Experiencing God at Home by Richard Blackaby, Tom Blackaby Page B

above list. That’s because it’s your identity as a child of God. It has been said that “good leaders are good followers.” It could also be said that “good parents are good children.” Regardless of your age, your identity is ultimately defined by your relationship to your heavenly Father. Throughout your life you will be dependant on Him, seeking His guidance and provision as well as fellowshipping with Him and loving Him. When your children observe what kind of child you are to God (and to your own parents), they will see how they should act as well. Every role you play is one your children may eventually need to perform as well. Hopefully you are setting an outstanding example before them.
    Questions for Reflection/Discussion
    1. What is the most challenging role you currently have as a parent?
    2. Can you honestly say that you would be comfortable having your children copy your relationship with God? Why or why not?
    3. What kind of child are you to your parents (if they are still living) and to your heavenly Father? What kind of example are you providing your children?
    4. What has been the most challenging adjustment you have made in your parental role as your children have grown up? What adjustments do you still need to make?
    5. Which role do you most depend on God to play in your life today?
    6. What is one parenting role that you need to overhaul and update? Make specific plans to begin doing that this week.

Chapter 8
    God Is Always at Work around Us
    Kids, Games, and the Work of God
    When we were children, the two of us could play for hours. At one point we could be exploring a prehistoric jungle while trying to avoid child-eating dinosaurs. The next minute we and our merry band of GI Joes would be fighting bad guys. Then we’d be desperados frantically trying to make it to the Mexico border before our mother cornered us and exiled us to our afternoon nap. But invariably, our favorite game to play was Church.
    We went to church every Sunday and watched our revered father preaching from the pulpit and ministering to the people. Inspired by his example, we would conduct our own services in our tiny bedroom. We would transform our bunk bed into a platform and pulpit. Tom would be the worship leader, and Richard would be the preacher. Our mother would be the hardened sinner. Since we only had enough floor space for one chair, our congregation was quite meager. But, seeing as our mother was generally the only person available, and in light of the fact we knew she desperately needed a fresh encounter with God, we always enlisted her as our congregant.
    Tom would lead the congregation in singing. Our mother would faithfully bellow out the lyrics, and we would enjoy a moving song service. Once that was done, Tom would announce, “And now our pastor is going to come and preach God’s Word to us today.” Richard would mount the pulpit and pull out his Children’s Picture Bible. Because Richard was illiterate at the time, his sermons were not exactly complex. He would invariably preach the same sermon in every service regardless of how many times our tiny congregation met. However, he always preached with passion and a sense of urgency. The title of his message was “The Sin of Spanking Your Children.” As Richard warmed to his theme, he would solemnly declare, “There may be some of you here today who have committed this horrible sin, and now God is convicting you to repent of your evil deeds and return to God!” We’d always feel compelled to extend an altar call so any sinners present could immediately find peace with God. When no one “walked the aisle” during the first two verses, Richard would pause the singing and declare: “Now folks, we’re not in any hurry today. We’re going to continue to sing until everyone has been made right with God!” Finally, to bring closure to the ordeal, our mother would dutifully make a public decision, committing herself afresh to be a better mother in the