Category Archives: God’s Word

Disciplining Children With Love

“Fathers, don’t exasperate your children
by coming down hard on them.
Take them by the hand
and lead them in the way of the Master. ”
Ephesians 6:4 (The Message )

How does one became a good parent? A husband and wife team like Joshua and I desire to be good parents to Noah. We’re only realizing now that it isn’t a walk in the park. Taking care of a baby is different from raising a child. The first one is physically exhausting but the latter can be emotionally demanding.

To educate ourselves, we bought books to read, bookmarked parenting websites, and subscribed to family-related magazines. We invested on materials we know could help us and give us ideas on how to raise a child. But these are mere guides. Most of them remain untouched, remain unread.

While we have these resources we know could teach us, we forget that there is One perfect example of what a good parent is–our Heavenly Father.

We have our parents to look up to but they are not perfect. They’ve made mistakes like every one else. We learn from them. But God, in His infinite greatness, “parents” with gentleness, loving kindness, and with the goal of correction.

He disciplines us His children by way of training. God trains us, He doesn’t only teach. He trains us because He wants us to be prepared for life. He teaches us because He loves us and He wants us to be wise and ready for the future.

The Heavenly Father administers disciplines without any delay. He disciplines us His children immediately and works to bring us closer to Him. God still desires a closer relationship with us despite out rebellious ways. (This was perfectly illustrated by the Parable of the Prodigal Son.)

Parenting is more than a privilege. I believe it is a big responsibility. To care for a child is such a tall order. You may think you can leave the disciplining to the grandparents, teachers, books, television, computer, gadgets, or daycare centers, but you can’t. And you shouldn’t.

My husband and I are at a season of discovering what method will work best with Noah. There was a time that I considered him rambunctious that I didn’t want to bring him out the house with me. You just couldn’t ask him to sit still or stop running around. I would get impatient at times, choosing to leave him with his very patient dad at home. I am grateful to God for blessing me with a husband who is very hands on with our son. No wonder Noah prefers to be with him (and because mommy is boring!).

But God reminded me that there is hope and that I can be the kind of mother He wants me to be. I know it isn’t to0 late as Noah is only 2 years old. This is nothing compared to the problems some parents are dealing with right now. Noah is just under 3. It’s not yet the end of the world. There is hope.

Actually, I only needed to be reminded of my role as a mother.

I learned once again that…

  • I am a mother by blessing.
  • I am responsible to provide a spiritual heritage for my child.
  • I am called to show Noah that God is real by planting the Scriptures in his heart.

The kind of discipline God administers to us helps us to take responsibility for our actions and teach us what we need to know in the future.

God promptly disciplines and quickly restores fellowship with us. There are parents who choose to avoid conflict and ignore their children when problems arise. They do not talk and discipline their kids when they go astray especially when they are already adults. That is not the kind of parent I want to be.

I don’t want to hurt my child emotionally because it might scar him for life. I hope to discipline him with love. I desire to learn loving discipline…the kind that lasts..the kind that will make my child respect and honor me and my husband.

One practical tip which I recently leaned and I can share to the parents — have a time out. But don’t take too long. When the toddler is misbehaving, send him to a corner or pull him away from the crowd. Count 1 to 10,  1 to 20, or up to 100 if you are the impatient kind, do this before you talk to him and tell him what he has done and what shouldn’t be done in the future.

I realized that it is important to give time to release my anger or frustration so I wouldn’t physically hurt my child and say things I would later regret. I know from painful experience that words aren’t easily taken back.

God as our Father should be our role model for parenting. And how can we discover more of how our Heavenly Father leads us? Spend time in prayer and read The Word. It’s how we learn how our Father parents us, so we can also raise our children to be responsible, loving, obedient…the kind that bring honor and glory to God.

 

___________________________

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the privilege of being a parent and a wife. Thank you for my husband who is very supportive and my son who brings so much joy in our lives. I pray that I become the mother you want me to be–one that is devoted to You, my child’s father, and to training the little one. Teach me to become more patient when it comes to disciplining him. Train us…lead me and my husband to the path of godly parenting.

Amen

PS: I do not claim to be an expert. The three years I’ve been a parent is not enough. The things I’m sharing here are the ones I’ve learned about parenting so far. I’m still new in this wonderful journey called motherhood. I pray parents, especially my momma friends, learn from my realizations and experiences too. 🙂

PPS: I wrote this on my journal within five minutes last Saturday, October 13. It was one of those times that I felt compelled to grab the pen and just write. Looking forward to more of this writing and sharing what I learn.

 

Little Miss Sunshine

A beautiful countenance brings glory to God.

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure,
and lovely, and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8

Dear Lord,

Teach me to be a woman after Your own heart. To be at peace with myself, to have a meek and quiet spirit, and to a have a servant’s heart. I long to be that woman so joyful in every circumstance. And to be a woman of prayer and devotion to You.

Amen

*Attributes of a Godly Woman

 

Faith Friday: A Blueprint That Works

God has given each one of us a plan and a purpose. To know those things can be a challenge to some but He gives us the Holy Spirit to reveal to us. God is also able to reveal the ways how those plans are to be carried out in our lives.

His Word is perfect and true. The Word of God is worthy to be read and studied over and over again. God’s Word is a Blueprint. Like an architect that makes and follows a blueprint of a house, the Scripture is the Lord’s instructions for living.

It is the truth. It never changes. Why? Because the Author is God and He changes not.

When stress gets the best of you, read a Scripture and allow the peace of God to calm you down. Meditating on God’s word can help you overcome anything: your fears, worries, and heartaches.

Read His Word. Spend time meditating on it. Apply His Word in your life.

 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.”

James 1:22 (NIV)

 

A Declaration of Faith

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. – Daniel 3:17 (NIV)

What’s interesting about this passage is not the verse itself but the verse immediately after it. Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego after declaring verse 17 say in verse 18, “But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” This speaks volumes about the honesty, humanity, pragmatism and solid faith these three possessed. In their shoes, I would have myself exclaimed the second statement (possibly instead of the first, being the “still growing” Christian that I am) and leave everything to God as I pray my final prayer, which would be along the lines of, “Lord, remember me in paradise…” I love the honesty and humility in these three men’s “declaration of faith” to King Nebuchadnezzar. Even in honest practicality, there can be faith that is not “reckless abandonment” but acquiescent assurance in a God that saves. By: Joshua Padla

A Life Pleasing to God

Are you living a life pleasing to God?

 

NIV

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord..

One of my favorite books in the Bible is Ephesians. It gives practical instructions on how we should live as Christians. Sure, instructions of God are written all over the Bible, both in the Old and New Testament, but Ephesians to me, strikes at the core.

I’m often amazed at how different versions of the Bible present verses in the Bible.  The Internet, as well as, mobile apps nowadays allow Bible readers to go through the Word with only a few clicks which makes Bible-reading and exegesis easier than before. Easy, baby.

I recently got to thinking about the phrase “Walk as children of light“. To be a Christian is “to walk in the Light”– most people know this. But really, HOW DO WE LIVE AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT? Continue reading A Life Pleasing to God

ALL or NOTHING

To give God the glory He deserves is not exactly a walk in the park. It entails a lot of discipline. Knowledge alone does not make it easy for one to say and even show that he is doing what she is supposed to do best.

Take for example praying. Seems like an easy thing to do but not all, not even Christians spend most of their time and effort into doing this one thing Jesus best modeled in His heydays.

I was once again reminded that praying is not just a need. It’s not something I should do when I need something or when I need answers from God. That it is something you do out of your love…as an expression of your worship and desire to be closer to the Father.

Praying also is not something you should do in your spare time. You do it to start the day and before you sleep. Not just that, but always. We may become so caught up with the busy-ness of the world but think if all those things are really worth doing. A minute of prayer…as compared to hours of sitting in front of the PC, going to the gym, developing your talents, etc…is nothing compared to what God can possibly bless us with. Continue reading ALL or NOTHING

Psalm 37:4

Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire.  CEV

So easy to say but one of the most difficult to follow. We pray for so many things but when our requests are unanswered, we often ask God, “Why?”. But instead of questioning God, why not question yourself if you’ve done what He’s been asking you to do lately. It’s unfair for you to wonder why God hasn’t been listening when you’ve given Him a deaf ear.

I’ve proven many times in my life that following God and considering Him in every decision brings about blessings. God has blessed me so much. Most, if not all, of my heart’s desires have been granted.

I still wonder though. I still ask “Why?” and “Why not?” –oftentimes, the latter. But I know in my heart that God’s plan is always sovereign.

One of His many wills for my life and yours  is to serve Him. Do what pleases your Master and this I guarantee you, the reward will be much more than what you’ve asked or imagined.

Revelation 3:16

Eugene Patterson’s The Message version of this famous lukewarm-neither-hot-nor-cold verse is just too straightforward:

I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

May this serve as a reminder for us. It sure did struck a nerve.