Girls To Grow - Page 4 of 178 - Nurturing moms in their walk with God

5 Bible Verses To Encourage You in Your Prayer Life

March 13, 2017 by Tracey 4 Comments

Apparently I’m a bit of a slow learner. I turned a 31-day Bible study on prayer into a 2 months-and-1-week marathon. We’ll just say that I took my time going through these verses!

On Friday, I wrapped up that Bible study on prayer. I’d been using this list of verses, writing each day’s verse in my notebook. If I had any thoughts on the verse, I put that down as well. I then read several commentaries on the verse, and wrote down any ideas that I found interesting.

To celebrate the end of that study, I wanted to share five of my favorite Bible verses on prayer and tell how each one encourages me.

Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7

This is my all-time favorite passage about prayer! It tells me that God trades my prayer for His peace. MacLaren says, “If a man does not pray about everything, he will be worried about most things.” Another of my favorite truths is woven into this verse. As Christians, we should live in a constant state of thanksgiving. Gratitude can frame our lives in a way that is pleasing to God and a testimony to others. That right there is a whole ‘nother post!

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ~Romans 8:26

The word “helpeth” means “assists another in carrying a burden.” The Holy Spirit knows we are weak, so He comes alongside us to help carry our burden. What a blessing that is! I often realize that I don’t know exactly how I should pray about a situation. I’m unsure about what to ask for, and recognize that I need wisdom to guide my request. The Holy Spirit, however, knows what I should be asking for. He pleads and advocates with the Father for me.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. ~Hebrews 4:16

I can approach God confidently and tell Him all that is in my heart and on my mind. It’s interesting that we’re told to come boldly before God to ask for two specific things – mercy and grace. Anytime I need inward, spiritual blessings, I know I can ask for them without doubt or fear. Don’t you think that God is sometimes just waiting for us to come and ask Him for mercy in our trial or grace in our sorrow? He wants to give as we ask!

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ~ James 5:16

Charles Spurgeon said, “Prayer moves the hand of Him who moves the world.” Productive, passionate, sincere prayer is wrought by the energy of the Holy Spirit, and is very powerful with God for getting what we desire. I notice that this statement about availing prayer is related here to our praying for others. In the following verses, it’s related to Elijah and his prayer about rain. We can touch God’s heart when we pour ourselves out in prayer for others and in asking for His will to be done.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. ~Matthew 21:22

The emphasis of this passage is faith. This ties in to James 1, where we’re told to “ask in faith, nothing wavering.” Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. We need His help to secure the faith we need as we pray. Will we always get the answer we seek? No. Ellicott says, “Every true prayer involves the submission of what it asks to the divine judgment.” As we pray, we can trust that God will answer every request that is for our good and for His glory.

I’m excited about starting a new Bible study this week! I’m deciding between a couple of different topics, so I’ll be sure to let you know which one I choose in Friday’s newsletter.

What’s your favorite verse about prayer?

Saturday Salutes

March 11, 2017 by Tracey 5 Comments

Misty has 5 Ways to Have Fun Indoors with Your Kids All Winter Long. (I think these ideas work no matter what season we’re in!)

Meredith tells us 9 Uplifting Things to Say to Your Kids Every Day.

Elsie gives us 10 Truths Every Homemaker Needs to Embrace.

Brandi lists 50 Ways to Make Your Child Feel Loved in Their Own Love Language.

Sara shares How to Connect with your Teen.

Favorite podcast this week: My Biggest Problem is Me on Family Life Today. Paul David Tripp talks about selfishness in our marriages. (This is part two of the message, which I enjoyed the most, but you could also check out part one, Ten Thousand Little Moments.)

I took these Sticky Pecan Cinnamon Rolls to our Sunday School class last week. I can’t give you a personal review because I didn’t taste them, but I brought home an empty pan, which is typically a good endorsement for a recipe!

And all in good fun…(though as my dad says, all good humor has a bit of truth in it)…

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Don’t Skip This Crucial Step When Training Your Children

March 9, 2017 by Tracey 4 Comments

Here’s my latest version of “Kids Say the Funniest Things” – and it brought to mind such an important principle for our parenting!

I work with the Kindergarten through Second Grade children at our church on Wednesday nights. Last week, during Bible verse memory time, I had a 6-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy in my group. The girl was studying Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.”

At the top of the page in her Awana book was a picture of a boy with a plate of food in front of him, and some words printed next to the picture describing what the verse was about. Once she had memorized the verse, I asked her to tell me what it meant.

She glanced up at the picture (obviously not reading the words), and said, “Oh, it means, don’t eat your food too fast.” I smiled and said, “No, that’s not what it means.”

The little boy started saying, “I know what it means! I know what it means!” He’s quite smart for his age, so I figured he probably did. I said, “Okay, tell me what the verse means.” He started making stabbing motions toward himself, and said, “It means don’t kill people!”

He obviously mistook the word “murmuring” for “murdering!” After I gently told him that his description was also incorrect, I explained that the verse meant to do everything without whining and complaining. Honestly, I think they had two thoughts – they both liked their interpretations of the verse better, and they also probably understood that they’re guilty of whining and complaining at times (aren’t we all!) What the verse really meant was more convicting than the meanings they had come up with.

This experience reminded me of the importance of explaining God’s Word to our children. While memorizing Scripture is great, how much more valuable it is when our kids learn to apply those verses in their lives.

Our daughters are at the age now where they sometimes hear views that differ from ours. Whether it’s from their friends, at their Christian school, through media, or in other arenas, they are slowly being exposed to a wide range of opinions about what’s right and wrong, how they should act, and what they should believe.

Since they’re 16 and 14, my husband and I are able to actually have discussions with them about these topics. My burden lately is that every time a new question comes up, we will not just share our opinion, but that we will point them straight to the Bible, and share specific verses about why we believe what we believe. Because in the long run – and actually not long from now for our 16-year-old! – she will have to make her own judgments and decisions about what she will and won’t do, and I want her to decide based on God’s Word. It’s not enough for her to say “Well, that’s how I was brought up.” That will fail her at some point. Her convictions need to be based in the truth of God’s Word if she’s going to stand firm.

Over Sunday lunch, a certain movie was the topic of conversation. While we had already decided that it wasn’t going to be viewed by our family, I wanted the girls to think it through, and come to a conclusion about why we should or shouldn’t watch it (even if this particular decision had already been made for them). With teenagers, we are way beyond the point of “Do this/Don’t do this because I said so.” We are on the threshold of our daughters making all their choices on their own, so it’s vital that we point them to the Bible. Part of our training them is to help them learn to think critically and apply what they know from the Bible to every situation.

No matter what age your kids are, get them thinking! Help them understand the Bible, not just regurgitate its facts or spout off verses that they don’t comprehend. If they’re saved, the Holy Spirit can take the Word of God, use it to convict them of wrong, and show them the right way to live.

Truths To Hold On To When Trials Come

March 6, 2017 by Tracey 6 Comments

One thing we all have in common is that we face trials.

A dictionary definition of a trial is “a situation that tests a person’s endurance or forbearance.” Those trying situations differ from one person to another. For example, a trial could be a medical diagnosis, a financial difficulty, or a family problem.

Admittedly, in our humanness, it’s hard to welcome a trial. If there were a sign-up sheet for trials posted in our church each week, I don’t think there would be many names on the list!

Our perspective in a trial can make a huge difference. Do we see our trial as a burden to bear or as an opportunity to grow in our faith? God allows trials in our lives to mature us and to draw us closer to Him. When we fight against those trials, we can’t learn the lessons God wants us to learn.

In the midst of one particular trial we faced in our family, I ran to the book of Job. If ever anyone faced trials, he certainly did! Surely I can learn from his example. And I did.

The following four truths helped me during that time, and continue to guide me when a trial comes into my life.

1. Trust. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him…” ~Job 13:15 God is good, faithful, loving, and just. Whatever comes into my life is for His glory and my good. If my fears cause me to doubt, I should go to God’s Word and claim the promises I need for that moment. I can pray that promise to God, “reminding” Him of what He has said He will do.

2. Praise. “…the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” ~Job 1:21 Circumstances change, but God does not. He is always worthy of our praise. Focusing on God and His character will help me take my eyes off of my problems and turn my thoughts toward Him. Unbelievers won’t understand how we can praise God in the middle of hard times, and our lives can be a testimony to our faith as we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us.

3. Live Righteously. “In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” ~Job 1:22 Going through a trial doesn’t give me an excuse to sin. In spite of all that Job lost, he continued to walk with God. That same God can give me strength to walk through my trials while remaining faithful to God’s Word.

4. Be grateful. “What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?” ~Job 2:10 How many of God’s blessings have I taken for granted? I am so very blessed, and no matter what trial I’m going through, I still have so many things for which to be thankful.

When I don’t acknowledge God’s hand at work in my trials, I act foolishly. Notice the end of Job 1:22, which says that Job didn’t “charge God foolishly.” And in Job 2:10, addressing his wife who has told him to “curse God and die,” Job says, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.” My goal is to be a wise woman, not a foolish one!

I hope I’m learning to honor God in my trials. During the trial that prompted this study of Job, my husband reminded me that this was all part of a bigger plan, to which I replied “I suppose.” He corrected me – and rightly so. Nothing takes God by surprise; He directs our every step.

Job came through his trial with a renewed appreciation for the God He worshiped. He says in Job 42:1, “I know that Thou canst do every thing…” In the same way, we can get a whole new vision of our amazing God as we yield to Him in our trials and allow Him to do His perfect work in us.

Saturday Salutes

March 4, 2017 by Tracey 2 Comments

Lisa shares 22 Marriage Tips Every Newlywed Wife Should Know. (And I’m far from a newlywed wife, but these tips were great reminders for my marriage, too!)

Holley tells us Your Mission Is Wherever Your Are.

Suzy has 6 Quick and Simple Ways to Welcome Spring into Your Home. I’m definitely “home-decor challenged,” but I hope to put a few of these ideas into practice in our house!

I found the ideas in Get Kids Off Technology with the First Five Rule very interesting.

I made this 15 Minute Lemon and Herb Shrimp for supper on Tuesday night, and it was SO good! I could eat this at least once a week…though my family, not so much…

Don’t know if you’ve ever identified with this…

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

What Should We Teach Our Daughters to Look for in a Husband?

March 2, 2017 by Tracey 8 Comments

If we’re going to talk about boy/girl relationships, I’ll tell you a bit of my history.

I didn’t really date in high school. While I found plenty of boys that I liked and that I thought should be interested in me 😉 it was my freshman year of college before I actually started to date. The Christian college I attended had fairly strict rules, so most of my dates were on campus, and consisted of lots of talking, eating meals together, playing games and/or studying in common areas – or going to church services together, which was where my husband and I went on our first date!

Since I now have a daughter in high school, we get to have some fun conversations about boys. I encourage both of our girls to get to know guys as friends while they’re in high school, to use these years to learn what types of personalities work well together, and to begin to understand what attributes might be important to them in a future husband.

When it’s time to get serious about the type of guy they want to marry, there are a few qualities that are key. The neat thing is that this is not a theory I have to explain to our daughters or a lecture they have to sit and listen to me give. I get to point out these qualities in their dad – so he has a major role in helping define what the right guy is going to look like for them!

Here’s a list of nine traits to help them get started as they consider the type of man they want to marry.

1. He’s a Christian. Our girls already know the Bible verse (2 Corinthians 6:14) about not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers, so this needs to be the determining factor before their heart and emotions get involved with a young man.

2. He walks with God. More than just having a salvation testimony, I hope our daughters seek a man who has an authentic relationship with Christ, and who demonstrates that through his words and actions. For example, since going to a local church to worship God and minister with others has been important to our girls, the man they’re getting to know should have the same interests.

The rest of these traits should naturally flow from this one, but we’ll break them down anyway.

3. Character. He has a good moral reputation and is a man of integrity. This is one of the greatest things that my husband models for our girls. He is determined to always do what’s right in a situation to the best of his ability.

4. Kindness. It sounds like such a simple thing, but not every guy is going to be genuinely kind to others.

5. Hard worker. A guy’s work ethic is going to play a very important part in how life goes for their family. He doesn’t have to start out with a great job making lots of money, but he does need to be willing to work hard and to look for opportunities to improve himself. Watch out for laziness!

6. Sense of humor. Life is going to be serious enough; you need someone to laugh with as you go along!

7. Comfortable in his own skin. Not only do you want someone to laugh with, but you want a guy who can laugh at himself. He is who he is, and doesn’t “put on airs” to try to impress other people. A man like this will also be humble enough to ask for forgiveness when he’s done wrong.

8. Not self-centered. I remember one guy that I dated briefly in college. He spent most of the few dates we had talking about himself – specifically telling me what a great soccer player he was. I appreciate that he helped me to see one of the things I didn’t want in a husband, and I’ve already warned my girls about this kind of guy. 🙂

9. Honest. A lifetime relationship of marriage requires trust. Don’t just consider how he interacts with you, but watch how he deals with other people. Is he always looking for a short cut to get things done rather than doing the job thoroughly? Is he totally up front about all the details when he’s conducting business?

I remind my girls that they’re not perfect, and that there’s no perfect guy out there, either! You’re not likely going to find an 18-year-old who has matured in every one of these areas, but he can certainly have a heart that is bent toward God, and be pursuing a life that will glorify Him.

God can give our daughters the wisdom and discernment they need as they begin to develop dating relationships in the coming years. And as for me? I can be on my knees praying!!

6 Ways to Encourage Yourself in the Lord

February 27, 2017 by Tracey 8 Comments

Have you ever seen the television commercial with the famous catchphrase, “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” (I see that Life Alert actually has a registered trademark on those words!) I didn’t realize that a version of that commercial was still running until I saw it again recently.

While a physical fall can definitely be a problem, sometimes we fall down spiritually and have a hard time getting our footing back. Satan’s tool of discouragement can be well-aimed and effective.

Sometimes there are specific circumstances we can point to in our lives that get us down. Other times, we may just have a general feeling of discouragement, and not be able to find any particular reason for it.

In I Samuel 30:6, we are told that David was “greatly distressed…but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” David found himself in a very upsetting situation, but he recognized what he needed to do in order to move forward.

When we find that we’re in a spot where we’ve lost our courage or are lacking hope, let’s follow David’s example and find some ways to encourage ourselves in the Lord. Here are a few ideas to try.

1. Listen to Christ-honoring music. I’ve been neglecting Alexa. One of the reasons I wanted that “toy” for Christmas was so that I could have an easy way to play music as we started our day. Last week I determined to get better about using her! I want to send my family out the door each morning with uplifting music in their ears – and it’s helpful for me, too. Find favorite hymns or other songs of praise, and listen to the words as you work around the house or drive in your car. Or you could find a message from a preacher you enjoy or catch a particular podcast that has an encouraging message.

2. Meditate on a Bible passage of praise. Psalm 27 and Psalm 91 are two of my favorites passages to read when I need encouragement. It may even help to write or type out the words of a Psalm and post them where you can see them throughout the day.

3. Make a list of answered prayer in your life. From the time you were saved up until the present, there are certainly a host of prayers that have been answered. Write down physical needs that were met, but also remember the spiritual needs that have been fulfilled. Read over the list; perhaps even share it with your children, if appropriate.

4. Choose a promise of God to focus on. Are you discouraged because of a financial need? God is the great provider. Think of verses like Philippians 4:19. “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Are you struggling with guilt? I John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, God forgives us. Are you anxious about something? We’re told in I Peter 5:7 to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us.

5. Write a thank-you note. This is another habit that I’ve not kept up with lately, but need to get back to. Think of someone who has positively impacted your life, either recently or in the past, then write and mail them a note that expresses your appreciation.

6. Pray for someone else’s needs. Remembering our family members, friends, or fellow church members who are going through a difficult time gets our eyes off of ourselves. By setting our focus first on Christ and secondly on others, we will often find that we can encourage ourselves in the Lord.

I hope that you’ll find one of these ideas helpful when discouragement tries to get a foothold in your spirit. Can you share some other ways that we might encourage ourselves in the Lord?

Saturday Salutes

February 25, 2017 by Tracey 9 Comments

Marci gives advice on Building Better Communication with Your Teen.

Johanna has Six Ways to Uplift Your Day with Scripture.

Wouldn’t be a Saturday Salutes if I didn’t highlight a post from Elizabeth! This week’s favorite is Ten Things Girl Moms Have to Look Forward To (Really!)

Laura writes about Missing My Babies: 5 Things That Surprise Me Most.

Excited about taking my girls to hear The Piano Guys tonight! My 16-year-old has been looking forward to this for a long time!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

6 Pieces of Advice for a Daughter Who’s Beginning Her Life’s Voyage

February 23, 2017 by Tracey 6 Comments

It’s a feeling I’d have been expecting a few months from now. It should hit when the school year ends, and I realize my oldest daughter is officially a high school junior, and I only have two more years to expect her to come walking in our door every night, going to sleep in that queen-sized bed, leaving socks and pajamas in a pile on the floor every morning.

So to get teary-eyed about my daughter growing up on a random February morning caught me by surprise. Though I’ll admit that I cry a lot more easily these days, and it doesn’t take much to get me all sentimental. But this time a picture did it.

No, it wasn’t the one of her holding the driver’s license she got last week, nor the cute picture she posted on Instagram from her elementary school days. It was a picture of a boat on a lake at sunset.

That picture prompted these thoughts.

It’s like that sweet daughter has spent years here with us, safe in the harbor. Her dad and I have directed where she went and when. We’ve been able to guide and correct that boat to a great degree. Not that there weren’t rough winds and waves splashing up on the shore and rocky paths to navigate together. There were – and I’m sure there are still some more ahead of us.

But before long now, she’ll push away from the dock, set off in her own boat, begin the voyage that will take her out into the life that God has for her. And that little boat will seem so tiny out on that big ocean all by itself. She’ll chart her own course as we watch, sometimes from nearby, sometimes from far away.

So, since I’m an ex-school teacher, and always take the opportunity to slip a little advice her way, I thought I’d have some words of wisdom ready for her as she navigates her way out into the world.

1. Let God be your captain. Pray for His guidance, study His Word, yield to His leading. Nothing is more important. He will always guide you well.

2. Be true to yourself. God made you special. He put dreams and desires in your heart that He meant you to fulfill. Don’t allow other people to dictate who you become or where you go, but follow the course that’s meant for you.

3. Love those God gives you with all your heart. Treasure the relationships you have, whether it’s friends, a husband, children. Be loyal and passionate in loving your people.

4. Be bold and brave in chasing your dreams. Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone, and fight your fears. It’s fitting that we talked about this quote just a few weeks ago.

5. Make time to serve others. Life will be mighty empty if you make it all about yourself. Wherever you are, find a way to bless someone else, to make another person’s life a little easier and a little happier.

6. Live in the present. Don’t think that when you reach that certain port you’ll finally be truly happy. Whether it’s marriage or parenting or that promotion or a ministry opportunity, don’t waste today wishing for tomorrow. In fact, when you look back, you just may see that the actual journey was more fulfilling than the reward.

And I’ll finish by taking that last piece of advice for my own. I’m not going to wish I was back in the preschool phase or the elementary days, nor am I going to waste the next 2 1/2 years dreading her high school graduation. I’m going to wash that school uniform tonight and pack her lunch tomorrow morning and let her drive us down the highway to school – and enjoy today’s moments as they come.

What Sarah Teaches Me About Faith

February 20, 2017 by Tracey 16 Comments

Have you ever noticed that the heroines of some of our favorite books often have glaring faults? Though they are endearing and good at heart, they might be stubborn, have a short temper, or act impulsively.

Think of Laura in Little House on the Prairie, Anne in Anne of Green Gables, or Jo in Little Women. None of them are what we’d consider “perfect,” yet we enjoy reading their stories. Maybe, in one way or another, we see a little bit of ourselves in their imperfections.

We can all identify with flawed characters. God included flawed women in the Bible, and Sarah was one of them.

When we study Sarah’s life, we don’t have to look far to find a shortcoming – one that many of us probably share. Reading the account of Sarah’s life in Genesis, we see her struggling with her faith. Can you relate? I can! Yet Sarah is listed with the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.

So in spite of how she failed – and how I’ve failed in my faith, too – I can learn a few lessons from her.

1. It’s easy to doubt God when I focus on the circumstances instead of on His promises. In Genesis 18:9-15, we read how Sarah laughed when, standing just inside the tent door, she heard the Lord say that she would have a baby. Her immediate thought (and a very logical one) was that the promise she’d just heard couldn’t be fulfilled because of her age. Sarah’s first reaction wasn’t faith, but doubt. Yet God’s response was to remind her that with Him, nothing is impossible. We know that God is able to keep any promise that He makes, no matter how the situation looks to us.

2. Trying to work out God’s plan in my own way never ends well. Here’s where Sarah reminds me of myself at times. She knew that God’s plan was to give Abraham a child. Sarah, though, got tired of waiting for God’s plan to develop, and in Genesis 16:1-6, she took matters into her own hands. She figured out a way for Abraham to have a son. Sarah thought she knew best. But we know how this story ends, with Isaac’s and Ishmael’s descendants still at odds today. Surely there’s a reason there are so many verses in the Bible about waiting on God! When I’m tempted to step ahead of His plan, may I remember what happened with Sarah.

3. It’s the character of the God in Whom I put my faith that’s key. Hebrews 11:11 says,

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.“

Sarah counted Him faithful. She took God at His Word. Faith is not about my working up trust in God inside of myself. It’s about the never-failing God in whom I put my trust, and His Holy Spirit giving me the ability to believe what God says in His Word.

4. Faith won’t always make sense to me. Actually, it wouldn’t be faith if I could make sense of it all, would it? I doubt that all those years of waiting made sense to Sarah. Surely she wondered why a son for Abraham couldn’t have come earlier in their lives. Yet God gave her “strength to receive seed” late in life, after the point where it even seemed possible. We may never understand what God is doing – especially when we don’t see any evidence of His working at all – but He is always in control.

5. Faith leads to God’s blessing. In the end, Sarah gave Abraham a son, in God’s time.

“And Sarah said, ‘God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.’ And she said, ‘Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.'” ~Genesis 21:6-7

What pleasure Sarah must have had in mothering Isaac! Yet the blessings continued well beyond her lifetime. Through the line of Abraham and Sarah’s son, we have all been blessed. The seed that God promised Adam in the Garden of Eden, His Son Jesus, came to earth to win our salvation.

I’m thankful that I have Sarah’s example to encourage me in my own faith. Though doubt will win at times, may I, too, grow in my faith as I judge my God faithful!

Earlier posts in this series:

What Hannah Teaches Me About Prayer
What Mary Teaches Me About Worship
What Ruth Teaches Me About Trusting God
What Mary Teaches Me About Praising God
What Eve Teaches Me About Trusting God