How to Pray for Your Kids

By Teresa Lusk –

Every parent’s knees should hit the floor on behalf of our children, young or grown. What should you pray for them other than their safety? What you pray for you kids is unlimited (Ephesians 6:18, NIV) but there are seven prayer suggestions I’d like to share.

Pray that your children (1) Love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind (Mathew 22:37, NIV). If they love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind, they will have received salvation and have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

We are not promised to be spared heartaches and disappointment, but we can ask God (2) to put a hedge of protection over our kids. Many of us get caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. If you have ever been in a “that was close” situation, we could contribute that to God watching over us and possibly someone praying for our safety and protection. Why not cover our own kids with prayer for protection from harm, danger and people’s carelessness.

So much is put out in the world for our kids to fall astray: porn, drugs, alcohol, out-of-control friends. Asking the Lord (3) to build them up in purity of mind, soul, body and spirit will give them a weapon they can use against the world’s pressures. If they are pure in mind, they are less likely to fall into porn or lustful desires. If they have purity of soul, their mind, will and emotions will be covered, and purity of body means they keep it clean as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Lastly, their purity in spirit will allow them to walk by the spirit and not by the flesh.

How many times do we hear on the news about a passionate criminal who was recently brought to justice? Well, if our kids (4) know how to submit to authority, problems with the law, with their bosses and any other government authority will not be a challenge for them. Wrap them in petitions for their ability to submit to their higher ups.

Most of us have gone in and out of many relationships and career choices. What if you would have heard God’s calling on your life since you were young? It may have saved you time, effort and heartache. (5) Hearing God’s calling on their life is essential. Why not ask God to reveal Himself to them at a young age so they can start pursuing their calling?

If we could all pick our children’s spouses I bet we would. We are in America and that will not be happening! The Lord Himself can (6) pick and set apart our kids’ spouses for them, though. Divorce rate is already high. Let Him be the One who picks and sets apart that special person for your child.

Finally, Americans are in serious debt with no savings, and when one looses a job there is nothing to sustain them except hopefully their faith. If our children are equipped with financial wisdom from a young age (7) they may be able to escape the financial sins of our of generation and our society.

All of these points are only a tiny view of what we can pray for our children. One way to discover what we can pray for them is to look back at our own mistakes, the mistakes of our family generations before, and the happenings of the world around them. Entrust them to the Lord and be faithful in our concession to pray at all times and about all things!

Teresa G. Lusk is the author of Good Enough to be a Homemaker and CEO and is a Motivational Speaker. Visit www.teresalusk.com for more information.

Everyone Needs Compassion

By Gina Stinson –

According to the dictionary, compassion is a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.

Over the last few years, God has really been working on softening my heart. I’ve been a pretty cut-and-dry kind of girl most of my life, but when I get into God’s Word I notice that Jesus handled so many situations very personally. He connected differently with the woman at the well, the leper, Nicodemus and even His own mother. No two interactions were the same. But, His goal was the same: to draw them closer to Himself. He was compassionate.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to be part of a non-profit and my eyes and heart were opened to the many situations in which people find themselves needing help. Whether it was a physical, spiritual or emotional need, some of these people where just looking for compassion. More recently, I spent a few moments with a young mother who just buried her twenty-week premature baby and, I assure you, she needs compassion. An elderly widow who I’ve had the honor of getting to know this summer also reminds me that she needs compassion.

Because this attitude only comes from the Lord, I’m so blessed to know He’s working on me. It’s a little uncomfortable sometimes. I find myself making sure I have tissues in my purse in case I need them—or someone else does. But more than tissues, I find myself needing to be equipped with God’s Word, so that in that moment, when God allows, I can speak His words of compassion over a friend, young mother, widow, needy, overwhelmed one that God places in my path.

In the last few years, Laura Story penned the words to the now well-known song, Mighty to Save. The first line says, “Everyone needs compassion, a love that’s never failing, let mercy fall on me.” I love nothing better than to hear my kids singing this loudly as we drive down the road. I think that’s how God must feel when He sees us demonstrating compassion to this hurting world.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for demonstrating the greatest compassion for mankind by sending Your Son to die for the world. Help me imitate Your nature as I walk in this harsh world. Help me be more like You.

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8 NIV).

This devotion was written by Gina Stinson, a minister’s wife and mother of two. Gina writes from a mom’s perspective on life issues, the home, and the church. There’s never a dull moment on her blog, http://journalinggina.blogspot.com , where you can always be sure to catch a word of encouragement or a thought to ponder.

Book Review: Storylines: Your Map to Understanding the Bible

Written by Andy Croft and Mike Pilavachi
Reviewed by J Renee Archer –

Storylines is exactly what it says it is—a map to understanding the Bible. I realize that seems obvious since that is the title of the book but, often the title and content do not match up as seamlessly as they do in this non-fiction title. Croft and Pilavachi make it clear as to what to expect out of their book and that is, in fact, what the reader gets from the text.

The intended audience for Storylines is teens and young adults and the authors present the material in a fresh, modern style that attracts this target audience. Writing in an informal manner draws the reader in and the current aspect of the writing makes the book relevant.

Reading the Bible can be overwhelming and discouraging for young people. The Bible is very long and can be difficult to apply to life. Storylines is the perfect resource for understanding how the Bible fits together as a whole while enjoying the various stories within the whole. Even for those who have read the Bible completely, Croft and Pilavachi provide insight that will expand any reader’s previous perceptions of the Bible.

Two of the best sections in Storylines are the appendixes. Appendix A, The Bible in 20 Pages, is an excellent, and much needed, addition to the book and could not be any better done. I was pleased with how well this section was written. Everything you would expect in such a summary was included and appropriately mentioned. The author recommendation to read this appendix prior to beginning the book was most beneficial and fitting.

Appendix B, The What, Why and How of the Bible, was a suitable conclusion for Storylines. Croft and Pilavachi leave the reader with practical methods for reading and studying the Bible. They complete the task and leave the reader satisfied. Readers are presented with an overview of the Bible, they learn how the Bible fits together as one story and then finish with straight forward techniques to make Bible reading enjoyable and meaningful.

I recommend Storylines and can say, without hesitation, it is the best non-fiction book I have read this year. Storylines is a good tool for young Christians, both young in age and young in their faith journey. Pastors, teachers and youth leaders would also find this book useful as they attempt to engage young Christians in Bible study. Reading how all parts of the Bible connect to each other and point us to Christ is something every person can gain from.

I received a complimentary copy of Storylines: Your Map to Understanding the Bible from B & B Media Group, Inc. in exchange for a review written for The Christian Pulse.

J Renee Archer is an avid reader and enjoys telling others about the great books she reads. She, her husband and 3-year old son live in a 100-year old home in a rural community. J Renee enjoys gardening, playing and teaching piano and creating memories with the two men in her life. You can read more reviews at J Renee’s blog: www.jreneearcher.blogspot.com.

A Box of Chocolate & A Bubble Bath

By Jodi Whisenhunt –

This fall, my oldest child, Kyle, started tenth grade. As a homeschooler, I’m a bit anxious about it. Ok, I’m a lot anxious about it! “Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way,” according to 1 Corinthians 14:40 (NIV). Paul’s referring to regulations for speaking in tongues. (By the look on my kids’ faces, sometimes they think I’m doing just that!) However, it’s also good advice for teaching. Problem is, I struggle to do anything in a fitting and orderly way. Recently, I carried a basket of clean laundry down the hall where I found something that belonged in my bedroom. I set the basket down and carried the item to my room where, after catching my reflection in the mirror, I stopped to brush my hair. My daughter came in, so I brushed her hair too. She was still in jammies, so I led her back to her room to change. Only when I took her dirty clothes to the laundry did I remember my original task.

I admit I’ve been a bit lax with our homeschool structure in recent years. Lax is an understatement. Let me try unorganized, panicked, disappointed, unstructured, befuddled. Like the laundry incident, distractions during class time often divert our attention. Some have become bad habits, like how, being the teenage boy that he is, Kyle must eat every ten minutes.

My daughter, Chloe, started first grade this year. Sure, I’ve been there, done that, but she has a totally different personality and a completely different learning style than her older brother. She wants to do her schoolwork at 9:00 at night when she’s avoiding bedtime, but still, if the child wants to learn, how can I turn her down?

Adam’s four. His education is not a major issue yet. He’s quite satisfied with number charts and picture books and children’s videos. As I said, though, he is four. He still longs to spend a lot of time on my lap with my eyes and ears tuned toward him. That can make teaching the other two difficult.

So how do I go about accomplishing school in a “fitting and orderly way”? Simple. With a box of chocolate and a bubble bath! I convince my husband to spend some quality time with the kids, or at least keep them from unlocking the door, and I barricade myself in my room. The running water is soothing (and drowns out the squeals and whines on the other side of the door) and allows me to commune with my Father. As I relax, I seek a higher education. I invite Him to “number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NIV), and I ask the Lord to arrange our daily schedules and to order our lesson plans. I also pray His hedge of thorns to surround us and prevent the enemy’s distraction.

I’ve also implemented some changes, including removing Kyle from the kitchen. He may take a snack to his room to do assignments, but he cannot come out until the work is done. I don’t think he’ll starve. I allow Chloe flex time. It just can’t delay bedtime. And with cool teaching aids, like a hand-shaped pointer and a fast facts dial, sweet little Adam can direct. I’ve also discovered that dry-erase markers work very well on the glossy ceramic tiles surrounding my kitchen desk. Fun for all!

Now if you’ll excuse me, my bath is ready and a box of chocolate awaits!

Jodi Whisenhunt is a 2009 Amy Writing Award recipient. She and her husband, Richard, homeschool their three children in McKinney, Texas. You can find her at www.jodiwhisenhunt.com and www.magicalmouseschoolhouse.com, where Disney IS school.

Sand to Sea

By Peter Lundell –

Imagine your whole life washing away in the ocean. I did when my daughter and I built a sandcastle on our vacation.

I stood by the water, facing land, and the castle looked great. People even came by to take photos, as if they’d built it themselves. Then I stepped to the other side of our sand monument and faced the sea.

Against the vast expanse of waves, the castle looked puny, miniscule, like nothing. And I knew it would wash away.

We built another castle after some little kids had fun kicking down the first one. Their parents apparently thought it was fun too. The second one still stood when we left to go home. But I knew that if it survived a kid’s foot, it would not survive the next storm or big wave.

Like the first castle, my life could end suddenly. Or I might slowly wash away in old age. Either way, the impressive things I’ve done with my life are like sand at the edge of the ocean, whose waves will eventually wash away every trace.

So what do I do about it? Panic? That’s wasted energy. Cynical disillusionment? That only makes things worse. Build bigger castles? The waves are infinitely bigger. I’ll never get out of this world alive, and I can’t take anything with me. Instead I’ll focus on what is not temporary and physical, what cannot wash away. And what brings more joy and purpose than anything else.

Jesus’ teaching, and his great commandment of Matthew 22:37–40, all come down to two things: loving God and loving people. To follow Him, my life becomes an act of worship to God and of blessing to other people. Worship is not only what I do in a Sunday morning sanctuary; I worship God daily, hourly if I have the focus to remember. I worship God with a right heart and mind attuned to Him, with a life lived as He taught me to live it. That honors him and finds intimacy with Him, whether in daily details or life ambitions.

Whatever castle I build, I’ve come to accept, even anticipate, an eternity that washes up like those ocean waves. How about you?

PRAYER: Lord, I offer up my life as an act of worship. May my thoughts, my goals, my attitudes, and my feelings be in harmony with Your Spirit. May my words and actions honor You and be a blessing to others.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love our neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’” (Matthew 22:37–40, NIV).

Today’s devotion is by Peter Lundell, author of Prayer Power. A rising new voice on connecting with God, he is a pastor, Bible college teacher and conference speaker. Visit him at www.PeterLundell.com for his inspirational “Connections” and free downloads of articles, parables, short stories and book chapters.

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