See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ NIV)

Wow! What a busy and exciting few weeks! It has been truly amazing as Ingrid and I have become husband and wife and we have joined our families into one. What an awesome blessing.

It has been a great time of being together and growing, and also a time of new routines and habits. One of these is out dinner time devotions. Anything from just conversation about life and spiritual matters, to reading planned family devotionals. This is really starting to take root in my heart.

I love listening to the children’s responses and questions when we talk about God. It reminds me of how soft they are right now and how that opportunity to shape and mold them is there. It also reminds me that they are watching!

This can be the tough one. Even when their eyes are glued to the tv and they don’t hear me ask them to cut the light off, or pick up their shoes; they see and hear everything we say and do. This is a gift!

If our kids know us, and they know God I am praying that they see Him in us. I pray that we constantly hear them say “but they don’t do that at my friends house” or “but my friend from school doesn’t have to do this or that”. I pray that these are the moments when they see the difference in Ingrid and me. That they see our home is different, that we are not “of the world”.

I pray that we are living in such a way that we are different, that we are not living for us but for Him. I have the most incredible wife, who encourages me daily to walk closer to God and to be an example of Him. The godly love and attitude that permeates in our home is so wonderful.

So even when the tv is on and the dogs are barking and we have to tip toe through the strategically placed mine field of toys on the floor, they are paying attention!

“Father, thank you so much for this family, for my amazing wife and for this life you have given us. Please help to keep our hearts and minds focused on you and your love and grace as we commit to teaching our children to grow in wisdom and knowledge and love of you. Remind us that they are watching and allow us to take advantage of the teachable moments. Let us not focus on the things of this world or the things that they see when they are not inside of our walls, but let us focus on showing them that we “Christ followers” do not live “in this world” but that our citizenship is with you in our eternal home.

Thank you Lord for loving us enough to take our punishment on the cross and giving us freedom in your son.

In Jesus name

Amen”

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, (‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ NIV)