BOOK REVIEW IN A NUTSHELL
One page for each day of the year: short and sweet enough to squeeze in after dinner WHILE the two crazy baby boys run around!
The format is perfect: Scripture, very personal and down-to-earth reflection, discussion question, and prayer prompt.
It is a beautiful thing.
This has enriched our marriage in so many ways:
inspiring us, bringing up new topics that we've never discussed, enabling God-centered conversation, allowing us to encourage and uplift each other, and giving us ideas on how we want to
build our marriage and family.
It looks like you can find daily reflections HERE. A neat idea if you are looking to save some money! The book makes a LOVELY gift though!
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So earlier this week, a reflection on raising a generation for God really hit home for me.
I like to refer to our home as my "cloister"
- a very quiet, peaceful (most days!) place that is hidden from the eyes of the world.
When I look out my "windows" and see what violence, war, abuse, natural disasters, abortion, contraception, pornography, etc. etc. etc. is doing to our nation and our world I honestly get a little freaked out.
My natural tendency is to pull my kids closer and minimize their exposure to the ever growing darkness.
Then the Holy Spirit taps me on the shoulder and reminds me...
"For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should teach them to their children, that the generations to come might know, even the children yet to be born... that they should put their confidence in God,
and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments."
- Psalm 78:5-7
And then I put my Warrior-Momma face on. Because I have one!
God works in QUIET ways. I have been reflecting on how Christ was placed in a FAMILY and for 30 years nothing crazy happened... at least that we know about! Not many people knew or understood who He was or what He was going to do. Christ grew up in a "cloister" of sorts.
And then... He shook the world and conquered sin and death by taking on our sins and allowing us to nail Him to a cross. It looked like Satan had won as he led the world in crucifying the very Son of God.
But just the opposite had occurred... as God QUIETLY, but RADICALLY turned the tables and served all of Hell the message that HE HAD INDEED WON THE BATTLE FOR THE SOULS OF HIS BELOVED CHILDREN!
The nature of evil is LOUD, dissonant, cacophonous, in your face, blatant, and disturbing.
You can't miss it, unless you are numb to it of course.
You just have to turn on your television and I think you'll see what I mean.
I believe that God is raising up a generation of warriors in the QUIET recesses of homes that honor Him.
This alone encourages me to get up every morning and run drills with my baby warriors... teaching them the faith, helping them practice virtue, showing them a way of life that can bring LIGHT when it seems that darkness has swallowed everything up.
The art of raising warriors requires sacrifice. It requires patience and time.
We do not wish to keep our children from the world, but to equip them with the necessary tools they need to stand against the evil presence that seems to be taking over.
I think there is something to the generation of "mis-fits" that is quietly growing "underground," in the "cloisters" of our homes. We, the mis-fits, who give our children a Christian education, take them to Church, teach them to respect life from conception to natural death, show them the beauty that God intends for the male and female body and sexuality, and enable them to fight the battle that wages with spiritual weapons... are God's secret reserve.
Do not be discouraged by what the WORLD tells you. Do not be discouraged by the cost that it requires to raise up a God-fearing generation. Every sleepless night raising babies, every ounce of effort to stand in the trenches of toddlerhood, every tear you shed in guiding a teenager, every moment spent pointing that child toward HEAVEN... does not go overlooked. Trust me.
God sees you and me...
and I'm hoping there is a special retirement plan up in heaven for those of us who practice the
art of raising warriors.
I LOVE THIS ENTRY. What a hopeful way of thinking! It reminds me of something I heard one time--that even though bombs are louder than kisses, think of how many more kisses there are in the world. When the negativity of our culture is so loud, t's encouraging to know how much God is doing in the quiet. Thanks for the reminder that that's His favorite way to work.
ReplyDeleteYou are a child of mine! Sounds like what I used to teach in Familia. Glad you're enjoying your book. Can I use thios in my next newsletter??
ReplyDeleteMom xo
Haha... you programmed me! You can totally use this in the next newsletter :-)... I just want royalties! XO - your favorite child
DeleteWarrior on! I love this post!
ReplyDeleteGreat entry! I think the discussions about gun and violence, even bullying, misses a larger problem, consequence of the women's lib movement misunderstood. Men - for whom the desire to protect their women and their families is innate - have lost a large part of their identity. We need to form our sons to be strong - not passive as many of the political agendas result in. i.e Don't worry about getting a job - we'll take care of you; don't stand up for yourself - teachers/adults will defend you... One of our sons does get bullied some - and we are trying to instill him a strong sense of self respect that includes being able to defend himself and stand up for himself(which doesn't equate being violent). In the real world, he's going to encounter people that don't treat him fairly - don't we all in the work place, among circles we're involved with, even within families unfortunately sometimes... Who's going to help you out then? Oh wait - the government is trying... But the answer is strong families, where parents don't just say they love their children but take TIME to be parents, involved with them on a deeply emotional and spiritual level!
ReplyDeleteAmen, Jenny. STRONG FAMILIES is key <3
DeleteThis is so inspirational!!! As a woman about to bring a baby into this crazy world I have spent many days and nights praying that I would have the strength to protect him or her, but you have helped realize that I need to teach the child to learn to fight for the world that the Lord won for him or her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart xo caroline
ReplyDeleteAw Caroline! You are welcome :-) ALL from Jesus XO
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