Speak Life

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

Your words can either make or break your children. Use them to speak life.

Nothing saddens me more than to walk into a room and hear a mother chastising her child by saying things like “Why you so dumb and stupid. You gon’ be like yo sorry daddy;” Or worse yet calling their children everything but a child of God. What do you think will happen if you always call your children bad? It can become a self fulfilling prophecy. Scripture tells us we have the power of life and death in our own tongues and despite the cliché about sticks and stones words do hurt.

If you’ve been harsh with words spoken to your children prayerfully acknowledge your sin and seek forgiveness. Look for opportunities to affirm your children. Catch them doing something right and praise them for it.

What were the last words you spoke to your children today

Empowered to Prosper in Parenting

Empowered to Prosper in Parenting
By: Cheryl Lacey Donovan


Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Empowered to prosper what a wonderful title!

When I was a young single mother it was the empowered to prosper mentality that saw me through.

Being a parent isn’t easy. Add being a teenager and a single mother to the mix and it can quickly become an equation for disaster. But contrary to popular belief children do come with an instruction manual. It’s called the Bible and I used mine every chance I got. Read More at the first stop on the Ministry of Motherhood Virtual Book Tour

The Ministry of Motherhood

Pre-Order Your Copy Today
http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com

The Joys of Motherhood

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Some women today think of family life as an unbearable drudgery. Many feminists tell women that they cannot find fulfillment by being wives and mothers, so instead they should leave home and pursue careers. It has gone so far that women who do stay home almost feel inferior and guilty.

But Titus 2:4,5 says that young women should be taught “to love their husbands, to love their children, to be … keepers at home.” Surely it is difficult for young mothers to stay at home and lovingly care for their families. It often requires hard work, tears, and many sacrifices. But excelling at anything worthwhile in life takes hard work.

Consider the joys and rewards of the job. Psalms 127:3 says: “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” What other job produces a final product to compare to that of motherhood: loving children who will someday mature to productive, God-fearing men and women? If women will not sacrifice in their younger years to raise children, they will not have those children and grandchildren to hug their necks, love them, and care for them in their older years.

1 Timothy 5:3,10 says: “Honor widows that...have brought up children…” Years ago, before modern philosophies prevailed, motherhood was an honorable profession. It ought to be the same today. Proverbs 31 includes the following statements: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies … Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her" (verses 10,28).

Let us show our appreciation for our wives and mothers. Let us speak out for the joys of motherhood. May it again become honorable for a woman to be “a joyful mother of chi1dren” – Psalms 113:9.

For further study I encourage the reader to go to www.gospelway.com/instruct/ and study our online article about Biblical principles for raising godly children.

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(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2/5/2005

What Are Your Goals for Your Children?

What will make you feel successful as a parent? And how do you intend to reach your goals?

If your children get good jobs or even become wealthy, would you be satisfied? If they are popular and have many friends, is that what you want? Would it please you if they become influential civic leaders or politicians? Or would you be happy if they just grow up to be good citizens, have good health, good families, and live like most middle-class Americans? What do you really want for your children?

Suppose they achieve all these things. Matthew 16:26 says: "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" If your children do not learn to serve God so they die unprepared to face eternity, would you really be successful as a parent?

In Genesis 18:19 God said that He would bless Abraham, because He knew Abraham would "command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice..." Would God say this about the way you train your children? If just one of your children were to face eternal condemnation because you neglected to teach them about God's will, what worse fate could they suffer?

What should you do to prepare your children, not just for this life, but for eternity? Proverbs 22:6 says: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

For further study I encourage the reader to go to www.gospelway.com/instruct/ and study our online article about Biblical principles for raising godly children.

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(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2/5/2005