Comments on: The Effective Prayer of Righteous Men http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/ The musings and ravings of a bloggart family Tue, 7 Oct 2008 14:40:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Emily http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2233 Emily Fri, 27 Jul 2007 22:15:19 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2233 What a great entry . . .I truly thank you for your honesty. It opened my eyes to looking at my parenting skills again. You and Kathy are an amazing couple! What a great entry . . .I truly thank you for your honesty. It opened my eyes to looking at my parenting skills again. You and Kathy are an amazing couple!

]]> By: Tim http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2147 Tim Sun, 22 Jul 2007 22:15:32 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2147 Thank you each for your responses and for your wise counsel or reaction. This has been a humbling time for me as a parent, as I discover that many of the strategies that 'work' in the middle years are worse than useless as my children move into the next stage. I suspect this will not be the last time I write on this topic, that is, if Kathy ever lets me get a word in edgewise. :) In less than a week, though, I have noticed a real difference in the way I relate to my kids -- I'm finding it easier to use a gentler tone of voice and a kinder smile, even when I am speaking words of rebuke. Praise God that he can change me like this from the inside out! Thank you each for your responses and for your wise counsel or reaction. This has been a humbling time for me as a parent, as I discover that many of the strategies that ‘work’ in the middle years are worse than useless as my children move into the next stage.

I suspect this will not be the last time I write on this topic, that is, if Kathy ever lets me get a word in edgewise. :)

In less than a week, though, I have noticed a real difference in the way I relate to my kids — I’m finding it easier to use a gentler tone of voice and a kinder smile, even when I am speaking words of rebuke. Praise God that he can change me like this from the inside out!

]]> By: Kristine/SHS http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2138 Kristine/SHS Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:19:35 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2138 Oh, I'm crying as I read this. I am struggling right now with my 12yodd. It seems like the best way to not "get into it" is to make a joke to her about her ugly behavior. But it is so discouraging for her to treat people the way she so often does. We don't want to be around her. I'm just feeling quite hopeless about it all and I don't know how to touch her heart. I'm sure we've gone quite wrong somewhere. Oh, I’m crying as I read this. I am struggling right now with my 12yodd. It seems like the best way to not “get into it” is to make a joke to her about her ugly behavior. But it is so discouraging for her to treat people the way she so often does. We don’t want to be around her.

I’m just feeling quite hopeless about it all and I don’t know how to touch her heart. I’m sure we’ve gone quite wrong somewhere.

]]> By: Debbie http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2122 Debbie Sat, 21 Jul 2007 13:51:45 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2122 Wonderful entry, Tim! God will certainly honor your desire and seeking to be a better father. Wonderful entry, Tim! God will certainly honor your desire and seeking to be a better father.

]]> By: Amy Werthman http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2110 Amy Werthman Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:18:04 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2110 Thanks Tim for putting into words how I feel many times when dealing with and interacting with my kids. I am glad God is gracious and merciful to me even in my sin, because I know I am not a perfect parent who needs God's constant help and guidance. Thanks Tim for putting into words how I feel many times when dealing with and interacting with my kids. I am glad God is gracious and merciful to me even in my sin, because I know I am not a perfect parent who needs God’s constant help and guidance.

]]> By: Carl Gray http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2103 Carl Gray Fri, 20 Jul 2007 18:37:21 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2103 As you know, I am a programmer too and one of my jobs is to find faults in our system, or in the customers' data. I am very good at that which sometimes scares me. Why am I so good at identifying problems? After a long day at work I find myself analyzing people and categorizing their problems in order to develop an optimal solution for them. I don't have any solutions for you except to be very aware of the immensity of God's mercy on you and how much you truly don't deserve one bit of it. A lack of this is often a sign of pride. You may think you have all the answers and know the right way to do things and everyone else will be so happy if they just recognize that and follow suit. God's Word is like the spec sheet. Anything that does not align with what it says is not going to work correctly. However, unlike a computer program which has no feelings when you judiciously eradicate the bugs by correcting the faulty logic, people are humans made in the image of God, each one answerable to God. Ultimately it is God who is the final Quality Control on our lives, revealing in our hearts where we fall short and also lovingly helping us day by day to conform to His perfect image. But God has given parents a responsibility in molding the lives of our children. He has also given us the authority to act as His agents in lovingly correcting and admonishing them, punishing them when necessary. But we must never forget who the real Authority is. We should be greatly humbled at this awesome responsibility as servants of God and seek to carry it out in a manner consistent with His character. When I am tempted to find fault with someone, becoming upset by their sin, I just remember how God has dealt with me in my sin. How many sins has he left unpunished only because He was waiting for the right time and right way to truly drive the message home in my heart where it would stay? If God only dealt with sin by pointing out our faults and deciding what punishment was due, we would never change. But God lovingly reveals sin in our hearts and then offers to help us change. When we fail, He doesn't get frustrated but gently reminds us that we can't do it on our own, but only by dependence on Him. One other thing that I just heard in Bible study last night that really hit home was this: If you examine the way Jesus dealt with people you will notice that he always offered the law and judgment to the proud but grace and mercy to the humble. The Pharisees had all the right answers, yet were condemned. The "sinners" who stood under their judgment were shown mercy. Which side do you stand on? Sorry Tim, didn't mean to commandeer this blog as a guest blogger. I just got on a roll, and you make it so easy to do so! As you know, I am a programmer too and one of my jobs is to find faults in our system, or in the customers’ data. I am very good at that which sometimes scares me. Why am I so good at identifying problems? After a long day at work I find myself analyzing people and categorizing their problems in order to develop an optimal solution for them.

I don’t have any solutions for you except to be very aware of the immensity of God’s mercy on you and how much you truly don’t deserve one bit of it. A lack of this is often a sign of pride.

You may think you have all the answers and know the right way to do things and everyone else will be so happy if they just recognize that and follow suit.

God’s Word is like the spec sheet. Anything that does not align with what it says is not going to work correctly. However, unlike a computer program which has no feelings when you judiciously eradicate the bugs by correcting the faulty logic, people are humans made in the image of God, each one answerable to God. Ultimately it is God who is the final Quality Control on our lives, revealing in our hearts where we fall short and also lovingly helping us day by day to conform to His perfect image.

But God has given parents a responsibility in molding the lives of our children. He has also given us the authority to act as His agents in lovingly correcting and admonishing them, punishing them when necessary. But we must never forget who the real Authority is. We should be greatly humbled at this awesome responsibility as servants of God and seek to carry it out in a manner consistent with His character.

When I am tempted to find fault with someone, becoming upset by their sin, I just remember how God has dealt with me in my sin. How many sins has he left unpunished only because He was waiting for the right time and right way to truly drive the message home in my heart where it would stay? If God only dealt with sin by pointing out our faults and deciding what punishment was due, we would never change. But God lovingly reveals sin in our hearts and then offers to help us change. When we fail, He doesn’t get frustrated but gently reminds us that we can’t do it on our own, but only by dependence on Him.

One other thing that I just heard in Bible study last night that really hit home was this: If you examine the way Jesus dealt with people you will notice that he always offered the law and judgment to the proud but grace and mercy to the humble. The Pharisees had all the right answers, yet were condemned. The “sinners” who stood under their judgment were shown mercy. Which side do you stand on?

Sorry Tim, didn’t mean to commandeer this blog as a guest blogger. I just got on a roll, and you make it so easy to do so!

]]> By: Aunt Kate http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2101 Aunt Kate Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:02:53 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2101 Wow, Tim. I learned so much in reading this- about myself and my parenting skills (or lack thereof). Thanks for sharing so vulnerably!! You are courageous!! I love that your heart desires to please the Lord!! This comes thru in every word you speak (write). One of the biggest lessons I learned from my Mom (your Nana) was that parents can say I'm sorry to kids. Big impression on me when Mom did that. I love you. Aunt Kate Wow, Tim. I learned so much in reading this- about myself and my parenting skills (or lack thereof). Thanks for sharing so vulnerably!! You are courageous!! I love that your heart desires to please the Lord!! This comes thru in every word you speak (write).

One of the biggest lessons I learned from my Mom (your Nana) was that parents can say I’m sorry to kids. Big impression on me when Mom did that.

I love you. Aunt Kate

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2098 Cynthia Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:57:44 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2098 Great entry! When you get it all figured out do let us know (LOL)! We have just entered a new phase ourselves since our oldest dd just turned 18. EGADS.. I hope I get this figured out pretty soon! We always tell her that we had to experiment with her and now we really know what to do just in time to train up the BOYS! (LOL)! Great entry! When you get it all figured out do let us know (LOL)! We have just entered a new phase ourselves since our oldest dd just turned 18. EGADS.. I hope I get this figured out pretty soon! We always tell her that we had to experiment with her and now we really know what to do just in time to train up the BOYS! (LOL)!

]]> By: Lisa http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2094 Lisa Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:47:13 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2094 We are at the stage of parenting also. It's so hard to let go and to know when to let go. It's also hard for the little ones to understand that the bigger kids have different rules. Parenting is hard!LOL Very good post. Blessings, Lisa (not in Maine,lol) in Jax We are at the stage of parenting also. It’s so hard to let go and to know when to let go. It’s also hard for the little ones to understand that the bigger kids have different rules. Parenting is hard!LOL

Very good post.

Blessings,

Lisa (not in Maine,lol) in Jax

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2089 Jennifer Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:38:14 +0000 http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/2007/07/19/the-effective-prayer-of-righteous-men/#comment-2089 Tim, this is a great blog. Thanks for sharing all this. I'll be praying for you during this next phase of parenting! Tim, this is a great blog. Thanks for sharing all this. I’ll be praying for you during this next phase of parenting!

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