Preparing a Child’s Heart To Know Christ

June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 RefreshHer1 Comment

I’m thrilled that gardening season is here! Each day I enjoy going outside and tending to each potted plant, window box and flowering bed. I pull off dead blooms, fluff the tender foliage so it will hang beautifully over the edge of the pot, and then give a gentle showering of water so it can soak into the roots, adding growth. From time to time I also add Miracle Grow – a plant food that speeds up the growing process and makes sure the plants are healthy. The results are beautiful!!

As we’ve talked all week about a child being saved, every one of the steps above, regarding tending a plant, could be applied to bringing a child to the place where they understand their need for Jesus Christ to be their Savior. We need to harvest the garden of their hearts so it will be their early understanding that they are sinners who are in need.

Making the plant application, let’s look at a few practical ways that parents can help their children get to that point early on in life.

Pull off dead blooms – This involves seeing that something is in their life that shouldn’t be and literally “nipping it in the bud!” =) When they disobey, for instance, we don’t overlook it or redirect their attention to a “better option,” NO! That sin must be dealt with in a biblical manner. Even from the time they’re very young they should understand that obeying isn’t simply making mommy a happier person – obeying mommy means you’re obeying God! Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Galatians 6:1 Teach them that simple verse by saying it each time they disobey you.

“Disobedience is sin. Each time you disobey Mommy, you’re sinning against God. But God loves you. Let’s ask Him to help you obey.”

Using God’s Word as your guide, teach the child that what they’re doing is sin that makes God sad. “You needed a Savior so God sent Jesus to die for your sin!” You don’t have to preach a message, just those simple statements about God’s holiness (you didn’t say it that way, but that’s what you’re teaching) and His love, points them to their need for Jesus when they sin.
Fluff the tender foliage. Encourage any tenderness the child shows towards their sin. Let them cry, but then comfort them and remind them that God loves them and so do you, and God wants to help them NOT sin. Any time they want to move forward in an invitation, or they ask questions in family devotions, encourage that! Listen. Answer their questions. Be supportive!
Give a gentle showering of water to encourage growth. Sprinkle truths about God, His Word and the application of it through everything you do each day. It’s far more meaningful to see a mom live out the Gospel each day and share out of the overflow, than to occasionally get a “lecture” every now and then from an inconsistent life. Consider:
- Let thankfulness be in your words about God’s provision for your groceries, your home, your clothing…everything you have.
- Point out the beauty of God’s creation when you are outside. Speak Scripture – “The heavens declare the glory of God – Hey kids, how does that sunset tell about God’s glory?”
- Speak about what you learned in your Bible reading and how it applies to what’s going on at that moment.
- Whenever there is a need, stop and pray. Show your child that you’re dependent on God in every situation. – If you see an ambulance or a car accident, why not pray for those involved? If they’re anxious about a test they’re headed into school to take, stop and pray before they get out of the car.
- Be living out the Gospel by sharing it with others when you’re out, when people are in your home and at church. Your children need to see your example of a Christian who is a follower of Christ.
- Read Scripture with your child. I love the idea of reading the psalm of their age every night of that year! Most psalms in the early chapters are very short, so I imagine that both you and your child will have it memorized before the year is out!
Add some Miracle Grow – Make sure your child is regularly in places where they will receive extra doses of the Gospel outside of your home – Sunday school, church services, revival meetings, Youth group, youth activities, and Christian camp. Don’t send your child to church services – go with them. Then send them on their way to the extra outings, praying that the Gospel will be proclaimed and their heart will be tender.

Tending to my plants is messy and daily. My hands end up covered with dirt, and if I neglect their care, you can only imagine the ugly results! The same also applies to the tending of our children’s spiritual needs. It’s a daily discipleship that is often messy and inconvenient, but the results aren’t just for a summer of glory – it’s for eternity, and it’s such a blessing to be a part of that! This is our heart as parents, is it not? ~

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. III John 1:4

God is the One who will bring the fruit. We just need to be faithful to plant and water, then leave the results with Him.

What are you doing today that will point your child more towards Christ?

children · Parenting

Is Your Child’s Education Your Idol?

August 6, 2015August 25, 2015 RefreshHer4 Comments

In my recent Bible club with my little students next door, I taught them the second commandment –

You shall not make unto thee any graven image.

In other words – Don’t worship idols! But I needed to establish in their hearts what an idol is. I used this definition that I heard on a radio message –

“An idol is anything I love, trust, serve or fear more than God.”

Now, if you’re a mom with children in school, will you look at the definition above and ask yourself if your child’s education has become an idol to you? We gasp and say, “But education IS important! If my child fails, he’ll never make anything of himself! How will he ever have a career? I HAVE to push him and make sure he gets good grades!” Please hear me – I’m not suggesting that you allow your child to be lazy or flunk out of fifth grade because he’d rather play baseball! But I’d like for us to consider five ways you make your child’s education more than just important, but an idol in your life:

It becomes the first priority in your home. In other words, your church attendance and participation, your schedule and extra-curricular activities all revolve around school. If there’s a test to study for, or homework to do, it comes first. You will skip church to make time for them to work on school. It’s an idol.
You talk to your child more about his grades, homework and lessons more than you talk to him about God and His Word. It’s an idol.
You fear what will happen if he fails or does poorly more than you fear him not doing the will of God for his life. It’s an idol.
You’re devoted to him getting good grades so he can make a good living, rather than him loving God and seeking His will – whatever that may be. It’s an idol.
You talk to others about your child’s achievements in their education more than you talk about their obedience to God’s Word and ways. It’s an idol.

So, how are you doing? Did these questions reveal any truth about an idol in your heart regarding education? You can trust God with your child’s education and with their future! Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you! Matthew 6:33

Lovingly,

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Don’t Zone Out – Tune In!

March 19, 2015March 18, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

I just got back from a trip to town. Things I saw have gotten me to thinking about how we all tend to “zone out.” We’re so busy, so frantic, that when whenever we can, we find our way to check out on life. Here’s how I’ve seen it recently:

People in their cars, talking on their phone while trying to make a left turn onto a very busy road. They’re oblivious to the fact that they’re blocking both turn lanes. Zoned out.
Shoppers push their cart out into the middle of the aisle without ever considering that someone might have to come to an immediate halt to keep from hitting their buggy. It’s okay; they never see anyone else, never acknowledge that someone else is in the store. A believer misses the opportunity to serve others or to speak or encourage with a word or smile.
Parents are caught up in conversation or their phone, or a ballgame and miss seeing what their child is doing or what they may be up to. The child speaks and the parents hears, but isn’t listening.
Christians sit in church “listening” during a service, all the while thinking of a hundred other things during the announcements or message. Afterwards there’s no memory of what was said or of the Lord speaking to their heart. They’re also out of the loop about what’s coming up on the church calendar.
Spouses don’t take time for one another to have an eyeball to eyeball conversation. They give “air kisses” as they part in the morning or return at the end of the day. They miss details of the other’s life because they’re zone out.

Okay, so we’ve all seen it and DONE IT! Right? I certainly have! What’s the remedy? How about following the principle Jim Elliott is quoted in saying,

Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt any situation you believe to be the will of God!

When you’re driving, put the phone down. Be a present driver!

When you’re at the store, keep your head and eyes up. Be a present shopper/witness!

When you’re with your children, listen to them. Inspect what you asked them to do. Have a consistent, watchful eye on them. Be a present parent!

While sitting in the church service, keep your notebook out. Write down the announcements the pertain to you! Write down any questions you may have if you didn’t understand the details. Take notes about what God is saying to you during the message. Be a present church member!

Be intentional about spending time with your spouse when you see one another. Greet him at the door. Mark out ten minutes just to talk with him about his day and things he needs to hear. Be a present wife!

Zoning out involves thinking about one person – ME. Tuning in involves everyone around me. Life is a greater blessing when we stay tuned in to others around us! Let’s tune in to others and zone out to self!

Are there other scenarios in which you find yourself zoning out?

With love,