Christian Kids and Movies

Christian Kids and Movies - Parenting Like HannahThere has been a lot of back and forth on social media lately regarding a couple of the new movies hitting theaters. Various Christians have posted their opinions about whether or not Christians should support the movies by buying tickets and/or whether children should be allowed to see them. This is one of those areas where God didn’t give us hard and fast rules, but general principles we can apply.

If you are trying to dedicate your kids to God, how can you know what movies you should allow your child to see? Are there issues besides glorified sin that should make you think twice before taking your child? (Ask my daughter about her first movie – rated “G”, but it absolutely terrified her. She practically crawled over her dad’s head so she could get out of there.) Are there any hard and fast rules for Christians to follow about movies?

I can’t make those ultimate decisions for you, but I can guide you as to which questions you should ask yourself before allowing your kids to see a movie.

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Motherhood As a Spiritual Discipline

Motherhood As A Spiritual Discipline - Parenting Like HannahOne of my concerns with feminism is that instead of giving women “more options” as advertised, it has instead marginalized the roles of wife and mother. We are constantly fed a diet that if we aren’t trying to “have it all” or making sure we “are happy and fulfilled so our children will be” -which evidently only happens in the work place – we are somehow not reaching our potential.

I was interested when I was offered a chance to review a new book Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood As A Spiritual Discipline by Catherine McNeil. McNeil takes the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster and adds a new dimension to it. (The author and I agree Foster’s book is great.) She takes the twelve disciplines discussed by Foster and mourns the fact she no longer has time for them in the hectic nature of raising three little ones.

Then an unplanned event helps her reframe her season of motherhood as a spiritual discipline in and of itself. She discusses the areas in which the every day tasks of motherhood have helped her grow spiritually. Within each chapter, she also adds three shorter practical sections where she lists specific tasks common to most moms and gives tips for how to use them to grow spiritually.

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Tips For Helping Your Kids Reach Their Godly Potential

Tips for Helping Kids Develop Their Godly Potential - Parenting Like HannahOne of our goals in this ministry is to give adults the tools to help every child reach his or her godly potential. We believe God wants every child to become a Christian – obeying, worshipping and serving God. We believe God knows every child will be given various opportunities in life to serve others and share their faith. We also believe God has given each child special gifts, that if  identified and developed, will be extremely helpful in completing the opportunities God knows will be there for them to serve Him.

Young people need the help of godly adults to prepare them for everything God wants them to do in their lives. Often, the wonderful “God-ventures” people could be having are missed, because they have walked away from God or aren’t prepared to meet the challenges the opportunity God has given them provides.

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What Is Your Child’s Godly Potential?

What Is Yoru Child's Godly Potential - Parenting Like Hannah“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Did you know God has a plan for each of your children? Some might argue this verse was only for these people in this time and place, but I believe other verses like, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) point to a more universal application.

The idea God not only knows each of us well enough to know the ever changing number of hairs on our heads, but has made specific plans He would like each of us to do, should excite you as a parent. Of course God has THE Plan – sending His son to earth to die for our sins so you and your kids have the hope of eternal life.

I also believe though, God has things He wants your children to do in addition to becoming a Christian and worshipping and obeying Him. He, who has all wisdom and can see the future, knows your children will have opportunities in their lives to serve others and share their faith. In fact, I believe the Bible reinforces the idea God has uniquely gifted your children to be prepared to meet the challenges those opportunities will provide.

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Using Spring to Help Your Kids See God

Using Spring to Teach Your Kids About God - Parenting Like HannahIn Atlanta, we have had Spring for a few weeks now. Flowers and trees are beginning to bloom. It’s a beautiful time of year, but also a great time to help your kids learn about God.

I love the following verses. It’s easy to see the beauty in Spring and God’s Creation and be overwhelmed. That feeling is not because we are to worship the Creation itself or some imaginary “Mother Nature”. We feel that way, because God’s Creation is pointing us to God and all of His glory with all of its might.

“Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-10)

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