Integrity: It Pleases God

As we continue to pray for our children, let us not get weary in well doing. Each day is a new struggle and a new battle but remember that we have the Victory in Christ Jesus.
Prayer Focus this week: Integrity- pray that your child or children will walk in integrity.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 25:21; Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs11:3; Proverbs 28:6

The word integrity can be used interchangeable with words like honesty, truth, honor, reliability, uprightness and veracity.  These are virtues that as a mother we want our children to have. Most of us do teach these principles at an early age, however maintaining one’s integrity gets challenged in so many ways in today’s society and hence as mothers we need to pray that our children will stay grounded and not fall into the temptation of compromising their integrity. One person in talking about integrity puts it this way- integrity is deciding to integrate my hearts values into my daily actions. Integrity is one thing that pleases God- 1 Chr. 29:17. In essence a person with integrity is saying “here I am God you can trust and rely on me” Integrity can be demonstrated in so many ways like being willing to fail that math test rather than cheat, working a required 8 hours even when the boss is not in the office. It looks like returning the extra change to the cashier although you could use the money. Integrity is seen when confronted with a wrong-doing, admit to it rather than lie to get out of it. Integrity is seen when we keep our word, show up on time, be at our post, even if no one else is on time.

In His Service,

 

Vilma

Refrain from Weeping

I trust that this weekly in-touch will find you all in good health. Let me take this moment to thank all of you who participated in the call to pray for children in each of the 50 states as well as for children in the various continents.  We have officially come to the end of the calendar but please feel free to keep the prayer torch going. 

For this week I would like to encourage those of you dealing with children who are rebellious.  Dealing with a child who opposes everything you teach or believe in can become frustrating to say the least. It can become so overwhelming that we stop seeing them as gifts from God and instead we see them as “our cross to bear”  Some of us spend sleepless nights worrying about where they are or what they may be doing and in the end we are left with ulcers, high blood pressure and palpitations. In our worry and frustration we forget to use our weapon of prayer, coupled with our faith. As crazy at it may sound, our worry and frustration will not change that rebellious child.  Regardless of how rebellious you think your child is they are not more that God is able to manage. Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? The answer is no.  I do know that it is much easier to say things that it is to actually do them, but give it a try.

Let’s do what Jeremiah says- Jeremiah 31: 16-17 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

That is the word of the Lord your work -raising of your children, your prayer- shall be rewarded, says the LORD, and they -your children- shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope -something you can expect- in your future, says the LORD that your children shall come back to their own border -place of peace, safety and well-being. Don't focus on how bad it is now, instead focus on the promise of the Word and the power of the Lord to bring it to pass. So begin to give him Praise and start to rejoice if you look hard enough you will see them coming down the road- they are coming back!!!

In His Service,

 Vilma

Upcoming Events:

March 1-31st: Healthy lifestyle challenge

March 2nd: Webinar

April 6th: Panel Discussion

May 11th: Mother/Child Breakfast Event

Ask What You Will

 It took me a while, but I finally got it that our attitude determines whether we will have a good week or not. Having a good week does not necessarily mean everything went according to plan, but in spite of the week we refused to let it get us” bent out of shape”.  I thank those of you who from time to time let me know that you are praying for me I truly appreciate your prayers.  Please let us continue praying for our children in the various continents our final continent is South America- do not give up now you are almost there, these children also need our prayers.

As I encourage you to pray for your children, please remember to be honest and specific before God. God knows everything including our thoughts, but he wants us to verbalize our concerns and our requests. Here is what James 4: 2b -3a says: yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss,

God cannot lie, and like most of us do, He does not change His mind after he has spoken or made a promise.  So whatever He has promised is for the taking, it is ours- if you want it.  I realize that it may be difficult to accept this fact but it is true, that is the kind of God that I know, He never changes, and His word remains forever.

Let us look at one of his promise in Psalm 112: 1-2   Praise the LORD.  Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.  His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

The word Fear in this passage means to Reverence. The psalmist is saying that when we have reverential fear for God we are not only fortunate but we find great happiness or joy in doing what he asks us to do. The psalmist points out that our desire to please God makes room for our children to become monumental in the land. He goes on to remind us that the entire generation of the upstanding or righteous will be blessed.

Do you realize that some of the blessings we are walking in at the moment are as a result of the prayers and uprightness of our parents, grandparents or great grandparents?  Mothers as we pray and delight in doing what God requires let us ask Him to manifest the greatness and blessings He has promised our children. Some of these blessings- good health, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, wealth, peace, protection and the list goes on and on.  For me that is God news!!!  What about you?

Beginning next Friday there will be a new look to our weekly e-mails. Coming next month we will have our monthly meeting as a webinar. This will give the opportunity for more people to hear what happens monthly in M-Push. Please put this on your calendar 3/2/2013.

In his Service,

Vilma

Keep Your Rivers Flowing

Can you imagine we are already in the month of February?  The year seems to be going very fast, so make sure you do not procrastinate about the things you need to do, just do it.  I would like you all to join me as I welcome two new additions to our MPUSH family Sydelle Walker and Kenise Kidd. Please pray that these beautiful gifts from God will bring continuous joy to their parents and that they will grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord. Let us continue to pray for our children in the various continents. Tomorrow we end our week praying for children in North America and we look forward to start praying for children in Oceania next week.

For this week I would like to encourage you to keep “the river flowing” within you as well as within your children.  John 7:38 tells us: He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

 What comes to mind when we think of a river? Firstly is that every river has a source, secondly rivers are dynamic they keep flowing, thirdly rivers retain their beauty, and a good river never really ends instead it gets bigger. When I think of a river, I also think of its purposes such as quenching thirst, watering the vegetation around it, as a mode of transportation carrying barges or ships, or simple just adding beauty to the landscape.  

God has placed in each of us rivers of living water and like a natural river, our source is Jesus Christ (He that believeth on me). As Christian mothers we also need to be dynamic and constantly flow. We cannot allow our rivers to become stagnant or like a cistern retaining everything that flows in us. We should instead become channels of blessings to others. As the river serves as a pathway for barges travelling from one port to the next, so should we serve to help carry those who need help to get to their destination.

 At times through neglect we have allowed things to get into our rivers to block the flow and sometimes reduce the size to a stream or even to become completely dried up. I can quickly name a few things that will block our flow, not reading the word of God, not praying, operating in doubt and fear, un-forgiveness, envy. Hanging out with the wrong crowd, and not keeping our mind renewed. My challenge to us is to get rid of all this sludge, and allow our rivers to keep flowing. As it flows just watch and see the changes it will bring in your life. Your children stand to be the primary benefactors to get nourished and blossom and before you know it they will be right there flowing with you.

Our monthly meeting takes place tomorrow at 4pm- 920 Morningdale Dr. Wilmington 19810. Come and be blessed by a dynamic woman of God.

In His Service,

Vilma