2 Samuel 21:9-10

And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

We can learn much about parenting from this obscure, but very powerful story in the Old Testament!!! We need to stand guard over our children’s souls with the same sacrifice and tenacity that Rizpah guarded her children’s bodies!!

Please listen to her amazing story Who’s Kidding Who (part 4) by Dr. Billy Daws

We need to be a Rizpah!!!!

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Wow, Father, how can we ever thank you enough for calling us to the greatest profession in the world!! Forgive us when we get busy and distracted from this most awesome privilege of molding a little life for you.

Help us when we get weary from the unending tasks, to rest in the promise that in persevering we will see results from all our efforts:
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Help us not to compare ourselves with other moms, but to enjoy being the mom You made us to be:
Galatians 6:4 Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.

Father, like you, we have no greater joy than to hear that our children walk in truth:
3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
As we think of leading them into Truth, help us:
First of all to love You with all our heart:
Deut. 6:5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.
Second, help us to surround our husbands with our love:
Proverbs 5:18 & 19 So be happy with your wife and find your joy with the girl you married – pretty and graceful as a deer.  Let her charms keep you happy; let her surround you with her love. (Today’s English Version)
Thirdly, help us to be diligent to train our children in the Way they should go and consistently discipline them to be like Christ:
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go ,And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 29:15 To discipline and reprimand a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.
Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
And keep us aware that even as grandmothers, our jobs continue:
Deut. 4:9 Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,
Psalm 71:18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation,Your power to everyone who is to come.

Help us to radiate with a meek and quiet spirit and with joy from having spent time with you:
1 Peter 3:4 You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
Psalm 34:5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
And then as we radiate, help us to equip our children to shine as lights in the midst of a wicked world:
Philip. 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Thank you, Father, that all these things you have called us to do, You have promised to do through us:
1 Thes. 5:24 God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this.

Thank you that when we are distraught by all our cares and anxieties, you will console us:
Psalm 94:19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Thank you, Father, that as we fulfill this sometimes overwhelming responsibility and privilege of motherhood that you are with us, always perfecting that which concerns us, and ever gently leading us along the way!
Isaiah 40:11 And gently lead those who are with young.
Psalm 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Matthew 28:20  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

And ultimately, thank you for sacrificing your Son in the place of our sons and daughters so we all can come boldly to your throne to ask these things in Jesus name!!!

Amen

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Galatians 4:19
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

Two year old defiance looks a lot different than 15 year old defiance.  Two year old defiance is a lot easier to deal with than 15 year old defiance. Disciplining our children takes discipline in our own lives and it is like being in constant labor!  But if we don’t do it, there are consequences!!!

Hear more from Dr. Billy Daws on this subject here.

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Are you helping your children develop in the four areas Jesus grew in: wisdom, stature, spirit, and social relationships?  You wouldn’t think of sending your family on a road trip in a car with only one cylinder operating.  Let’s not send our children into the world with only one of these areas developed.  Hear some pointers on how to make sure they are operating on ‘four cylinders’ in this sermon by Dr. Billy Daws, Who’s Kidding Who (Week 2)

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“Train” “. . . used in the days of Solomon to describe the action of a midwife who, soon after helping deliver a child, would dip her finger into the juice of chewed or crushed dates, reach into the mouth of the infant, and massage the gums and the palate within the mouth so as to create a sensation of sucking, a sense of taste. Then she would place the child in its mother’s arms to begin feeding from the mother’s breast. . .”  You and Your Child by Charles Swindoll

“Child” in Hebrew refers to any age from infant to young adult.

“The way he should go” is found in John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

“Old” in Hebrew refers to when a boy is old enough to grow hair on his chin.

So – this verse simply stated  -   if you create a hunger in your child for Jesus when he is an infant until he is a young adult, then when he is a young adult, he will not depart from the Way.

Here’s an excellent sermon by my excellent husband on Proverbs 22:6 – Who’s Kidding Who?

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Possible scenario:

Grant takes baby brother Hudson’s toy; Grant gets punished for not sharing when Hudson protests. Hudson takes Grant’s toy; Grant gets punished for not sharing when he refuses Hudson the toy.  This could cause Grant confusion and resentment of baby brother.

Thankfully these brothers have wise parents and the scenario actually goes like this:

When Hudson comes near the toys Grant has been playing with, Grant hears from a parent, “Hudson, Grant is playing with these toys. You can’t just take something that someone else is using. Let’s ask Grant nicely if he will share one of his toys.”  Then Grant chooses one toy he can let Hudson play with.  If Grant is not willing to share at least one toy, then he gets time out.  If he shares, he gets a star on a chart leading up to a treat when the chart is filled.   If Hudson continues to try to take the toys that Grant has set up to play with, Grant hears from a parent, “Hudson, Grant has already shared a toy with you; you might need a time out for a few minutes” and the parent tries to divert Hudson with something else.   Hudson gets time out if he still refuses to leave Grant’s toys.

When Grant takes a toy from Hudson, Grant is reminded that he can’t just take something that someone else is using and he must ask Hudson nicely if he will share a toy.  The parent helps Hudson find a different toy to share with Grant.  If Grant refuses the alternate toy from Hudson and makes a fuss, then he gets time out.

Grant as the older brother is encouraged to help teach sharing to Hudson.  Grant is given a cup of cheerios and Hudson is given a cup of cheerios.  Parent suggests that Grant give Hudson a cheerio and Hudson is guided to give Grant one, saying the Bible verse, ‘Be ready to share’ each time they share.

It takes zeal and perseverance to train children in the way they should go.   Don’t grow weary in well doing; you will see the fruit of your labor (Galatians 6:9)

For a one week lesson plan on sharing see http://www.trainupthechild.org/2011/01/12/sharing/

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Great song to sing on Easter 10-hooray.  Words can be found here.

Ministry to Children posted an awesome 4 minute video for children that wonderfully sums up the message of Easter.

Happy Easter!!

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Easter is the time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, but this usually gets pushed aside by traditional Easter activities such as the Easter Bunny, colored eggs, and new clothes.  Easter comes at springtime and some of our traditions at Easter are actually a part of the pagan springtime celebration.  But that’s ok . . .  we can use these tangible things to help children understand intangible ideas.

The bunny stays in a rabbit hole in the ground all winter.  When spring comes, the bunny comes out of  his hole.  We can relate this to Jesus being in the tomb for three days, but on Easter morning, He came out and is alive today.

Eggs remind us of new life.   Coloring them reminds us of how beautiful our world is as the earth comes back to life again with new flowers and new leaves and grass.  Relate this to Jesus coming back to life.

New chicks, bunnies, lambs, and ducks are  also reminders of new life.    Jesus gives us new life by what He did on the Cross for us.

Put Bible verses on the eggs you hide and then gather together to read them all.  Some suggested verses are:

Revelation 21:5  Jesus makes all things new.
Galatians 2:20  Jesus Christ lives.
Matthew 28:6  Jesus is risen.
Song of Solomon 2:12  The flowers appear on the earth.

Make a cross out of twigs or craft sticks and keep it in a prominent place during the Easter season.  Point out that it is empty because Jesus didn’t stay on the cross or in the tomb . . . He is alive!!

A great book to teach the real meaning of Easter is Easter Bunny, Are You For Real?

10-hooray This is a song that children really love about the empty tomb .  It is from Every Song a Bible Story from Maranatha Music.

Make Easter a family time of worshiping together and thinking about the risen Lord.  Read the Easter story together from Matthew 27-28, Mark 15 – 16, or Luke 23-24.

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Go to each of these sites to read an account of what Jesus was doing each day before that first Easter morning.  Use the activity ideas for each day to make your children aware of the Greatest Story ever told!!

Begin today:

Day One - Palm Sunday

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Six

Day Seven

Resurrection Day!

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