() ()
My grandchildren Kay & Mat

Friday, December 19, 2014

Christmas for Children



Children are happy when they receive gifts, loved by their parents, when they receive the approval of relatives and friends.

Birthdays and Christmas are the most anticipated occasions. They believe in Santa Claus, especially the shower of gifts from Santa.

My children, when they were kids at age five, six and eight were no different. One Christmas eve, each had his own  sock hanged for "Santa's" visit. But the morning of Christmas, they found it all empty. They were heartbroken. I just told them Santa forgot to pass by.

A few days after, during our family Christmas/reunion party, several Santas arrived: Santa Flavie and Eddie, Susan and Romy, Freddie and Vilma, Luchie. My three sons got a sackful of gifts instead of sockful one. Santa Elvie and Geoff,  and Ester and Alex sent theirs too from Canada and England.

At an early age, children should be taught  the truth, no fairy tales, no Santa Claus, This is strategy of Satan, an illusion  to remove God from lives, but the belief in our Lord Jesus should be ingrained. 


Bible verses to help your child to believe in God

PROVERBS 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Matthew 19:13-15 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.
.
Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

.Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

source of Bible verses: Open Bible Info



Tuesday, December 9, 2014

What Lies Ahead for a Child?

What lies ahead with Leila, Matthew, Tre, and Alec?


As a grandparent having reached retirement age and have time for grandchildren, is  the happier time of my life.

As a a working mother, I was busy with my career. Although I devoted a portion of my time to my three children, looking back, there are so many things that I should have done better, in terms of their spiritual nurturing. There were weekends I had to bring home some work, to catch deadlines.There are so many ifs.

When I had problems with house helper and nursemaid, I decided to quit my employment. I was so happy that I could attend to my children full time., who at the time were aged four, five and seven. However, the joy was short lived as I had to make money to augment the family income. I opted to go into real estate, multi-level marketing and finally having a business of my own, thinking that outside of an 8 to 5 job, I would have more time. However, I was driven to work harder, so I ended up with lesser time with my children. I was not not successful in my  chosen activities, not cut out for introverted me!

After my retirement, I read the Bible from cover to cover, but it did not touch me. Now, that I am hungry with the Words of God, I realized that our almighty God should be introduced to families and in schools starting from the primary level to really know Him by heart, having a personal relationship with the Father God. 

It is not enough going to Church on Sundays, fulfilling what we were taught to be good Christians. But God said this:

 Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

A prosperous and peaceful nation  could be achieved if we have a God loving/fearing family, the first unit of society.
It follows that with this solid Godly family, it will have an unselfish, caring  citizen and authorities who follow the will of God.

Women are not equal with men as she was taken from the ribs of man to be companion to him. But Satan came into the picture deceiving man by coming out with articles on feminism so women compete with man demanding equal rights.

Women are destined to be homemakers and nurturers of their children . Man, on the other hand, should be the provider and the source of the family's strength received from God. He should be  the head of the family and the wife to be submissive to him.

God's Words about the Husband and Wife


Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

1 Corinthians 11:9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Ephesians 5:22-33 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Proverbs 31:10-31 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Timothy 3:1-7  The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

1 Timothy 2:12  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Proverbs 14:1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

1 Peter 3:1-6 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 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. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands,

source of Bible verses on husbands and wives 
If the child has a God-loving/fearing family, and is taught well the commandment/doctrines of God, he would not be led astray. 
When he grows up and has to choose a career, it will not be in entertainment, not in boxing, not in rock music, nor career that would make him covetous, lustful, prideful.


Bible Verses to guide parents in bringing up a God-loving/fearing child


Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Proverbs 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Matthew 19:13-15 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.
Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.
Deuteronomy 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.
Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Hebrews 12:5-11 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
Isaiah 28:9-10 “To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
Titus 2:4-5 And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Psalm 78:1-7  Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
Matthew 18:14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Galatians 5:23 Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Proverbs 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Father in Heaven help the parents to bring up their children Your way, and that they would not be lost. Cover them with your blood to ward off the temptations of the evil ones. in Jesus name. Amen

Source of Bible verses on teaching children: 

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Haircut/Godliness for Toddlers

Alec with brother Tre, and cousins Kayelle and Matt
AND HIS LATEST HAIRCUT!

It has been said (passed down by ancestors, I just don't know  if this has a scientific basis) that if a newborn has a sparse hair, when the child reaches one year of age, he/she should be made bald to grow thicker hair. We did this to our two older sons, with the exception of the  third one because he has a naturally thick hair. 

We repeatedly shaved the hair of Russel, the father of Alec. At two,with shaved hair, he was teased and called "kalbo" (bald) and he surely got  mad as a bull.

In Alec's case all he could do was bawled helplessly. Poor boy, you could feel the pain by just looking at his eyes. So, Russ why subject the same feeling with your son, Alec?

The hair is considered the crowning glory for girls.It also serves to protect the head, to cushion it from bumps.

What is the purpose of hair?

      1 Corinthians 11:15
but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.( http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Hairs#sthash.UwxBzQYp.dpuf)

1 Timothy 2:9Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,

Boys should be of clean cut, not long nor bald,  but a few centimeters from the scalp. 


Let the Children's Children be Directed by the Word

 Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

Psalm 128:6 '
May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!
Deuteronomy 4:9 
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—
Isaiah 59:21 
“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”
1 Timothy 5:3-4 
Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
Exodus 20:5 
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

Thursday, November 6, 2014

The Joy and Horrors of Rearing Children

Alec

To mothers, simply looking at angelic face of their child is a joy in itself: smiling in their sleep or waking time,.

We follow through their growing up years, from birth to the time when they want to be independent no longer under the scrutiny of their mother.

We have a logbook of their first smile, their first crawl, their first word, all their first's.

They would even hold on tightly to their mother's skirts, not letting them out of their sight.A strong bond is developed at this time, before their schooling for lack of other children outside of siblings.

One would notice the habit or mannerism of the child if it's from the father of mother.

Above  are all joys,  especially when you get a loving response from the child, but sorrow comes when mishaps happen.like:
  • slamming of the car door with a child's fingers still on it - it gets blue and black;
  • a child running after the parent's car with a bottle of coke in his hands then tripping, - he had to have stitches to stop  the blood from flowing;
  • a child losing his grip on his mother (hugging her legs) and dropping to the floor with the backside of his head - he had temporary loss of his eyesight the following. day;
  • A grade one child going out of the classroom then bumping into an older schoolmate while latter was running from his right side's direction - he had to be stitched above his eyebrow.
  • Russ, the father of Alec, seemed to be flatfooted, with forever bumps:
  • Russ at age four held on to a trike while it was letting its passenger alight. So when the trike sped off, Russ was still holding to the backside. He was surfing on dry land, so when his rubber slipper got unbearably hot, he let go of his hold. He dropped  face down  giving a large bump on his forehead;
  • The heart-wrenching part is when you hear their inconsolable cry;
  • Lastly, it reminded me of this incident when I saw the toy of Alec. With his toy car, Russ, at the age of two,  went around from our inner road to the main road of the village,. Thank God he was not run over by  speeding cars. He was picked up the village' security guard and brought to our neighbor thinking that he was their son with this admonition: "Bakit ninyo pinababayaan ang anak ninyo?" (Why do you neglect your child?) Because of this last two incidents, the nanny resigned.
My spouse and I were employed at that time. Because of these incidents, I quit my job.

I was so busy in my job I had no prayer time. So now, I make up by praying for the families of my children that they be guided by God and that they be protected from any harm, especially spiritual.




Parent's Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this treasured child of mine. Although you have entrusted him/her to me, I know he belongs to you. Like Hannah offered Samuel, I dedicate my child to you, Lord. I recognize that he is always in your care.

Help me as a parent, Lord, with my weaknesses and imperfections. Give me strength and godly wisdom to raise this child after your Holy Word. Please supply what I lack. Keep my child walking on the path that leads to eternal life. Help him to overcome the temptations in this world and the sin that would so easily entangle him.

Dear God, send your Holy Spirit daily to lead and guide him. Ever assist him to grow in wisdom and stature, in grace and knowledge, in kindness, compassion and love. May he serve you faithfully with his whole heart devoted to you. May he discover the joy of your presence through daily relationship with your Son, Jesus.
Help me never to hold on too tightly to this child, nor neglect my responsiblities before you as a parent. Lord, let my committment to raise this child for the glory of your name cause his life to forever testify of your faithfulness.

In Jesus' name I pray.

A Child's Prayer

God Hear My Prayer

God in heaven hear my prayer,
keep me in thy loving care.
Be my guide in all I do,
Bless all those who love me too.
Amen.

Source of prayer: christianity.about.com

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Playing in the Rain


Oh, looking at the above picture of my grandchildren, Kayelle and Matthew, brings back memories of my frolicking in the rain.

My days in Dasma, Cavite was one of the best days in my life. 

At same age as Kayelle, my cousins and my childhood friends would go out to play volleyball. It was a carefree play of youngsters, full of energy. The rain was a bonus, no sweat, no fatigue, just pure enjoyment.

I thank my late beloved,  paternal grandparents, Lolo Pedro and Lola Eme for their patience and endurance with  this naughty, exuberant granddaughter, me.

Praying for you both during this All Souls Day, that you are now in the presence of the Father almighty.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Alec, the Argumentative Grandson


Alec, my third grandson, appears to be like his dad Russel with inexhaustible energy as a child.

Alec, during his prenatal days,  was giving his parents a bad time
during their sleep. giving them his karate kicks! And when he was seven months old, his parents had to go to Tacloban  to do medical mission to the Yolanda-ravaged area, he was left under the care of a relative. The poor woman lost her tooth not under the care of a dentist, but it was the power of Alec's seeming karate kick though inadvertently done, while Alec was sound asleep.

Alec could speak some words but he argues with his hand motion as seen above. Arguing with his mom because he was commanded to get down from his favorite place, the stairs. And who would not argue, he was already seated comfortably watching television. That trait was passed down by both parents so am not surprised.

With that trait he could be a law maker, patterned after God's laws or better yet, a preacher spreading the Word, and standing for the truth. I pray to God it is going to be the latter or whatever is God's will.


Bible Verses about Children, Parents


Exodus 20:12  “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
       Exodus 21:15-17  “Whoever strikes his father or                 his mother shall be put to death. (16) “Whoever                  steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in                    possession of him, shall be put to death. (17)                        “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put           to death.

Ephesians 6:1-4  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (2) “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), (3) “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (4) Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.



Deuteronomy 6:4-9  “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (5) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (6) And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (8) You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (9) You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.


Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. (2) For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, (3) heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, (4) treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (5) having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Colossians 3:20-21 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. (21) Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 

Proverbs 1:8-9 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, (9) for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

Proverbs 7:1-3  My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; (2) keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; (3) bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

Leviticus 19:3 Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 11:19  You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise

Psalms 78:2-8 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, (3) things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. (4) We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. (5) He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, (6) that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, (7) so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; (8) and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Psalms 103:13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

Psalms 112:1-2 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! (2) His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Bible Verses Source:ministry-to-children

Monday, September 29, 2014

Matt and his Antics


How I love interacting with children, making up for the lost time when I was still gainfully employed. You get laughs, different perspective from their viewpoint- totally innocent quips! 

Part of my time is devoted to a free tutoring for kids in the neighborhood, mostly children of nephews, this makes my day.

My grandchildren Matt, Leila, Alec, and Tre' are kilometers away.
To share what I taught to kids in the neighborhood, I call them over the phone. Here's a conversation with Matt, a five-year-old grade I pupil:

Lola Zeny: Matt, what is 1=1?
Matt:  2
Lola Zeny:   If you have five fingers and one is removed, how many will be left?
Matt: Zero!(Lol, I know he was getting bored with that kind of answer) Lola Zeny, MY HEAD IS ACHING! (His way of escape)
Conversation with his dad.

Harold:  Matt was tinkering with his toy car when I saw the words                 "very good" stamped on his right hand. I pried:
              "Wow. What did you do this time?"

Matt:     "I know how to spell 'carpet'," he chirped. "C-A-R-P-E-N."

Harold: "But you just spelled 'car-pen'..." I lightly mused. 

Matt: "I'm not in school anymore so I don't know it anymore. "

What happens in school... STAYS in school.




Matt's Field Trip