TEACH THE CHILDREN

New Living Translation Psalm 78 A psalm of Asaph. 1 O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, 2 for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past— 3 stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. 4 We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. 5 For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, 6 so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. 7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. 8 Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.

It's something so dear to my heart, it's a broken thing, I haven't allowed myself to really look at it. It sends me into a spiral of grief and I'm scared even now, because it can't be captured here in one musing. It's becoming my focus, how to help correct the problem, and I'm sure it will undo me time and again while simultaneously releasing the balm of heaven. Our children are being stolen. Yes, physically literally, through human trafficking's which is horrible. If you want to help with that specifically you can at Christine Caine's organization A21 (click link). https://www.a21.org And our children are being stolen mentally, emotionally and spiritually one piece at a time. One sound byte at a time they are being lied to methodically and before they even have an opportunity to really live a full life they have been robbed of their innocence and have become fixated upon and dumb-downed on glossy garbage. I am very angry about this. I am so angry, grieved and embarrassed also because I've lived in denial for too long and haven't tried to help, not enough anyway. That is changing now.

Home educating and raising our children was my greatest privilege and the time in my life I felt most fulfilled as a person. To be able to grow within my body, cradle, hold, sculpt and illuminate young minds and hearts is a joy like no other. I can't stop crying as I write these words, because I know God is busting me wide open again...I asked for it...and He is faithful to accomplish His purposes in us, squirmy or not, He will get our attention. He's not afraid.

I have been asking God to show me what my biggest goal should be, as I have too many lesser goals floating around which are keeping me stuck and frustrated. As I go through my lists I see my passion is mostly with helping children, relating and playing with them, teaching them and wanting to spare them the pitfalls that have robbed so many of us. I love singing children's songs, I love shouting and jumping and being silly and leading them to do the same. To be child-like is a blast! There are too many heavy things being put on our children, I want to help lighten their loads, I want to teach them about joy! I want to teach them how to praise God, and I want to help them know the difference between what's true and what's a lie. This is best accomplished, as in learning how to spot counterfeit cash, by studying and handling the real thing over and over and over. I know what's real. Building strong foundations is going to take a lot of patience and strength.

Do you know what many children are listening to today for fun? Do you? You do if you have children and are tuned in at all. But maybe all the earbuds have made us deaf. Parents not wanting to be bothered by their children's audio and vice versa. If yours are grown then it isn't probably on your mind, but it is affecting us all...very soon those little people will be making the decisions for us as we wind down our days. What will those days be like? It's a common dilemma: invest in the future OR live for today. What values are being impressed - like a deep pressing - squeezed into - today's children? I'm going to teach people about this. I'm going to show the problem...and shed light on the consequences that are already playing out. It won't be a surprise...parents already know. What they don't seem to realize is that THEY have the authority and power to affect the very fiber of their childrens' beings. Moreover, it is their God-given responsibility to do so. There are many lies that have been soaked up by the devoted and loving parents and their kids which are already heaping stress and chaos within their homes. Music has proven itself as a fabulous vehicle to help our children develop beautifully. Music not only has the power to sooths the savage beast, it can create a safe space whereby savagery cannot exist. Music is a gift from God and too often we have abused it, taken it for granted, allowed it to create havoc, and given it an altar on which we sacrifice our peace, our ideals and our very lives. (to be continued...)