PRAYING SCRIPTURES

Praying the word of God over, for and with our children is extremely important and cannot be over emphasized.  Praying according to the word of God ensures that we are praying according to God’s will.  God honors His word, and as mentioned in previous posts He is not a man that He should lie nor the son of man that He should repent.  

Here is a verse of scripture that I want us to pray for our children
Psalm 86:10 &11-For thou [art] great, and doest wondrous things: thou [art] God alone. Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
There are four great things that we can pull from this prayer that will be beneficial for us to pray.  
The first thing that we want to pray about is that our children will understand who God is: We want their eyes to be opened to His greatness and to the amazing things that He does.  We also want our children to know that He is the only true God.  It is not good enough for them to know that there is a God, but we want them to build a relationship with Him.  We want them to know Him in an intimate way.
 If our Children can understand this, then they will not spend time looking for an alternative, but will instead only look to Him for answers to questions that they may have, or things that they may struggle with.  If they get to really know who God is, it will make it so much easier for them to fall in love with Him.

The second aspect of this prayer is asking God to teach them His ways.  This is critical, because our ways are not usually His ways.  If our children are able to know God’s ways then they will know what He requires of them, what he wants.  They will not easily follow false shepherd or even their own understanding, but will allow the Holy Spirit to be their guide.

The third aspect of these verses is that our children will walk in the Truth.  We do not want them to simple know the truth but to walk in it.  We want them to reject any false teachings that they may hear, and develop a spirit of obedience to the truth of God’s word as it becomes clear to them.

The fourth aspect of this prayer is that our Children will have a united heart and will fear His name.
We want our children to have a singleness of heart, not to be double-minded. The bible tells us that a double-minded man is unstable in his way.  We do not want a part of their heart for the world and a part for God.  We also want them to reverence the name of the Lord.  We want them to know what His name means and all the power that is attached to His name.  We do not want our children to call the name of the Lord in vain, but with honor and purpose.

In His Service,

Vilma

STEWARDSHIP

  For today’s post I would like to talk about the word “Stewardship”  To get a good understanding of this word let me first look at a couple definitions.

The Merriam Webster dictionary, defines stewardship as: the office, duties and obligations of a steward.  The conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.  
Who then is a steward?  The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines the word steward as “head” person, manager, or overseer.

 The question I need to ask you: did you realize that as Christians we are stewards or managers?  Yes we do have the awesome responsibility of carefully managing something or someone entrusted to our care.

I Cor. 4:1-2: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

As managers we are expected to discharge our duties responsibly.  As faithful stewards it means that our owner will not need to worry if the work will get done, but will rest assured that it will be done and done well, not hurriedly and without thought.

In Matthew 25:14-19, we find the parable of the talents.

Verse 14: For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Not only are we stewards, but servants, left with some goods for a long time.  How long we are not even sure, but we do know that the Lord and master of us will return.

Each servant received an amount according to his ability.  In other words we all have something or someone that have been entrusted in our care to be used for God’s glory.  for which we will be accountable.  God is not expecting from us more than what we are able to do, He expects, however that we will do the best we can.

Verse 19: After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

What have you done with what you were given by your master?  Did you assume ownership because the true owner may have been away too long?  Or did you use it to bring Him glory and Honor?  Were you faithful?

I was reminded about being a steward with the recent passing of my 28 year old son.  As I mourn, I am reminded that I was just his overseer, and that his owner had just returned.  God reminded me that He has no grandchildren, and that my son was his child.  During my period of stewardship I became attached and forgot momentarily what my true role was.  So as much as I miss caring for this wonderful gift that was entrusted in my care, I must come to terms that his owner returned, and I hope that He was pleased.  I believed he was used to bring God Glory and Honor.

So as mothers, lets us faithfully discharge our duties as stewards.  Let us love, but at the same time remember to train them well.  Let us continue to P.U.S.H with all our strength with the one purpose in mind and that is to bring God Glory and Honor.

  

In His Service,

 

Vilma

BENT BUT NOT BROKEN

Have you every stood in a dark valley knowing that there is an opening ahead that will lead you out, but fearing the walk that you have to make to get to that opening?  

You stumble, stump your toes, step on some nails, but in order to get out you must keep on going, because if you stop, you will never get out to experience the light of the day.  

Well this is exactly how I am feeling at the moment as I write this post.

A few days ago my 28 year old son when to bed, and slept off into glory. He had just left my house after watching a basketball game.  This wonderful gift from God was one of the best things that He could have blessed me with, I watched him grow up, graduate from college, buy himself a home, get a good job, fall in love and just being so very happy I forgot he was on loan to me from God and that I was just his steward. So when the unexpected happened my world collapsed around me, sending me into a dark valley.  I sat in the valley stunned, afraid to even move, just simple groping around, but then I heard that sweet small voice as it whispered these scriptures in my ears.  

Psalm 23:4- Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Isaiah 43: 2-When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Job 13:15.  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Job 19:2.  For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth:

I am wobbly but I believe every word of every one of these verses He keeps whispering in my ears.  Satan thought He had me.  He forgot I was not alone but had beside me a great big wonderful God. I do not pretend to understand all that is happening at the moment, but know that God is getting ready to use this for His Glory.

So if you are at this moment going through a dark valley as I am, don’t stop.  Keep going, knowing that He will be there with you as He is presently with me.

In His Service

Vilma

Our Heritage- The Nation's Future

I cannot over emphasize the importance of consistently praying for our children.  

Praying for our children is something that we can do anytime, and anywhere.  We can do so whether we are rich, poor, black, white or Hispanic.  We can do this in any language we speak – English, Spanish, French, German, Jamaican.  

Prayer is the universal key that as mothers we have available to us.  

 It is the key that we can use to unlock doors that may seem impossible to access- big doors, small doors, old fashioned doors, fashionable doors, metal or wood doors.  This is a key that you do not have to get made at a Home Depot or Lowes or any other hardwood store.  It is a key that we can carry around with us any and everywhere we go.

Praying for our children is one sure way that we can defeat the enemy.  Our children are the trailblazers for tomorrow, and the enemy will try everything that he can to make sure that this does not come to pass.  Remember his mission is to steal them from us, and after he steels them he kills them and he does not leave them there he then destroys what he has killed, trying to remove every trace of what was and what is to become.

He has been at this job for ages, He tried this with Joseph but God took him from the pit to the palace.  We see him trying to use pharaoh to destroy all the Hebrew babies- but Moses’ mother rose to the occasion and hid Moses by the river, she did not give up.  Moses had a future to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt.  Herod tried to destroy Jesus  he told the wise men to come back to him after they had found the Christ Child so that He may also go to worship Him, of course he was lying, but God revealed this to the wise men and they did not go back to tell Herod- JESUS the Savior of the WORLD.

We must rise to the occasion, we do not know exactly what God created hem to become but we can agree with Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Who will we pass the baton to if we allow Satan to bind our children to steal their vision and dreams?  Think about it.  Can you feel my passion?  It is not just about your child, it is much bigger than that it’s about our nation’s children.  LET’S  P.U.S.H. !!!

In His service,

Vilma

Let me hear your Comments? 

Being a Mother without having had a Mother

This is something I have always thought about myself and as I pondered it God revealed some things that I will share with you.  My mother passed away when I was 34 years old already married and with at the time a 4 year old and a 1 year old.  I remembered how angry and hurt I was.  As I started to talk about my children not having their grandmother around and my not being able to call my mother for advice as I use to, it suddenly dawned on me that my husband who was comforting me lost his mother when he was only 12 years old.  Although the pain was still there I started to thank God that I had the opportunity to have her for 34 years, when as in the case of my husband some had theirs for only 12 years, some for maybe 5 years and then some who never had the opportunity of knowing their mother. 

There are those of you who may not have had their birth mother, but were blessed with a mother figure who tried to fill that gap, whether a grandmother, adopted parent, foster mother, a big sister or other relative.  Then there may be a few who as painful as it may have been literally raised themselves, with those daily struggles for survival.

Now here you are looking back at the child you raised, or the child that you are still raising, you no doubt have many questions as to the job you did, or the one you are doing. Was it right or is it right?

Let us rethink this- first start to thank God that he chose your womb in spite of everything else to place the gift of life.  If He did be assured that you are capable of being that mother that God desires.  Remember that God is the only one that gives life- God does not make any mistakes.  He did not create this life within you and then said oops, I made a mistake, she can’t manage.  There is no oops in God!!  Next thank God for the people who helped you and tried to be a mother to you.  Then forgive your mother who may have abandoned you and ask God’s forgiveness for whatever anger and bitterness that you may have if you lost your mother at a critical period in your life.  You may not even realize how angry you have been.  This certainly is a hindrance to your relationship with God and subsequently a hindrance to being the mother He has called you to be.

 Not having a mother or a good mother figure around is difficult, but remember that the manual for child rearing is the word of God and that word stands forever.  You can seek advice or counsel, get parenting classes, but always make sure that the advice you are given is in agreement with what the word of God is saying.

 Some of you reading this blog may have had mothers around all your life, but you never see them pray or read the word of God and in turn they never taught you how to pray and read the word of God.  So you find it hard to read the word and pray as I have been encouraging you to do.

The fact that you are reading this means that it is not too late to start doing what is right.  Break this generational pattern and start to earnestly pray and seek God’s guidance. Tell yourself the BUCK stops with you.  The moment you make an effort God steps in.  God did not part the red sea until the Israelites stepped in.

In His Service,

Vilma

What are you Believing God For Concerning Your Children?

What are you believing God for concerning your Children?  As you look at them, think about them, speak with them, what is that burning desire that keeps clutching at your heart?  Is it for their salvation, their obedience, their health, the choices, they make?  Is it about their finances, their lifestyle or even the way they raise their own children?  As you zero in on it, get yourself a note book and write it down.  Next go to the scriptures and search for every promise concerning “that thing”.  Start to speak these promises every day until you are able to say it from memory.  Remember words are powerful and when mixed with faith they are even more powerful.

Speaking God's Word is powerful!  It is more powerful than a two-edged sword!  One edge of the sword is God’s word, and it becomes double-edged when we speak the word of God- that’s the other edge.  We must synchronize; we cannot go in opposite directions and expect to get good results.  We must be on one accord.  So as God speaks I agree.  When we agree with someone or something we support it- right.  How do we support what God is saying?  By believing it and acting like it is so.

 Having said this I also would like to say that along with claiming the promises of God we need to remember that there are certain conditions surrounding these promises and we have to acknowledge these “ifs” and but’s and operate accordingly so that our “thens” can materialize.

In His Service,

Vilma

Praying for a Revelation Knowledge of God

For this post I would like for us to look at Ephesians 1:17-19:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power (KJV).

In his prayer for the Ephesians Paul was asking that God would give to the Ephesians the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.  Most times we want revelation from God about people, about things or about certain situations, but it is rarely that we pray asking for revelation knowledge of God Himself.  But that was Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians.  It is important for us to have an accurate knowledge and understanding of who we are.  Yet it is far more important (and beneficial) for us to know and understand who God is.  

Paul continued to ask that the eyes of their understanding be opened up (enlightened) to know the hope to which God has called them, the riches of Gods glorious inheritance.  It would take supernatural intervention for us to fully understand what God has given to us in Jesus Christ.  The hope of his calling could be seen as the purpose for which God has called us.  This can also be seen as hope for the future. 
David Guzik in his commentary on Ephesians 1 sums up very well “the hope of His calling” from a futuristic point of view.  According to Guzik the believer has a glorious future of resurrection, eternal life, and freedom from sin, perfected justification, and glorious elevation above the angels themselves (Dvvid Guzik-http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries).

 “According to the working of his mighty power” This mighty power is the same power that raised Christ from the dead.
Although Paul prayed this prayer for the Ephesians it is relevant for us today as well as for our children.

 Lord, please my children the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and the knowledge of You.  Help that their eyes will be opened that they will know the hope to which you have called them, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints and His Incomparably great power for us who believe.  In Jesus’s name Amen

In His service,

Vilma