Approaching the end of the school year, we look back over the year, remembering where we were at the beginning, considering highlights — both achievements and disappointments — that changed us. It is good to consider how we are different today in comparison to last August. Are we stronger in our faith? Are we better in character: kinder, wiser, more Christ-like? Are our changes energized not from a prideful “I can do whatever I dream” spirit, but from the Holy Spirit? Continue reading
Parenting
Devotional Thoughts on Forgiveness
Categories: Being Like Jesus, Parenting, Spiritual Growth
Tags: Character, forgiveness, like Jesus
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In a Fallen World, We Can’t Live Without It
The school year is almost over, so it’s time to explore our last character-driven theme of the year. In a fallen world, no one can survive without this quality. Beyond survival, no one can thrive without it. We learn the need of it even before we go to kindergarten. I suppose it’s like the white cells in our blood stream – necessary in order to keep us clean, protected, and alive. You’ve probably figured it out. Continue reading
Categories: Being Like Jesus, Parenting, Spiritual Growth
Tags: character development, forgiveness
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Character Steps on a Journey Northward
We are like the box top picture on a 5000 piece puzzle: our children get the idea of what life looks like through the pictures of our lives. Other people also provide box top pictures of life for us and our children. We’ve considered Sokvannarra (Sy) Sar, a young man from Cambodia who came to America and has become a classical ballet dancer. Sy’s life demonstrates humility, loyalty, tenacity, selflessness, perseverance, kindness, respect and honor. Recently, we’ve been looking at some scenes from my story. What character qualities do you observe that God was shaping in me? Continue reading
Categories: Being Like Jesus, Parenting, Spiritual Growth
Tags: character development, courage, journey north, loving God, obedience, self-control
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A Fairy Tale Story Begins
After four or five days of driving across the country and sharing special time together, my mother and I arrived in Scotts Valley, California, south of San Jose. We pulled into Baymonte Christian High School’s parking lot in front of the superintendent’s office. I had never seen a school like this! Continue reading
Categories: Parenting, Spiritual Growth
Tags: character development, fairy tale, growing up, obedience, self-control
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Saying YES to God
How has God changed you through the cross of Christ, the Word of God, and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit? This is your story. I asked you this question recently, and then began to tell you part of my story that relates to the character qualities of self-control, obedience, surrender, and love. I’ll pick up where I left off last time.
Categories: Parenting, Spiritual Growth
Tags: character development, love, self-control, Spirit-control
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Saying NO to God
I have to smile when I think of how impressed some of my high school students were that I had waited so long to get married. When they saw the guy I was marrying, the girls were really impressed. Wow! Waiting is worth it! To young people ages 14-18, we were so old — meeting at age 24 and marrying at age 26! And I must admit that I thought I had waited pretty long too.
Now, I’m still holding you in suspense! Continue reading
Swirling Stories within His Story
We were 24 years old when we met. Up until then, we had lived in different parts of the continent. He had never been to my region in his life, and I had never been to his. How did we ever meet? Thus starts our story. Continue reading
Categories: Being Like Jesus, Parenting, Spiritual Growth
Tags: Character, self-control, Stories
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Like the Box Top Picture on a 5000 Piece Puzzle
Sokvannara (Sy) Sar, as described in the last post, gives us a picture through his life of what humility, self-control, perseverance, kindness, and respect look like. Wow! Nothing much is more powerful than Continue reading
Categories: Parenting, Spiritual Growth
Tags: Character, heritage, Life example, Puzzle box
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Winston Churchill, Sokvannara Sar, and Me?
How would you respond if someone spoke the following words to you? ” Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Continue reading
Categories: Parenting, Spiritual Growth
Tags: Character, Dancing Across Borders, perseverance, Sokvannara Sar, Winston Churchill
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Honoring Ways
Whatever does it mean to honor your mother and father? Or to honor God? Or to honor others? This character quality is on Troy Christian School’s 5th grade character focus list, but of course, it’s for everyone. Our students learn that honor is “showing deep Continue reading
Categories: Being Like Jesus, Parenting, Spiritual Growth
Tags: Character, honor, love, spiritual growth
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Journey North Character 