Wednesday, February 7, 2024

What's the Value of a CHILD?

 Hello everyone,

  As you may know, Robert and I have 3 children.  Actually we have 20 children but most of them moved to Heaven in the first Trimester of my pregnancies due to miscarriages.  "How could you keep trying?" I have been asked countless times.  "We wanted to love all of the children the Lord gave us for as long as we had them," was my reply every time.  

  Actually, we could have had more living children had we welcomed them in the first 6 years of our marriage.  We truly didn't want children then as we hadn't worked on our childhood abuses and felt that the world was too wicked to expose our children to it. 

  Then the Lord spoke through a friend from our church.  Michelle said "But you and Robert are exactly the kind of people who should have children!  You're so kind and loving!"  That concept opened our mind but we had to wait a year after that to conceive.  

  Then the Lord gave us our daughter, Cora Beth.  Three years later He gave us our son, Andrew Robert.  Five years later He gave us our son, Jacob Austin.  How we cherish our children!!!

  In the midst of all of that excitement, we were trying to figure out why the rest of our children kept dying.  I'd try something that I learned but it wasn't meant to be.   We know that our children are happy living with Jesus though.  We knew it in our heads but not in our hearts until He gave me a miracle.

  It was after my 14th miscarriage and the farm desperately was needing my help.  It was haying season and the cattle needed feed in the upcoming Winter.  So I had said that I could help in the fields even though my heart was once again breakiing with the knowledge that we wouldn't hold this child either.

  So I finished my work in the fields and was driving the tractor back to the farm.  It was a 20 mile trip and I was deep in my grief.  All of a sudden I heard singing and there was no radio in that tractor!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Children's voices were singing "Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning burning burning... Keep me burning til the break of day."  I was enchanted with their harmony and I could tell that they were all from the same family by how their voice quality was similar.

  All of a sudden I heard the Lord say this to me.  "You are listening to your Heavenly children give me praise."  

  I'll never know how I got home.  I was crying so hard.  Yes, grief at the loss of my children from my presence for a time BUT also JOY THAT THEY WERE SO HAPPY!!!

  I have relived that moment thousands of times and every time it brings back that joy even though my fertility is only a memory.  You see, Father wants me to share with those of you who are in the trenches of raising your children, that you are living the best years of your lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

  Yes, I know very well the weight of raising children for the Lord in this wicked time we're living in.  I spent 22 years home schooling my children so that they would have a Godly education!!! Even though it was an immense weight at the time, I thank the Lord for leading us to home schooling as it was an immense privilege to spend those years close to my children!!  As the others died, the living ones became more and more precious with every miscarriage.

  I'm writing to encourage you to TRY to grasp the value of the little lives Father has entrusted to your care.  Try to grasp what it means to them to have a parent who truly loves them.  This week the Lord led me to this song once again.  I share it with the hopes of helping parents, especially mothers, to grasp what you mean to your children.  YOU ARE EVERYTHING TO THEM!!

 Recently I bent over to kiss my grandson, Josiah's, cheek.  He just turned 4 and he wiped off my kiss.  I asked him, "Don't you like Grandma's kisses?"  He shook his head "NO."  When I asked him why, Josiah firmly replied, "Only my Mama can do that!"

  ONLY MY MAMA CAN DO THAT!!  Mamas PLEASE know how endlessly important you are to your little people.  I know that it's a daunting task but God can help you to bring them into His kingdom.  If you don't, who will?  

  Below the video, I'm sharing some Scripture verses to encourage you as you raise your children for the Lord.  You can do it by letting the Lord live in you and lead you continually!  If Robert and I could raise people who love the Lord, while 17 of our children died around us, you can do it too!!

  Thanks for listening.  I pray that you will fall in love with your children; with the Lord who gave them to you; and with LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Dawn

  

  

 Bible Verses on Children

 


Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff on 11/22/2023
Children Bible Verses

Bible Verses about Children - Scriptures for Kids and Parents

In the Bible, God tells us that children are a blessing and a gift! Their spirits are filled with innocence, joy, and laughter. Jesus actually tells us to be like children and to come to Him full of faith and trust. Learn more about what the Bible says about children in this collection of scripture quotes!

The Bible contains various verses that offer guidance and wisdom on children, parenting, and family life.

Top Bible Verses about Children

Proverbs 22:6"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

Psalm 127:3-5"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court."

Ephesians 6:4"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

Proverbs 29:17"Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire."

Deuteronomy 6:6-7"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Mark 10:13-16"People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'"

Colossians 3:21"Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."

Proverbs 17:6"Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children."

1 Timothy 5:8"Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

Matthew 18:2-5"He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"

These verses offer insights into the responsibility of parents, the importance of guiding and nurturing children in faith, and the blessings associated with family.

May these Bible verses about children lift your spirits and remind you of the tender heart that God wants all of His children to have. Share these Scriptures with your own children and help carry on a Godly legacy in the next generation.

Read more Bible verses about the blessing and upbringing of children in the full collection of scripture quotes below:

 Photo credit: © Getty Images/Nadezhda1906

Children Heritage
3 Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.
I Love my Kids!
6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked. Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.”
9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 21:16
15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.
3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
1 Peter 2:2
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.
14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—
3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Honor your father and mother!
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them,
37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
I'm so thankful for my parents!
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Our Family is Dysfunctional??????

 I found out last night that my cousin died last November.  To be fair, I guess he died when I was in the hospital with pancreatitis.  It would not have been good for me to learn such sad news when I was so very ill.  

I don't understand why he's being buried two months later and probably none of my family understands this.  Still it seems odd that no mention of my cousin's death has been made in the past two months by anyone who knew about it.  Are we all sooooo busy that a man's death is irrelevant and forgettable?

The deepness of the dysfunction in my childhood family, and that extended family, has reached out and slapped me in the face once again.  I'm going along just fine, totally in love with the life that Robert and I have built, and then BAM there it is again.  What a sick bunch I was born into!

Well, if you've read here long, you know that I want to present answers to life's problems so that this blog lives up to it's name.  Even a tiny ray of hope is better than none at all!  So I went in search of some good advice for those of you who also are amazed by how a family can be either Heaven on Earth or hell on Earth. 

 For those of you who weren't fortunate enough to have had Heaven on Earth families, while you were growing up, this video is for you.  I just watched it and it is soooo good.  Even though half of my family of origin is dead, the other half is still walking around with me.  We have the memories of all of the crap that went down in our incestuous household.  Here's to us and to you if you need this information.

  Here's to being in charge of our own feelings and knowing that we don't have to act like we like something a family member does just for the sake of "Keeping the peace."  If it's harmful to me, then I must stop it!!  There are several very helpful tools mentioned in this video to do just that!

  Hugs everyone,

  Dawn

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!


We made it through 2023.  God has sustained all of us yet living ones!!!  He took everyone home to Heaven to live with Him forever IF
they gave their lives to Him when their home was on the Earth.  I can only hope that was all of the ones who died.  Why not hope for that?

We had a marvelous New Year's Eve party here.  We had 21 guests and not a one of them complained about us not serving alcohol!!  Robert and I both had alcoholic dads who nigh unto ruined our lives and our marriage so why would we want alcohol in our home EVER?

I digress. It's going to be a hot political year in my country.  With the stolen 2020 election not yet resolved, how can we trust that they won't cheat again in this Presidential election?  We can't so that is why every single conservative MUST get out and vote for President Trump to be restored to his office that was stolen from him!

I am ashamed to say that I learned recently that conservatives and born-again Christians are the LEAST likely to go out and vote.  I guess "We'll pray about it," is their excuse for neglecting their civic duty to pick people who will represent their wishes!  That's probably why our country is falling apart so I'm starting early.  GO OUT AND VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

I found a poem that blessed me as I ponder the responsibilities of the new year ahead of us.  I pray that it will bless you too!!!

Dawn

A New Year's Plan

I tried to think of a clever new phrase—
A slogan to inspire the next 365 days,
A motto to live by this coming New Year,
But the catchy words fell flat to my ear.

And then I heard His still small voice
Saying, "Consider this simple, daily choice:
With each new dawn and close of day
Make new your resolve to trust and obey."

"Don't look back, caught in regret
Or dwell on the sorrow of dreams unmet;
Don't stare forward anchored by fear,
No, live in this moment, for I Am here."

"I am all you need. Everything. I Am.
You are held secure by my strong hand.
Give me this one thing—your all in all;
Into my grace, let yourself fall."

So, at last, I'm ready; I see the way.
It's to daily follow, trust, and obey.
I enter the New Year armed with a plan,
To give Him my everything—all that I am.

--Mary Fairchild

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

BEST possible news

 I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to share my good report from the doctor.  It's taken me a while to recover my strength from the pancreatitis that put me in the hospital for a week in September.

Last Monday Robert and I went to Fargo and I had a procedure called an EUS.  That stands for Esophageal UntraSound.   If you are interested in what I had done, you can look at my preceding post.

This could be a long story but our neighborhood ladies are having our monthly Bible study tea today.  I need to get ready to go so I'll give you the sweetened condensed version.

I DO NOT HAVE PANCREATIC CANCER!!!!

The doctor saw nothing that indicated cancer so he didn't need to do a biopsy at all.  This is terrific news and we are all soooo happy.

The doctor said that the pancreas is a "Wimpy organ" and isn't much interested in healing itself.  He said that a case of pancreatitis like I suffered can take a YEAR for the pancreas to recover from.  A YEAR!!!

He did say that there is a small group of cysts that could be putting pressure on the pancreas.  He said that the largest one is about half the size of when he usually drains them.  The surgeon also said that, to drain them at this size, could REALLY irritate my pancreas.

They need to be watched, though, so he is recommending another MRI in 3 to 4 months.  That's what I'll do then because any one of those tiny to small cysts could turn cancerous in the future.

The best news of all is that Doc M said the color of my pancreas is much healthier than it was in September.  IT IS HEALING!!!  YAY but it is going to take a long time to fully recover.  

This means that the ultra low fat diet the hospital dietician put me on is still a priority and will be for months yet.  My primary doctor encouraged me to explore regions of fat consumption above 30 grams a day.  I tried 38 grams the other day and almost regretted it.  I was able to get the attack stopped with charcoal capsules BUT I learned that it's best to stay as low fat as possible--so I will

In our farm news, the guys finished harvest a couple of weeks ago.  YAY.  We had snow earlier and that stopped things.  I kept praying for warmer weather and IT CAME!  The snow all melted and there was no snow on the ground for over a month so harvesting went easy except for the many combine breakdowns.  sigh.

Well, last week our second Winter started.  See.  This all came in one night.  

Here's a poem I just found about Winter.  I like the part where it says the dead flowers of Summer are seeds hidden under the snow.  YAY

Lots of love,

Dawn


TIMELESS TREASURES


A Winter's portrait, so bountiful,

Nature's gift indeed...

Though lurking are the lifeless flowers

Returned to earth as seed.

All sacred gifts sent unto us

Are made by God's own hands -

And always, they are precious ones

To love just as He plans!

While lilies in the valley rest,

And clad are crystal trees...

A lifeless day revives the soul

Through snowflakes on a breeze.

These heavenly troves to come our way,

So beautiful, big or small...

Will touch our lives through each new day -

God's gifts... they're best of all!

Dianne Cogar


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