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
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