Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
One Sunday morning many years ago, I stood staring out my kitchen window, contemplating on not going to church any longer with “just me and my two little girls.”
Three months had passed since we had moved from Atlanta to New Orleans. My husband had been offered a job opportunity he felt he couldn’t afford to turn down. During the process of our lengthy talks about taking the job, I said to him: “I’ll go with you anywhere you feel we need to go; it is just so hard for me to move with two little girls to a strange city and have to take them to church by myself.”
To which he replied, “I promise you if you will make this move with me, I will go to church with you and the girls.” And with that hope, we made the move.
Oh yes, he went the first Sunday to help me find the church, and that was the end of that. As a young mother I felt so betrayed.
So, on this Sunday morning as I was about to give this church-going up for good, I heard little children in my neighborhood playing out in the street. It was then I prayed: “Lord, if he never goes to church with me, I commit to you this morning that I will go alone if I have to; I can’t bear the thought of my children playing on the streets on Sunday morning and not in church.”
And with that, the three of us began our journey, and today both girls and their husbands hold ministry roles in their church and are raising their little ones for Jesus.
I realize it doesn’t always happen this way. When children become of age, they make their own choices and sometimes stray from their Christian up-bringing. But, I would encourage every mother to make the effort to teach their kids about Jesus and take them to church, even if it she has to do it alone. It has its rewards—I am blessed.
On a side note, my husband gloats over his children and grandchildren. He has been the best husband and father any man could be with the exception of that “missing link of having Jesus in his heart.” But, as Lynn and Dineen point out: “God makes everything beautiful in His time.”
As we come to the close of our study in Winning Him Without Words, let me say it has been a pleasure reviewing Beverly, Jennifer, Donna, and Sarah’s blogs for you, our readers, each week. I know they have inspired you as much as they have me. Let’s take one final look at what they had to say this week on: What About the Kids.
Weekly Review
Monday: Where to Start? Before answering that question, Beverly talks about the thoughts most women have in a spiritually unequally yoked marriage, as Beverly was.
- Am I doing things right
- Am I teaching them the truth
- Will they accept Jesus as Savior one day
- Will they learn to be a prayer warrior
- Will they love Jesus
- Will they wake each morning with a desire to live every moment for Him
- Will they seek a godly mate for their life
- Will they love God’s Word and want to spend time getting to know Him
As most mothers, Beverly had thoughts on whether her children would continue living out their Christian foundation after her children were grown and left home.
But, even with these consuming thoughts, Beverly agrees with the answer in our book on page 170 of Where to Start: “Help our love for Jesus be so contagious it can’t help but rub off on our loved ones and when our kids see us loving God in this way, they will love Him too!”
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Tuesday: Teachable Moments: Jennifer brought us to the reality of three main points we must consider if we are to have teachable moments with the children God has placed in our lives.
- There are limited moments in our daily lives. We only have 1,440 minutes every single day.
- Be ready for these moments.
- Create those moments if they are not spontaneously popping up on their own.
Jennifer challenged us to be alert to the teachable moments that will come into your life be it your own children, grandchildren, nieces/ nephews, cousins, etc. Pray that the Lord will open your eyes and your heart to these moments. Seek Him for how to respond; in all situations. Show love and grace.
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Wednesday: Start When They are Young: Donna certainly believes in starting young in teaching and training children for the Lord as she did with her own children.
For starters, she:
- Prayed before they were conceived.
- prayed for them during pregnancy.
- prayed after they were born that she’d have wisdom to know them like God did and know how to raise them for His purposes.
After her children were born she:
- taught them to pray at early age
- no TV was allowed; only Christian radio
- videos taught God’s word in song
- read children’s book on their Bible heroes
- prayed with them for healing of cuts and bruises
Donna knew she was to start out showing them Jesus as soon as they were born. In addition she knew that her own faith should be lived out in every aspect of her life, every day before her kids.
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Thursday: As They Grow: Sarah points to us as parents the spiritual influence, positive or negative, we have on our children as they grow.
Because of some issues she and her believing husband had in choosing a church home, they did not attend church for a year. Her main concern during this time was how this was affecting her girls, ages 11 and 13.
I personally found the prayer Sarah offered at the end of her blog should be the prayer of all of us who desire to be a Godly influence on children as they grow. Dear Lord, we want to make sure they continue to want to worship You, learn more about You and grow closer to You every day. This is a crazy world we live in, with many negative outside influences that are hard to keep away from our children. Help us in this effort Lord, to keep their eyes focused on You.
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Let’s Pray: Father God, you have given us a precious gift – -children. Help us all as parents, grandparents, children church leaders, aunts, uncles – -not let a teachable moment pass us by. Give us wisdom to guide the children you have placed in our lives. Above all, may these little ones love you with all their hearts, and live their lives according to what you have created them to be.
Your assignment: Tell a child today that you love them.
If you have not accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, and would like to have someone pray with you, please email us at Prayer@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com. and one of our prayer team members will contact you.
Have a blessed day,
Martha
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Our next Women’s Online Bible Study
“Crazy Love” by Francis Chan
Begins January 6, 2013.
To sign up for this new Online Bible Study, click the link HERE and follow the instructions. You will also be given a link to where you can purchase this bible study. We’re looking forward to learning about this “Crazy Love” with you!!
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