Lemonade With Ryle: Final Thoughts on Pt. 2

The practical side of all this is quite simple.

Just as you feed and clothe him and keep a schedule for him, so he needs you to teach him wisdom.

As his body and abilities grow, he begins to feed himself, dress himself, and manage his own time.

When those days come, his mind and his understanding should have grown as well. He must now begin to feed himself the Word, dress himself in the armor of God, and steward his own gifts for the kingdom of heaven.

He is inclined to do himself harm, that's sin in a nutshell, he needs you to make war against his sin and teach him to do the same.

Begin pointing your children to heaven when they are first born. Begin training them for heaven immediately.

Pray for your unborn children. Pray that God would guide you, direct you, and give you the strength you need. Pray for their hearts and minds.

As your family grows, so shall your joy in the Lord.

Tuesday Trios: Latte's

Hazelnut Mocha

Iced Caramel Macchiato

Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha

Lemonade With Ryle: Quotes for Pt. 2

Here are some things that really stuck out to me as Ryle dealt with his first point:

"...the vast majority of children are manifestly not trained in the way they should go, for when they grow up to man's estate they do not walk with God.

Now, how shall we account for this state of things? The plain truth is, the Lord's commandment in our text is not regarded; and therefore the Lord's promise in our text is not fulfilled."

If we are to regard this command, Ryle says:

"Reject them [his following points] not because they are blunt and simple; despise them not because they contain nothing new. Be very sure, if you would train your children for heaven, they are hints that ought not be lightly set aside."

And that's it,

the way our children should go, the way our children must go, the way our children were intended to go is with God.

They have been placed in our care that we might point the way to God and train them for heaven.

Lemonade With Ryle: Scriptures for Pt. 2

Proverbs 22:15

"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

but the rod of correction will drive it far from him."

The child would go in the way of foolishness.

Training in the way he should go involves a rod of correction, that is, discipline.

Proverbs 29:15

"The rod and reproof give wisdom;

but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame."

Training in the way he should go involves a rod and reproof, that is, discipline and training in righteousness.

The child would go in the way of serving himself.

Lemonade With Ryle Pt. 2

Proverbs 22: 6

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

This Scripture is quoted so often and yet when we look at our actual lives, we see that its wisdom has been totally disregarded.

Statements like:

"Oh, you know, kids will be kids"

or

"Boys will be boys"

or

"What can you do?"

or

"Excuse her, she's in her terrible twos. And take it from me, they're terrible!"

Are just a few signs that almost no one is training up their children in the way they should go.

Ryle's first point is quite fitting:

"First, then, if you would train your child rightly, train them in the way they should go, and not in the way that they would."

I'll tell you, Ryle's first point is something I've been thinking of and quoting ever since I read it.

Over the next few days, I'll be posting direct quotes that relate to this point.

Tuesday Trios: Flowers

Zinnias

Lilies

Roses

Simple Everyday

I always like to get to know people better and one of the best ways to do that is to ask questions.

So, I thought once a week or so, I'd post a question.

I'll answer the question and I'm asking you to answer the question too.

If you have a question, ask it and I'll include it in a future "simple everyday".

Question:

What is your favorite home-cooked meal?

Victoria's Answer:

Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and sweet tea. Hands down!

Tuesday Trios: Books

(and two)

Lemonade With Ryle Pt. 1

I sat down and read J.C. Ryle's "The Duty of Parents" today.

I began reading it as I ate breakfast. I barely made it through the first five pages before I was done eating, but I knew that I would need to sit down and take notes before I went any further.

So, later in the day I gathered the pages, picked up a pencil, fixed a glass of lemonade, and sat out in the shade on our back patio to study with Ryle.

I was so challenged and encouraged by this work that I want to take the time to share with you some of the things I brought away from it.