to his children to entertain them on long car rides. With their encouragement, he eventually started writing those stories down in book form – and as he did, the children's tales about a young dragon slayer transformed into something more. “My goal in writing the books was, if I'm going to write these, I want to help people think through the issues that make up life from a biblical perspective,” Carey explains, “and honestly address the challenges that we face. So the series of three books that I wrote in the end, has all kinds of issues. Grief, miscarriage, post traumatic stress syndrome, loss of a friend – all kinds of issues that we face on a daily basis happen in the lives of these characters. And the role of faith in how to handle those things is front and center.”Although Carey never set out to become an author, he says it became obvious over time that this was what he was supposed to do. The first step was receiving encouragement from his wife and children, and then he found himself genuinely falling in love with the craft. What started out as a challenge to see if he could actually do it turned into something he enjoyed learning and practicing. And that led him to realize this was his calling: “Through the process of doing it in self education, it just became obvious: Yeah, you have skills that can be used in this way, so you should pursue it.”Writing from Experience Looking back, it's almost as though Carey's background of teaching and discipling was a training ground of sorts for his success as an author. Although his books are fiction, he's able to draw on experience – both his own and that of people close to him – and write with a sense of reality. Carey strongly believes that it's important for the audience to feel that the author is teaching from real, lived experiences – not just pontificating. “There's power in a good story, particularly in the fact that something about it enables your defenses as a reader to drop,” Carey says. “Because when you relate with a character, and someone in the story speaks into their life with truth from the scripture, or with a valuable piece of wisdom that they didn't see before, that speaks to you, because you're in the character's shoes. It drops your defenses and enables you to humbly receive things better than if you have a nonfiction book in front of you.” Carey views fiction as a tool, a way to communicate spiritual truths that people might otherwise have difficulty accepting. And he's right – stories have a way of making an emotional connection that facts alone simply can't do. No Author Is PerfectCarey's experience telling stories to his children gave him confidence that he had a natural storytelling ability. But that doesn't mean he didn't have a lot to learn when it came to writing books. As he explains, “we don't write like we talk. And you can't write like you talk and expect it to be readable.” Transitioning from telling stories to his kids to writing a book meant learning to first be self-critical and cut out whatever wasn't serving the story, and then to accept constructive feedback from beta readers. “You have to just learn, hey, I don't see things objectively all the time,” Carey says. “I've got to be able to receive the input of others to make the story better, because that really is the goal – for the story to be the very best it can be, so that it affects other people, not just me.” In hindsight, Carey says one thing he would do differently given the chance would be to hire a professional editor sooner rather than later. In addition to self-editing and having beta readers act as editors, he did all of the formatting and other similar tasks himself. As a result, the first editions of his books were laden with grammatical errors and probably cost him much more time and frustration than the money he saved was worth. That's an important reminder: just because you can do everything yourself doesn't necessarily mean you should. While you can certainly learn those skills – and learn to do them well – sometimes there's a better way you can use your gifts and your time that could make a bigger impact. Yes, you can save money by doing it all yourself, but saving yourself time and frustration by delegating has value, too.While it hasn't been easy, Carey says the process has all been worth it. He's received encouraging feedback from many people, letting him know they enjoyed the books and can relate with his characters. But he's even more touched by those comments letting him know his books had a positive impact on them spiritually or helped them overcome difficulties in their lives. “Those are the things I live for,” Carey says. “As a teacher, I want to see life change happening in people. So to know that happened through my fiction, that's just very satisfying to me, and very encouraging.” As Carey has learned, the end goal is not necessarily to sell tons of books – though of course that's something we all hope for! – but the most important thing is getting your God-given message into the hands of people who need it, so their lives can be changed for the better. Transitioning to PodcastingWriting isn't Carey's only creative pursuit. With a background in radio during high school and college, Carey says it was a “no-brainer” for him to explore podcasting when the time came. As he experimented with his own podcast, he decided to combine that with his love of teaching and started a business to help people with common podcast pain points such as editing, show notes, and so on. Then, in late 2017, Carey had the idea to start a new podcast to help people with a struggle he'd experienced himself: spending consistent, daily time with God. This podcast, The Morning Mindset Podcast, is a short-form daily devotional, meant to help people “reset their mindset from that fleshly natural mindset we typically wake up with, back to a godly mindset that's conforming to the image of Christ more and more as we go through through life.”The first episode went live on January 1, 2018. Despite not publicizing the podcast, by the end of that first day, there were about 40 downloads. And by the end of the month, that number grew to 300. From there, Carey describes the growth as mind-blowing: “By the end of that first year, it was clear this hit a need, because the numbers just took off. And they've exceeded my expectations far beyond what I thought, and they continue to grow. And from it, we've developed a worldwide community who listen to morning mindset daily and who are supporting a nonprofit that we've developed out of the morning mindset. And it's just really blown my mind what God has done with this.”Carey says he takes his role as a teacher – no matter what medium he's using at the moment – very seriously. Although he's found the podcast carries less pressure than pastoring, it has also helped hold himself accountable, both to be consistent and to be a person of integrity. “I'm not teaching out of a vacuum,” he explains. “I'm rather teaching out of a maturity that's coming from my own time in the Word, and so it's been a benefit to me just as much as to the audience.”It's Not About the PodcastNow that Carey's podcast has been going for a few years and has seen such massive growth, he's reached a point where his podcasting and writing skills may be coming together in the form of supplemental materials. He's still gathering feedback from his audience, but hopes to put out further resources that will help his listeners grow in their faith. “My vision, long-term, is not really about the podcast,” Carey explains. “It's about God's Kingdom advancing on the earth. And I want to see the church come to a place of repentance, and a place of humility, and a place of seeking God's power and strength to move forward in this dark world, so that the light overcomes the darkness.” Through the podcast, Carey is already seeing opportunities to impact the world far beyond the limits of his physical reach. Podcasts can reach a global audience, and Carey's is constantly expanding into new countries and looking for ways to let people know he cares about their real-life struggles and experiences. For example, having noticed that the podcast has hundreds of listeners from both Russia and Ukraine, he makes a conscious effort to speak directly to those listeners through his podcast, to encourage and pray for them. Carey's story speaks to the power of podcasting to reach people wherever they are – and to the speed at which this platform can communicate your message to people in other countries. It's truly amazing to think about the vehicles that God has given us for ministry now that allow us to literally take the gospel around the globe. There are so many creative ways you can use your gifts for God's glory.As Carey says, “I think this is part of what Scripture talks about: ‘redeeming the time.' We're to take the things that come about because of our culture and our technology and all that, and we're to use them for God's sake.” How To Start a Podcast: FREE Course OfferAs Carey's story proves, you can use your gifts that God has given you to share your message through a wide variety of mediums. While a book is one vehicle, it's important that we be open to leveraging other platforms or media that can reach people in ways a book may not be able to. Carey's business is all about helping people do exactly that – transition into the medium of podcasting as a means of getting their God-given message out into the world. Not only does the company offer services such as production, editing, etc., but they've also created a course to walk people through the process of creating a podcast. The course begins at the foundational level of understanding what a podcast really is, and by the end, anyone who has completed all the videos and worksheets and taken all of the action steps will have a polished podcast up and running. But here's the best part: Carey has graciously offered this course FREE to Publishing Secrets listeners. Simply click this link, and you'll get direct access to the course – no need to pay a cent or even provide an email address!This is an amazing opportunity to expand your reach and develop your skills – if you take action. It's very easy to sign up for something and then not follow through, so remember that there could be people who are literally waiting on you to take action so that your message can positively impact them. Let that be your motivation to not only access the course and start reading, but to take the time to actually do the work and launch your very own podcast. However, what if you like the idea of starting your own podcast, but you're hesitating to click that link because you don't know what to talk about? If that's the case, Carey's advice is to start with the subject matter of your book, but also to understand that you don't have to be a total expert on that topic – that's what podcast guests are for. For example, if your book is about your own journey through grief, invite others who have gone through grief or professionals who help people process grief. “You don't have to be an expert in the subject to publish a podcast about it,” Carey says. “You just need to be well-versed enough in the topic to know how to ask the right questions.”The possibilities are endless. You could also write vignettes or stories related to your book's topic and read them – or even read your book, chapter by chapter, and have your podcast act as an audio version of your book. You don't have to have all the answers to get started. Ultimately, we're trying to help people solve problems. Sometimes, you may be able to use your gifts to be part of that solution, but sometimes all you have to do is bring together the right resources and the right people who can help solve the problem. God Can and Will Use Your Gifts for His PurposesWe're all at different points in the journey of taking the idea God has given us and getting that message out into the world. Whether you're still just getting started or you've published one book and have no clue where or how you should use your gifts next, Carey offers some words of encouragement.No matter how you interact with other people – be it through your writing, face-to-face conversations, raising children, or anything else – Carey urges you not to give up on the belief that God can and will use you. We know from the book of Ephesians that God has created us to do good works. In Carey's experience, those good works can look very different from day to day: sometimes it's writing, sometimes podcasting, sometimes a conversation with a loved one or a colleague. “All these things are good works God planned in advance for me to do,” Carey concludes. “And if my day includes writing, that's part of those good works. If my day includes recording a podcast, that's part of those good works. I just need to be confident that God's the one who put together the plan, and I need to take action on the plan He's put before me. And as I do, he's faithful to do the work. And so I would just say, ‘Do not grow weary in doing good, because in due season, you will reap a harvest if you don't give up.'” BIO:Carey Green became an author as he served local churches in the role of Pastor, creating curriculum, trainings, and Bible studies for the people he led. During that time his children encouraged him to put into print “Dragon Slayer” stories he told them when they were younger. He started the process and many years later, the three-book series of The Dragon Slayer Chronicles is the result.In his writing Carey desires to use the challenges and struggles of his characters to speak to the experiences of readers, guiding them to consider the truths of scripture and the reality of God as the foundational aspects of life in this world.Carey also hosts a daily devotional podcast for Christians called The Morning Mindset. Since its beginning episode, January 1, 2018, the podcast has grown to a point he didn't even imagine — over 115,000 downloads every day. From the podcast he and his wife have started a non-profit that helps Christ-followers worldwide give and receive to help others in the church.  GET CONNECTED:Get FREE access to the step-by-step podcasting course: https://podcastfasttrack.com/course-accessThe Dragon Slayer Chronicles website: https://DragonSlayerBook.comCarey Green website: https://CareyGreen.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/CareyNGreen

You can find the Dragon Slayer Series of Christian Fantasy books at https://DragonSlayerbook.com 

This episode is brought to you by... DRAGON SLAYER: BEGINNINGS - Book 1 in my Christian fantasy series. The reviews I'm receiving on this book are both encouraging and incredible. Believe it or not, lives are being changed by this work of fiction. You can get your copy at htttp://www.DragonSlayerBook.com Now, on with the podcast... OK, I agree, the title of this episode is a bit weird. I mean, who really WANTS to destroy the people they love? But the sad fact is that all of us do thing, say things, and neglect things that wind up being hurtful to the people we love the most - our families. And the way that I see people destroy their loved ones more than anything else is not what you might expect. It's not through physical violence. It's not by neglect. It's not by harmful teaching or education. It's with words.  When I was a kid there was a taunt we said to each other in an attempt to console ourselves when harsh words came our way. It was, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never hurt me." It was and still is, a lie. Words can do at least as much lasting damage as any stick or stone. I still remember hurtful, untrue, vengeful things that have been said to me. Even trial things come to mind sometimes and give me reason to doubt myself, become discouraged, want to give up. I'm sure you have some similar experiences. Words are powerful, powerful tools for both good and evil. The Bible says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. (Proverbs 18:21) Death and life - those are two extremes, two different points on a continuum. One is what we all want, the other is what we all fear. And words have the power to produce both. So here's a point I want you to ponder, as a spouse and as a parent. DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR WORDS HAVE THAT KIND OF POWER? Do you recognize that your spouse and your children can be given life by your words, or that they can be destroyed by your words? That's a lot of power, for good or for evil. Let me ask you a follow-up question: WHAT KIND OF EFFECT ARE YOUR WORDS HAVING? Would the people in your home, your spouse and your kids, say that the typical type of words that come from your mouth are life-giving? Or would they say that what typically comes out of your mouth is destructive? Are the kinds of words you typically use words of encouragement, affirmation, or equipping? Or are they typically critical, negative, and pessimistic. Look at yourself, right now. Look at the relationships in your life. I'm not pushing this so hard because I want you to feel badly about yourself. I'm pushing this because every one of us is prone to self-deception. We don't see ourselves realistically. We don't really see how we truly effect others. I want you to step outside the bubble of self-deception and see yourself realistically. There are two reasons I'm encouraging you toward this kind of clarity about yourself... #1 - You'll be able to see yourself realistically SO THAT you can go to God in true sorrow over what you've done and what you've become. I know, that's a pretty heavy thing to say. But I say it that way for a reason. The Apostle Paul says it this way, For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10) Sorrow, or grief over what you've done and who you've become, is the first step toward change. It's where you have truly come to grips with your own sin and the damage it has done. Once you are there, you are ready to go on to the next step... #2 - You'll be able to go to God in repentance. Godly repentance is where you take your sorrow to God, asking for forgiveness and the power to change. It's where God takes your broken and contrite heart and begins to work His miracle of transformation in you as a person. So, here's the real question... HOW DO YOU FIND OUT THE EFFECT YOUR WORDS ARE HAVING? You have to ask the people who are most affected by your words. You've got to be brave enough to ask your family members for their honest, nothing-held-back assessment of your words. If you do, and if they're honest, you'll see a real picture of how your words are impacting them. When you do, make sure you respond well. You asked for the honest assessment and they were brave enough to give it, so make sure you use it to truly move toward godly sorrow and true repentance. Use their loving criticism to move toward becoming a source of life for them.  If you'd like to engage with me directly about this topic, please feel free to do so in the comments below. The Christian Home and Family ministry is aimed at helping you develop a legacy of faith in your family that lasts for generations to come. If I can help you toward that end in any way, please contact me. I also invite you to join the CHAF facebook community. Finally, if you would take a few minutes to help spread the word about Christian Home and Family, I believe God would be honored. Go to here to find all the ways you can help. 

This episode is brought to you by... DRAGON SLAYER: BEGINNINGS - Book 1 in my Christian fantasy series. The reviews I'm receiving on this book are both encouraging and incredible. Believe it or not, lives are being changed by this work of fiction. You can get your copy at htttp://www.DragonSlayerBook.com Now, on with the podcast...   The more days of life I log on this planet, the more I come to realize that the way we humans perceive ourselves is foggy at best. There are all kinds of ways it happens, from over-confidence, to lack of confidence, and everything in between. Another example is that we tend toward being unable to see our sin and the consequences of it with any sort of clarity. We excuse things we shouldn't and condemn things in ourselves that God put there for His divine purposes. Living in a fog is no fun. And here's the sobering thing: Our kids live in the same fog of self-perception. Just like us, they don't see themselves rightly. They struggle with doubt, condemnation, pride, and a host of other things just like we do. We BOTH need the clarity that only the wisdom of God can provide... and that's where we are incredibly blessed. God Himself has promised that if we lack wisdom, there's an incredible resource at our disposal. Here's how the Bible states it... If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5) Do you realize how incredible that verse is, for you and your children? In my mind, it's one of the most amazing promises evergiven to us. Let's walk through it... 1 - GOD GIVES WISDOM. That is truly amazing. We don't have to stumble along in the fog of what we think and feel and believe. We have access to a wisdom that can cut through the fog. 2 - GOD GIVES WISDOM GENEROUSLY God is not stingy when handing out His wisdom. He gives it freely, generously, abundantly, to anyone who wants it. 3 - GOD GIVE WISDOM WITHOUT REPROACH When we go to God for wisdom, God is not going to chide us for not being smarter or for not having things figured out. He's simply going to give us what we ask for. 4 - ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ASK FOR IT There's no outrageous pricetag on the wisdom of God. He WANTS His children to be wise (like He is). So He freely gives wisdom to us when we ask Him for it. SO HOW DO WE APPLY THIS INCREDIBLE PROMISE? 1 - Memorize James 1:5 as a family. Talk it over. Make sure everyone understands the amazing gift that God offers. 2 - Encourage everyone in the family to ask God for wisdom daily. Hold each other accountable. Make it a project you work on together. 3 - Follow up. Ask everyone how they're seeing God's wisdom come on line in their lives. Share your stories to give your kids examples of what it might look like. 4 - Don't let it die. Continue to talk about the importance of wisdom. Continue to pray for it as a family. Continue to trust God for the wisdom each of you need to see yourselves and God rightly, as you walk through life.   If you'd like to engage with me directly about this topic, please feel free to do so in the comments below. The Christian Home and Family ministry is aimed at helping you develop a legacy of faith in your family that lasts for generations to come. If I can help you toward that end in any way, please contact me. I also invite you to join the CHAF facebook community. Finally, if you would take a few minutes to help spread the word about Christian Home and Family, I believe God would be honored. Go to here to find all the ways you can help.  

This episode is brought to you by... DRAGON SLAYER: BEGINNINGS - Book 1 in my Christian fantasy series. The reviews I'm receiving on this book are both encouraging and incredible. Believe it or not, lives are being changed by this work of fiction. You can get your copy at htttp://www.DragonSlayerBook.com Now, on with the podcast... [gn_divider] When I was a kid, I had a terrible habit. I bit my fingernails. It doesn't sound like such a bad habit, but it wasn't just the nails themselves, I bit the skin surrounding my finger nails. I even nibbled the skin on the tips of my fingers. My fingers looked like trees after a beaver had gotten a hold of them, little tooth marks everywhere. I remember trying to break that habit. It was extremely hard. Why? Because it was long-standing. I had begun my finger nibbling, probably around the time I was six years old, but I didn't try to break it until I was in my mid to late teen years. I was fighting ten years of physical repitition, psychological conditioning, absent-mindedness about the habit, and it wasn't easy. I tell you that story to illustrate the power of a habit. But you probably didn't need the illustration at all. Every one of us has been challenged by the need to kick a habit of one kind or another. Smoking, drugs, cursing, anger, criticism, pride... the list goes on and on, doesn't it? When we think of habits, we tend to think of the negative side of the subject, but I want to suggest to you that just like a bad habit starts young and becomes incredibly hard to break - a good habit can be built early, in the life of your children, and can serve them positively for their entire lives. SO WHAT KIND OF GOOD HABITS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR KIDS (or yourself) DEVELOP? HERE'S TWO THAT I CONSIDER MOST IMPORTANT #1 - DAILY TIME WITH GOD Our family has been blessed by God to have the determination to build this habit into the lives of our kids, from the start. I see the fruit of our efforts in their lives. At the time of this recording, my three oldest children are young adults, one of them already married and a father (that makes ME Grand-pop!). The LORD led us to integrate daily time with the LORD into their lives from the time they were able to hold a book. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Today, each of them engages in their own relational time with the LORD in a genuine, life-giving way. It happens at least in part, because they started the habit of setting aside the time to be with the LORD, early in life. If you'd like to hear more about that, from their own lips, you can at ChristianHomeandFamily.com/73 #2 - GODLY ATTITUDES The scriptures are full of attitudes that are supposed to be true of believers in Christ. From generosity, to kindness, to humility, the scriptures make it clear that all of us are fully dependent on the Spirit of God to produce those things deep down in our souls. But as parents, we can have a significant impact on our children's growth in those areas from before the time they are born. Yes, I said from before the time they are born. So the first thing you should do is begin praying for God to fill them with His Spirit, so that they can then demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. We began praying for each of our children the moment we knew my wife was pregnant. Once we knew if they were boy or girl (yes, we did find out), we gave them a name and began praying for them by name... all before they sucked in their first breath of oxygen. I believe it had a significant impact on who they are and God's work in their lives. Once they were born, we did a number of things to encourage godly attitudes. First, we made sure that we, the parents, were working on improving those attitudes in our own lives. If you preach one thing and do another, you'll find rebellion rising up in the heart of your kids. For more on that, see episode 70 of this podcast, at ChristianHomeandFamily.com/70. Next, we worked hard not to underestimate our kids' capacity for absorbing the truth of God. We read scripture to them, found scripture-filled children's music for them, and talked about what the songs and stories were saying. Parent's, don't underestimate the Spirit's power through the word of God. He is able to drench your child with Himself from an early age. John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit in his mother's womb (Luke 1:15). Why couldn't your child be significantly shaped by the Spirit from an early age too? Once our kids were old enough to carry on a conversation, no matter how elementary, we started practicing a number of additional things... [gn_list icon="icon: check-square-o" icon_color="#2f99ec"] We talked about desirable godly attitudes in positive terms. We pointed out people who were doing a good job at allowing the Spirit to produce His fruit. We read them stories of admirable Christians who could serve as role models. We discussed desired traits repeatedly, covering why the trait in question was so important and what God thought about the issue. We worked as a family to memorize scriptures that taught about the godly traits we were encouraging. Once they were old enough to understand the word "no" and what it meant (around 1 year old), we began requiring them to behave in godly ways, even applying discipline when needed, as the scriptures encourage parents to do. [/gn_list] Now don't misunderstand, we weren't heavy-handed or stern with our kids. Everything was drenched in love and acceptance, and taught in a spirit of dependence on God to help them do what they were expected to do. All of this was based on the belief that God will use our efforts as parents as some of the means by which He develops them into the people He wants them to be. My belief is that part of the effectiveness comes from getting our kids started down a path of thinking rightly about godly attitudes and actions, early in life. We're helping them, guiding them, with the help of the Spirit of God, to develop their own godly habits in the areas of thinking and behavior. Parents, take this issue seriously. Just like my nail-biting, your kids are GOING TO DEVELOP HABITS. Why wouldn't you want to proactively help them develop powerfully good ones? [gn_divider] If you'd like to engage with me directly about this topic, please feel free to do so in the comments below. The Christian Home and Family ministry is aimed at helping you develop a legacy of faith in your family that lasts for generations to come. If I can help you toward that end in any way, please contact me. I also invite you to join the CHAF facebook community. Finally, if you would take a few minutes to help spread the word about Christian Home and Family, I believe God would be honored. Go to here to find all the ways you can help.