The Vision to Endure

The past week was a tough week!    It was the week our latest addition to the family was supposed to be born… Thankfully I had 6 months to work through the whole process of losing a child.  The stage of shock, unbelief, denial, anger, indescribable loss, longing, desperation, bargaining... but I hope to say during this past week I came to the place of total acceptance.  Trusting my loving, Heavenly Father that He knows the plans He has for me, plans to prosper me, not to harm me, to give me a hope and a future.  

Through this past 6 months I was desperately praying that the Lord would bless me with another child in my womb, before the first week of October.  In His wisdom He decided not to.  In a strange way I’m glad He didn’t, He took me through the whole process of acceptance and dependence on Him and Him alone! 

Dear Heidi-Mari and I had a long conversation on Saturday morning.  I almost missed the pain my children had to work through too, and especially Heidi-Mari.  How do we explain a painful experience like losing a sibling to your children?  

Jesus said in Matthew 15, ask whatever you want and it shall be given to you!  We asked for another baby to bring up in the fear of the Lord, to change the world for His glory.  How come the Lord took away that very special baby, which we know is in His perfect will? 

Oh, but didn’t we asked for a baby to change the world for His glory?  

Our 12 week old unborn baby had already changed the world for His glory, and we don’t even have the big picture.

I explained to Heidi-Mari, it is all about Vision.  God’s Vision.  We don’t know or understand God’s ways, but we do know God.  God is our loving Father, full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering and abounding in mercy and truth. He is trustworthy.  But being a saved Child of the King of the Universe is NOT a guarantee that things will be smooth sailing.  Quite the opposite.  

Since I’m bought with a very high prize, the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, my life is not mine, therefore I will glorify God in my body and spirit, which are God’s. I’m His and I long to be for His service whatever He seems fit.  For years I had to work through being at His service in carrying and bringing up all the children He need for His work here on earth.  Lately He chose to take away one of those beautiful children for His work here on earth. 

I don’t have an idea who has or will be influenced by the loss of our baby. Whom will I be able to encourage through my experience of losing my unborn baby? It is all about God’s Vision. On top of it, God is working on my character - to be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I recently read the testimony of Irene Sendler, who managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants during WWII.  She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Thousands of people were killed during WWII, but she made a difference in 2500 lives.  What would the world have been without those 2500 people?  

The same with us.  I don’t have an idea who God will influence by my experience, how Heidi-Mari will one day have the ability to make a difference because of her painful experience.  But I have the vision, that it will make a difference, and because of that, I can stand up straight and say, It is well with my soul!

Do we have God’s Vision.  God’s Vision which reaches way further than the here and now.

With love

Linnie   

Visionary Womanhood Gathering e-book Review and A Giveaway!

I didn’t grow up in a family with many little ones, neither did Christo.  So after Danika, was born, I really hit the bottom of a well!  I bit off far more than I could handle. But I guess, having four children under 10 and homeschooling them, while I had no reference or help to turn too, is the perfect setup for a human being to cry out to God for His Devine Help.  When Danika on top of everything develop whooping cough at 6 months, God had my undivided attention.  

The first book God miraculously sent my way (Internet was still in it’s baby shoes, I couldn’t even search the net), was a book by Sally Clarckson, The Mission of Motherhood.  I couldn’t stop reading, I read it over and over again, and God set me out on a journey of Motherhood I never could dream to embark on.  For 18 months I devoured the one book after the other about Motherhood and God renewed my mind.

It was during a very cold winter holiday that God gave me the vision to share, what he taught me over the past year, with fellow Mothers in my ‘circle of friends’. For three years a group of ladies gathered at my house once a month and we shared the vision of Biblical Womanhood and Motherhood over the Fellowship of a meal.  We had such special times together and the Spirit of the Lord moved in mighty ways!  

By the end of 2007 I had two more babies, 16 months apart, I was pregnant again and had to stop. I believed these ladies were now strong and secure in their visionary motherhood and would not depart from the journey we embarked on together.  Sadly, at least half of these women chose the easier way after a year or two. Their Visionary Motherhood was under so much attack by the World and without the active support of other Visionary Mothers they gave way to the pressure of worldly views and belief systems.   

What is Vision?

The Webster Dictionary define Vision, beyond other definitions as, “Especially, that which is seen otherwise than by the ordinary sight, or the rational eye.”

God wants us to ‘see’ beyond the ordinary, far from the ordinary view of the World, even the church!  He want us to have His vision for our marriage, our children and our position in the community.  

Where there is no vision there is no hope, but where there is vision there is purpose!  We need to have Vision and we need to support each other in this Vision!  

With Vision we can bank on what God says and reap the benefits of a wise and sober way of life.

Or we can be without Vision, and slowly but surely become more like the world around us, sadly reaping the consequences that come along with adopting the world’s foolish ways of thinking and living.

How can we spur on the Vision of God and share the Vision, supporting each other in the Vision? 

I’m so glad you are asking!

With great joy I’m introducing you to the Visionary Womanhood Gathering e-book, launched this week by Natalie Klejwa from Visionary Womanhood.

In Part One of the Visionary Womanhood Gathering e-book you will be prompted to search for Vision. You will be able to call out with the Psalmist, “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.” Psalm 11:18. God wants you to see all of life from the highest perspective of all - His perspective! With His Vision you will experience joy and hope in homemaking, help-meeting, and mothering.

In this past week I read of a friend on facebook how they are waiting in anticipation for the Lord to bless them with another child, their 5th child.  How sad to read one after the other negative reactions, on this friend’s status.  I couldn’t help to ask, where are families with a Godly Vision?  Families who view children from His perspective.  Families who are courageous enough to challenge worldly views and beliefs and follow God and His Plans for their future, and enjoy life in abundance! By the way this friend of mine is one of the most joyful Mothers I know!

In the Visionary Womanhood Gathering e-book, Natalie explain the concept of Visionary Gatherings once a month!  

Just as I experienced with my group, years ago, it is inevitable that without each others’ support, we tend to drift toward a smooth and fast flowing current that looks like fun… so easy! 

We need beloved friends who will grab our fins and yank us back out into wide open waters of freedom where we can realize all that God created us to be! 

We need to be reminded God is sovereign, Scripture is sufficient and we need one another to keep God’s truths in front of us at all times.

In Part Two of the Visionary Womanhood Gathering e-book all the components of such a gathering is given to you!  Prayer, Websites on possible Teachings, and a very appealing component to me, Visionary book challenges and discussions!

Now you may switch off, because you haven’t organized a gathering ever before!  But please keep reading. In Part Three this book gives you everything you need to start a group of your own!

The starting steps; The planning, with time schedule and responsibilities of volunteers; A Two-Year Teaching & Book Challenge Plan; even a Visionary Womanhood Purpose Statement and Sample monthly e-mail communication form!

This e-book will enlarge your Vision on Godly Womanhood and gives you everything you need to share this Vision with people God will send your way. God wants you to share the Vision!

Now, for the exciting part:

• The ebook is $4.99… BUT for five days only (September 19-23) anyone can get it for only $2.99 if they enter the code: Launchweek at checkout.

• Everyone can get the first chapter FREE if they go here and share a tweet or a Facebook status.  In addition, on that page they can read some reviews about the book, meet Natalie of Visionary Womanhood on video, and purchase the book.

BUT the Best Part:

• I have ONE FREE ebook as a giveaway on my blog!  Now, you may want to buy the Visionary Womanhood Gathering e-book for the special launch prize, but what if you are the winner of the giveaway on my blog?  Please feel free to purchase the book at the special launch prize. If you are the winner on my blog, Natalie will refund you your money! How great is that? Or you may want to give one to a friend.

To enter the Visionary Womanhood Gatherings e-book giveaway on my blog:

Go leave a comment on the Visionary Womanhood blog and come back to my blog telling me you left a comment on her blog, or e-mail me. That is it.  With the help of one of my little ones, I will choose a winner on Saturday 24th of September 12h00 GMT + 2.

May you be inspired like me, by investing in the Visionary Womanhood Gathering e-book.

Buy the Visionary Womanhood Gathering e-book now, by clicking on this link:

With love

Linnie

Motherhood - Your Mission Field!

A few weeks ago I ran into an old friend.  He told me his wife and daughter just left for a mission trip up in Africa for two weeks. They were so excited for such a special time as mother and daughter together.

Later that afternoon, while taking care of dinner, taking laundry from the washing line and putting little people into the bath, I pondered on the privilege this friend’s wife has to be on a mission trip with her daughter.  I felt the grabbing fingers of envy crawling up my heart.  The possibility of having such a special time with Heidi-Mari or even Danika, was almost unthinkable!  My little ones need me every moment of the day and they will still do so for  some time in the future.  

I cannot imagine leaving the men alone, with little ones, while my daughters and I go on a mission trip, even if we do get the opportunity. But if I didn’t have all these little children, I could serve the Lord more tangible by going on mission trips...

Soon the envy was replaced by guilt. I would have loved to be able to serve the Lord by way of mission trips!  Oh, it is such a longing of my heart to sacrifice time and money by spreading the good news to those who haven’t heard it yet! After all isn’t that what Christianity is all about - evangelism? But due to my responsibilities as mother of many children it isn’t possible for me to evangelize anyone!  Oh Lord, I’m sorry I’m not available to serve you where it matters most!

And then as I picked up the laundry basket and entered the house, I clearly heard the Lord’s soft whisper in my soul: “My dear daughter, I’ve planned a lifetime mission trip for you, in taking care of, training and loving all the children I choose to bless you with.

Mighty men and women who will one day change the world, for Me! You ARE serving me where it matters most, you are busy evangelizing your children every minute of the day!

Wow!

I stopped dead in my tracks and just stood in Awe! 

I then remembered two books I read a few years ago, written by Sally Clarkson, The Mission of Motherhood and the Ministry of Motherhood.  Already after reading the first few pages of both books, my way of thinking about motherhood and the children God gave me, was changed and had a great impact on me. But it was only after pondering and voicing my desire to serve the Lord in missionary trips, that it really hit home:  Motherhood is my Mission trip for Live!  

I don’t need to go on missionary trips to make an impact for the Lord!  Don’t get me wrong, it is wonderful if you have the opportunity, but as a stay-at-home-mother of young children, you don’t need to feel guilty and less valuable concerning your influence on the Kingdom of God! Right now it isn’t my calling to leave the home and go on a mission trip.  Right now, my calling is to have a life changing influence on the children the Lord has and will still give me! 

Maybe you as the mother of small children, also have feelings of guilt when hearing of people going on mission trips for the Lord, then I encourage you to read on. 

See, dear Mother, a mother’s calling, is the same as any other Christian’s: to live a purpose-filled life for God’s Glory!  The kind of purpose Jesus had for his disciples when He prayed the high priestly prayer the night before he was crucified.  He said, “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world" (John 17:18)

After years of being a Christian I came to a conclusion of my purpose:  To use my life to reach others for him and to teach them what it means to know and follow him by understanding and obeying his Word!  Matthew 28:19-20 take it even further: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

In 1999 Christo and I was part of the launch of World Teach South Africa by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson and Walk Through the Bible Ministries.  Matthew 28:19-20 was the foundational verse for World Teach South Africa.  For years Christo and I taught hundreds of people side by side in the Cape Peninsula, from the Foundations of Faith, to The Biblical Portrait of a Marriage, Personal Holiness, The Testing of your Faith, Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs and many more courses by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson.  The purpose: to make disciples!

Then in 2004 we surrendered my womb to the Lord and I had a baby almost every year since.  I couldn’t teach with Christo anymore, but stayed at home with our little ones! It was tough for me to stay at home, while Christowitnessed people coming to Christ and Christians experiencing spiritual breakthroughs!  BUT one thing I remembered from Dr. Bruce Wilkinson’s teachings on Matthew 28: Jesus wasn’t asking his disciples to go into all the world and set up church buildings or youth groups or Wednesday night church suppers, but to make disciples - to cultivate spiritual relationships with people, to draw them to Christ and then train them to reach out to other people who would also be trained and able to make other disciples.  He was entrusting the messages and work of the kingdom of God into the hand of ordinary people who had come to know his love, righteousness and forgiveness.  

While staying at home, taking care of little ones, the process of discipleship, that Jesus modeled, had become a reality in my own life.  What Jesus had done with his disciples - living with them, loving them, forgiving them, instructing them, training them, serving them and thereby transforming the  foundation of their lives, was taking place in my home, with all my growing children around me!

My home has become a mission field!  It is part of God’s plan that I recruit my own children to drop the fishing nets of their own lives in order to embrace God’s purpose and mission.  But it can only begin when I am able to embrace with joy the mission of motherhood. 

The journey of the mission of Motherhood has filled me with purpose, peace, fulfillment and excitement.  In fact, I have come to believe that being a mother encompasses all that is best within me.

To embrace the mission of motherhood require that I understand God and His design for life.  God designed motherhood to be a deeply meaningful role. As a mother I have the opportunity to influence eternity by building a spiritual legacy in the lives of our children. To change future generations. Through my teaching and influence, moral values can be modeled and learned, love and kindness are taught and received, purpose and vision are ignited and passed on.  

Since in every child there is a profound need to be loved, cherished, cared for and protected by his/her very own mother.  And it’s not just a need but an important part of God’s design for shaping human beings according to His will.  

The real ability of a mother to secure such a spiritual legacy is based on the strength of her relationship with her child.  As we tenderly care for our children, meeting their needs, teaching them and guiding them, praying for them and modeling our faith, we are also anchoring their hearts to our home, our values and our beliefs.  These ties are built over a period of many years, through the small ways we spend the minutes of our days and the large ways in which we celebrate the momentous events of our lives.

I want to end with an excerpt from an encouraging letter I received years ago from a very special Mother.  For me, this letter sums up the whole mission of Motherhood:

‘I thought I’d drop you a little line today to encourage you in your high calling of motherhood.  Each one of your children is a special gift from God whom you are training for His divine purposes.

You are doing a mighty work.  There is nothing greater that you could be doing in the whole of the world.  Your work is for eternity.  

Your children are eternal souls who will live forever.  Not only are you training them for the purposes God has for them in this world, but you are also preparing them for the eternal world!  Wow! What a Mission!

How blessed you are to have your children around you.  I know that you often feel overwhelmed, but I want to remind you that in the midst of all the frustrations and tiredness, that this is a very precious time of your life.  

You may feel that you are just doing the same old thing every day, like Noah did the same old thing for 100 years - hammered, nailed and keep on building his ark.  He didn't have time to do all the things that everyone else was doing.  He just kept on slogging and being faithful, doing the same thing every day for all those years - but in doing so he condemned the world.  Yes, he changed the wold because he stuck with the job he was given to do!  He changed the world by doing the same thing day after day after day.  And at the same time he saved his family!

As you are faithful to raise Godly children, and build an ark for the saving of your house, you will condemn the world around you.  You are accomplishing far more than those who go out to seek a worldly career to the detriment to their highest calling.  Your influence goes on into the generations and even into eternity.

Isn’t it amazing that our daily faithfulness in the home will have its impact on earth and also for eternity?  It can change the world!  We have to remember that bearing and raising children is a long-term investment - in fact, an eternal one!  In a culture where everyone want everything to happen instantaneously, we must learn to think long term - for the future.

So rejoice and be glad in your high and noble calling!

Your are changing the World!

Remember, you have the most important career in the nation!

Saying YES to the mission of motherhood has certainly not meant giving up on missions - it is my mission!

With love 

Linnie

Goat Mother or Sheep Mother?

WHAT’S IN A NAME?   by Nancy Campbell

Recently I was reading a booklet entitled, “Train Up A Child” by Doug Duncan.  He tells the story of a New Zealand sheep farmer who diversified into raising goats.  This farmer noticed a difference in the way the sheep and goat mothered their young.  The ewes would stay in close proximity to their lambs, always ready to protect.  The goats, however, would invariably herd their young together into one spot on a knoll and leave them while they went off to forage for the day.

I checked this out with my father.  Considering he has been a world champion sheep shearer and shorn well over a million sheep in his lifetime, I thought he would know a bit about sheep!  He confirmed that ewes will never wander away any further than earshot form their lambs.

As I thought about this, I wondered if this is the reason we now call our children ‘kids’.  Is it because we have become a society of ‘goat mothers’, who are quite prepared to leave our little ones and go off for the day?  Of course, you’ll remember how often God talks about separating the sheep from the goats!

Are we ‘goat mother’ of ‘sheep mothers’?  A challenging question.

As I have talked about this with some young mothers, they have decided to call their little ones, ‘lambs’ instead of ‘kids’.  They immediately noticed a different attitude toward their children.  They feel more motherly and gentle.  It’s easy to scream at ‘kids’, but not so easy at ‘little lambs’.  In fact, a generation ago, it was common to hear parents call their children ‘my little lambs’ or even pray, ‘keep my little lamb safe through this night.’

I have also decided to stop using the word ‘kids’ and call my children what God says they are.  I still forget, but I’m gradually learning.  I notice that nowhere in the Bible are children referred to as ‘kids’ or even ‘teenagers’.

What shall we call them?  Apart from ‘children’ and ‘sons and daughters;, there are other names we can use.  These will make us realize how precious and wonderful our children are in God’s eyes.  Let’s have a look at what God calls them…

A heritage from the Lord

The fruit of the womb

Arrows

Rewards

Blessings

Gifts

Olive plants

Corner stones

Lambs

Sighs and wonders

The work of God’s hands

Our children will become what we call them.  In fact even the word ‘children’ is a powerful word when we understand its true meaning.  It comes from the Hebrew word ‘banah’ which means ‘to build’.  A child is ‘a builder of the family name’.  This is what God is interested in - building godly generations.

NANCY CAMPBELL

References to what God call our children:

Gen. 33:5; 48:9; Joshua 24:3; 1 Chron. 25:5-6; 26:4-5; Ps. 127:3-5; 128:3-4; 144:12; Is. 8:18; 29:23-24; 40:11.

Since a read this article by Nancy Campbell, about 6 years ago, I could never call my children kids.  The word just got stuck in my throat every time I wanted to say it, but I also couldn’t call them my little lambs, although I wanted to!  It sounded strange and unnatural. Still, the idea of my children being my lambs, were always upfront in my thoughts.

This year as autumn hit South Africa and the nights become colder, I discovered that Daniel and David had outgrown their pajamas.  I had just finished Danika’s princess dress and my sewing machines wasn’t put away yet, so I decided to make them new pajamas. Last winter I bought thick pajama material, but only made CJ a warm top.  I had enough left to make Daniel and David’s pajamas.  

They absolutely loved their pajamas!  

David couldn’t stop telling me how nice and warm it felt on his skin the first few nights he put it on.  And then as I took them in my arms, I all of a sudden could say it!  They felt just like little lambs and every time I called them my lambs the love in my heart for them just grew! It was so liberating to call them by the name I had for them in my heart for all these years! 

They are my lambs, and I am their sheep mother, keeping them near to me, so I can train them.

I just came from a children’s party this morning.  The birthday child (who turned four), his brother and all the other children, except my children, are in playgroups and state schools every day of their life, while the mothers are pursuing their careers and hobbies.  I couldn’t help but notice how obstinate and far astray these kids where and they were only between 4 and 8 years old!

As I was putting my little lambs in bed tonight I thanked the Lord that I’m a sheep mother, raising little lambs under the guidance of the Good Shepherd! Without the Good Shepherd’s guidance I would never be able to do this!

Dear mother, what are you raising?  Lambs or kids?

Motherhood is: Having Purpose and Vision

On Sunday the boys had their first show jumping event for 2010.

Josua did the 30cm and 50cm on Helmit - the horse he always rides at the riding school.

CJ jumped the 60cm and 70cm on Dabby, his new horse. 

Josua did great at the 30cm, and had a clear round for which he got a rosette. 

CJ also did very well for his first show with Dabby, two months into their training together and Dabby’s first show! They got a clear round, but unfortunately kicked a pole in the jump off, but they still got the best overall time, but due to the 4 penalties, didn’t qualify for a place.  

Dabby is only 5years old and still like a toddler - disobedient and wild! He did racing for 3years, before he became Camelot’s horse. CJ is the only rider with enough courage and authority to teach Dabby to jump, not even the instructors want to get near Dabby! 

The 40cm was a fun round involving two riders. One would jump a round on the horse and the other would ride a round on a bicycle and the team that had the fastest time, would win.  At the last minute CJ and Josua entered the round. 

Josua would be on horseback and CJ would ride the bicycle (the bicycle was too big for Josua). Josua went first, but when he approached the second jump Helmit went the wrong way and started running for the fence. Next thing, Helmut jumped over the 80cm high fence and Josua fell off! I couldn't see him get up and just started running towards him! Christo who took photos from the middle of the arena, reached Josua first and signaled that Josua was fine! As I reached him, I could see Josua was in big shock. Some time ago Helmit did the same at the riding school and Josua fell off as well. This time he fell more on his side and not right on his back. Christo insisted that Josua get back on the horse and his instructor was immediately there to help.

Josua got back on Helmut and under lot of encouragement from the crowd, jumped two jumps, in an attempt to win back his confidence.

Since they were the last entry, Josua immediately had to be ready for the 50cm jump. I could see he was still in shock and scared of getting back on Helmit’s back and do the jumps. So we prayed together. I also SMS grandma in Bloemfontein to pray.

By the time it was Josua's turn, I still wasn’t at peace, but what I saw next was so encouraging it made me smile and cry at the same time! 

Josua wasn’t entering the arena alone on Helmit, CJ was leading them into the arena. 

But not only was CJ leading his brother into the arena, he was ready to lead Josua through the whole course.

Now, it is high summer here and it is no easy task to run next to a horse and jump an 8 jump course 12h00 in the day, at 30 degrees celsius! Thanks to CJ's help Josua could finish this round safe and in a clear round and received another rosette! It was such an act of service of CJ towards his brother. 

This incident just made me realize how important it is to build Godly character into our children and teach them to walk in the ways of the Lord, pleasing God as their first priority! CJ didn’t need to serve his brother in the way he did.  But he also was very worried about his little brother and when he saw Josua’s fear, he knew it was in his ability to help his brother, sacrificing and glorify God in his act of service!

How do we build Godly character into our children?  I myself still lack Godly character traits, I’m a sinful human being - I need help to lay down my life and sacrifice for others, especially my husband and children.

About two years ago I listened to a teaching CD by Nancy Campbell - The Flourishing Mother.  On one of these 3 excellent teaching CD’s, Nancy address the purpose and vision of a mother.  After Sunday’s incident I felt a need to listen to it again, to remind me of my purpose as a mother, to remind me of the vision I have as a mother.  

I would like to share some of the ideas with you too:

In Prov. 29:18 we read:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

The Hebrew word used for perish in this verse is para` /paw·rah which means “naked” ; “bare” ; “slip through fingers”; “undisciplined”; “by ignoring a opportunity”

In other words, to ignore the opportunity of motherhood. Many mothers let motherhood slip through their fingers.  The majority of mothers today, have no vision or purpose for their motherhood, and therefore don’t see the glory of their homes.

But Motherhood is the most important career in the Universe.  Mothers are determining the destiny of the next generation. No wonder the Devil likes to deceive the woman so much.  He knows the power a woman has – The Power of Motherhood.  Mothers have the capacity to change the destiny of nations! We may be hidden, just there in our home, not rushing out with our briefcase – but the power we have, when we have vision and purpose, is almost always underestimated!

When a mother have vision and purpose she is molding lives for the destiny God has for her Children.  This mother will be molding mighty young men and women full of God’s Spirit, who know how to have power over the enemy.  She is busy to fill the nation with the Light of God’s Gospel, the Salt of the Earth.  There is nothing more powerful than doing that.  Nobody needs to see her, because her works will praise her! 

Do you have short term and long term goals for your children? You won’t always reach your goals, but if it is there, you can work towards it.  

Motherhood is much more than just taking care of our children’s physical needs – feeding, clothing, and teaching them.  Most important is taking care of our children’s spirit.

We as mothers need to know there is a greater calling on mothers today. God commissioned mothers from the beginning of time to mold and nurture the generations.  But in this hour there is a calling on mothers like no other time before. We are living in God’s end time! This generation of mothers are called to be trainers of God’s End Time Army.   A Task like no other task.  Training/ molding/ preparing part of God’s End Time Army! Yes, God need an army and He needs mothers to train His army, to preserve His army!

The Hebrew word for Preserve is teros and it means: “a  watch”; “keep”, “observe” -  to attend to carefully, take care of; to guard from loss or injury by keeping the eye upon.  

We must watch over our children’s spirit.  First with our physical eye.  You can only keep a physical eye on your children when you love to be with them and around them.  We can’t be our children’s watch dog unless we are there where our children are, all the time, running our fingers through their hearts!

Dear mothers we don’t just have our children and then go on with our lives!  NO! Children are like arrows in the hands of God. Like arrows in the hands of the warrior and God assigned us to train them!  We need to watch over our children in prayer.  Especially in the teen years, watch in prayer.  As you pray, God will show you and you will see what is going on in their lives.  Come into the presence of the Lord every morning and every evening, in prayer and studying the Word. 

Motherhood is not just for today.  Yes we watch over our children today - physically, spiritually we watch over their souls and minds.  We keep out the enemy that wants to creep into our home’s, into our children’s soul.  

But we also look into the future.  We see ahead.

In Zeph. 1 we read:

 “The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.”

Zephaniah was the Great, great grandchild of Hizkiah.  Hizkiah was one of the good Kings of Judah, (between a lot of bad Kings)  The Bible said: “He did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.”

And now 5 generations later his grandson was still serving the Lord and he was a Prophet!!!

Mothers, this is the vision we need to have!  After us, our children will still be walking in the ways of the Lord.  And they will continue down the line.  Continuing to be mighty men and women in the Nation’s of the World.  This is my Vision. This is what I pray.  I pray for the children to come.  Godly children that will come forth with the Light and the Glory of the Lord upon them. Not just for now, but for generations to come.  That they will be mighty in the Lord.

Mothers this is a long term vision, a big vision.  

“For the promise is to you and to your children, and  to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:39

Will you begin to see that raising your children is not just for today?  And realising how raising your children today will affect the generations to come, will keep you going, even in the difficult, frustrating days. 

In another two postings I want to share with you, out of the Bible the vision for raising sons and the vision for raising daughters.  

Lots of love

Linnie