Mothers need to be praised. A mother who knows she is valued can handle almost anything. She has the skill and energy to cook, sew, teach, do business, care for her family, help the needy, and deal with difficulties. But if a woman is never praised, she will feel unloved, unskilled, and useless. A mother needs to be thanked, prized, and praised, not just on Mother's Day, but every day.

A God-fearing woman is to be praised by her children, praised by her husband, and praised "in the city gate" by community leaders. These days many community leaders--politicians, media, educators, bosses--honor glamour more than godliness and show little respect for women who put God and family ahead of career. That can be discouraging. But a mother will still be encouraged if her children stand and say, "God bless you, Mom, for being such a blessing to us." She will glow to hear her husband say, "Darling, I love you. Other women might do good things, but you're the best!"

We're focusing on God's guidance for flourishing families. But what if you've been a disobedient child, a lousy parent, or an unbearable spouse? What is the Lord's message for a failure like you? His message is that he already knows the worst about you, but he still offers you the best.

He offers you living water (his Holy Spirit) to satisfy your deepest thirst and give you eternal life. Even though you have sinned grievously against God, he calls you to become the kind of worshiper the Father is seeking. Even though you can't save yourself, Jesus tells you that he is the Savior you need.

For seven years of college and seminary, I was an adult single, living with other singles. I enjoyed those years, but I sometimes got tired of being surrounded by singles my own age. I was thankful whenever a friendly family invited me to dinner. I enjoyed mingling with children, parents, and grandparents, not just other singles. Families that befriend singles can be a blessing to them.

By the same token, singles can be a huge blessing to families. The number one friend of the family is Jesus himself. Jesus never had a wife or children, but he is the head of every Christian family. The apostle Paul, unmarried and childless, transformed families by leading them to Christ and teaching them God's pattern for family life. Christian author C.S. Lewis never had children, but his Chronicles of Narnia still enrich millions of families and children. You don't have to be a parent to bring love and joy to kids. Childless couples and single people can be used by God as uncles, aunts, teachers, coaches, friends, and mentors for many children.

Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead on Easter, he ascended bodily to heaven. "God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior" (Acts 5:31).

In going to heaven, Jesus did not abandon his people on earth. Shortly before ascending, he promised, "Surely I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). While physically present on heaven's throne, Christ is also present by his Spirit in every Christian heart and home. That's why many have a motto declaring, "Christ is the head of this house, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener in every conversation." The head of the universe is head of the home. This awareness transforms daily life together.

Some religious people are so sour that you'd think they were baptized in lemon juice, says one author. They are so uptight that they squeak when they walk and whine when they talk. But does God save and bless in order to make you and your family grumpy? No, God says to "rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household" (Deuteronomy 26:11).

 Lot believed in the Lord, just as his uncle Abraham did. But Lot was so eager for success that he settled in wealthy, wicked Sodom. There Lot "was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard" (2 Peter 2:8). But he kept his mouth shut, stayed in Sodom, made money, and raised his family there.

Deep down, Lot was a genuine believer, and God mercifully saved him from Sodom's destruction. But Lot's losses were terrible. He lost his joy when he tried to fit with the wicked. He lost his wealth when Sodom burned. Worse yet, he lost his family. His sons-in-law were so used to seeing Lot act cozy in Sodom that they thought he was joking when he suddenly spoke of judgment, and they perished in the flames. Lot's wife became so attached to Sodom that she couldn't bear to leave. She turned back and became a pillar of salt. Lot's daughters did leave Sodom, but Sodom didn't leave them. The godless girls got their father drunk, lay with him, and produced offspring. Lot's only long-term legacy was the Moabites and Ammonites, wicked enemies of God and his people.

A covenant is a relationship grounded in promises and confirmed by a sign. For example, a marriage covenant is a relationship grounded in wedding vows and confirmed by rings. God's covenant of grace is a relationship grounded in his promise to be our God and the God of our offspring. Before Jesus came, the covenant sign was circumcision. After Jesus suffered and bled for our salvation, God gave a new covenant sign without pain or blood: baptism. In baptism  God promises to be our God, marks believers and our children as his people, and calls us to trust and obey him.

     A relationship with God is personal but not merely private. God does not just deal with individuals one at a time. God's covenant embraces believers, their families, and future generations. "He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands" (Deut. 7:9).

God's covenant stands in sharp contrast to worldly culture. Worldly culture says, "There are many religions. To each his own." God's covenant says, "The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

Honor your father and your mother ... so that you may live long and that it may go well with you. Deut. 5:16

MTV has been called "the most researched channel in history." MTV is constantly looking for ways to hook kids, boost ratings, and sell stuff. The goal is not to help kids flourish but to make money for the giant corporation that owns MTV. A company boss boasted, "At MTV, we don't shoot for the 14-year-olds--we own them."

If you're a kid who disobeys your parents, you may think you're escaping adult power and doing what you and your friends want. Don't fool yourself. Youth culture isn't run by youth. It's run by adults. For every kid who buys the CDs of messed up singers, there's a music company chairman getting richer. For every kid who uses drugs or booze, there's a drug boss or brewing executive making money. For every kid watching dirty movies, there's a corporation counting cash. Greedy grownups grab dollars, while kids get addicted, catch diseases, and wreck their lives. Why listen to adults who rip you off and ruin you rather than those who want what's best for you?

As a boy growing up with godly parents, I learned daily family worship. I also learned to worship daily on my own. My parents never made a show of their own personal time with God, but sometimes when I got out of bed earlier than usual, I would see my dad or mom bowing alone in prayer before waking the rest of the household. Following their example, I began to pray as a boy. On my tenth birthday, my parents gave me a Bible to read on my own.

Now that I have a wife and children, we follow much the same pattern as my parents. We read the Bible and pray together at morning and evening meals. Sometimes only one of us will pray; at other times, we'll go around the room, with each family member from youngest to oldest offering prayers. In addition, we usually sing a hymn together. At bedtime, I go to each child's bed, from toddler to teenager, and pray aloud for each one as I hug them. I also check on their personal Bible reading.