Category: Raising Children

Bible Verse of The Day – 3-27-19

Luke 15:13 (NLT) 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.

For those reading this who are parents, it’s no secret that raising children is a big responsibility. God has given us our offspring to raise and nurture in His love, teaching them of Him and His ways as they grow.

It’s also no secret that sometimes our children can cause us some major grief at times. And, yes, they can even disappoint us with some of the choices they make, especially as they grow into their teen years and into adulthood.

In fact, many of us reading this probably did some of this to our parents.

Sometimes children will rebel for a very short season before realizing that they need to get back on track. Other times it can take months, or even years, before they come to their senses and fix their errors.

Whether the season is short or long, it can be very, very stressful for parents to watch and walk through. And it can be hard to know the right way to handle it. We want to help them, but we also want them to learn from their choices and mistakes. Finding a balance can be tricky.

God will lead us and show us how to handle every situation, if we let Him.

Our job is to hold onto our faith in God and let Him give us hope that our children will eventually turn their eyes to Him. And while we’re doing that, we can’t let despair overwhelm us.

We just need to trust that, at some point, they will come to themselves and do what they know is right.

Luke 15:17-18 (NKJV) 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you…

Don’t lose hope. Trust Him!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 7-10-18

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Our children will not learn about the good things of God, or the right way to live, if we don’t teach them or point them in the right direction. As parents, this is our responsibility.

One day, when our children were small, a conversation arose about Jesus. They had been raised in the church and were going to Sunday school at the time.

We talked about Jesus and Who He is. And it was on that day that they both put their faith in Him. When we prayed with them, as little as their understanding was, Jesus met them. They both had tears streaming down their little faces and they begin to shake with excitement.

It was the most amazing thing a parent could witness. We knew that day that they had met Him personally in their little hearts, and He became their Savior.

Kids want to know and we have to teach them. We have to help them and train them in their walk with God.

Some parents teach their children of Santa Claus, the fairy godmother and the Easter bunny. They go all out and enjoy every minute of it. These are stories that have been made up. There is no truth in them, but yet parents will push it on their kids and make it fun for them.

But, when it comes to God and His Son, the most beautiful, true love to be portrayed, they have a hard time sharing it with them when they are little.

Today is a reminder, we must train up our children in the way they should go. Put away the distractions and sit with them. Read to them, pray with them and share with them the things that He has done for us and what He will do for them if they too walk with Him.

Give them a chance to have a relationship with Someone that will help them throughout their whole life. Someone that will never leave them.

Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 11-8-17

Matthew 19:13-15 (NKJV) 13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

Jesus showed the disciples His heart for the children.

The disciples had been rebuking them, trying to keep them away from Him. But Jesus told them not to forbid the children. And He put His hand on them and prayed. What a precious example this is.

We may sometimes look at children as being little and insignificant. We may think that when they get older they will be of some importance. For now they are just children and don’t need much of anything.

But they are so much more than that. Each one of them is unique in their own way. They have a lot to offer and need certain things to help them. They are our blessings; our little miracles to nurture and protect.

It’s important that we take the time we need to train them up and be an example to them. It’s important that we teach them right from wrong, love them, help them, listen to them and pray for them.

Every little life that enters into this world, no matter how they get here, is important to Him and He loves each one of them.

Do we have children today? Maybe we think after hearing this that we blew it. We haven’t been spending time as we should with our children. We haven’t been teaching them properly. We have left them in the hands of others to train and teach them.

Maybe our children are grown up and we missed out on much of their lives because of work, responsibilities, etc.

It’s never too late. Take the time that’s needed. Get some things off of our plate and add these precious little pearls to it.

If they are older and moved out, meet up with them for lunch, or a hot drink. If they are far away, send them a card or a gift, etc. Show them how much we love them. Love is powerful.

And, just as importantly, continue to pray for them. No matter how little or how much time has gone by, it’s still important to pray for them.

Prayer crosses many rivers, tall mountains and through the valleys.  It’s never too late to pray and show our love for our children.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 9-12-17

Luke 18:16 (NKJV) 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

Most times, we teach our children how to be responsible, but we neglect to teach them how to be accountable. Accountability to God is so important, even at such an early stage in life.

Let’s face it. Mom and Dad can’t be everywhere. But God can, and if we teach them to trust in Him and go to Him for everything, this will help them throughout their whole lives.

How do we teach our kids about this? We start by training them how to pray and to seek God for personal answers for their little concerns they may have.

They can learn at an early age how to pray for the right friends to be around. They can pray and ask God for help in making the right decisions throughout their day. Maybe they are struggling in certain areas when it comes to listening and doing what they are told. Or maybe they have an answer back for everything.

They need to know what God says about this in His word and to listen to how He says to correct it.

Kids are smart. They understand more than we realize. And sometimes they can fool us. Teaching them to be accountable, even at times when they may be trying to sneak one by us, will also cause them to have to deal with the conviction of their heavenly Daddy.

It’s amazing how quickly they learn. You think they aren’t paying attention. But then out of the clear blue sky they’ll repeat something you shared with them or said to them at one time or another.

So don’t get discouraged, Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and teachers. Keep it going! Teach them to have accountability with the One who will keep them safe from harm.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 2-7-17

1 Samuel 2:2 (NKJV) 2 “No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.

Growing up on a farm, we had a lot of fun. But, amongst all the fun, there were those things that came at certain times that hit hard. And we had to work through those things that are “a part of life”.

Mom and Dad never hid things from us kids. We were open with one another. If someone was in trouble or struggling through something, we all knew it. And we all felt it.

Each of us children had our things that we were going through. Some a little more than others. But, in it all, Mom and Dad were there for each one of us, no matter what it was, big or small.

There were 9 of us, and I’m sure for them it was tiring. But we never did hear them complain. To this day, the one thing that stands out to me in spite of all of our imperfections, mistakes and errors, was the love and faith they showed us through their actions. I believe that is what held us all together.

We were brought up having faith. It was important to our parents to lay down the foundation and get us off on the right track. We were not a perfect family. And I think it’s safe to say we had some wildness and craziness in our blood, for sure. But in all that, we do stick together.

And each one of us, in our own unique way, has something to offer. We have learned to respect the good in each other, and pray, not talk, about the stuff that is messed up.

There is no other foundation like the One our parents gave to us. Our Rock, our God and our Lord. He will never leave us.

We weren’t rich with material things. But we were rich in love and faith. On the Solid Rock we hold dearly. Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 7-13-16

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Children are our responsibility, to teach them and train them each day until they become adults.

The world today has tried to make us believe that both parents need to work in order to live. But it is truly up to us to make this decision.

Having both parents working makes it hard to train and give children what they need at times. Some kids need a lot of time and attention, while others not so much. It doesn’t make them a bad child just because they may need more attention, discipline or constant reminders. It just makes it harder on us if we don’t have the time to give to them.

When our kids were young we both knew that if something was going on with them, a change of attitude, misbehaving, disrespect, etc., we needed to put everything aside and deal with it.

Our children came before work, play or anything else.

Yes, our plans did get thrown off a time or two because of dealing with issues that arose, and sometimes at the worst time.

Having children taught us quickly that plans can go out the window sometimes in order to keep the peace in the home and keep things running smoothly.

We learned that If we pushed the issues aside that we knew we needed to deal with, they didn’t disappear. In fact, they got stronger and louder. And eventually we needed to deal with them. And it may take even longer than if we had dealt with them sooner.

Don’t ignore the problems going on in the home. Don’t try to limit the time you give your children and the issues that arise from time to time. Deal with it and stay with it until you know that it has worked its way OUT.

Remember that what you allow into your home, whether it is a bad attitude, anger, disappointment, spoiled behavior, etc., it will try to dominate and run the home and get its WAY.

Keep an eye on what the children are watching, playing with and listening to and, most importantly, spend some time reading and sharing God’s word and examples of it with them. Pray with them and teach them how to talk to God even at a young age.

Matthew 19:14 (NKJV) 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Children are our blessing. Train them, love them and enjoy them.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 5-6-15

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Children. They bring so many different things to mind when we think of them.

Love, joy, laughter, pain, anguish, and the list could go on. Each child is unique, just as God has created each of us to be unique.

As God blesses us with children and entrusts them to us, there are things that we need to do to be sure they are raised properly.

First and foremost, we need to teach them how to love God and walk in His ways. We do this by teaching them with our words, but more importantly, with our actions.

Children watch every move we make and hear everything we say, even if they sometimes act like they don’t hear us. So it’s important that we set the best example possible for them to see and follow.

Of course we will make mistakes and mess up, but even then we have the opportunity to tell them where we went wrong and teach them about God’s grace and forgiveness.

As parents, it’s our responsibility to shield them from the things that will harm them, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Some may say that we’re sheltering them and not letting them see the realities of life.

But the reality is that there is much that they don’t need to see and hear when they are young and impressionable.

So we want to encourage you today to work hard to keep your children safe and away from the wiles of the enemy, who will try his hardest to influence them at a young age, hoping to impart even the slightest hint of doubt or deceit into their minds.

Train them up in the Way they should go. And they will not depart from it.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 5-1-15

Proverbs 22:15 (NKJV) 15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

Children are a blessing from God. They are gifts.

And yet, they are our responsibility. As parents and grandparents, we are tasked with making sure they are raised properly, learning to show respect and love for others, be polite and, most importantly, honor God with their lives.

God promises us that if we raise them up in His ways, and if they honor their parents, He will bless them and they will live long in the land.

From the time they’re born until the day they leave home, we need to be sure we are doing right by them by loving them and disciplining them. Loving them is usually the easy part. Disciplining them isn’t always so easy.

But it’s a necessity and if they go without discipline, they will have a tough road ahead of them. Children who lack discipline & correction tend to grow up not understanding that there are rules and laws to follow in life.

And as they are unruly and spoiled in their childhood days, so will they be in their adult life.

So we need to be sure we are correcting them, in love, and teaching them that choices have consequences. And as we do so, we are preparing them for life as a responsible, God-fearing adult who will honor God with their life and respect those around them.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 8-18-14

Psalm 127:3 (NKJV) 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.

Children. That word can bring so many different thoughts to our minds.

For those of us who have them, we know that children, and the proper raising of them, can be a lot of hard work. It can be tiring, frustrating, exasperating and stressful.

But above and beyond all of that, it can be so rewarding.

Whenever someone I know has a new baby or they talk about their very young children and how fast they’re growing up, I always tell them this: “Don’t blink because they’ll be married and moved out before you know it.”

That might sound far-fetched or it might even seem like I’m being sarcastic, but it’s neither of those. It’s the truth.

I remember very clearly the day that both of my daughters were born. I know it was a long time ago, but in some ways it seems like it was just yesterday.

And then I remember the day that they both got married and I walked them down the aisle and performed their wedding ceremony. And once again it seems like it was just yesterday. But it wasn’t.

Our lives go by so very quickly. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in your 20s or in your 50s or in your 70s, or anywhere in between those ages, or even above them. If you look back at your life, you will admit that it flies by very fast.

We are only here for a season… a short season that comes and goes, seemingly in the blink of an eye.

James 4:14 (NKJV) 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Our children are a gift from God, a blessing He has entrusted us with. If we have them, it is our obligation to raise them properly and give them the love and the time they deserve.

There will always be other things that pull on our time. There will always be other things that will seem more important. And there will always be days when we just don’t feel like going that extra mile for our kids.

But we need to remember that if we don’t take the time to be there for them and shine God’s light into their lives and be a godly example for them, the enemy will gladly provide substitutes.

So let’s be sure to make the time to spend it with our children and grandchildren. When a day has passed, we will never get that day back, and we are never, ever guaranteed a tomorrow.

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 4-23-14

(Psalm 78:4 NKJV)  We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

It’s important that we teach and share with our children about God’s wonderful works that He has done!

Sometimes my grandchildren come over and they are so focused on playing in their playroom that I don’t want to disturb them. But, while they are playing, I’ll prepare snacks and then I’ll begin to share some things that God has done. Their little eyes light up and they start asking questions!

Kids want to know the truth; they love to hear the things God did and the things He continues to do in our lives.

The best part about sharing God’s works, and strength, is that it is all truth! The Bible is alive! We don’t have to guess or make it up; it’s all right there in the book. We are safe to share with them His might and strengths! It will stick with them and help them.

They need to know when they are away from mom, dad, brother or sister, that they can stand and not fall down. When they’re in school and there is someone bullying them, pressuring them, tempting them or telling them lies, they need to know who to cry out to. They need to know who will help them at that time.

Mom and Dads are wonderful, but let’s face it, we can not be there all the time. We are really just a pinch of help compared to what God can do for them.

The enemy would love to get us to keep quiet and not share God’s wonderful works and strengths with our children. Maybe we don’t know much about them ourselves so we leave it up to others to teach them?

We can always share the things we do know and those things that God did personally for us. Don’t be afraid; our kids need God just as much as we do.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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Bible Verse of The Day – 2-21-14

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Children. They’re a gift and a blessing from God himself.

As parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, it’s our duty to set examples for the little ones in our lives.

Our words and, most importantly, our actions are what they see and follow. Everything we say and do gets absorbed like a sponge and then emulated.

If they see us pray, they will learn to pray. If they hear us singing praises to God, they will learn to praise God. If they hear us cussing someone out, they will learn to do the same.

We are being watched!

Knowing that our lives are examples for the little ones in our lives should give us good reason to make sure we do what is right in the eyes of God.

As they grow up, they will do what they have seen us do, so let’s set a good, godly example.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

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