Food for Thought
For the week of June 17, 2012
(Questions and Scriptures for further personal study)

1. Chris talked about the tendency to emphasize our children’s grades and goals over God.  This can happen in other areas of life when we get caught up in our career, achievements, prestige, and accolades, and make them the priority verses putting God in that position.  As followers of Jesus, God wants us to model making him our priority, especially at home.  What guidance does Deuteronomy 6:1-19 give in prioritizing God at home?
     
Deuteronomy 6:1-19
    These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, [2] so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. [3] Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you.
    [4] Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [5] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. [6] These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. [7] Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. [8] Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. [9] Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
    [10] When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you--a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, [11] houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant--then when you eat and are satisfied, [12] be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
    [13] Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. [14] Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; [15] for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. [16] Do not test the Lord your God as you did at Massah. [17] Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. [18] Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers, [19] thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said. _[NIV]

2. Looking back on Deuteronomy 6:1-19, which two or three points do you most want to implement, impress, increase or change?

PARENTING CLASSES                                     
North Coast U is a ministry of North Coast Church which offers short-term, non-accredited classes and seminars.  Register online at northcoastchurch.com/ncu

LOVE & LOGIC: EARLY CHILDHOOD PARENTING MADE FUN!
Starts Monday, June 25 for five weeks, 6:30-9pm
Meets at our Carlsbad Campus, $120/household
This parenting program is designed for parents of children birth to seven years old. Learn practical skills to handle misbehavior, teach kids to listen, avoid power struggles and set healthy limits. Facilitator: Kathy Mattox.

INTERNET SAFETY & YOUR TEENS
Monday, July 2, 7-9pm
Meets at our Vista Campus, $5/person
The Internet can be a dangerous place for your teens. They connect to it. They download from it. They play on it. They converse with it. Do you know how to monitor it? This workshop will give parents ideas for talking with their teens and dealing with online temptations – specifically pornography. Facilitator: Travis Sybert.

ON-PURPOSE PARENTING: THE EARLY YEARS
Saturday, July 14, 8:30-11:30am
Meets at our Vista Campus, $5/person
As a parent with young children, it can be no small challenge to know how to balance love & discipline. This workshop will help you design a positive strategy that works for you as a parent and your kids ages 2-12. Learn simple steps that encourage good behavior, teach godly character and help redirect problem behavior while strengthening your bond. Facilitators: Dave & Koreena Enns.

PARENTING TODAY’S TEEN: GETTING TO THE HEART OF IT!
Mondays, July 9 & 16, 7-9pm
Meets at our Fallbrook Campus, $10/person
How do we effectively parent our kids into responsibility and maturity? The challenges have never been greater! Fortunately there is a way through it that makes sense, resulting in positive growth and maturity in our teens as well as peace in our homes. Facilitator: Rob Broyles.