Many of the most significant life lessons I have learned through serving young people. It has been very humbling to watch and learn.
God is teaching and training… It is He who builds up our children and youth.
He promises to teach our children!
It is Jesus who empowers and equips…
“The Closet” Youth Ministry surprise thank you. Made me cry and fall apart at the end of the video…DURING a presentation!! CILLA! =(
Even in our weaknesses when we may feel, sad, tired, depressed, angry, enraged, scared, disgusted or overwhelmed… God cares how we feel. Even if it’s God Himself that you are mad at.
I think I did most of those emotions at some point in just the last week!! LOL
“Ok, so what do I do?”
Well it depends on what rocks your boat… and how badly it hurts inside.
I may talk/cry to God about something that bugs me as I buzz around doing my routine.
However, if it’s horrible and involves a hospitalization of a loved one, a final, an expense we need a miracle for, a kid that is way out of line or something similar…
I need to pause to pray/weep/grieve over the situation with God.
Then I usually need to find specific Bible Verses that remind me of God’s promises to help me stand in faith. Like the one below.
Since my goal today is to also help you teach your children what to do with their negative emotions, find self-control and emotional intelligence… I will add the next picture verse: 
It may be important to teach them to NOT do naughty things (sin) even if they are furious or sad. I don’t focus on sin but God does want them safe.
If this concept hard for you to implement with your littles let me know. It can be tricky!
I have 6yo twins and a 10yr old still at home so I realize it’s a process to train children in self-control.
I will add the tactile things I also need to do if I’m overwhelmed with negative emotions.
I may also journal/beef on paper about a struggle,
blast Kirk Franklin or Andi Mineo music, sing badly and loudly,
go for a walk,
dance with a baby,
or draw something about it. (My drawings look more like flowcharts but that’s ok you get the point.)
Do something with God and pour out those feelings. Getting them out is part of the healing process. Going close to God and talking to Him about how we feel is a part of the process. Then His grace and help are available!!
It’s a good deal. A trade. He takes our yuck and gives us His love.
Verse and link below:
“For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy,
and may find grace to help us in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 ASV http://bible.com/12/heb.4.15-16.asv
If you know someone who is struggling please share this post with them and let me know. We all really need each other.
Blessings,
Lois
We had a day of basketball and baseball. I may have cheated because I definitely prayed they would win. Selfish mom did not want to see tears all night! I automatically prayed because the close score surely stressed me out at 8 to 9 points in last 3 minutes of the game.
As you can see below coach Rod got a little tense too 🙂
They were 1 basket apart for much of the half. Too much for mom to watch! I was so grateful when our team got another basket down with 2 minutes to go. Then I relaxed a bit. Then to top it off they got another score and won 8-12.
The twins of course brought they are sketch pads to the game in homeschool fashion. Ode to Biddles who drew a basketball hoop. His sports commentary. Not sure if he watched at all but that lines up with his strategy at his own peewee games. Still trying to get him to look at the basketball during the game while he’s playing. LOL.
Biddle’s huddle below with his team and coaches. The are so cute. I mostly enjoyed seeing all the Dads there each week grooming and training their kids for the sport.
An involved Dad leads to a happy kid. Except…the little one I saw crying because he didn’t want to improve his game no matter how hard his Dad tried to gently encourage him. Oh well. Haha
This verse explains how to help our children gain emotional intelligence and resilience. It is not easy in today’s world for our kids to navigate through social media, bullying and peer pressure. By introducing them to the One and teaching them His ways we help them understand who they really are. Not what others tell them. Our kids gain identity and emotional intelligence.
I added the framing verses in Deuteronomy those in the image above to give context. Our prevailing goal is to tightly bond our children to God and his unconditional love and encourage them to focus on his design for their lives.
Then hopefully the world cannot tell them who they are and what they should want. This of course is not a foolproof formula. It’s a relationship.
Children once they get older make choices that are good, bad, horrible and sometimes dangerous.
But…. if they know Him and His ways they may choose to seek to God to help them find their way out of trouble, depression and challenge.
If we as parents teach them… we empower them.
Blessings!
Lois
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:5-7, 9 NIV
http://bible.com/111/deu.6.5-7,9.niv
Thanks to Nate Allard who added Rod Jr to the mix!
This is the best pic!!!
Dominique always makes “cakes” special!
I think Rod enjoyed his box of 30 ties!!!!
Thanks to Pearl and her crew for feeding us and Nadine and Sam for your professional decor and DJ services!!!
