Treasuring God in Our Traditions

Only God can bequeath God to our children. But he uses means. He uses God-centered traditions and Bible-saturated family patterns and grace-laden heirlooms. Only God can give our children a taste for the sweetness of God. Only God can awaken them to his worth. But year in and year out there are traditions that show children that God is our Treasure. Noël Piper opens her home to you—more than thirty years of marriage and mothering. She invites you into the happy, imperfect Piper pattern of life (including a few family-occasion poems written by her husband, John). But, even better, she roots things in the Bible. God-treasuring traditions can be ordinary, everyday habits such as telling stories, attending church, and using affectionate nicknames. They may be rare “especially” occasions such as funerals and weddings. And they are the creative ways we reflect Christ in our holidays. Noël Piper believes that by our traditions we can help the next generation treasure God, and at the same time deepen our own love for him. Like a scribe trained for the kingdom of heaven, she brings out of her treasure what is new and what is old—making the old new and rooting the new in the old. In this way, the next generation absorbs the truth that the treasure we have in God is ancient in wisdom and strength, and fresh as the morning dew. Noël loves making children (and adults) bow their heads with reverence and clap their hands with joy. "God created us for His glory—and gave us a character that craves traditions. Nevertheless, the frantic pace and highly mobile nature of our society rob many families of any sense of tradition—and any cherished traditions of their own. Noël Piper understands the traditions of the Christian faith and their importance to family and church life. Treasuring God in Our Traditions is a much needed corrective and a wonderful gift to Christians in this age. We must recover a biblical affirmation of faithful traditions in this generation, for God's glory and our joy." Al and Mary Mohler “Noël Piper offers Christian parents uncommon wisdom and hope in her Treasuring God in Our Traditions. Her vision for a God-centered home and family is both biblical and inspiring, and her many ideas and suggestions (including activities and recipes) offer much food for reflection and application. This parenting guidebook is at once motivational, instructive, practical, and based on a deep and beautiful vision of God.” Bruce and Jodi Ware “As Christians we long to pass on the faith to the next generation. In this amazingly practical book Noël Piper gets right to the heart of what we need to pass onto our children and grandchildren. Sometimes we think that being God-centered means that we always live spontaneously. This book reminds us that traditions and patterns woven into the fabric of everyday life can cultivate love for God.” Tom and Diane Schreiner “Treasuring God in Our Traditions offers the reader an intimate glimpse into a remarkable Christian family. This book will lead you and your loved ones to the Ultimate Treasure. Read it—the next generation will thank you!” Raymond and Jani Ortlund