Beloved Hubby and I are leaving Houston. (Be at peace. He's driving.) We spent the weekend baby-sitting Grant, our nine month old grandson, so his parents could go to a friend's wedding in The Big Easy. No, there isn't a serious shortage of baby-sitters in Houston, we just needed a fix.
But back to my need to share. These thoughts are for anyone out there trying to raise kids to love and follow Jesus Christ and the message is, "Keep on keeping on."
See, my husband and I raised two kids the same way. One, our son, seemed to say from the first, "Sounds good. I'll worship your God, make Him mine, and try to follow His teachings."
The other one, our daughter, seemed to say, "I'll probably do that, too--but I don't know. I kinda like the world's way." She wasn't openly rebellious, but her heart always seemed divided at best. "
So, why do I open our families' closets for you today? I'm not really sure but I think it must be because somewhere out there is a parent as worried as I once was, worried that the culture is trying it's hardest to hold up as attractive everything you abhor and destroy everything you value.
Someone needs to be encouraged to hold the faith, live the example, and trust the One who tells us that if we train up our children in the way they should go, when they are old they will not depart from it."
The picture I attached-- I snapped it in the once casual child's bathroom, only she's all grown up now. And the paper--it's a personal prayer she wrote out with accompanying scriptures because now she has not only a heart to know Him, but a determination to see that her child knows Him too!"
Can anyone say amen?
Hugs
Shellie
P.S. I did call back and get permission to post this :)
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God is so funny! I just listened to Beth teach on this very scripture tonight at Bible Study. Remind me to tell you what she said. Thanks for always being a light and pointing in the right direction (straight to His word, straight to Him!) I appreciate you more than you know!
ReplyDeleteI know only too well what you mean. Our children must find God for themselves, we parents can only show and tell... He tells us to trust in Him, and if we do our part all should be well.
ReplyDeleteCarey, I'll be all ears to hear that! And thank you sweetheart-- you reveal His glory to me, too!
ReplyDeleteAmen, Al! Hey-- why doesn't your comment have a pic so we can "see" who we're visiting with? :)))))))
ReplyDeleteAMEN and AMEN!
ReplyDelete(My Pentecostal upbringin told me to give you two.)
Shellie,
ReplyDeleteI'm Lindsey Groll Martin's mother, Judy Groll, and I would like to thank you for posting this note. My husband and I have two children as well and raised them both the same. Lindsey followed the Lord whole heartedly and our son at the age of 18 decided being a "Christian" wasn't for him anymore. He is now 22 and over the years he has gone back and forth with this decision and I have laid him on the altar MANY times. Within the last year God has done an even bigger work in me as I released him completely to God. I could almost hear the Holy Spirit say, "it's about time!!!" Looking back I can see the work God has done in him and even last week my son told me he was rethinking being a Christian but changed his mind again. I'm praising God that he is still thinking about being a Christian...even if he didn't make a commitment right then! God keeps speaking to my heart that He is working on him... to just love him and pray. It's so encouraging to read about your daughter's commitment to the Lord. Thank you so much for sharing.
Many Blessings,
Judy
Write gardener-- your comment made me smile:)
ReplyDeleteJudy,(I find myself wanting to call you GG!)You are most welcome. I hear your heart, girlfriend. I will pray with you for your son and trust our sweet Abba to fully enlighten his eyes to the Hope of glory!
ReplyDelete