Give them up to God

As Iv mentioned before my husband and I are working on writing a guideline for parenting counseling. Its something Iv always been passionate about and I enjoy with all my heart. In a book I was reading today a lady talked about how writing several blogs and articles on the subject is how she eventually compiled her book. So I figure my next few blogs will be on the subject of parenting. I'm very careful not to say Christian parenting because I don't want to dissuade people from reading the advise. To be honest the bible has wonderful principles for living life and if it can help you be a better parent then lets use it. I personally love Christ with all  my heart and know that He is the only way. And through His love I hope to help you love you children the way He wishes us to. Also I feel it necessary to mention although I write about these things with much confidence its not because I have accomplished it. (One of my favorite verses is Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.) The reason for my confidence is because I trust my God and I know it to be true and right. Just because we know something to be true and right doesn't mean we are able to complete it 100%. The key is to keep our eyes on Him and let him help us to keep or focus on the right track.

So today the topic is why should I give my children up God. The original topic which I had planned, was on giving them up,  but then I started thinking there may be some out there who would argue the why factor. I'm usually that person which is why I thought of it. So before I go into the how lets talk about why. 

First off a parents greatest concern is there child's future. How will he/she be when they are 20. Will they be successful, beautiful, handsome, be a great mother, father, teacher brother, sister, etc etc. This list could go on for ages, Ill stop now.  In Mathew 6:25-34 (below) Jesus talks about how we are not to worry. What I love about parents is they will actually tell you, well yeah that's talking about clothing and money, not my child. But in verse 25 it says YOUR LIFE. And almost any parent will agree that their children a huge part of their life. And really there is just no arguing with verse 27, how many minuets have you saved and how many problems have you solved in your life by worrying about your children. Worrying about their day, their week, their schooling, their future. Most often it just makes you physically sick or an emotional train wreck. I love how in vs 28 Jesus says they do not labor or spin. So often God has shown me myself in a vision laboring and spinning. Not long ago someone told me they saw that God was asking me to dance with him. I told God I do want to dance with you whats going on here. And he showed me my "dancing." Believe me a flower laboring and spinning is a much nicer way of putting it. In this he reminded me that he has and always will provide much more than what I need. And if I will just focus on dancing with him he will also dance with my girls. 

Worrying solves nothing and the only way to not worry is to check out vs 33. Seek him first. Don't seek the best collage, the most appropriate friends, the highest grades, again etc etc, you put your appropriate answer there. Sure some day you will have to help your child choose a collage, and guide them with their friends but the choosing is theirs. And if they are constantly pointed towards Christ and know to listen to the Spirit I promise you they will choose well. But how will they know to keep their eyes on Christ and to listen the Spirit if all they have ever seen you do is labor and spin. Children learn best by example and really its one of the few ways they learn for many years. Everything they learn in school can be forgotten but the emotional and spiritual lessons stay in the soul and spirit. If you don't believe me try helping a fifth grader with their math homework and see if you remember everything you learned in class. Then try and remember if you learned any life lessons in fifth grade. Ok so now it kind of sounds obvious that we are commanded to give our cares... our children up to God. Right?!?!?! Well if your not convinced I have more. 

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^e ?

28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Here I have added Philippians 4:4-9 which is another Spirit given command to us. Verse 4 is easily an answer to how to give you children up to God and the following are the why. Verse 6 doesn't say don't be anxious about anything, EXCEPT YOUR CHILDREN. Not only does it say about anything but it goes on to repeat and stress the point with, in every situation. If there is anything that can rack the nerves more than children I don't know what it is. But this verse says in every situation. That includes when your trying to work and the kids need help with homework and don't forget to mention your three days behind in laundry and your floor hasn't been mopped all week... oooppp and someone just puked in the middle of the kitchen floor. Yep even in that situation. So how are we suppose to respond to this scenario again. By praying (giving it up to Him) and giving Him thanks. Thanks for the job you have that brings in some cash, thanks that your children are learning something new and that's why they have questions, thanks that you are there and you can help them, thanks that your children have enough cloths to dirty up and continue having clean cloths to wear, thanks that you have a house and a floor to mop .... well to be honest I'm having trouble thinking of one for the vomit situation. And then let God know, I need you to take this, help please. Here's the thing He wont enter until you ask. But in that moment you will start to feel his presence. He is always there but he will not intervene if you don't want Him to. If your sure you have got it all under control and that you can do it on your own. He will allow you that space. But if you seek him, if you thank him, if you just open up your heart and say I need You... just read verse 7. Take a min to meditate on that. Let it sink in. Have you ever felt that peace. If you haven't just ask for it. I promise its what He wants you to feel. I also promise you that giving up your children to him on a daily basis is how you will feel that peace. Something that is beyond understanding. That means that most of the world will look at you like your crazy. And ask you why your are not a wreck. I have a good friend who's son deals with a fatal illness on a daily basis. He wasn't suppose to live through being a toddle and he is 17. They continue with constant doctor appointments and surgeries but he also continues to jump out of trees and play soccer. She, according to the world, should be an absolute mess. But shes not, she has learned how to give him up to God. She has learned to trust her Daddy with her baby and let him grow to be what God has him to be. She is a constant reminder to me of this peace and why I need to continue giving my girls up to God. Something else that comes with this peace is grace. If you screw it up you can always fall back on the fact that God is the one raising your children. Believe me if you truly let Him make the decisions then you can truly fall back on the fact that even if you mess up Hes got your back.  The last thing I want to mention about this verse is another how. Its mentioned in verse 8. Keep you focus on the positive, on your advances, on your kids advances. We all screw up  but if you let yourself dwell on your screw ups the devil will have a hay day with you. Keep your focus on what is admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. 

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Well I could most likely go on but I try to keep my blogs short. I hope this helped you to understand the importance of giving your kidos up to God and letting go. In the next post I will look at some scriptures that will help in the how. 

My Passion

Most of my readers know that I am christian and love to share of all that God had done in our lives. The day after receiving our Canadian visa denial we went to talk with our pastor at Sozo Church. Our pastors have been used by God many times in our lives over the last couple years and we wanted them to know we were staying and that we were ready to commit 100% to service in the church. Our pastors response  was, and with a straight face,"Are you guys OK?" We said,"Yeah, really we are." He said,"OK can I be happy now." We all laughed and said, "Of course. We are!" Although since this happened one week after our going away party I asked if we were gona get a welcome home party, but that never happened. 

From there we were put in charge of what can be considered the welcoming committee at church. We were faithful in this and as the bible says he who is faithful in little will be given a lot. This happened in August last year. During this time God spoke to me a lot about how I can finally put down roots. That Hes not going to move me again for a long while. This brought me a lot of comfort. God also spoke to us about us serving in the church. We have always worked in the church but more and more God was calling us to do more. In the end of October we were asked to be co-pastors in our church.  This was the fulfillment of a promise God gave me when I first met Issac. Over 10 years ago God told me that Issac would be a pastor. In those 10 years there were times I forgot the promise and times I didn't believe it. I'm thankful that God is faithful even if we are not and even if at times we don't believe Him. Since last October we have seen God move more powerful than ever before. Mainly because we are growing in what we believe about Him and what He can do. And partly because we are believing more about how he sees us. Our Identity in Christ is something that our pastors have helped us to understand. The Holy Spirit has been pushing us and teaching us and guiding us every day and each day we learn to listen to Him more.  

This is the poster that was made to help the church members recognize us and know what we are doing in the church. It says, What we do in Sozo is care for the leaders and the congregation which the Holy Spirit has placed us to pastor and serve. It comes from a verse Acts 20:28-29 (check it out).

These are our pastors and a poster showing our DNA classes. We want all our leaders to not only understand but but be infused with the vision that God has given for Sozo. We love these guys so much and are so thankful to God for placing them on our path. 

I received a word one day saying to me that my hands were made for healing. That I didn't make a mistake with my profession (nursing) but that God wanted to use my hands to heal in the church and for Him now. This was such an awesome word for me and came at a time when I had just reread a poem I wrote when I was a nurse back in the states. When I read it I was in tears because I realized it all applied to my current life which has nothing to do with nursing. But I am still caring for people and helping them heal each and every day. Here is the poem and it can sum up where my passion remains. 

The Greatest Privilege

I get pleasure from their smile. 

I hurt for their hearts pain. 

I give from my healthy body to their broken soul.

Appreciation is the best reward. 

No amount of money can equal someones comfort. 

God has awarded me the greatest honor possible. 

To show his love to the broken. 

Hearing laughter from one with little reason. 

Swells your heart in a way few can understand. 

I can only imagine how Jesus felt as he healed the sick completely, heart and body.

Brings me to tears to even try to imagine. 

Thank you god for what I consider the greatest privilege.