Being a parent of a 17 year old, it seems like life is moving 100 mph. I can still remember her first day of kindergarten, the first time she learned how to ride a bike and her first volleyball game. Today, she is preparing for her first round of ACT testing and looking at her first choices of colleges ... so many first! Yesterday my husband and I were talking with our daughter about her future and the path she is on today. Our concerns for her pertaining to college is not academics; she is a very good student, diligent and dedicated to her studies. Our focus is on her character. In choosing her college, her character will hold the biggest weight when it comes to which college is chosen. As parents who are raising our children by Biblical standards, character is big for us. We understand that it will be her character that will fuel the choices and decisions that she makes. Her gifts and talents will open doors for her, but, it will be her character that will keep her; keep her from falling prey to the negative influences of others, keep her from compromising on Biblical truth, keep her from gambling the plan that God has for her life. Our intentions are to assist her in doing the will of God for her life, not, throwing her out into this big world and cross our fingers and hope she will make it.
During our conversation with her, we found out some things that were disappointing to hear. Disappointing because as a parent you hope and pray that your child is just as dedicated to making the changes needed in their live, just as much as you are wanting to see that change. We have endured so much with our daughter and our faith has really been tested and tried. Years of tears, praying and believing God for breakthrough, seeing a spark of the light at the end of the tunnel; all just to see it go dim again; it doesn't go out, but, it does go dim! Even though, I was disappointed by some things that came to surface, I was also encouraged. You see, there was a time when we couldn't have a discussion with our daughter, without it being emotionally and physically draining. At the end, there was no resolve and we all would walk away feeling worst than felt when we first began. Hours and hours would go by with us pointing the finger at one another. Everyone was talking, but, no one was listening. The Lord has brought us a long way and has helped us to be able to come to a place of resolve in our discussions.
When you are standing in faith and believing for breakthrough for a loved one or even yourself; I realized, you have to have something to stand on. A promise from the Lord, a scripture, a word or something. In 2011 the Lord gave me a word and a scripture for our daughter's breakthrough. During this year, I was going through my own deliverance and allowing the Lord to do a work in me. The Lord gave me a promise through the scripture Jeremiah 31:17 So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the Lord “Your children will return to their own land. He also shared with me that my deliverance will be key to my daughter's breakthrough.
I am so thankful for the ministry that my family and I are dedicated members of. For the heart of a pastor who is God-focus and does everything to make sure that God is the center of attention and that the Lord will get all the glory. I'm grateful for the training and teaching that we get; teachings like "Biblical Parenting," Love and Respect" marriage seminars and Leadership training. My husband and I have really grown in our relationship with our children and with one another. It was teachings like the Biblical parenting and one -on-one counseling that we received from our pastor that helped us to realize that, much of our change and the way we live our life is connected to our children's lives and their future.
I could still walk away from our conversation encouraged yesterday, because, I have a promise from God. Because I am dedicated to allowing the Lord to finish the work that He has began in me. I'm praising God that in our conversation yesterday; we listen to one another, we understood the disappointment and apologized for the hurt. I'm praising God, because I didn't go off into a deep dark place, feeling defeated, like I did so many times in the past. I'm praising God, that even though I don't see (yet) what's ahead, I'm looking pass what's in front of me. I'm standing on; "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," Galatians 6:7 I have sowed and will continue to sow seeds of faith, sacrifice, humbleness, change, and whatever else is needed. So if I have to wipe my tears, while I am confessing Jeremiah 31;17, than that's what I will sow!
I want to encourage you today, stand on what the Lord has given you for your loved one or situation. And if you haven't sought the Lord, I encourage you to do so. Stand knowing, that God is NOT mocked. Standing, sowing seeds for the harvest you want to reap, standing, even when your knees are weak, standing, even if you are in that dark place, standing when it seems like you have lost the battle, standing knowing that you will WIN the war. Stand, Stand, Stand ... and watch God get the Glory!!!
Remember, surrender all ...
Tynisha
During our conversation with her, we found out some things that were disappointing to hear. Disappointing because as a parent you hope and pray that your child is just as dedicated to making the changes needed in their live, just as much as you are wanting to see that change. We have endured so much with our daughter and our faith has really been tested and tried. Years of tears, praying and believing God for breakthrough, seeing a spark of the light at the end of the tunnel; all just to see it go dim again; it doesn't go out, but, it does go dim! Even though, I was disappointed by some things that came to surface, I was also encouraged. You see, there was a time when we couldn't have a discussion with our daughter, without it being emotionally and physically draining. At the end, there was no resolve and we all would walk away feeling worst than felt when we first began. Hours and hours would go by with us pointing the finger at one another. Everyone was talking, but, no one was listening. The Lord has brought us a long way and has helped us to be able to come to a place of resolve in our discussions.
When you are standing in faith and believing for breakthrough for a loved one or even yourself; I realized, you have to have something to stand on. A promise from the Lord, a scripture, a word or something. In 2011 the Lord gave me a word and a scripture for our daughter's breakthrough. During this year, I was going through my own deliverance and allowing the Lord to do a work in me. The Lord gave me a promise through the scripture Jeremiah 31:17 So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the Lord “Your children will return to their own land. He also shared with me that my deliverance will be key to my daughter's breakthrough.
I am so thankful for the ministry that my family and I are dedicated members of. For the heart of a pastor who is God-focus and does everything to make sure that God is the center of attention and that the Lord will get all the glory. I'm grateful for the training and teaching that we get; teachings like "Biblical Parenting," Love and Respect" marriage seminars and Leadership training. My husband and I have really grown in our relationship with our children and with one another. It was teachings like the Biblical parenting and one -on-one counseling that we received from our pastor that helped us to realize that, much of our change and the way we live our life is connected to our children's lives and their future.
I could still walk away from our conversation encouraged yesterday, because, I have a promise from God. Because I am dedicated to allowing the Lord to finish the work that He has began in me. I'm praising God that in our conversation yesterday; we listen to one another, we understood the disappointment and apologized for the hurt. I'm praising God, because I didn't go off into a deep dark place, feeling defeated, like I did so many times in the past. I'm praising God, that even though I don't see (yet) what's ahead, I'm looking pass what's in front of me. I'm standing on; "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," Galatians 6:7 I have sowed and will continue to sow seeds of faith, sacrifice, humbleness, change, and whatever else is needed. So if I have to wipe my tears, while I am confessing Jeremiah 31;17, than that's what I will sow!
I want to encourage you today, stand on what the Lord has given you for your loved one or situation. And if you haven't sought the Lord, I encourage you to do so. Stand knowing, that God is NOT mocked. Standing, sowing seeds for the harvest you want to reap, standing, even when your knees are weak, standing, even if you are in that dark place, standing when it seems like you have lost the battle, standing knowing that you will WIN the war. Stand, Stand, Stand ... and watch God get the Glory!!!
Remember, surrender all ...
Tynisha
Thank you for another raw and real post. Your transparency continually encourages me! Thank God for the revival and the ministry we are so blessed to be a part of. I'm standing in faith with you and I know you're standing with me too.
ReplyDeleteAmen Heidi, the revival was life-changing. It makes things a little more easier to know others are standing with you ... Thank you. And thank you for supporting my blog.
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