Keeping It Young Dave Young, Bethlie Young

We must continually protect our children from foolish influences.
1) Internet
Only when supervised Not just for fun Not just because they're bored Use Gryphon Use Covenant Eyes Frequently check phones and computer history Keept it random Make it a surprise 2) Social Media
None is always best How to do it? Get other parents to join you Get your school on board Teach your children to stand alone What to do if you do it? Make it a rite of passage Sign an agreement Write a paper Read a book My Tech-Wise Life Ways your phone is changing you Tiktok - dangerous and damaging Emotionally damaging Relationally damaging Legally damaging Purity damaging Instagram 3) Music
Have standards
Talk thorugh matters and continually offer biblical wisdom
No one can handle a diet of unBiblical thinking communciated via music
4) Movies
Be careful Always evaluate a movie prior to watching it Wait for it to be available via Vidangel or on Clearplay Talk about reasons and teach truths  

Dave and Bethlie continue their study in Proverbs.  This week, they'll continue their focus on Influences That Kill with a special focus on friendships.
We must protect our children from lousy friends.
The Simple (they lack wisdom) The Fool (makes fun of sin; ridicules righteousness) Lousy friends can quickly undo everything we teach our children
Better to have no friends than to have lousy ones
Amnon (Old Testament) had a friend and it eventually cost him his life
A good friend does right and helps you do right
We must protect our children from lousy friends
Choose their friends Insist they sit with you rather than friends Never allow them to be unsupervised (alone) No overnight in another home No teens alone in a car No teens alone on a trip No teens alone in a room Drop out of sports rather than allow teammates to influence your kids in lousy direction  
 
 

In this episode, Dave and Bethlie discuss the importance of godly and positive influences in the family. They emphasize the need to shield children and ourselves from negative, harmful influences.
Proverbs 13:20
We must emphasize the blessings and dangers of influence.
Proverbs 1:11-19
Proverbs 9:6
The best influences are those that impart righteousness and wisdom.

Dave and Bethlie discuss words that destroy marriage from Proverbs 12.
 
Our words can do massive damage:
When we speak in "never" and "always" When we are mean. When we make broad assumptions.  
Beware of the "norms" in our society
Sarcasm Belittling Negativity Unkindness Rudeness  
Determine to be different by:
Gratitude is healthy Kindness is healthy Sincerity is healthy Gentleness is healthy Respect is healthy

Proverbs 11
Teaching our children to have Integrity
 
What it is?
It is honesty v. 1 The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that one refuses to change (Cambridge Online Dictionary) Think of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife Think of Daniel and his three friends in Daniel 1 And again in Daniel 3 when they wouldn’t bow to the false god And again in Daniel 6 when Daniel prayed even though it meant death This was an old command reiterated by Solomon Deuteronomy 25:12-14 Proverbs 16:11 and 20:10 It was a sin addressed by Hosea in 12:7 We must teach our children to always be honest For us, this was a spanking matter Matthew Henry says “He is not an honest man that is not devout; he is not a godly man that is not honest.” Dishonest business dealings are offensive to God Nothing is more pleasing to God than fair and honest dealing It models who God is He will do right every single time . . . It is humility v. 2 Notice that it is the opposite of pride Nebuchanezzar was severely judged by God for his pride Herod was as well. Notice that it is blessed by God Humility leads us to wisdom It is uprightness v. 3 The word means correct; right; straight Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. It  is righteousness. v. 4-6  
Why it matters?
 
It guides us v. 3 It makes a difference in death v. 4 A good conscience makes the end of ones life easier It leads us to righteousness It counsels us It makes us gracious It makes us generous It brings life v. 30 It bypasses judgment v. 32  
How do you get it?
You train it Proverbs 20:11 A child either has it or doesn’t Verse 5 When they get it and mature - it directs their way Perfect = complete or mature or whole You pursue it We often have opportunity to pursue integrity . . . You live it It shows up in how we treat people In how we run our business

Part 4
Solomon is writing about how to pursue happiness and success- especially in our families
How do we get there?
We must emphasize God’s blessings v. 22 We should believe in God’s blessings v. 25 HE gives an everlasting foundation v. 27 He prolongs days v. 28. He gives gladness V. 29 His way gives strength 28:20 a faithful man shall abound with blessings Psalm 107:38 Genesis 12:2; 13:2; 24:35 We should desire God’s blessings Sometimes they are material/physical Deuteronomy 8:17-18 We work for these (and save and pray) We give thanks for these Sometimes they are spiritual Love joy and peace Contentment Favor Sometimes they are relational A good friend A good spouse He that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor from the Lord Children Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward In-laws A good spouse for your children A family connection that results Adams, Mundays, Pisneys, and soon to be Gentiles Bethlie’s parents to me and my parents to her Questions:
How do we balance the idea of God’s blessings and the issue of “bad things” that happen? How do we teach this to our children? Is it ok to think of God’s blessings as material? How do we balance this with the idea that the best ones are not?