1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in Spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Several years ago, our church’s theme was “Being the Difference.” While it may have a cliché ring to it, one can easily overlook the significance and potential impact and easily continue doing business as usual. It’s almost like the great maxim…WWJD. However, I have realized that to make a difference; one must be intentional and Spirit-led.
Mothers can make the most significant impact resulting in the biggest difference in our schools and society. Often moms can become so busy with dirty dishes, dirty clothes, dirty kids, and unmade beds, from cooking to cleaning, from grades to competitions, that we can lose sight of being intentional in raising Godly kids. Often, parenting /mothering can become a repeat of “My mom did it this way, and I didn’t turn out too bad.” Rather than how can I raise this child for His glory?
In case you are wondering how to be intentional, the insert below, taken from “Confident Children” and how they grow by Richard Straus, may help us become more aware of areas that we so often overlook.
1. To lead them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It must be in His own perfect time. However, we cannot expect them to be all that God wants them to be until they have a new nature imparted from above (2 Corinthians 5:17).
2. To lead them to a total commitment of their lives to Christ. We want them to make their decisions according to His will, share every detail of life with Him in prayer, and learn to trust Him in every experience they face. Asking first what God wants us to do is a habit pattern that must be cultivated. The time to begin is very early in a child’s life.
3. To build the Word of God into their lives. We will endeavor to teach it to them faithfully, relate it to the circumstances of life, and set an example of conformity to it.
4. Teach them prompt, cheerful obedience and respect for authority. By developing their willing submission to our authority, we seek to instill respect for all duly constituted authority, such as public school, Sunday school, government, and ultimately, the authority of God Himself. Submission to authority is the basis for a happy and peaceful life in our society.
5. To teach them self-discipline. The happiest life is controlled, particularly in areas such as eating, sleeping, sex, care of the body, use of time and money, and desire for material things.
6. To teach them to accept responsibility. Responsibility for happily and efficiently accomplishing the tasks assigned to them, responsibility for the proper care of their belongings, and responsibility for the consequences of their actions.
7. To teach them the essential traits of Christian character. Such as honesty, diligence, truthfulness, righteousness, unselfishness, kindness, courtesy, consideration, friendliness, generosity, justice, patience, and gratitude
Happy Mother’s Day
