ALL NEW AUDIO POST for those auditory learners!! Full Blog post read to you by me :) I am laughing at how old I am as I realize that many of you will not get the "Village People" pun! But I am hoping we all know what power is in a Godly mentor and how bad we need a revival in this area today! Read on to see how this all comes together! ha But this post is NOT about those guys. Instead, our friend Laurie Helton has shared an inspired writing with us again. She is so good that way! Below Laurie states, "it takes a village" referring to how we all need help raising our kids for the Lord. She couldn't be more dead on in my opinion. We all NEED godly mentors for our children. And WE need to be that godly mentor for so many young people around us! I am so thankful for all of the godly men & women, young & old who have poured things of the Lord into my children over the years!! If you are not already raising kids or teens, I can assure you that they will not always love your advice, guidance or suggestions!! Your words of love go in one ear and fly out the other without a blink....usually with that "you can make me look at you, but you cannot make me hear you" look! It was in those times I found comfort and peace knowing I had backup. The Lord used others who loved on my kids. They mentored my children and pointed them to God. These mentors gave of their time and love. My children trusted their words because they saw them living out their faith strong each day. In the good & the bad times. These angels were there to listen and counsel when my kids needed an objective view. I AM so GRATEFUL for my Christian VILLAGE PEOPLE pouring in & calling out my children as they matured. I hope I will be remembered as one of those godly mentor 'village' women for other youth coming up today. There is so much trying to entangle them each day. They need to know we care and are willing to help them fight to stay pure and righteous, and headed in the plan God has for them! (Read what Laurie says today & let her know how her writing inspires you by leaving a comment below and sharing this post with others!) I think of our children today...all they face...the traps set by the enemy. When we're trying to trap a mouse we use bait that we know a mouse would want. But it's important to be sure the other food sources are out of their reach. If they're hungry enough it won't matter what's on the trap. They'll come for it. They must be hungry to be caught. Our children...if they're hungry for affection, acceptance, peace, wisdom, if their love tank is low...the enemy has a much easier task luring them in. ...to him who is hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. Proverbs 27:7 Sometimes I need a reminder. I need to stare it in the face...my child's need for me. For Jesus. Another children's need for me. For Jesus. For me to spend time with Jesus. Because we should be loving other people's children too. And our love apart from God's heart won't be enough. It's not meant that parents should be everything. It takes a village. ( I am adding this in. Just cant leave it alone, can I??! Instructions in Titus 2 tells us we ALL have a part in teaching the ones under us! As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. 3 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.[a] Instead, they should teach others what is good. 4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 5 to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes,[b] to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.) BACK TO LAURIE now.... I thank God for the people He sends (and they go) to my children. I pray for them. Whose children are you called to sow into? I can guarantee it's not just your own. Has he called you to personally walk with someone or to sow into a person or ministry that carries that cross? Busyness will be tapping its foot at you EVERY SINGLE DAY. Staring at the watch. Best said in conversations between 4 years- old peers "you're not the boss of me!". But you know, we get to choose! What gets my time today?? I know, because I had to make myself put a magazine down three times this morning. I had shut down Facebook...more times than I care to admit. I went to look for a scripture and ended up on Pinterest. I need to sit at my dining table and not listen to that pile of clothes I see on the couch. I'm pretty sure they’re mocking me. Giving God our first moment is life changing. -Laurie Helton My kids are young adults now, but they remember those who walked the talk. Lived upright. Stood firm on the bible even when they didn't want to hear it. They know the ones who prayed for them. And the ones who still do :) YOU and I are called as Christian Women to BE THE VILLAGE for children, teens and young adults. For our kids and every other one we can sow seeds of Jesus into! Our youth face so many traps today. The devil is out to derail and destroy them early. Won't we step up, CHOOSE to make a difference? Bring on a Revival of the VILLAGE PEOPLE! Tell us today what YOU will do today! {If you liked this post, take a look at "The Must Have Friend We All Need!" } Laurie Helton is my amazingly talented friend! She sings like an angel and is a gifted worship leader. Her inspired writings always speak to me. Her heart for God is evident in her life and in her world. She sows seeds into children each day as she serves as a teacher at First Methodist Preschool in Cairo. Show her the love and leave a comment below! Love Ya!
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