One of the main roles of a parent is to pray for their children. Our prayers chart the course of their future. Prayer can go where we can’t. We can release the Holy Spirit to be with our children at school, when they are with their friends and anywhere else they may go. Our Job is not to fear our current culture. but to prepare our children to deal with it in power, strength and wisdom. One way we do that is through prayer.
So, here are 10 prayers I pray on a constant basis for my children as I raise them up and send them out into the world as arrows!
1.I declare that you will know God, love Him and serve Him with all your heart.
2.I declare that the plan of God for your life that was ordained while you were in your mother’s womb will manifest and not be delayed, aborted or forfeited!
3.I declare that the hand of God is on your life, He is with you when you awake and when you lay down to sleep. You will never be alone because you are planted in Him.
4,I release the protection of the Lord over you. I declare that no evil shall befall you. May his angels guard you and preserve you all the days of your life.
5.I declare that you will walk in wisdom, courage and strength. You will speak for the weak and fight for those who can not fight for themselves. You are just, kind and honorable.
6.I release the wisdom of the Lord as you select friends and partnerships. I rebuke any plans of the enemy to bring you associations that will cause you harm and despair.
7.I Bless your marriage; I bless your future wife or husband. May they know God and serve Him with all their hearts. May your marriage be a testimony unto the lord,and your children a legacy of God on earth.
8.I declare that you will excel in all you do, you will have extraordinary favor and the blessings of the Lord will always be before you.
9.I declare that you walk in a sound mind, your body is healthy, your spirit is whole, and you have everything you need that concerns you living a Godly life.
10.I declare that you will be resilient and every difficulty you experience will always draw you closer to God.
It is in Jesus name we pray! Amen
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The Christmas season has arrived, and we are so excited to get the Christmas music playing in our home. Christmas music playing in the background is a must after you get your Christmas tree up and decorated.
We wanted to share with you some of our favorite Christmas albums, and at the end of the post an opportunity for you to win your very own Chris Tomlin Christmas album.
- Justin Beiber “ Under the Mistletoe” – This album is an oldie but goodie! I remember the moment my baby sister bought the CD and played it in our families home. I have fond memories of dancing and giggling around the house listening to “Mistletoe & All I want for Christmas”! If you are looking for an album that has an R&B Flare mixed with a lot of Christmas favorites this the album for you!
- Dave Barnes “A December to remember”- Oh, how I enjoy listening to classic songs with a jazzy and contemporary feel! This album is a beautiful culmination of songs written out of a heart of thankfulness and love. Dave Barnes is known for writing at least one or two songs on his albums that reflect his love for his wife! This album he has a few in which he does that. So if you want an album in where you can cuddle up with your husband or wife and enjoy the fire this album is a winner. Im looking forward to playing this album during my late nights with Jamal when Harvest is asleep.
- Pentatonix “Thats Christmas to Me” I absolutely love this group, I remember watching them years back when they were preforming on the Sing Off on ABC. Ive always enjoyed acapella music. This particular band sings all of their music, instruments and all with their voices. Its absolutely amazing! Their new Christmas album for 2015 is solo Great! If you want an album that has a unique sound this album is for you.
- Jackson 5 “Christmas Album” – Now we all know the Jackson 5 and the amazing songs they brought us that we still enjoy to this day. Their Christmas album is a wonderful album filled with their unique and funky sound filled with your all time favorite Christmas songs. I can’t help but dance when I plan this album. Makes me want to gather some of my closest friends and pretend to be the Jackson 5! Ha. If you want a soulful Christmas album this one is for you.
- Chris Tomlin “Adore” – Chris Tomlin is known for bringing the body of Christ multiple contemporary worship songs that we all sing today. His new Christmas project is an album filled with Live Worship Christmas songs. I can’t help but worship God when I listen to this album. If you are looking to draw closer to God during the Holiday season along with singing your favorite Christmas songs this is the album for you!
We loved this album so much, that we are giving a way a free copy to one special winner. If you are interested in being considered to receive the album tell us how this amazing CD will be a blessing to you during this Holiday season.
\This new Christmas album released on October 23, 2015. It features classic Christmas songs with a mix of original Christmas songs. There are special guest performances from Lauren Daigle, All Sons & Daughters, Crowder, and more on this album.
Songs:
1. He Shall Reign Forevermore
2. Adore
3. Midnight Clear (Love Song)
4. Noel featuring Lauren Daigle
5. Hymn Of Joy
6. Silent Night featuring Kristyn Getty
7. What Child Is This? featuring Sons & Daughters
8. It’s Christmas
9. A King Like This
10. Bethlehem
11. A Christmas Alleluia featuring Lauren Daigle & Leslie Jordan of All Sons & Daughters
There seems to be a lot of buzz about being a virgin these days, especially since recording artist Tim Bowman Jr. married his bride Brelyn Freeman, now Bowman.
The buzz does not come from the fact that they got married,but rather because Brelyn, the bride, gave her father a certificate of virginity stating that her hyman was intact and that she was a virgin. Most people are confused as to why she needed to do this, and even more so, why she posted it on social media.
I do not know the girl personally, so I can not tell why for sure, but I can go into some of the biblical significance of your virginity, and why it was her daddy’s business after all. Before I begin, it is also important to note that it is reported that the groom was also a virgin, which is amazing!
I am very proud of both of them! In a culture full of pressure to conform sexually, it is very rare that couples wait. With that said, let me give some biblical background as to why the bride may have decided to present the certificate to her father publicly:
Duetoronmy 22:13-18( New Life Version)
“13 If a man takes a wife and goes in to her and decides he does not like her, 14 and says that she did sinful acts and puts her to shame before others and says, ‘I took this woman, but when I came near her, I found that she had been with another man,’ 15 then the girl’s father and mother should bring what is needed to prove she has not been with another man to the leaders of the city at the gate. 16 The girl’s father will say to the leaders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man for a wife. But he turned against her. 17 He said she has done sinful acts, saying, “I found that your daughter has been with another man.” But I brought what will prove that my daughter has not been with another man.’ And they will spread the clothing in front of the leaders of the city. 18 Then the leaders of that city will take the man and punish him. 19 They will make him pay a hundred pieces of silver and give it to the girl’s father, because he has put to shame the name of an Israelite girl who has not had a man. She will still be his wife. He cannot divorce her as long as he lives.
So, why a marriage certificate?
1. It is a Form of Protection- Our culture has a hard time grasping this concept because we have diluted the seriousness of marriage. While Jesus came and fulfilled the law, which allows us to be free from the law, there are still some great things within the law that obviously this young lady and her family have chosen to continue to practice.
Presenting a marriage certificate to her father is symbolic to the bloody sheet the Israelite girls gave to their parent’s after the wedding night. If people are freaking out over a certificate, I am not sure what they would do with the bloody sheet.
It was the fathers job to guard the daughters purity and heart. Could it be possible that Brelyn was thanking her father for the great job he had done in helping protect her purity and her heart? In the passage I shared, the father used the bloody sheet to confirm that her daughter was for sure a virgin. The medical examination was this young ladies confirmation.
2. It is a Sign of Honor- Both men and women are encouraged to keep their bodies for their spouse. For women in the old testament, it brought honor to her family. It was a shameful thing for a woman to be running around sleeping with whoever she wanted.
There was honor in waiting and keeping herself pure. A woman being pure was not just for her sake, but it was a sign that the family raised her well, thus she was suitable for the best man possible. Men were expected to be pure as well, and there were consequences for their promiscuity too. However, because the bride was being given away, it brought honor to the father to know he was giving his daughter away as a virgin. Perhaps Brelyn felt like it would be good to honor her family publicly for encouraging her and teaching her to keep herself pure before marriage. Maybe she wanted to honor and gift her father with this certificate. Remember, in the old testament the women gave her parents her bloody sheet!
3. It is a public decree of devotion- In the passage we read when a man tried to put away a woman dishonorably, it was done publicly. Everyone gathered in the town square to hash the matter out. Marriage was not just between the man and the woman, the whole community was involved. Perhaps this is why we have seen moral decay in our own culture, marriage is no longer communal.
I come from an African culture where marriage is still very much communal. Everyone is invested in the marriage, and everyone works hard to make sure it works. If the shaming was public, why could the celebration of purity not be public as well? Could it be that Brelyn wanted to make a public declaration of God’s faithfulness in keeping her?
As I have mentioned, I do not know the young lady, nor her reasons behind her choice. But, based upon my understanding of marriage and the biblical culture, maybe these are some of the reasons she chose to share it with both her father and the public.
Before I finish, I want to share some other practical reasons for all singles to preserve their virginity and celebrate it with joy their wedding night:
1.Spiritual Protection– Sex outside of marriage is a sin; sin opens doors to the enemy. There are certain things in our lives which we can not break through and certain promises we can not attain if we are in sin and open rebellion. it is as simple as that. Sin keeps us from God and His promises.
2. Emotional Protection- God created sex to bond people together; waiting keeps you from becoming entangled with the wrong person emotionally.
3. Physical Protection– Sex can take a toll on the body outside of marriage. Waiting protects you from unwanted sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy before marriage.
4. Guards against heartbreak- Breakups are hard enough, but often much harder if you have been involved sexually with that person. Sex was meant to keep two married people together. God created it as a glue. That’s why divorce is painful and sexual relationships end painfully, God never intended that sexual covenant to be broken.
5. It honors God- You can honor God with your words, or you can honor him with your life. Controlling your sexual appetite is one of the hardest things to do. But, when you can submit yourself to God completely in that area, enriches your intimacy and brings you closer to God.
Here is a thank you video from Brelyn along with the contract she signed with her father years ago. Check it out here under their thank you tab.
Cheers Timothy and Brelyn & good Job!
If there is one thing the enemy hates and does not want you and your spouse to prosper in, is oneness. He came out of communion and unity with the Father when he was cast out of heaven. Our communion and unity with God, and our unity and communion with our spouse, is a constant reminder of something he does not have.
Oneness, unity, and agreement is a powerful tool the lord has given believers. He says wherever two or three are are gathered in His name, He will be there (Matthew 18:20). So, what that means is that anytime you and your spouse are together, and the name of Jesus is on your lips and in your hearts, God is there. Satan hates that! If the presence of God is there, then that means arguing, contention, and fighting will not be. he desires that you be in a constant state of disagreement.
The Bible says “how can two walk together lest they agree? (Amos 3:3). So, you know what the enemy is after, your agreement. He knows that if you do not come into agreement under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit you will walk apart. When you are apart, not just physically, but in belief, in position, and in understanding, the enemy can feed you lies, like he did in the Garden to eve.
Agreement does not necessarily mean thinking the same on every little thing. it means making a conscious decision to walk as one on the big things. Things like:
1.Divorce not being is an option.
2.Always talking through things, instead of holding them in.
3.Always walking in forgiveness.
4.Always Making the marriage a priority, not our own emotions or desires.
5.Having similar goals and views about children and family.
Take time out to create major components of how you will govern your marriage and family, come into agreement with those things, and when the enemy tries to come and bring confusion or lack of focus, quickly get back on the same page!
If you and your spouse are constantly in disagreement or not walking together, try the following things.
1.Praying together daily.
2.Doing a daily devotion.
3.Having sex at least three times a week.
4.Getting counseling.
5.Walking through unresolved issues.
I may not be a parent, but in the past five years of teaching I’ve noticed some tendencies in the majority of my students. I’ve always wondered if parents knew these things about their children. I know that in the midst of busyness and trying to parent your kids as best you can, it’s easy to lose focus on how amazing these children are, and even more so, how amazing they think YOU are. So here is a list of some observations I’ve made about children and how they view their parents (you).
1. They take pride in what you pride yourself on.
I often hear kids say things like, “my mom is good at math so I am too!” or “my dad and I love history.” Sports, music, traveling, etc. – if you love it, chances are pretty good your kid will enjoy them too. If you want your child to have the same successes as you, communicate with them about your strengths, and find interests that you can both share. On the flip side, I want to encourage you to be careful about how you describe your weaknesses. They are very quick to use your struggles to justify struggles they may have. If you notice your child has a similar weakness as you, work on improving it with them, instead of passing it off as ‘just the way you are.’
2. You are their safe place.
Every now and then, kids will get their feelings hurt at recess or they’ll feel sick, nervous, etc. and they will need some extra attention. Not in every instance – but in many – they will want to talk to their mom or dad. You’re usually who they think of first when they feel sad or upset. You provide a comfort for them that very few others have the ability to provide.
3. They act like you!
This may not be a surprise to any, but I am always fascinated when I get to see or talk with parents. Even your most subtle mannerisms are picked up and imitated by your kids.
4. They want to impress you.
I love watching kids’ faces when they hear me, or somebody else, complimenting them to you. Usually they look at you expectantly with a smile, or beaming in a way that says “Yay! I’m making my parents proud!” I have had many students who can’t wait to bring even the most minor assignment home just so they can show you how well they did!
5. The phrase ‘do what I say and not what I do’ doesn’t go very far.
Sure, you can probably find a way to scare them into making certain choices, but the second they are free to make their own decisions, they will do what has been modeled. They’re smart, and very observant! If you want your child to act a certain way, the best way to get them to believe you are serious about it is to act that way yourself.
6. They’re deep.
They like to have conversations about life, the news, God, history, friendships, etc. These topics come up because they want to talk about it, not because I bring them up! See what happens when you ask your kids a deep question. They may be young, but their minds are incredible!
7. They can be taught compassion.
Kids have HUGE hearts. When they start to learn what it feels like to serve other people, they get hooked. Exposing them to opportunities where they can show kindness to others will instill that quality early on, causing them to be the type of person that can change the world!
8. They are loyal to you.
Even if you are a foot shorter than another kid’s dad, your kid will be convinced you will dominate him in a basketball game. Even if you can’t tell a joke worth your life, your child will think you are the funniest. Despite what you can or cannot offer your child, they think you are the coolest adult alive.
9. They can hear you.
They might seem clueless sometimes but they do hear [and oftentimes understand] what you are saying… Enough said 🙂
10. They see the good in you more than you see the good in yourself.
They will relay a ‘funny’ joke you told them. They will choose you when asked to write about their hero. They talk about the times they get to spend with you, not about the times they don’t. They don’t focus on your shortcomings, mistakes, or negative experiences because that’s not how they see you. Even in those moments you feel like you have failed them, your kids still think the world of you. So have grace for yourself, and continue to love your kids and parent them as best as you know how. Chances are pretty good that you’re doing a better job than you realize!
This one is for the ladies out there, for the mommies and wives. You are called to change the world! I want to take just a few moments to encourage you today to keep going. As I headed to Starbucks to work today after dropping my son to preschool, I thought to myself, I am just a mommy trying to change the world. I, like so many other women, wear many hats. I have the joy of leading a mentorship program and international ministry, directing a consulting and coaching business, and then have the honor of being married to an ambitious amazing man of God and mommy to two of the world’s most delightful children.
Out of everything I do, I have realized that being a mom and a wife in this season are the most important. Don’t get me wrong, it is important I fulfill the call of God on my life, advance my career and make money. But, being a wife and a mother has a great rewards that we often overlook and here are 5 of them:
1. As a wife and a mother– You partner with God in birthing the destinies of your children and the hopes of your spouse. Moms are wired to find treasure in people and propel them.
2. As a mother– You help teach children about who God is; you get to release the legacy of God through your children. You raise arrows that will go and transform nations.
3. As a wife– You have the honor of loving a man, holding his deepest secrets, pains and goals and then turning them into triumphs. Every man just needs one woman to believe in them to change the world, and you have the privilege of doing that as a wife.
4. As a wife and mother– You get to create a place of peace and joy. You can open your home up to those who have no families, who are poor in spirit, and by your decorations, cooking and loving hugs, you can heal hearts.
5. As a wife and mother– You have the gift of femininity, the super power that is fierce yet gentle. You can cut heads off in the spirit through your prayers and disarm the most powerful of men with your smile and hugs. You have been wired to change the world through your gentle touch and wisdom. You are wired for greatness, even if you feel like what you are doing is small. Remember, the little ones diaper you are changing could be the next world leader. The hand you are holding at night could be the greatest revivalist the world has seen.
You are important.
Your work is invaluable.
What you are doing is being recorded in heaven. Cheers!
Although the Bible is very clear in 1 Timothy 6:10, “ The love of money is the root of all evil, it is also clear from Psalm 112:1-3, that “Wealth and riches are for those that fear the Lord”.
It is God’s desire to see His children move in great authority through building and distributing wealth. But, what do you do when you can’t even get out of living paycheck to paycheck?
What do you do when every time you get a financial breakthrough there is another setback waiting on the other side? What do you do when you just feel like your finances are cursed and getting stable is a distant miracle?
You must stand upon God’s Word and pray these things through. It is not God’s will for you to live in despair, nor for the poverty mentality to have its way with you. Here are 5 prayers to pray to break financial curses and increase financial blessings over your life.
- Father, I stand upon Philippians 4:19 which states, My God will meet my needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus”. I thank you that I do not have to put trust in my ability to meet my needs, but I put my trust in your ability to effectively work through me.
- Father, I stand upon Psalm 34:10 that declares that the lions may grow weak and hungry but those who seek the Lord shall lack no good thing. Lord as I seek your face I am believing that I and my family will lack no good thing.
- Father, I stand upon Proverbs 13:22 that states that a good man leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Father I am believing in you for creative ideas and opportunities to build wealth in order to leave a legacy for my children’s children. Let this be done according to your will.
4. Father, I stand upon Malachi 3:10-12 which states, Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops and the vines in your field will not drop there before it is ripe”
Lord we thank you as we are faithful in paying our tithes that you will not only protect our finances from the evil one, but you will also cause our finances to overflow. We rebuke the devour, and trust that every dollar you have for us is ours.
These prayers are prayers that are infused with the Word of God. Continue to trust God as you journey through the season of testing in your finances. Trust His word and know that He is not a man that He should lie. He will come through for you as obey Him.
In a culture where many people are offended with church or feel like it does not serve them well, research continues to prove that attending church regularly helps people’s marriages and children greatly. Below I will share some of the ways church attendance can be a blessing for you!
1. Church helps create routine- Children thrive on routine and structure. Church helps your whole family develop a weekly routine with something to plan for and look forward to weekly.
2. Church helps create traditions- What keeps a society going are traditions and cultures. When you attend church with your family, certain traditions such as prayer, worship, Christmas and other christian holidays are encouraged and and therefore continue to in your family tradition.
3.Church serves as a support system for your marriage- According to a University of Michigan Study, couples who attend church together tend to have happier marriages. There are several reasons for this including the reasons mentioned above, as well as having a support system to encourage you to keep going when things get tough.
4. Church helps you develop a legacy of God for your family- In a really busy world, attending church helps your family have time to connect with God through prayer, worship and fellowship. Make sure your church has a good kids program where the children are also learning the word of God.
5.Church provides friendships- If you are in a good and healthy church, hopefully there are different groups for men and women. These types of groups help provide an outlet away from your spouse. Couples that have friends and can get away form their spouse from time to time tend to have healthier marriages.
There are countless other benefits of a attending church with your family. It’s not enough just to attend church though, make sure you get involved and plugged into different ministries and be sure to connect your kids with other kids. It will be a blessing for your whole family.
Marriage is one of the oldest institutions we have on the Earth. The first marriage ever recorded was that of Adam and Eve thousands of years ago at the genesis of man’s existence.
It is from this marriage we learn God’s desire for man not to be alone, but to have a helpmate to help accomplish God’s purpose for their lives.
Fast forward to modern day. People are still getting married even though it may be later in life marriage is still one of the top desires of human’s today. The desire to have someone committed to you, a person to love, and experience the ups and downs of life with.
Marriage has evolved greatly, but there are some things that haven’t changed at all and that is God’s purpose for marriage. Marriage is very important to God or He wouldn’t have created it.
But, it is very easy to forget why He created in the first place. If you look closely at Genesis 1:27, “and God said to them be fruitful and multiply, and fill the Earth, and subdue it;”
God gives man this command to be fruitful and multiply well before he created Eve in Genesis chapter 2. It was later after creating Adam and giving Him this command that He realized in order for Adam to fulfill this command to be fruitful and multiply He would need to have a “helpmate” to accomplish this grand task.
Later we find God speaking in the book of Malachi where he makes his top purpose for marriage very clear.
Malachi 2:15, “Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does God want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.
This was God’s original purpose for marriage that from two people falling in love and committing to help, love, and support one another through the journey of life that one thing would come as a result and that is GODLY CHILDREN!
Godly children not only are a blessing to the parents, but they are also a blessing to our World.
Godly children eventually become Godly leaders, Godly business owners, Godly educators, and much more. Our children are the leaders of tomorrow. It is through raising our children to honor and love God they will become the answer to the problems in our society.
We learn how much God loves this World from John 3:16, “For God so loved the World that He gave HIS ONLY begotten Son that who ever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. God loves this World and every person in it that much.
So the next time you and your spouse are having a rough patch in your marriage and you question why you got married in the first place just remember what God desires to come forth from your marriage.
My wife and I just had our first child a little over 6 weeks ago, and I can tell you now how much she has changed our world is enough amazing, but the truth is she is here to do much more than that.
She is here to be the answer to the cry of our World at large. It is our responsibility as her parents to raise her up to become the Woman God has destined her to be. It is for this that our marriage is important to God.
Join myself and my wife this Thursday for a ABSOLUTELY FREE WEBINAR where we will be sharing our personal story of how our sex life almost ruined our marriage. It will encourage you and your spouse no matter what season you’re in.
Click here to sign up now!
