Comments on: Let the little children come to me http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/ a journal on my journey with Jesus, and the paths in which God is taking me. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:50:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: lynhallewell http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-4811 lynhallewell Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:10:26 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-4811 That is really wonderful that you sought your older children's forgiveness. You are so right about people doing because they want to rather than having to do things for God. That is really wonderful that you sought your older children’s forgiveness. You are so right about people doing because they want to rather than having to do things for God.

]]> By: Barb http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-4595 Barb Sat, 15 Sep 2007 21:01:27 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-4595 Lynn, You know I don't think she never saw any "realness." We had many real people in our church. I just think that the whole church life that we lived, coverend up all the lives and made it look like they were living within the rules. Without the structure, she and anyone else realizes that what someone does is not beacause they feel like they "have" to but because they really want to and it is an expression of thier lives with Father. I'm still trying to sort it all out. It also helped when we went to our older children and asked forgiveness for the things we taught and modeled to them that were just not right. Lynn, You know I don’t think she never saw any “realness.” We had many real people in our church. I just think that the whole church life that we lived, coverend up all the lives and made it look like they were living within the rules. Without the structure, she and anyone else realizes that what someone does is not beacause they feel like they “have” to but because they really want to and it is an expression of thier lives with Father.

I’m still trying to sort it all out. It also helped when we went to our older children and asked forgiveness for the things we taught and modeled to them that were just not right.

]]> By: lynhallewell http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-4467 lynhallewell Sat, 15 Sep 2007 08:24:58 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-4467 Now I feel misty eyed! Thank you for sharing Barb. What you have written seems like your daughter was looking for something real in Christianity which she hasn't seen through the lives of people? Now I feel misty eyed! Thank you for sharing Barb. What you have written seems like your daughter was looking for something real in Christianity which she hasn’t seen through the lives of people?

]]> By: Barb http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-4348 Barb Sat, 15 Sep 2007 01:22:51 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-4348 As we were in the process of leaving/being left by our CLB just 4 months ago it happened to coincide with my youngest daughter’s (think totally rebelling, moving in with her boyfriend, goth) 18th birthday. I was most concerned with the fact that I thought this would be the last straw for her. She had come to hate church and turn away from any semblance of how God would want her to choose life. But a funny thing happened on the way out the door. She actually started to get soft towards God. She said that to see us be real, ask for forgiveness and actually struggle with what be believed to be true – in her words – “maybe being a Christian isn’t such a bad thing like I thought it was.” I have continued to share our journey with her. She actually picked up “The Shack” and read the whole thing. Her eyes misted as she told me about the parts she loved. Maybe we haven’t messed up as much as we think. Grace seems to be filling in the gaps that “church” was not reaching. As we were in the process of leaving/being left by our CLB just 4 months ago it happened to coincide with my youngest daughter’s (think totally rebelling, moving in with her boyfriend, goth) 18th birthday. I was most concerned with the fact that I thought this would be the last straw for her. She had come to hate church and turn away from any semblance of how God would want her to choose life. But a funny thing happened on the way out the door. She actually started to get soft towards God. She said that to see us be real, ask for forgiveness and actually struggle with what be believed to be true – in her words – “maybe being a Christian isn’t such a bad thing like I thought it was.” I have continued to share our journey with her. She actually picked up “The Shack” and read the whole thing. Her eyes misted as she told me about the parts she loved. Maybe we haven’t messed up as much as we think. Grace seems to be filling in the gaps that “church” was not reaching.

]]> By: Subversive Influence » Blog Archive » Children as Exiles http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-4272 Subversive Influence » Blog Archive » Children as Exiles Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:06:33 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-4272 [...] may think, it is something that’s on our minds a fair bit… recently Lyn had a really good riff inspired by another good post by E-Grace. Common theme, concern for our kids’ spiritual [...] [...] may think, it is something that’s on our minds a fair bit… recently Lyn had a really good riff inspired by another good post by E-Grace. Common theme, concern for our kids’ spiritual [...]

]]> By: lynhallewell http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-1510 lynhallewell Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:59:16 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-1510 Che, you have said nothing wrong at all. Thank you for your encouraging words. As Erin has written below, I have a lot to think about now. Che, you have said nothing wrong at all. Thank you for your encouraging words. As Erin has written below, I have a lot to think about now.

]]> By: Erin http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-1506 Erin Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:04:53 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-1506 I think the last two comments pretty much covered it for me. Good things for me to think about...good encouragement. I think the last two comments pretty much covered it for me. Good things for me to think about…good encouragement.

]]> By: Che V. http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-1500 Che V. Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:58:28 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-1500 Hello, thought I'd jump in... I used to worry about my kids relationship with Jesus, and whether they'd have anything after I left the my CLB. Please be encouraged....God is not finished with our kids, or us for that matter! I was too broken to even pick up the ball in trying to lead them in relationship to God...but God did it! He called them..He built them up...He spoke to them... My cry would be this...don't bother with the programs unless they really want to go...and you sense God's presence there. Let them into your faith...walking with them, talking about God, your fears, your thoughts, your questions...and letting them hear the answers that God gives...let them serve with you...helping a neighbour, telling them why you lend a hand...those things impact the kids HUGELY. I've seen my kids go from angry, scared, embittered, and lost....to thoughtful, kind, laughing, and full of grace. We can't do it, God can..and will. If you let Him. I think that you have to let go of old stuff before He gives you new....like getting out of the driveway, before you can read the roadsigns. Remember, it's a journey, not a destination. When you invite your children into the journey, you give them permission to ask questions, to discover who they are...which they need to do. Please be encouraged...I may have said things all wrong...but please know that I want to give you some peace if at all possible... Blessings. Hello, thought I’d jump in…
I used to worry about my kids relationship with Jesus, and whether they’d have anything after I left the my CLB.
Please be encouraged….God is not finished with our kids, or us for that matter!
I was too broken to even pick up the ball in trying to lead them in relationship to God…but God did it!
He called them..He built them up…He spoke to them…
My cry would be this…don’t bother with the programs unless they really want to go…and you sense God’s presence there.
Let them into your faith…walking with them, talking about God, your fears, your thoughts, your questions…and letting them hear the answers that God gives…let them serve with you…helping a neighbour, telling them why you lend a hand…those things impact the kids HUGELY.
I’ve seen my kids go from angry, scared, embittered, and lost….to thoughtful, kind, laughing, and full of grace.
We can’t do it, God can..and will. If you let Him.
I think that you have to let go of old stuff before He gives you new….like getting out of the driveway, before you can read the roadsigns.
Remember, it’s a journey, not a destination. When you invite your children into the journey, you give them permission to ask questions, to discover who they are…which they need to do.
Please be encouraged…I may have said things all wrong…but please know that I want to give you some peace if at all possible…
Blessings.

]]> By: lynhallewell http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-1480 lynhallewell Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:14:26 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-1480 Tut, tut - you pray with your eyes open ;-) I think I feel a bit like charlie Brown's teacher as well. Sometimes though, my kids do pull a gem out of the bag and I think "you were listening after all!" Be good to hear your thoughts. Tut, tut - you pray with your eyes open ;-)

I think I feel a bit like charlie Brown’s teacher as well. Sometimes though, my kids do pull a gem out of the bag and I think “you were listening after all!”

Be good to hear your thoughts.

]]> By: lynhallewell http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-1479 lynhallewell Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:11:44 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2007/08/let-the-little-children-come-to-me/#comment-1479 I see a lot of parents these days whose children reach mid-teens and basically walk way from church. The question is are they walking away from *church* because of their experience of it etc, like we are seeing a lot of now, but they still have a deep faith, or are they walking away from the whole thing, they do not believe etc.? Ultimately, as you wrote, our children have to make a choice. You've raised some really good points about prayer and role modelling. Thanks Paul. I see a lot of parents these days whose children reach mid-teens and basically walk way from church. The question is are they walking away from *church* because of their experience of it etc, like we are seeing a lot of now, but they still have a deep faith, or are they walking away from the whole thing, they do not believe etc.?

Ultimately, as you wrote, our children have to make a choice. You’ve raised some really good points about prayer and role modelling. Thanks Paul.

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