I will be adding this picture on my right side bar and you can click to find all of my Sunday Devotionals in one spot, just like my book–EMPTY ARMS, BROKEN HEARTS… or my projects on the side bar.

I love the book of Proverbs, there is so much practical wisdom that we can apply to our lives, in this modern world.

This photo reminds me of my boys and my husband.  They want to be with him and be like him.  They even do things like him when they sleep.  I almost snapped a picture this morning,  (although Prince Charming might have killed me, if I posted it), G3 had woke up and I carried him in to our room.  He wanted to snuggle up with his Dad, within a minute he was back sound asleep.  Both of them were sleeping with one arm up over their head.

Typically when we think of the word IMITATION, we think fake, not real, definitely not quality BUT when it comes to our kiddos and they imitate us–what are they imitating?  The REAL DEAL.  Do we imitate Christ likeness and do our kids imitate it too?  I remember, we were friends with a family and my Mom was watching their little boy.  He was about 3 or 4 years old.  My mom was running some errands and he was with her.  Someone ran a light and so my mom slammed on the breaks and calmy commented “What an idiot.”  This little boy was used to hearing his Dad reply with a lot of extra “adjectives” and so, as he sat, safetly in his car seat, he asked “What kind of idiot is he?”  “Is he a bankety blank idiot or a blankety blank idiot or…my mom stopped him and just said “A BAD IDIOT”

That evening when my Mom re-told the story, his Dad was shocked that his little boy had PICKED UP ON THAT.

Proverbs 3:1-10
1 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 prosperity.

verse 1 & 2 clearly tell us, if we live by God’s commandments we will live a longer and more prosperoue life.  Many times, people want the benefits but they want to do whatever they want.

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

One day, one of my kids made a comment about doing something.  I quickly pointed out, when you do something wrong and push that uneasy feeling aside, and don’t confess it and turn away from it, you become a little numb to it.  The next time you don’t feel quite as bad, and in no time at all, you have a logical explanation and feel nothing.  We WONDER how a child can go into their school and kill other kids, or how a husband can kill his wife and children, or how a woman can fake a pregnancy and kill another woman for her baby and yet when that first thought entered their mind-they entertained it, (as if having an important guest for dinner), instead of falling prostrate before God.

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;

Our ways are not God’s ways but HE loves us and KNOWS the PERFECT plan for us.  My plan for a family would have been very different but even in the loss and grief of losing our babies, I can still say God’s plan is PERFECT.  It does not change my love for my precious children, who are loved by my heavenly father.  Who better to cradle them if I can not?   My Grandmother had been diagnosed with cancer just 6 weeks before and I sat beside her dying bed, just a block away my cousin was dying of cancer.  I would go visit my cousin during the time I was there and as I left Ohio, knowing I would never see her alive again, on this earth, I asked her if I could ask a favor of her.  She said anything and I aked her, if once she got to heaven if she would tell my babies how much I have alaways loved them.

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

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.

I remember a statement, I heard back in HIGH SCHOOL.

What you do in moderation, your children will do in excess. 

The challenge this week–what do you need to bring to God and confess and ask for help and guidance, so you can train our countries future leaders to listen to that still small voice.

I tell my kids all the time-BE STILL and Know that I am God–The Lord is the quiet whisper in your ear telling you the right thing to do.  Satan is the one screaming so loud, trying to drowned out the whisper.  He doesn’t want you to hear what the Lord has to say and as soon as you do what he wants you to do, he is off with his “buddies” laughing at you and mocking you because you fell for it.  He wants to turn as many people as he can away from the Lord. We need to yell back “Satan get behind me, you won’t win this battle”

Tagged as: Sunday Devotional