I am pregnant with my 6th CHILD.
Before you say anything.... Yes, we have TV. Yes, we know HOW this happens. No, we are NOT crazy! Yes! We are happy to be a part of God breathing NEW LIFE INTO THE
EARTH!
So... Quiver Full!!!!!!
We have 5 great kids from 4 to 13 years old and one on the way! We love pursuing the Fullness of Life in
Christ and are raising our kiddos to do the same.
Life is busy and crazy yet simple focused and fun! God is always stretching us and increasing
our capacity for greater things.
Grace is our oxygen and understanding seasons is our defense
against weariness!
I love Psalm
127:3-5 (NLT and PT)
Children are God’s Love Gift, they are heaven’s
generous reward!
They are ARROWS in the hands of WARRIORS.
How Joyful is the man whose quiver is full of
them
A Household full of children will not bring
shame on your name but victory when you face your enemies.
Your children will have influence and honor
(city gates)
Children are
God’s Love Gift, they are heaven’s generous reward!
The word –reward in this text strikes me incredibly because reward is something given in recognition of one’s service, effort, or achievement. Wait…. Heaven is REWARDING US???!!! What did I do to deserve this reward? LOL! But in fact I did nothing to earn this great reward; it is simply the gift of being God’s creation- His achievement and an intricate part of His greater master plan. INCREDIBLE!
The word –reward in this text strikes me incredibly because reward is something given in recognition of one’s service, effort, or achievement. Wait…. Heaven is REWARDING US???!!! What did I do to deserve this reward? LOL! But in fact I did nothing to earn this great reward; it is simply the gift of being God’s creation- His achievement and an intricate part of His greater master plan. INCREDIBLE!
They are
ARROWS in the hands of WARRIORS.
I love this so much because arrows have a very direct mission - to hit a bullseye at the center of their target. Arrows must be fashioned and formed and the released into their targeted mission. They are put in the hands of WARRIORS! Not Civilians! It’s about engaging the battle at hand not shrinking back to live a civilian life.
I love this so much because arrows have a very direct mission - to hit a bullseye at the center of their target. Arrows must be fashioned and formed and the released into their targeted mission. They are put in the hands of WARRIORS! Not Civilians! It’s about engaging the battle at hand not shrinking back to live a civilian life.
Welcome to Arrow Crafting 101!
Any arrow to be useful must have a shaft,
fletching (feathers), a nock (the groove at the end of the arrow into which the
bow string fits), and a point. If all of these four are made well, the result
is an effective arrow, beautifully designed for impact. These four qualities
give us four clear goals to pursue as we craft our children. Nearly every issue
or trap our children will encounter can be linked to a young person's need in
one of four areas.
1. The arrow's shaft: identity
The making of a fine arrow begins with the shaft. Obviously, since every other part of the arrow
must attach to the shaft, this part of the arrow is a lot like a child's identity. If a child's self concept is warped—not straight and strong—his flight in life may be wobbly.
The making of a fine arrow begins with the shaft. Obviously, since every other part of the arrow
must attach to the shaft, this part of the arrow is a lot like a child's identity. If a child's self concept is warped—not straight and strong—his flight in life may be wobbly.
2. The arrow's feathers: character
Why do arrows have those feathers at the back end? The feathers or fletching create drag when the arrow is in flight, which keeps the back end of the arrow behind the front end—a pretty important function! It also stabilizes the arrow as it flies to its target. An arrow without good fletching is undependable and dangerous. If an arrow has the right kind of feathers, properly installed, it will fly straight. We think character has the same effect on a child. From Genesis to Revelation, character development is a major theme of God's work in people. And it's one of the major assignments God gives us as parents. Character is how your child responds to authority and life's circumstances. It is "response-ability," and comes as a result of training our children to submit to God and His Word.
Why do arrows have those feathers at the back end? The feathers or fletching create drag when the arrow is in flight, which keeps the back end of the arrow behind the front end—a pretty important function! It also stabilizes the arrow as it flies to its target. An arrow without good fletching is undependable and dangerous. If an arrow has the right kind of feathers, properly installed, it will fly straight. We think character has the same effect on a child. From Genesis to Revelation, character development is a major theme of God's work in people. And it's one of the major assignments God gives us as parents. Character is how your child responds to authority and life's circumstances. It is "response-ability," and comes as a result of training our children to submit to God and His Word.
3.
The arrow's nock: relationships
All of the pent-up power in a bow is of no value if it cannot be effectively transferred. That's why every arrow, at the rear of the shaft, has a small groove that holds the bowstring. This is called the nock. The nock keeps the arrow in place on the string until the power is released. The nock can be compared to the third core ingredient necessary in a child's life: relationships. When someone's life intersects with God and with people, a power transfer occurs. None of us was intended to make a journey through life alone. We need the strength, comfort, encouragement, resources, and power provided by God and others. Try teaching truth without a relationship with your child. It produces rebellion. Similarly, relationships without truth can result in a self-indulgent teen, one who is spoiled. Children also need parents who will build into them the ability to love others. And this training can occur quite naturally in the context of our relationship. The best school to learn about relationships and resolving conflict is in the University of Family, where the professors teach and train their students for more than eighteen years. (This is so practical and gives an incredible image as I am mothering my 13 year old)
All of the pent-up power in a bow is of no value if it cannot be effectively transferred. That's why every arrow, at the rear of the shaft, has a small groove that holds the bowstring. This is called the nock. The nock keeps the arrow in place on the string until the power is released. The nock can be compared to the third core ingredient necessary in a child's life: relationships. When someone's life intersects with God and with people, a power transfer occurs. None of us was intended to make a journey through life alone. We need the strength, comfort, encouragement, resources, and power provided by God and others. Try teaching truth without a relationship with your child. It produces rebellion. Similarly, relationships without truth can result in a self-indulgent teen, one who is spoiled. Children also need parents who will build into them the ability to love others. And this training can occur quite naturally in the context of our relationship. The best school to learn about relationships and resolving conflict is in the University of Family, where the professors teach and train their students for more than eighteen years. (This is so practical and gives an incredible image as I am mothering my 13 year old)
4.
The arrow's point: mission
Our finely-crafted arrow is nearly complete. Only the front end of the shaft needs a finishing touch—a point.The point of the arrow reminds us of the last essential quality we want to craft in a child: Every person needs a reason to live, a driving passion or calling that provides meaning and impact. This is a person's mission.
Adapted from Dennis and Barbara Rainey's book, Parenting Today's Adolescent,Copyright © 1998 Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Our finely-crafted arrow is nearly complete. Only the front end of the shaft needs a finishing touch—a point.The point of the arrow reminds us of the last essential quality we want to craft in a child: Every person needs a reason to live, a driving passion or calling that provides meaning and impact. This is a person's mission.
Adapted from Dennis and Barbara Rainey's book, Parenting Today's Adolescent,Copyright © 1998 Thomas Nelson Publishers.
How Joyful is the man who's quiver is full of them- This is a life of JOY!
A Household
full of children will not bring shame on your name but victory when you face
your enemies.
When the enemies of life show up, it has been my children that have been a great part of showing me the purity of God’s power that overcomes darkness. Kaden, my 2nd born, whose name means "warrior", was with me in the womb when I learned the life-transforming supernatural power found in the Prayer of Warfare. I truly became a warrior, He warred with me and we saw our family restored. It was one of our greatest victories! The power of agreement we shared in the womb we still walk in today, and we are living from one victory to the next. It's our Victory Parade!
- In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade- 2 Cor 2:14 MSG.
When the enemies of life show up, it has been my children that have been a great part of showing me the purity of God’s power that overcomes darkness. Kaden, my 2nd born, whose name means "warrior", was with me in the womb when I learned the life-transforming supernatural power found in the Prayer of Warfare. I truly became a warrior, He warred with me and we saw our family restored. It was one of our greatest victories! The power of agreement we shared in the womb we still walk in today, and we are living from one victory to the next. It's our Victory Parade!
-
Your children will have influence and honor (city gates)
Our children were meant
to impact the world! They were born for the days that we are living in and they
are equipped to rule and influence the state of mankind in this age. God knew them before they were born and wired
them with a strength and grace for the hour we are living in! No, it is not an overstatement to say we are raising WORLD
CHANGERS! Lord let us learn the balance
of being a safe place & refuge for our children but not sheltering them from
the world they are called to impact! We reject the temptation to fear the world we live in and rise up as WARRIORS in this age with ARROWS in our quiver!
Father Make us like you! Teach us by Your spirit to fashion and form
arrows that will hit a bullseye into the mission of the Nations!
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