Joy & Peace in Raising Christian Children

By Gary Hausmann

Gary Hausmann breaks down the challenging and wonderful joy of successful parenting into fundamental building blocks in Joy and Peace in Raising Christian Children.

With rich examples from both his life and his children, each chapter offers the reader proven biblical keys to unlock a fulfilling and rewarding lifestyle for the entire family. Learn how to tackle parenting challenges such as:

• correcting children God’s way
• building mutual love and respect
• family communication
• finances
• ethics for living

The author addresses the Christian’s most vital relationship, fellowship with the heavenly Father, God. This becomes the foundation and springboard for all other relationships in the family and is the key to successful parenting.

Whether you already have children or are thinking about starting a family, you’ll find this book to be an essential reference on raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781663241221

Gary Hausmann

Gary Hausmann and his wife, Mary, raised five children. As a young father, in 1985, he became a Christian, and recognized the need to grow as a serious biblical student. He continues daily to rely on the scripture as his source of truth. This has provided Gary and his family with joy and peace. 6.13.22 Gary Hausmann and his wife, Mary, raised five children. As a young father, in 1985, he became a Christian, and recognized the need to grow as a serious biblical student. He continues daily to rely on the scripture as his source of truth. This has provided Gary and his family with joy and peace.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-3612-8 (sc)

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022911260

iUniverse rev. date:  07/27/2022

To the memory of my beloved wife Mary and my wonderful

son Corey, who are awaiting the return of Christ.

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1     What is Your Standard?

Chapter 2     Believing

Chapter 3     Doctrine, Reproof, and Correction

Chapter 4     Children are Our Heritage

Chapter 5     The Garden of Your Child’s Mind

Chapter 6     Our Stability

Chapter 7     Fellowship with Your Children

Chapter 8     All Members in Particular

Chapter 9     Put God First

Chapter 10   Our Spiritual Birthrights

Chapter 11   The Renewing of Your Mind

Chapter 12   Eating Right to Live Right

Chapter 13   The Lever of Prayer

Chapter 14   Salted Words and Salted Character

Chapter 15   Etiquette

Chapter 16   An Attitude to Serve and Work

Chapter 17   Life isn’t Fair

Chapter 18   The Art of Communication

Chapter 19   Be Thankful—Always!

Chapter 20   Build the Wall and Be the Watchman

Chapter 21   Biblical Financial Truths

Chapter 22   Listen and Obey

Chapter 23   Making Right Decisions

Chapter 24   Redeeming the Time

Chapter 25   Our Hope

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to God for giving me the greatest family a man could ever ask for. To my children Albert (AJ), David, Deanna, and Sarah, thank you for contributing your childhood recollections and for daily filling my soul with joy.

Special thanks to Sheri Hizny, who was instrumental in my editing. Thank you, Alicia Hausmann, Ann Highsmith, Teresa Guigou, Ellen Schwartz, Beverly Kreis, and Aleta You, for your help, and to all my brothers and sisters in Christ who supported me along the way.

Thank you, Shelley Savoy, for helping with the cover design.

Thanks to the ministry who taught me the accuracy of God’s Word, and how to apply His wonderful principles in life.

Introduction

To me, God and His Word stand par excellence! His Word simply is. My children are my best friends. They are all standing Christians, for which I am so thankful. To be able to have sweet, loving fellowship with your children as you grow older is an absolute blessing, and one only a parent can fully comprehend.

As a Jewish child growing up in the Bronx, I never imagined I would end up where I am today. That is the wonder of life. My neighborhood wasn’t too rough, but being a tall child kept me from getting beat up—most of the time. In the 1960s and 1970s, kids were mean at times. That is a constant. I saw how nice they can be, and I also know how ugly and cruel they can be. I pondered what I would do if I ever had to raise children.

I came from a small family, having one older sister. We were raised in a mostly secular household. Our parents were loving, and they made sure I received my bar mitzvah. This is a ceremony in which a Jewish boy becomes a man at age thirteen. Back then, one couldn’t drink or join the military until eighteen years of age, and I didn’t feel grown up. I was able to fake it on many occasions, such as getting into adult movie theaters, based solely on my physical appearance. In those days, no one would ask for an ID. I became good at practicing how to fake it till you make it. Later on in life, I learned this was the principle of believing, which is one of the greatest laws to understand in life. Other than Passover, my family never attended synagogue, and thus never practiced any religious teachings, just a few traditions. Like most, my definition of family was built on how I was raised.

My interests, like most teenagers, were engrossed in the basics: myself, partying, and adventures. Cities like New York can be quite the playground, and I took advantage of it. I would stay out through the wee hours of the morning at nightclubs. My high school was an intense place, and my college was somewhat calmer. I became interested in many things, including music, art, and science. I loved oceanography, which was why after graduating from college with a bachelor of science I joined the navy. Off I went into the military, leaving the big-city life behind and heading to Pensacola, Florida. Like the apostle Peter, whose profession began on a boat, I ended up on an aircraft carrier.

My world completely changed in 1980, when I met a wonderful woman of God who became my wife. Her name was Mary. She was ex-army, military police, and the oldest of her siblings—eight total, between two fathers. She was independent yet willing to submit to authority, and she was headstrong yet compassionate. She was versatile in her artistic abilities as well as having an abundant amount of good sense. She was raised Roman Catholic; however, like me, she never got entangled in religious trappings. We were always together. To borrow a phrase from the movie Forrest Gump, Mary and me was like peas and carrots.

We married two years later, in 1982, and we didn’t marry in any church, but a park. Why? Because I thought it would be cool. What if it rained? I confessed it wouldn’t. At this point in my life, I was set on doing things my way and kept applying that principle of believing (see chapter 2). We had our first son, AJ, a year later. When it was Mary and me, we were a couple. Life was simple. Once our child entered our world, we became a family, and life became different. I am one of those organized, logical folks. I make lists, and I like to be in control. This, of course, is an illusion because no one can control life. I saw that I could control myself, but all else was out of my hands.

Mary seemed fine and content with what she knew, but not me. I was missing something. Later on, I realized I was missing truth. I had a thirst that could only be quenched by it. After discussing this idea of religion and how we should raise our children, we decided we needed to attend a church so that we could learn more. Honestly, it was me who drove this quest. I was spiritually lost, and it was bothering me. I realized we both needed something solid that we could rely on, especially with a child to raise. I had no exposure to this endeavor. Mary, at least, was used to training her brood of siblings.

Aboard the naval vessel I drove, there were ocean navigation charts that were reliable for travel. To travel in this new life, however, I needed to find something that worked, that I could get convinced of before I could roll it out to my family. That’s just how I am.

When one raises a child, I believe those parents should have some standards, guidelines, or a framework to use to bring up that child. We use what we have brought with us to that point in our lives. Unfortunately, if that experience was bad, your framework is damaged and carries with it numerous errors and faults. I brought a lot of this baggage along for the ride. Thankfully, Mary did not. Looking back, I am so thankful to God for placing such a woman in my path.

There we were, raising our son like everyone else, doing the best we could. We kept searching for years, trying to find a church. In January 1985, we had our second child, Corey. I explored a few synagogues; however, in the back of my mind, I felt something was still missing. Why was I never exposed to the New Testament? After all, it is in the Bible, is it not?

Finally, in October 1985, our lives were about to take a complete 180-degree turn. We were about to be elevated to a new and higher plateau we didn’t know existed. We both took a class that transformed our vision by educating us on God’s Word. The class was called Power for Abundant Living. For me, I found what I was looking for. I was looking for truth. I always figured God had to be perfect. Once I saw the perfection that is found in God’s Word, the Bible, I knew I had something I could rely on.

Mary and I could stand on something that had integrity and reliability, something to guide us as we raised our children. We were finally able to understand the overall scope of the Bible. We had a foundational understanding of its basic keys, of how the Word interprets itself, and how we could tap into the more abundant life, much like tapping into the sweet sap of a maple tree.

We went on to have three more wonderful children: David, Deanna, and Sarah. We kept studying and digging into God’s Word for answers on many topics, especially on marriage and child-rearing. I always found that you get the most out of studying a subject with practical application.

Thirty-seven years later, here I am, writing this book. It is the result of a view and vantage point with God and His amazing Word. This is a position that is available to every human being in existence. The price of admission is Romans 10:9 and 10 (King James Version, or KJV): That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

That’s right—you need to be born again of God’s spirit. Then, as it says in 1 Timothy 2:4 (KJV), and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

This book is penned so that my journey in life and the biblical truths I have proved to myself and to my family will also elevate you to new heights. It is so readers won’t have to struggle for the answers, as I did, and can experience a taste of what God says about having a sound, fulfilling family. This information is available, but to find it one must look within the rightly divided scriptures. Something as important and life changing as becoming a parent needs to be taught by those who went before us. Fields such as science and mathematics were all built by those who went before. Why does every generation have to start from scratch in this field of spiritual truth? The answer is, they do not.

Although I have no PhD nor any worldly accolades, I have raised five children to adulthood and have more than three decades of practical biblical knowledge. I’d also like to think there may be a bit of wisdom I can sprinkle your way on the following pages regarding various subjects. I have done my best to hold God’s standard high in my life and to teach my children, and I would like to share that knowledge with you.

This book is for those who want to build on a solid foundation and who want to raise their children on strong footing. I know of no better foundation than that found in the scriptures. Many of the principles laid down before you will be solidly constructed by the master builder Himself, God, by way of His wonderful, perfect Word.

These pages are not an autobiography. They were organized based on two vantage points: The most important one is God’s, as He is the author of all life. By quoting numerous scriptures from the Bible, God’s Word, the reader will be able to see what God’s viewpoints and truths are on the subject within each chapter. Next is my vantage point as the author of this book. This is done by showing the reader how my family and I endeavored to live these truths. When God’s Word is understood by an individual, that Word can live for them. The fruit, such as joy and peace, can then be manifested.

Each chapter of this book stands on its own; however, it is recommended to read the chapters in order to gain greater understanding faster, as they build upon each other.

Whenever a scripture passage is quoted, it will include the Bible version of that verse in parentheses. Some translations add better light to our understanding. All the translations I quote can be found in Bible apps or on the internet.

At times I will dive deeper into the usages of certain words to better illustrate their meanings. These words will be in either Hebrew or Greek. The Bible is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament was translated from Hebrew, and the New Testament from Greek. Having this information, the reader can then research further, should they desire, through various research tools, such as Strong’s or Young’s Analytical Concordance or New Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies.

I choose to quote the Bible so abundantly in this book because it has the answers in life that we seek. As the author of life itself, who better to know truth than God?

2 Peter 1:3 (KJV): According as his [God’s] divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

God has already given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Would child-rearing be considered a part of all things pertaining to life?

It reads through the knowledge of him. Is this knowledge available for us to know? Where do you go to get it? I have found there is one consistent, dependable, and reliable source for this knowledge, and that is the Bible.

What kind of knowledge is this?

The Greek word for knowledge in this verse is epignosis. It means knowledge by experience, to be thoroughly acquainted with, or to know comprehensively. It’s the kind of knowledge one isn’t going to achieve through just reading. As an example, consider driving a vehicle. If all you did was read books on how to drive—head knowledge—but never practiced driving, you would not be using that knowledge. You would need to pass your driving test, both written and practical, to enjoy the fruits of your study. I enjoy having the freedom to drive places.

Truth is like this—it sets you free when you apply it.

To get to this experiential knowledge, to ensure readers fully understand, it may take some work. It is going to take the practical application of truth.

God’s Word is very straightforward. The truths I share may or may not agree with your current views, but I encourage you to consider what I am saying. Each one of us must stand approved before God.

2 Timothy 2:15 (Berean Study Bible, or BSB), reads: Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

You might have come to this point with preconceived ideas and doctrines. You will need to ask yourself where they came from and what they were built upon. If they are not built upon sound doctrine found in God’s Word, like that house built upon the sand, they may not stand (Matthew 7:24–27 KJV).

Consider your goals for reading this book. What is your why? Perhaps you want to gain a better understanding of Christian child-rearing or would like to help others gain this knowledge. Perhaps you want to see it demonstrated in your life and in your family’s lives.

Having joy and peace while raising children is available. It is going to take commitment, dedication, and work to see this journey through.

I believe this book will empower readers so that they may become the awesome Christian parents our world needs.

The Bridge Builder

                  An old man going a lone highway,

                  Came, at the evening cold and gray,

                  To a chasm, vast and deep and wide.

                  Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

                  The old man crossed in the twilight dim,

                  The sullen stream had no fear for him;

                  But he turned when safe on the other side,

                  And built a bridge to span the tide.

                  Old man, said a fellow pilgrim near,

                  "You are wasting strength with building here;

                  Your journey will end with the ending day,

                  You never again will pass this way;

                  You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide,