On Training Up Children...

Question:  (In reference to videos my son made...)How did you start with him by telling him about God? --Even when we think that they don't understand what we are saying to them?

Reply: If we are excited about God then we are always testifying & pointing to Him; we are laying a foundation that isn't "do as I say, not as I do"--- We are living and proclaiming: "It's true, He lives, He saves, taste and see the Goodness of the Lord!"

Discipline...

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

For younger ages and babies simple things like nighttime prayer and prayer before dinner.... if you initiate it, they will eventually join in....even if to just say 'amen'.

Children thrive on expectation...routines and schedules...so if you make the time and start it, then they will fuel it by reminding us.

"Training" is an active discipline, and to do so means that we first discipline ourselves.

Just Talk!...

When they get older.... some of my best moments with the kids are when traveling because they have nothing else to do but sit & think. They ask random questions, talk of 'bullies' at school, events in the news.... whatever the topic, you can educate on the enemy's hand in the matter or see God's glory. It's a great time of dissecting according to the bible....what God thinks about it.... what bad consequences happen and how God loves us and warns us to protect us through His Word. 

I also think of topics to share as well.... or questions to ASK THEM to get their minds churning to draw upon what God's been showing them. When they are my captive audience and 'bored' just about any topic is golden, and asking them what they think or what they know of God and what He'd think... I'm getting them in training to testify as well.

Tertiary Support...

We 'home church'.... but I still send the kids out for other fun things. 

• You could go through a whole summer 'church hopping' Vacation Bible Schools. 
• Concerts, plays, programs, movie night, radio... all things that can back up what you are sharing.

• My boys have all been in AWANA that many churches have which is a scripture memory youth club.  Not only do they study the Word, but they fellowship with other kids & play games etc.  

The Fruit...

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth." Psalm 127:4

You know 'warriors' aren't made without training... and the biggest blessing of committing to train your children up in the Lord is that it's really sharpening you.  It causes us to confess His goodness, declare His truth and faithfulness.

And so it is with most pure gifts... our heart is "the BEST" for our kids... but it is US that receive the blessing...

"How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;

They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:5

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"Owning Up" - Got Lemons?

Remember when David lusted after Bathsheba, had Uriah killed by putting him at the head of battle...and then the child he had with Bathsheba was prophesied to die (2Samuel 11-12)?

David still pleaded & repented in hopes to find mercy with God, but didn't work that time. He realized there were consequences for his actions. After the child died he puzzled others by dressing & eating instead of sackcloth & ashes, but he accepted that, that window had shut & there was no bringing the child back against the prophesied word.

So too, we make life altering/changing missteps and there is no way out but through. Like David, we admit the fault and cleanse ourselves and continue to seek God knowing, 

"that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28

...but the hard part is the walking it out.

Knowing God is Good

Imagine being David... he accepted full fault for why his child died and didn't blame God but honored Him and hoped for mercy.

Have you been complaining or been angry at God? Blaming others? Have you been going the other way into such condemnation that you're at a standstill, instead of receiving His forgiveness?

Patience and Acceptance

Ever considered 'Owning Up' and then asking, "God, what are you doing in all this?"  Remember, He promises to turn it around for our good, so we MUST trust Him!

Of course it's not fun at the moment, of course there is struggle, but we can learn a thing or two from the 'man after His own heart'(1Sa 13:14/Acts 13:22). 
Owning up to the 'mess' and making lemonade one way or another...even if it's in our shoe!


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Tsunami?

I fell asleep early last night... and then woke early.
I went to the computer and was drawn to watch a film about the devastating Tsunami of 2004.

In the back of my mind I was reminded of my son coming to me over the weekend; telling me of a dream of water flooding into the house.
...and then also a dream forum post where amidst symbolism of air strike and earthquake surmising... was mention of a tsunami. 
I was wondering... "are you saying something here Lord?"
I squeezed some tears & said, "I know bad stuff is coming Lord."
And then He reminded me of the first thing I saw when I went to my computer...
...an email.
I was reminded of the quote by Derek Prince that leapt off the page to me...

"You see, ultimately we don't depend on our own effort, we depend on God's faithfulness, and God's faithfulness is committed to reward that which we do in His will. If we build in the will of God, the house will stand. If we watch in the will of God, the city will be secure. Security is found only in God."- Derek Prince

I went back to sleep and the next time I went to the computer I received a 'watch this video'... and when I went to see it... a video response to it was some of the very footage from the 2004 tsunami!

Videos I view are not listed under my 'activity'... I'd not even commented on the tsunami videos and yet here they are 'flooding me'.

Is one coming? 
I don't know, but I was very heavy with the magnitude of death and loss from the 2004 tsunami...

• killing over 230,000 people...
• inundating coastal communities with waves up to 30 meters (98 ft) high
• one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history
• the third largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph
• had the longest duration of faulting ever observed, between 8.3 and 10 minutes
• nearly all of the victims were taken completely by surprise

What happens when the 'birth pangs' get closer together?
Are you ready?

"....If we build in the will of God, the house will stand. If we watch in the will of God, the city will be secure. Security is found only in God."- Derek Prince

My Plea to you...
You Must Abide in Him

*I am not interpreting tongues in this video (just so you know)
This is me praying after all this.

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