Chapter Five - On the Mountain a Model for Inspiration
This chapter begins be retelling the A
scension.
"Yet often, I think, we get lost in these
multitudinous tasks that rule our lives, and we lose sight of the underlying purpose behind all these tasks, which is to prepare our children to go into
the world and make disciples for our Lord.
Jesus promised that h would be with us. He also promised that he will come back. It is to him
that we will have to give an
account of how faithfully we sought to pass on his message and his commission to our children. Giving our children the gift of inspiration -
helping them understand their spiritual purpose,
which is to glorify God and to make him known - is one of the most crucial tasks of Christian parenting. " p 66
"Each of our children has been given a specific personality and a particular set of circumstances that will give shape to God's purpose for his or her life. It is our privilege and responsibility as parents to help our children understand their particular fit in God's plan. This means pointing our special skills and talents. It also means helping children realize that God didn't give them such skills and talents just to use on themselves, but to glorify him and bring others to him through the
stewardship of their lives. In other words, we are to help them see themselves and their potential and then to inspire them for God's purposes." p 67.
This is one of those times I can almost hear myself talking. I've seen so many parents beat themselves up for the lifestyle their child has been raised in, for not having enough $, for having to many or to few children , or whatever.... and really God has given each child gifts, a personality and CIRCUMSTANCES that can be used by Him.....GOOD thing to hear, isn't it?
"When we remind our children of their eternal significance, using everything from lullabies to bedtime stories to simple phrases such as "I wonder how God will use you in the world?" we help fulfill the deepest need of their
hearts to be a part of a
kingdom that is much greater than they have ever seen or known. As we give our children the gift of inspiration, we will
find ourselves being pulled down the road of our own purpose and significance, and we will
intuitively verify the importance of God's design for motherhood." p 68.
Mike and I have worked with a lot of young people. It is so sad how many of them are searching for something BIG and MEANINGFUL, beyond themselves that is worth living and dying for. I think that so many youth are feeling this so strongly because as a society we've turned from God....and God gives this meaning to our hearts.
Chapter Five - On the Mountain a Model for Inspiration
When they got home we opened gifts. She was thrilled to get a bracelet from Mexico (girls' mission trip), computer games, princess movie, Mandie books, alarm clocks and SPY THINGS. Here she opens a gift Mike brought back from his deployment.
THEN we went to the base bowling ally for lunch and bowling (another RE thing - photos tomorrow?). Josiah test drove another car - a Toyota Camry this time. Mike was preaching in two services today. We went to the evening service. A FUN thing for us is seeing one of the young students in the service. I babysat for his family when we lived in Hardin. It's a joy to see him all grown up and here at our base. He's not in the Air Force but we train all intel and fire dogs for all services here. 
Debbie and I (we could be sisters - see how TALL I look here?) 
Debbie's Husband and Youngest Son
Amy and Roxanne from work
Cy and Big Sisters
Family Shot (Zander was ready to run by this time)
Praying
Hugging Too...
