“The fact that you’re so busy assumes that you have a job. The fact that there’s a load of laundry means someone is alive to get it dirty. The fact that you have problems at church means people are actually coming to your church. It really comes down to how we choose to look at it. God could remove the burden– but if he did, he’d also take away the blessing.“
— Gary Thomas, Devotions for Sacred Parenting
Book Publication:
Zondervan (May 1, 2018)
Book Summary:
Not a typical self-help or how-to book on parenting, this book remind readers that godly parenting is only possible through God. He shares that it is a humbling spiritual discipline that fosters sanctification when done right. Thomas takes a Biblical approach on the whole matter, exploring how raising godly children can only happen when God is leading us, we are abiding in Him and our character is transforming to become more like Him.
Book Review:
I have read several of Gary Thomas’ books like Sacred Search, Sacred Marriage, Sacred Pathways. In every season of my life, these books have spoken to me with much Bible-grounded truth and refreshing clarity. The length of every chapter is brief (making it easy to approach for busy parents) but hits deep at the core. Thomas’ writing i has helped me to realign my thoughts to think less about the worldly way to parent, and instead meditate on the way God has called us to raise our little one.
Favorite Excerpts:
- “By God’s marvelous design, few life experiences humble us quite as effectively as parenting. …This tiny tyrant is providentially placed in our house with one grand program: to mold his or her parents into the image of our Lord. The way up spiritually, is by looking down physically.”
- “And the greatest truth of all: There is no higher end, no more glorious life, no better aim, than to live in the fear and favor of Almighty God.”
- “Parenting] is a glorious calling we’ll never be totally worthy to fulfill. But by God’s goodness it has been given to us, and with his aid we are committed to seeing it through.”
- “Andrew Murray’s take on this: ‘As long as we are content with just enough religion to save ourselves and our children, we must not be surprised if they remain unsaved. It is only as we seek to be filled with the Spirit and to have our whole life sacrificed for the Kingdom, that we may count on the blessing of successful spiritual training for our children’.”
- “The humbling part of parenting is that it puts us in positions where we feel out of style, out of wits, and out of control — even though we may be well accomplished in other areas.”
Author’s Bio (Credits to Amazon):
Gary Thomas is a writer in residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and an adjunct faculty member teaching on spiritual formation at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas. He is the author of 19 books, including Sacred Marriage, Sacred Pathways, Cherish, Sacred Parenting, and the Gold Medallion Award-winning Authentic Faith. He has a master’s degree from Regent College, where he studied under Dr. J.I. Packer, and was awarded an honorary doctorate in divinity from Western Seminary.
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