The “ART” of Raising Children

 1 Samuel 1

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3

Hannah understood that her long-awaited son was both a and a .

Her son’s name was Samuel and she kept her promise and gave him to the after he was weaned.

Hannah knew above all else she was a of Samuel.

A Reality To Acknowledge

We need to see ourselves as entrusted of our children.

They are on to us for a short time – it is in an entrusted privilege.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Psalm 139:13-16 NLT

There is not a hint in these verses of a child being a or a – each one is .

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.
Proverbs 22:6 NASB

UNIQUE Indeed – But!

There are some general principles that apply to each one.

1^st Demonstrate a genuine in what goes on in the of each child.

Good parenting is spelled: – – –

Being in life together is where children come to know , their , – .

It’s where they learn about .

The major key is .

2^nd Love and each child .

Do you realize God loves you ?

3^rd Setting is a must!

God’s first two – and everyone since – has tested the .

Guidelines must be and if possible, give the .

4^th Seek to meet each child’s “”.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  1 Timothy 5:8

In providing – you should distinguish between and .

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

5^th Pass on your !

Our ability to influence our children is tied into their for us.

And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.  Deut. 6:7

6^th Teach them to be .

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  James 1:5, 17