Winter months are often long for families, with fewer activities for adults and kids. Sometimes snow forces us to stay at home. However, it is a great time to begin the habit of having family worship one day a week. And whenever church is cancelled, or maybe your family can't make it to church on a Sunday, consider having family worship at home. The most important thing you can do is hear from God. Buy the Bible on CD or on iTunes and begin listening to a book of the Bible together. In addition, maybe visit our web site at www.gracebiblelorton.com/resources/sermons and catch up on a sermon your missed, review a sermon, or just hear a sermon again. You could also listen to other well taught sermons at sermons from John Piper or maybe listen to sermons by Matt Chandler. If you have teenagers, I suggest you listen to sermons by Pastor Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA, my teenagers love him!

Finally, end with prayer. Make prayer time creative and interesting like sharing highs and lows of the day or week. Give prayers of thanksgiving for the highs and pray for help for the lows. Or use all those Christmas cards sitting in a basket as a prayer list—praying for the person or family who sent the card.

Rather than feeling shame for missing a Sunday or for not leading our family in desiring God, let's move away from shame. Let's start leading our families by God's grace. Begin with a simple plan that works for you. Make your first goal to have a regular family worship time to connect to God with your wife and kids. Ask the Holy Spirit to prompt you to get started. Getting started isn't nearly as difficult as you might think. And your family will love you for caring for their souls.