Category: Women’s Ministry

Separate

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Leviticus 19:19-20:27

The Israelites were to be a set apart people in Egypt and now they are to be a set apart people in Canaan. God pulled them out of a nation of idol-worshippers, and now He’s sending them into a new nation of idol-worshippers.

God has always been – and will always be – holy. It is His very nature. To be holy, by definition, means to be set apart.

From the beginning of creation God separated. He separated the light from the dark, the water above from the water below, the land from the sea, the day from the night. He made animals of different kinds and He designed the animals to reproduce after their own kinds.

From the beginning of the nation of Israel, God desires His people to be separated from the nations. And when God gave Moses instructions for building the tabernacle, He told Moses to hang a veil to separate the Most Holy Place where the priest would meet with Him. (Exodus 26:33)

Yet, mankind doesn’t like to be separate. We like to mix and mingle. We like to be part of the crowd. We like to fit in.

So God says,

You shall be holy to me,
for I the LORD am holy
and have separated you from the peoples that you should be mine.

Leviticus 20:26 ESV

Heavenly Father, please give us the strength to be separate, to stand out from the crowd. Help us to remember that even when we feel alone, You are with us. Please place like-minded believers into our lives who can encourage us and hold up our arms when we feel weak. We especially pray for our children and other young people who have to learn to swim upstream in a current that wants to pull them down. Make us holy for You, our Creator and Father, are holy. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Genesis 1:4 ESV — And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

Genesis 1:6 ESV — And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”

Genesis 1:14 ESV — And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,”

Exodus 26:33 ESV — And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.

Love God. Love people.

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Leviticus 17:1-19:18

Reading through chapter after chapter of unlawful practices and their consequences can feel irrelevant or confusing, but tucked square in the middle these chapters of Leviticus is this gem:

Love your neighbor as yourself:
I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:18b ESV

What if we read all of Scripture through the lens Leviticus 19:18 – love your neighbor as yourself?

  • Make disciples of every nation. Love your neighbor as yourself.
  • Don’t steal. Love your neighbor as yourself.
  • Speak encouraging words. Love your neighbor as yourself.
  • Don’t lie. Love your neighbor as yourself.
  • Help the poor. Love your neighbor as yourself.
  • Don’t commit adultery. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Do you love God ? Is He your Lord?

Then you will love the people that He made, the people He created in His image.

Heavenly Father, help me to love others the way that You have loved me. Help me to love others as much as I love myself. Help me to do good to others even when they hurt my feelings – because that’s how I want to be treated. Help me to speak the truth and speak it with love. I can’t do it on my own, Lord. Please do it through me. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, Amen.

The Day of Atonement

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Leviticus 16

The Hebrew word “kaphar” (atonement) is used over a dozen times in Leviticus 16. According to Strong’s concordance, kâphar is “a primitive root (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel:—appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile(-liation).”

Kaphar means “to cover” like covered with pitch or covered with hair … Hence to cover one’s sins.

The first time it appears in the Bible is in Genesis 6:14, “Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.”

The Lord is going to appear in the Most Holy Place in a cloud over the Mercy Seat (verse 2) so Aaron and the priests who will follow after him must be covered – with a cloud of incense and with the blood of animals. The people, too, need to have a covering – an atonement – year after year “because of all their sins”. (Leviticus 16:34)

I was reminded of these New Testament passages about covering.

“Blessed are those
whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;”

Romans 4:7 ESV

“Above all,
keep loving one another earnestly,
since love covers a multitude of sins.”

1 Peter 4:8 ESV

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, We all need the blood of Jesus to cover our sins. I pray that when You look at me You see Jesus. I pray that You will see His life shining out of mine. My own good deeds are merely filthy rags, unable to cover my own sin. In my own flesh, I can never approach You, yet by the death of your son I have been made holy. I pray that You would use me to share this good news with others. I pray that I would love others earnestly – remembering that love covers a multitude of sins. In the name of Jesus, my atoning sacrifice, I pray. Amen

A Discharge of Blood: Leviticus 15 meets Luke 8

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Leviticus 15

Yesterday I wrote about the Levitical laws about leprosy and Jesus healing the leper… Now we come to Leviticus 15, the Levitical laws about bodily discharges and menstruation and other discharges of blood. Ugh.

I’ve never been a leper, but I’ve had plenty of times of menstruation over the past thirty-plus years!

First I was reminded of Genesis 31:34-35 which takes on a whole new depth of meaning in light of these laws – which hadn’t yet been given, in writing at least. “Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them. And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods.”

But then I was reminded of the woman who had suffered with a discharge of blood for twelve years. You can read her story in Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8.

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.

Luke 8:43-47 ESV

How lonely she must have been. How desperate for healing. Twelve years is a long, long time. And how terrified she must’ve been that she might get in big trouble for touching the rabbi.

Yet, Jesus was not angry with her for touching Him. Rather He spoke these tender words to her,

“Daughter, your faith
has made you well; go in peace.”

Luke 8:47

Are we tender like that with those who need healing – or do we join in ostracizing them and putting them outside the camp?

Do we go to Jesus and grab hold of the fringe of His garment when we need healing ourselves?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, there are men and women in our midst who need healing. Help us to see their need and respond tenderly to them. Help us to introduce them to Jesus, the only one who can heal them. Father, we all need healing in various areas of our life – healing from bitterness, healing from emotional pain, healing from physical ailments. We come to You, the Great Physician, and lay all of our needs at Your feet. Help us to reach out to You and cling tightly to You. It is in the Almighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Touch the Hem – Sam Cooke

He Touched Me

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Leviticus 11-14

Last Sunday morning, as I was sitting in our church women’s Sunday school class, I was overwhelmed by the deep sense of love and community that I felt from the women gathered there. Earlier that week I had been told that I had a stress fracture in my right foot, and I’d have to use a boot for several weeks until it healed. The women gathered there were all asking about me and listening intently to what I had to say. I found genuinely seen and heard and cared for.

It’s hard to explain, but it’s something I had never experienced before being a part of the body of Christ. These women loved me for just exactly who I was – not some fake, cleaned-up version of myself … but me.

Reading about the Levitical laws for those afflicted with leprosy broke my heart. Listen to these verses and imagine how that must have felt,

“The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.”

Leviticus 13:45-46 ESV

And now imagine this scene between a leprous man and Jesus.

When [Jesus] came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.”

And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:1-3 ESV

He touched him. He could’ve just said the word. He could’ve told him to go wash himself far away in the river … or go roll around in the dust outside the camp … But, no, Jesus touched him. Intentionally.

Jesus didn’t have to worry about becoming unclean. The leprous man’s disease couldn’t contaminate Him – and neither can yours.

Jesus came close to me. He touched me and cleansed me and made me whole. Has He done that for you? He can.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your loving touch and care for me. Thank You for bringing me in from outside the camp, for welcoming me in while I was a stranger, lonely and alone. Thank You for making me a member of Your body, filling me with purpose and meaning and hope for a brighter tomorrow. I pray for the many people in our world who are still living their lives outside the camp. Alone. Please send Christians into their lives to welcome them in and to share the hope of the gospel with them. In the name of Jesus – the Ultimate Welcomer – I pray. Amen.

He Touched Me – Gaither Vocal Band

A Single Whole: The Tabernacle Meets New Jerusalem

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Read Through the Bible in 2 years: Exodus 35:30 – 37:29

  • Why did God lead Moses to list all these details in His Holy, Inspired Word?
  • Why do we need to know all about the curtains and the rods and the clasps and the ark and the table for the bread and the table for the incense?
  • Why do we need all these details about the lampstands and the altar and the basin?

Well, here’s one blessing made more clear by the amount of detail Moses shared:

He made fifty loops on the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set. The loops were opposite one another. And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the other with clasps. So the tabernacle was a single whole.

Exodus 36:12-13 ESV

The tabernacle was made of all these various unique things, things that were donated and constructed by various unique people, yet the tabernacle was a single whole. God wanted all these golden clasps, wooden frames, silver bases, and blue and purple curtains to fit together perfectly to make the tabernacle a single whole.

Unique and United again.

There is one God and there is no other.

The perfect unity of Father-Son-Holy Spirit, One God eternally exists in Three Persons.

There is only one bride of Christ – made of thousands and millions of individual, unique souls coupled together by God’s Holy Spirit and washed in the blood of the One Lamb Jesus Christ to be perfectly one in Him.

The tabernacle was a single whole, made of many parts, and so is the body of Christ. Are you a member of that very special body? If not, what is holding you back?

If so, how then shall you live?

Heavenly Father, Thank You for making me Your bride, for inviting me into this holy union between You, Holy Almighty God, and Your bride. Thank You for the beauty that is found in communing with You. It is a precious, priceless gift of infinite worth. I pray that I would be eager to contribute to the building of this sanctuary – to spend my time, talents, treasures, and testimony for the building up of this body, Your bride. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

“Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed– on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” –

Revelation 21:9-14 ESV

“The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day–and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Revelation 21:19-27 ESV

With Unveiled Face: Exodus 34 meets 2 Corinthians 3

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Exodus 34:1-35:29

“When Moses came down
from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain,
Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.”

Exodus 34:29 ESV

His face was shining, not because he had just married the woman of his dreams, or because he was holding his newborn son, or because he’d successfully led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, but because he had literally been in God’s presence.

I know that my face will not physically shine from my time with the Lord and meeting with Him in glory … but how I wish for my countenance to radiate the joy, peace, and hope that comes from having communed with God that day.

“Do not let your adorning be external–the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear– but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”

1Peter 3:3-4 ESV

“Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.

Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:7-18 ESV

Heavenly Father, May my face radiate Your glory. May my countenance reflect the joy that fills my heart. Let Your glory flow out of me, that people would see YOU when they look at me. To the glory of Your Name we pray. Amen.

What will my Faith Cost Me? Exodus 32 meets Matthew 10

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Exodus 32

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.

And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

Exodus 32:26, 29 ESV

Who is on the throne of my heart – Me? My husband? My children? My parents? or the Lord God?

What do I live for – My own comfort and pleasure? The praise of man? Wealth or fame? or the Lord God?

Like the sons of Levi, I have been ordained for the service of the Lord. I am a member of the Lord’s army. I am a member of the priesthood of believers. What will it cost me – Time wasted scrolling through Facebook? A relationship that is pulling me away from the Lord? Worldly pleasures and pursuits?

Whatever your commitment to Christ might cost you, let me encourage you with this: He is WORTH IT! True joy will never be found in your phone or a plateful of brownies. True appreciation will never come from that sinful relationship. True happiness is only found in the arms and at the feet of Jesus, Your Lord and Your Redeemer.

Heavenly Father, You did not send Your Son to bring peace to the earth, but a sword. There will be division even within our own households. Let me not love my mother or father, my son or daughter, even my closest, dearest friend or husband more than you. Give me strength to take up my cross and follow You. Make me willing to give up my life for You. Help me to know that true joy is found only in Your arms and at Your feet. In the Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Redeemer I pray. Amen.

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.”

Jeremiah 15:16 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Matthew 10:32-39 ESV

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

From Psalm 16
As the Deer by Shane and Shane

God is a Creative God

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Exodus 30-31

This morning I took my youngest two children out for our annual “last day of school” donut breakfast. My youngest son is just finishing up his sophomore year of high school and my daughter just finished her freshman year in college. Where has the time gone? Will you please bear with me for just a moment as I take a trip down memory lane, looking back over 22 years of homeschooling?

My firstborn daughter was born creative … and bossy. Ever since she could speak, she’s been gathering children around her to tell them a story or make a craft or work on a project together.

My second child, a son who was adopted as an infant, has always been super verbal with a fantastic memory for all things movie, TV, sports, and music related. He actually spoke at a younger age than his siblings, despite being adopted from Russia as a six-month-old!

My third child – my little princess – has always been an incredibly thoughtful, caring child. She has a fantastic eye for details. She’s the first one to notice a new haircut or shirt.

My youngest child didn’t start talking until he was almost two-and-a-half, but he loves to learn. He’s my book-smart child, enjoying workbooks and math and school stuff.

If you follow my blog for long enough, you’ll notice several things that I’m especially passionate about with regards to my faith, things that jump out at me again and again as I read through the Scriptures.

  • God’s heart for the nations.
  • God’s perfect timing – that He is a “that very day” kind of God.
  • And God’s purpose for each person that He has uniquely created.

Well, here it is again. God has a unique purpose for Moses – to lead and speak – and He has an equally important, though completely different purpose for Bezalel and Oholiab – to craft the things which God has designed.

“See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you.”

Exodus 31:2-6 ESV

“According to all that
I have commanded you,
they shall do.”

Exodus 31:11b ESV

Once again I am reminded that God has designed each person on earth intentionally. Moses, Bezalel, and Oholiab each have a purpose. Even though their purposes are very different, none of their roles are more or less important than another. If Moses doesn’t keep his end of the deal, then Bezalel and Oholiab won’t know what to do … but if Bezalel and Oholiab don’t implement what Moses says, then the tabernacle won’t get built.

Likewise, my four children have each been created for a special purpose.

Our school system tends to heap praise upon the book-smart kids, while overlooking the kind, thoughtful, detail-oriented ones. Our culture elevates the importance of the extroverted speakers and leaders, forgetting the essential roles of the quiet, hard-working, faithful followers.

Let me wrap up today with this word of encouragement: God has a purpose for each of you and each of your children.

Are you a quiet, creative type with an impeccable attention to detail? Use that gift! You’re an essential part of God’s body. Don’t be ashamed to stay behind the scenes and serve the body!

Are you a bold, leader type with a big-picture vision? Use that gift! You’re an essential part of God’s body. Don’t be ashamed to shine and lead and share!

Don’t be afraid to be
who God created you to be

Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for each of my children. Each of them has been fearfully and wonderfully made, intentionally woven together by Your perfect hand. You make no mistake. You don’t make junk. Help me as a mother to encourage each of my children to pursue their unique callings, not to be ashamed of who You made them to be. Please protect my family from the traps of comparison and favoritism, and help us all to enjoy the beautiful variety of Your creative plans and purposes. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

If you’d like to learn more about God’s creative purposes in making each of His children “Unique and United,” I’d love to share more with you. Listen to part 1 and part 2. If you’re a member of a women’s ministry in your area, I’d love to share with you in person! Check out my “speaking ministry” page to contact me.

Aaron and his Sons

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Exodus 29

Exodus 28, which I read yesterday, begins with these words to Moses. “Bring near to you Aaron, your brother, and his sons with him … Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.”

Today, reading Exodus 29, I noticed that it was not only the priest, Aaron, but also his sons who were to be washed and consecrated in preparation for ministry to the Lord.

  • Aaron and his sons were to lay their hands on the head of the bull. (verse 10)
  • Aaron and his sons were to lay their hands on the heads of each of the rams. (verse 15, 19)
  • Moses was to spread blood on the right ears, thumbs, big toes, and garments of Aaron and his sons. (verse 20-21)
  • Aaron and his sons were to eat the flesh of the ram and the bread. (verse 32)

The Lord knew that the day would come when Aaron would pass into eternity, and He wanted Aaron’s sons to be prepared to carry on the office of priest.

Rather than using this time to talk about how much fathers ought to bring up their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” like Ephesians 6:4 says … How about we talk about how we as women ought to bring up our children to follow the Lord?

Precious sisters, ladies, women of God, are we preparing our children for adulthood – or are we expecting someone else to do it?

Are we discipling our children in the ways of God so they are ready for the day that we are no longer just an arm’s length – or a phone call – away?

Are we looking well to the ways of our own household with the teaching of kindness on our tongues? (Proverbs 31:26-27)

Are we following the examples of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and mother Eunice making sure that our children are well-acquainted with the scriptures from his childhood? (2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15)

Are we being reverent older women, teaching what is good and so training the young women in our lives to love their husbands and children that the word of God may not be reviled? (Titus 2:3-5)

Let’s stop pointing fingers at our husbands and their shortcomings and start seeing our own need for an attitude adjustment. Our sons and daughters need us to train them up in the way they should go. It’s never too late.

Read the Bible with your children before they head to school today. Spend 5 minutes listening to them when they get off the bus today. Let them cook dinner with you today. Pray with them before they go to bed tonight. Start today. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.

“Even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.”

Psalm 71:18

Heavenly Father, being a mother is a hard job. I can’t do it without You, Lord. Please give me the strength and wisdom I need to train up my children in the way that they should go. Help me to lock arms with them and do life side-by-side with them. Make my eyes and ears attentive to their needs. Give me a multi-generational vision, seeing my children as the next generation of leaders. Let me not grow weary of well doing. When my own children are grown with children of their own, help me to train the next generation of young women for Your glory, too. May I know that it’s never too late to do good! In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.