The NO NO War!!

Ok...I knew that when my daughter was born she was going to be strong willed...I just knew...it is as if God spoke into my ear. I also knew and still know that she will have a heart after God...See I think that sometimes I am too difficult with things...but I did not just pick a name for my little one...Jason and I were riding down the road...we had only knew I was pregnant for 1 day and had not told anyone yet. We were already picking out names...we could only come up with one name...Anna Grace....that was it.. I knew at that moment I was pregnant with a girl. I just knew...no way to explain...just knew. Anyway, I loved the name Grace, but did not want her called Grace...So...Anna is mentioned in the Bible only once in Luke 2:36-38. "She served God with fastings and prayers night and day." This is what I want for my daughter..to be so in love with the Father..that she is willing to give all. It doesn't matter what time of day..she is willing to sacrifice for the Father who gave the ultimate sacrifice for her. Then, of course Anna means Grace so her name means GRACE-GRACE!!! At the time...I had not heard the name Anna Grace...now I hear it everywhere I go.
It has been a battle the last few days for sure...she is trying our patience. She loves the NO word at the current moment. We are having to be patient, concistant and firm. It is not always easy, but I know that it is best for her. It is that "sin nature" rising up in her. I know that this too will pass. She loves devotion and prayer time, matter of fact she loves to pray already!!! She loves to dance and worship the Lord. So I know that she is already developing a love for God.
I know that Satan has a plan for us and our little ones. Do you have a plan for your family. What are your spiritual goals? Are you daily working towards seeing those accomplished in your family? Many times we set goals for every other area, but not for our spiritual well being. It is time to rise to the occasion. No one else will look out for us and our families!!!
Moms, I am not an expert..but want to challenge us all...do not grow weary in well doing. When we are facing issues...don't let our patience wear too thin...if we are going to "train our children in the way they should go," we have to explain things to them...we cannot discipline without explanation...why is this wrong? What does God's Word say about this? Are we modeling before them? "More is caught than taught!" The things we do will inturn be the things that our children do. Do we lead a life of devotion and prayer? Do not shut your children out of your relationship with Christ. Let them have prayer time with you...see you reading the Word of God. If they see how much you love to spend time in His presence...they will love it also. It is our job to train them and raise them up to be a generation on fire for God. It is not up to our churches to see this happen. It is the parent's place. So I encourage you to stand in the gap for your children now as never before!!
Yesturday at church we had baby dedication...parent's giving their children back to the Lord..wow...the dance team did a song called "Revolution." ...It speaks of the children raising up and being used of God NOW rather than waiting until they become adults. It was powerful!!! WOW!!! We actually added children to it to make it more realistic to a generation that is being raised up in Christ.