Guarding and Protecting our children

Raising our girls has been a privilege, honor and blessing. Elizabeth is 21 and is an early childhood Children's Pastor in the Des Moines area. Kayla is 19 and is taking 4 classes online through South Eastern, working 3 jobs and is returning to South Eastern in January to continue her pursuit for ministry. Hannah is 15 and is a freshman in high school where she exposes her love for Jesus and has an all girl Bible study in our home. Then, there is Marissa.... Marissa Joy to be exact. She is 12 and is the type of girl that you just like to watch. Marissa brings new surprises to our home and we all laugh at her excitement and approach to life. Some of you might know about her ministry in our home but for you that have not yet experienced this fabulous idea, let me share it with you. About a year ago Marissa decided to launch a new ministry of her own, "The Garbage Bag Ministry." This entailed writing scripture or an encouragement on the all white kitchen trash bags so when the "trash man" picked up the garbage he could read the note and have a happier day. One of the first notes that Marissa wrote was, "Trash is trashy but, you're not!" I truly believe this girl is going to go places. Love you Marissa, your so cute!

1) The subject of raising our children can be a delicate one, but very successful when following God's principles. We also need to understand that it's two fold. First, it takes us as parents saying yes to God's ways of raising them and secondly our children saying yes to God ways. Never forget that God's first two children messed up and He is a perfect parent. But I challenge all of us parents to re-read how God handled their wrong choice. Here are some things that I pulled from Gen. 1:26-Chapter 3.

• We see that God created us in His image (we were made to be relational with Him, have wise minds, loving hearts and a willingness to obey Him)
• We see that He was pleased with His children
• We see that He was aware of everything that went on
• We see discipline
• We see that God follows through to the very end

God did not sweep their disobedience under the rug and act like it didn't happen, or hope it would go away, or say, "This is just a stage they'll come out of it......" No, He confronted them. He explained their failure and then acted on their discipline. He did not react and sin in His anger, but acted with firm loving follow-through.

2) The guarding and protecting of our children is vital and this will entail physical protection, but more important is their spiritual protection. Being aware of who their friends are, whose homes they are going to, what they listen to & what they watch, monitoring computer content & time and most of all discussing with them their relationship and devotion time with God. Guarding and Protecting our children is so important, but it does take work and commitment on our part.

3) Which brings me back to Me and My walk with God. Because I believe that, "We produce what we posses!"

4) Guard your children this week, even if that involves getting deeper into their world, going to their school and talking with their teacher, or checking the front gate of the boundaries that you have set up to insure that it is locked.

5) Here are some scriptures for you to read: Proverbs 1:8-19 and Romans 16:19

Love to all!