So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ because you have wholly followed the Lord. Joshua 14:9 NKJV
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
It started with a phone call..after fighting infertility for years I had given up and decided to have the hysterectomy the big time doctor in Houston recommended. But why pay the big bucks to have the procedure done hundreds of miles away from my home when the local guys could do the job just as easily? The heartache wouldn't be any easier but at least I'd be close to my family. I went in and explained my problem to a new Doctor, "let's just get this over with", but he said wait, let's do another test. I was aggravated, when I make up my mind I "don't let any grass grow under my feet" but I complied and, in a few days, I got the phone call announcing the fall arrival of my son's little sister. No one can ever rightly say that God doesn't have a sense of humor.
But with children comes heavy responsibility, As long as we have free will there are no total guarantees. As a Christian my greatest fear has been that my children wouldn't know Jesus in the way that they should. I prayed for them when I carried them in my womb and have prayed for them ever since. Prayer is the first and primary key to achieving anything in this life. After that the surest way I know to have your children serve the Lord is to live a true Christian before them. It seems so simple but we often miss it. Take nothing for granted.
Children are great imitators, it's how we humans learn, they will more or less follow your example and be the kind of person they see in you. As people of faith we want our kids to grow up to be Christians and to find the safety that is afforded in Christ. But we figure that as long as we have them in Church on Sunday everything will be okay. We can't be bothered with the nitty gritty mundane aggravation of following the rules ourselves. You cannot partake in something you advise them to avoid without losing your child's respect and looking like a Hippo-crate. You have to really walk the walk you want them to.
The Scripture in Joshua 14:9 promised the land of Israel as an inheritance from one generation to another. The only catch was their children only inherited the area of land where their father's feet had already walked. Israel had to walk out the promise before it was any good. Taking or sending them to Church is not enough. IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE A SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE YOU MUST COVER THE TERRITORY YOURSELF. It should be done in love..it should be fun and obvious that you think it is important. I never remember one time making my kids go to Church, it was always just an understood part of life. We were involved in the activities we found there and they met their friends and co-hearts in the classes. Be sure and choose a "kid friendly" Church that one thing in so very important. My kids both still attend Church in fact my son is an associate Pastor and my daughter is active in the music ministry at the Church she attends.
There is an old adage that says "you can not teach what you do not know and you cannot lead where you will not go." You must live a real Christian life before your Children, you can't fool your kids, they will allow you some mistakes but they will know if you truly value a personal relationship with God. You might fool your Pastor and the people in your Church but you cannot fool your children. Christ should be just as real a part of your home as any member of your family. He is present at the table and is there at bed time. He should be considered in every decision. I asked a youth Pastor once why he thought so many ":Church kids" fell away from Church. He answered that "It is because they don't see a true Christian life lived out at home ."
My entire life has been spent working with children, my ministry training was largely in that field and I have worked with children since my family started presenting me with nieces and nephews at the age of nine. It is my gift, it is what I do, I am happiest in the company of children. I have seen children in every type of family situation and grace covers a multitude of sins. God can save anyone at anytime who calls on him, but put simply your children are your most precious commodity why take unnecessary chances..Honestly live a Christian life yourself and.raise them in Church. Do not simply point and say ":Walk that way",: embrace the child and gently say.."Walk WITH me, we shall reach the prize together". "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6..with trepidation..Jireh's girl
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
It started with a phone call..after fighting infertility for years I had given up and decided to have the hysterectomy the big time doctor in Houston recommended. But why pay the big bucks to have the procedure done hundreds of miles away from my home when the local guys could do the job just as easily? The heartache wouldn't be any easier but at least I'd be close to my family. I went in and explained my problem to a new Doctor, "let's just get this over with", but he said wait, let's do another test. I was aggravated, when I make up my mind I "don't let any grass grow under my feet" but I complied and, in a few days, I got the phone call announcing the fall arrival of my son's little sister. No one can ever rightly say that God doesn't have a sense of humor.
But with children comes heavy responsibility, As long as we have free will there are no total guarantees. As a Christian my greatest fear has been that my children wouldn't know Jesus in the way that they should. I prayed for them when I carried them in my womb and have prayed for them ever since. Prayer is the first and primary key to achieving anything in this life. After that the surest way I know to have your children serve the Lord is to live a true Christian before them. It seems so simple but we often miss it. Take nothing for granted.
Children are great imitators, it's how we humans learn, they will more or less follow your example and be the kind of person they see in you. As people of faith we want our kids to grow up to be Christians and to find the safety that is afforded in Christ. But we figure that as long as we have them in Church on Sunday everything will be okay. We can't be bothered with the nitty gritty mundane aggravation of following the rules ourselves. You cannot partake in something you advise them to avoid without losing your child's respect and looking like a Hippo-crate. You have to really walk the walk you want them to.
The Scripture in Joshua 14:9 promised the land of Israel as an inheritance from one generation to another. The only catch was their children only inherited the area of land where their father's feet had already walked. Israel had to walk out the promise before it was any good. Taking or sending them to Church is not enough. IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE A SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE YOU MUST COVER THE TERRITORY YOURSELF. It should be done in love..it should be fun and obvious that you think it is important. I never remember one time making my kids go to Church, it was always just an understood part of life. We were involved in the activities we found there and they met their friends and co-hearts in the classes. Be sure and choose a "kid friendly" Church that one thing in so very important. My kids both still attend Church in fact my son is an associate Pastor and my daughter is active in the music ministry at the Church she attends.
There is an old adage that says "you can not teach what you do not know and you cannot lead where you will not go." You must live a real Christian life before your Children, you can't fool your kids, they will allow you some mistakes but they will know if you truly value a personal relationship with God. You might fool your Pastor and the people in your Church but you cannot fool your children. Christ should be just as real a part of your home as any member of your family. He is present at the table and is there at bed time. He should be considered in every decision. I asked a youth Pastor once why he thought so many ":Church kids" fell away from Church. He answered that "It is because they don't see a true Christian life lived out at home ."
My entire life has been spent working with children, my ministry training was largely in that field and I have worked with children since my family started presenting me with nieces and nephews at the age of nine. It is my gift, it is what I do, I am happiest in the company of children. I have seen children in every type of family situation and grace covers a multitude of sins. God can save anyone at anytime who calls on him, but put simply your children are your most precious commodity why take unnecessary chances..Honestly live a Christian life yourself and.raise them in Church. Do not simply point and say ":Walk that way",: embrace the child and gently say.."Walk WITH me, we shall reach the prize together". "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6..with trepidation..Jireh's girl