It's not the knock-out round if you are the one on the ground. No matter how the fight looks, no matter how bloodied and wearied you are by the battles going on in your life or family, until the enemy is the one on the ground, it's not over. Concerning your children, concerning your health, concerning your marriage and life, the knock-out is when you win!

What do I mean? Let's get some context in God's word:

• John 16:33 AMPC

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"

What this means: difficulties and challenges abound in this…

As Christian parents, our hearts are burdened with the eternal well-being of our children. We pray for their salvation, diligently teach them scripture, and strive to raise them in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord." But what if, despite all our efforts, we're missing the deepest purpose? What if we're aiming for outward conformity and a ticket to heaven, when God desires something far richer: a genuine, unyielding love for Him in our children's hearts? Could this also be the reason why some children despite all the teachings on faith they receive from home about faith, do a 180-degree turnaround from that faith at the slightest opportunity they get to leave home? We have heard many such stories of children rebelling and abandoning their faith when they leave their parents' home for the first time.

Beyond instances of perhaps parents not modelling what they teach which in itself is…

I sat, busy attending to my business, when my eyes suddenly caught sight of a mosquito. It looked quite fresh and innocent, not like those vicious, blood-bloated types that send me into a swiping frenzy with their evil appearance.

However, the more I looked, the more I realized this wasn't some "innocent" mosquito searching for daily bread. This looked like a female Anopheles mosquito – the more I looked at it, the more its potential for damage became apparent. This was the malaria-bearing species that could put my children on vacation from school and send us running back and forth to pharmacies. Without another thought, my hand swiped and smacked it dead.

Hmmmm, why do I worry about an ordinary Anopheles mosquito? It's the powerful lesson that came to me within that experience. You know how God sets your heart to making meaning out of ordinary events when He wants…

As Christian parents raising children in today's world, we face the significant task of guiding their faith amidst countless influences. This two-part series explores how relationships shape our children's spiritual journey. In this first part, we'll delve into the power of influence, identify positive and negative patterns, and look closely at warnings from biblical examples.

In our shared journey of nurturing children in the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, we understand that our homes serve as the foundational training ground. Yet, as our children blossom and grow, their world expands, embracing friends, extended family, school environments, and increasingly, the digital realm. These relationships and exposures wield significant power, capable of either fortifying their faith or, regrettably, leading them astray. The timeless wisdom of Scripture reminds us, "Do not be misled, 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV). Discerning and navigating these multifaceted influences becomes paramount…