31 Days :: Establishing Family Rules

Day two!! Welcome back! Thank you all so much for your comments yesterday! My wheels are already a-spinnin' about your topics. I can not wait to see what the Lord does this month. Fun fun!!

If you are just tuning in, please click here to catch the vision for the month of October.

Two summer's ago, we did a series titled Summertime Sanity. In that series we worked through creating tailor made rules for our households. This week we will do the same.

If your home is anything like my home, things change quickly. The boys needs are different (and arguably greater) than before. But Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. His Word always applies to the changing needs of His children. As a mother, it is my responsibility to point my boys to Him in the midst of all that changing. Household rules are no exception. They will never out grow their need for Him. His Word will never be un-cool our out-of-style. Our God is always up-to-date and relevant.

How To Establish Your Family Rules:

It is definitely time to renew the Crenshaw Family Rules based on the current needs of the boys. The areas that once needed focus, aren't as much as a problem these days. Our boys (and the problems they face) are different.

So first, Brent and I make a scroll, I mean a list, and titled it "Our Family Issues."

1. Fighting
2. Whining
3. Not listening
4. Back talk
5. Not obeying quickly
6. Not being compassionate to each other
7. Laziness - not working diligently

Well, we do not want seven rules. Less is more. We try to keep it to four rules that will cover lots of ground. I also feel it is important to have positive wording vs. "DON'T DO THIS or NO FIGHTING".

Also, Scripture is authority in our home. So once we come up with our rules, we want to seek applicable scripture for the boys to memorize.

But in all of our family rule revamping, our first rule has never changed...

Rule 1 - Obey quickly and completely.
"Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and your mother." Ephesians 6:1,2

This is a very common parenting verse. I bet your kiddos know this. However, let us not allow this verse to become "common" to them. As the boys grow, so can their understanding of the depth of this passage. For my older boys, today I will tell them this...

Obey in the Greek translates to hypakouō which means "to listen, to hearken to a command. Spoken of one who on the knock at the door comes to listen to who it is. It is the duty of a porter." - Strongs G5219

Do you see how much listening is involved in obeying? And how quickly of a response is expected of the listener? A wise mom told me one time that "ultimately we are training their ear to listen to authority in their lives. If they are rebelling against you, greater is the chance they will later rebel against the Lord." Scary thought.

So on this restful Sabbath, will you take time, maybe you and your husband, to make a list of your "Family Issues". And once you get a list, ask the Lord, "What are a few rules that need to be laid in our home?

Once you get your rules, then ask the Holy Spirit to take you to Scripture that will support your rule.

Come back tomorrow for Crenshaw Family Rule #2.

(And I am still taking suggestion to address this month...Leave a comment. -Love you all!)