|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Now Thank We All Our God"1 (Lyrics) |
Ephesians 6:13 – Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (NIV)
Matthew 18:3 – And [Jesus] said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (NIV)
My father loved the Lord. Everyone who knew him or met him, knew it. Everywhere he went, he spoke about how Jesus loves us and came to save us. He also loved to sing. He sang everywhere — choruses, hymns, and little songs that he made up himself. Singing was one of the ways that he passed on his love for Christ to me at a very early age. I, too, love the Lord; I, too, love to sing; and I, too, make up songs and sing everywhere I go — like father, like daughter.
Several years ago, when my daughter was about three, we were driving home, and she started to sing. At first, it was simply "Jesus loves me", but that blossomed into an hour-long song that she made up as she went, thanking God for the sun and the sky and the plants and the animals and so much more. Praise, worship, and prayer poured from her little lips and heart! It was truly magnificent!
Parenting is not easy. In fact, I believe it to be both the most difficult and the most rewarding job. It is the greatest privilege and the greatest responsibility. God has lent us His children to love them, to teach them, and to show them His love, His way, His salvation, and His peace. From a very young age, children will turn to God if they are shown how.
The world is a dangerous place in so many ways. The greatest danger to us is spiritual. At times, it is difficult to stand for Christ. The world is a relentless bully that keeps trying to knock us down and trample on us, especially through our children, but God has given us His armour and power to stand. We must pass this on to our children. We must teach them that God has provided the victory through His Son Jesus. We must show them that He loves us so much that He was willing to pay the price of death for our sin.
Will you join me in teaching our children the love of Christ? Will you help them to stand through His power? If we don't teach the children, the world will.
Prayer: Merciful Father, thank You so much for the gift of children! What a wonderful blessing they are! Help us, Lord, to teach them about You and Your love. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Monday, December 9, 2024 – Worldwide — In this Advent season when many people celebrate and don't understand why, pray that God may give us opportunities to speak about the God who saw our need and loves us enough to send His Son into the world – cause for celebration indeed!
Prayer for Pastor Kristen: "Update December 2, 2024: Kristen is not doing well. She will probably need to go on disability. She..." 
Prayer for Healing: "December 5, 2024: Pray, please, for healing for son who has been sick for over a month. Originally..." 
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing, Rose-Marie.
AMEN! Thanks for sharing. Blessings.
Thank you, Rose-Marie, for sharing your testimony and encouragement to us.
A wonderful story and your message so important, Rose-Marie. Blessings and thanks!
Amen! Wonderful devotion Rose-Marie. Thank you.
Blessings to you on this, the day our Lord has made.
Dear Rose-Marie,
May our Good Lord bless you and your family all the days of your lives and forevermore.
Thank you for providing inspiration today. The sentence: “If we don’t teach the children, the world will.” was a great takeaway.
How wonderful to read about your daughter’s enthusiasm for God’s creation. I pray that this pandemic has not curbed her praises.
Thank you, Rose-Marie, for sharing these lovely examples of child believers and their innocent witness to God’s love. Good to read today.
How inspiring! Thanks for much needed encouragement as we live in a world that has been turned on its head. We all need solid foundations, what better than God’s Son, the Word made flesh.
Bless you for this.
Merci for your message today.
I too will sing as I drive along or wherever, praises to Him and all His beauty-love and forgiveness.
Yes, children are so important, and they need the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the promises of God.
God bless.
Hello Rose-Marie,
Thank you for this special devotional today. Our Lord is so wonderful providing us with the joy of children in our lives. They are truly a delight and give us a special uplift when we hear them sing the Sunday school songs and bring back the memories of our Sunday school days. Blessings for your very thoughtful and deeply mindful writing.
Way to go, Rosie! This is the verse that I cling to, especially now:
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
It calms me down, strengthens me and gives my heart peace. And if ever I needed peace, it’s now!
Keep up the good work.
Good morning, Rose-Marie,
I totally agree that being a parent is rewarding and difficult and a very important part of our Christian faith. What a great story of how your dad, then you and now your daughter know the value of praising the Lord. How good it helps us to feel to sing to Jesus and hear others sing to Jesus even if we aren’t good tune carriers.
Thank you for encouraging us on this special journey of showing the children of the world the importance of God in their lives. It is so true that we need to remember to do this because the world will teach them other things. As I join with you in your prayer this morning, I will continue to spread the good news. May God bless you with many new songs and hearing your daughter praise the Lord.
Hello Rose-Marie,
Indeed, today is a different world. One where much of humanity is, like you said, a “bully”. I continually pray for God’s armor to protect me against the evils in the world, the unbelievers who put you down as soon as you say God bless you or thanks be to God and in hope that I may be able to turn a bad situation into a positive. Sometimes it feels easier just to walk away, but that’s not what we are meant to do walking with Jesus. I have had situations from church ministry where I had to go into people’s homes to give home communion or because there is a domestic situation where my help was needed (not that I’m experienced in this either). The first time I walked into such a situation, it scared me. I was so shaken up that I cried in the car afterwards. From there I prayed to God for help and my readings led me to Ephesians 6 where I was reminded of God’s Armor. After that I have never entered anywhere without first praying and reflecting on God’s armor. It made my ministry work much easier and more rewarding.
Thank you for sharing your story and experience. This gives me ‘food for thought’ for the next time I teach Sunday School.
Take care and God bless you and your family. Stay strong and reflect on God’s armor – and a double layer for your daughter who is growing up in a more crazy world that we have.
Thank you, Rose-Marie, for this powerful devotional of setting an example for our precious children.
Dear Rose-Marie,
Your Story is so beautiful and encouraging how you and your Family’s hearts and lives overflow with Love for Christ. He alone is Worthy! Keep singing and writing!