Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Allan

I have tried to post this video for a week and finally realized the file was too big...so here's the edited version:


After I get the boys in their PJ's, teeth brushed, bathroom duties taken care of, hands washed, and put them in their beds (after they each get a "round" hug - this is done by simply giving the child a big bear hug and then twirling around and around until neither of you can see straight and you both fall into bed) and turn the lights down low, it's then time for Daddy to spend a few minutes with them.

Sometimes they get a "Darby" story, or a book read and many times Daddy quotes passages of scripture to them before praying and turning out the light. This is how they learned the 23rd Psalm...just by hearing over and over and over every night. Several weeks ago we were at my in-laws and all of the sudden Allan starts quoting Psalm 1 which I'd never heard him do before. He had learned it just by hearing Philip repeat it over and over at bedtime. Philip always does hand motions to help them remember so that's where he gets the actions.

By helping our children hide God's word in their hearts we're actively giving them ammunition to keep them from sin. So many times I've heard or said myself, "Oh, that's so 'cute'". Since becoming a parent I've learned that those who are committed to rearing godly children will start before the child can talk teaching that child God's word. Recently I've been doing some study in conjunction with reading Elizabeth George's "Following God with all Your Heart" and was struck by Joshua 1:8. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

If our lives are to be saturated with God's Word we have to have it in our heart. Meditating day and night, obeying the principles set forth in it. God says only then "will you be prosperous and successful." God so clearly gives the formula for being successful right here. Not success in the world's eyes, but being successful in God's eyes. That's what I want for myself and my children. Unfortunately I didn't start memorizing scripture until I was dating Philip and that's one of the things we did together on a consistent basis. Oh, there was the occasional verse in Sunday School, or contest and then there were a few verses that I had to memorize in Bible School but no one ever told me how revolutionary it can be or crucial it is to living a consistent Christan life. I'm also noticing that the older I get the harder it is to do....sighhhhh.... So I'm not looking at my children saying "cute!" but rather praying, "Oh God, burn these words on their hearts, use them as light to their path, as swords to defend themselves from temptation and put steel to their backbones." Simply put....all my energies right now are devoted to raising children who are going to love and serve God wholeheartedly all of their days and be an asset to the kingdom of God. So far I'll have to admit it's the hardest job I've ever found myself doing.



2 comments:

Brenda said...

Priceless! Enjoyed this post!

Reva said...

Marianne,
I wish I begun earlier to teach our children Bible verses "on purpose" - they did the SS memory verses, etc. Just this month our boys are memorizing the Beatitudes... we will work on more next month!! :) Thanks for the video - it is 'cute'... the Word will not be lost on them!!