WHEN DO WE START?

Part 2

“Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2-3)

We are discussing the importance of our children receiving Christ as their Lord and Savior when they are young. A survey by the International Bible Society reveals that a whopping 83 percent of all Christians make their commitment to Jesus Christ between the ages of four and 14 years. That’s a very high percentage, isn’t it? Also, many who serve the Lord as missionaries have testified that they first felt God calling them to missionary service during that four to 14 age period.

The Barna Research Group shows adults aged 19 and over have only a six percent probability of becoming Christians.

Our Scripture says that Jesus “called a little child unto Him.” It means a “childling, infant, or half-grown child.” Jesus calls the little ones and we had better not stop them as Jesus stated emphatically in Matthew 19:14, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Can I quote Norman Williams again? “What goes into the child during the first six years will largely determine what that child will be in character and personality all the rest of his life! …From birth to about six, the child is tender, pliable, open and very impressionable. He will never again be so pliable and open as he is in these early years. After six, his character and personality will have a ‘set’ to them. God has made the child pliable and tender and open so that he might be molded toward God and His Word in the very foundations of his being by his parents. Whoever, whether God or the devil, wins these first six years in the life of child will lay the foundations of that child’s life—the one for good and blessing, and the other for ill and damnation!”

As I talk with mothers, and even home schooling mothers, I often find that although they have taught their children about salvation, they have not given them an opportunity to actually receive Christ into their lives—and some of these children are nearing teen years.

This is a great disadvantage. How do children learn to curb their fleshly nature without having Christ living in them? We all have two natures in us, the flesh and the Spirit. We ourselves are prone to giving into the flesh. What about our young children?

However, when they ask Jesus Christ to come into their life, He comes to dwell in them by His Spirit. The power of the cross of Jesus is not only that He died and shed His precious blood to save us from our sins, but that He also comes to dwell in us. He is the dwelling Christ—“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

This act of receiving Christ totally changes the lifestyle of your children. They now have Christ Jesus living in them to enable them to overcome sin and the fleshly nature. As we seek to do this in our own lives, we teach our children also. From an early age they learn to live in victory over the allurements of the flesh.

Is your child struggling with anger? Teach him that this is his fleshly nature that is trying to overcome him. It may be hard to say “No” to the anger in his own strength, but now He has Jesus Christ living within him to give him the power to say “No” to anger and “Yes” to Jesus, and to forgive instead. Teach him how to pray, “In the name of Jesus, I say “No” to this anger. Thank you, Lord Jesus that you live in me by the power of your Holy Spirit. I want you to reign in me. I yield to your patience, love, and forgiveness right now. Thank you, Lord Jesus for the victory. Amen.”

Is your child struggling with disobedience and stubbornness? Teach him to resist the devil. Teach him the habit of saying “No” to the work of the flesh and to pray, “Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you that you live in me. I thank you for your life of submission and obedience that reigns in me. I choose to allow your life to flow through me, right now. Amen.”

As your children learn to overcome in the little things in their lives while they are young, they will be on a pathway to saying “No” to the flesh and “Yes” to the Holy Spirit as a habit of their lives. They will be already in the habit and strengthened in Christ to say “No” to bigger temptations they will face later in life.

Of course, they will fail. We do too, don’t we? But we confess our sin, we are forgiven, we get up again, and seek to walk the truth of Romans chapter six. And we teach our children the same.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

Thank you, Father, for the power of your death on the cross for me. You died to save me from my sin and myself. You died to enable me to walk in victory. This truth is not only for grownups but for my children, too. I pay that each one of my children will come to a saving faith in you. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am setting my children on a path of victory.

WHEN DO WE START?

Part 1

“And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make the wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).

 A baby does not wait to start his or her life at birth; he is already participating in life in the womb. He bonds with his mother in the womb. Especially in the third trimester, the baby senses the feelings of the mother and shares her emotions. If she is stressed, his heart-beat goes up. If she is contented, he is contented. Researchers have found that a stressed mother produces stress hormones called catecholamines, which affect the emotions of the baby.

 If a mother does not want her baby and rejects it, the baby will often be aware of this rejection and even exhibit signs of rejection after birth. This is why a baby that is taken away from the mother at birth may find it hard to recover emotionally. Although I am a great advocate of adoption, and it is very much on the heart of our heavenly Father, I have to concede that it often has its challenges. Even in the most loving, caring and embracing home, a child can subconsciously long for its biological mother. Even though the child is totally loved, he or she may battle with feelings of rejection, because the womb-bonding was terminated. That bonding was meant to continue from strength to strength.

 The baby in the womb reacts to sound, tastes and sights. At 15 weeks the baby can be responsive to touch and can feel vibrations of music even if he can’t yet hear. Usually by 24 – 28 weeks the baby can hear noises outside the womb. In fact the sense of hearing is the most developed of all senses before birth. That mean he is getting to know the sound of your voice. That means the best time to start reading God’s Word to your child is while he or she is in the womb!

 One of the many words God uses for babies is the Greek word, brephos, which comes from a root word meaning “to nourish.” This word describes:

1. An unborn baby being nourished in the womb. When Mary came to visit her cousin, Elizabeth and saluted her, “the babe (brephos) leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:41, 44).
2. A newborn child being nourished at the breast. “Ye shall find a babe (brephos) wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12, 16).
3. Older infants (Luke 18:15).

 This is the same word that is used in 2 Timothy 3:15 when Paul writes to Timothy, “And that from a child (brephos) thou hast known the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15). Timothy was taught the Scriptures from a babe, or maybe even in the womb.

 You don’t have to wait until your children can intelligently understand before your establish the habit of Family Devotions and begin reading the Word to them. Start when they are in the womb, or when they are nursing from the breast. Little children may not understand the words being read to them, but God’s Word is alive and active and will do its work in their heart. 2 Timothy 3:15 says that the Scriptures have the power to prepare a child for salvation. They release faith to believe God and to understand salvation. The sooner and the more, little children are filled with the Word of God, the sooner they will come to salvation.

Is it important for a little child to know Christ when they are young? Yes. The devil is vying for the minds of your children from an early age. The sooner Christ takes control of their minds and hearts the better. Norman V. Williams writes, “The parents’ great privilege during the first six years is to make his child acquainted with Christ as his Maker and his loving Friend. Before the child is three and one-half, he should be saved and know that Christ made him and loves him.”

Is this possible? Will a decision made at such an early age last? Most of our children received Christ Jesus into their hearts at age four and all are walking with the Lord today. Evangeline says, “God saved me at four years of age. Even today, it is still the most vivid and powerful experience of my life. My mother came into my room and said, “Stephen has just asked Jesus to come into his life. Would you like to also?” At that moment the world stopped and the fight between the powers of darkness and heaven began. My whole body was shaking. With all my heart I wanted to ask Jesus into my life, but the pull from Satan was so strong.”No, no, no…” the voice of Satan pulled at my heart. The struggle was powerful.

Eventually I said, "Yes” with all my heart. I followed my mother in prayer asking Jesus to come into my life. At that moment I knew God. I experienced the reality of God. He came into my life and filled me. He opened my mind to Him. I was saved for life—no turning back! I have know his powerful presence in my life ever since. Instantly I felt peace. Instantly I was not afraid of the big owl outside my room, or of anything. I have never been afraid of anything from that day.”

What about some of the other great saints? Jonathan Edwards was seven, Billy Graham was six, Catherine Booth was six, Corrie Ten Boom was five, Ruth Graham was four, Amy Carmichael was three and James Dobson was also three. These men and women have impacted the world for God.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Father, please help me to never forget the power of your Word in the lives of my children, from babies to the older ones. Help my husband and me to make it a priority to daily read and speak your life-giving words into their hearts. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

No activities in our lives are as important as Daily Family Devotions.

WHO DO YOU LIKE TO PLEASE?

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV)

Who are you pleasing today? I guess that if we are honest we have to confess that we tend to please ourselves more than anyone else. Although we have our husband and the constant needs of our children to attend to all day, we still like to do what we like to do, don’t we? However, Romans 15:1-3 tells us that we are “not to please ourselves… For even Christ pleased not himself.” Jesus “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life…” (Matthew 20:28). He gave us His example so we “should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21 and Philippians 2:3-8).

It really gets to the “nitty gritty” when Paul talks about marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:32-35. Once again, in this passage nobody gets to please themselves. Paul says that the unmarried woman is free to please the Lord. This means she loves to serve others, because we please the Lord by serving and blessing His people. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things because she wants to please her husband. He becomes her first priority.

The bottom line is that if you are single, you can give yourself 100 percent to focusing on the Lord and serving Him. However, if you are married, you are bound to please your husband. And it’s not meant to be a duty. The word “please” not only means to seek to please, but it involves the exciting of the emotions! What are some of the ways you can please your husband today and in the coming days?

 1. Delight to be his helper

The first description of a wife is a “helper” (Genesis 2:15). Really? Maybe you are thinking you are the one who needs help! You have the little children around you all day who constantly draw on your resources. Don’t despair, mother. The word “helper” is the same word that is used to describe God who is “our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20) and who is our “help and our deliverer” (Psalm 70:5). As a helper, you reveal the likeness of God who is always available to come to our aid. You are also a helper to your husband as you care for your home and your children. Together you are building a godly home and this is the blessed part that God has given to you.

 2. Smile at him

How often do you smile at your husband? Or do you give him more frowns than smiles? Start a new habit of smiling at him each time you look at him. Even when you don’t feel like smiling, do it. Your action will change your attitude. Not only smile at your husband, but smile at your children. The whole atmosphere of your home will change.

 3. Laugh with him

Don’t get so boring that you never take time to laugh. Laugh at the little things. Laugh together as you watch the children.

 4. Look adoringly at him

When your husband speaks to you, look at him adoringly. I am sure you did this before you married. The way to please your husband is to do the same things you did before you were married, the little things that made him fall in love with you. Keep doing those things and he’ll keep falling in love with you over and over again. For a joke, I tell my husband that I have married two husbands—the first skinny one who was so skinny that you could hardly see him, and the fatter one! I feel in love with the skinny one, but I am still in love with the second one and think he is the most handsome man on the planet. And I continually remind him.

 5. Speak sweetly, kindly and lovingly to him

He can’t take your criticism. He can’t take your harshness. He can’t take your retorts. He can’t take your indifference. He will run from it. Do you want to draw him closer to you? Sweet talk him. Speak encouraging words to him. And never forget to say, “I love you” every day. You are allowed to say it more than once a day. In fact, I give you permission to say it ten times if you would like!

 6. Touch him each time he passes

Give him a kiss or cuddle each time you are near him or pass him in the home. Or at least touch him lovingly. You can never kiss him enough. You can never touch him enough. Make it a habit.

 7. Be intoxicating to him

Do not deprive him sexually. 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 says that we are to fulfill each other’s sexual needs. The KJV calls it giving one another “due benevolence.” The full understanding of these words means, “we owe it to one another, we are under obligation to one another, we have a debt to one another, and a duty to one another.”

Proverbs 5:19 tells husbands “to be always intoxicated with her love.” Whose love? The wife’s love. That means that you are to be ravishing, captivating, and intoxicating to your husband. The Hebrew word actually means “to lead astray.” Do you like that? Don’t wait for your husband to initiate love-making. Surprise him. Lead him astray from the worries and burdens of his day and intoxicate him. You’ll forget your worries, too.

1 Corinthians 7:5 ESV says, “Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you.” Are you currently doing a season of fasting and prayer? If not, you know what you should be doing!

 8. Honor him

My, this is where I often fall down. There is even more than submitting to your husband and obeying him (Ephesians 5:22-24; Colossians 3:18 and Titus 2:5). God wants you to honor your husband. The greatest way you can please your husband is to respect and honor him. Husbands long for this more than anything else. The Amplified Version of Ephesians 5:33 explains the Greek word very clearly, “Let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband (that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly).” What a challenge.

You know the old saying, “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence.” This applies to marriage, too. Satan would like to destroy your marriage. He loves to bring deceiving and dissatisfying thoughts to your mind. Don’t listen to his lies! Instead, water, feed, and fertilize your marriage. It will grow so luscious and green that you’ll never want to take another look anywhere else.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org 

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, please save me from being taken up with myself and my own interests. Show me the delight in serving and pleasing my husband. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

Instead of dull, I will be desirable; instead of insipid, I will be intoxicating; instead of staying in the rut, I will be ravishing.

Folding your Flock

One of the most beautiful revelations of God is that He is our Shepherd. He is our personal Shepherd and He is the Great Shepherd of His flock--His people Israel and the church. Not only is He our Shepherd, but of all the animals God created, He chose to call us His sheep—and a sheep cannot survive without a shepherd.

The Chief Shepherd wants to shepherd His precious flock through His under shepherds. He raises up shepherds to watch over His flock, the church. 1 Peter 5:1-2 exhorts the elders to “Feed the flock of God which is among you… being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” The word “feed” means a lot more than giving food to eat. The word is polmaino, which involves the full responsibility of the shepherd—leading them to nourishment, but also guiding, guarding, tending, and folding the flock.

When Jesus spoke to Peter after His resurrection, He exhorted him three times, “Feed my lambs… Feed my sheep… Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). The first and last exhortation to “feed” literally means to feed. However, the second time Jesus said these words he used polmaino, the word that means the fullness of shepherding.

I love the term, “folding the flock,” don’t you? In biblical times the shepherd folded his flock each night. He counted each one and made sure they were all in the fold, safe and secure from any wild beasts. He often slept in the opening of the fold to protect his sheep. During the day, he watched over them constantly with his rod and staff, and led them to green pastures.

God also wants you, as a shepherding mother, to fold your flock. One of the biggest things you do as a shepherdess is feed your children. That’s what sheep do all day long--eat! They rarely lift their heads from eating grass! Now do you wonder why God calls us sheep? Don’t think you are wasting your time when you seem to be preparing meals all day! This is a huge part of your shepherding.

But you do more than prepare meals. You tenderly nurture your flock. You gently shepherd as you nurse your baby and lovingly teach and train your little ones. But, you are not only a sweet caring mother. You are also courageous! You have the enormous task of protecting their minds, souls and spirits (1 Thessalonians 5:23). You are guarding them from evil—from all deceptions, delusions and the detours from God’s paths that are everywhere in this society. When the enemy comes stalking your children you are like a wild watchwoman as you grab your child from the jaws of the destroyer. That’s what David, the shepherd of Israel did. Such was his courage that He would grab a ferocious lion by the beard and rescue his lamb from its mouth (I Samuel 17:34-36).

The farming shepherd works hard and sacrifices for his sheep because he loves them. Shepherding involves laying down our life for our lambs. Dear mother, you are doing a beautiful work each day as you reveal God’s shepherding heart to your family.

Shepherding is so much part of who God is that He continues to shepherd us even in the eternal realm. Revelation 7:15-17says, “He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed (polmaino) them, and shall led them unto living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

God will never stop folding His flock. Because He is the Chief Shepherd, He will continue folding us throughout all eternity, leading us continually to greener and greener pastures and fountains of living waters. We will be totally satisfied and contented sheep, and yet always being led to more and more.

Do you notice that He is not only the Shepherd, but also the Lamb—the Lamb that was slain and who bears the marks of our salvation in His body. And although He sits on the throne, He also dwells with us and enjoys the eternal days with us. He is now, and always will be, the “dwelling” Shepherd who loves to dwell with us and be part of our lives. You also, as a shepherdess will always want to be with your sheep, to dwell with them, and to be part of their lives. Even an earthly shepherd would not take a lamb away from its mother or take the lamb out of the family flock. In the same way, a shepherd mother cannot part with her little lamb, even for a few hours. As they continue to grow, she still wants them around her to enjoy them and teach them in God’s ways.

Don’t only observe your flock. Fold them into your heart. Fold them into your secure and godly home. Fold them in to your daily prayers.

NANCY CAMPBELL