This is a guest post from my brother Stewart.  He sent this along yesterday and I wanted to share it with you guys…

I’m writing this as I sit in the CBS11/TXA 21 broadcast booth in left field at the ballpark where the Texas Rangers play ball.  This is my ninth consecutive Rangers home opener that I’ve attended since moving back to North Texas.  And this is one of the most challenging Opening Days that I can remember.

Four players who were projected to be starting pitchers for the Texas Rangers are starting the year on the disabled list or rehabbing from injuries in the minor leagues.  The team’s leadership has pieced together a pitching staff that very few could have hardly imagined at the start of Spring Training.

But, the game goes on.  The teams must play.  And Texas is finding a way to compete despite what has happened.  
Isn’t that the way life happens?  There are days where we may not want to compete.  There are days where it would be much easier to give up or give in.

Christians, that’s not what God expects from his children! (Galatians 6:9)

We just finished a challenging Sunday seminar at Bridgewood that focused on raising Godly families.   Steve Minor did an excellent job of engaging the congregation and visitors to look at how we’re raising our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

We can look around at work and in our neighborhoods and see families that have given up raising their children.  The young ones are allowed to do whatever they want to do.  Or the parents do what they want and put themselves ahead of raising kids, or worse leave God in the dust in this fast-paced hectic life.

Fathers and mothers, it’s time to focus and work together to raise the kids.  Men, challenge each other to be husbands, fathers, grandfathers, brothers and uncles that strive for righteousness. (Ephesians 6:4)

Women, lean on each other to find ways to balance helping raise the children while maintaining the home.  (Psalm 127:3-5)

Bible Class teachers, engage the parents about what’s going on in your child’s class and make sure to continue the discussion in the car or at home about God!  Better yet, if you haven’t been attending Bible Class on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening, resolve to make that happen sooner rather than later!  (Deuteronomy 6:7)

It takes effort to raise children.  But are we going to let the world dictate how we raise the boys and girls?  Or are we going to look to the word of God for guidance? (Proverbs 22:6)

The odds may not look good as we look at the world’s track record for raising children.  But are we going to let the world raise our kids or are we going to stand up and do what’s right and give our boys and girls a fighting chance to know God, love God and respect and worship our Creator?  (Romans 12:1-2)

Let’s go team of moms and dads, brothers and sisters in Christ, Bible class teachers and get in the game!  Our children are depending on us!

If you missed Steve’s four challenging and engaging lessons, watch them online at bridgewoodchurch.org (available by the end of the week) and share them with your friends, families and co-workers!

Thanks Stew for that great post – Opening Day 2014!  Don’t miss the 13th week of our ongoing Dinnertime Devotionals series.  We continue studying the life of Joseph  >>> Dinnertime Devotionals 13