Introducing the newest addition to our family of two. Camden James was born April 20th at 9:16 pm. He weighted 7lbs 2oz. and was 19 1/4in. We have had a few sleepless nights, but I think we are getting the hang of it.
Train Him
Now that I have a son, the scriptural commands to train him in the Word is even more of a reality. Reading Proverbs and Deuteronomy you come across the following verses:
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
What’s the Plan?
I have given the “how of training” a bit of thought over the last nine months and even more so now that he is here. My wife and I have been collecting a few resources to assist us. While these do not encompass my entire plan, they are the part I want to share with you.
Resources
- Long Story Short
- The Jesus Story Book Bible
- The Gospel Project
- The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments
- Hidden in my Heart: A Lullaby Journey Through Scripture
Over the last nine months we have had time to review these resources and we have found them all to be excellent. If you are looking for something to help you, check one of these out.
Question for Reflection
- What resources would you recommend?
Christianity Matters 
Awesome plan!
Thanks Ben
Congratulations!! Love this post and the list of resources.
Thanks Abigail.
Whatever resources you choose, we have found (with our 3), that a consistent focus on the Scriptures as a family is a great bond. Every night our bedtime routine includes the family reading Scripture together (sometimes from a story Bible) and praying together. We also have used a variety of devotionals in the morning around the breakfast table. Build it into your routine and will become a powerful habit.
Thanks for the advice Sean. Great ideas. We will be doing those as well.
Blessings,
Casey Lewis
I should add that it is very refreshing to find more parents who are pro-actively planning their children’s spiritual development. Way to go!
Thanks a lot for the encouragement Sean. We want to do all that we can do to train our son. Plus, counseling others to do it as a Pastor, means I better be doing it as well. Gotta lead by example.
Blessings,
Casey
Congratulations! Your life has changed dramatically and will be even richer with the birth of a child. I wish I had a good list of resources but I think you are well on your way. The fact that you are already planning ways to aid his spiritual formation is a resource God will bless. I can’t wait to have coffee and see more pictures.
Thanks for the encouragement. I can’t wait to show the pictures off as well.
Not sure when I will be back at Starbucks. Life is a blur right now, but a blessing.
Hopefully in a few weeks we will be on a schedule and I can get away for coffee and picture sharing 🙂
Blessings,
Casey
Congratulations! We have our 1 yr. old granddaughter four days a week while her mom works. What a blessing it is! I don’t really have any good resources yet, but your list has got me to thinking. Thanks.
Thank you Drusilla. The books I listed are good resources. In selecting them, we read several reviews, talked to a number of friends, and read through them ourselves. If you are looking for some material for you granddaughter, I would highly recommend these.
Thanks again for reading and commenting.
Blessings,
Casey
I would recommend Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
Chris,
Thanks for the recommendation. I have read that book. It is excellent. Another one along the lines of Shepherding a Child’s heart is: Don’t make me count to three. If you like Shepherding a Child’s Heart, you will definitely like that book.
Thanks again,
Casey Lewis
Casey, just came across your blog this evening. Your resources list is excellent. We are about to start the Gospel Project at our church (www.milestraightbc.org) and I can not wait. May God bless you and your new addition!
Jason,
Thanks for the encouragement. Gospel Project is great. My wife uses it to teach the Pre-Schoolers and our Young Adults class uses it as well. Hopefully the whole church will move to it in the future. It is an excellent curriculum and I have been happy with it so far.
Blessings,
Casey Lewis