Today I have been catching up on my blog reading.  I found this great post on Revolutionary Parenting.  In recent months I have really been searching to be a better parent.  We have a teenager and I pray for God to keep Him during his teenage years.  Every parent of teenagers needs wisdom on how to lead in these days.  We also have a 2 years old.  I need wisdom in how to shape her into a woman of God.  Of how to be corrective and loving.  Parenting is hard work.  Pete Wilson wrote a great blog on parenting and spending time with your kids.  Hope you enjoy:

“I just finished a book which really rocked me entitled “Revolutionary Parenting“. I didn’t agree with everything in the book, but man did it get me thinking.

In the book Barna discusses the research that uncovered a number of common denominators to raising kids with a life-impacting faith.

One of the key factors which won’t surprise you is simple quality time in dialogue between parent and child. Parents who raised kids with a life-impacting faith spent between 90-120 minutes a day engaging each other.

To place that in context, the typical American family spends less than fifteen minutes of direct parent-child conversation.

This is something we’re trying to be more intentional with. When I’m at home and my kids are awake I want to be engaging with them not the…

newspaper

computer

television.

When I pull into the garage everyday I have to say a simple prayer that goes something like this: God you know I’m tired. You know I would love to go into this house and just hide out for a few hours to recoop. But God what I’m about to do is the most important part of my day. Give me energy I don’t have. Give me wisdom I can’t find. Allow me to go in there and give the best of what I have.”

HT: Pete Wilson

It is good to be back home.  I enjoy taking time off but it is always great to come back to the place we call home.   Yesterday we drove for 12 hours and got in late last night. 

I have heard great reports of our service today.  I know we had 119 in attendance.  The word is that the guest speaker did a tremendous job.  We look forward to be back in church for the Wednesday evening service. 

While on vacation, we did something we rarely do; spend a lot of time with friends.  Vacation for the Cheney’s is usually the time that we get away and just enjoy time with our family.  This vacation, however, was different.  When some of our friends found out we were coming down, they started making arrangements to see us. 

We had alot of fun dividing our time up with different friends that we have known for years.  It was time to catch up and just share a meal together.  After the week was done, we reflected on the many meals we had with friends.  We did not have much down time, but it was a great vacation just being with friends and family.

This reunion made me hungry for Heaven.  All of our friends and family live a long way away from us.  We do not see them very often.  We stayed with some friends that we have not seen for over two years.  Others who used to be a part of our weekly lives, we have not seen in many months.  When we get to Heaven it will be different.  All the people who have had an influence on our lives and the ones we have impacted will all be there.  It will be a reunion of friends.  It is certainly something to look forward to.  Heaven will be a place where we say no more good byes.