Tennis Balls and Tennis Racquets

From time to time we are blessed with a guest blog post. Today, please join me in welcoming my ten year old daughter as she blogs about her view of playing tennis. Enjoy!

The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. (Psalm 37:30, NLT)

This is for all the kids out there!

Last night, my family played tennis. I watched as my parents were swinging their racquets. I kept my eye on the ball. I realized kids are like the tennis balls and our parents are like the tennis racquets. 

As I was watching them, I would see the ball about to hit the ground. Then my dad hit the ball over the net and the game went on. In life, kids are like the tennis balls and our parents are like the tennis racquets. When kids are about to stumble, we can always go to our parents. And if we don't want our parents advice, well, we just have to take it! Our parents know best! If they say we can't go to our friends house, then don't go!

If you want good advice, well, go to your parents. Obey Obey Obey!

Father, we pray for Your children. We pray each child (young and old) recognize the blessing of and heed godly counsel. Thank You for placing godly counsel in our path who give us good counsel and teach us right from wrong. We pray a special prayer for all young children right now, in the name of Jesus, we pray their hearts be flooded with light so that they can understand the confident hope You have given. We thank You God, that we are Your sheep. We listen to Your voice, You know us and we follow You. Thank You for eternal life! We are grateful we will never perish; nor, will we ever be snatched out of Your hand!

Ephesians 1:18

John 10:27-29

Going for the Gold!

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6, NKJV)

While watching the 2012 Olympics, I started thinking about how critical training is. Especially training for living life. If we want to live a life surrounded by gold (life in excessive abundance) we must continually engage in training. The sooner we engage, the sooner we can go for the gold!

Today, my nine year old told me about a bible lesson she was taught when she was four years old. She went into very intricate detail about how her teacher used a pumpkin and the significance of the lesson. She also had vivid detail of her teacher and the church we were in at the time. Most significantly, she elaborated on how much her Sunday school teacher loved her. 

I'm not sure what sparked the memory of this particular Sunday school teacher or this lesson. But I certainly enjoyed the look on my child's face and enjoyed listening to every word as she recalled this loving memory. 

Every week, Sunday school teachers prepare lessons, teach the Bible, and love our children. Their ministry is a direct call from God. The impact they are making impacts lives now and for eternity. Not only for children but for families as well. 

Sunday school teachers, keep walking in God's call! Thank you to each and every one of you for helping parents train up our children in the way they should go so they can go for the gold!

My Father's Heart

But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. (Luke 15:20, NKJV)

Mike and I dropped our girls with friends so we could take an inter-island trip. Before we were out of the driveway I said, "No matter who we leave them with, it is always so hard for me to drive away."

I will think about them all day. I will look for something specific to bless each of their hearts. My heart is always turned to them. I will even run, fall on their necks and kiss them!

Our Heavenly Father's heart is always turned to us! Even when we sin against Him and we feel like we are not worthy to be His child He sees us from a great way off and has compassion! (Luke 15:21-24)