You’ll struggle to create a new legacy through your family if you haven’t healed from your past wounds. But even if we’re healed, the past could have warped us away from sound biblical parenting principles if they were used on us in an unbiblical way. Listen and discover if you are a pendulum swinger in parenting. We all need refinement and the more we do the better parents we are. This is important for today, but even more important for decades from now by what it sows in the coming generations. If you love the episode please share it so more are impacted.

 

Main Points in This Episode:

• Just because you believe you are on the biblical road to parenting, it doesn’t mean you are.
• When we get hurt by someone in a ditch, sometimes we swing too far to the ditch on the other side of the road.
• The Tolpins give a clear understanding of what it looks like and how to be on the biblical road and out of the ditches in parenting.
• Seasons of Parenting cycle gives you clarity on how to adjust your parenting approach as children develop.

Our Incredible Sponsors Mentioned in This Episode

 

Master Books

• Join the Masterbooks Giveaway and you might receive some of our favorite curriculums

Samaritan Ministries

• This is what the Tolpin’s use instead of health insurance, hear why

Creating A Masterpiece

 

Vooetberg Music Academy

 

 

Register today! Includes 13-page roadmap download

Scriptures From This Episode:

–  John  3:16 –  “ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“

–  1 Timothy 2:5 – “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,“

–  Ephesians 4:22-32 – “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,”

 

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Welcome to Courageous Parenting Podcast, a weekly show to equip parents with biblical truth on raising confident Christian kids in an uncertain world.

Hi, I’m Angie from Courageous.

Mom and Isaac from Resolute Man Together pursuing the mission to impact 10 million families and their legacies for the Kingdom of God.

We’ve been married for 23 years and are seeing the fruit from raising our nine children biblically. Based on the raw truth found in the Bible.

We can no longer let the culture win the hearts of children, as too many from Christian families are walking away from their faith by the age 18. And it doesn’t have to be this way. It shouldn’t be this way.

We’re praising the Lord that the ministry continues to expand and impact more legacies. We couldn’t do this without you. Whether you pray for us, give us five star reviews, or share on social.

Or even if you purchase courses and merch, or join the Be Courageous app community, enjoy the coffee or support financially. We’re so thankful you are a big part of the 10 Million Legacies movement.

If you want access to all the episodes, show notes, and other biblically based resources, go to Be Courageous Ministry.

Org. Join us as we start another important conversation about effective parenting in a fallen world.

Welcome to the Courageous Parenting Podcast.

All right, here we go.

We are so glad to have you back with us. Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone. So what a wonderful, wonderful time of year and celebrating the birth of Jesus. And we’re just excited to have a candid chat today.

Yeah. So we thought that with it being Christmas Eve, the day that this podcast episode is going out, we would share some really powerful things that we that we’ve been tested in recently and been growing in and just talking about and how real some of the things that even Isaacs preached in sermon messages in the last few weeks have just really come to the surface for our family recently, and we’ll share why in a minute. Um, but before we dive into today’s topic, which is really about the father’s love for us, um, with Christmas. Right? In a couple of days, we wanted to really have an episode that would highlight God’s love for us as his children and the sacrifice that he made when he gave his only begotten son. And we’re going to share some scriptures that have been really there highlighting that. Highlighting the gift of of what we are actually celebrating at Christmas time.

I think it’s so important because if we don’t fully realize ourselves, the depth of God’s love for us, it’s hard to raise up our children to really understand that themselves and his parenting. Isn’t that the most important thing? Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? And, you know, reflecting on Christmas, depending when you listen to this is, uh. Hey, is it, uh, are your children catching what Christmas is all about? And that’ll tell you a lot.

Yeah. As Isaac’s talking about parenting, I, I, I thought of something today about my husband, and he doesn’t know this. I haven’t told him this. Um, but if you are watching on YouTube, you might notice that Isaac’s looking a little different on a little different. We’re going to share with you guys about something really, um, crazy that happened to him last night, actually. Um. And. God, God used you, Isaac, last night to to protect and defend two little, two boys, two teenage boys that were 13, 14 years old. And, um, anyway, we’ll tell that story in just a few minutes, but Isaac’s looking pretty black and blue in a couple places on his face right now. And I was thinking about courageous parenting today and what that means to be a courageous parent. And yesterday you really showed. I’m gonna. I’m gonna cry. You really showed, like, physically, what it means to be a courageous parent and what it means to model that for your sons. So I’m sorry. Anyway, I just I’m reminded here we are sitting on the Courageous Parenting podcast set how choosing to be a courageous parent, a Christian parent who will stand firm in the truth, will defend the weak, will, um, do what’s right. Maybe when other people aren’t, or when it would be easier to just turn a cheek or move away. Um, you chose to do the hard thing.

And how many times do we talk about doing hard things here on the Courageous Parenting Podcast? And that sometimes as a courageous parent, it can feel like you’re a salmon swimming upstream, and then it can feel lonely and it can feel all these things. And I right now I’m looking at you and we have this candlelight Christmas service for our church tomorrow. And we’ve been preparing all day for that and working so hard and had so many amazing people there helping us. And and I’m looking at you and how it’s literally a picture of what God calls us to. And I know you don’t. You don’t even want to talk about it. Like. And you’re like, Angie, I don’t want it to be about me. And it’s not about you, but it’s about do our lives reflect the love of Christ and the commitment that he calls us to, to be living and laying our lives down for someone that we don’t even know? And it’s like it’s hard to do. And in those moments where it’s so fast and it’s a split decision, you don’t know if you’re going to do it. And that’s something we all need to ask ourselves over and over again. You’ll have to ask yourself that again tomorrow and the next day and the next day. Right. And it’s like a day by day thing to really lay down.

You talked about this on Sunday, laying down our crowns and and being willing to take up the cross of Christ, which is what he calls us to do every single day, not just at Christmas time, not just when it’s like this thing you’ve been preparing to do. And, um. And so today, before we dive into the podcast, you guys, I just want to encourage you because we’re coming also upon the end of the year. Yeah. And as, um, a homeschooling mom, as a mom that is always trying hard to, um, be making sure that my kids are learning things that are going to be biblically sound and that we are staying on track for the year. I just want to point you guys in the direction of master books, because we’ve been using their curriculum, um, this first semester of this year of 2024, and it’s been refreshing for me to not have to worry about if I’m hitting, if I’m getting things done right with the kids. And that used to be something that in the past couple of years, when you use a lot of different curriculums, it can be a temptation to think, oh, are we doing enough? Are we doing it all? But I love that they have the grade levels laid out for you. You can pick one, but you can also adjust them and customize them based upon what you have studied with your kids the previous year.

So with the new year coming, if your curriculum is not working for you, there is no shame in being able to curb a curriculum, shelve it for another year or another kid and trying something new. And if you’re feeling like you need new inspiration, then I would encourage you to check out Master Books.com forward slash courageous. Look at what some of my favorite curriculums are, and maybe you’ll find some inspiration, something you could get excited about. Maybe it’s studying astronomy for science for the first time, and getting a telescope and looking outside at the beautiful stars at night. Maybe it’s that you’re going to do Master Books Academy with your high schooler and do chemistry, right? Um, there’s so many different options. In fact, I think they have over 30 different science curriculum options. So I just and they have many other types of curriculum as well, obviously. But I just wanted to highlight that because if you’re struggling with one area or maybe your kids are struggling with a subject at school, adding that supplementary to bring it home to help them to get the one on one that they need. This might be the answer for you, so go check them out. Master books.com/courageous. Okay, let’s get back to the podcast.

Absolutely. So we’re talking about father’s love. And you know making sure our children understand that. And I think that one thing that comes to mind is making sure our children know that we love them no matter what. And I think that’s a big thing. And you might say, well, of course they know that. But how many children a Christian families get raised in? Parents thought that they thought their children knew that they loved them. And maybe they aren’t saying that. Maybe they didn’t really feel that in the same way. And I know I have a check in my gut, too. It’s like, you know, I need to make sure that my children know that I love them no matter what. And sometimes you literally have to say that otherwise. Sometimes it can be a performance driven faith based on wanting love from you and feeling like you get more of it if you say you’re a Christian.

Yeah, and I think that for moms who have many kids that this message of like making sure your kids hear the words I love you is probably a tender spot because I know that it’s easy if you say it to one or 2 or 3 kids in a day to go to think, oh yeah, I’ve told, I’ve told them. But have you told everybody? Have you looked at everybody in the eyes and said, I love you a lot and everything’s going to be okay? Or, you know, I just wanted to say I love you and give them a hug. And I know that for us, I think there were probably more hugs and I love yous today than there are on more days, because last night was a really like, um, scary moment for the kids and for me, especially your you. So you know what you’re feeling, right? And you probably weren’t scared, but, Um, but it when an accident happens or when something big happens, um, in your life, you’re always reminded not to take one another for granted. To make sure that you say, I love you. And I know that we’ve brought this up in the past in regards to when we experience loss, whether it was a parent dying or a loss of a baby. But why is it that we have to experience something hard in our life to remember it really clearly, and to be motivated to actually take the time to give that kid a hug and to say, no, I love you and remind them, and I. I think that if there’s not a better time than now when, um. Right. Um, and at Christmas time for us to be purposefully slowing down our lives, to really engage our children and to teach them about the father in heaven because he’s the perfect father, and how we as parents will fail our kids on a regular basis because we’re human. But to point them to the perfect father and to remind them how much he loves them.

Yeah, absolutely.

It’s it’s so important. In fact, we wanted to share John 316 with you guys. I know this is a very, um, iconic verse most of you have probably iconic. I like that word. It is. It’s one of the verses that everybody has probably tried to memorize with their children. John 316. If you’ll just read it with me, it says, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. And then it says, For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

Everybody was already condemned because of what happened in the Garden of Eden. And do your kids understand the gospel? Do they understand that it’s not about how much we do in in terms of how many good things we do that doesn’t affect our being right with God. The only thing that affects being right with God is what Jesus did on the cross. And that’s what Christmas is all about. And the more we surrender our king, the more likely we are going to look to his kingdom and his leadership. And so Jesus is the King. And and that’s the message of Christmas. So he came to serve. He came to save us. He came. Yes. Is God just. Absolutely. That’s the whole problem. God is perfect. It’s not a problem. It’s a beautiful thing, but it’s a problem for humanity. And he’s perfect. He’s absolutely perfect. But that’s why we need Jesus. Because we are in a fallen state. And through Jesus, we absolutely are right with God. The Bible calls us saints, even even though you know and I know. And your kids, your children know that we make mistakes. We sin in these kinds of things. How does God view us when we believe? Like that verse talks about when we believe in who Jesus says he is? Wow. There’s a freedom in that. And I think sometimes kids are maybe raised up in a home that’s more religious than relationship. And we got to watch that. We got to be careful of that. Is it just dutiful that we go to church, or is it because we want a closer relationship with God and his people and be sharpened? And I think that our children really need to see the tender heart of relationship towards God from us, and the tender heart of relationship towards them, no matter what. Um.

So, you know, it’s at Christmas time to be able to read verses like that and to focus on, well, God sent his Son. That’s how much he loved the world that he wanted to be, right? He wanted to be in right relationship with them, and he knew they needed a savior like you were just saying. And to send his son, who was already in glory with the Lord from the beginning, and for Jesus to come humbly as a baby and to be such a threat to King Herod and to stir to where you read this on Sunday and in the word, when you were reading in Matthew chapter two, Isaac was preaching through this passage in Scripture on Sunday. And he pointed out that not only was Herod troubled, but all of Jerusalem was troubled because of this potential Messiah being born. Yeah. And so recognizing that a baby could threaten all of Jerusalem in such a way when they were actually waiting. Child. Yeah, a young child could, could that, that that was a threat to them when they were waiting for the Messiah. Yeah. It’s like then we as Christians. I loved this point because you brought it up and you said, and we as Christians are waiting for the second coming of Jesus. And we’re hopeful and we say we want to live as if it could be today. Right? But also live as if it could be a thousand years, because we know he’s going to come like a thief in the night. But here’s the thing. Like people say, oh, I hope Jesus comes back soon, or they yearn for that, right? But then actually, do they or do they just act like those Jewish people did in Jerusalem where they’re troubled by it? You know, if you just got.

If you just got word that Jesus came back, how are you going to feel?

That’s the question, right? I mean, we know from the Bible that we’re all going to know all at once, right? That he’s going to come in glory, but like to reflect on where is my heart? Posture is an important question that we all need to be asking ourselves often, not just during holidays, not just during times where there’s like this emphasis in a church sermon on Easter or on Christmas. Right? But instead, to be really, truly asking ourselves and challenging our children with this concept of like, are we living in a way that brings God glory? And are we right with the Lord, or are there things that we’re hanging on to? Are there things that we’re pursuing that are for our glory and not God’s? And being totally sold out for the Lord is the sweet place to be, regardless of what you’re doing in life. Right? And, but but just going back to that scripture and going, Jesus was the example for us and for us parents. We’ve often talked about this in the Courageous Parenting Program, how as parents, we are image bearers of God the Father to our children. Right? So when we look at Scripture like John 316, For God so loved the world, which the world was his children.

Mhm. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life, knowing that giving his only son was sacrificing him, knowing that he was going to be tortured, knowing that he was going to be beaten and bruised and he was going to bleed. And he knew what needed to happen. He knew what was going to happen to Jesus, and he still gave him for the sake of us. And that that’s that’s the father’s love. And we see that again in Hebrews 1117, where he is referring to Abraham and giving up Isaac and being willing to sacrifice his only son, who was the promise from God to bring seed and offspring. Right. And it’s like at we need to understand that that God and has given us many examples of what it looks like to be a godly parent, to be willing to love others that much. And he says, no greater love is this than to lay down your life for your friends? But are we willing to do that? And are we willing to lay down our family like God did? That’s huge. That’s a call to for for us as parents to really reflect on if we’ve made our families an idol.

And yes, we are called to protect them. Yes, we’re called to provide for them, nurture them, teach them, disciple them, discipline them. You guys know all of the jurisdictions. If you’ve been listening to the Courageous Parenting Podcast for any amount of time, because we talk about them all on a regular basis. But to truly reflect and go do, am I willing to give my kids back to God? Am I willing to sacrifice my life for another? Surely we would do that for our kids in a heartbeat, but to do that for someone we don’t know, especially when we have a lot of children and we have all these things in life that we love so much, that’s a big deal. Um, so I think, um, I want to share a little bit of the story that happened last night. I know that you you you’ve been hesitant to just because Isaac doesn’t ever like being a hero in that sense. He. I’m speaking for my husband here, but he was a hero last night. We decided to take our family to a movie after church on Sunday, and we were tired. But you had more energy than you normally do, which I think was from the Lord.

Usually after preaching on Sunday and all the things to set up church and the different things. Of course, lots of people are helping and doing things. Um, I’m pretty exhausted. It’s been wiping me. Perhaps you out? Yeah. So, uh. Yeah, I had a lot more energy. Solomon wanted to go see a movie. It was kind of the last opportunity before all the Christmas stuff happens. Yeah. And unless it would be delayed for after Christmas. And so I’m like, so. Which I would never say on a Sunday. Yeah. Let’s go do it. Let’s go.

And then we’ll go. Let’s go.

45 Family minutes drive. 45 minutes away with whole family. And watch a movie and go to dinner. And.

And so we had this, like, fun evening planned, and I was going to get food for the family because we have family coming for Christmas, and it’s going to be really fun here. Yeah, with a lot of us. Um, and Zander, at about an hour in, was just having a hard time sitting in there. It was a three day movie and he couldn’t keep the glasses on. So then that was making him not feel good. Right. Because that’s kind of weird not being able to wear the glasses. So Isaac texted me and he said, oh, we’re fine though. Keep getting your shopping done, your errands done. I’m fine. I’m just hanging out with Zander. But we.

Were just hanging out in the lobby eating.

Popcorn. Yeah. And just hanging out, having a good time together. Dad and Zander. While drew, Luke, Ethan, Solomon and Eli were still watching the movie. And I just had this feeling inside where I was like, no, no, I messed up. I’m gonna come get Zander. You go and sit with the boys. I don’t, even though we had ones 18 and ones 16. I just kind of like, was like, no, you need to be with them. And so I came and I got Zander, and I left, and he and I went to go run a couple errands, get gas, couple things, get a last Christmas present that he was going to pick out. And, um, and we were literally like four minutes away. And so we get there, we’re, we’re walking in and I get this call from Luke that just shattered everything for me. He said, mom, stop what you’re doing, get in the car and come back. Dad just got punched. Give the gift of music this holiday season with Wartburg Music Academy’s gift card. Christmas special. Instead of learning music in isolation, Wartburg Music Academy.com encourages families to learn together. In fact, with my Code Courageous, you can get 20% off all your children learning piano, guitar, mandolin, violin and ukulele for less than $30 a month. Say goodbye to budgeting hundreds of dollars a month for just one child to take lessons. On top of that, students are given accountability, performance opportunities, seasonal challenges like the December Jingle Jam Challenge, live feedback from their instructor, and printables to help them stay on track. The method approaches music a little bit differently.

Instead of teaching theory, note reading, and tedious technical skills. First, they skip straight to giving students a love for music so that they can’t wait to sit down and practice with by ear training and song based learning, students will see immediate results. They can earn visual reminders of their hard work with the Vohburg methods rank system that mails badges and rank pins right to your doorstep. Use my code courageous to get 20% off every month your family is enrolled. Go visit vote.org. Music Academy.com. I’m not naturally artistic, at least not in the fine art sense. So when my kids showed early on that they loved art, I wanted to nurture that creativity. That’s why we love creating a masterpiece. Their award winning art programs are for everyone ages four ish through 104. Plus, your family gets to practice drawing, using watercolors, charcoal sculpting, painting, and so much more. And the best part? You get to do it all together. Building relationships, making memories, and letting creativity grow. Visit creating a masterpiece.com/courageous to sign up for one low rate for your entire family that’s creating a masterpiece.com/courageous because anyone can create a masterpiece. Dad just got hurt. Click. And I’m like what? So I’m literally like checking out. And I grab Zander and I run to the car and I’m, I just get in the car and I start headed back to the theater and sure enough, there’s cops, there’s an ambulance, a paramedic. Um, there are like tons of cops that are there. And I’m like, what in the world just happened? So maybe you can share from there.

So yeah, we all are leaving, the movie gets over and we’re heading out. My, uh my Eli, he’s five. Yeah, he just turned six. Just turned six. Uh, he, uh, we went to the bathroom. I, I sent the rest of the boys out to the front of the theater to, you know, meet me there, we come out and there’s a group of kids and I, you know, when you’re trying to get out of a theater, you’re not really paying close attention to everything happening. So they’re kind of talking and so forth. So I’m like, I’ll just go. And then all of a sudden one of them leaps towards this other kid that looks quite a bit younger and maybe, you know, not anticipating, not really causing the aggravation. And they start just punching him in the head over and over and over again. Um, and I guess he got at least, you know, 3 or 4 punches in really quick. It was almost like he was punching a speed bag, like he’d done it a bunch before. And, um, and I’m like, I almost I can’t as I think back, I didn’t even think really, uh, too much. And I just had to break it up. I had Eli, you know, against the wall right there. And so then he.

Said, don’t move.

Yeah. And stay right here. And I went straight for that guy, and I put my arm around him, around his neck and then flipped him backwards. And he was a teenager.

He was trying to break it up. Yeah, you were trying to diffuse it, break them apart because what was happening was looking really dangerous.

Really dangerous. I thought that kid wasn’t gonna make it. I mean, it was looking brutal. So evidently, there was another one of them, the punching the other kid. And there was two of these friends that weren’t friends with these guys, and they were just actually three. So there were four total. When I saw the video afterwards, I kind of saw more clearly what happened from the surveillance cameras. But then but when I pulled him back, you know, I fell because all his weight came to I overexerted and and it flipped him kind of over me and fell down to. And then as soon as I did for all four of them started just punching on me and kicking me on the ground. And it was just it was quick. It was super quick.

Maybe a total of 15 to 20s. But you also had the other teenager that was there, and somehow you guys were really close because you were both in the dog pile. But when he stepped up, it’s like you had like protected it or protected him or something because he stood up and he didn’t really have a ton of scratches on him. Right? Yeah. And then you hugged him, and we see this in the surveillance. You didn’t remember doing this, but it’s like, obvious. You hugged him and made sure he was okay, and then you ran forward. You got up right away.

They all left because the cops were coming. And I ran outside because my other kids were outside, right where they ran by making sure they were. And then I had to run out there and bring Eli quite a thing. And I guess the hard part of it is deciding to do that when you have your young kids with you. Um, but there’s certain situations where and nobody else was in the theater. It was late, there was just the workers there, but a lot of them were female. I mean, it was 715. The one, the one female that was trying to get them to leave and called the police got she got elbowed in the face by one of them. So they were aggravated. They were people there on purpose just to hurt somebody, right? Um, um.

And it’s interesting because in the video, you see Isaac and and Eli walking out of the bathroom. Well, first you see our boys all walk outside and then this group jumps over a counter and starts harassing these two younger boys. And then you see the assistant manager of the the movie theater come over and try to get them to leave and to break it up watching afterwards, she. Yeah. And she calls the police and she shows them she’s calling the police. She’s telling them to go, they’re not listening. And then they get aggravated again and they just start wailing on these kids. And then that’s when you stepped in, right? And then you you make sure one’s okay. One had run away and hid around the corner because he was so scared and hurt. And, um, it was just so fast and crazy. But to think like it could have been so much worse. There could have somebody could have had a weapon like eat. Poor Eli was there. He saw it. Yeah. Um, there was there was so much to it. But here’s the thing. Like I walk in and I see my husband, and of course, I’m, like, nervous for him. And I’m checking him out and making sure he’s okay, and I’m fine, and he’s fine.

Um, but then I go to my kids and I see them, and then I see these two kids and their parents hadn’t made it just yet. I was like I said, four minutes away. So I got there before everybody and and I, I just said, are you okay, buddy? And he’s like, no. And he just starts like, you know, he’s weeping. And I asked if I could pray over him and I pray over him. And then the paramedics come in and it was just a really long, drawn out night. Our our hearts were racing families like upset and wanting justice. You know, like our older son is like, come on. And our daughter Megan and, um, you know, it’s those moments when you, you know, you hear from the police where they say, hey, what you did was the right thing. And and, you know, you’re a hero, man. And, like, just the different comments that they said. And the parents were so grateful, um, because your face and your hurts could have been one of those boys. And they may not have stopped if there wasn’t an adult trying to stop them.

Yeah, there was nobody capable of no.

Adults that were there because all of the people that were working were younger.

You know, one thing is interesting is I think about this because it wasn’t even really a decision. It was a reaction. As I think about it now. And I look at the video and you can see no one else is around and you see all this happening, and then you see me coming with Eli not really paying close attention. And then I’m right beside them and you see me look over because you.

Hear stuff.

And then I just go, but what if everybody was watching that same scene in that video? And everybody, all the cops, the parents of those kids and everybody watched Isaac look, and then just keep going, because that’s what would have happened. And I would have been in the video not doing anything as an.

Eyewitness, doing nothing.

Leaving with my kids.

Right.

So I’m thankful I had that reaction. You never know what you’re going to end up doing in these situations, and I’m thankful that I took that action. But, um, but here’s the it’s interesting. I don’t want to live with regrets either, so I want to do that. Sometimes you got to do the hard things.

But it’s hard for me because I just think to myself, man, like there are times where I’m like, why couldn’t he just keep going? Like, like, you know, and I see Eli, but it’s like at the same time, I’m so proud of you. But then I and then I think, oh, he just modeled what it looks like, not knowing what the outcome could have been. There could have been a weapon, right? Like there could have been more people showing up because they had called somebody and more people came, and that’s why they were there, right?

Purposely to beat these kids up purposely. But they didn’t know that.

They planned this. And it’s like as a wife and as a mom, I’m going, wow, like the integrity, the the things that you just modeled for our boys. Like, that’s what we want. Like you say, that’s what you want, right? That’s it. That’s what you say. But at the same time, if I’m really honest in my flesh, I’m like, I wouldn’t want my boys to get hurt. Like how you’re hurt.

Medical freedom is something we all desire, and I think we’d all agree that in the last four years, we’ve really realized just how important it is to have a trusted, like minded doctor.

You should be able to build your medical team and choose who you get care from. Knowing that where you spend your money is a matter of stewardship and a desire to support local Christian medical businesses.

Absolutely. I don’t know about you, but I prefer to help support businesses that have a biblical worldview on life and health.

Here’s the problem more often than not, you have to choose your doctor off a preferred in-network list. And if I’m really honest, those clinics usually see such mass quantities of people that it’s incredibly impersonal and you walk away feeling like a number. In addition, in most cases, in order to be seen by specialists, you’re required to get a referral from a primary care physician, which costs more time and money.

We want to introduce you to a biblical approach to health care Samaritan Ministries. You can find out more about it at Samaritan Ministries. Dot org. Forward slash be courageous.

There a health sharing ministry built on biblical principles of bearing one another’s burdens practically, financially, through helping with health care costs, and spiritually through praying and caring for one.

Another. Samaritan ministries gives you the freedom you desire to choose your doctors and health care professionals, including. This is cool alternative care providers like chiropractors and naturopathic providers as well.

The process is simple and provides us, as Christians, a way to obey Scripture and care for one another as the larger church.

Samaritan ministries is the only health care and sharing ministry with direct member to member sharing.

I love that we send our monthly share directly to another brother or sister in Christ to support someone going through a medical crisis or recovering from a medical need, rather than to some large corporation.

So if you’d like to find out more about Samaritan Ministries, go to Samaritan ministries.org/be courageous. That’s Samaritan ministries.org/be courageous to learn more.

When you sign up don’t forget to tell them that be courageous mystery or Angie and Isaac Tolpin referred you.

The links will also be in our weekly podcast show notes at Be Courageous ministries.org. Yeah my boys. I don’t want them to be because the older boys were out front, but they had they had a nice Solomon Solomon with them and they afterwards they didn’t know what was happening. They came in back in once I was getting up right after it happened, but they were like, oh man, I wish I would have known I would have come in. We could have we could have, you know, taken care of the situation and, you know, and and I love that mentality on one hand. But on the other hand, I’m really glad they didn’t come in. And I think it happened just how it was supposed to happen. I’m really glad they didn’t get entangled with it, right?

Because they could have been severely hurt. I mean, that’s what I think because I’m the fleshly mom right now. If I’m honest, this.

Would have been more people punching at each other.

And and it just, um, yeah, who knows what else that would have entailed. I don’t even know, but I but this brings to surface a lot of questions for moms and dads. When you go through something like this, it’s how much are you willing to love somebody you don’t know? Are you willing to put your safety? Lay it down. Are you truly laying your life down for another person that maybe doesn’t even deserve it? You don’t know. Mhm. And that’s what God calls us to as Christians because he gave us an example to follow.

And they’re God’s children. Everybody is. Including the aggressors. You know, I mean they were created.

They are. Yeah they are. They’re created by God. And he wants to know them. He wants them to get saved. He wants them to know the power of the cross. And that Jesus came, yes, as a baby, and he lived as a human. But he was fully perfect, fully man, fully God sacrificed himself on the cross so that we could be made right with God so that all their sins, all their kicks, all their the punches that they’ve made in life could be forgiven.

Yeah. You think about what Jesus endured. I mean, I just got kicked and punched a bunch of times, but that’s nothing. I mean, what Jesus endured is unbelievable.

It’s like 200 times more than he did that.

You know, what’s crazy is he did that for each person listening. He did that for everybody that, you know, chooses him.

And so when you.

Know that, though.

What does that change in your heart? Yeah. Because if it’s something changed in your heart and you know that God loved you that much that he sent his son, it would be like being willing to say, it’s okay, you can take my son. Like, that’s like, no parent can do that. Abraham was ready to do that. Like, you look at that and you just go, whoa, how much further do I have to go in my faith to get to that place? And it’s humbling.

And so this is about Christmas. This is about a father’s love. This is about ABBA father’s love. Abba means it’s like they would say ABBA, father when it was, like, the most endearing way you could say father. And, um. And that’s what we have. We we don’t have this this God up there that’s, like, always upset at us. We have an all loving God that loves us. And because of Jesus, we’re our sins are wiped clean. We do need to repent of our sins. We’re not to be trampling on God’s grace by any stretch of the imagination. Um, there’s an issue there if that’s happening, but but definitely amazing what Jesus did. And we’re celebrating the birth of Jesus. That’s what Christmas is all about. We get to share that with our kids.

So one of the verses, I wish I could read it all because it’s so encouraging, but one of the verses that we wanted to share with you guys, just in reflection of this thought of like the father’s deep love for us and how far we have to go in showing that deep love for others. It’s easy for parents to love their kids. It is. Even when they sin, we still love them. That’s just how it is. But is it easy to love the one that hurts your son? Is it easy? No. You get protective. In our humanity, we do. But we have this challenge to love other people in the same way that God loved. And in first Timothy chapter two and verse three, it says, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men. And that’s the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle. And I’m speaking the truth in Christ, and not lying, and teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. And then it just continues on. It says, I desire, therefore, that men pray everywhere.

That’s cool.

Men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting in like manner also that the women would adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation. And it just continues on talking and talking. And it gives some. It goes into talking about the church meeting and men and women in the church and qualifications of overseers. But I so am challenged by this scripture because here’s the deal. At Christmas time, are we taking time to lift up holy hands and worship and pray everywhere for all people that they would have the salvation that we get the joy and privilege of receiving from Christ as a gift? Mhm. And then do we live our lives in a way that invites them into that, into receiving that free gift. Mhm. Last night Um, at the very end. Three hours later, we, um, had little Zander there. And at church on Sunday, um, the little kids got these little jesuses that were like a half inch.

Tall, like little erasers. But they weren’t.

Erasers, but they weren’t. They looked like. And the whole point was to teach them about evangelism and to share a little Jesus with another person. And out of nowhere, after hours of sitting there and, you know, deputy conversations and watching Isaac, the ice pack, waiting for the video footage to come so we could have the video footage. And out of nowhere, Zander goes, where’s the other boy that got hurt so bad? And his dad points to him outside of the room we were in and he goes, he needs a little Jesus. And I go, you’re right. Do you have one with you? And we start looking in his pockets and sure enough, he had one in his pocket and he took it out there and he gave it to him. And the kid goes, oh, wow, thanks, buddy. And he goes, yep, Merry Christmas. With his little lisp. And he’s like, just trying. It was just the sweetest. And it’s like, I hope that wherever that kid is that he thinks about Jesus and about how the Lord led your heart to be in a heart posture, of being resolute and being willing to sacrifice and step in and not just be a guy like it’s because of who Jesus is in you. And what he’s done in your life is why you didn’t just keep walking. Yeah, it’s not Isaac. It’s God in you. Yeah. And because of that, he doesn’t have the battered face that you have right now and I. And so I just, I think to myself how how Jesus had like, like we said thousands of times worse than we could ever imagine the pain. And he did that for all of us. And do we thank Jesus every day and live in a way where we’re grateful for what he did for us? Yeah. And so this Christmas, this is kind of a different Christmas message. But I think that the question you asked the church on Sunday is the perfect way to end the podcast. Are you following the King of Kings or are you living your life as if you’re the king?

Mhm.

And so ask yourself that question. Ask your kids that question. Have you made an idol out of anything that you’re not willing to lay before the feet of the Lord and bring those things to the Lord as your gift offering?

Amen. We wish you a merry Christmas. We hope this was an encouragement to you and thanks for joining the podcast.

See you next time. Hey, thanks for listening and being a part of the 10 Million Legacies movement. Go to be courageous Ministry. Org for more biblically based resources, ways to switch where you spend your money that support the mission and information about the incredible Be Courageous app community for believers.

Also, we wanted to quickly tell you about our six week online Parenting Mentor program.

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