Tag Archive | children

Childlike Trust

Sep7

Childlike Trust in the Lord.
A Song of Ascents, of David.

O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters,
Or in things too difficult for me.
2 Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever. — Psalm 131

Childlike faith leaves no room for worry, no room for stress from responsibility or “too much on my plate”, or insecurity. My Father has it all under control. I can trust that He wants the best for me and will supply all my needs. And . . . if I would just get out of His way and let Him lead, I would be so much more secure in my life. As David pleads with Israel to hope in the Lord, I believe the Lord wants us to hope in Him from this time forth and forever. It is so worth it.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

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Grandchildren

Sep3

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. — Proverbs 17:6 NIV

If the aged are those who have grandchildren then I will give in and agree that I am aged. And if grandchildren are a crown to the aged then I will have to say that my crown was filled yesterday with the most beautiful jewel weighing eight pounds, one ounce. I was blessed by our good Lord with a beautiful granddaughter yesterday and she is truly a joy beyond expression. I cannot thank my Lord enough for His wonderful bundle of joy wrapped in a pink precious little girl. My heart was overwhelmed by this little delicate child.

And to see the proud parents of this little girl beaming almost as bright as the jewel in my crown overjoyed my heart. I thank God they chose to have this baby and their decision to raise her in a Christian home. If this does not speak of the power of God in the lives of believers I don’t know what does. May they choose to glorify God through the family they have. I know I will be praying for them.

Thank you for allowing me to ramble on about my grand-baby but all is to the glory of God who allowed me to experience such a miraculous life event.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Power of Prayer

Aug30

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. — Psalm 34:7

Have you ever  awoken at an odd hour and not been able to get back to sleep? You have this unexplained feeling that you’ve been awaken for a purpose? Yesterday morning I woke around 4 a.m. and tossed and turned for about thirty minutes when I finally gave in and got up. That feeling of purpose was there so I began to pray for my husband, still in bed sleeping away, and my children. I wondered if something was going on with my daughter, as I’ve said before, since she is having her baby next week. I took each of my kids and their significant others to the Lord in prayer.

Well unbeknownst to me my son was in a car accident. On his way to work he fell asleep at the wheel. He woke up in time to see himself headed to the back of a van, slammed on his brakes and veered to the right just catching the passenger side rear bumper of the van. He was banged up a bit but is doing fine. His car actually looks in pretty good shape too. The van driver was fine.

Talking with my son at 7:30, when he called me from the Emergency Room, he told me that he was thankful for the van being in his way or he would have entered a busy intersection and who knows what would have happened. We have a lot to be thankful for.

I don’t know about you but when God calls us in the middle of the night or in the early morning we need to listen and pray, pray hard. We may not know what we are praying for but the power of pray can call down angels from heaven to encamp around those who fear the Lord. I do not regret the lost sleep nor the time spent in prayer. When I think that my prayer could have been the difference between life and death for someone it is all worth it.

Prayer is powerful. God is more powerful. Take any time you are awake in the quiet of the night or day and talk to God. You could be making a difference in someones life just by praying.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Promise: Mercy and Righteousness

Aug29

But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, — Psalm 103:17

What a great promise to cling to and remember. God’s lovingkindness (mercy) is forever. When we received His mercy through the cross it extended down through generation after generation to us and it will never end. It is hard to fathom the depth of this mercy we receive for all who reverence God.

And if His mercy weren’t enough but His righteousness is to thousands who love Him and keep His commandments. Passed on to children’s children. His righteousness will not go away. Our God is righteous and nothing can change that.

Share your righteous God who keeps His covenant and shows mercy from everlasting to everlasting to your children so they may pass it to their children who pass it to their children for a thousand generations. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. His righteousness is ever progressing.

Praise You, Lord God for your lovingkindess and righteousness! The promise that is everlasting.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Hope For The Future

Jul24

“There is hope for your future,” declares the Lord, “And your children will return to their own territory. — Jeremiah 31:17

I believe there is no greater joy than when you see the years of prayer you put in for your children begin to be answered.

My husband and I have often discussed how we were not the best parents but did the best we could — most of the time. We both believe it is by grace that our children managed to survive our rearing of them. I thank God that He is perfect and loves my children more than I could ever love them.

All our children have reached adulthood, despite their parents, and have not always followed our advice and counsel nor that of the Lord. They have wandered out into the world and made mistakes — but haven’t we all. In my 21 months away from my family I focused a lot on praying for my husband and kids, many times on my knees crying out on their behalf. My children were introduced to Jesus, all making a profession of faith, and then wandered into the world without Christ. It has just been recently that I see the miracle transformation taking place in all of them and I am ecstatic.

Rebellion from attending church has been turned into faithful consistent attendance. Never seeing them open the Word of God to asking where their Bible is, and seeing them reading it. Finding one in prayer and meditation with an open Bible. Alienation from church and Christians to a desire to fellowship.

The point of this is that my ever faithful God, in His perfect timing is answering my prayers and my tears are now tears of joy. Thank You Lord God for listening and for answering. Thank You for what You are doing in the lives of my children. May You continue to be glorified in their transformation. There is hope for my future and theirs.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Children’s Responsibility

Jun5

The church should take loving care of women whose husbands have died if they don’t have anyone else to help them.  But if they have children or grandchildren, these are the ones who should take the responsibility, for kindness should begin at home, supporting needy parents. This is something that pleases God very much. But anyone who won’t care for his own relatives when they need help, especially those living in his own family, has no right to say he is a Christian. Such a person is worse than the heathen. — 1 Timothy 5:3-4, 8

My Mom and I had a discussion yesterday morning about my helping her and my Dad when he was alive. I believe that God called me to stay in Washington State with my Mom and Dad after a visit there found my Dad in poor health. All the time I have been very content knowing that I was doing what God had called me to do.

Since my Dad’s deliverance to heaven in March I have been taking care of my Mom who has some confusion and other health issues that does not allow her to live alone. We are discussing what we can do to have me home with my family in Missouri and still be able to provide for her. Mom always told us kids as we were growing up that when we were grown and had our own families that she would not be a burden to any of us. She insisted that we were to put her in a nursing home when she got too old to take care of herself. That thought just didn’t sit right with me and believed that it was not what God had planned for me to do.

I share with my Mom that I believe God desires for me to care for her and has made provision to do so. I also stated that I believe the Bible says that it is my responsibility to care for her. Well in our conversation she called me on it. Where does it say that in the Bible? I immediately started searching for it and when I wasn’t finding it I started to pray asking for God’s guidance to find it. I was beginning to think I had to eat crow and humbly confess to my Mom that I was wrong. Thank God that He led me to this verse. I had read it before in the past, probably several times in my life and I believe the Holy Spirit reminded me of this verse even if I didn’t know where or if it was in the Bible. I rejoice that we have the Holy Spirit to bring to mind the things of the word when we need it.

I covet your prayers for my Mom and me so that we both see God’s guidance and will in this issue of her care. I just long to please God.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Mother’s Day

May11

“Behold, everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb concerning you, saying, ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ — Ezekiel 16:44

I’ve been living with my Mom for almost 21 months now, since my Dad’s illness. Over that period of time I have noticed — more than I did before I started living with her — how we often are thinking the same thing. I kid her saying it scares me when she says something and it is just what I was thinking. That happened just last evening. We both had a good laugh about it. Then I found this verse right after that. Coincidence? I think not.

I am now — as opposed to my much younger years — honored to be like my Mother. She is a strong woman who raised four children, many times on her own because Dad was off serving our country. She taught me service and how to love a husband and raise children. She taught me to respect elders, those of different cultures, society status, well basically everyone. She taught me manners, how to sew and crochet and cook, although she is still a much better cook than I. But . . .

The greatest thing my Mom taught me was who Jesus Christ is. Passed down from her Mom to her and then to me. She made sure that her children were introduced to the Savior and she prayed for us and continues to pray for us.

From generation to generation. “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. — 2 Timothy 1:5

I continue the legacy with my children. I pray for them and continue to share Jesus even though they are on their own now. They know that Jesus is alive and well and living in their Mother. I hope they will always see Jesus in me. My gift to them this Mother’s Day and until Jesus comes.

May God bless your Mother’s Day!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Blessing of Children

Mar16

 All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God: — Deuteronomy 28:2

 “Blessed shall be the offspring of your body — Deuteronomy 28:4a

The Lord will make you abound …  in the offspring of your body — Deuteronomy 28:11a

Obedience brings the blessing of children. God created humanity and through them He continues the blessing of life. He continues His image on the earth for God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them*. God’s plan was for procreation from the very beginning (God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth — Genesis 1:28a) so it is understandable that He would bless what He has commanded. God calls the man whose quiver is full of them (children) a blessed man.

The blessing is not just in number. I believe it is also to bless you and your children’s relationships and to bless your children and your children’s children and so on. God longs to bless His children. Obedience brings blessing, builds trust, and strengthens our relationship with Jesus Christ. Receive the blessing by being obedient — for you and your offspring.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

*Genesis 1:27

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 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 127:4-5

Teach Them

Mar3

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. — Deuteronomy 6:7

Yesterday’s devotional was a plea to keep the commandments of God on your heart. Diligently keep watch over your soul so that your heart does not depart from what you have learned from God all the days of your life. Remind yourself by telling of the goodness of God to your children and/or grandchildren.

The closer my walk has become with the Lord Jesus, the more I see analogies in my life. Often life events, everyday ones as well, will have me sharing the Lord’s words or biblical events that spring into my mind. On one such occasion the church start my husband and I attended had a booth at a community event. When it came time to pack up, we had 4 of us folding up a canopy. Each of us grabbed a leg and met in the middle. As we were coming together I just said, “This is like the Holy Spirit drawing us together as one.” My sweet friend came back with, “Sharon, does everything have to be about God?” She of course was teasing me.

When we walk closely with the Lord He opens our eyes to opportunities to share Him. In everyday life we can see things that can be correlated with Scripture. Make every moment a teachable one by staying connected with Jesus and His Word. He makes opportunities for us to speak of His glory. So share those moments with your children and grandchildren and everyone you have a chance to whether you are sitting in your house or walking by the way, when you rise up and when you lay down. Sun up to sun down.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. — Deuteronomy 4:9

Second Chances

Feb21

That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children,  That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, — Psalm 78:6-7

When I look back over my child rearing years I see many regrets and failures. If I could change or have do overs I would say the name”Jesus” more often. I would tell the plan of salvation until they understood. I would point out the attributes of a living God. My lips would testify more often of His greatness, goodness, provision, compassion, mercy and grace. My children would hear the Word of God more often than Sunday mornings. They would see me praying more often and family prayer would be more than just before eating or sleeping. They would know that Jesus was a very real part of the family Who would go with them out into the world when they started their own journey.

If only . . .

God is a God of second chances. Maybe becoming a grandmother is my second chance. I just found out I am to be a grandmother for the first time. I am so excited about this new creation being formed and woven in it’s mother’s womb. I give thanks to my Lord for my grandchild who is fearfully and wonderfully made. This baby’s frame is not hidden from Him and all it’s days are already ordained and written in His book.

God has given me a second chance to make a monumental difference in a child’s life. Thank you Almighty God. To you I will look for strength and seek Your face continually.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. — Psalm 139:13-16

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. — Psalm 105:4