Psalm 127:3 in the New King James Version tells us: Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Also in Proverbs 22:6 we are instructed as Christian parents to: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Then one of my favorite scriptures concerning our children is in Isaiah 54:13: All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In the Amplified Bible the latter part of verse 13 says, ..great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. Another passage comes from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 which is a great plan for every Christian to implement into their family's life plan: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!" "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
______________________________________
You may be wondering about all these passages concerning children; well, wonder no more. October 22nd is Jonathan's birthday and 12 years ago his Dad and I were in the throes of getting ready for his arrival. What a blessing was in store for us. Joey, Jonathan's older (by 25 years) brother, was waiting with us and there was much excitement in the air. Unlike Mary & Joseph, we were in a wonderful suite in a really nice hospital and I was waited on hand and foot and treated with much tender care. Many of our friends and family came to share the joy with us both prior to and following his birth. Truly most came after the 'big event' so they could celebrate by holding our 'chunk' of a kid, as our pastor at that time referred to him. He came at 7:31 am and weighed in at 9 lb. 4 oz. and was 22 1/4 inches long. Now he's wearing some men's clothes at 11 and almost 5 ft. tall. So many things have transpired over these few years.
I often feel like Mary must have felt when she went looking for him after the days that He was missing from the family any time we've been apart. I hardly ever am without Jonathan. I guess the passage in Deuteronomy is a great picture of our lives as we are home schooling him, now for the 4th year. He is learning so much more than I did and is able to be taught so much more from God's Word that can be intermingled throughout all of his studies. His Dad and I are very blessed by his life and the things God is doing in and through him.
We've been blessed to have the opportunity of seeing him give his life to the Lord last summer, July 18, 2007. On October 14th Carl was blessed to have the privilege of baptizing him during our morning worship service at Byrd's Chapel and seeing him make the decision to join the church.
Since then he has begun an online newsletter that focuses on missions, both at home and abroad. He has been recycling aluminum and selling bookmarks among other items for the purpose of financially supporting our local food bank. He is the 'point man' in our area in collecting aluminum can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis that houses families of children who are on extended stays in St. Jude Hospital. He was given a challenge by his pastor and Dad to ask the Lord what his calling is and to begin to do it. He and I prayed and Jonathan felt then that the Lord wants him to 'feed the world'. We then began to pray about the ways he could do that and the ones listed are just some of the ways he's getting this calling going in his life. One other thing he feels strongly about is the website
Jonathan has been a blessing to both of us as his parents and continues to be. We are so excited to see what God will do with his life as he matures in age and in the Lord.
During Sunday morning church, Nov. 9, 1997, someone wrote a Word from the Lord for us concerning Jonathan's life and gave it to our pastor. Following the service he passed it on to us. Here is what it says:
Carl & Jennie,
"There are those who have questioned the wisdom of your having this child. But know that this child is from Me. Before his conception he was chosen by Me. You were chosen as his parents because he will need the guidance of mature parents. Parents who will teach him My Word and will raise him to be who I created him to be. For I have called him to be a minister to Me and for Me. Now seek Me for the wisdom needed to train him for the life I have for him."
Also when he was two years old I heard a pastor say this phrase and cross stitched it for Jonathan so he'd not be able to allow it to leave his mind throughout his life: Jonathan, You have a Destiny! Always trust in God, obey Him, follow His leadership, guidance, and direction and you will then see that Destiny fulfilled.
Both of these things come to my mind as we begin to celebrate Jonathan's 12th birthday tomorrow. Our celebration may be small and done at home in our own family setting but it will be one big moment in the life of the Heberg family and the destiny of Jonathan's life. Happy Birthday, Jonathan!
All of you with children know the extent of what we're experiencing. We all know, also, that every parent thinks their child(ren) is(are) the best thing(s) since sliced bread or some such thing. Isn't it great that God loves each one of His children even more than we do ours? Sometimes that concept seems hard to fathom, doesn't it? Sure, there are times when everything doesn't flow like oil or honey but there is always one sure thing. The love is great and we are so blessed that there is yet one more year to celebrate this great gift and blessing God has so graciously entrusted us to mold and shape in His pattern.
Now, I pray that you will be greatly encouraged to re-evaluate your lives to include the pattern in the passages of scripture I've shared with you as you continue to train, mold and shape these wonderful blessings God has entrusted to you. I know, as do you, that there will be some mistakes made and some things left by the wayside, but we also know that we have a Father who can make all things new and everything right as we simply go to Him at these times. I do also commit myself anew to follow God's leading in a more intense manner and keep myself fully aware that both I and my husband are held responsible to doing God's bidding in this great adventure of family life.
May the Lord richly bless you and all your efforts as He leads you by His Holy Spirit as you take each step in the coming days
You have a Destiny! Always trust in God, obey Him, follow His leadership, guidance, and direction and you will then see that Destiny fulfilled.
As many may know I was 42 at Jonathan's birth. www.freerice.com where you can go on and play a variety of educational games that will give 20 grains of rice to the World Food Program for every correct response.
