As a parent, you want to give your son the world.

But of course, time, resources, and energy are limited. When you have to tell your son “no, I can’t play with you right now,” or, “No, we can’t buy that toy right now,” you may feel guilty.

But don’t feel bad. Even God, our perfect Father, often answers our prayers and requests with “not right now” or “no.” As you teach your son to wait, you teach him patience, self control, and the value of working towards something that you want.

Maybe things are tight financially for your family right now. If so, remember– you are still a good parent. By not giving your son everything, you’re shaping his character– and that’s a gift that will last a lifetime.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

When you were a kid did your parents warn you not to look directly into the sun because it could damage your vision?

When you stare directly at the sun—or other types of bright light such as a welding torch—ultraviolet light floods your retina, literally burning the exposed tissue.

However, there is a Son we need to continually look at — the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrew 12:2

Teach your son to keep his eyes on the living Son of God.

For more information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

You glance at the clock. It’s 9:17 a.m.

“Hurry up!” you holler from the kitchen. “Church starts in less than 15 minutes!”

Your kids dash from room to room, grabbing their Bibles, their shoes, and maybe even a Pop-Tart. Then you’re out the door and in the car. Yet despite your best race car driving skills, you’re late to church—again.

Can you relate to this? Do you find yourself constantly late to work, medical appointments, or other activities?

Even though life is busy, make punctuality a priority. Show your son, through action, how to organize his time. Of course, this isn’t easy. But through careful planning, you’ll demonstrate that preparation helps life run more smoothly. Plus, when you’re on time for church, all the back pews aren’t already taken.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Do you get anxious?

Like a fisherman who continually casts his line in search of the big catch, we are called to continually cast our cares and concerns to God.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

There are many things for us to be anxious about.. And anxiety among kids is on the rise, affecting nearly one in 10 children. Make sure you are tending to the cares of your kids, and helping them cast their cares on him.

We would be wise to remember Jesus’ question — can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Worry won’t change our past or future, but it can ruin the present.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

What is a phobia? It is an irrational fear of something that’s unlikely to cause harm.

There are over 400 recognized phobias out there. Ablutophobia is the fear of bathing. This condition seems to be widespread among middle school and high school boys. :o)

Fear is a normal human reaction that protects us by signaling danger and preparing us to deal with it. But fear can also be unhealthy and dangerous.

The Bible talks about the “fear of man.” This manifests itself when we crave acceptance from our peers and fear rejection. The Bible says that fear of man is a dangerous trap.

Don’t let fear rule you and your child’s hearts. Instead, remember that “the Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you ever woken up from a long night of sleep and still felt tired?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult is at least seven hours a night.

But even getting enough sleep isn’t enough to be fully rested.

As parents, we can quickly become overburdened, overwhelmed, exhausted, discouraged, and restless.

Let’s take Jesus up on his invitation in Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Practice resting in Him. And teach your son to do the same!

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Kids love playdough. They squeeze it and stretch it. They roll it into skinny snakes and smoosh it into wobbly clumps.

As parents, we sometimes feel like playdough. We get squeezed for time and attention. Then we get stretched this way and that way. We feel smooshed and squooshed by the demands of life.

When the routines of parenthood feel overwhelming, realize that you’re not alone. Because you are in God’s hands, He is shaping you into His likeness, forming your character into a useful masterpiece.

Kids make wild and wacky objects with playdough, but in the master Sculptor’s hands, your parenting efforts are being transformed into something beautiful.

So, don’t give up. That squeezing and stretching is just part of the process.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Does your son play a musical instrument? Maybe the piano, trumpet, or violin?

The process of learning how to play an instrument is a lot like parenting. It requires patience, persistence, and a passion to improve.

During the parenting process, mistakes will inevitably happen. Improper technique may cause squeaky notes. Your instruction may fall flat or be off key. And despite your best efforts, your guidance may not be properly choreographed.

When this happens, don’t get discouraged. Through consistent effort, prayer, and love, you’ll make progress.

By tuning your heart to the rhythm of your son’s personality, you’ll experience the melody of fellowship. And when you and your son are in sync, harmony within the home will crescendo into his growth as a godly young man.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

You’re a parent inside the walls of your home. But what about outside those walls?

Of course, your primary obligation is to parent your own son. But, for better or worse, your son’s friends and peers can have a greater impact on him than you do. So how can you positively influence the whole group?

It’s as simple as being involved in your community. Volunteer at church to teach Sunday School. Coach your son’s soccer team. Join a big brother/big sister program. Or you could even volunteer to be a Trail Life USA leader.

You don’t have to be perfect to positively influence the next generation of men. You just have to show up and show love not only in your home, but outside of it.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Did you know that Michael Jordan, considered by many to be the greatest basketball player ever, missed 12,345 field goals in his Hall of Fame career?

He said, “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Wayne Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, put it this way: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

In today’s culture, risk and competition are often removed from boys’ environments. They lose interest when there isn’t anything at stake. So, they think, “Why should I try?”

As parents and mentors trying to raise godly boys, we need to provide challenging opportunities that let boys fail, recover, and eventually succeed.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.