More Mops Notes

Awhile ago my sister asked my to blog a little bit about one of the seminars I attended at the MOPS convention in Nashville. I did a couple of posts about it here and here. The one that she was asking about was "Daily Discipleship: Intentional Spiritual Development of Your Child". So here are a few of my notes on the subject.
The speaker opened with a few statistics.

• 27% of churched youth have experienced either family devotions, prayer, or Bible readind in the home.
• 29 % of churched youth have experienced a family service project.
• 40% of churched youth view their mom as being "very religious".
• 28% of churched youth haved talked with their mom about faith.

"Most certainly father and mother are apostles, bishops, and priests to their children, for it is they who make them acquainted with the gospel." - Martian Luther. As moms we need to reinstate the home as the chief place where faith is to be nurtured. We are to model our faith to our children.Some practical ways we can do that is

• share your stories of faith with your children
• remember God's comfort
• celebrate God's coincidences
• discuss tangible examples of faith
• make your home a house of prayer
• pray around regular events, meals, bedtime, leaving for school, ect.
• let your children here your sponatneous prayers
• pray using the Bible as a guide.

There are lots of opportunities available to use as a spiritual lesson. Anytime you are in the car listen to praise music. When they are sick pray with them. At bed time ask them questions and even crawl in bed with them and talk. Use stuffed animals to tell stories from the Bible. Use your vacations to help others in need.

These were some of the suggestions that were shared as ways to help your child develop spiritually. I'll leave you with this verse from Deuteronomy 6:4 "Nurturing faith begins with the heart of the parent."

I will remember

Last night I sat with my husband and listened to the President as he reminded us how far we've come in 5 years since that horrific day. And how far we still have to go. I cried as I watched the PBS documentary about what happened, the heros that stood up to the challenge and those that were cut down without a chance. My heart aches as I remember the helpless feeling that flooded my whole being when I saw what I didn't think was possible. It was purposeful and out right evil. I truely believe that is was as the President said that day. "Today we have looked into the face of evil."
And then I remember the prayers that went up. For wisdom and guidance. That God would give us strength to fight. Wisdom in strategies. But over time those faded. Yes we still pray but are we passionate as we once were?? Or is it just a passing thought, "Lord bring them home."
Everyone in our generation will remember that moment. They will know exactly where they were and what they were doing. But unlike Pearl Harbor and the assissination of President Kennedy this was on our watch and thousands of innocents fell in just a couple of hours.
Last night I felt the fire once again be brought to life. IT AIN'T OVER YET! WE can't slack off because it's hard. We are in a fight even here at home. I told my husband that as horrific as it was that day, almost 3000 died. That is only 1/10 of the number of deaths since abortion was legalized. Why are we not weaping in rememberance of those as well. My fire has been lite. And I will not back down until this fight is WON!!!!!