#244 - Train Them Up!

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 31:27 - She looks well to how things go in her household and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.

How are you training up your children? Now that Tyler & I are parents, these verses take on a whole new meaning. Train up your child. 

I was "saved" at a young age, according to my parents. I grew up in a Christian home. Like many young people, I definitely had my stage of rebellion. For several years I "left" my so-called Christian upbringing to experience "life." The parties, the relationships, the language.... for a period of time, my life was one that definitely mirrored the world. At the time, there was way to much fun to be had in the world and church did not fit into my new life.

Praise the Lord for a praying mom! Can anybody relate. During the party years of my life, my mom just prayed. She stood on Proverbs 22:6. She stood on the promise that she raised me in a Christian home, she believed God would be faithful to His promise and I would come back to my Christian faith and beliefs. Praise the Lord, I did. In November 1996, I came back and this time it was for good.

Train your child.

It is amazing to watch a 2 year old and the learning curve! Right now Tyler Junior is like a sponge. He is soaking in everything! He is learning things so fast! It may be a new word, a new facial expression, a new skill like putting a puzzle piece in the right spot, but NEW, NEW, NEW! Every day he is learning something new! As I reflect on Proverbs 22:6, I am reminded of my responsibility to Train him up! It is MY responsibility to give him a Christian foundation. It is MY responsibility to teach him the Word. Teach him reverence for God. Teach him how to APPLY the Word to his life. It is MY responsibility through my actions to let him see God through me. So far... as a 2 year old a few of the things he's learned is:

• Prayer. We pray before meals and before bed. We pray for family and friends, and it is often Tyler Junior that reminds us to pray. He even specifically says who he wants to pray for. The amazing thing most recently was a time we were praying for daddy. Tyler had a 2:00 appointment with a very important, potential account. He had asked me to pray for him. Well, the day got busy. 2:00 came and 2:00 went. Around 2:12, Tyler Junior (age 2!) said to me, "Mommy, Pray Daddy?" I was shocked! Tyler Jr was not around when Tyler had asked for me to pray for him! We weren't too late! So, at 2:12, we prayed for daddy! We prayed for divine favor in his appointment. We prayed for success and wisdom. Later we found out that the secretary who scheduled the appointment had been let go, and probably right around 2:12, the CEO or COO that Tyler was meeting with was trying to cancel the appointment. (Tyler had driven a few hours, someone had also driven from Charlotte, and someone had driven from Atlanta... so on Tyler's side, much time had been put into this appt and this man was wanting to cancel it!) Well..... Tyler Junior reminded me to pray. The outcome? The man changed his mind. He agreed to meet with Tyler and his associates that came. The meeting was a success! The CEO/COO was happy with what they discussed. They even agreed to schedule a follow-up meeting to go to the next step. PRAYER! FAVOR! Tyler Junior is learning the power of prayer and may not even fully realize it. 
• Applying the Word. As a 2 year old, it has been an often experience that Tyler Jr has gotten hurt. According to the Word, it says in Mark 16:18, Lay hands on the sick and they shall recover! So, when Tyler Junior has a "hurt." He puts his hand on it and says, "Healed!" It's been cute, he saw a freckle on my leg the other day and laid his hand on it and said, "Healed. Healed Mommy!" :) 

He's learning a lot of other things too.... but those are just a few things. 

Train up your child. In the amplified, it even states to train them up in their individual gifting or bent. So literally, feeding their talents. If they are good at music, feeding that. Putting them in activities where that gift can grow. If they are good in drama, helping that gift grow. If they are good in sports, helping that gift grow. But literally, as we are training them, steering them towards their giftings. 

So... how are you doing? How is your training going? 

• Verbally? Are you training them up in the Word? Are they learning the Word and how to apply it?
• Actions? What do your actions say to your children? Do they reflect the Word? 
• Time? Do your children learn from you by the TIME you spend in the Word? With your Father?
• Example? Do you choose to be a house of prayer? Praying before meal? At bed time? Throughout the day? For friends, family, business associates?
• Conversation? Is conversation that your children hear edifying? Does it build up? Encourage them and others? Are there seeds of gossip? 

We see the Proverbs 31 woman, as always is leading by example. She is looking to her household. I would anticipate, teaching & educating her children would be included in that verse. She is also watching what she says. Making sure not to allow herself to take part in idle things such as gossip or tearing down others. Through her words, actions, deeds, she is leading her children by example. She is training them up in what to do by what she is doing and what she is not doing. 

We are growing up the next generation of Christians. Our 2 years olds, 5 year olds, 10 year old.... they will be the next group of Government leaders, entrepreneurs, pastors, business men and women. We have a great responsibility to Train Them Up in the WORD! They will be leading our country one day and by how we train them, we are setting a precedent to how they will lead our country! 

Lets train them up well!

#234 - Gifts

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 31:25b - ...she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

Have you ever just looked at your child and thought, "Wow, they would be great at ________when they grow up!" As they develop you begin to see some of their natural giftings towards art or music, sports, interacting with people, making friends, making people laugh, being organized, being funny, being helpful, being good with animals, and the list could go on!

Here in Proverbs 22 verse 6, the amplified version gives us parents a bit more instruction and direction in "training up our children." Not just what we typically think of from the Proverbs as it relates to discipline, but also in steering our children in their giftings. What are they truly good at? As a parent, to me, this is talking about beginning the process of steering Tyler Junior towards where he is shows some natural gifts. Being that he is not even 2 yet, we will continue to introduce him to activities and new things, but as a parent, you begin to see some natural leanings pretty early on. For example.... Tyler Junior is a HAM! He most definitely a people person. Everywhere we go, he is interacting with people, making others laugh, smile, talk to him. He has a way of drawing people to him. Yesterday, we met Tyler for lunch, and as ladies were leaving the restaurant, Tyler Junior was saying directly to them, "Bye bye. Bye!" And then he proceeded to blow them kisses. These three women stopped, talked to us for about 5 minutes, commented on his pretty eyes, and Tyler Jr just "carried on a conversation" with them the best a 22 month old can! That is everyday and everywhere!

His natural bent? His natural gifting? So far, it is something with people. He lights up when he is around people. He loves making friends. As a parent, it's my responsibility to steer him towards his natural giftings. I know a lot of times parents may have a tendency to want to steer their children towards their own unaccomplished goals or dreams. It may or may not be a "natural gifting" of the child, but the parent has regrets for never fulfilling that dream, so they steer their child in that direction. We'd love Tyler Junior to pursue Track & Field when he gets older.... but, we will need to be cautious that we are not just trying to push him to fulfill some of our dreams if it is not his natural, individual gift.  A politician? Maybe! I could definitely see that in Tyler Juniors future.

Check out the Proverbs 31 woman in verse 25. She is rejoicing over the future. She knows that her family, all her children are ready for it. As she has raised them, she has most likely found gifts, talents and abilities that each of them possess. One child's gifts & talents is most likely different from the next child's gifts. As she recognizes her children's talents, she is able to point them out and begin to encourage them in that area. Then each child is not wanting maybe the older brother or sisters gift, because they know they possess a gift that is unique to them. Here would be some examples and ways that we will try to encourage our children (& future children) as we begin to see gifts they possess.

• "Wow Tyler, you make friends so easily! You are so good with people! You may just be the President of the United States one day. Maybe you'll be a politician. Your love for Jesus and ability to be so good with people, our country could really use someone like you. I'm so proud of you."
• "Trinity, you are such an amazing athlete. You are so good at so many sports. You could go on to be an amazing coach one day, or you could go to the Olympics! You are such a great little athlete! I'm so impressed Trin!"
• "Timothy - wow! Your ability to play music is amazing! Your ability to just pick up an instrument and play is such an awesome talent! Your knowledge and desire to learn is also amazing. Tyler Jr could really use someone like you to help him in politics! You two could be an amazing duo!"
• "Taylor. Wow! You have such an amazing talent at dance & art. You are so funny and easy going! What an amazing spirit and gift you have! I can totally see you helping little girls dance, and find joy, and find Jesus!" 

Finding ways to encourage and steer our children is important. The Proverbs 31 mother knows that her children are ready for their future! They have developed their gifts. They KNOW their gifts. As they get older, they are not like the "aimless wandering" high school and college students that don't know what they want to do. The children of this Proverbs 31 mother KNOW their gifts and talents, so their calling is more evident. A light has been shined on their calling and their gifts.

Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.

I encourage you today.... find an area you can encourage your child. What is their gift? What is their natural talent? Can you speak into their life in that area? Can you encourage them with their gift? If you do, when they are old, they will not depart from it! Train them. Teach them. Encourage them. What a world this would be if ALL CHRISTIANS were actually walking in their calling and not just what would pay the bills! Begin today. Encourage your child in their gifts! :)

#222 - Pencil in Your Maker!

Proverbs 22:17-19 (AMP) - Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; ¹⁸For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them. ¹⁹So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even to you.

Proverbs 22:18 (KJV) - Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.¹⁸For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.¹⁹That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

Proverbs 31:11a - The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely... 

Listening for change. We have the ability to LISTEN and by that very act, bring about change, not JUST change but change AND trust. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise. One of the definitions in the Hebrew for ear is: to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation. How many of us could use some divine revelation? I would say that divine revelation would be nice to receive EVERY day! Wouldn't you? Literally, think about your activities and decisions that you make throughout the day, wouldn't a little divine revelation be nice before making that decision? Whether big or small, it sure would be nice to have a little insight from God before making that decision, huh? 


The King James Version continues in verse 18 to say, For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee.   I was very interested to read how the Hebrew defines within. Check this out: belly, womb, body. Maybe this is just a very close concept to me being that I am 34 weeks pregnant, with a baby in my womb. For those of you who have been pregnant, you will know what I'm talking about, but let's just take last night for example. Trinity moved and moved and moved. Almost every move she made, I was aware of it. Her being "present" and "active" was something that I was FULLY aware of. Being in the womb, every kick, every jab, every hick-up does not go unnoticed. Last night I even had to, believe it or not, tell her it was time to go to bed! Mom was going to sleep, so it was time for her to go to sleep too! (She's still working on the obedience thing!) 


Here in Proverbs 22:17-19, it is talking about taking "wisdom," "words of the wise," to that same degree. That they be so embedded inside you that there is no escape from them. You feel the "jab" of wisdom when you are making a decision. From within your belly, as you make that decision, wisdom is SO within you, it's as if a little elbow nudges you in the ribs. WISDOM is present, there is no denying it. WISE WORDS rise up from within your belly. There is no hiding them. They are there. Like a baby in the womb cannot go unnoticed, especially at the latter part of pregnancy, WISDOM for  a Christian is the same. Wisdom is within and comes out in every decision. 

How to get wisdom? There are 2 main ways:

1. The Word of God. - Hiding the Word in your heart. Consistently putting priority on the Word of God. Placing the Word of God, your time reading, meditating and seeking the Lord as the #1 priority in your life. 
2. Association - The power of association is huge. As Proverbs 22:17 says, hear the words of the wise. Placing yourself in environments to learn. Whether it be under the authority and teaching of a man/woman of God (ie: your pastor, a Bible teacher, etc), or friends who prove to be "iron-sharpeners" in your life, as it talks about in Proverbs 27:17. Keeping the Word continually on your heart, in your mind, on your lips, and coming up from you belly! Being around people who the Word rises up from within them. In any given situation, the Word comes out. 

The Outcome?

Proverbs 22: 19 - So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord. 

The Hebrew talks about trust in this verse as: confidence, security, refuge, act of confiding. Refuge. When you think of refuge, you think of safe place, strong tower, safe from harms way. A place where you can go where there is no fear. A place of complete safety. A place of confidence. When we think about it from a decision standpoint, it is a decision made in complete confidence. Not wavering. Fully secure. 

The Proverbs 31 woman epitomizes this. Her husband trusts in her in this same way. He is confident in her. He relies on her. The Hebrew defines it as a bold trust & to feel safe. He does not have any doubt in her. He feels safe in the decisions she makes because she has proven herself to be one that hides the Word in her heart and associates with those who do the same. 

So today... what does that mean for you? Could you take some time to pencil in your Maker? Do you have consistent time with Him? Daily. Does He take 1st priority in your life & calendar? If not, maybe that would be a good place to start. Daily time to put His Word in your heart. Will you pencil in your Maker today?