Dear Moms and Dads of Girls,

This is a little longer than my normal post.  So, get a cup of coffee, that chocolate you have stashed for a rainy day, and take some time to read this very important post.  

I have been meaning to write this post for some time now.  I feel impressed to get it out now.  My heart has been deeply concerned about the state of our young girls.  My husband and I have been youth pastoring for 15 years now and we have seen a lot change over the years regarding our young daughters. I am talking just about girls raised in Christian homes in this post.  However, If you are not a Christ follower there are some really great things you can glean from this as well.   

My daughter is in the sixth grade and she goes to a public junior high school.  This year one of her close friends (we will call her Amy for the sake of this post) is being bullied.  Her friend Amy has been told that she should sleep with her boyfriend; because that is what you are just supposed to do.  Amy has been told she should start drinking.  Amy has been ‘hit on” by this girl bully.  Because Amy has decided to take a stand and not participate in these things, she is being bullied all at the age of 12. 

This post is not about what the media portrays women should look like.  This post is not about our over sexualized youth.  It is not about the internet or even peer pressure.  It is about what are we doing about raising our beautiful daughters to be strong women of God.

Time and time again, John and I are helping girls deal with breaking up with their boyfriends and they are barely 13.  We constantly see girls who are already defeated by what the world thinks of them.  We hear of girls who trade in their values just so they can feel loved.   We constantly see a battle in them about who they are in Christ and with the world.  The age of the start of these problems is getting lower and lower.  Moms and dads it is time to wake up and start teaching our girls to find their value in Christ.

Parents we need to be aware, actively aware.  We have found that parents are just not paying attention.  Recently, in our youth group we asked, “How many of you know someone who is sexually active now or has been?”  Out of a room of 25, more than half jr. highers, 80% of them raised their hand.  These are church kids, in middle America, in a small town.  I would dare say that more than half of our youth have unmonitored access to internet.  Most of our kids in our youth group barely know why they believe what they believe. Junior highers are asking questions I would never even have thought of when I was in high school.  Go here to check out some of those questions.  Our kids are growing up in a very different world; but our God never changes.

Okay, Christina so what do we do about it?  I think we need to teach them some very key attributes. 

Modesty is more then just not wearing short skirts and low cut shirts.  Modesty is about how your daughter sees herself.  Too many girls do not see their body as an act of worship.  Our bodies are to bring glory to God, not to get attention from people.  I love this verse...

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold and fine jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight! I Peter 3:3-4

Every girl needs to find their Identity/Value in Christ alone.  If we look for value from others, we will only leave empty.  Christ fills our void.  He gives us purpose.  He created us.  He knows us.  We are precious to Him!

Psalm 139:14-18
 ¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
      Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
 ¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
      as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
 ¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
      Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
   Every moment was laid out
      before a single day had passed.

 ¹⁷ How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
      They cannot be numbered!
 ¹⁸ I can’t even count them;
      they outnumber the grains of sand!
   And when I wake up,
      you are still with me!

True Beauty/Purity only comes from a life yielded to Christ.  When we allow Christ to make us new, He comes in and does a clean sweep.  He makes beautiful from the inside out.  We radiate because the light of Christ lives in us.  I tell girls you can be beautiful to the human eye on the outside; but really ugly on the inside. The ugly on the inside will then overshadow the beauty on the outside.   Fear the Lord and you will be beautiful to Christ!

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praise. 

–Proverbs 31:30

You daughter needs to know that she is a part of God’s Plan.  Too many girls are only living for themselves, mostly because at such a young that is what they are able to understand.  They live in the moment, not thinking about consequences.  As parents we need to teach them that God has a perfect plan for them.  Each girl needs to learn to listen to the voice of the Lord. He will guide them.  He will lead them to the good life He has for them.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.-Jeremiah 29:11

Thoughts can bring life and death to our girls.  I asked about 60 girls what they thought about themselves when they look in the mirror. Here are just some of the answers I heard:   fat, ugly, stupid, unloved, hate, not good enough, dumb, useless, worthless, nothing, the list went on and on.  (You can read my blog about it here)  What does your daughter say to herself?  Have you ever asked her?  Hopefully, she knows exactly what God says about her.  If not, help your daughter to understand how God sees her and begin to help her change her thoughts.  Here is a great verse for that….

 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. –Philippians 4:8

Mom and Dad your daughter is desperate for you to lead them, to help them, and to love them.  We need to intentionally encourage them.   As parents we also need to be the main adult presence in their precious lives.  That may mean Mom you take some time and sit down with your daughter and talk to her about how she sees herself.  Dad it may mean taking sometime out of your busy schedule and take that lovely girl out on a date.  Mom and dad it is time to be examples of Christ followers.  They are watching and learning from you.

It is time to wake ourselves up from our slumber; we need to realize that we need to parent our girls.  We need to do it now, even at a very young age and even if we have missed out and they are older.  It is never to late.  We need to actively train our girls in the Lord.  We need to teach them God’s ways.  We need to pray for them.  We need to help them become the strong Godly woman that Christ desires for them to be.

Your girl can change the world!

GET JOY!

I love this song

What To Do...What To Do...

I made this list a really long time ago of things to do for my daughters when they say, "Mom, there is nothing to do!" So I thought I would share my list of 101 things to do for little girls. Please, feel free to copy it and give it to your kids.

101 things I can do when there is nothing to do....

1. Make a tent in your living room.
2. Make popsicles out of juice, small paper cups, and popsicle sticks.
3. Pretend to go on a trip, make tickets, pack a bag, board your couch, take pictures.
4. Write a list of 10 things you would like to do.
5. Ask to have a parent let you take pictures of God’s creation and put them on the fridge or your blog.
6. Make something three dimensional; use a box, paper, tape, glue and crayons.
7. Press some flowers you picked.
8. Make rubbings of leaves that you find.
9. Learn about a different Christmas traditions and add it to you own.
10. Most definitely have a tea party.
11. Have a sleepover.
12. Go on a treasure hunt in your yard (make your own map)
13. Learn to play tennis or baseball
14. Try a hula hoop…see how many you can do
15. Decorate your bike and have a parade down your sidewalk
16. Have a lemonade stand
17. Have the Olympics in your yard…make sure you make medals.
18. Go fishing (in your tub if you can’t go for real)
19. Make cookies with your parent
20. Make a card and send it to an older person who may need encouragement
21. Go through your toys and donate old ones to a mission
22. Play hopscotch
23. Do a mural on your sidewalk with sidewalk chalk
24. Paint a picture of yourself
25. Look in the mirror and try to learn to wiggle your ears
26. Practice spelling Mississippi
27. Go on a bug hunt
28. Volunteer some time helping someone…like raking leaves.
29. Do something special for mom
30. Do something special for dad
31. Go to the library and check out a fun book
32. Make your own paper dolls
33. Make a puppet out of a sock or paper bag and then put on a puppet show
34. Pretend you are from a different country and practice the accent
35. Make up a new song while singing on your swing
36. Invent a new game; make your own board and pieces or write up the rules
37. Learn how to play soccer or basketball
38. When you get a package in the mail ask your parent if you can have the bubble wrap and dance on it.
39. Ask for a big box (the bigger the better) and make something out of it (house, boat, car, rocket ship)
40. Build a snow fort
41. Make a collage out of newspaper or magazine pictures
42. Make something out of duct tape (slippers, purse, wallet, bracelet)
43. Design blue prints for a house on a piece of paper with all the rooms, doors, and furniture
44. Write a play and act it out for your family (make tickets, playbill and popcorn)
45. Make a home movie theater and watch a family favorite (make tickets and popcorn)
46. For dinner ask if you can make it into a restaurant, design a menu, give out fake money, take orders, and bus the table
47. Make a memory box to keep special items
48. Start a journal and write stories, thoughts, poems, songs and draw pictures
49. Make flowers out of Kleenex ask mom how
50. Plant a seed in a plastic bag with wet paper towel and watch it grow
51. Help mom and dad with chores without being asked see what happens
52. Make a card for someone special
53. Write a letter to the President of the United States and thank him for all his hard work
54. Ask mom if you can dress up in some of her old clothes, shoes and jewelry
55. Have a fashion show
56. Learn how to play an instrument or make your own
57. Learn ALL the words to your favorite song and sing it to your family
58. Make a paper airplane and see how far you can get it to go
59. Make homemade play dough
60. Make a Christmas ornament or decoration
61. Write a letter to God (put it in your memory box)
62. Make popcorn garland for your Christmas tree
63. Go caroling with your parents
64. At Thanksgiving pass out paper to everyone and have them write why they are thankful and hang them on the refrigerator
65. Learn the Pledge of Allegiance and the pledge to the Christian flag
66. Learn how to sing our national anthem
67. Draw and picture of our flag and hang it on the refrigerator
68. Learn about a current soldier name and address; pray for them and send them encouraging letters.
69. Make a special dessert for the pastor at your church
70. Draw a special picture for your teacher
71. Take an apple to your teacher
72. Wash your parent’s car and vacuum the inside…make sure you get their help and permission
73. Go to Grandmas and help her with some yard work
74. If you have a video camera ask mom and dad to help you film a short movie you wrote.
75. Ask mom for some old wrapping paper and on the back of it draw a mural or a sign
76. Have a water balloon fight
77. Play in the sprinkler with umbrellas
78. Make mud pies
79. Play hide and seek
80. Go swimming or learn how to swim
82. Take care of a pet
83. Rearrange your room, make it nice and neat
84. Get a cozy blanket and read a good book
85. Play house
86. Play school (make sure you send home homework)
87. Collect food boxes and washed out cans and set up your own grocery store, get some brown paper bags and play money too.
88. Make snow angels
89. Go sledding (make your own hill if you need to with the snow in your yard)
90. At the beach roll in the sand, jump in the water, dig to china and make a sand castle
91. Count as high as you can
92. Blow a bubble with chewing gun and try to blow a bubble inside of that bubble.
93. Camp in your backyard
94. Plant a flower or a tree in your yard with your parent
95. Paint your mom’s nail or if your dad will let you …his nails
96. Go for a nice walk with your parents and explore the nature around you
97. Ride bike with your family
98. Have a picnic on your living room floor on a rainy day
99. Dress up for a special event
100. Have “Pillow Time” get all the pillows in your house and put them in a huge pile in the living room and have your parents read you a book or watch a movie
101. Wear mixy matchy socks!

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Faithfulness

Faithfulness

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Proverbs 3:3 (New International Version)
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

I fluffed my pretty white dress, checked my veil, made sure I was holding my bouquet just right and put my hand into my dads arm . On that day, I walked down a beautiful aisle and at the end stood my best friend who I married that day. Until then, I never really had to work out faithfulness to such a degree on my own outside of my relationship with Christ. Marriage is a representation of Christ and the church and I take that very seriously. On that day I promised John that I would love him and be faithful to him till death us do part. So every day John and I are being an example of faithfulness.

Faithful: true to one's word, promises, vows, etc. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant. reliable, trusted, or believed.

I want my children to see faithfulness in us. That means I must do my best at our marriage. There are days I am not going to get it right, but I can not give up. Thankfully, I can teach them that God never fails that is what is so cool about Him. We can count on Him all the time. He is faithful all the time because He is faithfulness.

Along with praying for our children to have faithfulness lets pray that God would help us in the same thing. That we would be faithful in our relationships and the promises we have made. That we would be a good example in this divorce ridden, promise breaking world. Help us to be a light in the darkness.

*" Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts."

*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Biblical Self-Esteem

Biblical Self Esteem

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Ephesians 2:10 (New King James Version)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.



I love this one! I love praying for my children to have well rounded, Christ centered, good self-esteem. I want them to have a godly confidence. So when they look in the mirror they see what God sees in them, the beautiful creation that He is so carefully painting inside of them. I got to share at Jr. /Sr. High Camp on this very topic, it is dear to my heart.

God really knew how to speak to me when He uses ideas that are artistic like Him being the potter, creator, us being his workmanship. I love art and these ideas just really help me to get. When we are His he is working in us chiseling away the things that are not of Him and revealing more of Christ. God wants us to be a masterpiece that is used for His glory. He wants us to do good works ....we should want to because of what He has done for us.

I don't want the world defining my children for them, which will lead them to vanity, pride, selfishness, disappointment. I want them to see themselves as God sees them and I want them to have self-esteem rooted in Christ. Then they will have the courage to do mighty and awesome things for His glory.






*"Help my children develop a strong self esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus"




*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Respect

Respect (for self, others, authority)

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

1 Peter 2:17 (New International Version)
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Man, sometimes I wish some kids had even a once of respect these days. Respect seems to be hard thing to come by in this generation. It is kind of sad in my opinion. It also is hard to teach my kids to be respectful when other children around them lack it.

I really like how the complier of this list clarified respect for self, others and authority. Too many times I find, working with teenagers, that they do not respect themselves. They care too much about what others think about them that they do not care about their own character.

Not only should we respect those that we like, but give respect to those we don't care for. We must show the love that God has called us to. This is very hard at times to do...I ain't gonna lie.

Then I Peter also tells us to respect God and those in authority. We need to teach our children to give respect to our leaders even if we do not agree. I think there is an aspect of teaching our kids to give reverence to God our ultimate authority. God is our friend but He is also King. I find all too often at church that many kids don't know how to respect God's house and even God himself. It is our duty as parents to instill in them a holy reverence; but yet help them understand God friendship and love.

*Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as your Word commands."

Lord help me learn respect and give it and I will...

I love this picture of my daughter giving Gaston attitude. It makes me laugh because my daughter is not like that at all...we totally staged this picture.

*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Mercy

Mercy

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Luke 6:36 (New International Version)

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.







Mercy~compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence; an act of kindness, compassion, or favor




A couple Sundays ago, I did an object lesson with the kids in Jumpstart Kids Ministries. I had one of the kids come up and play a game with me. The game rules were that she had to answer ALL 1o questions right that I was going to ask her. If she didn't get them ALL right she was going to get squirted with a little water gun. If she got them all right she would get a yummy candy bar. She agreed to the terms of the game. She didn't get one question right....well that was partly my doing, I asked her riddles. I then teased her and got out my giant super soaker to spray her because she didn't get any right. We all agreed that is what she deserved. She even took her glasses off to get ready for the spray of water that was about to come her way.

Now of course at this point I did not douse her in water as exciting that may have been. The children were very excited about the idea of it. Nope, I wanted to teach them the ideas of mercy and grace. Mercy was given to the student by me not spraying her with the super soaker. I had compassion on her even though it was the punishment she knew she was to receive. Mercy is not getting what you deserve.

I then went a little further and gave her the candy bar even though she didn't get a single answer correct. I told the kids that this is grace....getting what you definitely did not deserve. She did not deserve that candy bar. But that is exactly what grace is all about.

I want my children to fully understand mercy and grace. I want them to show mercy to those that hurt them as hard as that may be. Hey, I need a good dose of mercy at times too. As humans that natural tendency is to hurt as we have been hurt. But God is always asking us to do what He is calling us to do, walk in mercy.

Yesterday, we talked about justice....we need to love justice; but it must be coupled with mercy. To many times we are ready to be just but not ready to give mercy. Mercy is showing God's great compassion in this very lost world. Mercy also means acts of kindness, compassion and benevolence.

There is no greater time than now to show mercy....
I have posted two pictures of places that desperately need our love, mercy and grace. The first one was taken by me in Jamaica at the orphanage that I went to last November. The second is a picture taken by missionary Matt Love from Dominican Republic last week as he was in Haiti. In that picture Convoy of Hope is passing out food to those in great need. We need to be merciful in times like these.


*"May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful."

Our Father is merciful! Our punishment we deserve is eternal death; but in His great Mercy He has provided Grace!






*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Justice

Justice

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Psalm 11:7 (New International Version)
For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.

This next verse is dear to my heart one of my favs!
Micah 6:8 (New International Version)
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.



Over the summer, the girls and I decided to protest at the White House (very briefly a baby boy didn't let us stay longer than 5 min). There was a lesson that I wanted to teach the girls, that we need to stand up for what is right. I shared with them that we are very blessed to live in a country were we can peacefully disagree with our government and through our votes guide our country. The girls and I think abortion is very wrong and we wanted to stand up and say that we should stop this practice in our country. We wanted to make a stand for what is right. So we got out our markers, paper and tape and the girls came up with a message....



But justice is more than just and issue, it is about who you are as an individual. To be honest, I don't think I have ever prayed this for my kids. I want them to do justly but I have never prayed that this virtue would grow in their lives. I decided to look up the word and get a better understanding of it

Justice~the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause. (dictionary.com)

Just~guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness, based on right; rightful; lawful, righteous,actual, real, or genuine. (dictionary.com)


So after looking it up and thinking about it....I have been praying these things but maybe not as fervently as I should; because in Psalm 11:7 God LOVES justice. If God loves something it probably is a pretty important thing to have in one's life. And of course, I want my children to be real and genuine, full of righteousness and truth. I want them to act fairly with each other and the people who they come in contact with. I don't want them to have to be right but I want them to desire the one who is right! I want them to understand the idea of "Do unto others as you would have them do to you". I want them to speak up for those who have no voice. I want them to love God and that means to love justice. Now hold on for the next one because along with justice there also comes.....(read tomorrows)



*"God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do"



Let's find ways to exemplify Christ to those around us and especially to our children; and we will...

*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Love for God's Word

Love for God's Word

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Psalm 19:9-10 (New International Version)

9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

When I was little I loved hearing the amazing stories of David and the giant, Daniel in the lions den, Noah and the ark, Moses and the burning bush, Jesus calming the storm and so many more. I remember the felt boards used in Sunday school. The picture books at home read to me by my parents. When I was little I loved hearing the stories found in God's Word.

Funny how those feelings haven't changed much in me at all, I still hang on to that childhood wonder. I still love hearing and reading the glorious stories. But they really are so much more than just stories. It is God's Word for us, to teach us, to mold us, to guide us on this road of life. I am reminded of the verse found in Psalm 119:105 (New International Version) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. So many times God shows me how to live this crazy life.

I definitely what my kids to love God's Word today and for the rest of their lives. I want them to enjoy the stories the truths found there. I want them to be able to remember God's love during the tough times that life brings. I want them to know His word in their hearts so they can live in confidence in Christ. His word will be there rock.

*"May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than pure gold and sweeter than the honey from the comb."

*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Self Control

Self -Control

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!


1 Thessalonians 5:6 (New International Version)
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.



Last night, my daughter ate too much pizza and now she lies on my couch this morning with a tummy ache. We talked a little about how maybe she should not have eaten the whole personal pizza. Every time we eat at Mr. M's she eats the whole thing and then her tummy hurts. I asked her why do you eat the whole pizza and she said, "It's good"!



Sometimes, we need to teach our kids that just because it is good or seems to be good doesn't mean we should eat copious amounts of the round circles of warm, cheesey yumminess. Rather, we should use self control to keep us from taking in to much. Sometimes too much of a good thing can be bad for us, it can give us a tummy ache.



But it is more than just teaching them to not over eat (which is a wonderful thing to teach them) it is about teaching constraint, in all areas in their lives. If we can show them good habits when they are young they will be able to carry it with them into adulthood. How many times have we as adults wished we had learned to be more disciplined when we were younger and how that would have affected us as now? So now is the time to help our children lay the ground work of self-control.



Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines self-control as restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, our desires.



The more I think about this, I begin to realize how much this plays into the idea of not falling into sin. Sin is not being self-controlled, giving into my own impulses, letting my emotions cloud my judgment, and giving into the desires of the human nature. If we can pray for our children to be self controlled we are praying for the first line of defense in not falling prey to the seduction of sin. It is a very powerful virtue to not only pray for our children to have but for us as well.


*"Father, help my children no to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do."




Today, let us be self-controlled in our lives and be an example to the little ones around us so that we all may....



*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Honesty and Integrity

Honesty and Integrity


For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Psalm 25:21 (New International Version)
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

The other day a child (not my own) was not suppose to have any candy. The child's parents specifically told him not to. At the dinner table, as this child was talking, we noticed that their tongue was a nice shade of green I believe. We (the parents) all joked about if you are going to eat candy when you are not suppose to at least make sure it doesn't change the color of you tongue, it is a dead give away. Now, we were all joking around about it but we all understood integrity is far deeper than that. The ideal is that the child would not eat it at all and not cover up something if they have done wrong or justify it.

One time one of my children got caught in a big lie. We as parents have to take these times to teach them about these virtues, honesty and integrity. I made that child sit in their room and think about what they did and why it was wrong. We than sat at a table and wrote down answers to a series of questions I came up with to help my child understand why what she did was wrong. Why is it wrong to lie? Is God a liar? Does it hurt others when we lie? Can I be trusted if I lie? What should I do when I lie? How can I make it right? (She got grounded as well)

I like this verse...it is soooo good. How true it is that when we are honest and blameless what can be said of us. I know people that have such amazing character and integrity that if something was ever said of them to destroy them I would not believe it. If only we could say that about our politicians, sad : ( .

Sometimes, my kids in our youth group have had problem with gossip and so and so said this about so and so... you know what I mean. They want to know the truth, so one of my questions is, "Does this rumor match your friend's character?" Sometimes, that is a great measuring stick for people. Integrity always will protect you...I never have to worry about what people are saying because my hope is in Christ and He helps me polish my integrity.

Wow, that is what I want for my kids. I want them to be honest and full of great integrity; because when they have these virtues I know that they are covered by Christ. Let's pray this into our children today!

*"May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection."





Today, let's not get caught with a green tongue...LOL....



*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids
**I just love this picture of my girl and her very green tongue and just had to use it!

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Love

Love

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Galatians 5:25 (New International Version)
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:2 (New International Version)
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

"I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck
A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap
A barrel and a heap and I'm talkin' in my sleep
About you, about you
'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your purdy neck I do" ~Frank Loesser



I am sure we all have little songs or sayings we say to our kids. Of course it is easy to love their sweet little faces, their our children.



But we are challenged to pray love into their lives...what does that really mean. I was surprised the man who put this list together chose the Galatians verse to go along with love. I can think of plenty of verses in the bible that would support this idea of love.

As I was thinking and praying about it.... I had (do I dare say it?) an "Ah ha Moment". I began to think about how in Ephesians 5:2 we are to live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. What did that really mean? I know that Christ died for me...but he also died for everyone...the sinner, the good person, the not so good person. He even goes further than that... He died for friends who couldn't even stay awake during a desperate time. He died for a friend who denied Him in His deepest hour of need of a friend. He even died for a friend named Judas who sold Him out for 30 pieces of silver. Bottom line he died for everyone, even those who hurt Him the most. ( to bad Judas couldn't figure that out, maybe his ending would have been very different and he will live an eternity in sorrow over it)

So where can I and my kids get that kind of love? This love only comes from God, the Spirit that dwells in us. In our own selves, try as we might, we can not give that kind of love. God's love is too big, too wide and far too deep and it goes beyond the farthest star.






I also have this little saying I say to my kids often..."I love you to the moon and back". ( I even found it at a store and it now hangs in my boy's room) The tradition usually continues with, "Well I love you to something further like the sun, Pluto, Infinity + 1." With the Spirit we can love with God's love which is even bigger than INFINITY +1.

*"Grant, Lord that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them."

If we can have that kind of love we would most certainly....




*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Growth in Grace

Growth in Grace

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!


2 Peter 3:18 (King James Version)

18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Grace Defined by dictionary.com

Favor
Good will
Mercy
The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God
The influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them
A virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces
Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.




I really like all of these definitions. The last ones really go a bit further in regards to our walk with Jesus. Sometimes growing in grace can be really hard and tedious, much like my rose bushes in my garden. For some reason I have a really hard time growing these beauties. They seem to really need that extra green thumb and tender loving care that I do not possess. I was given a rose bush by my family for mother's day two years ago. I put in the ground and did nothing to it. Sadly, it died a quick death. I went and purchased another rose bush and I pruned it, water it, sprayed it with bug spray, found a nice sunny place and even put a ton a leaves around it to protect it during the winter. I was able to get a few blooms out of it before the summer was over and we shall see what happens next year.

My prayer is that my children grow in grace. I pray that they will be merciful, show favor and good will to others. But more importantly I pray that they would understand the grace that was given to them through salvation. That they will also come to know Christ great love and allow it to regenerate and strengthen them. What a great thing to pray into their little lives.


*"I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
That I may also find myself in a "State of Grace" and there I will...


*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

The rock is in my garden...I put there as encouragement to my flowers...I don't think they listen to it very well though. A shout out to my sis....she took the rose picture~ I love it! I just love the gerber daisy pic. of my daughter...it makes me smile.

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Salvation

Pray for Salvation - Is. 45:8, 2 Tim 2:10

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Isaiah 45:8 (New International Version)

8 "You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the LORD, have created it.

2 Timothy 2:10 (King James Version)

10Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Tears ran down my face as I saw my two girls come up from the water on a beautiful Sunday morning this past Thanksgiving weekend. My daughters decided to be baptized. As I watched them declare their decision to follow Jesus my heart was overwhelmed with thanksgiving. What an appropriate weekend to be baptized on.

I remember when my sister (age 9) and I (age 11) in 1987 decided to do the very same thing my daughters were doing that weekend. I remember that it was my decision not my parents. I also knew that I needed to grow in Christ and become more like Him, at the ripe old age of 11. I am always amazed how much young children grasp and understand.

As a parent, there is nothing I want more for my kids then to know Christ love, His salvation and His life giving promises. Everyday, we need to pray for our kids salvation and what we as parents can do to guide (not force) our children to Christ. I always appreciated my parent's guidance in my faith. They never in any way forced me to be a Christian and I never felt that. My decision to follow Jesus was 100% my own and that is so reassuring to me as a Christ follower. My faith is my own.






I want my children's faith to be there own as well. I want them to feel free to ask questions...even the tough ones. I want them to be able to explore all that God has for them. I also want to provide everything they need to grow in the salvation that was so freely given to them in Christ Jesus. Part of that provision is covering them in prayer....

*"Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory"



God's salvation will help us and our children....

Here is a great link to learn more about salvation in Jesus Christ!


*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

Have you ever wondered how or wanted to pray for your kids; but just didn't know what for? Sometimes I feel like I get stuck on the same thing over and over again. However, I want to pray for so much more for their little lives. I want God to do so much in them and through them. I want God's best for them.

I was going through all my junk the other day...rummaging through my purse and found something that I want to share here for the month of January.


I picked up this flyer somewhere by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids . I am going to go through one a day and write a little about each one. Let's then commit together to pray for our children each day for each topic.



Here is the list...

1. Salvation - Is. 45:8, 2 Tim. 2:10


2. Growth in Grace - 2 Pet 3:18


3. Love - Gal. 5:25, Eph 5:2


4. Honesty and Integrity - Ps. 25:21


5. Self-Control - I Thes. 5:6


6. Love for God's Word - Ps. 19:10


7. Justice - Ps. 11:7, Mic 6:8


8. Mercy - Lk 6:36


9. Respect (for self, others, authority) - I Pet. 2:17


10. Biblical self-esteem - Eph. 2:10


11. Faithfulness - Prov. 3:3


12. Courage - Dt. 31:6


13. Purity - Ps. 51:10


14. Kindness - I Thes. 5:15


15. Generosity - I Tim 6:18-19


16. Peace-loving - Rom 14:19


17. Joy - I Thes 1:6


18. Perserverance - Heb 12:1


19. Humility - Titus 3:2


20. Compassion -Col 3:12


21. Responsibility - Gal 6:5


22. Contentment - Phil 4:12 - 13


23. Faith - Lk. 17:5-6, Heb 11:1-40


24. A Servants Heart - Eph 6:7


25. Hope - Ro 15:13


26. Willingness and ability to Work - Col. 3:23


27. Passion for God -Ps. 63:8 KJV


28. Self Discipline - Prov. 1:3


29. Prayfulness - Eph 6:18


30. Gratitude - Eph 5:20, Col 2:7


31. A Heart for Missions - Ps. 96:3

So, as we begin a new year lets begin first by praying for these virtues for our children and let's see God do some amazing things.

Stop by every day and lets check out what God wants us to focus on for that day!

Psalm 16:11

"Get Joy" Book Verses

What a beautiful verse that sums up God's Word to us. He has shown us the path of life through His word, meditating upon it and listening to Him. I love the last part...in Your presence is fullness of Joy!
Last night, I rushed my son off to the ER. He was really struggling with congestion. His ribs were sucking in. One of the signs my doctor told me to come in for. This is the third major sickness of my small boy's life in less than a year, Ugh!
On the way to the ER, I started to do the "What if game". I have told my self so many times to not go there in my head. But, there on my way I found myself playing the game. What if he has to be hospitalized? What if he is really bad? What about my trip to Jamaica in 6 days, will he be fine? And of course what then usually happens when I go down this path, what if he dies? I am sure I am not the only mom who has allowed her thoughts to go that way in the face of an emergency.
But in the gentlest of ways my Father, God, reminded me of a few things. He reminded me that I cannot control his life. I cannot keep him from all these diseases. I cannot know what all is in store for his life. But, in the most loving way as He always does, He also reminded me of a few other things. He reminded me that my son is His...that he is His creation...that He loves my son more than me...that He has my son's best interest always in mind....that He has a plan for him. I always seem to forget all those things. God is in always in control and I always trust in His promises no matter what. When He spoke those things it calmed my heart. When the Doctor came in and told me my boy had pneumonia, sure I got real nervous....but God has shown me the path of LIFE and I will trust in Him.

And in His presence I will...



My son is at home eating a piece of pizza with me as I write this. He is not better yet, but he will be. PTL

I Timothy 2:5-6

"Get Joy" Book Verses

I do not know why some verses stick out more to me than others; maybe, it is life circumstances or what God is speaking to you in the moment. Whatever it is, sometimes verses just become life time favorites.

The idea of ransom is so meaningful to me. The idea that Jesus Christ, God of the universe, paid my sin debt by dying for me it so huge for me to understand. I sometimes feel that I grasp the entire theology behind it; but, I do not think I will ever totally get it until I see Jesus face to face! I also love that Jesus stands on our behalf. He is our mediator! Dictionary.com had this definition that I really liked...one that works to effect reconciliation. Oh, how I needed to be reconciled to God and there is Jesus doing all He can to make that happen. Ooooo so good, thank you God for saving me from my sins.



I love this picture of my parents! That is me they are carrying. Now, that I am a parent I really get what it was that my parents wanted more for me than anything in this world and that is Christ. I am so thankful for parents that love God and that they did their very best to share Jesus with my sister and me. They always allowed us to come and discover God in our own time and in our own way. They never pushed their faith on us. They just loved us and show Jesus as often as they can. They provided every opportunity to grow and hear about His love. Christ was a priority in there lives and it became a priority to us. I am so grateful Lord that you saw fit to give me to my parents, Thank You.



As my children grow I now feel that longing that my parents felt. I want more than anything for my kids to know Christ, to know His love, to know His power, to know His joy! I want them to know that Jesus is doing everything He can to reconcile them to himself. All of this is the prayer of my heart as it was the prayer of my mom and dad!

Thanks mom and dad!





As our children bring us joy...may we bring them joy by our example!