OUTLINE:

Ecc 5:2
Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.

Ro 14:22-23
The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Follow the convictions the Lord puts on your heart, and do not delay. He is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!

Our families are meant to be founded on “the Rock”, that is, Jesus Christ.

Manning Up
"Let me find whatever I can do to help my family."

Cracks In the Foundation
A family that is divided over Christ has cracks in its foundation. It cannot bear the same load, as a corporation, especially if said cracks exist between the husband and wife (ref. Eph 5:15-24).

Exploiting Cracks
The only way that the KoD can ever destroy a marriage/family is to sever one or more of the parties from Christ. Evil is always looking for cracks in the foundation to exploit, to expand, to weaken the entire structure above.

Cracks In the Foundation
A family that is divided over Christ has cracks in its foundation. It cannot bear the same load, as a corporation, especially if said cracks exist between the husband and wife (ref. Eph 5:15-24).

Man-Up
People have a hard enough time submitting to Jesus, who’s perfect, never mind a husband or father who’s very much imperfect! Men must understand this and have godly compassion for others. (ref. 1Pe 3)

Manning-Up Is NOT…
- Ordering your wife around like a puppy
- Pressing into your children with unbalanced force
- Expecting others to serve you like a king

Manning-Up Is NOT…
- Punting your responsibilities to others and then blaming them when they cannot do what YOU are supposed to be doing
- Sacrificing love/mercy in any way
- Pointing fingers, especially when YOU are defunct

Eph 6:4 NIV
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Love never fails, 1Co 13:8, and we must always examine ourselves to see if this is our motivation/ reasoning for leading in a certain way, whatever is called for at the time.

Love's a Big Part of Manning Up!
Everything we do must be completely enveloped in love, including firmness and discipline. Otherwise it's not good in God's eyes. 1Co 13:1-8

Man-Up
A man’s starting point in marriage/family is with Jesus Christ’s example to His Church. A husband/father must seek to be both a “lion and a lamb” as he leads his household, not just one or the other, like most men are (unrelenting authoritarians or wimps).

Realistic Expectations
The family unit is a petri dish of human dysfunction. And only the Word of God, administered by the Spirit of Christ, our great Physician, is able to keep said disease at bay.

The world, especially our current culture in America, is trying to emasculate every man of God.