Coach Mom Newsletter - MAR 2013
“There’s absolutely no one God
brings into this life without a plan.”
Charles Stanley
When I heard Charles Stanley say this
the other day, I wondered how many people
might be encouraged with this thought. I
wondered how many people, when they hear
reference to “God’s plan for your life”
immediately dismiss themselves as someone
who is not one of those types of people, or
who is unworthy of God’s time and attention.
The Bible clearly tells us that God has made
each one of us, and has a plan.
“For you
created my inmost being; you knit me
together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully
and wonderfully made; your works are
wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the
depths of the earth, your eyes saw my
unformed body. All the days ordained for me
were written in your book before one of them
came to be.”
Psalm 139:13-16
What benefits come with knowing God has a
plan for your life?
-
You can live with purpose and hope.
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You realize you are created for more
than yourself.
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You feel a sense of being needed,
knowing you are created to contribute
and impact the world.
-
You can let go of the need to control,
and instead rest in God’s sovereignty.
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You can trust God when bad things
happen, knowing He can work them for
good.
-
You understand you are unique and
special to God, and find your identity
in Him.
How can we teach our children that God has a
plan for their lives?
-
Read them Psalm 139:13-16.
-
As you observe strengths in them, speak
it. When you see a commendable quality,
mention it. These things often seem
common and easy to them because they are
gifted. They may not even realize it is
a gift unless it is brought to their
attention.
-
Pray over them every night. You might
not have ever prayed out loud before,
but it will strengthen your relationship
with your child and bless them if you
pray for them. It can be as simple as,
“Thank you, Father, for creating Johnny
and giving him to me as a son. Thank you
for making him a leader, and as he leads
may he always honor and glorify you
throughout his life.”
-
Set up service opportunities for your
child to exercise his/her gifts. My
daughter is gifted to work with people
with special needs, which we identified
when she was in kindergarten. We talk
about how the things she does each day
impact the lives of fellow students she
befriends. We are also looking for an
opportunity for her to serve in the
special needs ministry at our church.
-
Remind them God can use them from an
early age. Teach the stories from the
Bible such as David and Goliath, and the
boy who gave his lunch that Jesus used
to feed 5,000 people. The Bible says,
“Let no one look down on your
youthfulness, but rather in speech,
conduct, love, faith and purity, show
yourself an example of those who
believe” (I Timothy 4:12).
-
Have them take a spiritual gifts
inventory to discover the gifts God has
place in them to serve the body of
Christ.
I try to remind my children regularly that
God has great plans for them, and though we
have no promise that those plans will be
easy, we do have a promise that He will
always be with us to help us through
whatever we face. This battle to live for
God’s purposes and plans is a battle worth
fighting.
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose
for me; your love, O Lord, endures
forever—do not abandon the works of your
hands.”
Psalm 138:8
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The book You Can Do Great Things,
by Michele Steinhauser, helps children
understand God has created them each
uniquely and that they can do great things.
To win the book, forward this email
newsletter to four friends and email
Brenna, with “Great Things” in the
subject line.
 Congratulations
to everyone who participated in the Cupid
Challenge given in February’s newsletter!
Keep in mind we can do this more than just
on Valentine’s Day. Congrats to Nikki
McCutchen and Lisa Copeland, winners of the
book Cleaning House: A Mom’s 12-Month
Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth
Entitlement.
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Please pray for Brenna as she travels to
Africa this month to adopt orphans J & M.
After the adoption is official, they will
wait for the issuing of the children’s visas
and hope to bring them home by the end of
summer.
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For a few pruning tips and reflection on
God’s pruning in the life of a believer, go
to Brenna’s blog:
A Lesson in Pruning.
*Bonus: You won’t believe how Epsom salt can
help your garden.
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