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Free Will Again
Roy Monis:
Hi! Eileen
Bobby is so right. You are greatly blessed dear lady, God has been extremely gracious with you by giving you the good sense and ability to bring your daughter up the way you have, she's now a credit to you, I congratulate you on that, and He has rewarded you by giving you a daughter that not only obeys but admires you for your love and guidance. Don't thank us, sister, thank the Person who so abundantly blessed you. Be like the leper who turned and thanked Him for the cure and not like the nine who forgot. "And Jesus answering said, 'Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger?'" (Luke 17:17,18).
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God bless you sister in our joint walk in Christ.
Love in Christ Jesus.
Roy UK
David:
Hi Eileen
I personally don't think we can be proud of how our children turn out.
I have 3 daughters, all IMO and to my recollection raised the same, had the same values and discipline instilled in them as children and young adults. All educated at the same school. One of them aged 21 does not swear, drink or smoke. The other two do drink and smoke, and their language when they are with their "cool" friends leaves a lot to be desired. There's little I can do now other than express my disapproval, they are adults, live in different towns and have their own lives.
I thank God for the fact that the 21 year old didn't choose that path, I don't see that I had any power over it, and any influence I may have had was by the grace of God, not me.
Mark 22:18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?”[g] 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Luke 1:51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
1 Peter 5:5 God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble
I only did a search of the words pride and proud in the NT, and couldn't find one single scripture where those words are a positive characteristic.
Give the glory to God Eilleen.
God bless
David
EKnight:
Hi David,
I understand what you are saying. I have three kids and two of them don't drink or smoke and I am working on the other one. He just got out of rehab and appears to be doing well. In fact, had it not been for him being in trouble, I am pretty sure I would not be here at BT.
However, like some of the other posters here, I agree that my kids were faced with the choices that all teenagers face and by the grace of God, were given the strength to withstand peer pressure. The causes were unbeknownst to them. I think I know the causes, for instance I am very close to my daughter and for years my family kept telling that we were to close and she was too dependent on my husband and I. I refused to listen to them and believe our strong relationship with her influenced her decision making. So it's like the domino effect, God causes or influences our decisions without our even knowing and those decisions in turn effect other decisions and on it goes.
I am always grateful to God for ALL things and for ALL my children. And I recognize his hand in all things, but I have this need to tell my daughter (in order to encourage her to continue) that she is making good decisions. How do I know that if I don't say something to make her feel good about how far she has come, that she would think I don't appreciate her behavior and then start making bad decisions. Even Ray says, that we need to still pray, that God is waiting for us to ask. Maybe pride is the wrong term, maybe appreciate or commending doing what is right is what I really mean.
Thanks for your input.
Eileen
Redbird:
Wow, there is so much going on in this thread that I can relate to. Being the mother of 3 teenage sons who are all considered to be very handsome, athletic, intelligent and kind, I am humbled by what God has done through me. They, being in the world are well aware of their attributes and I ALWAYS TRY TO REMIND THEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THESE GIFTS FROM GOD NOT THRU THEIR OWN DOING AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE THANKFUL AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY. When people comment on what a fine job my husband and I have done so far in raising them, I know I can not take all the credit, as there are many who have had a hand in this; grandparents, teachers, friends, neighbors, coaches, etc. but first and foremost their Creator. :)
And by the way, I drink occasionally and also smoke :-[, but God loves me very much anyway. Go figure!
Peace and Love,
Lisa
Roy Monis:
--- Quote from: Redbird on June 18, 2008, 05:42:28 AM ---Wow, there is so much going on in this thread that I can relate to. Being the mother of 3 teenage sons who are all considered to be very handsome, athletic, intelligent and kind, I am humbled by what God has done through me. They, being in the world are well aware of their attributes and I ALWAYS TRY TO REMIND THEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THESE GIFTS FROM GOD NOT THRU THEIR OWN DOING AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE THANKFUL AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY. When people comment on what a fine job my husband and I have done so far in raising them, I know I can not take all the credit, as there are many who have had a hand in this; grandparents, teachers, friends, neighbors, coaches, etc. but first and foremost their Creator. :)
And by the way, I drink occasionally and also smoke :-[, but God loves me very much anyway. Go figure!
Peace and Love,
Lisa
--- End quote ---
Congratulations Lisa!
On the wonderful job you have done on your children, and your acknowledgment that others had a hand in it including the one bringing up the rear, their Creator. But why did you have to go and spoil it with your boast, "By the way I drink occasionally and smoke....Go figure." There are brothers and sisters on this forum who are trying very hard to kick the addiction and your encouragement is not at all helpful. Be an example to them as you are to your children by kicking the habit yourself and leading a good example or keeping your boast under your hat. I say this in love for your health and everyone else's.
I am not being judgmental but trying to be helpful.
God bless you sister in our joint walk in Christ.
Love in Christ Jesus.
Roy UK
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