On this day in 1790 the first U.S. Census was conducted. The population of the U.S. was only 4 million people back then. In 2000 it was 281 million. A considerable difference. It is no surprise that with all the people in the world our children can feel as though they don't matter or can't make a difference.
Many times if they had their way their days would be filled with fun and self indulgence. Training our children to be selfless and yielded to God's plan for their lives takes effort on our parts.
Perhaps it would help to start by reminding them how much thought and time God spends on them.
*Genesis 1:26 reminds us that God made us in His image. *Each one of us has been created by a purposeful God. In 1 Corinthians 12 he speaks of how we are made each with our own special talents and abilities. *In Deuteronomy 31:8 it says, "And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” That shows that God is intimately aware of and involved in your daily life. *Not to forget the best of all; how He sent Jesus to die for us.
Help your child discover their unique purpose in God's plan. Help them pray to God daily to ask Him what He would have them do today. Many times we set out with a plan without asking God's blessing on it. Train your children to yield their lives to Christ and not seek only their own desires.
Help them to see that they can make a difference. Find opportunities for them to share of themselves and their time to help others. Type in 'children volunteer opportunities and your city' in a search engine, and see what comes up. See if they can lend a hand at school or talk to ministries in your church to see how they can help.
Help them seek ways to make a difference.
Bless you all for parenting your children bravely for Christ in a challenging world.
Brenda
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Monday, August 1, 2011
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Because I said so!
Hello dear families
I want to encourage you to parent intentionally. Life moves real fast these days and before you can blink your children are older and opportunities have passed you by. Helping children develop spiritually doesn't require a seminary degree or a teaching credential. The only requirement is to be observant and available and ready for teachable moments.
Watch for opportunities to connect what they are learning and feeling with God and His Holy Word. Spend some time thinking about your house rules. Why do they exist? What do you hope for your children to learn from them? Where did you get them? Taking things to the source and finding scripture to back them up helps children decide internally what their motivation is.
At some point obedience has to turn internal. It can't remain only because you say so. Connecting the 'what' they have to do to the 'why' they have to do it helps them develop their own values and self motivations. It puts disobedience squarely back into their lap and calls it sin. At some point this becomes a personal battle between them and the Lord and not defiance of you.
In doing this exercise you may discover you have rules that don't have any tangible purpose. If so, you need to decide where they came from and if they are of value. If not, lose them. We are all learning about ourselves as we raise our children. It is okay to refine yourself as you go.
Most of all, live out your life honestly before the Lord and your children. It is okay for them to see your need for a Savior, to see that you to sin and can ask for forgiveness. Just take the time to intentionally connect God's truth to your life and the lives of your children. They will sense that God is a real, living interactive part of your life. Routine and religious gestures fall short of really living out your life before them and your God.
Get real and get intentional.
Bless you all
Brenda
I want to encourage you to parent intentionally. Life moves real fast these days and before you can blink your children are older and opportunities have passed you by. Helping children develop spiritually doesn't require a seminary degree or a teaching credential. The only requirement is to be observant and available and ready for teachable moments.
Watch for opportunities to connect what they are learning and feeling with God and His Holy Word. Spend some time thinking about your house rules. Why do they exist? What do you hope for your children to learn from them? Where did you get them? Taking things to the source and finding scripture to back them up helps children decide internally what their motivation is.
At some point obedience has to turn internal. It can't remain only because you say so. Connecting the 'what' they have to do to the 'why' they have to do it helps them develop their own values and self motivations. It puts disobedience squarely back into their lap and calls it sin. At some point this becomes a personal battle between them and the Lord and not defiance of you.
In doing this exercise you may discover you have rules that don't have any tangible purpose. If so, you need to decide where they came from and if they are of value. If not, lose them. We are all learning about ourselves as we raise our children. It is okay to refine yourself as you go.
Most of all, live out your life honestly before the Lord and your children. It is okay for them to see your need for a Savior, to see that you to sin and can ask for forgiveness. Just take the time to intentionally connect God's truth to your life and the lives of your children. They will sense that God is a real, living interactive part of your life. Routine and religious gestures fall short of really living out your life before them and your God.
Get real and get intentional.
Bless you all
Brenda
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Parenting: The Greatest Adventure
Greetings to you all,
I am thankful that things have calmed down a bit so I can get back to spending time with you, our parents. You have the most wonderful challenging job in the world. I have enjoyed every minute of being a parent. It was what I wanted to be when I grew up. Of course, there have been those moments when I wished I had a magic wand. Trials and troubles come with the wonderful memories and countless hours of laughter and enjoyment. I have had police at my door, cell phones in the toilet, keys lost at the bottom of toy boxes, fist fights between siblings in my living room, countless morning battles to get the kids to church and school, last minute notice of school projects, lies, disrespect, angry outbursts, extreme emotional fallout from the divorce, poverty, words said in haste and anger that you wish you could take back, rejection from extended family, and much more.
Looking back I can see God's divine providence in even the hardest of experiences. All I ever wanted was a loving, Christ-centered marriage and children that grew to love and depend completely on God. I have not gotten all I have prayed for as of yet. I continue to pray in faith that the answer is 'wait' and not 'no'. However, God is the orchestrator of all good. I cannot see all the good that He plans with His perfect timing. I hold to John 6:44. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." I have two of my 4 children who have not embraced a relationship with God. My heart aches for them to know Him.
I share this with you in hopes that you know I understand what challenges you face. There is much I have been through that is written in silence between the lines. A lifetime of issues, emotions, and trials that qualify me to at least understand what you are going through. I really do believe we are all here to help one another. If any of you need someone to talk with, I am here. As a family of God, we are called to come along side one another. I praise God that so many of you have close Christian friends that you can turn to when you need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. If you don't have someone or for whatever reason want to keep your problems private, I am able to be that outlet for you. No matter who you turn too, don't go through your challenges alone. There is always someone who cares and wants to help.
May God bless you all through the hardest, greatest, best adventure you'll ever be on, Parenting.
In His Service,
Brenda
I am thankful that things have calmed down a bit so I can get back to spending time with you, our parents. You have the most wonderful challenging job in the world. I have enjoyed every minute of being a parent. It was what I wanted to be when I grew up. Of course, there have been those moments when I wished I had a magic wand. Trials and troubles come with the wonderful memories and countless hours of laughter and enjoyment. I have had police at my door, cell phones in the toilet, keys lost at the bottom of toy boxes, fist fights between siblings in my living room, countless morning battles to get the kids to church and school, last minute notice of school projects, lies, disrespect, angry outbursts, extreme emotional fallout from the divorce, poverty, words said in haste and anger that you wish you could take back, rejection from extended family, and much more.
Looking back I can see God's divine providence in even the hardest of experiences. All I ever wanted was a loving, Christ-centered marriage and children that grew to love and depend completely on God. I have not gotten all I have prayed for as of yet. I continue to pray in faith that the answer is 'wait' and not 'no'. However, God is the orchestrator of all good. I cannot see all the good that He plans with His perfect timing. I hold to John 6:44. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." I have two of my 4 children who have not embraced a relationship with God. My heart aches for them to know Him.
I share this with you in hopes that you know I understand what challenges you face. There is much I have been through that is written in silence between the lines. A lifetime of issues, emotions, and trials that qualify me to at least understand what you are going through. I really do believe we are all here to help one another. If any of you need someone to talk with, I am here. As a family of God, we are called to come along side one another. I praise God that so many of you have close Christian friends that you can turn to when you need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. If you don't have someone or for whatever reason want to keep your problems private, I am able to be that outlet for you. No matter who you turn too, don't go through your challenges alone. There is always someone who cares and wants to help.
May God bless you all through the hardest, greatest, best adventure you'll ever be on, Parenting.
In His Service,
Brenda
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Parents Take There Kids Back!
Our Tuesday night Bible Study for families was packed. What a wonderful testimony to a generation of parents that have taken on the charge to raise their children up in the Lord. Making the commitment that Bible Study is more important than all the other extra-curricular options out there.
I hear in the ministry circles out there that this is generation of parents that have turned over responsibility to the church to guide their children in spiritual matters. The truth is our time at church is such a small amount of time with them that it is imperative that parents take that cross back and you are.
All throughout the Bible it talks about children learning about God from their parents not the church. Well I have good news for you. The tide is shifting!
You are among a generation that is changing the attitude of parenting responsibilities. You are taking back your God given duty and taking raising your children to be Spiritual Champions seriously. If you always have been that parent, then you are a shining model for others to follow. Talk to other parents and encourage them.
I am proud to be part of a church of parents who are strong and willing to do the day in and out job of disciplining their children. Your children will be able to withstand the storm that is brewing. They WILL have to face what comes. We can't protect them from it, but we can prepare them for it.
It is our honor to be part of your Children's Ministry. Anything we can do to help you, please don't hesitate to ask.
I am proud of all of you. You will fall short from time to time. Do not despair. God has already adjusted for where we lack. Surrender and live in faith. God is in control and He is a very Big God.
I hear in the ministry circles out there that this is generation of parents that have turned over responsibility to the church to guide their children in spiritual matters. The truth is our time at church is such a small amount of time with them that it is imperative that parents take that cross back and you are.
All throughout the Bible it talks about children learning about God from their parents not the church. Well I have good news for you. The tide is shifting!
You are among a generation that is changing the attitude of parenting responsibilities. You are taking back your God given duty and taking raising your children to be Spiritual Champions seriously. If you always have been that parent, then you are a shining model for others to follow. Talk to other parents and encourage them.
I am proud to be part of a church of parents who are strong and willing to do the day in and out job of disciplining their children. Your children will be able to withstand the storm that is brewing. They WILL have to face what comes. We can't protect them from it, but we can prepare them for it.
It is our honor to be part of your Children's Ministry. Anything we can do to help you, please don't hesitate to ask.
I am proud of all of you. You will fall short from time to time. Do not despair. God has already adjusted for where we lack. Surrender and live in faith. God is in control and He is a very Big God.
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