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Why raising your family is difficult work

challenge children family Feb 10, 2021

By Doug Snyder

“Family” is intended to reflect God on earth, namely in loving community. And this is why the Devil wants the family destroyed. 

Note, if marriage becomes outlawed, it will only be outlaws who have in-laws.

God is love. Love is other-centered. Love gives. 

A woman, struggling with her recent divorce, relayed how she remained loving under the stressed circumstances. My recent ex texted, “Sell the Mercedes and send the money. So I listed and sold it the same day for $100. I hope he’s happy.”

The fountainhead of generosity is God, who lavished His love on us. For God so loved the world that He gave… This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

God is community. Think Trinity, three in one, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is forever community. Family is intended to reflect this community on earth.

Family begins, as God created, with...

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Remain Family

family father spring Mar 04, 2020

By Doug Snyder

Spring is knockin' on winter’s door. 

Our youngest, Andrew, noticed emerging flowers as we removed the grill and picnic tables from storage. Beth will soon be in the garden. One of her happy places.

John 15 records Jesus’ teaching on gardening and family. This powerful parenting imagery has 3 timely lessons that affect your future.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Lesson one: remain grafted. Don’t get uprooted by fear. Those spreading fear amid COVID19 are fake gardeners. The goal of fear is to uproot faith and replant elsewhere.

Lesson two: bear much fruit. Don’t become distracted by lack of supply. It’s not your concern. It’s the Gardeners.

Two times, in verses 1 & 8, Jesus refers to “my Father” as The Gardener. This is very important, as The Gardener is literally God, the Father of...

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Family

family healing Jan 29, 2020

By Doug Snyder

My favorite wall in the house is the one with our family photographs. In the middle of a collage of pictures of our children, and spouses of 3, is a large black metal wall hanging, “FAMILY.” 

The most memorable times of the year are when we get together. Often, I look back and reminisce. And, I look forward with anticipation. How about you? 

Having shared this, I realize not everyone enjoys or enjoyed a great family or home life. Many of my friends today relay very painful upbringings, including every sort of abuse imaginable. My heart is heavy for them. And, I am so amazed by the progress most have made in healing and rebuilding positive images and understandings of family. They want to. They need to.

Family is God’s design. He is a Father, and, “our Father…” Family is the foundational unit of every community and nation. And this is exactly why families - marriages, kids, and definitions - have been under attack. God...

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