First day of school

It's that time of year again. Our summer has come to an end and it is time to focus our attention on education. All learning does not stop in the summer, but we do have much less structure and all of the subjects are not covered. Caleb loves to read and memorize God's word. He can often be found lying on the floor with a book in his hands. Anastasia started back to school on Monday, so that was also Caleb's first day of second grade. It is hard to believe that he is that old. Time goes by much too quickly. It is my prayer for my children that we would raise them to have "a different spirit" then the world. In Numbers we read,"But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it."(Numbers 14:24) This is Caleb's verse. There are so many thing that vie for our childrens attention. As parents, we need to teach them to love God and serve Him with all of their hearts. Our children should look and sound differently then the world's teachings. It is a hard battle that can not be won overnight. Much prayer is needed and a constant reliance on the true source of life changing power, Jesus Christ. Our young people are leaving the church at an alarming rate. Churches don't need more programs. It's clear that they are not working. We need parents who are willing to love God, no matter what the cost. To live out their daily lives in such a way that it is pleasing to the Lord and our children want to obey with happy hearts. There is always blessing associated with obedience. Likewise, sin is always dealt with by a holy God. It is an overwhelming task to raise children for God's glory. It can not be done without His help. May we strive this school year, to grow in our faith and understanding of God's word. I pray for opportunities to minister to the hurting world around us. Lord, strengthen and uphold us with your righteous right hand.