A child's heart

Last night we discussed many aspects of raising a child. The joy of making memories with them. How wonderful it is to take an ordinary day and make it extraordinary for our family...it's like we can make a snapshot for them to carry the rest of their lives. Some ideas that where tossed out were; Getting ice cream in your pajamas, boardgames by candlelight, hide-and-seek in the dark and just "watching" God's spectacular lighting show on a pillow on the floor! Great ideas that I hope we all can put to use.
We also discussed how hurried and fast paced our lives are... we must make a concentrated effort to slow down and be still. This doesn't just happen...we must deliberately plan to teach them to "be still" It is a great gift to slow down and linger...to just play or chat or have tea. It is when we slow down that we learn and savour God...meditate on His creation and Word. That is also a great time to teach our children about God.
Proverbs 31 teaches us about a model woman:
"She opens her mouth with wisdom and her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. He children rise up and call her blessed" Prov. 31:26-28
Can there be a greater reward here on earth than to be called "Blessed"? We are told that her words are wise, always pointing to Christ. If we are to model this woman we too must have wise words that point to Christ. Taking every opportunity to teach our children about the Lord takes diligence and perseverance. When we discipline we must not correct just conduct but we must expose the heart so that God can change the heart. God is concerned with the heart – the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23). We can only do that as we point them towards Christ.

Here are some scriptures that we can use as we discipline the "heart"

Anger: Proverbs 14:17 A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.
Matthew 5:21-22 You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!
James 1:19-20 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Harsh words to family: Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Proverbs 18:13 He who answers before listening—that is his folly and his shame
Ephesians 4:32a Be kind and compassionate to one another.

A complainer: Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing.

Selfishness: Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Materialistic: 1 Timothy 6:6-7 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out"
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness: be content with such things as you have.
Lying: Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him; A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord among his brothers and sisters.

There are many more to find. Maybe this week as you see your child wrestling with a sin issue, look on a concordance and do a word search to find all that God has to say about that. You can search modesty (if it is a clothing issue), disrespect or taking God's name and using it is everyday language. God's word has so much to say, we just need to listen to Him...That is my prayer for all of us this week.

3 John 4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. "