Recommended Reading for the Legacy family

At our last Family Life Series, Pastor Chris Mueller spoke about God’s plan for marriage and specifically, what’s missing within marriage. This was a very beneficial time for everyone who attended. The audio will be available online soon. As a follow up, I want to recommend two quality resources that are available on marriage. Both of these books focus on the biblical roles and issues of marriage, but do so uniquely.

Love that Lasts

By Gary and Betsy Ricucci

The subtitle of this book is “When Marriage Meets Grace,” and the theme of God’s grace is prominent throughout. Grace is defined as “God’s undeserved favor to those who deserve his wrath.” Grace is displayed most in Jesus Christ and his sacrificial work on the cross. When we realize God’s grace for us, it changes every aspect of marriage. What we think about God is more important to our marriage than you might think.

When Sinners Say “I Do”

By Dave Harvey

I love how the title of this book says it so plainly! No matter how wonderful a marriage may start off, a husband and wife are still two sinners beginning a relationship that is unlike any other. Love, compatibility, background, and financial security are all considered secondary. Instead, the foundation of your marriage should be the Bible, the fountain of your marriage should be the gospel, and the focus of your marriage should be the glory of God. Dave Harvey practically walks through the issue of sin and how to biblically overcome it.

Wise Words for Moms 
By Ginger Plowman

As parents, God has blessed us with children and called us to train them. But this is no easy task! Training children involves instruction and correction. It requires patience, love, and wisdom. True wisdom comes from the Bible. Our ultimate goal should be to know what God says about conceit, complaining, defiance, selfishness, teasing, worry, arguing, and lying. God has provided several verses you can share with them. A helpful tool for attaining this goal is “Wise Words for Moms.” This chart is only four pages but can have a powerful effect on your training. While the list is not exhaustive, most behavior is identified and there are three steps given for correction. The first step is “Heart Probing,” which is a series of questions to ask the child. The goal in this is to allow the child to think through their attitude and action. The second step is “Reproof,” or “Put Off.” This is where the sin is identified and verses are provided to show how it is sin. The third step is “Encouragement,” or “Put On,” and verses are given to encourage behavior that honors God.

For example, in the area of selfishness:

Heart Probing

          Are you putting your brother/sister ahead of yourself or are you being selfish?

          What would be a kind and generous thing to do?

Reproof (“Put Off”) – Selfishness

          Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

          Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. (Proverbs 3:27)

Encouragement (“Put On”) – Generosity

          Honor one another above yourself. (Romans 12:10)

          God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

          Philippians 2:4

Sin is a matter of the heart and this tool will help you and your child identify the sin and know how to deal with it. I highly recommend this chart to each family at Legacy Christian Academy. Copies of the chart are available for purchase at Legacy or you can find it on www.amazon.com.