Planting seeds - leaving a legacy!

Recently, the Lord put on my heart the issue of personal behavior and how we either emulate, or do not reflect God in our daily lives. Currently I volunteer at a ministry called C.H.E.C., (Christian Homeschool Education Center).  It’s a place where parents can bring their children to get help with homeschooling in a Godly environment.  Each morning is opened with motivational praise and worship, followed by discussion on God’s purpose for us and our lives. But no sooner are we done and are heading to the classroom, the children will start behaving badly and even call each other names. This led me to write a lesson from them on how we are to behave with one another in a Godly fashion, while setting some examples. As I was writing this lesson, it occurred to me that there are many believers in the Body of Messiah who behave the same way. They spend their time in Shabbat services, praising God  and reciting the prayers on how we are to “love our neighbors as ourselves,” but no sooner are we done with the service, they will start gossiping, or fighting with one another. This is what our children all see and hear!

Set a guard, Adonai, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. Don’t let my heart turn to anything evil or allow me to act wickedly with men who are evildoers; keep me from eating their delicacies. - Psalm 141:3-4   CJB
These words from King David are what we should all live by. If we’re going to raise our children in the way they should go, then we need to be mindful of how we act and to be aware of what comes out of our mouths when they are with us. Our children love to emulate us; they will copy everything we do.  Even if it’s bad behavior, our children will see this behavior as “okay,” and will believe that other families behave that way as well. If they go and spread those bad seeds, they’ll find out the hard way that it’s not okay.  What’s worse is your child will be punished for something he/she may have in fact learned from us. This I say from experience, both from a child and a parental point of view.  

Below is my C.H.E.C. lesson modified for the adult:

“So, when you have your time with God in the morning with worship and Bible study, what goes through your mind? Do you see this as just routine and focusing more on the dancing and singing, or do you really listen to the lyrics of the song? Do you soak in the Bible verses? When Yeshua talks about a person’s character, and how to behave, do you think He means in the moment, or throughout the day everyday? Did you know that God sees everything, and hears everything we say or do? Not just when you pray to Him, or when you’re in your congregations, but all the time. Did you know that it saddens Him when He hears the negative words you use toward each other?  Even if something is true, there is a way to speak without hurting someone else’s feelings. Every word that comes out of your mouth can either edify someone or break them down. How you relate to God affects how you relate to other people, and how you relate to other people is reflective of what you think of God.  Does your relationship with God need improvement?”    

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Adonai. “As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return there, but water the earth, causing it to bud and produce, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so is my word that goes out from my mouth —it will not return to me unfulfilled; but it will accomplish what I intend, and cause to succeed what I sent it to do. - Isaiah 55:8-11 CJB

What kind of seeds are you planting when you speak to others? Are they seeds that will blossom into beautiful trees and flowers that will pollinate and spread good seeds to others, or are they weeds that will only choke out the good seeds before they grow?  If you desire God to use you, then you need to show Him that He can. There are many of us that like joking around; not everyone does. Know your audience. If you think someone is going to be offended by something you say, then don’t say it. On the other hand, if there is a conversation you need to have with someone, use discernment. Let the Lord lead that conversation. By letting the Lord lead, there is understanding, and no hurt feelings will transpire.

Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These words, which I am commanding you today, are to be on your heart.  You are to teach them diligently to your children, and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.  Bind them as a sign on your hand, they are to be as frontlets between your eyes,  and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. - Deuteronomy 6:4-9 TLV

This isn’t just a prayer we recite on Shabbat; but instead is an instruction of how we are to be everyday.  We are to emulate God everyday, in every moment, and we are to pass that on to our children. They see and hear everything we do and say, and so does He. If we slip up, and we will, our children need to see how that is handled in a Godly way.  When you ask your child,  “What would Yeshua do?,” don’t just say it and walk away. Instead, teach and show them what He would do. Children will have a better understanding when you use real life scenarios.

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

Does this mean when they get older they’re not going to stray a bit?  Of course they will. There will come a time when they will need to find themselves. But, they will remember the values they were taught by you. The seeds you plant will affect future generations. The good seeds that you planted in your children to help them blossom, and they will pass on, and those others will also pass it on to others as well.  

You’ve just left a legacy!

~ Rebbitzen Kat
   March 2024