A few weeks ago, I was feeling deflated and there were no words left in me to even pray, holding my second son in my arms as he drank water while getting ready for bed, I decided to just worship the Lord. I worshipped the Lord with Sunday School songs. I sing to my children, especially to my second child, Sunday school songs before tucking him in to bed every night so he is familiar with the songs and hopefully he will eventually sing them becoming his encouragement songs and reminder of God's love and faithfulness to us.
As I was worshipping the Lord in my "lowest valley", I felt a burden lifted off me and I was instantly encouraged knowing that God takes care of all that concerned me even before I utter a word. All I need to do is to worship and praise Him for He is good. Personally I find with all the praise and worship songs that we sing in church nowadays, Sunday school songs hit a note in my heart and spirit the most with the simplicity of lyrics and catchy easy tunes to remember and have been my constant reminder of God in my life. My all-time favourites are Jesus loves me this I know, God is so good, Isn't He Wonderful, My God is so big, He's Able He's Able, Jesus loves the little children, Great and Mighty is the Lord our God, This is the day - and many more.
Initially my eldest son was quite embarrassed and told me to stop singing Sunday school songs whenever I walked with him to school or anywhere, but for several months now he has got used to it and I've been singing his favourite Sunday school songs to him especially He's Able He's Able as we both walked to school. God impressed on my heart few months ago (when we're dealing with his behaviour both at school and at home) that I should keep talking to Him about Jesus and what He has done for us and to keep singing Sunday school songs to him so as to open his spiritual ears to listen more and be obedient.
We must realise that not only us but our children too seem to feel that there's a spirit of opposition or resentment towards God all around us and so intuitively they become shy, embarrassed and retreated in professing their faith so the more we should continue to show them the relevance of our Abba Daddy God and Jesus in our daily life. He is the one we go to in our troubles and needs. Whenever my eldest son can't do something and gets frustrated, I always remind him to pray and ask God for help and ideas and he will pray straightaway in his heart and calm down and try doing it again. Whenever he's unwell or hurt, he would come to me and ask me to pray for him but I've been reminding him to pray himself as our Abba Daddy God loves him and answers all his prayers too so he has been praying on his own morning and night. My husband and I used to pray for my eldest son when he woke up and before going to bed but a few months ago, after his behaviour in school deteriorated, God impressed on my heart that change comes through our prayer and we must pray ourselves to God and that's when our relationship with God begins. The more we pray the more we are transformed into the likeness of Christ. So Jean-Luc has been praying to Abba Daddy God ever since and his behaviour is gradually improving, still needs improvement but overall his teacher informed us that he has improved and he has come off the school report system and now what he needs is to listen and follow what teachers ask him to do.
Whenever we are discouraged and when words fail us, let us worship our Lord instead and be reminded again and again of God's faithfulness in our lives. He is faithful to carry us through in every situation in life, our part is to just keep trusting in Him regardless of how big the oppositions are. Keep on worshipping the Lord and let your burdens be lifted off you for our God is good.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Ephesians 5
19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Links to some Sunday school songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TIZ4ibzG7A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-6Qzmx_8-c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVPpCoqSPEA
Moulding In The Silence
In Everything, Do It Not Because You Have To But Because It's The Right Thing To Do
By Josephine Lim Weston
I'm aware that some of you are wondering how Josephine is getting on. No news or monthly email of encouragement from her. Well - "moulding in the silence". During this period of quietness God is moulding me personally so I am more equipped for service.
I've been particularly challenged and encouraged by the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians in recent months. Do bear in mind that we can't grow in our spiritual walk with God without studying God's word daily and praying. We can serve God all we want and keep ourselves busy with all the church and community services we do but if we don't take care of our own spiritual growth making sure we are being fed with God's word and taking time to pray it's just a matter of time we will be exhausted running on empty spiritual tank. In time we will eventually burn up, defeated and depressed. Like a car that needs to have fuel in its tank so is studying and meditating on God's word and prayer in our lives. I do not want to be pressured into producing a blog article just because it is supposed to be a monthly email and that "no matter what I should still share and encourage others" while I'm in the process of discovering and being challenged to be transformed. I would rather wait and when I'm sure and ready then I will share so it will be beneficial to you all.
In recent months it has been quite tough and challenging dealing with our eldest son and his behaviour especially. We have done all that we know how to try to change his behaviour but of course we didn't see immediate results but instead being invited to meet with his class teachers and headteacher twice, once at the end of last year and another time at the beginning of this year. Because of his disruptive behaviour in school, even though he's a smart boy - his reading, spelling and counting equivalent to a 7-year old stage (although he's only 5) he failed to show that in school and affected him academically all because he didn't want to do what teachers asked him to or only after much persuasion including other behavioural issues as well.
We as parents did our own research to find out what's the best way to manage our eldest son and being in constant communication with his teachers so we can all better understand and support him to change for the better. We have also realised that if we are being polite and nice to him, he would not listen until we put an urgent tone to our voice by raising our voice only then he would listen but disgruntledly. We eventually came to the conclusion that we can't expect change to happen in a short period of time, we just have to do what is right and keep doing it and change will happen eventually.
So every morning Jean-Luc continues to recite the Lord's Prayer, reads from his memory verse book, prays to Abba Daddy God himself and does his Sunday school memory verse. Every night before going to bed, he reads the Bible himself, prays to Abba Daddy God and afterward we pray a prayer of blessing over him. We also partake of the Holy Communion and apply anointing oil together and speak blessings over each other. During our walk to and back from school, I try not to scold him or remind him "not to do this and that" but try to be more positive and sing Sunday school songs to him and say to him as Jesus is (kind, loving, generous, forgiving, respectful, wise, etc) so are you and that he is a blessing and joy everywhere he goes. We also continue to home-school him (after school) to get him used to or be in the rhythm of writing, spelling, following through instructions and being more disciplined, etc. We also take time to listen to him and talk to him, etc.
During this time of moulding from the Lord the scripture passages below struck a chord in my heart to change as well and I meditated on the chapters and passages for days before I proceeded to the next chapter so that it sinks into my heart and spirit:
Ephesians 4:2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Philippians 4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Although all that we did with Jean-Luc did not garner immediate or swift transformation in him, we persisted and kept on doing what we know is right. As we expect Jean-Luc to change we (his parents) too must change with the words and tone we use as we speak to him and by our actions. We have just got to keep trusting God that changing someone is not our job but only God can change a person. Our part is to love people and leave the miracles and wonders for God to perform.
1 Samuel 15:22
Samuel said, “Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice, and to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
Proverbs 21
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. 3 To do what is right and just is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
We also make sure even during those days that we are hard pressed in time to get ready for school or for bed that Jean-Luc still does what is right to do - praying and reading God's word because what we invested in the kingdom of God be it time, energy or finances God will make sure He gives us back much more.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
Psalm 34:10
The young lions do without and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.
Praise be to God that recently during our meeting with Jean-Luc's teacher, she informed us that his behaviour in general has improved and he's off report! He now needs to improve on his listening and following through on teachers' instructions.
Yesterday after I showered for Jean-Luc and helped him put on his clothes, he said to me, “Mummy, wait. I saw something on your hair. Let me see, let me help you take it off. You turn this way.” I thought there was some dust or dirt on my hair. Instead he pulled off something from my hair. It’s the first time he did that for me without being taught or told. He pulled 3 strands of grey hair from my head by his own initiative. No denying all his teachers and friends know that Jean-Luc can be very helpful and he is sweet as they said. He just needs to listen and obey when told.
Jean-Luc stroking a horse and helped me made pancakes:
If we want to see change and improvement, we need to silence ourselves or go through a silent period (as long as we need to), allowing God to mould us. Don't let time or people be our God, let God be our real true God and those who trust in Him will not be put to shame.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)