Glimpses of a personal knowledge of God learned through a lifetime with Him…shared in love with joy.
What Type of Shepherd Are You
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers, not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away. I Peter 5:2-4 (NIV)
I was at a person’s house a few years ago when she answered the phone. It was from her neighbor, who asked her if she could pick up her child from school when she picked up hers. She said yes. She hung up the phone, turned to me, and said, “Now she owes me,” with a tone.
I was at the person who called, talking to her husband about some real estate when the lady came out and said to her husband, “I ironed your shirt. Wasn’t that nice of me.”
Now each of these women may have gotten a thank you from the other person, but I doubt they got any credit in heaven. If they were Christians, Christ forgave them. I doubt these acts brought joy to Christ. Our attitude determines how it is remembered by Christ. You serve because Christ loves you. With His love, you love and serve others.
I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (NAS)
You are holding your newborn baby. Love swells up within you and you thank the Lord for this blessing. This happens often in the coming years, especially at night before you retire for the evening. Those are beautiful times as you look down at them while they are sleeping. A loving time with your child, you, and God. This is a time of love, thankfulness, and a time of protection. This may be a time for a special blessing or maybe a blessing for their future.
Lamentations 2:19 Arise, cry aloud in the night at the beginning of the night watches: Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord; Life up your hands to Him for the life of your little ones.
Beloved, stir the Throne Room of God’s goodness and feel Him near, especially when they have been hurt. Prayers for your children are to be unending.
One evening the Lord lead me to ask for a special blessing for each of my children. One of the blessings that I asked for was that she would have a beautiful voice for singing praises to Him. One day when she was 7 years old and practicing a song for church, the Lord spoke to me. “Remember the prayer you prayed.” Then He brought to my memory the night I prayed for special blessings for my children. When this child was a senior in high school she would come upon car accidents and would see people in the cars. As an adult, she went to school and became an EMT. She continued her education. Now she is a Family Nurse Practitioner and has her own clinic. She has sent one of her four children through college and still sings for the glory of the Lord. With God all things are possible.
Another example of praying for a child happened when I was on the board of starting a Crisis Pregnancy Center in our city. The child I prayed for at this time was a junior in high school. At this time there were 3 girls in her history class expecting a baby. When it came time to teach ladies how to care for and counsel those who were expecting, I asked my daughter if she would like to go. I thought maybe this class could help her help these girls. The first day of class was from 9:00 am-9:00 pm. I felt like it might be boring for my daughter. But when we walked out at 9:00 pm, my daughter said with excitement, “This was wonderful.” I remember my prayer for her. It was that when she spoke, people would listen. She went on to get a double master’s in which one is counseling. She went on to work in different states Pregnancy Centers and for 8 years as a state social worker with children. God has lifted her up beyond that level, plus she is a pastor’s wife. Her words have guided many people.
I could go on about my other children, and my 19 grandchildren, but this would be very long. (One great-grandchild and one on the way) There is a blessing in getting older. You can see prayers being answered for your children and how those prayers bless your grandchildren. If you teach your children about prayer, a legacy can be passed down for generations.
