How do you keep a marriage alive and fresh?

1. Decide - that it is what you want.
   1. It is never automatic
   2. It is always attainable
   3. It is always worth it . . .
      1. Divorce is never an easy option
         1. Even when it is necessary
         2. Even when you can’t stop it
      2. Do everything in your power to keep your marriage healthy
2. Develop
   1. a best friend relationship
   2. Good habits
      1. Pray together
      2. Talk through issues
      3. Keep talking through issues
   3. Trust
3. Discern
   1. Your spouse’s needs or desires

Apply the Bible via wisdom sayings

1. 1. You will reap what you sow
   2. A little bit of sin makes a whole lot of mess
   3. The best time to take care of sin is when it is very small
   4. Birds of a feather flock together
   5. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink
   6. He who dies with the dirtiest towel wins
   7. Only one life will soon be past, only whats done for Christ will last
   8. You should always be honest . . .

Consider Christian education

1. 1. If Christian education is used as a tool to strengthen God’s Word in the hearts of your children, it is a good thing
      • For you that send your kids to a public school, you have to work harder to protect their heart
   2. Beware of sending your kids to a Christian school and then undermining their foundation by sending them to a secular university that is an expert in attacking, weakening, and altering their upbringing

We want to hear from you:

Do you have any specific ways you are teaching your children the Bible?

Do you have any wisdom sayings that we can share with our audience?

In this episode you’ll learn how to nurture a deep, lasting connection with the Bible in your children. Dave and Bethlie explore practical methods to integrate God’s Word into your family’s daily life. Whether through storytelling, reading together, or creating memory verses, this episode is packed with strategies to help your children grow spiritually.

1. 1. Read the Bible Aloud: Start by reading Bible stories together to create a foundation for understanding God’s Word.
   2. Model and Mentor: Show your children the importance of personal Bible reading through your own example.
   3. Memorization Matters: Engage in family memorization of scriptures during meals, car rides, and bedtime.
   4. Involve the Church: Choose a church that prioritizes biblical preaching and teaching to reinforce what you teach at home.
   5. Celebrate Milestones: Reward spiritual growth, like finishing reading the Bible, to encourage a lifelong love of scripture.
   6. Use Everyday Moments: Apply scripture to daily life and specific situations to make it relatable and memorable.

Connect with Us:

Instagram: @keepingityoungpodcast

Facebook: Keeping It Young

Start 2025 with a focus on biblical parenting! In this episode of the Keeping It Young podcast, Dave and Bethlie share six practical ways to teach children the Word of God. Using Deuteronomy 6, they discuss why it’s crucial for parents to instill a love for the Bible in their kids and provide timeless principles to make God’s Word a living part of family life.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why teaching the Bible is essential for your child’s spiritual growth.
• How to tell Bible stories in a way that captivates their hearts.
• Steps to help your kids develop a biblical worldview.
• How to integrate God’s Word into everyday life.

Actionable Tips from the Episode:

1. Tell Bible Stories: Start with creation, Noah’s ark, or David and Goliath to make the Bible relatable and exciting.
2. Read the Bible Together: Establish a daily habit of reading scripture as a family.
3. Live God’s Word: Be an example by living out biblical principles in your own life.
4. Answer Big Questions: Help your kids develop a biblical framework for understanding right, wrong, and truth.

Connect with Us:

• Instagram: @keepingityoungpodcast
• Facebook: Keeping It Young

Call to Action: 👉 Don’t miss Part 2, where we’ll dive into more actionable ways to teach your children the Bible! 👉 Share this episode with other parents in your church or community.

5.) Know, Think, and Speak Truth.

1. Jesus IS Truth. (John 14:6) **Do you know Him?
2. Know Truth: Remind yourself that at one of the darkest points in history, Christ came!
3. Think Truth:
   1. He is not the Author of anxiety or fear. (Phil. 4:6-7; 2 Tim. 1:7)
      1. His grace, strength, and wisdom is available when overwhelmed by the Holiday hustle and bustle. (2 Cor. 12:9, James 1:5)
      2. He is always with us, and He has promised that struggles are for a season. (Heb. 13:5, 2 Cor. 4:17).
4. Speak Truth:
   1. Remind yourself and your children of the Biblical Christmas Story.
   2. Remind yourself and your children of the reason and truth behind Christmas traditions.
5. Be ready to share the Truth of Christmas to all.

3.) Speak Life and Reflect Light.

1. Jesus came to give life when we were dead in sin and headed to eternal death.
2. Jesus always shines light in darkness; in fact, He IS light!
3. Show life and light by being encouraged (get out of the news and into the Word!) and by being encouraging!
4. Be a true “Joy to the World” with your face and your words!
   1. *When:
      1. In the hustle and bustle of: Christmas shopping, errand running, decorating,
      2. Baking, wrapping, prepping
      3. In getting together with family, friends, church family.
5. Pray for wisdom to speak life and reflect life when you feel that family or friends misunderstand you or reject you. (Jesus knows all about that; He has never rejected you; He loves and accepts you. AND He still is life and light to those who misunderstand Him and reject Him. We can follow His example.)
6. Especially be aware of speaking life and reflecting light to those who desperately need Him. (This is so hard to remember in the hustle and bustle.)

4) Celebrate with Grace. 

1. Celebrate—to acknowledge a happy day or event with a social gathering or enjoyable activity; to praise or honor someone.
2. Grace—courteous goodwill; a free and loving gift of unmerited favor.
   1. By its definition, celebration SHOULD take place with GRACE. If it doesn’t, maybe it’s because we’re not truly celebrating.
3. Jesus came to love and to die for undeserving sinners—you and me.
4. We can and should celebrate with grace, no matter how “undeserving” those around us are.
   1. Speak Gently. (Graciously, Prov. 11:16)
   2. Serve Gracefully. (Mary and Martha, Luke 10:38-42)
   3. Celebrate Gregariously. (In a friendly way that shows a liking for the company of others; social, friendly, approachable.)  **Don’t be a Scrooge or a Grinch.

A FULL CHRISTMAS

JOHN 1:1-6, 9-14, 16-17

Part 1

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke give us portraits of the “Christmas Story,” describing some of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. John begins his Gospel with a beautiful, glorious, and deeply theological description of Jesus—The Word.

John tells us:

• Jesus has always been. (Vs.1)
• Jesus is God and God with us. (Vs.1,2)
• Jesus is Creator. (Vs. 3,10)
• Jesus came to us. (Vs. 10,11 14)
• Jesus is light and life. (Vs. 4,5,9)
• Jesus knows misunderstanding. (Vs. 5)
• Jesus knows rejection. (Vs. 10,11)
• Jesus is Savior. (Vs. 12)
• Jesus is full of grace and truth. (Vs. 14,16,17)

How can we exemplify Christ and have a FULL Christmas?

1.) Be Present. 

1. Jesus is with us. (Immanuel Isaiah 7:14, 8:8) (Emmanuel Matthew 1:23)
2. It is GRACE for us to be more interested and invested in ENJOYING the family and festivities, rather than DOING or MAKING the festivities. (This is a hard balance…convicting for servant minded Mama’s.)

2.) Embrace Creativity. 

1. Jesus created a beautiful world.
2. The beauty of Christmas and Christmas decor can reflect His creation and can teach truth. (Nativity, history, Carols)
   1. *Don’t be a Humbug ;)
   2. *Don’t go to the other extreme and get caught up in comparison or frustration.

REVIEW:

Episode 240

5 Ways To Help Your Teen

1. Keep teaching.
2. Keep protecting.
3. Raise expectations; don't lower them.

           1.  A teen who can't work, can't clean, is not polite, won't speak when spoken too                   is crippled for life

Episode 241

Continued...

          2.  Teens should be able to (or learning to)

1. 1. 1. 1. Cook meals
         2. Clean the house
         3. Do the laundry from start to finish
         4. Fuel the car, check the oil, and check the tires

4.  Keep talking.

1. 1. Time is required
      1. Routine times
      2. Scheduled times
      3. Slow down
   2. Talking is giving and taking
      1. Ask Questions
      2. Listen
      3. Respond
      4. Learning to converse wisely is a huge part of living successfully
         1. Essential in work relations
         2. Essential in marriage
         3. Essential in raising children
         4. Essential in solving conflicts

5.  Developm routines and traditions that draw you closer

5 Ways To Help Your Teen

1. Keep teaching.
2. Keep protecting.
3. Raise expectations; don't lower them.

1. 1. A teen who can't work, can't clean, is not polite, won't speak when spoken too — is crippled for life

How can we develop a grateful home?

1) Model gratitude by being heart thankful. (It’s a heart matter and a choice.)

2) Model gratitude in our gratefulness to God. (Site verses from previous episode)

What has Christ done for you? Count your many blessings!

Psalm 68:19, “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.”

3) Model gratitude in our gratefulness for our spouse, family, and others.

Some “Instigators of Ingratitude,” according to Choosing Gratitude:

Unrealistic Expectations

Forgetfulness

Entitlement

Comparison

Blindness to God’s Grace (on us; on others)

4) Model gratitude in our ability to be grateful during stressful, busy, difficult, or even painful seasons.

5) Model gratitude in response to stress and busyness:

In the midst of relentless ministry deadlines and seemingly endless, tasks, I find that the ‘burden’ of my workload is lightened when I approach it as a high and holy calling, a gift to be received with gratitude.” Choosing Gratitude, NDW,

In response to difficulty or pain:

“Do we only give glory to God for the part of our life that’s going the way we want? Or do we…give Him thanks, just because He is God—regardless of the dark, painful,…places we encounter…?

6) Model gratitude by expressing it!

Model gratitude by expressing it in all those same spaces and places: to the Lord, our spouse and family, and others.

Smile it! (A grateful heart, makes a happy heart, which makes a happy face.)

Say it! (Aloud and Often.)

“Silent Gratitude isn’t much use to anyone,” Gladys Berthe Stern.

Write it! (Thank you notes for gifts, for help, for just because.)

Encourage family and corporate expressions of it! (Church, family altar, ` family table, reminders of gratefulness instead of grumbling, willingness to be humble and admit when we are ungrateful.)