Parenting: Cowards need not apply

Calling all parents, calling all parents!!! The enemy is coming...repeat, the enemy is coming!!!

"Be self-controlled and ALERT. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." I Peter 5:8.

This world we live in today is filled with so many distractions; gadgets galore! We have T.V.(Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, etc...) computers(facebook, myspace, twitter, etc...), I-Pods, MP 3 players, cell phones(unlimited talking and texting and picture messages), UGHHHHH!!!!! When our kids are "plugging" in, remember, that means they're "tuning" us out.

Yes, it's all fun stuff; I like watching t.v., and facebooking, too; but, even as an adult, you have to be careful!
The mind is such a vulnerable place the enemy loves to get into. That's why we all need to keep our mind filled with God's Word and Pray without ceasing...never cease to pray!

Distractions are pulling our children away from the church, God, and even away from us. Too many of us give up too easily...I think because we're afraid. We're afraid of not being the "in-with-it" parent; that if we allow our kids some freedom, and fun, then they'll appreciate us more ( WRONG!). It could be too, that society has made us feel paralized as parents; that if we make too many waves in our childrens' lives, the authories will be in the middle of our business and take our children away from us, which is a horrible, unneccesary fear!

What happened to raising our children up the way 'our' parents were raised (us that are over 45, anyway). Yes, things still happened, but for the most part, they were taught RESPECT for their parents,other authority, and number one, for God. Even if they didn't always go to church, there was an unspoken respect for those who did. What's changed the behavior of our youth today?

I believe all the uproar of "having rights" has been a big contributing factor. What about parents rights?!! Adding all the distractions around our children, and you have disobedience: rebellion, lying, cheating, stealing, "dissing" parents' or teachers' rules, utter chaos and confusion.

Somehow, we need to get our children back from the enemy and into our arms again. They our precious gifts from the Lord, and we have got to grasp that in our heads! If we don't, then they're gone...and we're sitting all alone, wondering "what happend?" All the hopes and dreams they talked about when they were little, all the plans they had....GONE!!! Just like that.

" snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupt flesh." Jude 23

This is the kind of unconditional love we MUST show to our children...they need us to help them...they're crying out, believe it or not , for a generation of parents who are not afraid to stand their ground...to not be intimidated. Kids deep down really need us to still hold their hand when crossing the street.

>Lord Jesus, help all parents to first, get rid of their own "distractions", then they can see more clearly how to help their children,"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the PLANK in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3. Father, secondly, give parents wisdom as they seek you and your Word. Grant them boldness and cast away any fear, as they instruct and guide their children. Go before them, I pray, and clear the path for them to communicate with their children. Thirdly, help parents to remember to be understanding and compassionate towards their child, "Fathers (and mothers) do not exasperate your children; instead,bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4<

You can do this, parents! Do not be afraid! The Lord gave these precious gifts to us to love, nurture, water with His Word, and "prune when needed"(so they can grow). Hold onto them, minister to them, cherish them.....and when they are grown let them go and give them back to the Lord. Trust Him to do the rest!
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

A Fresh Start

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life!" We've all heard this, but how many of us actually believe it to be?

I challenge you to make a list of all the "would have, could have, and should haves", and rip it up! Make a new list of the things that really matter...'time' with your children, 'time' with your parents, and 'time' with God.

" 1 Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. 2 Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness. 3 Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute, 5 praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord!!!" 
                                                                                                                          Psalm 150:1-6 

"13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

There is so much to be thankful for. Take "time", number one, with the Lord, love on your children, and tell your parents "thank you" for loving you. Give back to the ones who gave for you. You will be blessed. 

My Shepherd

Let me introduce you to my Shepherd first...He is everything to me...He leads me, guards me, knows all there is to know about me....and still loves me just the way I am...unconditionally! He's my best friend; I can tell Him anything.

I began this blog in order to share what the Lord has done for me and to hopefully encourage others to never give up on themselves. My site is titled "Lifted Up Higher", because that is exactly what God is doing in my life each day. As I draw closer to Him in prayer and the Word, my eyes, my ears, my heart...are more open than ever to His voice...the Holy Spirit.

My first entry is simply an introduction. As the Lord directs me each day, my hope and prayer is to witness, give insight,& inspire those who read my posts. Maybe it will cause others to search their own heart and desire to walk with Jesus closer...to stop and listen to that still small voice saying "sit with me and talk awhile."

Always in His Love!