This week our home has been filled with teaching.
IT'S THE SUMMER!??!
Yes, it's the summer, but as I had mentioned before, there were things that I could see that needed some work. The summer lends itself to working on such things, because the work that "gets in the way", the rest of the time, is paused.
You see, I realised that my children weren't going to make progress, without me being intentional in those areas. I had often heard women in "blogland", talking about being "intentional", but hadn't reallllly grasped what they were meaning.
Purposeful?
Focussed?
What I realised was that it was the opposite of accidental. It's not something that happens by chance, but something you CHOOSE to do, with the intent of making a change or improvement.
It's been blessing my heart, to see the children making progress, but it's taken effort and focus from me.
It took ME to light the candle and shine it into the "corners" that were dark and dusty in our home.
Not literal darkness and dust - no, that's still there, in many a corner, and I have no great intentions to make that a priority when HEARTS need dusting - but in lives. Darkness caused by sin in the lives of this family that God has given me. Failings and faults that need a light shone into them, so we can see where improvements need to be made.
It's so easy, isn't it, to look OUTWARD at the faults and failings - the dismal conditions and frightening news - in the world further afield. We see the "outside world", and perhaps begin to think how we can work on that. Don't get me wrong - reaching out to help others in need is GOOD.
But, how's the corner where YOU are?
MY corner?
My little, teeny, tiny, but OH so important corner?
My children are my mission field. God has given them to me, and they need to be taught the gospel, and how God expects them to live.
Their souls, first and foremost, need to feel the touch of God's quickening power. It's my earnest plea for their hearts. Without that, all the rest will only be good living. Not a bad thing, but nothing without Christ.
Then, they also need to learn how to behave, in a way that is right and good. That "training up a child", that is my responsibility as a parent.
For both, they need the light of the Word of God, shone brightly into their hearts. It's our only guide - our only light - to shine and guide. It's the source of brightness that is our delight, and DUTY, as a mother, to shine.
So, the work we have been doing this week has centred first upon God's Word. What does the BIBLE teach about how we ought to live, and to treat each other? It's the spark that may set their hearts on fire for God.
It's just not going to happen on its own. Our hearts are inclined towards sin, and if I don't set out to INTENTIONALLY guide them and shine that light, it just ain't going to happen.
Missionaries do a sterling job, reaching the lost in far flung nations.
Preachers do a vital job, sharing God's Word with the groups of believers who gather together to serve the Lord.
Mothers, we do an embryonic work, shining that light in the "corners" of our homes, setting the spark in their lives - from before they are even born, as we pray for their souls, to the early moments of life when we talk to them of God and His greatness, into the growing years, when from dawn until dusk we can tell them of God and His Word, and why they need the Saviour most of all. It's a vital work - nothing greater can we do, than speak words of Truth to the precious souls that God has placed into our life.
The words of a song, penned by a woman a century ago, carry the weight of what our light shining in our homes should be.
Our work is the first work in their hearts - that brightening the corner - before ever they hear of anything spiritual outside the home.
We do an important job - let's set out to intentionally illuminate the hearts and lives of our precious children!
IT'S THE SUMMER!??!
Yes, it's the summer, but as I had mentioned before, there were things that I could see that needed some work. The summer lends itself to working on such things, because the work that "gets in the way", the rest of the time, is paused.
You see, I realised that my children weren't going to make progress, without me being intentional in those areas. I had often heard women in "blogland", talking about being "intentional", but hadn't reallllly grasped what they were meaning.
Purposeful?
Focussed?
What I realised was that it was the opposite of accidental. It's not something that happens by chance, but something you CHOOSE to do, with the intent of making a change or improvement.
It's been blessing my heart, to see the children making progress, but it's taken effort and focus from me.
It took ME to light the candle and shine it into the "corners" that were dark and dusty in our home.
Not literal darkness and dust - no, that's still there, in many a corner, and I have no great intentions to make that a priority when HEARTS need dusting - but in lives. Darkness caused by sin in the lives of this family that God has given me. Failings and faults that need a light shone into them, so we can see where improvements need to be made.
It's so easy, isn't it, to look OUTWARD at the faults and failings - the dismal conditions and frightening news - in the world further afield. We see the "outside world", and perhaps begin to think how we can work on that. Don't get me wrong - reaching out to help others in need is GOOD.
But, how's the corner where YOU are?
MY corner?
My little, teeny, tiny, but OH so important corner?
My children are my mission field. God has given them to me, and they need to be taught the gospel, and how God expects them to live.
Their souls, first and foremost, need to feel the touch of God's quickening power. It's my earnest plea for their hearts. Without that, all the rest will only be good living. Not a bad thing, but nothing without Christ.
Then, they also need to learn how to behave, in a way that is right and good. That "training up a child", that is my responsibility as a parent.
For both, they need the light of the Word of God, shone brightly into their hearts. It's our only guide - our only light - to shine and guide. It's the source of brightness that is our delight, and DUTY, as a mother, to shine.
So, the work we have been doing this week has centred first upon God's Word. What does the BIBLE teach about how we ought to live, and to treat each other? It's the spark that may set their hearts on fire for God.
It's just not going to happen on its own. Our hearts are inclined towards sin, and if I don't set out to INTENTIONALLY guide them and shine that light, it just ain't going to happen.
Missionaries do a sterling job, reaching the lost in far flung nations.
Preachers do a vital job, sharing God's Word with the groups of believers who gather together to serve the Lord.
Mothers, we do an embryonic work, shining that light in the "corners" of our homes, setting the spark in their lives - from before they are even born, as we pray for their souls, to the early moments of life when we talk to them of God and His greatness, into the growing years, when from dawn until dusk we can tell them of God and His Word, and why they need the Saviour most of all. It's a vital work - nothing greater can we do, than speak words of Truth to the precious souls that God has placed into our life.
The words of a song, penned by a woman a century ago, carry the weight of what our light shining in our homes should be.
Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar,
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbour you may guide across the bar;
Brighten the corner where you are!
Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear,
Let not narrow self your way debar;
Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Here for all your talent you may surely find a need,
Here reflect the bright and Morning Star;
Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Our work is the first work in their hearts - that brightening the corner - before ever they hear of anything spiritual outside the home.
We do an important job - let's set out to intentionally illuminate the hearts and lives of our precious children!
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