Matt and I attend a Sunday morning community group that has been meeting on Sunday mornings at our church for years. Same people (faces change, but the heart remains) every Sunday, different teachers and topics for discussion.
We have recently started a bible study called "Made to Crave" based on the book by the same name (it is in DVD format). It is about turning your craving (mainly for food) into a craving for God.
Yesterday she shared something that blew my socks off and is changing a big part of my parenting. She said that when she talks to her kids before they go out into the world (date, hang out with friends, school , parties, etc), instead of listing all of what they should not do, she tells them 4 simple words "Remember Who You Are". Wow, that is deep and awe inspiring.
Today, I sat in the car with Sierra and had a long talk with her. I first explained to her the session we had watched the previous day in our Sunday morning class. She nodded along, not sure where I was going. After explaining what this author had said, I launched into the long explanation of why I was bringing this up. I told her, "I want you to always remember WHO you are!"
How often do we lecture our children on choices they make...or on choices they could make (drugs, sex, crime, etc)? How often do we wag our fingers and say "don't"? How often to do we talk to our kids and let them know just who they are and what they are worth? I always try to build up my kids...but I have never really sat down and had an in depth conversation of what all those words of encouragement put all together means.
Today, I sat in my car with Sierra sitting close by. I told her she needs to "remember who Sierra is" and than I launched into a detailed report on who she was. She is beautiful on the outside, but let's get down to the heart of the matter. She is kind. She is intelligent. She loves Jesus. She has many gifts. She is level-headed. She is worth greatness and the only thing that can keep her from achieving all that God has planned for her is herself. I told her that God gave her many great gifts like art, a great family that adores her, beauty, etc and she needs to recognize that these are God given. If she fails to recognize God's gifts to her, she will be throwing them in the trash. But, if she recognizes what God has given her, God will reward her obedience. If she gives her gifts back to Him, He will reward her generously.
We spoke in depth about her worth...about how she must always remember who she is and part of who she is is what she's worth. She must not ever forget that she is worth more than the world would give her. She is worth what God wants for her. The world will try it's hardest to knock her down, but with God by her side and with her confidence of who she is, she can knock the world down and crush it under her heel.
I encourage you to sit down with your kids and share with them their worth. I think it is apparent by the behavior of so many kids that they do not get what their worth is...they do not understand that they deserve so much more and they do not recognize the gifts that God has bestowed upon them. Too often we get caught up in the "don't do this" and "don't do that" that we forget to build our children up. We must help them to realize their worth and to realize who gave them their worth. Let them know, without a doubt, that no matter what any PERSON says, to GOD, they are worth the world. Give them the words that they need to "REMEMBER WHO THEY ARE". I did not want to just tell Sierra..."hey, I heard a great thing in class yesterday...you need to remember who you are when you are out in the world." She'd likely scratch her head and say "ooooo------kkkaaaaayyyyyyyy". I wanted to make sure she knew without a DOUBT who she was. Her response at the end of this lengthy conversation...shoulders a little straighter, a new air of confidence, and gratitude as her 13 year old mind has struggled some in her self confidence.
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE
We have recently started a bible study called "Made to Crave" based on the book by the same name (it is in DVD format). It is about turning your craving (mainly for food) into a craving for God.
Yesterday she shared something that blew my socks off and is changing a big part of my parenting. She said that when she talks to her kids before they go out into the world (date, hang out with friends, school , parties, etc), instead of listing all of what they should not do, she tells them 4 simple words "Remember Who You Are". Wow, that is deep and awe inspiring.
Today, I sat in the car with Sierra and had a long talk with her. I first explained to her the session we had watched the previous day in our Sunday morning class. She nodded along, not sure where I was going. After explaining what this author had said, I launched into the long explanation of why I was bringing this up. I told her, "I want you to always remember WHO you are!"
How often do we lecture our children on choices they make...or on choices they could make (drugs, sex, crime, etc)? How often do we wag our fingers and say "don't"? How often to do we talk to our kids and let them know just who they are and what they are worth? I always try to build up my kids...but I have never really sat down and had an in depth conversation of what all those words of encouragement put all together means.
Today, I sat in my car with Sierra sitting close by. I told her she needs to "remember who Sierra is" and than I launched into a detailed report on who she was. She is beautiful on the outside, but let's get down to the heart of the matter. She is kind. She is intelligent. She loves Jesus. She has many gifts. She is level-headed. She is worth greatness and the only thing that can keep her from achieving all that God has planned for her is herself. I told her that God gave her many great gifts like art, a great family that adores her, beauty, etc and she needs to recognize that these are God given. If she fails to recognize God's gifts to her, she will be throwing them in the trash. But, if she recognizes what God has given her, God will reward her obedience. If she gives her gifts back to Him, He will reward her generously.
We spoke in depth about her worth...about how she must always remember who she is and part of who she is is what she's worth. She must not ever forget that she is worth more than the world would give her. She is worth what God wants for her. The world will try it's hardest to knock her down, but with God by her side and with her confidence of who she is, she can knock the world down and crush it under her heel.
I encourage you to sit down with your kids and share with them their worth. I think it is apparent by the behavior of so many kids that they do not get what their worth is...they do not understand that they deserve so much more and they do not recognize the gifts that God has bestowed upon them. Too often we get caught up in the "don't do this" and "don't do that" that we forget to build our children up. We must help them to realize their worth and to realize who gave them their worth. Let them know, without a doubt, that no matter what any PERSON says, to GOD, they are worth the world. Give them the words that they need to "REMEMBER WHO THEY ARE". I did not want to just tell Sierra..."hey, I heard a great thing in class yesterday...you need to remember who you are when you are out in the world." She'd likely scratch her head and say "ooooo------kkkaaaaayyyyyyyy". I wanted to make sure she knew without a DOUBT who she was. Her response at the end of this lengthy conversation...shoulders a little straighter, a new air of confidence, and gratitude as her 13 year old mind has struggled some in her self confidence.
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE
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