LET'S GIVE THANKS!

LET'S GIVE THANKS!

Finally, the year is ending. Many things may have happened to you this year, both good and bad.  Some of us have accomplished much in the course of the year, while others may not have done much.  In spite of how the year went, it is important to be thankful. Many people longed to see the end of 2016 but were not able to do so.  Those of us who have gotten to the end of 2016 need to give thanks to God for giving us the grace and strength to make it all through the year.

I will now share a few verses below to get you into the thanksgiving mood.

Psalm 107:1 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." (NLT)

His faithful love – what a beautiful description. Regardless of what we may do that displeases him, he loves us faithfully. Faithful love (loving kindness) is part of his nature.

Psalm 107:8 "Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind." (NIV)

Psalm 9:1 "I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of your wonderful deeds." (NIV)

Is there anything that God has done for you this year? If so, be thankful and praise him. As you declare what God has done for you, you are encouraging someone out there to put his or her trust in him.

1 Chronicles 16:8 "Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. "(NLT)

The world needs to know that the God we serve is faithful and that he does great things for us. Do not be afraid to share!

Lastly, if you are anxious about what next year has in store for you, you need to know that just as God sorted you out in 2016, he will sort you out in 2017! Put your trust in him.

Philippians 4:6 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." (NLT)

Talk to the Lord about what you desire for the coming year, as you thank him for what he did for you this year.

I wish you a happy and blessed Christmas, full of thanksgiving to the Lord!

PS. Please take a minute and comment at the bottom of this post, sharing what you are thankful for. Blessings.

MAKING THE GRADE

MAKING THE GRADE

For many children, the final examination results of primary and secondary school are a big deal. Many of our children are asking themselves the following questions.

• ·         If I fail these exams, what will I do?
• ·         What happens if I do not get into my favorite school?
• ·         What will my parents say if I do not get the marks that they are expecting?
• ·         If I had studied harder, would I have gotten better results?

Although these questions are valid, they are also a sign of desperation. What is the cause of this sense of desperation? Our grading system!

Grading is not necessarily a bad thing. The problem, however, is that our children have been led to believe that they will not succeed in life they do not attain a particular exam grade. Below are some the disadvantages of our current grading system.

1.      It gives those who are not up to scratch low self-esteem. A child who is constantly at the bottom of the class will feel discouraged and worthless.

2.      The system puts more focus on academic prowess rather than character building. Think about this – there are very few schools that give prizes for kindness, cleanliness, leadership, etc. Character building should be an important part of the educational process.

3.      There is no room for the development of an individual's gifts and talents. Many children struggle to attain the required grades while in reality if they had the chance to explore their talents, they would excel in those areas.

4.      Parents have also been led to believe that grades are everything. Have you heard how your friends boast when their kids attain good marks and go silent when the grades are bad? What message are they communicating to their children through these reactions?

What is the way forward?

Not much can be done about the grading in schools. There are, however, several things that parents can do to counteract any adverse effects of this classification system. Here are a few tips on how to handle a child who is not making the grade.

a)      Find out what your child's gifts are.

Is there a particular thing your child loves to do? Have you taken the time to observe your child and see where his or her interests lie? You never know that hobby or pastime could lead them to a successful career path.

b)     Encourage your child.

Some kids just need a little push from Mum and Dad to help them improve their grades. Sit down with your child and help with the difficult subjects. Study together for exams. Go out for a walk together as you both take a break and chat. Parents must, however, maintain a healthy balance between pushing and encouraging. Clear expectations should accompany every dose of loving encouragement.

c)      Explore other options.

If your child is not an academic, find a school that has a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Avoid the schools that do lots of drilling, or where the children spend long hours in class. Not all children can cope with such a strict regimen. You could also opt to have your children explore their creative side on the weekends through sport, art or music classes.

d)     Love your child.

This child is God's gift to you. It is, therefore, your responsibility to point this child in the right direction. If you are very harsh and demanding, you will find that your child confides less in you, and this will affect schoolwork. Accept your child and give guidance. Help your child find his role in society. 

Making the grade will not guarantee your child success in life. If you desire the best for your kids, begin to instill values that will help them cope with the world out there. Teach them the values that you learnt as a child. Equip them for the challenges they will face in future. Love and encourage them. Most importantly, pray for them. That way, even if your child does not make the grade, he or she will be a confident and well-rounded individual.

EVEN IF YOU'RE DIFFERENT, GOD STILL HAS A PLAN FOR YOU

EVEN IF YOU'RE DIFFERENT, GOD STILL HAS A PLAN FOR YOU

Yesterday I attended a unique wedding. Apart from the fact that it was a Sunday wedding, what stood out was that both the bride and groom were born with albinism.

Look back to your childhood. What perception did the society have towards albinism? The way I remember it, society looked down on people with albinism, simply because they were different. After yesterday's wedding, however, it dawned on me that although this young couple looked different from most people, God's plan for them still came to pass. They have been to school, have good jobs, are active in church, and now they are married. In spite of all the negative vibes society may have had towards this couple, they have succeeded.

What am I driving at? We are all different, yes, but for some people, the differences can be a challenge. Below I will share some scriptures that will encourage you, your children and your friends who may differ from society's expectations.

Psalm 37:23-24 "The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand." (NLT)

The Lord delights in EVERY DETAIL! Nothing about you surprises him. After all, he created you! Parents with children who have learning difficulties or social challenges need to remind themselves that God delights in their children because he created them.

Note, also, that the Lord knows we are bound to stumble as we walk through life. He promises to be right there to hold our hands.

Psalm 139:16 "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." (NLT)

This verse encourages me when I can't figure out what is happening in my life. God saw every moment of my life before I was born. He knew that the present challenges would come along, and I would conquer each one.

The above verse from Psalm 139 reminds us that each one of us has a different path to follow. For example, my path is different from that of my brothers, my husband, and my children. Does that make us different? Yes! Do our differences exclude us from the plan of God? NO!

Sadly, society today exerts pressure on people who are different, making them feel like second-class citizens. Interestingly, most of us do not realize that we are all different in some way; it is just that some differences are more obvious than others.

This post is to encourage anyone who is feeling like they will never measure up to the standards of society. Remember that God created you, and if you take the time to seek his will concerning your life, his purpose for you will slowly become apparent. It doesn't matter what people say – God loves you and he has a purpose for your life.

Let me end with two of my favorite verses.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (NLT)

Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."(NLT)

Have a great week!

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL, 4TH DECEMBER. WORDS FOR MOMS AND DADS - PART 1

WORDS FOR MOMS AND DADS

This week I would like to have a chat with parents. The responsibility of being a parent is quite overwhelming for most of us, and as such, I thought to share a few pointers on the role of a parent.

First, who made you a parent? God made you a parent, by giving you children. Did you know, however, that every child is a reward from the Lord?

Psalm 127:3 "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."(NLT)

How do you handle a gift that you receive from someone you love? Do you treat it with care, or you do you throw it in the dustbin? You treat the gift with care because you love the person who gave it to you. In the same way, we should value our children because they are gifts from the Lord.

What are the duties of a parent? We will look at two key responsibilities of parents below.

1. Love your children

God gives us the perfect example of how to love our children.

Psalm 103:13 "The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him." (NLT)

We need to show tenderness and compassion (love) to our children all the time. Our love for our children should not be dependent on their behavior, performance in school or achievements in life. Love your children because they are yours.

Note that loving your child does not mean ignoring negative behavior. Correct your child lovingly, and he or she will return to the right path.

2. Provide for your children

As parents, we must also provide for our children. Children are very dependent on their parents until they reach the age of 18. Until then, parents need to provide food, shelter, clothing and access to education. These are the basic things necessary for the healthy growth and development of any child.

As the children grow older, they will need to learn the basics of financial management. Teach them to manage  household supplies well. Do not just give the children what they need and assume that they will know how to manage their homes in future.

Proverbs 13:22a "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children." (AMP)

What kind of legacy do you plan to leave for your kids? Will it benefit future generations?

As you invest with your children in mind, make sure that you prepare them to manage the investments so that they will also be able to provide for their children. Teach them how to manage their money early. As soon as you introduce pocket money, introduce the principles of saving. That way, you will not only have provided for your children's present needs but also their future needs.

Dear parents, this may seem like a difficult task. With God's help, however, you will be a great parent. If you ever feel like you are running short on strength for the task, meditate on the words below.

Psalms 29:11 "The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace." (NLT)

Have a great week as you enjoy the parenting journey!