HOLD ON TO YOUR CROWN

Revelation 3:11, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

When God appeared to Moses as I AM THAT I AM out in the backside of the desert, He commissioned him to deliver the Hebrews from their slavery in Egypt. But Moses was fearful to take on such a task. He had no strength of his own to accomplish it. God then said to him, "What is that in thine hand, Moses?" (Exodus 4:2).

What was in his hand? A shepherd's rod. Nothing fancy. Nothing powerful. Just a simple rod he used each day to guide, prod and protect his flock. God took that plain shepherd's rod and made it a mighty weapon in Moses' hand. Whenever he stretched forth the rod mighty miracles happened. It released the plagues upon the Egyptians. It showed forth God's mighty power.

Sometimes you wonder what you are doing in your home. Your friends have high-powered careers and are raking in the money. You are trying to make ends meet from day to day. Your family remind you that you are wasting your life and your education.

But what is in your hand? It is the rod of motherhood. It may look insignificant, as Moses' rod did, but it wields a mighty power. Motherhood is the most powerful career in the nation. As a mother, you determine the course of the nation. You are in God's hands preparing your children for the purposes God has laid out for them before the foundation of the world. This is a top notch job. It is high powered!

Mothering is your crown. It has been invested in you by God himself. It is your anointing of womanhood. It is your authority. Do not take off your beautiful crown of motherhood to allow someone else to mother the children God has given you.   Never let your crown go. Hold on to it. Lift your head high and be proud of your divine calling.

You may be going through circumstances that cause you to feel like giving up. You feel an utter failure. This mothering business is not working out. Your children are giving you heartache. Do not give up. Do not take off your crown. Rise up in the anointing and authority that God has given you as a mother. Do not let your circumstances rob you of your crown.

Do not let other people rob you either. Do you notice that this Scripture says that man will try to take it from you? Those who are ignorant of God's heart for children will speak negative things into your life. Those who are deceived by this world's philosophy will try to lure you away from your high calling. Do not be swayed by what people say. Do not let them take your crown. Hold on to it tightly.

Do not for a moment be intimidated by your antagonists! (Philippians 1:28)

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord, I thank you that you have given me the crown of mothering. Help me to see that it is a crown to wear and be proud of. When I wear this crown I am walking in your perfect will. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

Mothering is a crown I wear with dignity.

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I dreamed I was in heaven
Where an angel kept God's book
He was writing so intently
I just had to take a look

It was not at first his writing
That made me stop and think
But the fluid in the bottle
That was marked eternal ink

This ink was most amazing
Dark black upon his blotter
But as it touched the parchment
It became as clear as water

The angel kept on writing
But as quickly as a wink
The words were disappearing
With that strange eternal ink

The angel took no notice
But kept writing on and on
He turned each page and filled it
Till all its space was gone

I thought he wrote to no avail
His efforts were so vain
For he wrote a thousand pages
That he'd never read again

And as I watched and wondered that
This awesome sight was mine
I actually saw a word stay black
As it dried upon the line

The angel wrote and I thought I saw
A look of satisfaction
At last he had some print to show
For all his earnest action

A line or two dried dark and stayed
As black as black can be
But strangely the next paragraph
Became invisible to see

The book was getting fuller
The angel's records true
But most of it was blank with
Just a few words coming through

I knew there was some reason
But as hard as I could think
I couldn't grasp the significance
Of that eternal ink

The mystery burned within me
And I finally dared to ask
The angel to explain to me
Of his amazing task

And what I heard was frightful
As the angel turned his head
He looked directly at me
And this is what he said

I know you stand and wonder
At what my writing's worth
But God has told me to record
The lives of those on Earth

The book that I am filling
Is an accurate account
Of every word and action
And to what they do amount

And since you have been watching
I must tell you what is true
The details of my journal
Are the strict accounts of YOU

The Lord asked me to watch you
As each day you worked and played
I saw you as you went to church
I saw you as you prayed

But I was told to document
Your life through all the week
I wrote when you were proud and bold
I wrote when you were meek

I recorded all your attitudes
Whether they were good or bad
I was sorry that I had to write
The things that make God sad

So now I'll tell the wonder
Of this eternal ink
For the reason for its mystery
Should make you stop and think

This ink that God created
To help me keep my journal
Will only keep a record of
Things that are eternal

So much of life is wasted
On things that matter not
So instead of my erasing
Smudging ink and ugly blot

I just keep writing faithfully and
Let the ink do all the rest
For it is able to decide
What's useless and what's best

And God ordained that as I write
Of all you do and say
Your deeds that count for nothing
Will just disappear away

When books are opened someday
As sure as heaven is true
The Lord's eternal ink will tell
What mattered most to you

If you just lived to please yourself
The pages will be bare
And God will issue no reward
For you when you get there

In fact you'll be embarrassed
You will hang your head in shame
Because you did not give yourself
In love to Jesus' Name

Yet maybe there will be a few
Recorded lines that stayed
That showed the times you truly cared
Sincerely loved and prayed

But you will always wonder
As you enter heaven's door
How much more glad you would have been
If only you'd done more

For I record as God sees
I don't stop to even think
Because the truth is written
With God's eternal ink

When I heard the angel's story
I fell down and wept and cried
For as yet I still was dreaming,
I hadn't really died.

And I said: O angel, tell the Lord
That soon as I awake
I'll live my life for Jesus
I'll do all for His dear sake!

I'll give in full surrender
I'll do all He wants me to
I'll turn my back on self and sin
And whatever isn't true.

And though the way seems long and rough
I promise to endure
I'm determined to pursue the things
That are holy, clean and pure.

With Jesus as my helper,
I will bring lost souls to Thee
For I know that they will live with Christ
For all eternity.

And that's what really matters
When my life on earth is gone
That I will stand before the Lord
And hear Him say "Well Done".

For is it really worth it
As my life lies at the brink
And I realize that God keeps books
With His "Eternal Ink"

Should all my life be focused
On things that turn to dust?
From this point on I'll serve the Lord;
I can, I will, I must!

I will NOT send blank pages
Up to God's majestic throne
For where that record's going now
Is my eternal home!

I'm giving all to Jesus,
I now have seen the link
For I dreamed an angel wrote my life
With God's "Eternal Ink".

Author: Craig Pitts

My friend Pat had this posted on her blog and I thought it was very good advice.

One of my favorite children's songs is entitled, The B-I-B-L-E. The simple lyrics of the song help children learn about and declare the importance of the Bible…

The B - I - B - L - E … yes, that's the book for me!
I stand upon the Word of God … the B - I - B - L - E!

God has charged parents with the responsibility of providing spiritual instruction in the home (see Deut. 6:4-9). Parents should use God's Word in the home to teach their children how to put their confidence in God, to not forget the works of God, and to live in obedience to God (see Psalm 78:5-8). Parents should also help their children understand that using the Bible is a part of worship. The following suggestions can help you guide your child in using the Bible in worship.

B = BUY a copy of the Bible for your child.
Visit a local Christian bookstore and look at their selection of Bibles for children. Purchase a Bible that is appropriate for the age of your child. Print your child's name on the inside page of the Bible or have your child's name embossed on the outside cover. Write a personal note of encouragement on the fly leaf as well.

I = Stimulate your child's INTEREST in the Bible.
Set aside time to help your child become acquainted with the Bible. Look for opportunities to talk with your child about God's Word. Talk with your child about the maps and pictures in their Bible or about favorite Bible stories and verses.

B = Encourage your child to BRING their Bible to worship.
Help your child find the Pastor's sermon text in the Bible. Ask your child to follow along and to listen carefully as the Pastor reads his sermon text from the Bible. Place a Bible marker on the page so that you can refer to the sermon text again.

L = LEAD your child to care for the Bible.
Help your child to understand that the Bible is a special book. Do not leave your Bible in the pew or in the car when you get home. Ask your child to place their Bible on a nightstand or other designated place in your home. Teach your child to treat the Bible with respect.

E = Children learn by EXAMPLE.
Set a good example for your child by using your Bible at home and in worship. Model the importance of the Bible in your life.