Husband continues to compliment his wife         verse 1- 9

How beautiful are your feet with shoes – O prince’s daughter!

the joints of your thighs are like jewels

   the work of the hands of a cunning workman

Your navel is like a round goblet – which wants not liquor

your belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies

Your two breasts are like two young roes that are twins

Your neck is as a tower of ivory

Your eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon

            by the gate of Bath-rabbim

Your nose is as the tower of Lebanon which

looks toward Damascus

Your head upon thee is like Carmel

            and the hair of thine head like purple

                        the king is held in the galleries

How fair and how pleasant are you – O love

for delights

This your stature is like to a palm tree

            your breasts to clusters of grapes

I SAID

I will go up to the palm tree

I will take hold of the boughs thereof

now also your breasts shall be

as clusters of the vine

and the smell of your nose like apples

            And the roof of your mouth like t

he best wine for my beloved

that goes down sweetly

causing the lips of those that

are asleep to speak

Wife complimenting her husband                       verse 10- 13

I am my beloved’s – and his desire is toward me

            come – my beloved – let us go forth into the field

                        let us lodge in the villages

                        let us get up early to the vineyards

                        let us see if the vine flourish

whether the tender grape appear and the pomegranates bud forth

                                    there will I give you my loves

The mandrakes give a smell

and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits

new and old – which I have laid up for you

O my beloved  

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 1        How beautiful are your feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter! the joints of your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. (542 “cunning workman” [‘aman] master workman, artist, steady-handed one, artisan, craftsman, or a skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft; especially workers with skills of an artistic or intricate nature)

DEVOTION: Here we find Solomon describing his bride from his point of view. He starts with her feet and moves to describe her whole form. He is in love with here from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet.

How would we describe the woman we married? Would we go into such detail? Would we not only describe her on our wedding day but also after we are married many years in the same way?

Solomon is telling us that the human body is the handiwork of a skilled craftsman. That is what the LORD is when he created the human race. HE started with Adam and Eve and when Adam met Eve his response was “WOW”!

Our response to our bride on our wedding day would be the same as we realize that the LORD was the one who brought us together. If we both love the LORD it is a marriage that should last until we die.

Today, we need more husbands to describe their wives in the same way that Solomon described his wife. No matter how many years we are married to our wife we should be complimenting her on her looks and her actions that help make us a couple.

Christians should be known for complimenting their husband or wife to others because in the world it seems that many are looking for the next spouse instead of working with the one they presently have.

CHALLENGE: Marriage is an institution that the LORD ordained from the beginning when HE put Adam and Eve together in the garden. One man with one woman for life.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 6        How fair and how pleasant are you, O love, for delights. (8588 “delights” [ta’anuwg] means luxury, charms, sexual desire, pleasure, or enjoyment)

DEVOTION:   Marriage between a man and a woman has been ordained of God from creation. HE never created two men or two women but one man and one woman and performed the first marriage ceremony. In the book of Hebrews it states

“Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled” (13: 4). 

In the book of I Corinthians we read:

“Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence:

and likewise also the wife unto the husband” (7:3).

 It continues to state that the man and his wife can abstain

for a time period for prayer and fasting

regarding a major decision

in their married life but that it

shouldn’t last too long otherwise

Satan will tempt one to be unfaithful.

This passage describes the marriage act as an act of complete lovemaking.

It was not just a causal relationship. Many churches don’t teach anything regarding this subject. That is a problem because the world teaching a lot in this area and it is false information. They believe that you can have relationships with as many as you want without the commitment to marriage. They believe that any two people can get together regardless of sex. This confuses the next generation. We see our government condoning things that the Bible calls sin and yet they call us intolerant because we follow the commands of the LORD or at least we should. There is a battle going on against God ordained relationships within marriage.

Solomon doesn’t mix words regarding the love making described in this passage. In marriage couples are to manifest their love completely. There should not be just the marriage act but a time of love making. Both individuals need this to keep the home fires burning.

Those who are married are to enjoy each other all the days they are married. This is God’s plan for marriage. Satan has other plans. He wants all married couples to have problems and look elsewhere for their pleasure. Who should we honor?

CHALLENGE: Part of marriage is being satisfied with the one you are married to. Be satisfied with your spouse. Compliment them regularly. Honor the LORD in all parts of your relationship. Don’t give the devil a foothold!!!

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: 10      I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me. (8669 “desire” [teshuwqah] means a longing, urges, craving, or stretching out after.) 

DEVOTION:  This chapter gives twelve body parts concerning which Solomon compliments his wife. The whole first nine verses are dedicated to a husband complimenting his wife. He never seems to run out of compliments.

The last four verses are the wife basking in the love of her husband. She states that her husband only longs for her. She is assured of his love. It is no longer in question. She has no doubts.

Earlier chapters seemed to imply some doubt but here we find no doubt.  Here is Solomon and his wife stretching out after one another. This is not just a physical attraction to our spouse. There needs to be a spiritual attraction to our spouse as well.

When we are apart do we earnestly want to be with our spouse or are we glad to be apart? The Christian who is married should be setting the example for the rest of the world. There should be signs of genuine love between Christian spouses.

The sad truth is that Christian marriages are divorcing as much as those in the world. God still hates divorce. Divorce is not the unpardonable sin but it affects the next generation. It is said that “divorce breeds divorce” and this seems to be true in many families.

Can we change? YES!!! In the spiritual realm, we need to stretch out after Christ. We are part of the bride of Christ and HE is our spiritual husband. Are you stretching in the right direction? Do we realize that we are assured of the love of Christ? We need to assure our spouse of our love for them.

CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD to keep your desires only toward your spouse. HE can help you defeat the enemy who wants your marriage to be an unhappy one.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 13      The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved. (1736 “mandrakes” [dawday] means love apple, exciting sexual desire, or aphrodisiac)

DEVOTION: Throughout this book we find that Solomon is describing a relationship between a husband and a wife. He is emphasizing the fact that within marriage between one man and one woman there can be an active sexual relationship. It is supposed to be part of a good Biblical marriage.

Sometimes there was a fruit involved that helped with this relationship and that was not wrong. It was part of the culture at that time to have help with intimacy. This didn’t include some of the things that are happening today in marriages.

 Remember that whatever God blesses the enemy would like to hurt. This is what has happened to marriage today. There are so many additions that many think that marriage more of a game than a commitment between two individuals for life.

All throughout the book we find that both the husband and wife are complimenting one another which makes for a good marriage. Each of us have our gifts given by the Holy Spirit to be shared in our marriage. If we keep Christ at the center of our marriage it will be one that is pleasing in HIS sight as well as those who are looking at a marriage that honors the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Enjoy your marriage as you honor the LORD through complete obedience to HIS standards. They have not changed since the beginning of time!!!

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)    

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Prince’s daughter                                                      verse 1

Fishpools in Heshbon                                                verse 4

Gate of Bathrabbim                                                  verse 4

Tower of Lebanon                                                    verse 4

Damascus                                                                   verse 4

Carmel                                                                       verse 5

King                                                                            verse 5

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Good work ethics                                                      verse 1

Compliment your spouse                                         verse 2- 9

Beloved                                                                       verse 9- 11, 13

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

      Solomon describes his bride                                    verse 1- 13

                  Beautiful feet

                  Prince’s daughter

                  Thighs are like jewels

                  Navel

                  Belly

                  Breasts

                  Neck

                  Eyes

                  Nose

                  Head

                  Hair of head

                  Fair and pleasant

                  One he loves

                  Stature

                  Breasts

                  Mouth

                  Beloved                      

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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DONATIONS:

Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org.  Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church, please use that method.  Thank you. ____________________________________________________________

QUOTES regarding passage

7:10–13 His desire for her is evident from his song, but now she fully belongs to him, as implied in this, her answer to him.The use of pastoral imagery for the setting and pleasures of lovemaking are well-established in the Song by now and need not surprise us. What is noteworthy is that she is now inviting him away for love (contrast 2:10–13). In her surrender of her virginity to him, she has become liberated in love so that she now aggressively speaks of love and calls him to herself. It would be a mistake to seek a specific referent for each item mentioned here since this is not an allegory. The overall tone of pleasures in the countryside is more important. At any rate, she clarifies the main point of her words in v. 12, “There I will give you my love.” An actual country outing is thus not implied.

Three items in v. 13, however, do call for special notice. The first is the mandrake, a vegetable that from antiquity has been regarded as an aphrodisiac (Gen 30:14–16). While the text does not suggest that the couple will eat mandrakes for their alleged power, the implication of mandrakes giving their fragrance would not be lost on the ancient audience.

Second, the picture of the doors being garlanded with every delicacy of the garden is striking. The reference to the “doors” is to the ambiguity and tension that surrounded the concept of the door in earlier texts, especially 5:2–7. Previously the door was both barrier and way of access, and the opening of the door was fraught with tension and danger (especially for the woman). Now the doors are hung with delicacies, and all the previous tensions have disappeared.

Third, the woman speaks of “new and old” treasures she has for the man. This would imply that as they grow in love they will both repeat familiar pleasures and find new ones as well. (Garrett, D. A. (1993). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol. 14, p. 424). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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13. The mandrake or ‘love apple’ is a pungently fragrant plant that has long been considered an aphrodisiac—not that these lovers needed any additional stimulation, but the use of such items has long been a part of the lore of love-making. The word occurs only here, and four times in Genesis 30:14–16. (Carr, G. L. (1984). Song of Solomon: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 19, p. 180). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

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Spring is a universal symbol for love. The beloved used the image of spring to ask whether there was still the same freshness and anticipation that had initially characterized their relationship (cf. 2:10–13). The answer, given by herself, was affirmative. Signs of spring were budding vines of grapes, blooming pomegranates, and fragrant mandrakes. Mandrakes, plants similar in size to apples and red in color, were supposedly aphrodisiacs (cf. Gen. 30:14–16). (Deere, J. S. (1985). Song of Songs. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1023). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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13. The mandrakes we read of in the early ages of the church, it should seem was an highly desired fruit. With the present of some Leah purchased the company of her husband from Rachel: see Gen. 30:14, 15. But of what property or quality I stay not to enquire, but as the church here professeth, to her Lord, that they gave a smell, and that with these she had also laid up for him all manner of pleasant fruits, we may gather from the whole how ardently she longed for sweet communion with Jesus, and what blessedness she was hoping for, from his spiritual company. But what was, and is, and ever must be, during a life of grace, most pleasant to the Lord Jesus, are the fruits of his own most holy Spirit. These are the mandrakes, the lovely flowers of Jesus; for they are his, by original gift, and by his purchased redemption. He hath planted them by sovereign grace at our gates. Oh! Lord! how blessed is it to have them, even the fruits of faith and love, with all the graces of thy holy Spirit. Come then, Lord, I would say for myself and Reader, let us go forth, blessed Jesus; and do thou lodge with us, and grant us to lodge with thee. All, Lord, is thine, and of thine own do we give thee. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Proverbs–Lamentations (Vol. 5, pp. 225–226). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

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FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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2 Samuel 5

After many years of delay, David assumes Israel’s throne.

INSIGHT

Earlier, Samuel had anointed David-then a young, inexperienced boy-to be king over Israel. Fourteen years elapsed between Samuel’s anointing and the time when David actually assumes the rule over all of Israel.

Instead of luxuriating in the royal palace during these years, David runs from cave to cave, trying to escape from Saul who is bent on killing him. But it is these difficult experiences that build into David the strength of character, the convictions, the sensitivity to right and wrong, and the vision to be a great king.

Even for us today, the road to transformation always goes through the tunnel of trials.

                               (Quiet Walk)

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THE SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL

The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
Luke 11:34
There is nothing so disconcerting as a plain, direct gospel that, stripping away all mere decorations and embellishments and ignoring all nonessentials and make-believes, exposes the naked soul and flashed onto it the light of God. How much easier it is to appreciate the ceremony and ritual, to indulge in high-sounding, idealistic generalities, and to be busy with philanthropic actions. How much more gratifying to the natural self are these than to face the simple direct questions of the Word of God. Idealists and humanists are rarely, if ever, persecuted.
But leaving all that, let us consider positively the gospel view of life and the solution of the gospel for the problems of life. That there is nothing so characteristic of it as its essential simplicity is seen most clearly perhaps if we look at it in the light of some words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness” (Luke 11:34).
If we work out the picture found in those words, we shall see plainly the simplicity of the gospel. Our Lord says that what the eye is to the body in the matter of light, the soul is to man, and the individual man is to society. Thus we see that there is in man something vital and central. Man is not a mere collection and aggregate of parts. There is a center to his life called the soul, as vital to his life as the eye is to the body in the matter of light.
A Thought to Ponder: Our Lord says that what the eye is to the body in the matter of light, the soul is to man.

        (From Truth Unchanged, Unchanging, pp. 88-89, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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The Builder of the House
“He who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.” (Hebrews 3:3-4)
Perhaps the single greatest category of evidence for supernatural creation is in the nature of the creation itself, which everywhere shows such intricate design that it could not have come about by random chance. Consider the earth: Its size, mass, distance from the sun and moon, rotational wobble, chemical makeup, etc., are critical within very narrow limits. Any significant deviation in any of these or other characteristics would make life impossible.
But inorganic molecules, planets, and galaxies are simpler by several orders of magnitude than even the tiniest living organism. The marvelous genetic code that regulates life, growth, and reproduction is so unthinkably complex, so obviously designed, that it would take a “willingly…ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5) mind to conclude a naturalistic origin for it. Life at every stage and at every level of investigation shows symmetry in its order, purpose in its function, and interdependence between its parts; all of these are clear marks of design by an intelligent designer.
The evidence speaks so eloquently that even “the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20) if they choose not to believe and therefore to merit and face His wrath (v. 18).
“All things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16). Mankind can take no pride in it nor rebellious solace in the idea of naturalistic origin, for “thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

                 (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Narrow Door Cafe

Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. Luke 13:24

Croissants, dumplings, pork curry, and all sorts of scrumptious food await those who find and enter the Narrow Door Cafe. Located in the Taiwanese city of Tainan, this cafe is literally a hole in the wall. Its entrance is barely forty centimeters wide (less than sixteen inches)—just enough for the average person to squeeze his way through! Yet, despite the challenge, this unique cafe has attracted large crowds.

Will this be true of the narrow door described in Luke 13:22–30? Someone asked Jesus, “Are only a few people going to be saved?” (v. 23). In reply, Jesus challenged the person to “make every effort to enter through the narrow door” to God’s kingdom (v. 24). He was essentially asking, “Will the saved include you?” Jesus used this analogy to urge the Jews not to be presumptuous. Many of them believed they’d be included in God’s kingdom because they were Abraham’s descendants or because they kept the law. But Jesus challenged them to respond to Him before “the owner of the house . . . closes the door” (v. 25). 

Neither our family background nor our deeds can make us right with God. Only faith in Jesus can save us from sin and death (Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5–7). The door is narrow, but it’s wide open to all who will put their faith in Jesus. He’s inviting us today to seize the opportunity to enter through the narrow door to His kingdom.

                  (By Poh Fang Chia,  Our Daily Bread Ministries)

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Paul Decker writes (NY): I finally found a diet plan that works; it’s called “The Cost of Food.”

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Five offerings are prescribed in the first ten chapters of Leviticus, and two were compulsory. One of the compulsory sacrifices was the SIN offering – the sacrifice of a bull or a goat to atone for, or cover, your sin. The other was a GUILT offering – another animal sacrifice to absolve your guilt. These were required at certain times, and everyone was expected to do them.

But the three voluntary offerings were an expression of faithfulness. The first was the BURNT offering to express the depth of your devotion. The second was the GRAIN offering given in gratitude for God’s provision. When the crops were harvested, the first portion was brought to the altar and waved before the LORD in thanksgiving. The third was the PEACE offering, given simply to acknowledge how good God had been. The priest kept part of it, and the one making the offering ate the rest right there as a celebration of God’s goodness.

What does that show? First, access to God demands sacrifice; in order to come into his presence, you need to be atoned for – your sin covered. But after that, fellowship with God grows through sacrifice. Compulsory offerings made fellowship with God possible, but voluntary offering were from the heart. They expressed the kind of love on which relationships are built. (p. 146-7, Good to Great in God’s Eyes by Chip Ingram)

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Thou Art the God
“And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.” (2 Kings 19:15)
Good King Hezekiah was in what seemed a hopeless situation. The mighty armies of the Assyrian empire had been sweeping through the surrounding countries in an orgy of destruction and plunder, and now were at the gates of Jerusalem, demanding its surrender. Grossly outnumbered, the choice seemed either to capitulate or die!
But there was one other choice—Hezekiah could pray! The blasphemous Rabshakeh gloated that none of the gods of the other nations had been able to save them from the Assyrians . . . but that was beside the point. These other gods were mere personifications of natural processes, possibly energized by evil spirits, but all of these had been created in the first place by Hezekiah’s God. “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens” (Psalm 96:5). And that was true of Assyria’s gods as well. All ancient pagan religions were evolutionary religions, rejecting the concept of true creation and a true Creator God.
Hezekiah knew the true God who had made heaven and Earth, and he could pray in reliance on His word. God could dispatch and empower just one of His mighty angels in answer to Hezekiah’s believing prayer, and thus destroy the great Assyrian host in a single night! “And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: . . . So Sennacherib king of Assyria, departed” (2 Kings 19:35-36).
This God—maker of heaven and Earth—is still on His throne and can still hear and answer the prayers of those who call on His name. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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2 John 1

False teachers do not confess Jesus Christ as God incarnate
INSIGHT

The Bible teaches that Christians are to be tolerant, understanding, and compassionate. We are to go out of our way to be kind and loving to others; we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. However, how should we act toward false teachers who subvert our faith? The Bible teaches that while we should not be unkind, we should have no fellowship with them. John writes: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine (salvation in Christ), do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (vv. 10-11). (Quiet Walk)

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GOD’S WORK IN US

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13
I have the assurance that if God’s work in me has begun, the work will end. I “know” that if I have eternal life, I shall stand one day faultless and blameless, without spot and blemish, in the presence of God’s glory. So as I meet temptation and sin in this world, I realize that I am not left to myself. I cease to feel helpless and frustrated.I say, “If God is in me, if God has destined me for that, then He will come and hold me though all hell and the devils be opposed to me.” That was the mighty argument of a man like Martin Luther.It was because he knew he had eternal life that he could defy all those enemies the way he did, and all those who have this hope in them can say the same thing. 
And were this world all devils o’er 
And watching to devour us,
We lay it not to heart so sore;
Nor they can overpower us.
If we have eternal life and know that we have it, we know that God’s work in our souls will be carried on until it ends in ultimate perfection and glory. As Paul puts it in that mighty bit of logic in the middle of the eighth chapter of Romans, “Whom he called, them he also justified; and whom”—you see the jump—“he justified, them he also glorified.” If He starts, He will finish; so if the life is in me, I can be certain of the glory. Far from presuming on that in order to sin, while I am in this life and world I rather say with John, “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure”
(1 John 3:3).
A Thought to Ponder: God’s work in our souls will be carried on until it ends in ultimate perfection and glory. (From Life in God pp. 111-112, by Dr.Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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Here and Now by Barbara Rainey

My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart also will be glad.

PROVERBS 23:15

When Dennis and I began teaching the sixth-grade Sunday School class at our church, we decided to serve them some “meat,” not just the “macaroni and cheese” curriculum we could have offered. But, my, were we ever surprised to find out just how hungry these kids were!

We asked our young students, “If you could ask your parents any question, knowing that I would ask it for you and then give you the answer later, what would it be?” Their responses, which amazed us, included:

•”If I became pregnant before marriage, what would your reaction be?”
•”Did you have sex before you were married? Who with?”
•”How old will I be before I can kiss?”

After seeing children respond this way year after year, we concluded that a lot was going on beneath the surface in these cute little boys and girls. They may not be able to connect all the dots yet, but their bodies and minds are changing and developing fast. Life is in full gear, and they are starting to make determinative choices.

Some parents thought it was too soon to discuss these issues with their sixth graders. But our “research” in the laboratory of sixth-grade Sunday School—as well as in many years of field testing in the Rainey home—has proven that these are “here and now” issues. In an age when many grade-school kids regularly view immoral media content, is it any wonder that they’re thinking, talking and making decisions about subjects like dating, sex, pornography, alcohol and drugs?

Many of the most pivotal choices in life are being made between the ages of 11 and 15. And we as parents need to engage our young preteens and teens now and help them make wise choices.

DISCUSS

Have you considered talking about big issues with your 10- to 12-year-olds? Make a list of the issues they will face in adolescence and start now. How might you do it?

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