How do you help your children... - Page 2

Pressing-On · #11 09-28-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

Oh, boy. It's really hard if you loved the girl, too!

I went through that a while back, and I hope I never have to again!

Sorry you are.

Thank you and please pray for her. I do love her!!!

I need to relax for a minute before I call her back. It's like a two hour phone call - normally! I was praying for her as I was driving home because I knew she was going to call me today.

MissBrattified · #12 09-28-2009, 01:19 PM

LOL, PO!!!!! Your son MUST be a serial heartbreaker for his mother to take the gf's side.

Pressing-On · #13 09-28-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

develop a love for God, and a relationship with Him?

Obviously taking them to church every service isn't enough.

Toward your question - I read to them what the Word said so that they could hear for themselves. I never pushed them to pray, read their Bibles or go to the altar. I taught them not to fake a move of God or tears - no matter what anyone else was doing. You know how kids can be? LOL!

I also had them pray for themselves when they were sick or hurt so that they could see God was real in their lives.

For instance, when my son was very young his foot had been hurting him for, maybe, a week. We were sitting on the couch and he asked me to pray for his foot again. I said, "Son, God wants you to ask him yourself. He wants you to talk to him yourself. You can't get to God through me or your Daddy. He's your God too."

He lifted up his foot and with a little embarrassment in his voice said, "Jesus! I need you to heal my foot!" Well, he instantly felt healing and got tears in his eyes and then started laughing. lol! So cute!

I just want God to be real to them. That's all that matters in this life.

Pressing-On · #14 09-28-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

LOL, PO!!!!! Your son MUST be a serial heartbreaker for his mother to take the gf's side.

Lord, he was with his NEW girlfriend when we went out for his birthday Saturday. I saw him WINK at her. I wanted to slap his face. He's so funny and suave!!! I hope someone breaks his heart so he'll know how it feels!!! MEN!!!!!

Okay, going to call the EX!!!!

MissBrattified · #15 09-28-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Lord, he was with his NEW girlfriend when we went out for his birthday Saturday. I saw him WINK at her. I wanted to slap his face. He's so funny and suave!!! I hope someone breaks his heart so he'll know how it feels!!! MEN!!!!!

Okay, going to call the EX!!!!

Oh, my goodness!!! That's hysterical.

Pro31:28 · #16 09-28-2009, 04:34 PM

Ron Luce has a great book out called Recreate. Most of the information was common sense, but there are a few other things that really hit home.

When my 16 year old was a tiny tot, I determined that I would not spend hours and hours only reading books (which I did do, as well), but I also decided to interview adults who never strayed from church. I would ask them, "what did your parents do RIGHT?"

Surprisingly, taking them to church all the time was barely mentioned, but across the board, the most common theme was, "they spent time with me". This is echoed in Luce's book as well. Many kids grow up resenting church because their parents put church first.

kristian's_mom · #17 09-28-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

develop a love for God, and a relationship with Him?

Obviously taking them to church every service isn't enough.

My son is still so young, but I feel the best approach that I am going to use is simply to lead by example. Me and my Mom butted heads a lot when I was younger, she was very conservative, and I think that it actually pushed me away from church. She was so focused on the "standards" and nothing else. I do love my mother though. She did manage to instill a foundation in me and I'm grateful for that.

ForeverBlessed · #18 09-28-2009, 07:12 PM

I wish I knew the answer exactly. I have prayed for mine, had such a strong desire to see them grow in a relationship with God. It has been my hearts desire. I don't want to see them in religion...but have a true relationship.

My frequent prayer has been "let them know you as i know you" I hope that I have lived an example before them.

Mine are still in the turbulent teens. Ultimately I think they have to have their own failures and get to know God just like we did. To prove him faithful, to see that he forgives, loves us unconditionally. I think the only way that can truly happen is for them to make mistakes and learn just like we did.

I attended services for our church anniversary this weekend... two of my daughters sang in both services. I was so proud of them and so glad that they were in church instead of where they could be...as they have struggled as so many teens do. Thankfully they are getting to know him and understand his faithfulness.

Throughout struggles though I have thought Oh God, you are forsaking me..

only to have him prove his faithfulness to us and come through the storm...and all stronger for it.

I think keeping them active in ministry of some type is a big help. They have to have fellowship with those who are like them and keeping them active with a purpose.

I wish I had developed speaking into the lives of my kids earlier... just in the last year has God showed me the importance of speaking into their lives the Word of God and the plans he has for them. It works.

pelathais · #19 09-28-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

develop a love for God, and a relationship with Him?

Obviously taking them to church every service isn't enough.

I used to "teach them how to pray" by dangling them out over the edge of hotel balconies with a Blanket on their heads. Then, some other guy did that with his kid and it wasn't cool anymore.

Sinatra · #20 09-28-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Toward your question - I read to them what the Word said so that they could hear for themselves. I never pushed them to pray, read their Bibles or go to the altar. I taught them not to fake a move of God or tears - no matter what anyone else was doing. You know how kids can be? LOL!

I also had them pray for themselves when they were sick or hurt so that they could see God was real in their lives.

I just want God to be real to them. That's all that matters in this life.

We do this too.

Also, whenever I was sick or had a headache, I would ask my children if they would pray for me. I still remember my then 4yr. old laying her little hand on my head; praying for God to heal Mama's headache. Well.....my headache went away and my little 4 yr. old and my other children started giggling and jumping around and sing-songing, Jesus healed Mommy, Jesus healed Mommy. And that day, Jesus became a little more real and personal to them. Now that they are older, I don't have to ask, they'll come to me and say, Mom, can I pray for you?

I also think it ties in with living a Godly example all the time. Children are so perceptive. They know what's real and what isn't. They aren't fooled by Sunday Christians. If we aren't consistent in all we do how can we expect them to be. Your children need to know that God is a part of everything you do.

We have always homeschooled and we have always encouraged questions and we've always tried to teach our children how to find answers to those questions. When they were little, they learned how to use a Strong's Concordance right along with learning how to use a dictionary and encyclopedia. We have tried to instill a love of God's Word in them. Memorizing it, studying it, learning how to search it for answers. As they have grown older we have told them, don't just take someone's word what the Bible says. Study the Bible, look it up, know for yourself what God has to say in His Word; pray about it and learn to hear God's voice.

I'm sorry, I ramble. The bottom line is I want God to be real to them. For them to love God and know God loves them. To know that God forgives and is merciful. I want them to know what God's Word says and to ask questions and to understand His Word. I want them to have a personal relationship with God through a developed prayer life.

I want them to know that God will be EVERYTHING to them that He says in His Word that He will be. And, I think they learn all of this by observing their parents walk with God and how we handle trials and situations.