This transformed my parenting.....

It's dry around here.

Super dry.

The grass just crunches under your feet and even my shrubs are starting to wither.

We need rain!

(picture taken before our nice little drought)

I love the smell after a good rain.

I love how everything starts to green up immediately after getting a drink.

I love the refreshment rain brings.

So here's my question for you and the question I ask myself a lot!!!! Like a ton!!!

Are my kids budding and flourishing??

Or are they one day just going to wither???

When they're 15 or 18 or 22 are they going to make good choices??

Are they still going to love Jesus when I'm not around to remind them of His love for them???

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I worry about this.

Do you?

I look at this world sometimes and wonder how they'll ever survive.

It's so hard for me to even think about sending Christian to kindergarten. ha!

What am I going to do when it really is time to let go???

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But the Lord has laid this verse on my heart.

Heavy, heavy on my heart.

Truthfully I think about this every day and I just felt like I really needed to share it.

Stick with me here, this is important.

I think it's huge!!

It's transformed my parenting.
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" As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10 & 11

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Okay, let's break it down and figure out what this verse is really saying.

I think it's pretty simple....

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When it rains and snows on the earth it causes plants to bud & flourish.

Yup, we all know that.

Here's the important part.......

God's Word does the same thing in our lives.

It says "So my word" that means the Bible.

"So my word goes out from my mouth" and then what happens???

Oh yippeeeee!!! I love this part!!!!

It says that God's word will not return empty (other translations say "void").

It says that God's word will accomplish & achieve the purpose for which God sent it.

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Are you still there...this is getting a little deep!!!

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That means that when you use God's word (scripture)...

when you speak God's word....

when you use scripture in your parenting....

when you memorize scripture.....

when you speak scripture to your children....

when you think about scripture.......

when you pray scripture........

that God has promised that his Word/scripture will NEVER return to him empty.

That scripture produces results.

Using scripture is always useful, never wasteful, because it ALWAYS accomplishes what God desires!!!

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My words fail so many times.

But God has promised that His words NEVER do.

This is why we memorize scripture in our house, because when I'm not around to remind my kids of God's love for them God's word (that we've memorized and "hidden in their hearts") will still be there transforming their lives.

This is why when I correct/discipline my kids...I use scripture and say thing like...."You need to be using the fruit of the spirit right now. You are in time out because you did not show love and patience. (Gal 5:22)"

This is why when I put my kids to bed I tell them that they are "God's masterpiece (Eph2:10), created in the image of God (Gen1:26)."

This is why we have scriptures on the walls of our house, so that I will see them and meditate on them and one day my kids will too when they can read :)

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Everytime God's word comes out of my mouth, God has promised that it will accomplish HIS purposes!!

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Isn't that so stinkin' exciting??

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Can I make a suggestion??

If you've never memorized scripture with you're kids now is a great time to start.

Start with Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth."

Talk about all the things God created and how they are his most valuable creation because they are the ONLY thing God created in "his image."

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Let me know if you're interested in hearing more about some of the ways we use scripture in our home. I'd LOVE to share, but I also don't want to be all preachy about it.

I definitely don't have this all figured out.

I guess I should be thankful that God gave me a very difficult child so that I would realize that I stink as a parent and completely need HIS help 100% of the time!!!

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So I'm praying for the rain we desperately need

and I'm thanking God for His word that continually transforms my life and my kiddos too!