"The logic of the Bible says: Act according to God's "will of command," not according to his "will of decree." God's "will of decree" is whatever comes to pass. "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that" (James 4:15). God's "will of decree" ordained that his Son be betrayed (Luke 22:22), ridiculed (Isaiah 53:3), mocked (Luke 18:32), flogged (Matthew 20:19), forsaken (Matthew 26:31), pierced (John 19:37), and killed (Mark 9:31). But the Bible teaches us plainly that we should not betray, ridicule, mock, flog, forsake, pierce, or kill innocent people. That is God's "will of command." We do not look at the death of Jesus, clearly willed by God, and conclude that killing Jesus is good and that we should join the mockers." Desiring God by John Piper

"Raising children in evangelical hideaways and creating a spiritual Disneyland works directly against the development of an empowered relationship with Christ. If anything, safe Christianity isn't about a relationship with Jesus Christ. It's about a relationship with a Western, middle-class caricature of Jesus Christ. It's an option that the majority of Christian parents around the world wouldn't consider for their children because it isn't even a remote possibility. Raising safe Christian kids is as much a product of middle to upper-class wealth as it is anything else. Putting it bluntly, the reason parents choose to raise their children in highly protected spiritual enclaves is because they can afford to. History has always shown, however, that God the Holy Spirit has always provided better protection for children that their parents' checkbooks ever could.

These protected environments don't allow a system of spiritual antibodies to develop within the character of the child. This produces a generation of people who must stay within a spiritually sterilized environment in order to thrive. These are nice systems that produce nice kids who marry nice kids who go to nice churches and hang out with like-minded nice friends. Meanwhile, the lost people in the world around them continue in their doomed condition. In these environments, there is little spiritual adventure. God is nice, Jesus becomes a plush toy that we cuddle, and we become irrelevant...

...To many Christian parents, the idea of developing their children's faith is like teaching them to swim on the living room rug. They don't want them to learn how to swim in the water because they could drown. So these children don't really learn how to live out a strong, adventurous faith; they just know how to go through the motions...

...Grace-based parents don't make it their aim to raise safe kids. Instead, they want to raise strong kids. Spiritually safe kids seldom get to see just how wonderful and powerful their God really is. Spiritual safety is a prescription for spiritual impotency. The good news about raising strong Christian kids is that you get safe kids in the process. They know God's love, they've seen Him work, and they understand how to appropriate His power...

...Our children are going to have to know how to work hard, get along with difficult people, solve confusing problems, handle money, repent, forgive, take good care of their bodies, minds, and spirits, fear God a lot, fear their fellowman very little, laugh at the right time, cry at the right time, and bring out the very best in the people closest to them. This doesn't happen by accident. Our children's childhood provides ample time for us parents to build assurances into them that they have been given all they need to take on adulthood with confidence." Grace-Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel

I am so excited to be reading a book I so wholeheartedly agree with on parenting!!! It's insightful, convicting, challenging, reassuring, and interesting. It reads quick and easily. You are really speaking to me through this book, Lord. I thank You for inspiring Dr. Kimmel in his walk with You as a parents and man, and inspiring his writing. I'm halfway through, but I would love to own the book and re-read it over and over throughout my life to renew my parenting perspective and allow You to convict me of mistakes I'm making at those times. Lord, I thank You that You love me so much, that You love my kids so much. Much more than I ever could. You have a perfect purpose and plan for their little bodies and souls just as equally as any adult! Bring it to fulfillment, Lord, and help Michael and I assist You in Your plan. Give us wisdom and insight into their natural bend and strengths and weaknesses and then give us discernment about how to help mold them into strong Christian kids who are excited to be effective and adventurous in Your Name!

Lord, my husband is always in Your hands, but it FEELS more so when he's away. Yes, I would like him to have a safe and fun trip to WV this weekend, but my greater prayer for him (always) is that his life would bring You the most possible glory! And whether that's losing his life, becoming paralyzed in the rocky rapids, being lost for a few days in the wilderness, or just being an encouraging friend to his fellow camp mates, You have the best plans for him! I trust You. I give him to You.

Lord, I give my life to You. Do with in what You will. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear! May it be a walking worship. May it be a beautiful portrait of Your grace. May it be a beacon to those who need to find You. May it bring You much glory and praise. May it be totally about YOU and not about ME.