March 7, 2021
Things have changed quite a bit since I was young or when we were raising our children. I’m a Great-Grandma with 24 grandchildren and have been a parent for 47 years! Doesn’t seem possible but it’s a truth😊. Even though through time there are many new ideas, technology improvements, time saving devices and more, nothing is new when it comes to relationships.
My heart is heavy for our children. The evil is so obvious and accepted. From killing newborns, to sex trafficking, to gender related issues, there’s so much going after our little ones. Yet, for them, they are just children wanting to play, learn new things and usually feel protected by their parents. God created children with such resilience and faith. I am writing today about raising up our children in the Lord. This is important for EVERYONE to read not just parents. We need to diligently pray for parents with small children in these times. This is what the Word says about the little ones.
‘Jesus overheard them and said, “I want little children to come to me, so never interfere with them when they want to come, for heaven’s kingdom realm is composed of beloved ones like these! Listen to this truth: No one will enter the kingdom realm of heaven unless he becomes like one of these.” Matthew 19:14
“Listen to the truth I speak: Whoever does not open their arms to receive God’s kingdom like a teachable child will never enter it.” Then he embraced each child, and laying his hands on them, he lovingly blessed each one.” Mark 10:15-16
There are so many new books, programs, counseling techniques, theories, and so much more about children. Many don’t talk about raising children but letting children “raise” themselves. The emphasis is more on protecting your children than training them up in the way they should go.
“Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.” Proverbs 22:6
That’s a powerful verse. First it says to dedicate your children to the Lord not let them make their own decision on who they will follow. Point them to Jesus and what they learn will be with them for a life time! This is true whether they are taught negative or positive. Adults are examples of this. How we were raised is still with us and if it was negative, we’ve had to deal with some heart issues. With all the NEW information about raising up children in this world there is still no truth more relevant and vital than the Word of God!
God is our Creator! He knows the number of hairs on every head and knows exactly what is going on in our bodies, physically, emotionally and spiritually. He KNOWS each person, each child. So, the FIRST place to start learning about raising a child is from the Word of God. Some verses may sound hard, some against the law now days, irrelevant for these times, and not what parents are looking for but the Word is still the only real TRUTH. There has always been parenting issues from the beginning of time and always been issues. Raising children now is no more difficult as any time because there’s always been an enemy trying to destroy families. Raising parents is more difficult than ever before because parents have been educated more by the worldly system than by the Word of God. That is very obvious today. Parents have to be dedicated to knowing what the WORD OF GOD says about raising up children. There are many great tools and recourses that others guided by the Word have made available. Many books on parenting by Christian believers on the practical day to day wisdom are so valuable. But it has to all start from the foundation of the Word.
As a parent I/we DID NOT do it all correctly. That’s the blessing of these wonderful, loving children God created is that they bounce back while we are learning to parent. As a Mom I made so many mistakes. I had 3 little ones who went through the death of their daddy and an emotional basket case of a mommy. Then I married Ed and we had MANY, MANY marriage problems that our children watched us handle wrong. There were times there was NO money. Adam had heart surgery as a baby and we had no insurance. Life was hard and there were mistakes made. Some rebelled for a season. All had heart issues they had to deal with as adults. I was not a perfect Mom but one thing I did know is that the Lord was my only answer! I prayed and I sought wisdom from the Word.
One of the greatest impacts you can have on a child’s life is to spend time with them teaching them the Word of God. The Word tells us that we are to KNOW His Word and then WE are to teach it to our children.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9
These verses were a life saver to me when our children were young. We talk about Jesus and His love all the time. Here is a breakdown of the verses.
**You shall teach the Word diligently to your children
**talk of His love and His ways:
when you sit in your house
when you walk by the way
when you lie down
when you rise up
**Have His Word before your eyes in some way at all times
**Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, have His Words and promises on your walls, on your mirrors, before your eyes!
One thing we learned to do was to DAILY have a devotion time with our children. DAILY we read the Word together. Many times at breakfast, almost always at bedtime. We spent time in reading a fun devotional before bed and the kids went to bed with Jesus on their minds. It took away from some of “our” time but “my” time had a different definition when the children were young. Time together as parents is important and vital since it helps you together in agreement. Your own time individually in the Word is of upmost importance so He can guide and lead you through your day. When my kids were young the only time I had to myself was at 5:30 AM. Didn’t matter how late I was up this Jesus and me time became so valuable and cherished. It was my lifeline and still is.
“All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13
I want all parents to know that as a church we are here to help you as a parent as you raise up the next generation. These little ones were born for such a time as this and will be able to stand strong in the Lord in whatever the Lord is leading them to do. Parents, we pray for you and honor you as you teach your children His ways in such a godless world at this time.
“Children are God’s love-gift; they are heaven’s generous reward. Happy will be the couple who has many of them! A household full of children will not bring shame on your name but victory when you face your enemies, for your offspring will have influence and honor to prevail on your behalf!” Psalm 127:3-5
Things have changed quite a bit since I was young or when we were raising our children. I’m a Great-Grandma with 24 grandchildren and have been a parent for 47 years! Doesn’t seem possible but it’s a truth😊. Even though through time there are many new ideas, technology improvements, time saving devices and more, nothing is new when it comes to relationships.
My heart is heavy for our children. The evil is so obvious and accepted. From killing newborns, to sex trafficking, to gender related issues, there’s so much going after our little ones. Yet, for them, they are just children wanting to play, learn new things and usually feel protected by their parents. God created children with such resilience and faith. I am writing today about raising up our children in the Lord. This is important for EVERYONE to read not just parents. We need to diligently pray for parents with small children in these times. This is what the Word says about the little ones.
‘Jesus overheard them and said, “I want little children to come to me, so never interfere with them when they want to come, for heaven’s kingdom realm is composed of beloved ones like these! Listen to this truth: No one will enter the kingdom realm of heaven unless he becomes like one of these.” Matthew 19:14
“Listen to the truth I speak: Whoever does not open their arms to receive God’s kingdom like a teachable child will never enter it.” Then he embraced each child, and laying his hands on them, he lovingly blessed each one.” Mark 10:15-16
There are so many new books, programs, counseling techniques, theories, and so much more about children. Many don’t talk about raising children but letting children “raise” themselves. The emphasis is more on protecting your children than training them up in the way they should go.
“Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.” Proverbs 22:6
That’s a powerful verse. First it says to dedicate your children to the Lord not let them make their own decision on who they will follow. Point them to Jesus and what they learn will be with them for a life time! This is true whether they are taught negative or positive. Adults are examples of this. How we were raised is still with us and if it was negative, we’ve had to deal with some heart issues. With all the NEW information about raising up children in this world there is still no truth more relevant and vital than the Word of God!
God is our Creator! He knows the number of hairs on every head and knows exactly what is going on in our bodies, physically, emotionally and spiritually. He KNOWS each person, each child. So, the FIRST place to start learning about raising a child is from the Word of God. Some verses may sound hard, some against the law now days, irrelevant for these times, and not what parents are looking for but the Word is still the only real TRUTH. There has always been parenting issues from the beginning of time and always been issues. Raising children now is no more difficult as any time because there’s always been an enemy trying to destroy families. Raising parents is more difficult than ever before because parents have been educated more by the worldly system than by the Word of God. That is very obvious today. Parents have to be dedicated to knowing what the WORD OF GOD says about raising up children. There are many great tools and recourses that others guided by the Word have made available. Many books on parenting by Christian believers on the practical day to day wisdom are so valuable. But it has to all start from the foundation of the Word.
As a parent I/we DID NOT do it all correctly. That’s the blessing of these wonderful, loving children God created is that they bounce back while we are learning to parent. As a Mom I made so many mistakes. I had 3 little ones who went through the death of their daddy and an emotional basket case of a mommy. Then I married Ed and we had MANY, MANY marriage problems that our children watched us handle wrong. There were times there was NO money. Adam had heart surgery as a baby and we had no insurance. Life was hard and there were mistakes made. Some rebelled for a season. All had heart issues they had to deal with as adults. I was not a perfect Mom but one thing I did know is that the Lord was my only answer! I prayed and I sought wisdom from the Word.
One of the greatest impacts you can have on a child’s life is to spend time with them teaching them the Word of God. The Word tells us that we are to KNOW His Word and then WE are to teach it to our children.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9
These verses were a life saver to me when our children were young. We talk about Jesus and His love all the time. Here is a breakdown of the verses.
**You shall teach the Word diligently to your children
**talk of His love and His ways:
when you sit in your house
when you walk by the way
when you lie down
when you rise up
**Have His Word before your eyes in some way at all times
**Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, have His Words and promises on your walls, on your mirrors, before your eyes!
One thing we learned to do was to DAILY have a devotion time with our children. DAILY we read the Word together. Many times at breakfast, almost always at bedtime. We spent time in reading a fun devotional before bed and the kids went to bed with Jesus on their minds. It took away from some of “our” time but “my” time had a different definition when the children were young. Time together as parents is important and vital since it helps you together in agreement. Your own time individually in the Word is of upmost importance so He can guide and lead you through your day. When my kids were young the only time I had to myself was at 5:30 AM. Didn’t matter how late I was up this Jesus and me time became so valuable and cherished. It was my lifeline and still is.
“All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13
I want all parents to know that as a church we are here to help you as a parent as you raise up the next generation. These little ones were born for such a time as this and will be able to stand strong in the Lord in whatever the Lord is leading them to do. Parents, we pray for you and honor you as you teach your children His ways in such a godless world at this time.
“Children are God’s love-gift; they are heaven’s generous reward. Happy will be the couple who has many of them! A household full of children will not bring shame on your name but victory when you face your enemies, for your offspring will have influence and honor to prevail on your behalf!” Psalm 127:3-5
