Is the World Dressing our Children?

Saw this most thoughtfully given encouragement on Tuesday the 13th of October. I usually am writing in the afternoon after my workout time. I had tuned to hear some praise and worship and missed the channel entirely. I had somehow picked the channel up one from the channel I frequent for worship. I tuned it on....raised the volume to hear.......and then went to the kitchen and ....got my ice water!  I was captured what this woman was speaking about the world dressing our children.
Of course, she was speaking of this coming Halloween Eve. She spoke of the importance of showing our children and grand-children that they are more than what movies can depict for them to be or become. This woman, probably a grand-mother today spoke on that which has been directed at our children and grand-children. Although she did not mention the title, you knew of what she spoke about.  She, a Jewish woman with the Hebraic heritage spoke how children, particularly girls need to know about the real Queen in the Bible. She immediately spoke of Queen Esther and how her normal life was forever changed when God showed up. The name of this Christian show was Rabbi Lapin on CTN.

I had tuned in today, but they were talking about those who cut themselves. It was very informative as well. But I was drawn back to yesterday's teaching on how we allow others to dress our "kids".
I also thought of Esther who was that young woman of courage. Although she was a stranger in that area, and had no living parents, she ultimately became Queen to an alcoholic, pagan king and saved a nation. Esther had Mordecai who raised her up after her parents death. She was one who faced a real enemy, never hurrying into anything, but taking time for fasting and prayer. She became the woman who acted on God's plan, even if it meant that she was going to perish. She certainly had the wisdom of God.

No, she did not turn anyone into an ice sculpture. She herself, encouraged those who were with her in facing an enemy who was not going to stop till he had seen the Jewish people annihilated. Serious things were going on in the land at the time of her life.

Where do we draw the line? Or should one be drawn.......to help our "kids" know they are more than that 45 dollar costume. How can we show them how we value them.........and teach them truth?

Now we certainly know  wardrobe styles change ..........for you certainly can tell that by looking in my closet and notice that right away. But I certainly do not dress as the world dictates.
I mean, if you look to Hollywood, most will not have much as covering anything that should be covered.
Now these are just my thoughts, but I am drawn back to some scriptures:

Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.    NKJV

That "train up" means "chanak" narrow....discipline.......to dedicate. ( I think of the short amount of time one has in raising a child..........then they leave home.)

That "in the way" means a road......."a course of life".

Ephesians 6:4

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.          NKJV

Of course this means to bring no wrath that you and your child participate in together, but bring that child up in training and admonition of the Lord. Teaching them that He is God in our lives, in our homes, circumstances, and those things we do throughout the year! It also means that the child will have reverence for God!
Admonish: to warn, to warn of wrong practices, to warn against danger

Music and certainly movies can play a role in what a child will think or do. If they are not brought up in the things of the Lord, they may look on the world as a harmless place to experience life. YIKES!

In the last thirty years, we can see darkness has taken the lead especially in October to lead people of all ages to dress up and present to others...... something they are not.
It is like at the recent "zombie" thing in Florida, and shot rang out...........one dead and several injured.
We can see some participate in things which bring no life. I am not sure why some think it is important to participate in such things. I know it bothered me when our daughter was young. And I was surely happy when it snowed on those days, because when it snowed, it was usually a blizzard. And you did not go out..........at all for anything!

What are we teaching our children when allowing them these things?

Well, Shelley, Jesus would not care about such. Did you ask Him about such things? What does the Bible teach us about dressing in things that are not bringing life to us? Well, Shelley, one can certainly dream. Yes, but what will our "kids" dream?

Jesus did not come to accommodate a culture, but He came to set up His kingdom. 

What if people got dressed up in those Dr. uniforms and went and fed the homeless?

What if teenagers got together...........made some sandwiches and went and fed the homeless?

What if we taught our "kids" to reach out to those "kids" who may not have that worldly costume to buy? What if we got together, made some stew, cornbread and fed like a neighborhood of people that night............instead?

Just thoughts here, remember.  I am just thinking what we could do differently to show people the "love" of Jesus.............in feeding them, bringing them a warm blanket or maybe some warm gloves. And talk about eternity with HIM!

What if we took that night and let others know about Jesus instead of worshiping the other?

What if we took our children or grand-children to visit the elderly in an old folk's home on that day? Well, Shelley that would scare my kids?    (and  queens with magic in their hands, ghosts, goblins, and witches don't) (the devil does not need a big "door" to enter your life and that of your children----all he needs is to get a foot hold into your home and family through one open area not guarded by God's word. He has had thousands of years to study mankind.)

Psalm 103:15-18

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 

16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place remembers it no more. 

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting 

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children's children, 

18 To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.   NKJV

What we allow our kids and grand-kids to do comes back to us. What seeds we sow, will produce a harvest!   When we are those who truly fear Him, then our children and their children are secure. Those who keep His commandments and do them. What did Jesus say?

John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."    NKJV

      From the blog:  LEADING OUR CHILDREN BY GIVING THEM TRUTH  .......So when the

world sees us, do they see us as in the image of God our Father or of the world?

Hebrews 12:1-2....1  therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.   NKJV

That weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, can tangle one up in such a mess and delay God's plan for our lives.

"Well, everybody is doing it!" "Well. the pastor or the youth leader said the R-rated movie was okay to go see!"  "They think it has something to do with the Bible."  "Well, everyone else is going." 

No, they are not!

What if God is calling you to go on a missions trip around the world? You will take what you gathered in your heart from the R-rated movie and take it overseas to minister with  you too! And what about the anointing, is it possible to not operate in that which God called you to do when we spend time in and with those R-rated movies? (Just think about Samson and the anointing he had)

"Well God wants us to have fun!"  Yes, but will the fun be at the expense of our souls and those we try to minister life to? We are not to copy the behavior and customs of the world. WE ARE NOT TO FOLLOW THE TRADITIONS OF MAN. WE ARE NOT TO BE RULED BY A CULTURE.  JESUS DID NOT COME TO ACCOMMODATE OUR CULTURE, HE CAME TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM. Our transformation is to be in the new person, the 'new man' God intended.

(Check out my blog: Trading Glory for Sorrows........and find out more about Samson and how he lost his anointing) 


Are we showing our children that it is okay to dress up as the superhero? I know I have seen a few here in the neighborhood. But do the children know that "it is not real" that it is just a form of someone else's imagination? Well, Shelley, it is okay to dress-up! Is dressing up for our tomorrow's, the equipped in God with His Word and declaring truth or are we dressing up as one: a man in women's clothing, or a woman in man's clothing, or................???

Yes, seems like a fine line indeed! What will we do with it?

In closing: I leave you with this thought from scripture!
Matthew 27:15-26
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" 22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" 23 Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!" 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." 25 And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." 26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.    NKJV

Having nothing to do with innocent blood, the people chose the murderer Barabbas. In reading about Barabbas, we find that he was guilty of that which both the Romans and the Jews considered a serious liability, but because of the Jews hatred toward Jesus, they chose the perverse to let the Prince of peace die! Each day we choose either life or death. I heard recently that anyone who takes an offense against the Lord and His divinity are the carnal minded. They are those who have the carnal hatred against anything the Lord is speaking or doing. We saw it in the above passage. Those priests, scribes and Pharisees hated Jesus and they wanted Him gone, so they could continue their living what they thought was holy to God. They were so wrong!
In mid 2004, I was going up my staircase at home.........at been praying and seeking a title for a message for Jail Ministry........ALL I HEARD WAS "GIVE ME BARABBAS!" And the Lord led me through how the world always chooses that which is something they can live with. If they are the carnal, they will choose that which is also carnal.
Are rallying with the world? Are we the "conduit" for which the world can flow through us to our children, or are we the "conduit" for which God flows from our heart to those around us?
What these people chose, came on them and on their children as well.

Father, thank You for Jesus, the Son of Your love. You gave us life through Your Son who took on the Cross with joy in His heart. In all  that was going on, He saw us and saw this day. Show us what to do in these situations. Is it right to dress our children and their children in that which appears as a lie and something of someone else's imagination? You certainly desire us to dream dreams, and see them come to pass. But we also know they are those You planted in us from the foundation of the world. Help us to see where we might be missing something that is totally wrong for our "kids" to participate in this month. Help us to speak wisdom and receive light in anything that is dark with the Halloween Eve event. Truly our children are an heritage from the Lord and we know that YOU have a plan for their lives. They are our future. Help us to keep them safe when we should be guarding their eyes, their ears, and their hearts from anything that might be presented as the good but is really evil to our children.
Father, I think of the book of Amos and what he presented to the people. As the prophet, he was NOT there to infuse them with faith, with confidence or even in zeal... But ........ he was there to fill them with doubt about their lives. He had to show them by YOUR hand and Spirit that what they were doing was wrong and they needed to recognize it. Amos sowed seeds that brought doubt to them that  their future was not as bright as they had thought it was. And it certainly was not a secure future if they continued to walk the pathway they were going.

Are we too, becoming so lax, they we are those, who are not following You correctly? Are we in Your eyes, the "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked".........as we see in the Laodicean church in Revelation?

Father, we surely want our "kids" to have a wonderful childhood but not at the expense of their souls. As the believer's, and those who seek Your plan, is our future looking bleak ........is it one where there is no hope ........but ONLYa testing?

For Amos surely announced that God was NOT WALKING WITH THEM!
Father, we surrender our lives and those of our children and their children to You. Have Your way in them, and may they have life everlasting.  Today we take heed to ourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made us overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28) May we bring praise and glory to Your name forever. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

No Sluggards Around Here

Proverbs 22:5.....5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares,
but he who guards his soul stays far from them. NIV

Proverbs 24:30-34......30 I went past the field of the sluggard,

past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; 

31 thorns had come up everywhere,

the ground was covered with weeds,

and the stone wall was in ruins. 

32 I applied my heart to what I observed 

and learned a lesson from what I saw: 

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest-- 

34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit 

and scarcity like an armed man.   NIV

Yesterday was a beautiful day, with warm sunshine and warm temps to match, and a short ride to see the view of the beautiful scenic gorge was a wonderful idea. There were many boaters on the water fishing and  I even caught a view of some fine big hawks waiting their turn for the fishing event as well! I love this area and am delighted to see it everyday when the sun rises to shine on the majestic mountains that rise and fall into gorgeous valleys of green and ribbons of blue as the waters dance and move along the gorge that sport their diamond sparkles for everyone to see.

But as we continued to travel along some of the roadways, I was caught off-guard by the debris that dots some areas by the river way.There was trash and boxes scattered around, tarps and old vehicles, old boats and abandoned travel trailers with green moss growing on the roofs of said trailers, and even some black bags of trash and I thought of the scriptures above.

It also reminded me of a pastor who came to visit our church back about eighteen years ago now, but he had expounded on the Proverbs 24 scripture. He had mentioned that he was on his way home from some errands on a bright and beautiful day and had been praying in the Holy Ghost. He went by this house in a nice neighborhood, but it did not resemble any of the other homes there. He said the fence was falling down, weeds were almost as high as the porch on the fairly new home and the house needed a new coat of paint! He told us that the Holy Ghost told him that the man who owned that house had the same heart condition as that which appeared outside of his home with over-grown weeds and all! Yikes!

Now when I was growing up, I knew all about keeping our room clean. That cleaning included keeping the inside of the dresser drawers as well organized as the top of the dresser free of "dust bunnies"! And yes, my mother would inspect with that "white glove" treatment to make sure my sister and I had done a good job. She liked everything smelling clean and looking top notch, so to speak.

My dad was one that kept all vehicles just as clean and spotless. He did not like anything thrown down in the floorboard or left on the seat of the car or his truck. The only time we could eat in the vehicle was when we were at a "drive-in" movie. And you guessed it, he was out the next day cleaning everything from the top to the bottom of the vehicle we road in to enjoy the evening movie.

No, today, my life is still the same, and being married am very aware that my husband keeps an immaculate garage. Everything in its place and everything in its own container, so there is a clean walkway to walk through our garage. He even has some in-door, out-door carpet on the floor area from the doorway to the garage door for people to walk on. Yes, it gets vacuumed as well.

In reflecting on those scriptures from above, I am always aware of the first time I read them and kept them in my heart knowing importance of keeping and taking care of that which God has entrusted to our care. Another scripture that comes to mind is, "As in the water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man"...Proverbs 27:19.

I know those qualities extend far into helping those who have a ministry, a management position, a job of bringing different companies with different people, fish and technology, mix them together to form companies, or to run a city like the mayor and police department.

Any promotion to do a job comes from God and when it comes slowly, we can expect to do that which God has for us to do!

I had learned valuable lessons on the way from dusting those bunnies around to straightening our dresser drawers to being able to open a daycare and set up for the day's business. My husband, too, had valuable lessons with dairy cows, horses, and even an occasional stubborn sister. He had sisters that were so much younger and had to watch over them while his parents were busy with other work on the farm. He was always pitching in to help another and it showed in his work within the work-place. He was never arrogant about it, he just got in and helped another to get the job done. But one thing for sure of his family, they always worked like a "team".

For me and in my observations today, sports and military do not always reflect a hero. The best examples I have found are in the Bible and in our children's lives.

Proverbs 22:6.....6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.  NKJV
Yes, this scripture follows the one on snares and thorns. (verse 5).....it is a simple word but a powerful one in training up a child and the way he should go, to travel and become.

Do we desire our children to be failures or successes? Do we desire them to be the "leaders' this country needs? Will there be allurements or deceptions that our children, and grand-children should and can avoid to keep to the path of life and godliness?

The best example to me has come from the writings of  King David and the importance to walking in integrity and being humble before God and man. That humility is a trust in the God Who created us. That is a "confidence" that recognizes virtue. A confident person will always give credit to another for their success. It can be a parent or parents, a teacher or teachers, but all comes back to the Lord directing our pathway and if we "are teachable". In leadership over others looks like a willing heart. It is a willing heart looking to delegate leadership to others, to delegate to them and see them run with it. Hopefully we are not the one watching over them to think we can do it better, but really being a leader who wants others to excel in their gifting's as well. And another important thing is to keep a check on those "emotions"!

For me, and I only know my testimonies to write about, but seriously we have to regard our start in life. For me again was the waging war on "dust bunnies" and the emotions that could rise out of that if I did a "bad job" to wisk them away.  I could always find an excuse or some reason for doing my best job. My mother would point me back to doing the job "right". But each step brought me closer to where I am today. Today, I have had opportunities opened to me that I call God's favor on my life. I have opportunities to minister His word to women and men alike through church and the Internet.

I have seen our grand-daughter being taught the importance of being a "team member". I daily and weekly see how everyone works together for an accomplished end that brings a clean home, harmony and praise to God Himself.

I am thankful to my mother for all that she taught me about cleanliness and how God gave me another example through my husband. I have much on my plate to see come to pass and am grateful for the promises He has given to us help get from point A to point B!

So daily and yes, weekly, my husband and I take inventory of what needs to  change, to be cleaned, gotten rid of, and what needs covering of God's word. But in this walk with the Lord, and my husband said it accurately yesterday. He said, " our walking with the Lord, exercising everyday with His Word helps improve our heart condition." And I believe that whole-heartedly!

Paul said in Ephesians 4:31-32...........31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. NKJV

The next trip I take out to view the gorge,  I will keep in mind those who have been there before and left their belongings for others to view. But I will also take note that God in His great mercy has put my sin far from me through His Son Jesus. I will pray for those who left some of their baggage behind and pray for them to be constructive and not critical. For our attitude is truly known when as children, young adults and even a senior-citizen.

My prayer: Father, help us to be like child-like in our spiritual life with You. May we be mature in our knowledge of You, but oh so child-like with anger and bitterness. Help us to see that "emotions" should not rule us as an individual, or even as a nation! It is not about me and my thing but all of us together in the same boat! Lord, today, I am praying for those who may have a background of coming from a church foundation in Your Word and I am praying for those who have none. I pray for those who do not know You to be saved this day.  That those who left their belongings along the river, may they confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus was raised by You Father God. May everyone be saved as they confess Jesus as Lord. For He is the Lord of all! I pray for all to have a fire in their bellies to seek those heroes of the Bible and through their testimonies, see their failures and successes. May each who reads this find those testimonies to follow truth and godliness and know that God is not through with them yet! I pray for all who read this to be surrounded by motivating examples of godly people, those living examples of God's enduring love to us. Father, You are not absent from the scene but in the very midst of each of or lives to direct our pathway to freedom in who You have called us to be! As like King David, may we not have that "chip on our shoulder" but learn to delegate those into leadership from all areas of life that they too, can be a part of Your great move in these last days! Thank You for parents who gave us life and gave us family life to see victories and achievements. For all the bruises and hurts we might have experienced You have used them for our good and gave a good kick to the adversary to block our destruction. From dust bunnies to proclaiming truth You have been a part of our lives. Our waging warfare is good warfare through God-given weapons to overthrow the adversary. Show each who pray this the very moment You moved in on their behalf and guided them through to victory. Today I give You praise for Your Word and for life abundantly that just keeps getting better though the Blood of Jesus. Your will be done today in our lives as it is in heaven. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV