What a journey it has been thus far! How have you been coping? We are at an inflection point today. You have encountered quite a bit of information and have had numerous tasks to complete. I am sensing that you need to review a post or two today. You know the one or the ones that resonated but you had not had enough time to do all you could or what was suggested.

God is ever faithful. He is also the God of second chances. If you need clarity in any area, I will only be too willing to serve you. My great joy is being your servant.

Parent’s Prayer

Lord, I am thankful for the children you have given me. You are my Present Help. Help me to look to You consistently for all I need to build children that will last.

I surrender my know-hows for Your wisdom. May I choose to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Master Teacher, teach me to do your will. I am desperate for You.

Cause me to hear joy and gladness and may the bones that have been broken rejoice, amen.

If you have not yet accepted the gift of redemption, that is, you hadn’t had the chance to accept God’s love for you and to serve Him faithfully with all your heart, today is a great day to do so.

Please know that you are loved by Him regardless of your deeds. The truth is that while we were sinners He died for us. He has never demanded that we become better to earn His love.

Jesus in my life has made all the difference.

I am also available to continue the conversation about your salvation. I am an ordained minister of the gospel.

Special thanks

Help me thank our guest blogger, Mrs. Lorraine Rainford, for her contribution yesterday.

Reminders

This book will be released tomorrow. Go ahead and pre-order it now. Thanks. These affirmations can be used by you as well as your children.

Jabneh Christian Academy is now registering for the new term.

Have a productive day.

Auntie Nats

Built to Last

Yesterday we looked at character training as a tool to build children that will last. As was previously stated, there are other important tenets involved in building children that will last.

Today I am sharing my friend with you. She is the contributor/author of today’s article. Please receive Mrs Lorraine Rainford. She desires to see Jamaicans live healthier so that we can live out our pledge to advance the welfare of the whole human race. This desire resulted in her being trained by the Integrative Institute of Nutrition in New York to be an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. Here, she explored different pathways to healthy eating and wellness and is Inspired to help mothers and wives make better food choices for themselves and their families, within the ambit of what is available in our country.

Here she goes!

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”
3 John 1:2‭-‬4 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/3jn.1.2-4.NASB

Being in good health simply means giving the body the key nutrients it needs; the carbohydrates the proteins and the fats in the right amount at the right times.

This also means providing all the essential vitamins and minerals. For growing children- and this also means teens-, these micronutrients are necessary for optimal growth and development.

These essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, protein, B12, help to build strong bones and healthy tissue and muscle and can only be had from food.

A good diet can protect your children from everyday illnesses and improve their ability to retain knowledge. What is more is, it has a striking impact on their health throughout adolescence and adulthood.

Consuming nutritious foods help children and teens grow and develop, to do well academically. It encourages a healthy emotional life; causing them to feel good about themselves.
Foods that are rich in essential nutrients, even help to prevent child and teen issues such as eating disorders, obesity, dental cavities and iron deficiency anemia.

As stewards of these our precious gifts, we need to do our absolute best, with the resources we have, to provide all they need to prosper, in every area of their lives. They cannot do that without good health.

Fruits, vegetables ( including callaloo or other dark green leafy vegetables) WATER, Omega 3 oils, complex carbohydrates like yellow yams, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, corn on the cob, fish caught in the sea and/or rivers should be included in the diet daily.

If as adults, we struggle, to prepare and consume enough of these foods, then our children will too, and they will suffer for it. Experts have said that this is the first generation that will die before their parents. Already we can see more and more children that are obese or overweight, that are diabetic and hypertensive. Children with acid reflux who lack fibre and who miss meals regularly.

A steady diet of sugar laden drinks and packaged foods and hormone-fed protein, will compromise your child’s immune system and can predispose him to being labelled hyperactive or cause her to suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). This kind of diet can also lead to our daughters experiencing irregular periods and an inability to get pregnant when that time comes.

There is not enough space in this blog to share the unfortunate side effects of a poor diet. But I must mention that the lack of physical exercise compounds a diet lacking in the essential nutrients.

Let us encourage our children to play outside again. Playing football, cricket, “stucky” and climbing trees. Go for walks in your neighbourhood together or access one of the hundreds of exercise videos on YouTube after dinner.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NASB
In this case, teaching children to be discriminate in their food choices from an early age, will put the foundation in place for a body and mind that will always be up to the tasks ahead.

Mrs. Rainford can be reached at lorrainerainfordis@coachlorr.com.jm

Built to Last

Romans 8: 37

” but in all these we more than conquer, through him who loved us;”

You may not be an expert in civil engineering or baking a cake. From the civil engineer to the baker, they want their structures to last. The engineer might choose steel while the baker may choose some form of preservative.

Parents are engineers with the primary responsibility to train up children in the way they should go. In other words, build up children that will last.

It becomes particularly complicated and intricate for the parent engineer since the building plan is not static, rather, it changes drastically every few months and demands different approaches and reliance on the Chief Architect continuously.

The civil engineer wants his structures to withstand all types of disaster be it natural or man-made. For us parents or caregivers, we want our children to be able to withstand all forms of disasters as well.

There are many aspects to be built to achieve this. Today I want to focus on character building. Unfortunately, our children are not born with impeccable character. They like us were born in sin and shapen in iniquity. We should not undermine the efficacy of character training.

Here is a link to help you with character training.

https://amotherfarfromhome.com/character-training-strength/

Thanks again for your time. We have 21 more days to go. I trust that you have been able to snatch a few moments to do these activities daily.

Auntie Nats @ Jabneh Christian Academy.

Now registering icons for the new school year.

Those Words!

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be misled. “Bad company corrupts good character.” NIV

It is possible to become the company we keep. Therefore, we must be deliberate to choose our company wisely. There are many ways we can be impacted by our associations. However, we want to look at the influence of conversations.

Conversations can impact our belief system, our conduct, the plans for our lives, our need for God and so much more.

There is no place for nonchalance; our children need to be influenced and empowered to choose friends that are not destructive.

We have already looked at training our children to speak words that will build up others. They now need to know what to do when they encounter those who are not so trained and who will use words in an attempt to destroy them.

Let us do this!

1. Proverbs 26:2 reminds us that “curses cannot harm us unless we deserve them. ” Curses we do not deserve will fly away like birds. Having known who they are, our children will be resolute, skillful and discerning. They will not believe all that is said about them or to them from malicious tongues. Of course, we know that even the strongest will need some assistance to process the episodes. We need to be available to hear our children and to have the right responses.

2. Isaiah 54:17 ” No weapon formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.” The tongue is a deadly weapon but the consolation is, it shall not prosper when it comes to us, against our children.

Gather your children and affirm them with these statements.

A. No one will be able to injure you by words and accusations.

B. Should controversy, reproach and accusations arise, you will be able ultimately to convince them of error and by the manifestation of the truth, condemn them.

C. You shall be delivered from the:

1. strife of tongues.

2. threatenings and boasts of the evil one.

C. The wicked shall not prevail against you by violence, nor by pretenses of justice.

D. Your heritage is truth and victory of which you shall not be denied.

AMEN

Thanks again for your time. See you tomorrow.

Tell all your friends that Jabneh Christian Academy is now registering for the school year 2018-2019.

Natasha Francis-Campbell

Auntie Nats

Proverbs 13: 20

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

The verse begins by saying, ” Whoever walks with..” Already there is an intimation of fellowship, relationship, friendship, attachment or companionship.

At most, everyone desires company. Our choice of company may be directed by agreeableness of character and disposition.

Of course, we desire that our children will choose to walk with the wise. Walking with the wise will result in the improvement of conversation, lifestyle practices and moral character.

The ability to choose the companion of the wise rather than that of fools depends greatly on the moral foundation that would have been laid or not laid in our children.

Oh how our nation needs wise children! If we culture wise children, we will reap wise leaders in every sector. We will have a proliferation of wise parents when they procreate.

I do hope that you had the chance to give thought to the possibility of developing your children’s moral vocabulary.

Today is “Read Aloud Day”. How about writing an affirmation for your Children and have them read it aloud.

If you are not into that kind of creativity just now, here is an excerpt from Tanisha Graham’s book – Affirmations for Values & Character Development to be released on Mother’sDay, Sunday, May 13th on Amazon.

NOBILITY

I am noble.

This means: I am upright and decent.

I am a good person.

I take the high road.

My attitude and my conduct are above reproach.

I have pure thoughts about myself and others.

I do not hold on to contaminated or selfish motives.

My intentions are wholesome.

My heart remains pure.

I am appropriate in my conversations and in the way I conduct myself.

I pursue that which is right and fair.

Even in my thoughts, I uphold that which adds value to my fellow human beings.

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Choice Words

Ephesians 4:29 Easy to Read Version

When you talk, don’t say anything bad, but say the good things that people need- whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you.

I’ve been encouraging my icons/students to use their words but also to develop a culture where they will use words to edify others.  We all have words regardless of the size of our vocabulary.  We all, including our children, have words that will tear down and or build up others.

Even without the use of expletives, we can use some really “bad words” that :

• wound and scar for life;
• derail and prevent  individuals from pursuing their purpose and passion
• devalue others
• mislead others
•  are malicious
• are deadly
• inspired by diabolic forces

Today  we will make a conscious, concerted effort to use our words and to train our children to use their words to bring forth:

• life
• deliverance
• healing
• direction
• hope  and 
• inspiration to others

Let us declare

Word, Father, Lord, we come to you in the name of Jesus our Chief Intercessor and Lover of Children. We thank you for our gifts and are confident about your work in their lives because they are taught by you according to Isaiah 54:13.  It is your promise to teach them and that they will enjoy great peace.

From this place of peace will _________ ( call your children by name) produce those words that will bring life and peace to others.  They will say continuously, the good things that people need. They will go out of their way to speak that which will help others to grow stronger.  People will be blessed by what they hear them speak, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Please work with your children to mount this scripture in your environment and live it with your children.  Be their role model.  Speak words of life to them and about others.  Let no evil communication come out of your mouth.

Grace and peace to you.  Thanks again for reading and sharing this.  If you have need of me, I can be reached on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn as Natasha Francis-Campbell ( Auntie Nats) or by email at revdoc4hisglory@gmail.com.

Unwrapping the Gift

Psalm 139:14

I will praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, I know that full well.

I am into the giving of gifts. Are you? I find it quite intriguing. I put effort into ensuring that the receiver of the gift will be challenged ascertaining the content of the gift unless it is unwrapped. Sometimes I want the fun to linger. As a result, I may place a tiny or insignificant item in a huge box. While at other times I might give a very valuable item in a most insignificant manner. Whatever the situation, the gift will need to be unwrapped for the content to be revealed and enjoyed.

Do you remember that our children are special gifts – from God? Unlike me, God will never place anything insignificant or trivial in His gifts to us. The children He has blessed us with are fearfully and wonderfully made. Let us decode that statement. Our gifts from God/ Our children are:

• set apart
• marked out
• distinguished
• marvellous and
• extraordinary

I mean, they are just amazing! As parents, the task is ours to open up our children to allow the treasures inside to evolve. With this in mind, we might need to push harder and go further to harness the treasures. Frustrated and disheartened would be the miner that prefers to see the surface or the crust of the earth. He must with diligence find a way to penetrate the crust of the earth and find his way to the mantle. This would be the similar fate of parents who are unaware of the layers of their children.

Today we will talk with our children face to face rather than declaring things about them in heir absence. Here we go!

• Gather your children
• If you know the meaning of their names go ahead and remind them. Yes, affirm them.
• If you have already begun the process of unwrapping your gifts and have already discovered some gems, highlight them. If this is going to be your first attempt, start with what you see. you could tell them how helpful they are or how you love and appreciate them.
• Affirm their body structure and character.
• Give an extended embrace and pray a quick silent prayer.
• Say the blessing together … “The Lord bless you and keep you…”

Thanks for reading. You and your children are in my prayers today.