"They will sanctify..."

And that last post is the perfect lead in to the nugget I have for today...

I had a great conversation yesterday with one of those trusted advisors who are some years down the road ahead of me. A saint. (Those ladies are good to know. Seek them out!!) She reminded me of the God's promise to His children, as spoken to Jacob. Think of Jacob, and his children. We know that at times, they were a rebellious and spiteful bunch. (As was Jacob, himself. As are we all!) We know that he spent much time anquished over his children. And yet, in Isaiah 29:22-24, we read:

Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob,

"Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now turn pale;
But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst,
They will sanctify My name;
Indeed, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
And will stand in awe of the God of Israel,
And those who err in mind will know the truth,
And those who criticize will accept instruction."

The promise? That our children, too, may be renewed by God's grace. That those who now err and go astray and are wayward (NASB, ESV, NIV), and criticize and murmur and complain (same order) may come to understanding and know the truth, and know the peace that springs from His love and saving work.

So, yes, just as Mr. Ryle exhorts us, we go on, teaching and training and sowing those seeds, ever with the hope that our children, too, will sanctify, keep holy, the name of the Lord.

(now, if only I could find some of that beautiful artwork Mrs. EV is digging up!... :-) )

Go On Training Up Children

Wheat Field on a Bright Day by Moti Lorber



Galatians 6:9 brings great encouragement, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

JC Ryle spurs me on, as well! This strengthens me to press on in what I do everyday!! I pray that it will do the same for you, dear sisters!

Taken from JC Ryle's Commentary on the Book of John, Chapter 2 verses 13-22:

We see, for another thing, in this passage, how men may remember words of religious truth long after they are spoken, and may one day see a meaning in those who at first they did not see.

We are told that our Lord said to the Jews, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." John informs us distinctly that "He spoke of the temple of His body," that he referred to His own resurrection. Yet the meaning of the sentence was not understood by our Lord's disciples at the time that it was spoken. It was not until "He was risen from the dead," three years after the events here described, that the full significance of the sentence flashed on their hearts. For three years it was a dark and useless saying to them. For three years it lay sleeping in their minds, like a seed in a tomb, and bore no fruit. But at the end of that time the darkness passed away. They saw the application of their Master's words, and as they saw it were confirmed in their faith. "They remembered that He had said this," and as they remembered "they believed."

It is a comfortable and cheering thought, that the same kind of thing that happened to the disciples is often going on at the present day. The sermons that are preached to apparently heedless ears in churches, are not all lost and thrown away. The instruction that is given in schools and pastoral visits, is not all wasted and forgotten. The texts that are taught by parents to children are not all taught in vain. There is often a resurrection of sermons, and texts, and instruction, after an interval of many years. The good seed sometimes springs up after he that sowed it has been long dead and gone. Let preachers go on preaching, and teachers go on teaching, and parents go on training up children in the way they should go. Let them sow the good seed of Bible truth in faith and patience. Their labor is not in vain in the Lord. Their words are remembered far more than they think, and will yet spring up "after many days." (1 Cor. 15:58; Eccles. 11:1.)

Shepherding a Child's Heart

There are a couple of Shepherding a Child's Heart seminars coming in September. They will be held at two different locations:

September 5-6
Peoria, IL
Bethany Baptist Church
Contact: Daniel Bennett 309.692.1755
Web: bethanycentral.org

September 19-20
Seattle, WA
Mars Hill Church
Contact: Kyle Firstenberg 206.816.3500
Web: http://www.marshillchurch.org/

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Dr. Tedd Tripp has been such a wonderful and real resource for me as I seek to train my children to love the Lord with all their heart, mind, and strength. It is a reminder that "good behavior" is not my goal in training them, it is seeing beyond their behavior and seeing their heart. It is turning that heart toward the Lord so that they see what He requires of them and they desire to obey.

Dr. Tripp has written a book with his wife Margy entitled, Instructing a Child's Heart. It follows in the footsteps of Shepherding a Child's Heart as being a great place to get the foundation of our training right, so that what we build with our children will last...even into eternity!

Here is a taste of Instructing a Child's Heart taken from pages 101-104 ...

The Heart of the Gospel Is the Glory of God

You and your children are invited to the spiritual delicacies that God offers. Drink deeply from his river of delights. Immerse yourselves in this fountain that will never run dry. You have the privilege of saying, "Children, there is an abundant Christ who can quench the thirst of your soul. You were made for him. Don't exchange the truth for a lie. Worship and serve the Creator, not created things."

Delighting in God restores your sense of what is ultimately valuable. Worship of God energizes you to seek joy and satisfaction in him alone. This world is fleeting and unworthy of your heart's devotion. Delight in God awakens the soul; at the same time everything else in life that competes with God for your devotion fades. The heart that is delighting in the glory of God is inoculated against the noisy demands of the world.

Help your children delight in God. You may be thinking, "I wasn't looking for heavy theology; I was looking for practical child rearing advice." Remember this. Your children are not likely to grow into adults who truly know God unless you provide them with a big God who is worthy of worship. Describe God's character, his mighty deeds and the soul-satisfying joys of knowing him, reminding them, "Children, your souls are looking for satisfaction and it is only found in God."

If you want your children to have a reason to sing on Sunday, give them a glorious God. If you want your children to have a reason not to sin on Monday, give them a glorious God. If you want them to think of nobler things than the latest, mind-numbing video fantasy game, give them a glorious God. If you want them to dream grander dreams than illicit sex or more money or more stuff, give them a glorious God. If you want them to have a reason for confidence when life seems to spin out of control, give them a glorious God.

When friends are offering the pleasures of sin for a season, they need a glorious God. Godly fear--that sense of awe and reverence that inspires true worship--requires a glorious God. God is the one before whom they should tremble and worship with reverence and awe. The glory of God will stoke the fires of true worship and godly living.

Where will the human hunger be satisfied? Rest in God alone. Isn't it amazing that Christ sacrificed himself for you and me? Lasting happiness is found in making much of God for eternity. There is a transcendent satisfaction in God which trials and difficulties cannot diminish and which success and pleasure cannot enhance.

We live in perilous times. Modern evangelism has reduced the message and purpose of the gospel. Much of evangelical Christianity is focused on getting people to pray the sinner's prayer so that they can go to heaven. The heart of the gospel is the glory of God. God is so jealous for his own glory that he sent his Son to redeem broken, sinful, unworthy people (Isa. 42:8). The Son prayed that his followers would see his glory (Jn. 17:24). The glory of God moved his holy heart to choose a people (Rom. 9:23).

God extends grace to broken people for his own glory. God is glorified when he is treasured above all, when he is your greatest prize, when he is your fountain of delight. The proclamation of salvation is a proclamation of the glory of God. The heart of the gospel is the glory of God. He is great and greatly to be praised. He is to be feared above all gods. Splendor, glory, and majesty are his. He reigns.

God does not exist for man; man exists for God. Jesus Christ restores broken, fallen man to a true worship of God. The God of the Bible is the supreme object of worship. Jesus Christ saves sinners and makes them worshipers.

Remembering Why

"Thus says the Lord, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the Lord." --Jeremiah 9:23-24

This resonates with me this morning, especially as I consider, "Why do we educate our kids at home?" Is the goal for my children intellectual superiority, or athletic strength, or vocational success? No. Similarly, why am I prone to discouragement when other children are reading greater works, or farther along in math, or more skilled at ____________ (you fill-in-the-blank) than mine?

Mine is to remain focused on the Lord, He who exercises lovingkindness and justice and righteousness. My goal is to raise children that understand and know our Lord. That is His delight, and that is mine, as well. And even then, I dare not boast, but humbly bow, and give thanks.

(Note: This entry was kindly submitted by a dear sister-in-Christ from whom there is much to glean. So, thank you, KH. We look forward to more!)

Returning from the Storm

We had a break to make way for Hurricane Dolly, but all is well and the clean up continues. God is faithful and good!

Do It Generously and Simply

Just Hard Work by Linda Paul

In the way of God, thoughts count for little, love does everything. And it is not necessary to have great things to do. I turn my little omelette in the pan for the love of God; when it is finished, if I have nothing to do, I prostrate myself on the ground and adore my God, who gave me the grace to make it. After which I arise, more content than a king. When I cannot do anything else, it is enough for me to have lifted a straw from the earth for the love of God. People seek for methods of learning to love God. They hope to arrive at it by I know not how may different practices. They take much trouble to remain in the presence of God in a quantity of ways. Is it not much shorter and more direct to do everything for the love of God, to make use of all the labors of one's state in life to show Him that love, and to maintain His presence within us by this communion of our hearts with His? There is no finesse about it; one has only to do it generously and simply.--Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

Wiping noses, doing laundry, hugging a child...all for the love of God. This is a great practice, indeed!

You are Serving Christ

When you serve your family, you are serving Christ...The call to motherhood is a unique and individual call. No two mothers do it the same way, but all of us do it to serve the King.--Donna Otto, The Stay-at-Home Mom

Serve Him diligently, sisters! To have such a specific purpose in life brings much peace and contentment.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all the glory of God. -- 1 Corinthians 10:31

Loneliness and Non-Recognition and Motherhood?

Mother and Child by Renoir

"Loneliness and non-recognition attend motherhood for a time. But that is the perspective of this world only. How does the Judge compare the socialite, the dynamic business 'success' in comparison with the mother who is selflessly training children with an eye of faith fixed on a spiritual kingdom and her hope firmly fixed upon the Lord?"--Walter Chantry, The High Calling of Motherhood

Oh, how I need this reminder. How often I lose sight of the eternal perspective. How often I am going through my daily tasks not giving attention to my children's soul. How often my eyes wander to the glitter and glamour of what the temporal world offers in the form of financial gain and comfort. How often I seek the praises of men instead of the complete peace of doing diligence in my honorable calling of motherhood!

When I purposefully seek to fulfill His calling on my life--to raise my children in the fear and admonition of the Lord--I experience the true peace that passes all understanding. The pursuit of worldly recognition is a snare that can quickly entangle me and pull my attention away from where it ought to be.

Oh, dear and faithful Holy Spirit, I pray that you would quickly restore my focus when I lose sight of my heavenly purpose. May I fix my eyes upon you, dear Lord Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith. Amen.

Trust

If they can see you love them, you can say anything to them.--Richard Baxter

When we surround them with love, we build trust. In building trust, we provide an environment where our children believe that when we must discipline them, it is not done out of anger or hate, but out of love--for their good.

The Family: A Formation Center for Human Relationships

Edith Schaeffer shares with us in her book, A Celebration of Children, that "human relationships start at birth and continue to death, whether or not anyone consciously thinks about it. Good or bad human relationships and constructive or destructive human relationships take place at every level of life. Whether people treat people as human beings or machines, people are treating people in some way. Whether people treat everyone as having importance, dignity, significance, or whether people treat others on a sliding scale of importance--everyone is reacting to other people in some way.

A family is a formation center for human relationships. The family is the place where the deep understanding that people are significant, important, worthwhile, with a purpose in life, should be learned at an early age. The family is the place where children should learn that human beings have been made in the image of God and are therefore very special in the universe.

Parents have been teaching children lessons of how to treat other people, in devastatingly horrible ways or in biblically right ways, whether or not they have ever thought of themselves as teachers. Teaching takes place by example, every minute of every day, for every human being."

We, as parents, need to be ever mindful and intentional about what we are teaching our children. Many times we are making impressions on them through the example of how we live our own lives in front of them. Let's be vigilant in examining ourselves in light of the Word with the constant reminder that within our families, we are training in human relationship building!

Educating Children for God

Ed·u·cate \ˈe-jə-ˌkāt\: v. To bring up, as a child; to instruct; to inform and enlighten the understanding; to instill into the mind principles of arts, science, morals, religion and behavior. To educate children well is one of the most important duties of parents and guardians.

Ed·u·ca·tion \ˌe-jə-ˈkā-shən\: n. The bringing up, as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.

--The American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster 1828 edition.

In Edward Payson's (1783-1827) article, Bringing Up Children for God, we are challenged to keep in mind...

1) ...a realizing, heartfelt conviction that they are His property, His children, rather than ours;

2) ...a cordial and solemn dedication or surrender of them to Him to be His forever;

3) ...we must do all that we do for them from the right motives--namely, His glory;

4) ...we must educate them for His service.

He states, "we will constantly labor to impress upon their minds a conviction that we consider religion as the great business of life, the favor of God as the only proper object of pursuit, and the enjoyment of Him hereafter as the only happiness, while everything else is comparatively of no consequence, however important it may otherwise be."

The Business of Kingdom Building

I am re-reading RC Sproul Jr.'s book, When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling and this struck me:

"We are not training our children so one day they might build the Kingdom. We must remember, as we continue to grow in grace and become more effective in our calling, to ditch this notion that school is something you do for a time, and then you work. We continue to learn, while we work. And our children continue to work, while they learn. Your children are not simply in training, but are even now about the business of building the Kingdom of God."

This is a great reminder as to why we do what we do as parents. My prayer today is that we look at our children not only as little people dependent upon us, but as real participants in this calling of Kingdom building. Press on, parents, in His strength, for His glory!