The past two nights my family has had the wonderful privilege of being a part of Abilene Baptist Church’s AWANA ministry’s recognition services. On Wednesday night I watched as our children received their awards for scripture memory, Sunday School attendance and club attendance. Last night we enjoyed a time of recognizing the AWANA workers at their annual banquet. It was a tremendous time with people who have a great love for God, His Word and children. (more…)

This coming Sunday is one of the most special days of the year – Mother’s Day. I know that many men fuss and complain, saying that it’s really not a “real holiday,” and blame the greeting card companies for creating a day so that they can sell more cards. However, even if there were not an official day set aside to honor and express our love to the mother’s in our lives there should be a day set aside to do just that.

As the the father of a very young family I want to make sure that my children learn to honor and express their love for their mom. I want them to learn by watching me honor and express my love for my mother, as well as their mother. I want to show them simple ways of expressing their love, appreciation and respect for their mom. (more…)

A little over a week ago we loaded up all of our worldly possessions (including teddy bears and baby dolls) and moved from the Upstate of South Carolina to Augusta, Georgia. It was a move that we firmly believe God led us to make, and one which we did with great excitement and expectation. While it was difficult in many ways to say goodbye to so many people that we had grown to love like family, there is also a calm assurance that comes when you know that you’re walking in the center of God’s will for your life.

While Kim and I faced the move with delight and determination, it didn’t take us long to sense some of the struggles that our children were facing during the weeks that led up to the move, as well as on the actual moving day. We commented to each other on several occasions how Jack was acting out. He would get up in the middle of the night and wander through the house or get in bed with us, saying that he was too scared to sleep in his own bed. He began to backtalk and not obey when asked to do things around the house. In general, there was a melancholy, rebellious spirit that settled over him in the days leading up to our move. (more…)

I met my wife, Kim, when we were in high school. We dated for 6 years before getting married, and have now been married for over fifteen years. That means that we have spent over half of our lives already either dating, engaged or married.

As any couple who’s been married for any amount of time knows, it is vitally important to work at making your marriage as strong as it can be. The forces of Satan, sin and society all pull at and openly attack marriages – especially those of Christians. That is why is it so vitally important that those of us who know Jesus should seek to do everything possible to have a marriage that reflects the Bible’s picture of Christ and His bride, the Church. (more…)

I’ll never forget the first time one of my children asked me that question. I’m sure that I must have “looked like a calf staring at a new gate.” I’m sure that my face was a mixture of shock, frantic thought and abject fear. I didn’t want to lie, but I also didn’t want her to go running from the room screaming to mom the terrible truth that I had just broken to her. I also didn’t want to perpetuate a falsehood that robs Jesus of His rightful place on Resurrection Sunday. (more…)

I love Fridays. I really do. This is the day that recharges my personal battery for the week because this is the day that I set aside and strictly guard so I can spend time with my family. One of the lessons that I have learned from some of our empty-nesters and grandparents at Temple is to make the most of these early years with my kids because the years pass so quickly.  I see that.  I know that. It seems just like yesterday that I was holding Laura Kate in the delivery room. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was getting up multiple times during the night to feed or change Jack. Or wait, was that Benjamin? Now…well, they grow so quickly. (more…)

There are few things that are more powerful in relationships than words of affirmation and affection. This is especially true in our relationship with our family.  I can remember as I was growing up looking and listening for those types of expressions from my parents. While my parents weren’t perfect (what parents are?) they still made sure to let me know that they loved me and were proud of me. (more…)

“I love you.” Everybody from sociologists to pastors to grandparents tell us that these are without a doubt the three most powerful words in human language. Yet, sadly, there are many children who grow up and never even hear these words spoken, much less displayed, by those who should show and say it the most – their parents.

Now, I am not naturally what would be considered to be a “soft” or “sensitive” person. I don’t cry at the drop of a hat. I don’t normally get “misty” in the sentimental parts of movies. I don’t really care for “tear-jerker” books or stories. I know, this fact may not go over well with some of my female readers, but it is simply the truth. I am not interested in, and don’t really plan on, getting in touch with my “feminine side.” (more…)

It’s one of the most valuable lessons you can teach your children – how to properly handle money. You see, we live in a world where more lives – and even nations – are falling apart at the seams because of financial irresponsibility. It seems that almost every day I hear where some nation is in chaos over an oncoming collapse in their economy or some family is facing foreclosure (or even divorce) because they never learned the first rule of finances – you can’t spend more than you take in.

One of the first lessons I have determined to teach my children is how to properly view and use the money that the Lord gives to them. I want them to see themselves as stewards of God’s money, not spenders of their money. I want them to see money for what it is – a way to be blessed and a means to be a blessing. I don’t want them to fall into the financial traps that so many people fall into today. I don’t want their self-worth to be tied to their net-worth. I don’t want them to hold onto to their money, yet lose their family. I don’t want them to get into so much debt that they can’t obey and follow the Lord. In short, I want them to have a Biblical view of money. (more…)

Early yesterday morning Kim and I made our way to Greenville Memorial Hospital to welcome the newest addition to our family. After about 10 hours in labor my wife delivered our 9 lb, 1 oz bouncing baby boy.

We had struggled with what to name him. In fact, we had literally spent the past nine months making list after list of names trying to find one that would be just the perfect fit for our third child. Earlier this week we decided that we would know what to name him when we met him. So, when he showed up at 5:12 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012 we knew that his name would be Benjamin James Whitt.

Of course, the name Benjamin is the name of Jacob and Rachel’s second son and it literally means, “Son of my right hand.” It speaks of the special place that this young child had in the heart of his father, Jacob.

I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed us with this precious baby boy. I’m so grateful that both mom and baby are healthy. I’m trusting that Benjamin will trust Christ for salvation at an early age. And, I’m expecting God to do great things in and through the life of this little boy who’s sleeping across the room from me as I write this morning’s post.

Thank you Lord for blessing our family with this precious gift.

Welcome to our family, Benjamin James Whitt.