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Posts Tagged ‘prayer’

by Jessica Gerald

One day, as I was thinking of some different areas that frustrated me about my life, I came to a startling conclusion. Many of my so-called problems were simply a lack of self-discipline. I made a little list of improvements to incorporate. Maybe something here will help you, too. These may seem oversimplified, but sometimes I need to get back to simplicity!

1. Regular Bedtime and Wake-up time.

When I work during the week, I am forced to comply with this. But as a teacher, being home for the summers, it gets a little out of control. The first thing I know, I’m up till 3:00 in the morning on the computer and sleeping till noon. Then I’m frustrated because the cool early morning hours are gone, and I’m doing laundry and housework late into the evening.

2. A Healthy Eating and Exercise Plan

Make sure you check with your doctor on this one. A lot of times we just need to have some self-control when it comes to these issues. But it will make a huge difference in how you feel and function.

3. A Prioritized To-Do List

It always helps me to start the day with a written list. It keeps me focused, helps me to prioritize, and gives me the satisfaction of seeing what I’ve accomplished. When I don’t make a list, I tend to waste a lot of time in the day.

4. Don’t Procrastinate

Here’s a biggie. How often have you moped around doing everything but a certain chore you had looming over you? You simply didn’t want to do it. I’ve done that many times. What helps me is to admit to myself that I don’t want to run that errand, take care of that business matter, or do that dirty job. So I just make up my mind to do it first and get it out of the way. Then it’s done, and you have the peace of mind that it is behind you.

5. Start the Day with Prayer

Personally, when I start the day with prayer and Bible reading, the whole day goes better. I have the peace of mind that my family is under God’s protective covering, and the day has begun with guidance from Him.

As a teacher, and as a parent, I’m always impressing the need for self-discipline on the youth I mentor every day. It’s time I applied those principles to myself.

~Jessica Gerald~

http://www.oldfashionedhomemaking.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Gerald

by Teresa Bell Kindred

Now that my children are older, I like to think I’m a little wiser when it comes to parenting. However, I still make mistakes. I know there is a commercial that advertises “the toughest job you’ll ever love,” or something similar. That’s parenting! As far as I’m concerned there is no job harder than parenting and I can’t imagine doing it without my Father’s help. However, there is nothing more important or precious to our Father, and our future, than parenting.

Our youngest children (our twin boys) are seventeen now. The years of bottles, diapers, and late night rocking sessions are over. They were replaced with car keys, curfews, and eye rolling. In some ways, parenting is harder now. In other ways it is easier. I tell people that I don’t have any memory of the first few years after the twins were born. I’m exaggerating of course, but those were busy, busy years.

As the mother of five, I have always prayed for my children. As they have grown older, the amount of time I spend in prayer for them has grown as well. I pray for them throughout the day about a variety of things. I pray about their health, their choice of careers, who they date, their future spouse, and their spiritual life. In short, I pray for all their needs. We can give our children too many material things, we can let young children eat too much junk food, but we can never pray for them too much! I praise God not only for entrusting them to my care, and also for the wonders He is working in their lives.

Remember Job? He’s probably most famous for his patience and faith, but he was also a concerned and caring parent. Job 1:5 describes Job in this way: ”…Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, ‘Perhaps my children and sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ This was Job’s regular custom.”

I am a firm believer that praying for our children is one of the most important things a parent can do and I’m not afraid or ashamed to ask others to pray for them as well. Why? Because I love them beyond measure, just like God loves us.

I have no doubt in my mind that if one of my children were standing in the middle of the road and a car was about to hit them, I would jump in front of that car and try to rescue my child. No matter how much it hurt me, no matter what the cost. And that’s exactly what God did for us. We are the child in the middle of the road and Satan is the car headed straight at us. God loved us enough to send Jesus to rescue us. Jesus loved us enough to die on the cross for our sins so we could be His brothers and sisters. Love is a great motivator. That’s why we will pray fervently for our children.

We ought to be especially concerned over “lost sheep” children. Jesus said, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he find it? And when he find it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” (Luke 15:4-7)

Even if none of our children fit the “lost sheep” category, we all know someone who has a child that does. Perhaps there is someone you know whose heart is aching because of a wayward child. Make a commitment to pray daily for them and for that child. Let them know you are going to God on their behalf. They need your prayers!

Time passes quickly and our children will be gone from our houses, but never from our hearts. So let’s keep them in our prayers!

“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)

Reprinted with permission from http://www.nanahood.com