Y'all have heard me mention that my Bible study group has been doing Beth Moore's, "Wising Up" and it is chock ful of AWESOME stuff. The last 3 sessions were soooooooo good that I'm begging every woman at my church to join me for 3 weeks and watch the sessions on being a wife and mom!! AWESOME stuff y'all. So, when I feel like I'm about to explode like a volcano with a heart of hope and knowledge....then what shall a girl do??? Blog about it, that's what!!!!
These are the points, and of course summed up by me, that the beloved teacher taught on regarding parenting.
1. Be affectionate!
Our children need to know that we love them greater than any other human on Earth. They need to see us love them. We need to shower them with hugs and kisses.......even during adolescent and teenage years. Even when we have all blown it....they need to know that we loved them always! We should teach them appropriate affection. And, if affection is hard for you, then begin slowly by faking it and you'll get there!
2. Be absolutely and utterly authentic!
Something that got me here was when she said if they begin this eye rolling thing with you, then they aren't buying into what you are saying!!! Ouch!
Deut. 6:4-7 was her scripture reference for this entire point. Jesus is in everyday living and not just put aside in a box when we feel like pulling Him out. Love God FIRST! They need to see that He is everything to us and that He is overflowing out of us. Here's a fun exercise.....ask your children to describe God. I've done this at church with kids. Our children need to see that He is for us and not against us. He is a YES God! They need to know that He can be the best thing and the wildest ride of our life.
3. Be obvious in motivation!
God has a "no" for us because there is a much better and greater "yes" for us. The commands are for us and not against us. They need to know that we and God provide rules and boundaries because we are looking out for their best! We want the BEST for them....God wants what "no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
They need to know that they were thought of and loved beyond the foundation of the universe!
They need to know that God has a beautiful, specific plan just for them!!
4. Be courageous!
Ok....Our kids need to know that we love them, but we are also onto them when something just doesn't seem right. And...tell them!!! Let them know you have a gut feeling that something is not right but you just don't know what it is yet. We hold the power and we don't need to be afraid to let them know it.
Also, be courageous in the individuality. Be the individual parent with each child. They are not the same and they need to be parented differently. The literal translation for Proverbs 22:6 would say "train a child in a manner benefiting that child." And, when they mess up, do not rescue them every single time. Let them fall and they will get back up.
5. Be courageous in discipline!
Discipline is for training and instruction. "train up" means to dedicate them to God and disciple or teach them. Give them to Him every day. He loves them far more than we do!
Support a system of belief (because God works this way too) of blessings and witholdings.
When obedient, blessings will come. When disobedient, withhold from them. We live in culture of overindulgence so be strong when it comes to discipline. Follow through and stick with it.
And, if they choose not to walk in obedience, let God deal with them. He will.
6. Be courageous in battle!
We fight for our kids!!! We fight for them in the heavenlies and we fight for them in matters of this earthly existence. We MUST have a support system of other believers that will be there for us and support us and help us during difficult seasons with our kids. That is HUGE!!!
7. Be filled with the Spirit!
We cannot do this thing without a filling of Him every single day! We need to get on our knees every day and ask for a filling of the Spirit. We need to dye to self so we can be alive in Him and take on the things of our families that could easily overtake us!
Finally, at the end of Proverbs 31, vs 28 says that "her children rise and call her blessed."
The literal meaning of blessed means that she was happy!!!
What do your children call you?? What would they say about their momma??
I pray that all our children rise and call us beautifully happy and in love with Jesus!!!
I'm praying for us as mommas today....no matter the age of our children....all of these points can be applied to us!!
Have a glorious filling of the Spirit and may your day be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control! (Gal 5)
May His presence be all over you and in your home!
Blessings y'all~
11 comments:
Amen and Amen, now let us all stand together and sing invitation hymn #145.
Good word!
Oh Fran, I needed this. So badly. I've been having a rough time lately with patience, and self-control. This bible study sounds wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing.
"What would your kids say about you"
Today, they might have decent things to say. Yesterday, not so much. It was not pretty. I came home from work and they were fighting. It turned from verbal to shoving and kicking (eachother) and I just about blew my top.
It frustrates me when they fight. They bicker mostly, but sometimes one will start to lash out physically. It breaks my heart. They have been taught to love. Love has been demonstrated to them. We are praying as to how to nip this in the bud. Ugggg.
Thanks for this post! I liked it and needed it too!
Love you,
Ter
A very helpful post for us mothers. Tonight I will talk about this with my kids. - "God has a "no" for us because there is a much better and greater "yes" for us." Are current plans have changed and I have some disappointed kids. But we are not in control on this one and God is saying "no".
Sounds awesome sweetie.
This is some good stuff here!!
I'll be back later this evening to read it again, a little slower!
Love you girl!
steph.
This was such a good reminder of how we need to parent our kids, it is so hard sometimes.
I think that it is so important for all of us to be praying for one another. This little blogging world has been such a blessing to me. We need each other as women, mommies and Christians!
Love,
Darlene
Thanks Fran. That is good stuff! I about the blessed = happy. Puts a new perspective on that for me.
Oh, how I wish I would have known this when my kids were young! I pray the Holy Spirit fill us up so we can be fruitful! Thank you for being so excited about what you learn and taking the time to share it with all of us!
We love you!
Angie xoxo
Thank you so much for sharing that. I truly pray about my parenting everyday. It is huge responsibility the Lord has entrusted me with! And I am so very thankful for it and for that sweet little boy of mine!
I am also so thankful for you and how your posts encourage me everyday!!!
I love you to pieces!
Charity
Great post, Fran, and I finally got around to adding you to my blogroll.
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