In many parts of the world we just celebrated Mother’s Day. No matter where you live we want to take a moment to say thank you for all the ways you give and serve as a mother.Ten Gifts We Can Give our Children
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Our Genuine walk with God
Children can see hypocrisy. They hate it even when they are being hypocritical themselves.
Micah 6:8 teaches us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
Jeremiah 30:21 asks us of our devotion to God. Does God walks with you through life?
We want our children to never think they can live without God. When God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous Moses had just died yet He tells him to be strong and courageous. God is with us just as he promised to be with Joshua. Practice God’s presence. Is God enough in your life? Or do we want God Plus? God is the pearl of great price. Do we keep looking for a whole string of pearls?
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Prayer Cover
Luke 18:1-5 teaches us to always pray and never give up. Call on the angels of God for our children. Pray and fast on behalf of our children.
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Personal Righteousness and Ownership
We live in a world where everyone blames someone else. Righteousness starts with us. Joseph was the same person whether he was in charge or in jail and whether he was remembered or forgotten. He had personal righteousness. He was God’s servant first. Joseph’s perspective was all about God. (Proverbs 4:23)
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The Gift of Openness
Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
When we are open with other people our children don’t feel responsible for us. We need to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Let our children be children.
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The Gift of Gratitude
1 Thes. 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Gratitude is hard to keep but must be practiced. Be thankful in all circumstances. We must to train ourselves to think differently.
Deut. 8:10-14
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
We can easily forget that we can do nothing without God.
Gratitude is powerful. Expressing gratitude, writing cards, teaching our children to express gratitude in a detailed way will help them learn to express themselves.
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The Gift of Grace and Peace
Romans 1:7
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Throughout the epistles the first few verses express grace and peace. Our children need to see grace. This is why we need a savior. Learn to reflect God’s love.
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Memories
Throughout the scriptures God speaks of stones of remembrance. Our children need special memories that we build on purpose. The can consist of things such as games together, special times together, walking and talking, watching the sunrise, spending time praying together, memorable vacations, serving together, etc.
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The Gift of Friendship
As our children age, they can become our best friends. Friendship will result when we pray for it, put the time into it and give the above mentioned gifts. We also can give the gift of friendship by teaching them to be close to each other.
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The Gift of Family
Mark 10:29-30
"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
We all need family. If you are single mom or a widow ask a family to adopt you. Be an active part of you family group as a family. Build family such that our children have “aunts” and “uncles” where they can go for help.
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The Gift of Laughter
Laugh because it’s fun to laugh, Enjoy life. Be able to laugh at the days to come. There is always something to laugh at just as there is always something to be grateful for. Job was promised that the second half of his life would be greater than the first. Claim this promise. Job 42:12
