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Not Too Young

8/31/2016

This past Sunday at church my 13-year-old daughter graduated from children’s church and will be entering into youth church. During the graduation, they prayed for each child individually and released prophetic words over them. It is always a blessing to see the children get ministered to and exciting too hear what the Lord has to say about them. My daughter received a very accurate word about one of her gifts and what she will be doing with it.

My daughter is an artist and loves to operate in different realms of creativity. We had already created a website for her but haven’t launched it yet. While it is still a work in progress, I would like to take this opportunity to share it with you. I believe the prophetic word she received was a right now word and not one that needs to wait until she’s older.

1 Timothy 4:12
Take Heed to Your Ministry
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit,[a] in faith, in purity.

There is nothing in the Bible that says that our children have to wait until they are old to do what God has called them to do. If God has placed a desire to do, with an ability to do it, as long as they are being an example in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity, then we should encourage them to do it. Of course, we must closely monitor their progress and maturity levels. We have to teach them to be good stewards over their gifts and the fruit that it bears. We must constantly help groom their character and integrity. We must help push them to new levels and help stretch their gift.

Jeremiah 1:4-8
The Prophet Is Called
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then said I:
“Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
7 But the Lord said to me:
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

God ordains our calling before we are even formed in our mother’s womb. When God says it is time. We can move forward in confidence knowing that God is with us and will deliver us. We can’t worry about what others think our say. Our obedience will prosper us. Being young does not disqualify you from this truth.

So today, take a look at what God is doing in your own children’s lives. What is it in them that they are ready to start doing now that will advance them in their calling? Encourage them to be the best at what they do, like they are doing for the Lord. Praise their progress and build their identity based on what God says about them.

Please take time to check out my daughter, Skyler Brown. This is just the beginning, but I know God is doing something big!

http://creationsbysky.weebly.com/

Make sure to look at the about page so you can see her bio.
Feel free to comment, share, and leave words of encouragement. I’m sure it would really bless her.

Father, we thank You that You give us purpose even before we are formed. We thank You for our children’s gifts and the unique calling that You have placed on their lives. Forgive us for despising their youth and not letting them do what You have called them to do because of their age. Help us monitor their maturity and train them to be examples of Your Word. Show us how to sharpen their gifts and be obedient to the Holy Spirit. We want them to experience You for themselves. Give them a life changing encounter that will set them on the path to greatness. Do it for Your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

http://creationsbysky.weebly.com/

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Keep Praying!

8/24/2016

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There are times in our journey through parenthood (and life in general), when we honestly just don’t know what to do. Life can be overwhelming with unsuspecting circumstances, setbacks, and emotions. Sometimes even when we know all the right things to say and do biblically, nothing seems to work. We can’t lose hope and give up. We still must stand on God’s promises.

God wants even more than us for our children to be obedient, successful, prosperous beings growing into their call and purpose. Most of us adults are still trying to work all of that out, so we can’t expect our children to get there just because we say so.

The devil is hovering and lurking for a place of weakness so that he may come in and try to derail them from their path of destiny and steal their God given identity. They have many challenges before them that stem from education, peers, trauma, and even dysfunction in our own households.

Some issues are simple cause and effect. For example, if they keep hurting themselves walking into a wall because they are not paying attention, eventually they will catch the revelation that if they pay attention they can avoid this pain. Some issues are more complicated and deeply rooted. Their response to issues are filtered through walls that may have been created by rejection, disappointment, fear, abandonment, word curses, generational curses, and so on. These situations are soul issues that need to be dealt with at the root and are sometimes hard to pinpoint because the effects might not show up until years later.

Sometimes there is no punishment or correction that will resolve these issues. The only answer is prayer! God is a God of deliverance and healing and only He knows the inward part of man and can deal directly with their heart. Sometimes we can preach, teach, minister, testify, and discipline our children, but they seem to be being pushed further away from everything we have taught them. We can’t give up! We must do everything that we know how to do and keep doing it. We must continue to pray even though it seems to be having no or little affect.

Some things have taken years to develop in their souls and has to go through a process to get delivered. Prayer and deliverance is like exercising and eating healthy. We want to do better, but don’t see immediate results. First we see the adverse effects like fatigue, dehydration, digestive changes, hair issues, etc. This causes some discouragement, but if we keep pressing, soon we will feel better, look better, and function better. The amount of results we see depends on how faithful we are to the new healthy routine. Our prayers put angels to work and moves things in the natural realm to align with things in the spiritual realm. Faith is believing that this is happening, even though we can’t see it. We have to stand and keep pursuing God’s will until we see results. We must be faithful to pray!

We can’t give up on our children. They may or may not be praying for themselves. I am a living witness that the years of my Mother’s prayers kept me from my own foolishness that could have caused me complete destruction and premature death. God honored my mother’s prayers, and He will honor yours too. Keep praying!

Ephesians 6:10-18
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--

Father, we thank You for Your grace and mercy that You freely give. Forgive us for not always showing that same grace and mercy towards our children. Forgive us for giving up and not praying diligently in faith, believing You for results. We know that You are a good Father who delivers His promises. We will withstand evil, even after we have done all to stand. We put on the full armor of God. Give us a new fire to pray for our children. Give us strategy and supernatural knowledge that will help reach the root of any issues causing dysfunction. Help us be gentle and loving to our children even in times of correction. We want them to prosper even as their soul prospers. Help them become everything that You have called them to be. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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Are You Stuck In Kindergarten?

8/17/2016

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This has already been an interesting week with my children. One entered her Junior year in High School (new school), one entered 8th grade (new school), and one entered kindergarten (1st year ever)! I’m excited about this year because we moved so that they may be in a better school district, but I am also concerned about them entering into a new environment and culture (mommy issues). The great thing about children is that they are super resilient and pliable. They will make new friends and adjust according to the new standard. They will do what it takes to get through the year and on to the next level.

When it comes to our children, usually they don’t have much of a choice. They have to flow with the rhythm of our life style and adjust to the changing of our seasons. All of our decisions affect them. It is up to us to properly equip and prepare them for what’s ahead.

Children go through transitions and elevations every year with school. They leave one grade and familiar schedule to tackle a new and more rigorous one for the next grade. This made me think about adults and what we do to get to the next level. Are we resilient, flexible, willing to put in the work, change environments, or make new relationships? What happens to us as adults where all of a sudden we resist change? In order to get elevated into a new level, we must be willing to leave the old comfortable schedule. We can’t get promoted without successfully completing our assignments and following instructions. We can’t become unteachable or opposed to learning new things or different strategies.

2 Timothy 2:15(KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I have found that every time I think I know something, God brings me to a new place of revelation that gives me understanding beyond what I have perceived before. He shows me things from a new perspective that widens my view and understanding of the matter. We cannot limit God to what we first knew. What if our children stopped learning in kindergarten? They would be immature and not ready to be productive in the “real adult world”. I think as Christians sometimes we get stuck in Kindergarten with our beliefs. We don’t let God graduate us into a new level of understanding and maturity. This makes it impossible to fulfill our great commission of going to make disciples. We have to be mature before we can train someone else. We have to spend enough time with Jesus in order to impart His character into another.

So while your children are out learning new levels of math, reading, science, etc. this school year. I encourage you to ask the Father what to study to advance to the next level. Ask God to make you pliable and open for new things. Ask Him to make you resilient to the obstacles placed before your advancement. It’s time to graduate and mature. We need to make disciples! People need to see our love and our fruit. The fire and the glory of God need to present in our lives matched by a PHD level of maturity. Lord take us to school!

Father, we thank you that You are a God of increase and promotion. Forgive us for wanting to advance without putting in the work. Open our eyes to see from different angles. Open our ears to hear what the spirit of the Lord is saying. Show us what to study and where to go. Release new friendships and opportunities that will grow us in this new season. We want to be mature Christians and not watered down by the world’s views. We want to go and make disciples. We want to be excellent in all that we do so that You may get the glory. We want to be role models that are children can look to as they continue their studies. Help us rightly divide the Word of truth. Make us moldable and teachable in every area that will help our growth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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Satan Clubs In Our Schools?

8/3/2016

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Last week I wrote about bringing God back, and ironically this week there are news reports of Satanists wanting to start after school clubs in selected public schools this year. They are targeting schools that have Christian after school clubs. They say that the children need to know that they have a choice.

Deuteronomy 30:18-20
18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

As humans we all have the freedom to choose. The choice is between life and death, blessing and cursing. Every decision that we make leads to one of these roads. Unfortunately, most children are not mature enough to make the right choice on their own. They are easily influenced by sin because sin feels good to the flesh even though it causes violence against our souls. That’s why it is our jobs to train them up by the Word and principles of God. We have to be very mindful of the people around our children. They will respect opinions of those that have influence over them, such as coaches, teachers, etc. Along with feeding them the Bible, we must also communicate with them about their daily interactions and experiences.

What is most likely to happen in this situation, instead of schools allowing the Satan clubs, they will probably ban any “religious clubs” to avoid any discrimination/freedom of religion lawsuits. The fear of man has replaced the fear of God in our country. It is a sad day when the devil does not even have to disguise himself anymore, but freely walk into our schools, government, and even churches.

Now more than ever, we need to pray for miracles, signs, and wonders. When Moses went to Pharaoh 10 times to ask for him to let God’s people go, God released a plague each time. When the plagues were released, Pharaoh’s magicians “imitated” what God had done to disprove God’s authority. The imitation is never as powerful as the original. God always wins! His power will overcome the tricks of the enemy. Satan loves to use the supernatural to lure God’s children into his worship. Why are Christians afraid to use their supernatural power and authority to manifest God’s power? We can no longer be subtle Christians. We have to be bold walking into the devil’s camp just as he unapologetically comes into ours. Satan CAN’T have our children! We have authority over him and his entire army. Now is the time to use it!

Not sure that you have authority? Not sure of the difference between the originator or the imitator? Here is the answer to both.

1 John 4:2-4
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that[a] Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

There it is. He is greater. I encourage you not to worry, but to use your power and authority against the enemy. Pray, prophesy, declare, decree, lay hands, cast out, heal, deliver, and believe! God wants to do it more than we want Him to. If we open up our mouths, He will fill it. If we stand for righteousness, He will stand with us. Stay focused. Guard your children and live according to His Word.

Father, we thank You for Your Spirit that is powerful in us. Forgive us for not operating in our authority and allowing the enemy to boldly come into our nation. Forgive us for fearing man more than we fear You. Make us doers of Your Word and not hearers only. We want to move in power manifesting miracles, signs, and wonders. Give us courage and boldness. Let us bring Your kingdom to earth everywhere that we go. Help us instill Your Word and principles into our children that they might discern the imitators and recognize the antichrist spirit. We bind up the deceiver and loose Your absolute truth over our nation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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Mommy's Garden

Not Too Young

Keep Praying!

Are You Stuck In Kindergarten?

Satan Clubs In Our Schools?

Bonnie Kay Rimpson

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