Teaching kids

Shared in mom's group.....

I felt urged to initiate a discussion here on how are we setting priority for our kids after listening to an inspiring speech.

Incident 1:
I once had a Sunday school parent tell me that her kid who is studying around 8th std has not come to church since she has exams on the next day?

Incident 2:
When I try to tell senior kids during Sunday class to allocate few minutes for personal prayer and Bible reading in the night or any time during the day, kids say no time! Lot of homework! Have other work! Etc etc.

Incident 3:
When I have talked to kids about importance of family prayer, I have had most of them saying that there is no family prayer in their houses or no family time together!

Incident 4:
When I have talked to senior kids about misuse of internet and stuff, I have had them say that they have their own mobile phones!

Incident 4:
When I was talking to senior kids about staying away from idols in their life, kids shared that they are not able to come out from usage of listening to pop or peppy songs, Instagram, rock music etc.etc.

I honestly agree that as a mother, I am and will be facing challenges in all the above areas and praying for God's guidance. But can we have an open discussion, heart to heart pouring our ideas so that we bring up kids who really rock for Christ ! This discussion is to only edify and equip us as parents to do the first and foremost ministry of raising up a holy generation!

1. How as parents can we set an example, show them practically, emphasize to our kids that serving Jesus is the first and foremost priority in their life come what may~

2. How as parents can we make them pray daily from young age ?

3. How as parents can we make them read bible daily from young age?

4. How as parents are we ensuring or allocating time for family prayer?

5. How as parents are we  spending family time to narrate stories/teach values/listen to kids? Are there any other idols which is stealing our time from spending time with family ? Facebook, Serials, WhatsApp, Instagram, calls etc.

6. How as parents can we have our kids stay away from evil addictions ? Of course consistent prayer for our Kids. But any practical rules to follow?

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Nice n serious thought Joyce... Almost every point u have listed has the same answer... Kids emulate us...so as parents we must be doing it first.
They should see us praying, reading word, applying word, giving importance to church n fellowship, giving generously, etc etc

No other way than meeting our God in throne room as Beu always exhort

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Sharing what I follow:
1.As spoon as my son wakes up, he has to brush, pray and then only I will give him glass of milk.. Mostly he will demand as soon as he wakes up, but it's a rule..
👆seeing my son pray, now 2.8yr Priscilla is kneeling and reciting along with him..
2.Some days ,the moment he wakes up, he switches on TV or demands mobile, I insist to pray and then watch..

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I will try to share what I am following, others please share as well.

1. Often iterate and reiterate on every occasion to my kids that God is the foremost priority come what may. Often narrate stories of how God carried me through the toughest times bcoz I put him first in my life. Prayer, reading bible, memorizing verses, respecting elders, not wasting food or money (difficult struggling area), being kind, etc. Living by God's principles is first and then comes studies/exams/games/toys etc. I have failed many a times as well but keep trying consciously.

2. Consciously taken effort for my elder kid 8 yrs now from small to do small prayers often

1. When he starts to  school
2. Before he starts his homework
3.before he starts playing keyboard
4. During night family prayer
5. When someone is sick in our family/prayer requests
6. When he hears an ambulance sound
7. Sometimes when I have pressure in work/ office needs etc.
8. When he wants a new toy/gift. Also he thanks when he gets a new one. Instantaneous short prayers on the spot.

So he immediately volunteers to pray quickly even if we forget in troubled times. You can try and see.

3. I had a thought that its very tough to make kids to read bible until I saw God do a miracle. He listens to our prayers.

A month before our hard disk with kids collections broke, so Chad's time boxed screen time was not possible. He had lot of free time and started reading Children's bible stories on his own. He had so much time that he read many times and found it interesting. Praise God. Now he started reading NKJV version every day one chapter from new testament on his own.

I thanked God for breaking the hard disk.

Usually he reads verses daily stuck on door before going to school. As Beu used to say, if you read a verse 100 times then it automatically gets stored in their memory. Psalms 139 after reading for 1 month, he started reciting easily. You can give a try.

4. I keep alarm to remind for family prayer. Otherwise I will keep on doing household work. For non working mommies, during kids holidays you can keep alarm at 10:30 am to spend time with kids, short prayers, make them read bible and memorize verses.

5&6: my hubby takes conscious effort to play with kids and talk to Chad daily during bed time about what happened in
school, his friends etc. while I am winding up the kitchen.

Strict no mobile to kids. If we watch anything, it is as a family together either me or my hubby will control the mobile/ laptop.

Watching TV/WhatsApp/Facebook  is not a problem as long as it is not stealing the time with our kids. If kids/hubby are around us, then spending time with them is priority. I sure have failed in many areas, but always keep trying consciously with His guidance.

6. To stay away from evil addictions, make your kids memorize verses more and more as the verse says: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you"

Peace and healing with hot water episode

Testimony
Last sunday i went to my neighbour home to stitch my dress. i informed my husband to take care of my younger son (1 1/2 yrs) since i made him to sleep in the bedroom and also told him to prepare rice for which i already placed the vessel in GasStove.

After 30 mins my neighbor called me and told that your elder son(3 1/2yrs) poured hot water on his body and your husband took him to hospital. i rushed to my home and tried calling my husband but he didnt attend..

At that time God reminded me the valuable lessons he taught me in the previous week. (i.e., to Praise God in all the circumstances, it may be Good or bad) I was wondering how can I praise God in this situation but God enabled me to praise him that the hot water did not fell on his face, Praise God that my husband was with him because he is a nurse he did all the first aid,etc.. after I got this revelation from HOLY SPIRIT my heart beat was normal and I rested in God's hand.. later my husband called me and told the entire story and the skin in chest area got pealed and my son came back home with very big Bandage but I want to Praise God that my son didn't cry that much and also was very active...

Also Praising God for the timely revelation...
[L

Fees paid on time!

I have a small testimony to share. We had to pay our son’s fees and we just had 10k more than what was required. The fees chalan was to be produced at the school the next day.

I tried paying that day night and to my dismay the transaction went thru the bank but stopped somewhere... the amount got debited, there was no transaction failure but on the school page the fees said it was not paid. Both of us didn’t have sufficient fund.

I didn’t get my salary that month because of LOP. I was thinking Lord what will I do, .....then I remembered that I was getting a message from my bank from 2 days that the FD that I had opened the previous year, amount that I required for the fees + 7k was maturing the next day. I thanked the Lord for His timely provision. Lord was so mindful that he prepared the funds a year ago😊

From uncertainty to absolute certainty

I want to share my testimony. Ours was a commitment arranged by parents. And I was rest assured it was God's will. However uncertainty rose up in my husband's heart after our engagement which gave a struggle filled courtship to us. All that I could tell him was to pray. Only with faith I entered into marriage. But reality strikes hard isn't it. Work turned out to be a very stressful situation making my health fluctuate and our family life was taking a toll.

Every day went with both of us persuading each other to move ahead accepting each other as we are. There were days I found it difficult to make my husband understand the plan of God and not rebel against him in anger wondering why he put us together.

I just held onto God like never before balancing it between work, family. Church and family were scared if I would lose hope that everywhere I went first thing I was asked is how is it going between you two, that constant observation on me to see if am really the right choice for my husband was mentally disturbing me a lot, all that I could do was give a smile and say God is in control.

A year and half in it I conceived, the pregnancy was even more difficult, but as I shared earlier God gave me the word fear not. Tear filled days made my husband realize what we were going through, how spiritual warfare is a part of a Christian life in a marriage and why we had to go through that phase and come back to the Lord. He just told no matter what you are my wife and from now on lets face life together.

Today looking back I can only say if I didnt hold onto God in faith, I would've definitely gone into great depression. I had my close fellowship friends who really uplifted me in times of pain even if they were busy, in prayers and constant motivation from his word. God gave the wisdom to love my husband inspite of the corrections and mistakes he found in me and strengthen both of us to draw close to Him! Today he runs to church and the work of God taking our son early saying he needs to grow in God's love! Only God can turn situations in no time like wondering, did we really suffer like that and smile in peace!!!

God's favor on Husband job

I want to share a testimony: my husband has been very unmotivated at his current work place. He has been working with positive attitude and working very hard but then he did not get recognized or see growth. There was one guy who was 3-4 levels higher than my hubby who recognized him and gave him some challenges and my husband is very grateful for that. Recently that guy left the company and even the little support he was getting went away. When hubby is not happy it spills over in the rest of the family but mostly I am the one who sees it. He still is very thoughtful when it comes to Nina. We have been praying for the right door to open for him.

Last week in church the message was to wait for the cloud to move and then take a step of faith. My husband was touched by the message. He came to know that the guy who left joined a competitor as ceo. My hubby congratulated him on LinkedIn and he immediately responded asking for a meeting. This morning he met him and he offered a job to my hubby. Nothing is final yet but I can see my husband’s spirit lifting and see him happy. I want to thank God for being mindful of us and caring for us in the present.

This was a revelation that I had in the past week that God did not only care for me in the past or in the future. He looks at me now. He cares for me in the present situation. I can walk with Him right now. He is listening right now and He will answer right now.

What He has done for my husband proves that as well.

Wisdom on fear from wisdom tooth

Recently I had to remove my wisdom tooth.. already I was scared to go alone for the minor surgery.. added to that when I entered the hospital in HCl under insurance claim..the reception guy said I had to pay extra amount , added some extra comments to increase my fear saying everything is very costly here etc. etc. and then vanished to some other doctor's room , meanwhile confused a nurse as well.. I was waiting patiently for more than 45 mins for someone to call me for the surgery.. at last lost my patience and walked and started questioning the doctor in his room ..may I know "what is happening?" He was like I also don't know..then he called few other people and settled the confusion that i need not pay extra amount... Now I was really confused should I take up the surgery or not amidst so much confusion.. but was holding onto God along with fear and questions....God knew my weakness .. suddenly doctor himself called me , then asked me sorry for making me wait..now I became little relaxed for his politeness..when I went in ... All set for surgery..I asked the doctor that it is very simple surgery right ..he said No and added that it may end up in complications etc etc...again I started shivering ...no choice but rather go ahead.. doctor was so kind ..he told don't fear that we will stop in-between as well and do another day if you want.. he started speaking so much kind words that I felt OK it's God's favour and totally surrendered still to Him ..and said go ahead..

The doctor removed the wisdom tooth in few seconds.. I was like ...is it really over..the most amazing part I was Very normal from that day night itself.. purely a miracle that I had zero pain and no swelling in my cheeks..All glory to God..felt like sharing for this topic on fear.. although I was a coward full of fear God still made me realize His Hand upon me when the situations were worse..

One more point , whomever I spoke to about wisdom tooth removal prior to my surgery , all shared very painful experiences which were scar to hear 🙃

I realized that "For with God nothing will be impossible". In recent months when I was thrown alone to handle the family .. I many a times felt like God teaching me again and again to come out of my inborn fear and often crying habit in fear which I am known for.. many days I had to (forced to) take decisions without fear ..no choice..no time to sit and cry..but that's how God wanted me to grow in Him I believe..I drove Scotty with my 2 kids on the roads...still God protected each drive..I had so much fear on driving also..but God taught me to totally depend on Him to move forward.. total surrender to Him helped me to run each day by His grace..

Although I don't deserve God's favour and miracles..the more I was helpless,  the more I started seeing God's favour in each and every move/ day to day activities in my life.. What an awesome God and a friend we serve...He is our helper in times of fear and loneliness...

Baby after 4 years. God's plan unfolding.

In 2014, we got married and came to the United States with a lot of questions and doubts and expectations! And as I did not work in US, I felt lonely and bored at home. Just after few weeks of marriage, one of our friends asked ‘When are you planning to have a baby’ and I just smiled and brushed away their question, but my husband told ‘At God’s time, and he is in control’. They thought that we were just giving a lame answer and we did not want to share what we were planning to them. But we actually surrendered it to God beforehand.

Anyhow this question made me more concerned especially because I had irregular periods, so I prayed the very next day for an answer from God, ‘Lord, what is Your plan for our lives’. By the end of that day I heard this from God ‘I’m planning your life’. I was thrilled and happy and great peace filled my heart, and I still could remember how happy I was that whole day and I told my husband that God is planning our life.
Days, months, years passed by, but nothing really changed, it was just the same and I did not become pregnant which made our hearts faint. Many a times I have questioned, ‘Is God really planning my life ??’. Though there was a strong promise from the Lord Jesus Christ, which encouraged me time and again, there were also days when we were so broken and discouraged. God invested this time to bring me closer to him everyday. Also God by His immense grace used that time to talk to me and reveal a lot of things. It was life changing and life transforming for me. I heard God’s voice clearly than any other time in my life. 2.5 years passed by after marriage, and one day I had a vision in which God said that my wait is over. I was very happy and was expecting a positive pregnancy test,  but God had a different plan. I had applied for a particular course to study and in which I got an admit within 2 days after this vision. I was not really focused on pursuing my masters, but God wanted me to take that route. Then God helped me to complete my masters successfully and get a job.
4 years passed by, my heart was weak. At this point of time it was very difficult to claim God’s promises and pray and we were getting tired. Again God spoke with His Word ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own insight and understanding’. I was very weak to pray a long prayer but  kept reciting this verse again and again saying Lord I trust in you and I do not want to lean on my own understanding and nothing more than that. By the grace of God I was conceived that very same month without any treatment or problem and delivered a baby girl by the end of 2018. God’s words is active and alive always, even after 4 years of waiting he did what he planned for us and even now, He is working and even our future He is holding. We thank God for His faithfulness and grace and love towards our family, All praise and glory belongs to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Many friends who studied with me said that you have planned really well, you studied, then got a job, and then became pregnant! But it is actually God who  planned our life. Thank you Jesus !!!

Three things I realized during my waiting time:
• I was too busy(studies, work, worldly things) to seek God before marriage, even though I read bible so many times and prayed, I did not spent enough time meditating God’s word. But God graciously pulled me out of the business of this world and made me realize that He is God and helped me know him more. My husband was greatly helpful and encouraged me to seek God more in all ways
• I was too focussed in my job when I was working, and started putting my trust in my work. So God pulled me back from my work and made me trust in Him
• Now I realize after having a baby life becomes busy, if we had a baby immediately after marriage, I wouldn’t have had that beautiful time spent with Jesus meditating His word

God’s plan are always higher that our plans. God is never too early, never too late, but He is always on time! Jesus never fails!
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.