A reminder for me this morning.

The Lord lead me to a section of text that I was not intending on reading this morning, and it has perfectly realigned my thoughts this morning. It comes from E. Elliot's book Keep a Quiet Heart.

"The earlier that parents begin to make the laws of order and beauty and quietness comprehensible to their children, the sooner they will acquire good, strong notions of what is so basic to real godliness: self-denial. A Christian home should be a place of peace, and there can be no peace where there is no self-denial."

This can only begin with me... Lord, help me to lead by example first, then by instruction.

"The task of parents is to show by love and by the way they live that they belong to another Kingdom and another Master, and thus to turn their children's thoughts toward that Kingdom and that Master. The "raw material" with which they begin is thoroughly selfish. They must gently lay the yoke of respect and consideration for others on those little children..."

The task of parenting is not a passive one. It is not simply meeting the physical needs of a child, providing an education and happy memories. It is first of all the task of nurturing a soul: An eternal soul with an eternal destiny.

I cannot do it by my own strength. Today I am thankful for the much needed grace and strength and wisdom from my loving God.

"We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me."  Colossians 1:28-29

"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him..."  Col. 2:6

I know the battle for our hearts will rage today, but He is mightier!

Father, hold my hand today. Teach me how to lead.

Katherine