Spiritual Warfare: When Parents Have to Step In

Spiritual Warfare: When parents have to step in.
By Nellie Shani

A distraught mother of a seven-year old boy, asked if she could come and share something personal with me.

Our talk revealed that Steven (not his real name) was having problems. She told me that the boy had strange behavior and that his teacher had called her to ask her if everything was all right at home. Steven had started to become withdrawn, wanting to sit by himself at break time and was not concentrating in class.

The boy also had a problem with eating. At meal times, he always said that he was not hungry. Joyce (not her real name) told me that she had tried everything to make the boy eat to no avail. He would go to the bathroom to wash his hands before every meal and would keep washing his hands until someone went to the bathroom to check on him. After he came to the table and sat down, he would look at his hands and go to the bathroom to wash them again.

As Joyce and her husband were both Christians, she told me that they would pray with the children every evening before they went to bed. At prayer time Steven would have weird behavior. He would jump around and try to stand on his head or hum tuneless songs. He would basically be a distraction the whole time they were praying. As a result the prayer times became tense, as mum and dad spent half the time correcting misbehavior from Steven.

She told me that she also found a note in StevenÕs room, which said, ÒIn StevenÕs kingdom there is lots of food.Ó She found this note curious only because it concerned food. Steven did not like to eat and she wondered why he wrote that note.

When Joyce brought Steven to our home one day after school, I was shocked! He looked like a child that was suffering from acute malnutrition! His head looked too big for his emaciated body and there was a vein protruding on the side of his head. When he walked, he would stagger around like someone being blown about by the wind. He also seemed to have trouble concentrating. His eyes just kind of roamed around the room.

StevenÕs mother and I had prayed a lot about this meeting and had asked God to take total control and give us wisdom.

I donÕt think that I was adequately prepared for what the seven year old told us. I asked him why he did not eat and he told us what there was always sand on his hands. Whenever he would wash them the sand would appear again. When he came to the table and tried to eat, the sand would drip onto his food! It would have been easy to blow this information away as the fantasy of a seven year old, but through past experience God had taught me to always take children seriouslyÐSatan does!

He went on to tell us that there was someone who came to his room every night as soon as the lights were turned off. I asked him to describe this person and he told us. That it came as two red eyes. He said that as soon as he closed his eyes he would see the red eyes in front of him. Ò Does it talk to you?Ó I queried. ÒYes. It comes and tells me that it will enter me through my head.Ó

Steven said that after it entered his head they would leave the room and fly outside to the home of a lady who had hundreds of children and who gives them a lot of food. They would go to many places. He said that where they go, he is a commander. I asked him whether the being ever came to school and he said that is was always sitting next to him in class and would talk to him all the time. He said that at break time it would also follow him everywhere.

Steven had shared enough for us to know that Satan was messing around with this child. I asked him whether he liked this person or being and he said ÔYesÕ. I explained to this little boy about the fact that if this were his friend, he would not put dirt on his hands when he tried to eat.

He eventually admitted that this was a Òbad friendÓ. We asked him if he would allow us to get rid of this being that would disturb him every night and he said ÔYes.Õ We prayed for Steven and cast out the evil spirits that had entered him, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Later on he told his father that, ÒWhen mummy and aunty were praying, I saw my friends turning into ugly creatures and running away.Ó With the kind of training that Satan was giving him, he would have started worshiping this being very early in life.

Steven started to eat normally and his behavior at school changed. Today Steven is Eighteen years old and his ÔfriendÕ has never visited him again. He has since accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. His parents have continued to disciple him so that the Òvacated rooms in his life are not left emptyÓ (Matthew 12:43-45). I am in touch with his mother, and Samba is doing fine Ð praise the Lord!

Nellie Shani is a Counselor, Conference speaker and writer. Her first book, “Stand Your Ground,” is now available on amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles and on her author’s website. http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/StandYourGround.htm

http://ebooks.faithwriters.com/category-list.php?cat=8

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Try Jelly Telly!

In the vast majority of American households PBS, Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel and Cartoon Network get more than their fair share of our children’s time.  Although some of the programming is educational it does not assist us in teaching our children Biblical principles.  But, never fear, once again Phil Vischer, creator of VeggieTales, has come to our rescue with something new as well as innovative.  He calls it Jelly Telly.

Jelly Telly is an internet based television network. It’s updated everyday with new content and shows.  Unlike the computer generated animation that we have become accustomed to seeing with VeggieTales, Jelly Telly offers puppets.  It sort of reminds me of the Muppet Show (only better).

Vischer said, “Kids need to see what God’s love looks like in action.  If they watch a lot of television, they see pop stars, sports stars and celebrities.  They see kids driving around Hollywood in nice cars – recording albums and buying clothes.  They don’t see a whole lot of missionaries or Christian relief workers or, even more vital, kids just like them sacrificing their time to show God’s love to others.  So this sort of thing will be a major focus of JellyTelly.”

Most areas of the website are free however, there is a small monthly subscription fee associated with the site, but its worth it. It’s only $2.99! If you have tried it let us know what you think! If not, take a look at the clips below. You won’t be disappointed.

VeggieTales Legend Releases All New DVD Series

From Chicago-based Jellyfish Labs, Vischer and team open the Bible, Genesis to Revelation, to new generations: how the Bible formed, its major themes and leading figures, even terms such as Vulgate, Septuagint, Canon, and Apocrypha.

“I picture the kid in the back of Sunday school class–with the questions teachers dread. I know that honest answers now help solidify faith long-term,” Vischer said. Select theologians comb every script to accurately present the Bible on ground common to the broadest number of believers. “We work hard to show respect all around,” Vischer said.

VeggieTales has sold more than 50 million DVDs and produced two theatrical films around Bible stories. WITB plugs in the entire Bible. This comes in a groundswell of new concern for Bible literacy and because today’s kids learn visually.

Bestselling author Randy Alcorn emailed Vischer: “[My grandson and I] watched together and again the next day and the next, bonus features and all, until we had to leave. Matthew is now a devoted fan of Buck Denver and the other characters.”

Alcorn also liked, “the depth of biblical background and commentary on God’s great drama of redemption.”

Episodes one, two, and three?

1. In the Beginning — Kids learn God’s big story and how Genesis’s first 11 chapters set up the whole Bible–and life.

2. Let My People Go! — Kids meet Abraham and learn how God used him to start a great nation called Israel.

3. Wanderin’ in the Desert–goes into Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, joining Genesis and Exodus in the Law Books and setting up trials and victories of God’s people.
“We must learn the language of our audience,” said C.S. Lewis, who connected children to God. “For this generation, visual is fundamental to learning,” Cambridge scientist Alister McGrath said. “By the time kids see the final DVD,” Phil Vischer said, “they’ll know the entire Bible.”

www.WhatintheBible.com

Have you watched any of them yet?  Let us know what you think!

Hannah’s Prayer

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

Raising them Right…

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4

As believers our first ministry is to our family.  We are to consistently live and teach the gospel to our children.  These gifts are our responsibility and none of us should want to get caught with our work undone.   I was so very moved when I watched the video below.  It shares the testimony of a young man, named Brady, that came to Christ during a bout with brain cancer and how it built his faith as well as his parents’.

Monkey See, Monkey Do!

Monkey See, Monkey Do!
By Pam Ford Davis

Over and over, we are told by educators that things are more often “Caught than taught”. By repetition and example children experience much of their learning. With a background in childcare, I saw this time after time.

With children from twelve to twenty four months, they often mimicked what I did, such as coughing or blowing my nose! When they begin talking, it seems like they are turning into parrots!

Parents will be quick to realize that their children repeat what they have heard at home. With a smile, the usual comment is “I’ve got to be more careful about what I say!” They copy parents;they copy their older sisters and brothers.( That is a real bonus with potty training.) A favorite is to copy animals; they love to get down on the floor,on their hands and knees, and bark like a dog, or ROAR like a lion!

At the childcare ministry where I worked last, a boy had observed how the friendly janitor pushed the large broom or mop down the long hallway. A short time later his mom said he had a toy broom in a friends house, and pushed it all around the room, using the same motions he had seen before!
From my personal “Memory Treasure Chest”, I want to share one example of our oldest grandson, Justin, who was three years old at the time.( He is now preparing for his high school graduation.) My husband and I were at the military base housing of our daughter, her husband, and their son. I think it was his third birthday celebration. He had gone outside with his grand daddy.

When my husband sat down on a curb area, he heaved a heavy sigh. Grandparents do a lot of that! Right away, Justin sat down beside him, and gave out a loud sigh! It was a valuable lesson for both of us, that we have not forgotten. THEY DO COPY US! “Monkey See, Monkey Do!”
Even if you have no young children or grandchildren of your own, you would be surprised at how many children may be watching you. It might be at church, or at a grocery store, maybe even at a doctors office. Mind your P’s and Q’s!
With those in our families, we are instructed to share our faith in God. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7) Lovingly repeat stories of Jesus at home, or in the car…in the morning, as they are getting up, and at night, before going to sleep.

Remember, they learn by repetition. Just as we teach them the alphabet by the simple “ABC’s song;” they can learn of Gods’ love with “Jesus Loves Me.”

Now, at nearly sixty years of age, I still remember the love of Jesus, shown to me through the lives of a godly grandma and grandpa. We must not forget…”Monkey See, Monkey Do!”

I am a wife of over 40 years, mother and proud granny. I was born in N.Y. State, currently reside in central AL. With a past career in Radio announcing our family lived across the nation, later worked in the child care ministry. Now, I am living the dream of writing. All things are possible!

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Prayer: Our Children: Purity

Our society is filled with numerous things to distract our children. The moral fiber of country is torn and it is up to us to mend it with prayer. Prayer is the greatest shield of protection we can provide our children. We must continually stay before God on their behalf and teach them to pray for themselves. Each week we will focus on a specific area to lift our children in prayer .

This we pray according to God’s word that our children remain pure.  God honors those with pure hearts because it demonstrates a sincere commitment to be like Jesus.    Psalm 24:3-6, Matthew 5:8, 2 Timothy 2:21

Prayer: Our Children: Attitudes

Our society is filled with numerous things to distract our children. The moral fiber of country is torn and it is up to us to mend it with prayer. Prayer is the greatest shield of protection we can provide our children. We must continually stay before God on their behalf and teach them to pray for themselves. Each week we will focus on a specific area to lift our children in prayer .

This week we pray according to God’s Word that our children will strive to live as ambassadors for Christ. We are often more kind to strangers than we are to our own families, especially siblings. We pray that they will be obedient, respectful, compassionate and peaceful. We pray that they will have the mind of Christ and live holy and acceptable lives. Micah 6:8, Luke 6:45, Philippians 2:14-15, Ephesians 5:19, Ephesians 4:32

Prayer: Our Children

Our society is filled with numerous things to distract our children. The moral fiber of country is torn and it is up to us to mend it with prayer. Prayer is the greatest shield of protection we can provide our children. We must continually stay before God on their behalf and teach them to pray for themselves. Each week we will focus on a specific area to lift our children in prayer .

This week we pray according to God’s Word that our children will know Christ as Savior early in their lives and that they maintain their relationship with Him through their adult years. Mark 10:13-18; Luke 2:52;     2 Timothy 3:15