Tag: our children

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Let’s Support

According to recent news, four out of every ten children in our culture live in homes without their

. Close to half of our children are being raised by single parents or find themselves part of a “blended” family. The so-called nuclear family consisting of two parents and their children is no longer the norm.

Single parents face many challenges. Single parents must accomplish on their own what often is a challenge for two parents. Without a partner, however, they need emotional support. Some single parents find themselves deep in debt and often face financial hardship. Some no longer feel accepted by former friends because their partner is gone.

Today, single parents need the help of the Christian community. In the Old Testament, God made provisions for widows and orphans. James calls us to put our faith into practice by reaching out to them. Had James been writing today, he would have included single parents and their children too. You and I may need to step in and help. Look around in your church for such needs and help. You can help care for young children, accept single-parent families into fellowship groups, and provide financial assistance. In the church, everyone should be accepted and included.

Religion that … [is] pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress. (James 1:27).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, help us as members of your church to reach out to all who stand alone as they raise their children, Father give us all the grace to accept and learn from each other. In Jesus, Amen.

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Don’t Worry About It!

Do you worry? Some of us worry about paying the monthly rent or mortgage. Some of us worry about the choices our children are making. Others are anxious about the big decisions we must make about our future. With all the concerns in life, can Jesus be serious when he tells us not to worry?

While we will never know a life without concern, Jesus assures us we can know without worry. He points out that worry—any manner of ‘pace-the-floor’, ‘can’t-sleep-at-night’ fretting—is not helpful, because it changes nothing. Worry doesn’t add a single hour to life; it doesn’t solve a single problem. Worry isn’t helpful because life is more than our worries make it out to be! Followers of Jesus are called to live for so much more than the fleeting things we worry about.

Jesus reminds us that worry isn’t necessary for a child of God. Your heavenly Father knows precisely what you need and when you need it. Your heavenly Father is good. The same God who paints the flowers of the field and tends the birds of the air, holds every part of your life in his nail-pierced hands. The same God who loved you so much that he went through the hell of Calvary for you, loves you too much to leave your life to chance. Don’t worry! God is in control!

“Do not worry about your life …” (Matthew 6:25).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, you hold the vastness of the universe and the intricacies of the smallest molecules in your hands. Please help me to trust in your perfect care for me, so that I may be free to build my life in you. In Christ’s name, Amen.

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Parenting For Eternity

Parenting For Eternity If someone asked you what you wanted most for your children. Your automatic response would properly be, “Success!”

If someone asked you what you wanted most for your children. Your automatic response would properly be, “Success!”

As a follower of Christ, I’ve discovered things more important than success in and of itself.

Our time on earth is short, and eternity is sure to follow. James 4:14 describes life on earth as, “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” This should help with the choices parents make.

Ways Eternity Should Change How We Think As Parent 

 

We Realize our kids are not our own. 

Being a parent naturally involves putting the needs of our kids above our own and sacrificing to provide for them. But ultimately, each child belongs to God. Psalm 127:3-4 says God gives them to us as a reward. When we think of children as solely “ours,” our goals and our desires for them become the focus. When we think of parenting as stewarding the gifts God gives us, it puts the focus back on what God wants for them, which may not always be what we want for them.

We will Have different priorities. 

To most people, wanting success for my children would be admirable, even expected. We’re called to teach our children there is more to life than the success the world tells you about. Knowing the love of God is the greatest thing we can desire for our children. Encouraging good grades and allowing kids to excel in sports is great. But teaching our kids to look for the lonely and the hurting, to love sacrificially, to forgive quickly, and to obey God’s Word is more important than anything else.

We will encourage and celebrate differently. 

The world tells us that our kids are defined by their accomplishments in school, on the playing field, and in comparison to others. But the Bible tells us to focus on their hearts, not their trophies. We’re to point our children to the love of God so much it becomes a way of life. They should hear about it day and night, they should see it in our houses and in how we live our lives. Our lives should be a picture of the Gospel, pointing others to Christ and celebrating when our children do the same. If someone asked me today what I want most for my children, my answer would be, “That they would love the Lord.”

Today, our children who love the Lord, whose confidence and trust are in Him, are blessed no matter what comes. “They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). I can live in peace knowing that a child who follows the Lord will ultimately be blessed. Their roads may not look like I envision, but if they’re following God’s plan for their lives, I know it’s the best plan for them. Parenting with eternity in mind means remembering we have the opportunity to raise disciples who will make a difference in this world. We can leave a legacy that makes an eternal impact, one generation pointing the next generation to Jesus.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ‘ (Prov. 22:6.) 

 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I commit my children unto you. Father, supply whatever is wanting in me, through frailty or negligence. Strengthen them to overcome the corruptions of the world, to resist all solicitations to evil, whether from within or without and deliver them from the secret snares of the enemy. God, pour your grace into their hearts and confirm and multiply in them the gifts of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may daily grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ both now and throughout eternity, in Christ’s name. Amen.

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Teaching Your Children About Faith 

Is Teaching Christian Character in the Home Necessary?

You may ask how I teach my children about faith. The bible gives us a simple way, tell them about your faith and encourage them to tell their children about their faith and so on. This way, a living testimony for truth, is always kept alive in the world. Those that love the Lord are to hand down their witness of the gospel, and the covenant to their heirs. These heirs will pass it along to the next generation. 

Our first duty is to our family. A person who does not start his ministry at home is an inadequate witness. Now, all people who do not know Christ are to be sought by all means, and all the highways and hedges are to be searched. But home has a greater priority, and woe to those who reverse the order. 

To teach our children should be a personal duty. We cannot delegate it to teachers, or other friendly aids. These can assist us but cannot deliver us from the sacred obligation. Any substitutes are evil and insufficient. Mothers and fathers must, like Abraham, command their households in the fear of God, and talk with their offspring concerning the wondrous works of the Most High. Parental teaching is a natural duty. Who are more fit to look after a child’s well-being as those who are the authors of life? 

Today I believe to neglect the instruction of our children is worse than wicked. Education in the faith is necessary for the world, for the family itself, and for the church of God. In a thousand ways insidious false teaching is covertly advancing in the world, and one of the most effective means for resisting it is almost always neglected, namely, the instruction of children in the faith. 

“Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.” Joel 1:3 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh I pray that parents would awaken to the importance of educating their children in faith. God help us to talk about Jesus with our sons and daughters, so that they can be saved. My we never stop praying and instructing them in ways of God and may every house where this devotion is read honour the Lord in Christ’s name Amen. 

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Letting Go

a couple s hands breaking apart

One of my favourite bible stories is the Prodigal Son. Watching the father allow his youngest son to leave home and experience life reminds me of the challenges parents face daily. The process of growing and maturing is not always pleasant to watch.  We cannot raise strong, responsible children or even spiritual sons and daughters by shielding them from all pain and hardships, especially those that come from their own decisions. Often it is the pain that leads them to the arms of the Father. 

Today’s parents of older teens and young adults must release control and learn to trust God in the process. Looking back at the Father in the parable, he knew that he had to allow his son to leave.  But he also knew that he could trust the Lord with what was precious to him, the life of his son.    

Today, we too must trust God and allow our heavenly Father to mature our children and bring them to His perfect stature.  Just as the prodigal son came to himself realizing that he had it better with his father, our seed will as well. It may not be an easy transition, but it is a necessary one. Our children may need a pig pen experience (trial) to come to their heavenly Father. Trying to shield them may lengthen the process of conversion. 

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endures forever–forsake not the works of Your own hands.” Psalm 138:8 (Amplified Bible) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, grant us the grace to trust you with the lives of those we love. Father, teach us continually how to guide our children in wisdom and truth. God as we commit them to you, I ask that you reassure us daily that you will complete the work that you have begun in them. In Jesus name Amen. 

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Pray & Teaching Your Children 

How should we as parents teach our children in the way of God? by our testimony. Christian parents are to hand down their witness of the gospel to their children. And their children will pass it along to the next generation. 

Our first duty is to our homes. A person who does not start his or her ministry at home is an inadequate witness. All people who do not know Christ are to be reached, but home has a greater priority, and woe to those who reverse the order of the Lord’s appointments. 

To teach our children in the Lord is our duty. We cannot delegate it to Sabbath Sunday school teachers, or other friends. They can assist us but cannot deliver us from the sacred obligation. Mothers and fathers must, like Abraham, command their households in the fear of God, and talk with their offspring concerning the wondrous works of God. Parental teaching should be a natural duty. Who is more fit to look after a child’s well-being than those who are blessed with them by God? 

Please note to neglect the instruction of our children in the way of God is worse than wicked. Education in faith is necessary for the world, for the family itself, and the church of God. In a million ways insidious false teaching is covertly advancing in this world, and one of the most effective means for resisting it is almost always neglected, namely, the instruction of children in the faith and knowledge of God. 

Today, I pray that parents would awaken to the importance of this matter, to talk about Jesus with our sons and daughters, and more so because God has saved children through their parents’ prayers, patience, and instruction. May every house into which this devotional is read honour the Lord by lifting Christ before their children daily. 

“Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.” Joel 1:3 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, create in my children pure hearts and renew a steadfast spirit within them. Father Help my children to know your Word and to grow in faith each day. Thank You for promising that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate them from the love of God that is in Christ. God, give my children perseverance in whatever vocation you give them and that they would serve with cheerful hearts as if they were serving you directly. In Christ’s Name Amen. 

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Why Worry?

With infection rates going up, our children about to head back to school, and the economy the lowest it’s ever been, it’s easy to worry. What are you worrying about today? To worry means to allow something to revolve in your mind over and over again until it stresses you out. God doesn’t want you to live worried or anxious about anything. He knows that worry steals your peace and joy. It affects every area of your life negatively. Have you heard the saying, “Don’t worry yourself sick?” That’s because worrying affects your physical and mental body. It even affects your sleep.  

The Bible says you won’t ever gain anything by worrying; in fact, you’ll lose precious moments that you can never get back again. The good news is that God has promised that you can have victory over worry. It starts by making the choice to trust in Him. When you cast your cares on Him, He will give you His peace, which will eradicate your worry. Hallelujah! 

Today, why not put an end to worry in your life. Choose to feed your faith and fill your mind with God’s promises of peace. As you focus on God’s Word, and spend time in conversation with Him, He will drive out worry and fill your heart with faith and expectancy, and you will overcome in every area of your life! 

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27, NIV 

Let’s Pray Yahweh, today I give You permission to put an end to worry in my life. Father, I have decided to feed my faith by studying Your promises, and declaring Your Word over my life. God, help me to totally trust in You today and every day, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Dangerous “MOMO Challenge”

Courtesy: Hack Forever

Evil never rests, it only regroups and develops a new strategy to bring about as much death, destruction, and pain as it can. It seems that the dust has hardly settled over the last suicide inducing game (The Blue Whale Challenge) that a new one has cropped up: The “Momo Challenge”.

A twelve-year-old girl from Argentina has reported having committed suicide, a suicide linked to the Momo Challenge. There are other suicides that have been linked to the challenge but have yet to be verified. Police officers all over the world are warning parents to be on the lookout for this deadly social media game and to be aware of the signs associated with it.

The way that this challenge works is by sending a number to a person’s phone and asking them to contact a Momo Whatsapp profile. Once a connection has been established, Momo will begin to send challenges/objectives to the users that escalate in self-harm as it progresses. Failure to do so will result in threats such as promising to curse the user, kill their family and appearing at night to them. Graphic and disturbing pictures are also sent to the user to further terrify them into complying with the demands of the Momo.

A father from Cutral Co has claimed that the game threatened his fifteen-year-old daughter with certain death. A Momo-connected profile sent the girl a picture of a dead person and threatened her home, family, and friends if she didn’t respond to the challenge.

The Momo is a terrifying-looking half woman/half bird creature that is weird enough to strike fear into any child (or adult for that matter) when coupled with threats of harm and promised death. The creators of the now-dubbed suicide game are using the cropped image of a bird-woman sculpture that was created by Link Factory, a Japenese special effects company. The Momo challenge has no connection to the Link Factory.

Children remain at risk for games like this because their concept of reality and fantasy can become easily blurred. Parents should keep an eye on their children and their mobile use, but take care not to appear overly controlling because that can create much frustration and distance their children from them. If a child is spending an unhealthy amount of time on their mobile, parents need to promote playing outdoor games. If parents themselves spend a considerable amount of time playing games on their mobiles, all efforts to stop or reduce the time spent doing so should result in your child having less of an interest to engage in mobile games. Having good communication with your child/ren is also vital.

The most important thing that we can do for our children is to pray for them. There is only so much that we can do in the physical realm to protect our kids, therefore prayer is the only form of action that we can take to counter all that takes place in the spiritual realm. I believe that all events that take place in the physical realm first originate in the spiritual realm, and as we do not have constant access to that realm (and should not unless by the Holy Spirit at appointed times and by the will of GOD) we need to put our faith in the Almighty to hear our prayers and petitions to keep our children safe.

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What Does The Bible Say About Fathers?

In many countries, Father’s Day is celebrated every third Sunday of June. There are many ideas about fatherhood. Fathers everywhere have endless words of advice to share with fathers-to-be. The Bible has some words to share about fathers. Here are some insights:

1. Fathers are not to exasperate their children.
Ephesians 6:4 (NIV) says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” In another version, it says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”. (ESV)

From the verse, we gather that “exasperate” and “provoke” is the opposite of nurture and admonition. Fathers should not have the habit of infuriating or intensely irritating their children. Instead, they should be nurturing and admonishing towards them thru the guidance of God’s Word.

To nurture is to care. Fathers must show care and to show it in a way that their children understand. Hard love is sometimes necessary. But at all times, a father must ensure that there is indeed love in how he deals with his children.

To admonish is to advise and to warn. Fathers must not hesitate giving advice to their children. Guided by the Word, he must ever be ready to give insight when it is needed and to give rebuke when it is warranted.

2. Fathers are to discipline their children in love.

Proverbs 3:12 says, “For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”

From the verse, we gather that love is the foundation and the reason for rebuke and discipline. Fathers and yes, mothers, are not to discipline out of anger. For those who believe (as the Bible does) in a physical form of discipline, it must never be done as a reactive response. A reactive response is” we hurt somebody because that somebody hurt us; we shout because somebody else shouted at us. Discipline is not like that. It is a proactive response. Fathers (parents) discipline their children in order to reinforce teaching and so that the error hopefully will not be repeated again.

3. Fathers are to show compassion on their children.

Psalm 103:13 says, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”

From the verse, we gather that fatherhood should be marked by compassion. This means that there is no need to instill great fear in one’s children. This means that a father may be bare and open before his child and not be perceived as weak but rather, honest and compassionate.
The compassionate father will learn not to overly or unreasonably expect beyond what his children are capable of at the moment. The compassionate father will learn to extend patience while his children learn the basics and equip themselves for independence later on. The compassionate father will rebuke but not reject a wayward child. The compassionate father will not be happy with a child’s failures but will always be encouraging his child towards betterment.

The Bible has more to say. In many points, the seeking father will learn that he should pattern his fatherhood after the Great Father- the Loving One, the Forgiving One, and the Strengthening One; from whom he will get strength and guidance in order to be better at fatherhood, one day at a time.

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Child Abuse in the Church, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Child Abuse in the Church, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The society has slowly tried to come to terms with the monster called child abuse. It happens everywhere regardless of the race, ethnic or social-economic class. The shocking part is that it has penetrated to our churches and that’s the reality on the ground.

The Roman Catholic Clergy

Majority of Roman Catholic clergy are celibate and the number of the Priests who abuse children and the youth is much greater than the Christians and non-Christians religious readers. The church has been in the limelight for the allegations of child abuse in the recent past. The rising cases of child molestation by the priests have made Australia to advocate for the removal of compulsory celibacy in the Catholic Church. The situation has been bad, to say the least. The year 2014, the UN accused the Vatican of coming up with a plan of allowing priests to sexually abuse children. Pope Francis said that dealing with the cases of abuse was crucial for the church integrity. He also said that a penalty was to be imposed on the offenders.

The issue of child abuse was really discussed in public before the year 1970 not until 1980 when the first cases of child abuse were reported in the US and Canada. In the 1990s, cases of child abuse emerged in Ireland. Later on, in the new century, more cases were reported in quite a number of countries.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) said that the Vatican should suspend all clergy who abused children or were suspects. Following the UN report, Barbara Blaine the president of Snap (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said that it showed that the Vatican considered the reputation of the church officials more than the protection of children.

Spiritual growth and mentorship

Every other Sunday or any day there’s an activity for children, I always make sure I accompany my children or drop them to church. We entrust our children to the pastors, priests or the Sunday school teachers for spiritual growth. It can never ring to our minds that people whom we trust that much can be wolves in sheepskin. It’s not the whole clergy that is rotten but the few in the vicinity leaves one with more questions than answers. We have the best that serves the LORD in spirit and truth and impact our children with the word of God.

Mathew 19:14 the Bible says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ instructed his disciples to release the children to him and us as Christian parents we have an obligation to ensure our children get spiritual enrichment as the word says. Allow them to follow the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ by teaching them the word of God.

What happens when the enemy feeds the minds of our shepherds with immoral thoughts from the pit of hell? Who is to blame for the sexual child abuse happening in our churches? Most children never report that they’re molested and when they open up, the issue is always pushed away. We all need a listening ear. When a child decides to open up and share what he/she is going through, never sweep the issue under the carpet.

Through some research and personal experiences, I have learned that if you become a good friend to your child, he/she will always open up and share with you what they are going through. Woe unto you if you’re still chasing that dream of earning much or getting higher education at the expense of your children welfare. We all yearn to have the best in life but let’s do it in moderation. Befriend your children; cultivate that trust and I assure you that nothing crosses their path will pass unmentioned.

The Good

Do we always vet the people who we entrust our children with? Do we equip them with the knowledge on how to tell whether a child is going through sexual abuse? The best we can do is to allow these people go through some basic education because, in this, they will be in a position to tell and monitor our children if they notice something unusual.

The Bad

All over the world cutting through ethnic, social-economic and religious affiliations, a large number of adults were once abused sexually. Surprisingly, the number may be higher because many victims never speak out or report such cases. The shocking revelations are that these molesters are well known and trusted by the victims.

The Ugly

Sexual abuse has become a bitter pill to swallow in our society. It is never talked about and it’s because of this silence that has allowed it to spread and continue. The Catholic Church is leading in responding to this crime and educating people on the same. Let us talk about this by condemning it. May we safeguard our children and raise our voices to condemn this vice.

May the Holy Spirit convict us whenever we try to do things against the will of GOD?

The resignation of Chile’s Catholic Bishops

On 18/5/2018, all 34 Chile’s Bishops handed over their resignation letters to Pope Francis and asked for forgiveness from the victims and the church. It is not yet clear whether the Pope accepted the resignations. He was highly criticized in Chile for ordaining Bishop Juan Barros who was accused of covering sexual offenses committed by priest Fernando Karadima. Apparently, the Vatican found Fr Karadima guilty of sexually abusing young boys in 1970s and 1980s and was sentenced to a lifetime of “prayer and penance”

The Pope termed the allegations as malicious until proven guilty. He spoke to the Chilean journalist and said, “I will speak the day they’ll bring me proof against Bishop Barros. There is no proof against him. Everything is malicious. Is it clear?”

The Pope apologized

The pope later felt remorseful for his utterances and apologized for hurting the victims of the clerical sex abuse. At the end of the month of January, he sent his Vatican’s top expert on sexual abuse to investigate the accusations.

The victim’s response

Juan Carlos Cruz, who was abused by Fr Karadima in the 1980s, tweeted. “This will change things forever.”

Another victim Jos Andr’s Murillo said that Pope should accept the resignation offer by the Bishops.

“They did not know how to protect the weakest, exposed them to abuses and then prevented justice.” he tweeted. “That’s why they all deserve to go.”

Our prayer is that justice will prevail and a concrete solution will be found to save more children from sexual abuse.

 

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