From: Beverly French [frenchb@adelphia.net]
Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 6:35 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: June 12, 2005 Greetings

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a  reward." Psalm 127:3

Last week I spoke of the bombardment of the words and wisdom of an ungodly world, but we have the wisdom of God available at all times as so clearly stated in James 1:5-6: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting."

With this in mind, let's turn our thoughts to our children and the fierce battle that rages daily for their very souls. They are God's gift and He has some things to say to us as parents concerning our rearing of them. (I would include grandparents, aunts, uncles and members of the family of God.)

God has given us special parental duties as found in Scripture: To teach: In Deuteronomy 6 is the commandment to teach the Law and we see in Verse 7, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

To train:
"Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 As to this training I would suggest that much time be invested in Proverbs Especially 1:8 through 9:18 as these chapters seem to be directed to teaching the youth (I might add the youth of all ages!)

To provide for:
In the Apostle Paul's concern not to be a financial burden he says this in  2  Corinthians 12:14, ".For I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children."

To nurture:
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonitions of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

To control:
Among the qualification the Apostle Paul gives to Timothy for bishops he says, "He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity." 1 Timothy 3:4 Again, for deacons in respect to his household, Paul says, "Let deacons be husbands of only one wife, and good manages of their children and their own households." Verse 12

To love:
Paul writing to Titus while he is in Crete 'to set in order the things that are lacking' (Titus 1:5) says, "That they (the older women) admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children." Titus 2:4 (My clarification) In this day with so many divorces and mothers (fathers, too) opting out of their responsibilities this is sound doctrine. Encouragement and support from the church family can be just the help needed for emotionally and physically taxed parents.

As members of God's family let us continually pray for His covering on our children. We can't be with them every moment, but we can continually keep them in prayer. We can be available to them teaching and nurturing them in the ways of Christ, daring to discipline (child train) them, provide for their spiritual and physical needs and above all else LOVE them with the unconditional love of Christ. Though there will be rough times, remember Proverbs 22:6! It is God's word, therefore, it is truth.

We thank you Father for Your Word, for Your wisdom, for Your strength and for Your counsel all in Christ Jesus and made known to us by Your Holy Spirit. All praise and glory to You Almighty God! Amen.