Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Last Sunday I asked the congregation to be praying for all of the children and young people associated with our church and within our circle of friends and families. Perhaps some of you have been meditating on this verse as you have prayed for them. This verse is good for such an occasion. I would like to mention a couple of caveats about this verse. We limit the truth found in this verse if we only think of it as a verse that speaks to the relationship between a mom, dad and their children. We also minimize the scope and power of this verse if we believe that mom and dad bear the sole responsibility when it comes to having a godly influence on the children in our community.
We must keep in mind that not every family looks the same. Why even the families within our own church are unique in their own ways and each and every one of them are loved by God. We must also keep in mind that during the course of a lifetime there are many people God uses to impact and influence our children. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, teachers, even people met in passing can make an impact on all of us in our lives. As you continue to pray this week please pray that the influence made by all those who impact our children will be a godly one. Please pray that those who are raising up children in difficult circumstances will be strengthened. And please pray that the Lord will lead each of us to be godly influences on the children that He sends into our lives or who He allows to cross our paths.
God has your back! 
Hi,
I really appreciate your “devotional” posts. Thank you. I also appreciate your info on your back surgery. My surgery on L4/L5 is scheduled for Aug. 1. I have been at peace about the procedure until “well meaning” people shared their horror stories of people being worse after the surgery……then I began to start worrying. I am very thankful that God spoke to me when I was outside pulling weeds. I pulled a large thistle plant with very long roots and God said I could either grow long roots of worry or trust HIM. So, I am listening to Him and not others.
My main concern about the surgery is for my husband. I am afraid he will exhaust himself trying to do everything. How long was it before you did not have to be “waited on”? I am going to have him read your posts about your surgery so he will be prepared for mine.
God bless you and thank you,
Dotty
Hi Dorothy, I am glad that the blog posts have been meaningful to you. I am glad that in the still quiet time of pulling weeds you heard the still quiet voice of the Lord. I know that He will help you to trust in Him during your recovery time. I would have to check the records but I believe that I got out of the hospital after about 4 or 5 days and the second week after surgery about day 8, my wife left me at home while she went to work. My daughter lived about 4 miles away at the time in case I needed anything but other than that I was on my own during the day. I made my sandwiches and watched TV and started this blog! Oh, and I took a lot of naps. It wasn’t a true vacation but it wasn’t too terrible either. If you think of any other questions, just ask. You can email me directly at pastorpstephens@aol.com
You and your husband will be in my prayers.
Blessings,
Pastor Phillip
I know that God hears our prayers and that prayer in the nerve that move the hand of God. I believe that asking other to help pray will strengthen. I have allowed a young lady (age 18) to move in with my daughter, in my home. My daughter is very grounded in the belief of God and has a very good knowledge of right and wrong. Tis young lady seems to not have these same values and therfore it is puttin stree on my daughter. I am facing 1 obstecle after another with her come home of the evening messed up on marijuana, and even has brought 3 small sample bottles of bevrage in the home. I have acknowledged these things as they are happening. i have expressed that she must attend church on a regualr basis, with no excuse as she does not have a job at this time. I have expressed that there is to be no drugs or beverages in my home that we are very active in the church and that if someone from church came to the house and even just saw a small empty bottle that was being used for a vase it would leave the impression that someone obviously drank it first. I know that she has the option to leave without notice. But I keep PLOWING for GOD and trying to show her the ways that she is headed leads to destruction of self and others. I need the prayers of those around me and outside my comfort zone to lift me up that I may let Gods light be shown to this child and that God work through us that she will listen to HIM. I fyou would pelase lift her up that she would come to know the joy of serving the Lord Jesus. Her name is Morgan and my daughters name is Kayt. Please keep us in your prayers.
I will definitely pray for Morgan, Kayt and you. I pray that you will have wisdom as you seek to be a godly influence on Morgan and as you set proper boundaries in your home. May God bless you.