October 20 - Sexual Immorality

Next to catastrophic injury, death, and eternal hell, sexual immorality is the most dreaded possibility for our children's lives.  I know that with sexual sin the fullness of God's presence, peace, blessing, and joy is sacrificed.  The price is way too high.  (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)

Maybe the reason why Ms. Omartian places so much weight on the effects of sexual immorality is because of what is forfeited.  This is not to say that our children are not forgiven and God does not extend grace, NO; they are fortunate that He's the God of a second chance (truth be told, so are we).  Nevertheless, when our children forfeit purity for pleasure; he/she does not get the benefit of the fullness of all that God has ordained and set aside for them. 

Although the most visible result of sexual immorality, pregnancy is not the only consequence of this sin.  To name a few; HIV/AIDS, an array of sexually transmitted diseases, lack of desire, too much desire, emotional numbness and distress and lack of commitment.  These days we even have people in Christian leadership being sexually immoral and trying to justify it (see 'Preachers of LA').

If our children are going to stand a chance in this hyper-sexual society; we may need to incorporate some serious prayer and fasting along with unadulterated teaching of God's word.  We can no longer sit back and not talk about sex (on a REAL level), when every other image they see is trying to elicit an arousal from them...and not just heterosexual arousal (yes, I went there!). 

I am praying right now for the young man who will see my daughter as the jewel that she is and before he asks us for her hand, he seeks the approval of her heavenly father.  I'm thanking God right now that He is preparing suitable wives for my sons and that my sons will love their wives the way Christ loved the church. 

We have to be more proactive in our prayers over the sexual immorality of our children because as Ms. Omartian said, "The price is way too high".

September 5 - BOUNDARIES!!!

To live purely within the boundaries of God's law is to find wholeness in the total person.  That wholeness is what holiness is all about.  Children who have a desire for holiness and seek God's enabling power to help them achieve it can never be anything but blessed and fulfilled.  (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)

It used to be that hearing the word "holiness" conjured up images of women wearing skirts to their ankles without any makeup or jewelry (wonder why no stipulations on men come to mind).  However, holiness is not reserved for any particular group of people or denomination; but God has called all of us to be holy...including our children.

If we impart the importance of living holy and acceptable lives in our children, they will not hesitate to seek God's help when the challenges come to remain live pure.  The key is to put holiness in its proper perspective.  Specifically, the boundaries of God's law that we so often view as limiting, many times operate as walls of protection.  Look at it this way; a child could experience life and all that glitters OR a child could live purely and experience His Glory! 

Thank you Heavenly Father for giving us boundaries and laws by which we should live.  Help us to find wholeness in holiness and further realize that abundant life awaits, if we faint not.  We will not overstep our boundaries.  In Jesus name, Amen!