Raising 19 Kids and Counting

Scripture tells of two kings with outstanding character, but the contrast in their motives eventually brought very different results. One king sought to be good; the other attempted to be Godly. One king wanted to please man, yet God honored the other one.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar did not begin their marriage planning to have twenty children. Originally, they thought that they would have just one or two children. However, following a miscarriage their hearts began to change, and they surrendered their family size to the Lord.

The world pulls in many directions. God pulls in one direction. When you feel pulled in different directions, or that you and your wife are going in different directions, or that the family is split, or ... that is the time to let the peace of God "umpire".

II Timothy 2 was Paul's advice to a young pastor. The encouragement it contains however can apply directly to parenting. Like Timothy, parents are forced to handle a variety of situations. How can they use gentleness when they feel un-gentle?