The Cause of Christ

BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) has been such a blessing to our family. For one, I am studying the Bible and getting so richly fed. The Holy Spirit has absolutely enabled my understanding far more than I ever would hae dreamed. Second, it is bringing my kids to an understanding of Christ and a realization that they need Him. I'm writing about this b/c they have handouts called Home Training Lessons (aka the pink sheet). It has practical, biblically based advice for raising your children according to the word of God and so they have a Biblical world view. Lesson 6 for The Life of Moses study talks about praying for your child. How important it is that we intercede for our children from the very beginning! This world is going to throw so much at them, they need the protection of our prayers. I don't know if BSF did it on purpose but the sheet gives 12 things to pray about regarding your child, so I broke it down to try to pray one thing consistently per month. I kind of waivered/forgot for January and February (maybe even december of last year...oops!) and just found the sheet again. So for march it says to pray that your child will "boldly speak about Jesus and become a leader and standard-bearer for teh cause of Christ rather than for causes of the world". It gives 2 supporting verses...Galatians 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. And 1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. I love that last line, "who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment". God is so loving toward us and He wants our enjoyment, so much so that He provides what is needed. My prayer is that my kids will be bold in Christ, that they will further the cause of Christ and that they will seek the approval of the Lord, Jesus Christ only-well done my good and faithful servant.
The other day, Jovi was laying on some pillows on the floor in our room while I was on the bed doing my Bible study. Out of no where she says that she wants to know how Jesus can come live in her heart. I said a quick, silent prayer that I would say just what God wanted me to say. I told her to come sit on my lap and let's talk about it. I explained why we need Jesus in our hearts,that we are sinners and He died for our sins so God wouldn't punish us for them and so we can go to Heaven for ever and ever. I told her that all she had to do was pray and ask Jesus to come live in her heart and said "I want to do that". So we did. She is only 3 1/2 and I have wondered since then just how much she gets it. I wondered if this was really it, it sounds silly, but does this "count" as her accepting Christ as her savior? I spoke with the children's leader at BSF and she thought it was wonderful and shared with me the story of her kids accepting Christ as well and they were young, 3 and 2. She said for this age, having been raised in a Christian home, this is just the next logical step, vs. someone who doesn't know Christ until they are much older. They have more of an awareness of their sin and it is more of a "conversion" experience. She told me to just encourage Jovi and do still talk about it with her. She does understand so very much. It amazes me. I'm anxious to see what happens with Dane.
My babies are such blessings and I have been so convicted of my wrong, abrasive parenting style. I yell way tooo much and I am praying that God will give me His gentleness with my children. I want home to be a safe place for them not one that puts their tummies in turmoil b/c they never know how mom is going to pop off or fly off the handle at them.
Thank you Jesus for your word, for the conviction of sin and the removal of guilt!