11.11.2013

Faith like a child

Do you believe that children can minister to adults? That God can move a hard heart through the faith of a little one?

I do.

My relationship with Jesus exists because a dear child with a giant-sized faith introduced me to her God (you can read about Sarah & me here. or here. or here.).

And at 7, 6, & 3, my children have all strengthened my heart on days when I didn't feel I could bear much more. I think some people dismiss children as useless and not able to contribute much - but from my experience (and some of the most poignant stories in the Bible!), I've learned that when I'm willing to open my heart and my ears to them they are one of the most precious resources I have for learning, growing, and being built up in my faith.

Below are some of the ways my children have ministered to me, my husband, each other (what a joy!), and to others in their lives. The best way to describe how it feels when one of my girls reaches out to comfort me is, it's like a soul hug. God works through them to calm my soul and anchor my heart on His love and His truths!

Romans 8:28, as drawn by Elizabeth.
This still hangs in the kitchen to remind me daily
that nothing is wasted in God's economy!
Back in May, Will had gone to NY to stay with his mom for a little while. It was a rough couple weeks for me, and Elizabeth was particularly sweet to remind me of the things we had learned about during Bible time and what she'd learned from Miss Diane at Junior Church!

The girls wanted to sing this song for Daddy
while he was away for a period of time earlier this year.

Again, the girls wanted to encourage Daddy with a song they'd been learning - Psalm 1 (courtesy of the Harrow Family's Sing the Word series!)

The big girls & I work on memory verses each week.
Sometimes, Elizabeth writes out the week's verse for Hannah (3)
and teaches it to her.
Do to others as you would have them do to you! -Elizabeth spent a long time writing this out and going over it with Hannah! And now Hannah remembers the verse when her sisters are giving her a hard time. :)


We hosted a 5-Day Club this summer.
At the end of the week, E made this for one of her teachers!

They love to make cards for people, and write out the words to their favorite Bible songs. I know it blesses others when my daughters remember them and reach out to encourage them!

"Mommy, I wrote you a secret message
in my copywork today. Can you find it?"
On this particular morning, I needed both of these messages!

This is a page from E & A penmanship book (Horizons Penmanship from AOP! We love it!)

Elizabeth made this and hung it next to Daddy's computer
"for the days when he forgets this."
It's true. Sometimes, we forget the truths of God's Word. And I am so grateful that the Lord sees fit to minister to me through the hearts and lives of my daughters. 

How have the children in your life ministered to you in difficult times?
Praising God for children,
for His glory!
~Lisha

I may be sharing this post at these amazing Link-up parties!
If this post has encouraged, blessed, or inspired you, please comment, pin it, or share it :)

20 comments:

  1. Lisha, I, too, am amazed at how my girls bless me each day. God truly works through His littlest children to get to His bigger ones :)

    Your daughters are beautiful inside and out. Remember that you have a little hand in their hearts for God, too. Such a beautiful post. I'm sharing on my Facebook page :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Keri! :) I feel like as a mom, God is working in their hearts in spite of me more often than He's working in their hearts through me...I'm floored and baffled by the return on my investment in teaching them what I know about God. It's seriously exponential. No wonder the Lord keeps encouraging us toward child-like faith!

      Thanks for the encouragement, my friend!

      Delete
  2. Thanks so much for sharing with Wednesday’s Adorned From Above Link Party.
    Have a great week.
    Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're so welcome! Thank you for hosting :)

      Delete
  3. So sweet!!!!!!!!

    I've had children minister to me on more than one occasion...they see things simply and without bias.

    Great post! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do see things simply, and it's so refreshing!

      Thank you, Dolly! I hope you have a sweet week!
      ~Lisha

      Delete
  4. That's beautiful. My child teaches me every day. My child, as a gift from God, has made me better. In fact, my child brought me to God. And he loves and cares so openly and fully, something that seems to get harder for adults.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does seem to get harder for us! I think as some grown-ups (like me!!) lose that childlike wonder and the innocence of the younger years, we can become so doubtful and stop taking God at His word - where the little ones just believe it.

      I'm praying that you'll learn from your son for as long as you can. God gives us such an enormous gift by giving us children :) Thank you for visiting, Stephanie!

      ~Lisha :)

      Delete
  5. I cannot believe that I read this post just now. This morning I drove my granddaughter to school. She is 5 yrs. old. I had a worship CD. We had it blaring & we both were singing. But my undoing occurred as she sang out these words, "Hand on my heart, this much is true. There's no life apart from You." The tears rolled as I prayed that it would be so every day of her life! Children truly are such a blessing that minister in a myriad of ways. I am so glad that I visited you this morning from Thrive at Home Thurs. :)
    Blessings,
    Joanne
    PS - I loved seeing the handwriting of your little ones!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is something so precious about little ones singing to the Lord!!

      When my oldest daughter was little (18 months), the doctors told us she would not likely walk or speak - they didn't know what was the matter, but E couldn't roll, crawl, or make more than one sound: eh. But every night I sang to her and her sister - hymns that I had come to love. When she was about 3, she started speaking, and one of her first full sentences was asking me to sing her the song with her name in it (her middle name is Grace - she meant Amazing Grace). As I sang, she was singing. along...every single word. I wept, and wept, and wept. All those years she'd been hearing and storing those truths up in her heart, and finally she could sing them out loud. And she's been singing ever since! :)

      You have blessed me much today - thank you for taking the time to share your granddaughter's sweet song with me, Joanne!
      ~Lisha :)

      Delete
  6. I found your post at the from House to Home linky. I love this post! I know that God has taught me so much through the faith of my children! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm grateful you found this, and that it's been a blessing. The faith that children have is such a powerful way for God to work in the hearts of parents :)

      Thank you, Missy! I hope you have a great start to your week!
      ~Lisha

      Delete
  7. This is gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing these precious treasures with us. I believe that children absolutely have gifts from God to bless and minister to others.
    Thanks for sharing at Essential Fridays.
    Blessings
    Mel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome. I do treasure each one of these gifts so much!

      I think we (at least in the American culture at large) have been conditioned to think that children don't have anything to offer - that they are just needy and must be basically taken care of until they are old enough to move out on their own. But God says that they are His gifts to us!! And my husband and I have been delighted to see how God has talented & gifted each one at this stage in their lives. We try to cultivate that in the other children we know too, that they are needed and precious and able to help encourage the grown-ups in their lives.

      Thank you, Mel!
      ~Lisha

      Delete
  8. A very nice post and I heard the song, amazing!
    Yes, children are a bridge to God, I experience again and again, even though I have no children. Some things go through my head right now ..(my Englist isn't good enough to write about them all)
    Have a blessed Sunday :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mascha! I am so blessed to know that God is working through the lives of the children in your life to build you up in Him, and I am grateful that you've shared here :) Many blessings to you today!

      ~Lisha :)

      Delete
  9. Dear Lisha
    Even Jesus told us that a little one shall lead them, my friend. Childlike faith is such a gem, such a gift from out Father's hand. We as adults are already so influenced by the ways of the world, that it takes a miracle and grace galore for our spiritual eyes truly see that God is our Pappa and we as His children need to depend on Him for just about everything.
    Blessings XX
    Mia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for that sweet reminder, Mia, it's all so true :)
      I'm grateful that you've stopped by!
      ~Lisha

      Delete
  10. Pinned and am featuring at Family Fun Friday! Monica
    http://www.happyandblessedhome.com/category/family-fun

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Monica! This is a sweet surprise & an encouragement :)

      ~Lisha

      Delete