The Structure of a Healthy Home (Part 2): Parent-Child Relationship

What would you call the most important teaching or learning center in Pickens County?

In Pickens County, the most important teaching center, or you may refer to it as a learning center.

I'm going to guess that a lot of people think about public schools in general, maybe a particular school,

maybe a particular level of school like elementary school.

Some people, what came to your mind was the church.

Hopefully this church, if that's what you're thinking.

Well, both certainly are true.

Schools are teaching centers.

Our church is a teaching center.

But I want you to think of this.

Before anyone ever sets foot in any church or school building,

they have spent their earliest and most life-shaping years in a home.

For good or bad,

we,

we all begin,

we all start out in life

in a home

that really is the most

crucial,

most important teaching and learning center

in our lives.

Chuck Swindoll agrees.

He wrote a book on the home called Home,

where life makes up its mind.

Here's how he describes the influence of the home.

Home,

your home,

that unique place where character is developed

and patterns for life are determined.

It is the first and most influential

teaching center

for every child.

And I want to

emphasize,

because a lot of

teachers here

know this better than anyone,

both good and bad.

Today,

I want us to look at the second most important

relationship in the home.

Described in Ephesians chapter 6,

Ephesians 6:1–4

verses 1 through 4,

we're talking about the parent-child relationship.

This is the third and final

in our series on

building a healthy home.

The first two studies

focused on the most important

relationship in the home,

the husband-wife relationship.

The husband-wife relationship

sets the foundation,

sets the tone

for everything that goes on

in a home.

We looked at the husband-wife relationship

as found in Genesis 2, 24

and in Ephesians chapter 5,

Ephesians 5:21–33

verses 21 through 33.

Today,

we're going to look at chapter 6,

verses 1 through 4

at the parent-child relationship.

The second part of the structure

of a healthy home.

Let's read together.

6-1 of Ephesians.

Children,

obey your parents and the Lord,

for this is right.

Honor your father and mother.

This is the first commandment

with a promise,

that it may go well with you

and that you may live long

in the land.

That's recalling the fifth

of the tenth,

of the ten commandments.

Verse 4.

Fathers,

do not provoke your children

to anger,

but bring them up

in the discipline

and instruction

of the Lord.

We're going to begin

the way the passage does.

Verses 1 through 3,

instructions to children.

Now,

I realized

today is children's church.

So,

our little ones,

children,

elementary age and under,

are over there.

I thought about it

toward the end of the week

about maybe

going over there

at the first part of the service

and talking about this

a little bit over there,

but they'd already had

everything planned.

I didn't even bring it up.

And so,

here's what we're going to do.

you,

as parents,

you teach

what they need to hear

from this message.

As part of what we're

going to look at this morning,

that is your responsibility

to teach your children.

So,

I want to encourage you

to listen carefully

and don't just

tell them the parts

that you want them to hear.

Tell them the whole thing

in its context.

Let's look at it.

God's instructions

to children

can be summarized

very simply,

obey and honor your parents.

Obey and honor.

Look at verse one.

God intends for children

to obey their parents.

It's real simple,

isn't it?

Children,

obey your parents

and the Lord

for this is right.

This is a command

that's directed

to children

who live at home.

If you look in verse four,

there are instructions

there about

teaching,

training,

instructing,

disciplining children

in the home.

Children are under

their parents' authority

as long as they live

in their parents' home

and depend on their parents

to provide

for their basic needs.

I want you to understand that.

You older kids here,

teenagers,

there's different ways

that parents

should relate

to their older children

for sure.

But bottom line,

children living

in their parents' home,

children dependent

upon them,

and you are dependent

upon them

by virtue of you

living in their home,

you're under

their authority.

Now,

if you're over 18

and you think

to yourself,

I don't agree

with that.

I don't think

somebody 18 years old

or 20 years old

should have to submit

to their parents'

authority.

We're young adults,

that's true.

But,

if you don't really

want to live

under your parents'

authority

in their home,

there is a good way

for you to become

independent.

move out,

get a job,

take care of

all of your bills.

I'm not joking

here now,

that's what it means

to be on your own.

And if you're not

moved out,

working,

making everything

yourself,

you're not

on your own.

You may not like

the way that sounds,

but that's the reality

that you are living

in right now.

And I don't think

your parents by any

means should make it

a burden,

just hell on earth

to live there.

But don't

misunderstand.

If you're living

under their roof,

you're under

their authority.

Children are

commanded by God

to obey their parents,

but parents

need to teach them

how to do it.

And it needs to start

when they're very young.

You know that.

Children are always

learning

about obedience,

but it may not be

what their parents

want them to learn,

and it may not be

what their parents

are intending to teach.

Some children learn

that they really

don't have to obey

their parents,

because when they

disobey,

there's no consequences.

Some children know,

I'm in charge.

I don't have to do

anything they tell me,

because if I disobey,

they're not going to

do anything about it.

I'm going to get by

with it.

Some children learn

they don't have to

obey their parents

until their parents

just lose control,

yell, get angry.

For an example,

I hope you haven't

been there and done this.

Supper's ready.

Mom or dad?

Johnny,

come to the table.

Supper's ready.

No movement.

No sounds.

Johnny,

did you hear me?

It's time to eat.

This is awful.

Johnny,

I'm going to count

to three.

And then finally,

a lot of us

have been here

and we don't want

to admit this.

If you don't get

your rear end

in that chair

right now,

I'm going to

wear you out.

And then they come.

And what they have

learned is,

I don't have to do

anything until they

are mad, angry,

yelling, and

threatening to hurt me.

And we know as parents,

that's true.

Not a lesson we intend,

but one that they learn.

When it comes to

teaching children to obey,

it is very important

for parents to take

into consideration

the age and maturity

level of their child.

Little children,

they need to learn

or be taught

to obey

just because

it's the right thing

to do.

We're going to talk

about that a little bit

more in a moment.

But little children,

they don't understand

a whole lot

about why you do

this or that.

But little children

just need to know

that if mom and daddy

tells them to do something,

they need to do it

because it's just

the right thing to do

to obey mom

and daddy.

That is where

they learn

to respect

and obey authority.

And that's important.

You should not

have to explain

to your five-year-old

why you tell him

or her to do

this or that.

The fact that you

as a parent

are telling them

should be sufficient.

Now,

a lot of parents

like that.

Some of you say,

oh, that's archaic.

No, that's true.

That's what's right.

If you've listened

to that liberal junk,

I can tell right now

you're already in trouble.

Now,

as children mature,

let's emphasize this.

As children grow up,

they're able to think

and reason

and understand.

They need to learn

why some things

are right and wrong.

They need to learn

some,

they need to learn

reasons why

you don't want them

to do this

and you want them

to do that.

That helps them

to learn

to think,

to reason,

to understand

basic right and wrong

or to understand

rational reasoning.

Children need

to be taught

to be responsible

as they grow up.

That includes

helping them

to think,

to make decisions,

to make choices

and it also includes

also it involves

letting them

sometimes suffer

the consequences

for their bad choices.

And I want to

think here for a moment,

I'm not talking

about sinful choices.

A learning experience

for children

is to suffer consequences

when they're just being

irresponsible,

when they don't think,

when they don't take

things necessary.

If you've got a child

who,

they don't,

they just,

it's like pulling teeth

to get them

to do their homework.

They won't

finish their homework

and put it

in their backpack.

They won't

take the responsibility

day after day

after day

to do the homework,

put it in the backpack

and take it back

to school.

You need to let them

learn some consequences

of not taking

the responsibility

to put it in their backpack

and take it to school.

Let them stay in

at recess some.

Let them suffer

whatever the consequences

are some.

Don't always

help them.

If you've got a child

who's just,

they won't think,

they won't take the time

to be responsible,

and they're always

leaving their coat

here or there

in the wintertime.

let them be cold

some days.

Let them go to school

without a coat

and go out at recess

or go somewhere

without a coat

and freeze themselves

during that time,

and that may

wake them up.

Hey, I better

remember my coat.

And I,

there's all kinds

of situations

here in a room

this size.

The light's gone on

for some of you.

You're bailing

your children out

everywhere you turn.

Teach them

to think,

to make choices,

and be responsible

for their choices.

Now,

this command

to obey.

As children

get older,

especially teenagers

and older teenagers,

it should not

be wrong

in your house

when situations

come up

it shouldn't

be wrong

for a child

to ask why

in a respectful

way because

they'd like to know

what's wrong

with this.

Or they'd like

to know

why I need

to do this.

And they're just

wanting to learn

what I'm talking

about.

They're not being

defiant,

not being disrespectful.

It should not

be wrong

for children

to be able

to enter

into discussions

about

some things.

it's not

rebellious

to ask

questions.

It's not

rebellious

in some

situations

to ask

would you

reconsider?

Is there any

way it could

be different?

I want you

to understand

older

teenagers

and older

teenagers.

it's the way

you go about

it sometimes

that causes

the conflict.

But I want

you to understand

as a parent

as your children

are older

explain things

to them.

Let them

understand

you're being

reasonable

even if they

don't agree.

Even if they

still will not

be happy

about it

have some

give and take.

but it's

important

that everybody

at the table

have a good

attitude.

No disrespect

on either

end.

Ideally

older

teenagers

especially

those who

are college

age

should act

like young

adults

and be

treated like

young adults

at home.

Parents

should have

reasonable

rules of

the house.

when it

comes

especially

to older

people

older

children

living

at home.

And young

adults

should honor

those

reasonable

rules

as a part

of respecting

and honoring

their parents.

I want you

to look at

the reason

why children

obey their

parents.

Children

should obey

their parents

in the Lord

for this

is right.

In the Lord

means

that a child's

obedience is a

part of their

obedience to the

Lord.

If you're a

Christian

as a child

or teenager

one of the

reasons you

ought to obey

your parents

is because

that's what

the Lord

wants you

to do.

If you're

serious about

living a

Christian life

that's a

part of

living a

Christian life

to obey

your parents.

Look at the

last phrase

for this is

right.

This is just

part of God's

created order

for life.

It's just

the way God

made things

to be.

It's been

in every

culture.

Children

are to

obey their

parents.

It's also

how God

intends for

children to

learn discipline

and respect

and authority

as they grow

up and become

mature adults.

There's another

reason though why

children should

obey their

parents.

Really the

main focus

here verses

two and

three God

intends for

children to

honor their

parents.

Honoring

involves more

than obedience

doesn't it?

Honor involves

the right

attitude.

Honor involves

love and

respect.

Let's just

take a little

point here.

Children,

teenagers,

one way to

honor your

parents is

to talk to

them.

Don't act

like they

don't exist.

Do things

with them.

Act like you

are a part

of the

family.

Help around

the house

because you

live there.

Don't

ignore your

parents.

Don't leave

them out of

your life

except when

you want

something.

If you're

doing that

your parents

know they're

not stupid.

They know

that you're

using them

if that's

what you

do.

See some

of you

younger

people

and let's

don't get

too harsh

because a lot

of us

older people

we developed

this well

when we

were young.

Some

younger

people are

kind

artists.

Kind

man,

kind

girl.

Well

a lot

of parents

see through

that and

they know

it.

And I

want you

to understand

when parents

see that

all they

care about

is what

they can

get out

of me.

All they

want to

do is

use me.

I want

you to

know

that

hurts.

Parents

that you

know,

love you,

they've

given much

of themselves

and what

they can

and there's

never anything

in return

in terms

of an

attitude,

a word

or an

action

that hurts

and it

gets old.

You need

to know

that.

There comes

a time

when children

outgrow

the command

to obey

their parents

when they

go out

on their

own,

even as

a single

adult or

as a

married

person.

And that's

good.

I don't

know,

no one

is,

nobody has

ever said

anything to

me in this

church about

this,

but this

might

ought to

be said.

If you

are a

grown

child

living

on your

own,

work,

have your

place,

do your

thing,

married or

not,

you don't

have to

obey your

parents.

You don't

have to

live the way

they tell

you to

live.

You don't

have to

work the

kind of

job they

tell you

to work.

You don't

have to

marry the

person they

tell you

you should

marry.

You don't

have to

quit being

married to

the person

they want

you to

quit being

married to.

And if

you've got

grown

children,

they're on

their own,

leave them

alone.

Don't try to

tell them how

to live their

life.

Don't try to

tell them what

they ought to

do, what

they ought

not do.

Let them be

adults.

Let them have a

positive relationship

with you and

you're no longer

the boss.

children outgrow

the requirement

to obey their

parents but

children never

outgrow God's

command to

honor their

father and

mother.

As adult

children, no

matter what

age we are,

we have a

responsibility to

honor our

parents as long

as they live

and among other

things that means

that we don't

ignore them.

We don't leave

them out of our

lives.

As long as our

parents are alive,

we need to make

sure that we're

honoring them in

the way that we

relate to them,

communicate with

them, help them

if they need it.

You know, the

command to honor

parents also comes

with a motivating

reason.

Look again in

verse 3, that it

may go well with

you and that you

may live long in

the land.

That was spoken

to Israel before

they went into

the promised land,

but that was

never a guarantee

that all children

who honor their

parents will live

a long time and

if you don't honor

your parents,

you'll die early.

This is a general

principle of life.

It's like a

proverb.

Children who

honor and respect

their parents tend

to live longer and

live better lives.

For an example,

the idea is a

child who grows up

and obeys their

parents, honor

their parents.

We're talking

about obeying and

honoring godly

parents in this

context.

And if you've got

Christian parents,

godly parents,

they're going to

try to help you

go in a good

direction in some

of the choices you

make.

And they're going

to try to help

you not go in the

wrong direction and

make some very

foolish, life-altering

choices.

That is the idea.

Proverbs is filled

with such warnings.

Look at some

examples.

He says,

Listen, my son,

accept what I say

and the years of

your life will be

many.

Proverbs 10,

The fear of the

Lord adds length

to life, but the

years of the wicked

are cut short.

Children who

reject the counsel

of their godly

parents will often

follow a path that

ruins their lives

or hurts their

lives, maybe even

cut it short.

If you are a wise

teenager or child,

you'll obey and

honor your parents

for a lot of

reasons.

Number one, God

commands it.

It's the right thing

to do.

But it really will,

as a general way of

life, it really will

work out for the best

for you in the long

run.

Let's turn our

attention quickly now

to verse four.

Instruction to

parents.

Look at it.

Fathers, do not

provoke your children

to anger, but bring

them up in the

discipline and

instruction of the

Lord.

Fathers are taking the

lead in spiritual

teaching.

We know, we've seen

in the other study

from chapter five,

22 through 33,

husbands are the

God-ordained leaders

of the home.

If there's no

father in your

home, or if the

father's not a

Christian, or if he

won't take

responsibility, then

by all means,

mothers take the

lead.

Don't let it slide.

If there is neither

parent a Christian, or

won't take

responsibility,

grandparents, you

step up, aunts and

uncles, family members,

members of this

church, do whatever

you can to help

children who have no

other spiritual

guidance, help them

be a spiritual

influencer in their

life.

Now, from this point

on, I want to refer

to parents, both

mother and dad.

Let's look.

What children don't

need from their

parents, verse four,

the first part,

fathers do not

provoke your children

to anger.

Now, I think it'd be

common sense that you

know that does not

mean you should never

do anything to make

your children angry.

Sometimes just doing

the right thing makes

some children angry.

Sometimes good, healthy,

proper discipline makes

a child angry because

they just got punished.

Sometimes doing what

your child, making your

child do what is right,

or not allowing your

child to do something

that you know is wrong

will make them angry.

That's not what he's

talking about, and I

think common sense helps

us to understand that.

He's talking about the

kind of things that

parents can do that

cause unnecessary,

harmful, resentful anger

in children.

Look at the few things

that Kent Hughes, a

pastor, describes ways to

avoid provoking anger.

Number one, don't have

unreasonable expectations.

Do not have unreasonable

expectations.

Don't expect your five-year-old

to be able to do what a

10-year-old can do.

Don't expect your 10-year-old

to be able to do what, or

think like a 15-year-old.

I can remember when my

oldest, David, was very

young.

I can remember, I don't know

what I did, what I said, but

I remember my dad sort of

standing off to the side

and doing it in a real

positive sort of a smile on

his face, but I remember

him telling me, don't expect

him to be a grown man.

Whatever it was, my dad

thought it was unreasonable.

He just looked at me.

Don't expect him to be a

grown man.

I've never forgot that.

Number two, don't

constantly criticize.

John Newton, the hymn

writer, he wrote Amazing

Grace.

He said he experienced

a difficult childhood.

Here's a statement he made

about his dad.

I know that my father

loved me, but he did not

seem to wish me to see it.

I know my father loved me,

but he just didn't show it

is what he was talking

about.

Don't, number three, don't

be harsh and overly strict.

Don't be harsh and overly

strict.

Don't let no be the

automatic default response

to everything your child

asks you.

You know, our goal as parents,

one of our goal as parents

is prepare our children to

leave home and be

independent adults.

I hope you all know that.

It's a gradual process

throughout life, but when

you take that little baby

home from the hospital,

you're looking at him or

her, their fifth birthday,

their tenth birthday,

fifteenth birthday,

whatever it is, the ultimate

goal in your parenting,

in this, what we're talking

about right here, the ultimate

goal is for you to raise a

child who is mature, who is

independent, who can think for

himself or herself, who has some

wisdom and can go out in this

world on their own and be

productive, be self-sufficient.

The ultimate goal is that they be a

boy or girl, man or woman who has a

close relationship with God and

seeks to know and do his will, but

I'm talking about just in this world

as a human being, our goal is to make

our children self-sufficient,

independent.

Well, that can't start when they're

fifteen.

It's got to be a lifelong process

of increasingly giving them freedom

and responsibility.

Freedom and responsibility.

Let them learn some things.

Don't always say no.

And then number four, don't fail to

give your child your attention.

Don't fail relationally, one-on-one.

Don't fail at FaceTime.

What gets most of your FaceTime?

Your smartphone, iPad, computer, TV,

book, or your child.

Meaningful relationships require

FaceTime, eye contact, listening,

talking.

You see this as well as I do.

Everywhere you go today,

people together, but they're not.

Because even at a restaurant,

people not talking to one another,

not looking at one another, but

looking at an iPhone, scrolling down

the iPhone and avoiding basically one

another.

Not too long ago, I was in a restaurant.

There was a lady about my age,

we'll say, and she obviously had her

mother, who would look to be a sharp,

alert, older lady.

This mother was sitting there,

and her 60-year-old daughter, say,

was sitting beside her with her face in

that phone, flipping through it,

and in completely ignoring her mother.

You see it at every age.

This probably is more like meddling than

preaching, but I'm going to do it anyway.

If I have children,

my children with me at a restaurant,

and they've got an iPhone that I'm paying for,

they will not sit there and ignore me

and look at that phone long,

because I'll take it.

It's mine.

Let me tell you something, kids,

of all ages,

if your mom and daddy is paying for the car,

it's theirs.

If they're paying for the cell phone,

it's theirs.

And I want to encourage parents to be parents

and be in control of some things.

Don't let your children control your life

and your home like so many do today.

And I would not sit there and complain

about a child looking at the phone

instead of looking at me.

If I'm paying for it,

you can take it.

And that's not being overbearing.

That's not being wrong

and going too far.

That's your children being disrespectful of you

and you intervening and not allowing it to happen.

Now, I might need somebody to stand with me

at the door this morning.

Some of you younger people may be mad at me,

but you'll get over it.

Because sooner or later,

you'll know that's right.

You may not know it

until you have your own children

and you're ready to knock that phone

out of their hand

just like your parents are you right now

because of the disrespect.

Nothing wrong with a phone.

I use one every day.

Nothing wrong with computers.

All this technology,

we all use them, enjoy them,

profit by them, work with them.

But they should not rob us

of FaceTime,

personal interaction,

and especially with people

we are the closest to.

What children need from their parents.

Look at the last part,

verse four,

the last part,

but bring them up in the discipline

and instruction of the Lord.

The phrase bring them up.

It could be translated

nourish them up

because that word translated bring,

it's the same word

that you find in verse 29 of chapter five

that is translated nourish.

Paul describes how a husband

should care for his wife

just as he does his own body

and just as Christ cares for the church.

So here in verse four,

the idea is that parents

should bring their children up

in a gentle, caring, and loving way.

That's what a nourishing,

healthy environment is.

Just think for a minute,

how would you describe

the environment of your home right now?

What kind of emotional atmosphere

is there as a general rule?

Is it stressful, harsh, sad, strict,

verbally and or physically abusive?

Or is it truly more nourishing,

more gentle, more joyful,

more loving, open, inviting?

Older children and teenagers,

you've got a responsibility

for helping to make

your home environment this way.

It's got to go both ways,

parents and children.

Number two,

children also need

consistent, loving discipline.

Look at that word there.

The word discipline here

is a strong word.

It means training by discipline.

It can even include

the idea of punishment.

It's the same word

used in Hebrews chapter 12

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

to describe God's discipline.

The emphasis in Hebrews 12

is that God disciplines

His children out of love for us.

Just as Christian parents

discipline their children

because they love them.

As we talk about discipline,

it is very important.

You can't have a healthy home

without it.

But the way we go about

our discipline as parents,

we need to be careful

that we go about it

the right way.

It's always dangerous

for us to discipline

our child

when we're mad,

when we're hurt,

when we're not in control

of our own emotions.

Martin Lloyd-Jones

made this statement

that all parents

need to take to heart.

He says,

when you discipline a child,

you should have

first control with yourself.

What right have you

to say to your child

that he needs discipline

when you obviously

need it yourself?

Self-control,

the control of temper

is an essential prerequisite

in the control of others.

Children certainly

need discipline.

And spanking

is not abuse.

But we must make sure

we do it the right way.

And it begins

with our own attitude,

our own being in control.

One more.

Children also need

intentional Christian instruction.

instruction.

They need instruction

about the things

of the Lord

tells us here.

Most Christian parents

do take

their children's

instruction

in school

seriously.

Most good parents,

Christian parents,

they make sure

the child goes

to school every day,

they're on time,

they do their homework,

they're prepared

for testing

like we've just gone through

not too long ago.

But let me ask you,

parent,

how much effort

do you put into

your children's

spiritual education

at home

and then at church?

Do you pray with them?

Do you read the Bible

with them

or read Bible stories

when they're little?

Do you encourage them

to read the Bible

themselves?

Do you talk to them

about the things of God?

Do you talk to them

about Jesus?

Do you try to roll,

help them to see

how God's involved

in all of life?

Do you bring them

to Sunday school

regularly,

or wanna regularly,

other things

that we have here?

Do you bring them

here on time?

Is it as important

to come to Sunday school

Bible study on time

as it is to go

to work and school

on time?

That's important.

It's teaching children.

It's tough being a parent.

I think being a parent

is the most difficult thing

I've ever tried to do.

I really do.

But with God's help,

we can be godly parents.

We can do

what we're being instructed

to do.

God has put His Spirit

in us

to equip us,

to give us the desire

and ability to do it.

He's put us in His Word

what to do.

We've just gotta be

faithful

to the best of our ability.

I wanna close this message

with a quote

from Cal Thomas.

He talks about

the responsibility

of parents

when all is said

and done.

Look at it.

Think about it carefully.

He says,

make sure

that at the end

of your life,

regardless of how

your child turns out,

that you can honestly

stand before God

and say,

in a fallen world,

being the sinner

that I am,

I did the best

I could

through the power

you gave me.

If you can't say that,

whatever else

you have accomplished

doesn't matter.

Let's pray together.

Father,

help all of us

to know

how we should respond

to what you have

taught us

in this passage.

Father,

if there are parents

here who've just

failed,

they haven't

put forth

any effort,

they haven't prayed,

they haven't sought

to be

true,

spiritual

examples

and leaders

to their children,

help them

to confess

that as the sin

that it is

and truly

repent of it.

Help them,

Father,

right now

to make a new

commitment

to seek

your help

day by day

to live

a faithful Christian

life before their

children

and then to seek

to be the

spiritual

influence

influence in their

lives that you've

called them to be.

Help them to see,

Father,

that they can't be

perfect parents

and they don't have

perfect children,

but

you will work in them

to help them to guide

and influence their

children in a good way.

Father,

if there are

parents in this

room that while

they know

they've not done

everything right,

they do see

some good signs

in their life,

but they're very

difficult,

they're very

concerned,

they're tired,

they have a lot

of unanswered

questions,

I pray,

Father,

that you will

comfort them,

that you'll

encourage them

not to give up,

not to quit,

but to persevere

in being that

faithful parent,

influencer,

teacher

of their child.

Father,

if there are

children in this

room who are

disobedient,

disrespectful,

they have bad

attitudes,

I pray that you

will convict them

of that sin

right now.

you'll cause

them to not

only seek your

forgiveness,

but seek their

parents'

forgiveness.

Just as,

Father,

you cause

parents to

seek their

child's forgiveness

in addition to

yours.

I pray,

Father,

that you'll just

do the work

in the life

of each parent

and child,

each influencer

of children

in this room

that will

all profit

from what

you've said

to us.

Lord,

help us to

see that

none of us

can do this

on our own.

We need

your help.

Help us to

look to you,

talk to you,

cooperate with

you every day.

and just

in an attitude

of prayer,

you listen

to the Lord

and you obey

Him about

this matter.

If I could

pray with you

during this time,

I'll be happy

to here at the

front.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.