Cultivating A Foundational Wisdom Of Faith In Your Children

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." -Hebrews 11:6

So often, I see younger women focusing on the temporal and being distracted by daily duties can take our eyes off the fact that the battleground for life is for hearts and souls coming to God and holding fast to him.

It is the issues of faith that need our fervent attention. I see so much how tending to the hearts and souls of my children while they were in my home has given them strength and fortitude to face the obstacles in their lives that come.

As I reflect on the ways we built such a faith into the lives of our children, so that, by God's grace, up to this point, they have held fast to their love and faith in God, was based on 3 aspects of faith.

1. All children and adults need to have a basic knowledge of the corpus of faith from Genesis to Revelation — the overall story of God as found in His word as well as the stories of those who walked with God. Read the Bible and teaching the stories over a long period of time. Little by little building your own knowledge as you build your children's knowledge.

2. Modeling the action of faith at each juncture of life is essential for believers to learn what is looks like to live everyday trusting God. The way a parent responds to a trial in faith is how a child will learn to live by faith. If a parent says, "Our God has promised to meet our needs, so let’s ask Him to give us wisdom in knowing how to approach this situation." By moving forward and trusting God, the child learns that trusting God is real in personal moments.

3. Finally, there is one last aspect: Faith is an action that moves us forward in taking risks to see God move supernaturally through our lives. If a parent tells a child to live by faith by taking his light to the world, then the parent should be one who starts a Bible study by inviting people to their home, or serving at shelters or teaching a children's class at church, etc. Faith moves a person to act for love of God. In giving, we receive — but faith is the energy that takes us to this active, engaging life with God.

Roses


I have always loved flowers. They are evidence of the invisible hands of God, reminding us that He is still creating and perpetuating life, even when we are not aware.
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When looking at a tiny seed, it is impossible to see what will bloom from this minute speck of nothing — the color it will produce, the bloom or fruit, or how large the plant will be. There is vast potential locked within, that under the right circumstances — planted in good soil, watered and covered in sunshine — a miracle will happen. The seed transforms into something more than itself. It gives birth to a plant that blooms and brings beauty, life, color.
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And so, during the waiting times, the slow times, God calls us to sow — to sow broadly, generously, diligently. Sometimes the seeds that He requires us to sow do not obviously promise anything. Yet, we are asked to believe in the potential, the latent miracles inside of these small life-seeds.
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We are to sow with a view to righteousness, not seeing or knowing totally the vast potential of what is in our hands. But ours is to be faithful to sow, by faith, the seeds of promise given to us, to cast the seed of promise into the soil of life, generously, diligently, faithfully.
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And His is to do the miracle. To take all of the planting of faith seeds, and love seeds, and integrity seeds, and faithfulness seeds, into the moments of our lives when no one else is looking; faithfulness to the gospel and spreading the good news; serving our children, and loving and helping our spouses; praying and believing when no sprout of answer is in sight.
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In time, in His hands, there will be such a bounty of beauty, a harvest from the seeds planted in life. We will finally see that He was creating the miracle right beside us.
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So, dear God, let us look at the flowers you have planted and see the potential beautiful harvest of our lives, if we will only believe in the seed potential in our lives right now, which by faith will become a harvest of righteousness beyond measure.

A Mother's Legacy Has Implications For Eternity

As a mother who has raised four children from birth into adulthood, I can affirm that engaging my life and faith in the lives of my children has been the most fulfilling and fruitful work I have ever pursued.

My investment in my children was about more than all the routine work of motherhood, and even more than my spiritual influence as a discipler. In the bigger picture of my life at home, I was civilizing my children, and shaping their hearts and lives. I was cooperating with God to mold them into well-rounded adults. I have come to believe that mothers have the power to civilize nations by taking seriously the opportunity they have to disciple their children and to raise them to be godly leaders.

Each mom has a different puzzle, but she has to keep what is a priority to God at the center of her decisions in life, and when she seeks the heart of God, her legacy will be one of faith and faithfulness and will have implications for eternity.

Tea Time Tuesday: Diligence: Character That Keeps Us Going Forward

Click here to play today’s new podcast episode.

A gentle, cool mountain breeze wafted through the trees, the sun shone out from the clouds and finally, after a long winter, I went on my first mountain hike with Darcy Dog and a dear friend today. Such a beautiful gift. I tried to capture a precious moment of this gentle companionship as I walked through the mountain today, so happy to feel some warm weather once again. The whole mountain was singing.

Diligence is one of my ponders today on Tea Time Tuesday. Diligence requires attentive and persistent commitment in doing a task or keeping faithful to complete work, goals or faithfulness in relationship.

When we understand the value of diligence (to keep going when you feel like quitting, to determining to be faithful when you have an excuse to quit), we will have energy to pursue peace in marriage, to keep doing the work of home keeping when the tasks have been burdensome, to keep pursuing ideals, even when they cost us dearly, to pray and to seek God with all of our heart because we choose to practice faith when we cannot see what is ahead. How important to train our children to the great value of diligence in their own lives.

In a season where compromise and quitting is a common standard of life, diligence keeps us going forward, to pursue what is right until our commitment or task is completed and we have the satisfaction of seeing our hard work bearing fruit. To become more and more like Jesus and to reflect His character requires us to practice diligence as a way of life.

This week, I have hosted a very dear old friend. Her life inspires me to be my best self. She has inspired me to be diligent in working faithfully in my ministry for years. Enjoy our story on my Tea Time Tuesday podcast today. A fun story remembered, a tale of humility, and so much more on the episode. Have a listen. And know I am praying for you. Blessings and blessings to you today.

Answering the Call to Discipleship

When we set in motion traditions formed by faith and values in action, a legacy of love that begins with Jesus is strengthened in our homes. Parenting through the lens of mentoring and discipleship will inspire, train, and stretch us and our children to live into our God-given potential.

My pursuit as a mother and discipler was to become the most mature and wise women I could be in my own life, and then, from that place, be an excellent woman reflecting my love for God. I knew it would be challenging for my children to find people with biblical ideals, so I wanted to be this example in front of them. I’m sure you carry the same concern and desire for your children.

In response to this burden on my heart, I sought to grow in integrity and graciousness so my children would have a model for the rest of their lives. I’ll admit that my imperfection and immaturity were evident along the journey, yet I gave all my heart and faith and effort to the hands of Jesus and kept going one day after another toward my goals.

This, dear Mom, is what you can do too. You don’t need a teaching degree. You don’t need a master of divinity. You don’t need a ribbon of honor for oratory achievements. All you need as your foundation to begin is a heart for Jesus and for your child — that is how you answer the call to discipleship.

When we are given the gift to add to and continue a legacy of God’s love shared between generations, we are transformed. I am a different person because of the faithfulness, encouragement, and inspiration I gave to and received from my friends, and now my children.

Read more about this in Teatime Discipleship for Mothers and Daughters.

Mothers Are Life Givers & Protectors In A World That Desperately Needs Both

Children do not accidentally become righteous leaders or emotionally healthy and productive adults — any more than seeds thrown randomly to the wind grow to be part of a thriving garden.

Simply throwing children into a cultural tornado and hoping for the best gives them little chance of living up to their potential or coming out unharmed. Someone needs to take responsibility for their nurture, protection, nourishment, intellectual development, manners, recreation, personal needs, and spiritual development. Someone needs to commit time and energy into staying close to them as they grow, encouraging and correcting and teaching.

Doesn't it make sense that a wise God, who ordered the rest of creation in an intricate and systematic way, would also have provided such a person to care for children — to commit wholeheartedly to creating the right environment for them to grow and to prepare them to live throughout eternity bearing his image?

Children are eternal human beings whose lives and souls will last throughout all of eternity. God has given them into our hands to protect and lead and shepherd them through this life on earth. The kingdom of this world and all of its pleasures last only for a time. Committing ourselves to fulfilling God's design falls under the admonition to seek first his kingdom — the kingdom of heaven where we will live for all eternity.

Read more about this in The Mission of Motherhood.

Tea Time Tuesday: No One Sees Me — I Feel Lost!

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Precious is the innocent moment when a tiny child, confidently proclaims, “I’ll bet you can’t find me,” while his feet or body are conspicuously sticking out in a very openly exposed place. But, we pretend, for the sake of the child's innocent heart, that we cannot see him and we say, “Where could Johnny be? I can't find him anywhere?” We allow him to play at being real, and honor his developing ability to interact with life. Snickers and giggles abound as we look high and low while so very near to the beloved child.

And so, in comparison to God’s transcendence, He allows us, as mere toddlers, to play at life and seek to grow and explore and exercise our limited human authority to bring about our goals and purposes in life and to expound on our own prowess.

Yet, truly, as our divine parent, who knows all things, sees all spiritual warfare, He is still with us even when we cannot "feel" His companionship. We cry, are truly sad in this broken world. We do not understand. We feel lost in this broken place, where He knows we will never be fulfilled or complete. Yet, He patiently leads, guides and attends to us as we slowly mature and gain perspective. But God is never lost and we are never lost to him. He always sees us wherever we think we are hiding or in the dark.

"Where can I go from thy spirit or where can I flee from thy presence? Even the darkness is not dark to thee and the night is as bright as the day." -Psalm 139

"I feel so lost. I can't find my old self anymore. I don't know how to come back to the light."

“You feel lost,” I said, “but God is not lost and He has not lost you. Just wait and be still and in time the light will come gently pouring into your heart,” my voice whispered with as much love as I could pour into her darkness.

He shares our grief, frustrations and grieves with us in our broken hearts. We falsely suppose our happiness should come in this world. We seek to control our lives. We pour out tears of sorrow at our heartbreak and barriers. We may feel lost. He is never lost or has lost control over us.

"I am with you always, even unto the end of the earth."

Until we close our eyes here and awaken into His lovely presence.

Waiting With Great Hope

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14

Over 5 years ago, I decided I wanted a budding tree in my garden that had pink blossoms. We live at 7250 feet high in altitude. Many plants just do not grow here—most roses, many flowers and plants that I love. I have tried many bulbs—the dear eat them all. But I wanted to try to have a blooming tree.

And so I bought this lovely little tree. I followed all the directions on how to make it grow, how to nurture the soil. Nothing happened. No blooms, some limbs grew through the years, though always bare. One year I had one branch that bloomed. I kept hoping for an abundance, but nothing happened.

However, this year, as if overnight, I came out into my yard and a miracle had happened—there were these luscious blooms covering my little tree.

I just needed to wait long enough, water it, fertilize it. In its own time, it burst forth in beauty.

The Lord spoke to me through this tree. There have been many things I have prayed for that took seemingly forever to get an answer. Yet, God was working all along.

The word “wait”in reference to God is written and repeated over 130 times in scripture—it must be important for us to heed.

Often, when I was raising and educating my children, I couldn’t see obvious growth or blossoming.

Many times there were dreams in my heart that kept blooming inside but had no evidence of anything happening on the outer circumstances of my life.

And yet, now my children have bloomed all over the place. Many of my dreams have been being lived out in real life.

But in all of these instances, God was faithful but moved ever so slowly. There must be some great value in us being strong and taking courage and waiting in faith upon God.

Perhaps there is something in your life that you have been hoping would come to fruition but just haven’t see the “blossoming” come to pass.

Wait patiently and take courage my friend. God is at work in our lives behind the scene accomplishing many things that we cannot see. He has indeed made the “blossoming” of my life more beautiful than I knew possible. I hope and am praying for you today that as you wait on Him, you, too, will see the miracle of blooms appearing in your life.

Wait, be strong, and let your heart take courage. Have hope, your labor is not in vain-may you see a miracle as I did.

Embodying the Story & Purpose God Has For You

When I look back on my own life, birthing four children, having three miscarriages, moving 20 times, and living through the seasons of their growing up years, I realize that most of my life was spent loving my family well in the midst of chores, character training, thousands of meals, and lots of cleaning up our messes over and over again while seeking to grow spiritually and intellectually along the way. I was hidden in the rich soil of shaping a great life.

I had promised to be faithful to Jesus, and I believed He had directed me to give my whole self to passing on a legacy of faith, training in character, living joyfully and intentionally, and caring for my family’s needs. Most of the giving of my life in worship of Him was invisible to the outside world.

I did not get an award for washing one more dish, lifting up one more prayer for a child’s decisions, or kissing one more forehead after a bad dream, or getting up at 4:30 a.m. to write what I was learning in my journal.

Yet I always had the desire to please God and be obedient to what He had for me to do, so that kept me going through the hidden years. What we do when no one is looking shows the integrity of our lives. To live by our convictions even when no one else notices becomes the most important work of all because that choice honors God and not ourselves. What we practice, we become.

Living the humble existence of a praying, teaching, guiding, and loving parent might not result in awards, but, believe me, there are many rewards. You will bear rich fruit in your life as you embody the story and purpose God has spoken into being for you. And you will witness the fruit in your child’s life again and again as they grow into their story. Your words speak life over your child, and your nurturing care and biblical discipleship give life to them as well.

Read more about this in Teatime Discipleship for Mothers and Daughters.

Tea Time Tuesday: Subduing Our Worlds, Caring for Our Life

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“God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.’”

Subdue: To work and rule over something in such a way as to cause it to flourish. Bringing order out of chaos.

On today’s Tea Time Tuesday podcast, I address what it looks like to bring beauty from chaos, light to darkness, care for our worlds to cause them to flourish. Even as God brought design, beauty and order to our world, so in His image, we do the same—but within our unique personalities, preferences and culture. We model to our children what it looks like to “take care” of our worlds of life and love.

“Mama, home was the place where my faith was ignited, my heart was filled with love, my mind was stretched to think profoundly, and my life was filled with beauty and goodness in every possible way. I never knew until now how much work, effort, and vision it cost you. Thank you for doing all the hard work, Mama. It was a gift to all of us.”

What deep joy filled my heart as one of my adult children reflected upon this as we were walking together in local parks. I’m not sure they could appreciate it when they were growing up in my home. As I look back over my life as one who was responsible to bring order to my home, to bring harmony in our relationships, to create beauty in the midst of a dark time, I realize that much of my time was like wrestling to tame a wild beast. It was almost never easy, often looked messy from the outside and I was often so very weary and drained.

Yet, the more I understood that I was fashioned by God to bring life, to be a representation of His presence in the world, to see my domain as a place of influence and a place where human beings would be shaped in order to thrive, I could keep going. As long as my vision was clear and growing, my energy to pursue that vision kept coming one day at a time. Now, I see how very much it mattered.