Getting to the heart of behavior

Getting to the HEART of behavior

All note credit goes to Tedd Tripp. 

Video clip by Tedd and Margy Tripp

Oh, how I loved hearing Tedd Tripp in person. I have read Shepherding a Child's Heart.                   But to see him; that was very special. Because in person, it was as if I was sitting in a grandpa's living room hearing him share his heart. Dr. Tripp referenced his grandchildren so often while he was sharing. His love for his own children, his grandchildren, and families in general was very evident! 

The heart is our wellspring. The core of our being! 

well·spring

ˈwelˌspriNG/

noun

literary

1. an original and bountiful source of something.

   
   

   
   

   Our body is the mediator of actions, but our heart is the INITIATOR!

   
   

   

   
   

   We, as parents, get very focused on the "appearance" of our kids.

   "What will others think?" 

   
   

   OUCH

   
   

   Whatever you treasure OWNS your heart!

   
   

   Jesus turned the law upside down and says it is not about external behavior, but rather what is coming from your heart. Not that outward behavior doesn't matter, but our behavior is an outflow of our heart....thus, a big cycle, hamster wheel, merry go round. Behavior without motives of the heart being revealed may last for a while, but ultimately others will SEE our heart through our actions. 

   
   

   

   
   

   Matthew 15:17-20

   Mark 7:20-23

   
   

   Apart from grace, we are ALL depraved. Me, my children. We are one in the same. 

   Jesus. His grace. His forgiveness. 

   That's it. That's the answer! 

   No gimmicks. No schemes. No books. No disciplinary techniques. 

   Just JESUS and His grace!

   
   

   I posted a few days ago about words and how they matter. 

   Do they? Yes. But, perhaps words aren't the issue?! 

   Quite possibly, my vision was askew when writing that. 

   Although my words are important, it's the way I say them. 

   The meaning behind them. 

   The undercurrent running through them. 

   The "heart" of them. 

   I need to focus on my heart condition FIRST. 

   Trying to "control" my words, especially in regards to training my children, will never work. 

   In my own strength, my words will not be useful for training. Because...

   

   
   

   
   

   I loved this line from Dr. Tripp. 

   
   

   "When we shame or guilt our kids, it shows that we have NO joy!" 

   This is manipulating their behavior instead of reaching their heart. 

   It should be our desire to help them see their need to have God "create in them a clean heart". 

   Their real need from their parents is to see the grace and love of Jesus in and through us, 

   which will ultimately point them to the heart of God.