Week Twelve: The Blessing of Consequences

     So, it's week 12 of our prayer journey and the date just "happens" to be 12/12/12! Hope there's some awesome significance in this!

     I just had to share about the beauty of consequences. This is the definite scripture I got for today:

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,

    and do not resent his rebuke,

¹² 

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

    as a father the son he delights in.

Proverbs 3:11-12 (and Hebrews 12:6)

     This weekend, we got a surprise visit by our local police. A window was broken at a house behind ours and they were sure it was a bb shot by our boys. Now, in Virginia Beach, it is illegal to have air soft or bb guns in the city limits. Both me and Jordan's friends mom have told this to our sons and forbidden them from shooting. But nonetheless, when Jordan found his long lost air soft gun, these 2 just had to try it out in the backyard. The thing we discovered was that these plastic pellets could not have broken that window and a boy 2 doors down recently shot at our boys with his official bb gun. SO, do we fight it? Should our boys pay for the window? Do we defend their innocence?

     No, as the word above says, the Lord disciplines those He loves. Even if they didn't commit that exact crime, they disobeyed authority. I am thankful that the Lord brought all this to the light and both boys, who we are praying for, are finding out that there is no blessing in disobedience and their sins will be discovered. It kind of takes the mystery and fun out of it, I would think! As they grow older, and for all the boys we pray for, this IS what we need to see. That there is no blessing in disobedience of the Lord and His word and that there can be consequences. For now, my son is just helping to pay for a window, but down the road, it could be a whole lot worse.

     Lord, we thank you for your chastening, today, for we know it is because you love all of our sons, that you do this. We thank you that you see the end from the beginning and you desire to save our sons from hardship and pain from making wrong choices. Set their feet on high ground and help them to walk the narrow path you have designed for them.

    

    As I read more of Proverbs 3, I felt it would make a beautiful prayer for today, so I close with it:

My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but keep my commands in your heart,
² for they will prolong your life many years
    and bring you peace and prosperity.

³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.^[a]

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    as a father the son he delights in.

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.

¹⁹ By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
    by understanding he set the heavens in place;
²⁰ by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹ My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²² they will be life for you,
    an ornament to grace your neck.
²³ Then you will go on your way in safety,
    and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶ for the Lord will be at your side
    and will keep your foot from being snared.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.
²⁹ Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.
³⁰ Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

³¹ Do not envy the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

³² For the Lord detests the perverse
    but takes the upright into his confidence.
³³ The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.
³⁴ He mocks proud mockers
    but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
³⁵ The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

Amen and amen!!

Week Eleven: Not by Sight

     Although I'm see some good changes in my son, it's hard not to notice the things that are not changing, the things that still cause me concern; attitudes and opinions that are far from the will of God! And I know it's true with some of the moms of the young men around me. Sometimes our boys do things that can make you say, "really, God?" But, God is so good! At these moments, I feel the Lord reminding me....
     "Be anxious for NOTHING, but in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Phill 4:6
      Our sons are really no different than us in many ways. They push limits, try things they shouldn't, rebel against authority, seek the flesh rather then spirit at times. Hmmm, sound familiar? I had to smile when I realized how much I can be like a stubborn teenager at times when it comes to my relationship with the Lord. And just as the Lord is gracious and patient with us, He is the same with our sons, as we should be as well. And of course we need discernment. Obviously, breaking the rules requires consequences. But it's important to keep it all in perspective. Is this a serious life changing choice he's making? Or is he simply pushing the boundaries in pursuit of his independence and identity? Either way, we need to keep scripture in mind, ask the Lord for discernment and wisdom and then continue as we have been, diligently, with firmness of conviction and abundance of love (even while doling out the consequences!). He promises us peace!
     "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

I felt this week that we should pray for one another as well as our sons. We all need to be reminded that this battle is the Lord's and that though our sons fall and may rebel, they will rise up and be who they were created to be.
 Psalm 378:24"... though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand."

We praise you, Lord, for another week. Thank you for the blessings over our sons, for healing when they need it, for forgiving when they fall short, for loving them unconditionally, and for your unmerited grace and favor in their lives. We thank you that when they fall, they will rise up, that when the backslide, they will return, that all that is lacking in them will be provided through the power of your Holy Spirit as they turn their eyes and hearts towards you.
   We ask for comfort for ourselves and our sisters. Sometimes our boys break our hearts, because we love them so much. Give us the grace to ride out these storms and healing when the attacks are personal. Help us to remember our role as mom, not dad and turn over those things that are not ours to handle. And to have the peace to trust the outcomes. Thank you, Lord, for ALL your teaching us through our sons about your perfect love and grace. Help us to grow alongside our sons.
   We ask this week that you would help our sons with temptation..."lead [them] not into temptation, but deliver [them] from evil." Matt. 6:13. For the young men in public school, we specifically ask you would keep a hedge of protection around them, that you would help them NOT to be followers of the crowd, but to have their own minds and make decisions that would bring a blessing on their lives Even in their studies, Lord, help them discern truth from false teachings and ideologies. Help us to continue planting the word in their hearts as a weapon against these false teachings.
   And friends, Lord, a powerful influence...we pray you would mightily move to bring the right friends into our sons lives and pull away those who are a negative influence. And we do pray that all their friends would come to know you as Saviour! Help us to remember to pray for the boys in our neighborhoods, in our schools and churches, etc.
    Lord, again we ask that you'd give our sons a love for your house. Even as many of them are just "doing what they have to" attending church, touch their hearts in the midst. And for those who are growing and learning and love your house, bless them and keep them, that they would always find a church where your truth is taught, wherever they go in life.
   Thank you again for the gift of our sons, Lord. We ask all these things in your name, believing and thanking you in advance for answered prayer. "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matt: 21:22

Be blessed!

Week Ten: Men of Influence

     I can't believe how surprised I can still be at something that pops up on TV, be it a commercial, "family show", or even a cooking show, things that would totally shock our grandparents! The enemy is working hard at mainstreaming every type of depravity and immorality that exists. There is even a series based on a professional prostitute during prime time, to name one example. It is the desensitizing of Americans (and all people) that the enemy is after. If nothing shocks us anymore, how can it offend us? And if we're not offended, then we're actually becoming compliant. The word says, "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." 2 Cor. 7:1. I don't believe in works or trying to make ourselves holy to earn our place before God. But I do see in the word that if we love Him, we will keep His commands, we will keep ourselves from evil, we will be in the world but not of the world. And I love the fruit of a holy lifestyle; the peace, the joy, the favor that comes when we separate ourselves unto our Saviour. "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 2 Tim. 2:21
     SO, if we, as mature Christians, are faced with all these challenges everywhere we turn, how much harder is it for our young men? No recent generation has ever faced this kind of onslaught of darkness. I have to believe that as we pray and as we help guide our boys into a life of integrity and purity, they will reap a GREAT reward, a rich harvest. Most of all, instead of being influenced by all the world offers, we can pray THEY will be men of influence and influence their friends, families, and even their part of the world, wherever it may lead.

Lord, we come to you with hearts full of thanksgiving for the promises you have for our children. They are a heritage from you and we do not take them for granted! Help us to see them as you do, in faith, as perfect and complete through your blood, shed for us. We ask today, again, that you'd keep our sons from evil, that you'd guard their hearts and mind from the onslaught of sin and compromise being thrown at them. Give us wisdom as parents, as how to allow them recreation and activities without compromising your word. It is a daily battle and we need your discernment, wisdom and strength to keep up the fight. Thank you that there are godly men among us, leading the battle for our sons minds and awaken the men/fathers who do not see the battle. We ask for spiritual eyes to see; for us as mothers and for the fathers, things that might be subtle influences, cloaked in the appearance of righteousness. Most of all, give our sons these spiritual eyes with discernment and the boldness to live out their convictions. For those sons who have not made you their Lord, we pray you would continue to draw them into your light and love and that serving you would become a joyful choice.

These scriptures speak of the blessings of holiness. Before our young men can become men of influence, they must know how to stand against the influences of our culture. We speak these scriptures over our sons as promises for them!

"Therefore, preparing (their)your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children,  do not be  (they will not be!) conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-17

"But (they are!)you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

One of my favorites:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, (let them!) think about these things." Phill. 4:8

"That (they) you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." Phill. 2:15

"Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way." Psalm 85:13

"For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness."1 Thess. 4:7

A promise for us!:
"And your offspring shall be known among the nations, and their

descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed." Isaiah 61:9

We thank you, Lord Jesus, that as we confess these scriptures over our precious sons, that they would become truth and you would bind that truth around their necks. That YOU would train up our sons to not just abide in this world but to be leaders, world changers and men of influence wherever their paths would lead! We believe and confess this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen and amen!!!

(Sorry about all the spacing, lots of challenges copying verses today!)