For the Parents

Yesterday as I was enjoying my morning off at my in-laws, the Lord awoke me at 5:30 a.m. to tell me we have to figure out a solution to the lack of understanding in our Bible reading. Afterall, we work with the children to try to encourage them to read the Word of God. So, after climbing out of my nice,warm bed and tiptoeing downstairs to make coffee about as quietly as possible without waking a human being, God and I sat down to write this out.

I am blessed to work in a position I absolutely love and I do love it. I love all of my parents but I see something lacking that I can only speculate and have only God's insight without the judgement.

This is a heart tug, from my heart to yours.

How well do you know your Bible? A) Not well at all, B) Okay but I need more, C) I can find my way around, or D) I have memorized some scripture and know God's Word?

How do you feel about God's Word? A) Comfortable, B)Uncomfortable, or C) Was told that I wasn't allowed to read or understand it without a Pastor?

We attended a conference last week and it seems that many churches and mainline denominations are having the same discussions, how do we bring parents and others into the Word of God?
(side note)I didn't start reading my Bible until I gave my life to Jesus, I was old, 25! prayed a simple prayer to give my life back to Jesus and it opened the Bible and the ease of reading it to my brain. Have I read it cover to cover many times? I have read the places God has put forth when I needed them. I have read the Old Testament a few times and the New, but not cover to cover. I ask "Where do you want me today" and open and there I sit. To teach the children, I do pray specifics. I pray about where we have been and where He desires them to be. Right now we are in Ephesians on Wed. nights and then off to Romans.

I want your children to stand firm on God's Word, I want them to stand straight and true and strong and know without a doubt they are a child of the King of Kings. But I have them for three hours if I have them both Sunday and Wednesdays and one hour on Sundays. You have them the rest of the time.

I want more than that, I want you, the parents, to stand straight, strong and true in and on God's Word, that no weapon formed against you will prosper and all that rise against you would fall. I want you to lean not on your own understanding but in ALL His ways, He will make your path straight.

But in order to stand against those weapons you must know the Word of God, because it is the sword, it will cut through anything. It is the shield that will block all those cuts.

How can we help you dig into the Word? We don't want to make you feel like you know nothing, you do know something, you want your children to stand rooted and grounded in the Word, so let us get you there too.

For the next few days, I would like you to dig into Ephesians. Start with Chapter one. Use your child's Bible, in fact, you could all do this! It would be powerful for your children to see you read their Bible. So start with Ephesians 1:1-14. Look at the blessings Jesus says you are! Read it a few times throughout the next few days, then continue to read, take small bite size pieces and chew on them. Discuss them with your family. Post your comments here and let me know what you have found doing this.

Please pray with me...
Lord Jesus, I want to know your Word. I want to show my children that your Word is important to this family and needed for every day life. Lord Jesus, teach my children and me to be passionate about you, to be hungry to know you, to love you, to serve you and to follow you, we desire to be the ones that cling to you. Help us to open our Bibles, to learn your Word and to read them as a family so we grow to know you in a wonderful relationship. In Your precious name Jesus, Amen.

Lastly, God calls us to Godly living, He calls every believer into a Godly live. Those who desire to live a Godly life will face conflict with the world. We can not compromise our convictions, we must deal with the world but stand strong.
So, we must fill our minds with the Word of God, focus on positive, righteous and holy things - including friends and entertainment. Apply Biblical truth to our hearts, by asking the Lord all day to show us how to put into practice the principles of His Word. and lastly, practice the presence of the Lord. God is always with us. Ask him to make you more sensitive to His presence. Allow the Holy Spirit to live through you, He will enable you to withstand temptation and help you become more Christlike. Renewing your mind everyday in His Word will allow you to resist the world. (last paragraph -parts taken from Charles Stanley)