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Welcome to my podcast, Live With Eternal Perspective, I'm Terri Hitt. This podcast is for women who want to learn more about how to raise godly children and deepen their walk with the Lord. EPISODE TRANSCRIPTIONS Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 153 - Change From a Good to Godly Woman and Mother Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 146 - Praying Scripture - Part 1 replay Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 145 - How to Know Truth in a Mixed-Up World of Pride Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 144 - Life Lessons Through my Dog Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 143 - Prayer (replay) Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 142 - How Do My Actions Reflect God to Others? Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 141 - Why Should I Seek Jesus Early in the Morning? Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 140 - How to Identify False Teachers Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 139 - Are You Really a Christian? Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 138 - Christ, The Master Builder Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 137 - Renewing Inwardly Through Christ Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 136 - How to Thrive as a Christian in a World of Unbelievers Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 135 - May It Be As You Desire, God Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 134 - You've Trusted God with Eternity - What About Today? Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 133 - The Power of Your Story Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 132 - Am I Hearing You God? Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 131 - An Eternal Perspective Life Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 130 - Practicing Gratitude While Life Happens Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 129 - Don't Let Lies Keep You From Living in the Fullness of Christ Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 128 - Living to Flourish through Christ Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 127 - Living Fully in the Moment Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 126 - Developing a Humble Attitude Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 125 - Willing Steward Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 124 - Solace in Silence Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 123 - Engaged With Eternity Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 122 - Trials and Tragedies Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 121 Facets of Faith Reading of Hebrews 11 Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 120 - What the Lord Requires Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 119 - Conquer Overwhelm Read Now Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 118 - Biblical Friendship and Connection Read Now

Sometimes we each need someone to reach out, place an arm around our shoulder, and lead us to a resource that meets us where we are. On this page you will find materials mentioned in the podcast, and other helpful resources created to deepen your personal walk with God, designed to help you choose Christ over culture, and parent with godly confidence and connection. RESOURCES Subscribe to get exclusive updates Email* Join Our Mailing List I want to subscribe to your mailing list. Sometimes we each need someone to reach out, place an arm around our shoulder, & lead us to a resource that meets us where we are. I hope you find that embrace here. On this page you will find materials mentioned in the podcast, & other helpful resources created to deepen your personal walk with God, help you choose Christ over culture, & parent with confidence & connection. When you select “download now,” you'll be asked to sign up as a member of my email list. It doesn't have to be a long commitment; you can unsubscribe at any time. Once you've signed up, you'll have access to all current and future free resources. The goal of my heart is to continue sharing resources that reveal the joy of living with your eyes & heart focused on eternity and help you choose Christ over culture with a purpose that allows you to live & parent with confidence & connection. GOOD to GODLY: A 31-DAY SCRIPTURE & PRAYER GUIDE FOR MOMS I invite you to begin this 31-Day Scripture study designed to equip your mind and heart to shift from being a good mother to become a godly mother. The Scriptures included in this guide are shared for the purpose of drawing you closer to Christ. Discover How Your Identity is Sabotaging Your Children Do you ever get frustrated, angered, or hurt by the behaviors of your children? Is busyness reflected in your relationships and reactions? You may have unknowingly built identity on self, rather than Savior. The way you build identity will likely be passed to your children. Remember, little eyes and ears know your identity is exposed through all you do and say; how you act and react. This resource is a sample of my Set Apart Collective program for mothers who desire to parent with eternity in mind. When you discover how identity in Christ equips you to be the set-apart mother God created you to be, you'll be equipped to teach your children to be set-apart in Christ with identity built on Truth. HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP (GODLY) CONFIDENCE We live in a world that tells your child to trust feelings to define who they are, but God's Word instructs differently. How to Help Your Child Develop (Godly) Confidence will give you tips and Scripture to equip you to build confidence that will last and strengthen your child (and yourself) through identity in Christ. PRAYERS FOR MY CHILD Would you like to experience the power of God's word in the life of your child? Download the "Prayers for My Child" resource to learn how to offer God's word to Him as prayers designed to transform the heart of your child or grandchild into the wise and loving hands of our Heavenly Father.

I'm Terri Hitt, Christian Motherhood Mentor. I equip women to STOP being good moms - and become GODLY moms who parent with a heart for eternity and raise kids who chase Christ over culture. a Purposed Parenting Plan™️, learn a Motherhood Mindset Model™️, parent the heart of your child, not just the behavior, and learn to disciple, not punish. I also offer a weekly podcast, Purposed Parent Connected Child. Break the LIES that keep you TRAPPED... 🔗LEARN HOW IN MY BOOK Culture is competing for your child's heart. Are you intentionally shaping the faith of your child, or is culture doing it for you? Make sure you lead your child to Christ with clarity and conviction. Generational faith is never accidental. It is built intentionally. BEGIN HERE You want your children to reflect the fruit of the Spirit—but fruit grows from roots. The spiritual direction of your home begins with your identity in Christ and the condition of your own heart. If you are not purposed in forming the faith of your children in Christ moment by moment, culture will craft their identity. What are their words and actions showing you about the condition of their heart? Culture defines good by appearance, approval, and achievement. God defines good by holiness, obedience, and surrender. Which holds the most influence in your home? If the world subtly sets the standards of your home, it will shape the souls of your children. Say Good-Bye to the “Good” Mom: Discover the GODLY Woman you were created to be. You’ve listened to society, friends, and even family define what it means to live well and raise children successfully—yet you feel overwhelmed instead of overjoyed. Your home feels more chaotic than Christ-centered. Your children are more influenced by peers than by parents. Here is the truth: Nothing changes until He changes you. The way you parent flows from the condition of your heart. If your identity is shaped by the world, your motherhood will reflect it. But when your identity is anchored in Christ, your influence shapes hearts to reflect Him. I will help you discern the difference between “good” motherhood and godly formation, so you can inhale Christ’s truth and exhale His likeness into the lives of your children. Godly ways to renew your HOME & HEART Raise girls to become godly women Become the woman who seeks Him moment by moment Parent to affect generations for Jesus Strengthen connection with your children through intentional discipleship. Lead them toward Christ with clarity in a culture of competing voices. Parent with eternal perspective instead of reacting to the moment. Through Godly Girlhood, Godly Motherhood, and Godly Womanhood, the Collective equips women to build identity, refine mindset, and cultivate generational faith with purpose. TELL ME MORE! Testimonials "I am always amazed, encouraged, and inspired by listening to Terri's podcasts. She is like your modern Esther of the Bible. Terri embodies such a love for the Lord and a strong clarity about life in a confused culture. Her messages and topics are timeless and relevant. Her mission to mentor women on choosing Christ over culture and to raise children to love and follow the Lord is contagious. I have followed Terri for some time, and I am always in awe at the wonderful things stored in the treasures of her heart. May God continue to bless the work of her hand." Liz - heaven4thehome.com Remember: Your Children Were Entrusted to You Your children were entrusted to you by God for intentional discipleship and eternal influence. You were created for deep connection—with them and with Christ. Every child longs to be known and understood according to their unique design, personality, and needs. Yet no strategy, personality insight, or parenting method can substitute for spiritual formation. Only Christ’s truth can transform you into the attuned mother they need. Here is the reality: If you are not intentionally knowing Christ and showing Him to the next generation, the world will shape what they believe. Identity will be formed. The only question is by whom. Christ or culture. The world or the Way. I once wanted to be a good mom. Losing my firstborn daughter reshaped my perspective. While raising her, I believed I was following Christ. Yet in the busyness of daily life, I often responded more from cultural influence than from the Way. Grief opened my eyes. I no longer desired to be merely a good mother—but a godly one. Choosing Christ over culture is not a slogan for me. It is an ongoing commitment. If you are here, I believe you desire the same. The Story Behind My Mission Here is the truth : Christ designed connection. He knows that the way to your child’s heart is through Him. You have been entrusted with the privilege and purpose of intentional discipleship. That is why I equip you with a strategic path—tailored to your child’s design and anchored in eternal truth. JOIN THE COLLECTIVE "And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7 WHY being a good mom isn't enough ... FREE EBOOK GET THE FREE EBOOK You're on your way to becoming a GODLY mom! Make sure to check your spam folder so youdon't miss your free e-book! Christian Parenting Author Terri Hitt Good to Godly Book Step 1 Send me an email at info@terrihitt.com Next Steps Step 2 Fill out the application I send you. I WANT TO AFFECT GENERATIONS FOR JESUS Step 3 You're on the path to become a GODLY mom! Statement of Faith Terri Hitt believes Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. At Terri Hitt Co., LLC, we seek to know Him more clearly and humbly depend on Jesus more each moment. We joyfully strive to equip women to leave a legacy of Christ for their family and future generations. We believe in the Truth of God’s Holy Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and strive to follow Jesus in life, as well as in our mentorship.

Do you desire to stop reacting in the moment and parent with purpose? Are you ready for a deeper connection with Christ and your child? Purposed Parent/Connected Child episodes focus on educating and equipping you to recognize the unique individual God entrusted to you and will empower you to partner with Him to parent with eternal perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective View all episodes Godly Motherhood View all episodes Do you desire to stop reacting in the moment and parent with purpose? Are you ready for a deeper connection with Christ and your child? Godly Motherhood episodes focus on educating and equipping you to recognize the unique individual God entrusted to you and will empower you to partner with Him to parent with eternal perspective. All episodes Are you in need of hope? Is your spirit lacking joy? Do you seek peace? Are you tired of comparison? The Live With Eternal Perspective podcast was created for women to sharpen their understanding of Jesus and uncover all He desires for us to live a rich life and deepen our love for Him. Uncover how eternal perspective extends beyond our personal walk. Cling to the truth that Jesus has a unique plan for your life and learn how to choose Him over culture. Future episodes will continue to emphasize an intentional, eternal perspective lifestyle while focusing on faith, life, relationships, parenting, and simply sitting at the feet of Jesus to mature our hearts in genuine worship and gratitude. All episodes FIND WHAT YOU NEED

< Back Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode 009 - Uniquely Christ's Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode #009 – Uniquely Christ’s Are you yearning for greater connection with your child? Would you like to parent beyond the moment with eternal perspective? Let’s grow together now with practical tips, scripture, and stories geared to draw your heart to Jesus and guide your child into His arms. Because I homeschool, I’ve been able to spend much more time with my two youngest daughters than I was able to be with my oldest children, who attended public school while I worked full-time. When you stay home with your children, plus serve as their educator in the classroom, you have the opportunity to craft a special relationship with each child. Not only do I know their natural inclinations toward learning and life, but I understand their attitude and desires. I have a front row seat to viewing when lessons and material stick and when we need to work harder; I get to be present when they accomplish big goals and look them in the eye to share successes in the moment. Just as I have memorized the faces of my beautiful daughters, their spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical states are well known by me. Our closeness comes from time spent together and by pursuing relationship through thick and thin. I know what lights them up and what dims their interest. God clearly shows Himself to me daily through my interactions with them as I recognize His mighty hand in the way He crafted them with special talents, interests, and dreams that can only come from Him. Some may believe that all people are created as “blank slates” with potential to become anything they desire. While part of that statement can be considered true, if we look to scripture, we see that God actually purposed to craft uniqueness into each of us. Psalm 139:13-16 says, “ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” When we examine this passage closely, we are able to detect the intimacy of God and begin to understand how He planned for and brought each of us into existence. God created our “inmost ” being, meaning our intimate thoughts, our deepest desires. As he formed each of us, we were knitted together, meaning His actions were designed uniquely for each specific human He thought of and created. Every single person is exceptional and exclusive, complex, and created for a purpose designed by the Great I Am. God, the Author of Life was involved in planning and forming each inmost area and outer detail of our soul and body. As the passage of scripture in Psalm 139 continues, we read affirmation that God planned us, saw us, and formed us. He knew all the seconds and days our life would hold before we even came to be. It is no coincidence that you are paired with and have the particular child you were given at the exact time they came to be with you. Whether by birth or adoption, God knew you would parent exactly who you do. Over my extended years of parenting I have found comfort and direction in these verses from Psalm 139. I hope they bring you peace and strength in your parenting journey, as well. Not only are we able to find assurance and affirmation in self-worth for ourselves, but most importantly, for our children. This passage of scripture leaves no doubt that we are each cherished and planned. Your child is not an after-thought. His or her life matters. God purposed for your children to exist. He planned each of us, made each of us, knew us before we were born, and knew the exact second each of us were conceived. Even more, God is present at every moment of formation and development for everyone. He knows when we are born and He knows when we will leave this earth. There is no greater method of teaching your child that her life matters and that God has specific plans for her than through this section of Psalms. Of course, most parents wouldn’t argue the fact that their child is special. Yet, the way we view “special” in earthly or secular terms versus how God defines unique is often quite different. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do .” Combining the passage we read earlier from Psalms with this verse from Ephesians proves that we, and our children are each alive and purposed for special plans that can only come from the Father and are to be used for the Father. Ephesians 2:10 affirms again that we are God’s workmanship and are created in Christ for good works, which were prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Because of our relationship with Jesus, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the good works predestined for them to accomplish through Christ. It is very interesting that the word “workmanship” translated in Greek becomes the word poiema (poyeema), which is the root of the English word, “poem.” I find two definitions for the word “poem” to be beautifully interesting in light of the context we are seeking here. The first definition of “poem” is, “a composition in verse, especially one that is characterized by a highly developed artistic form and by the use of heightened language and rhythm to express an intensely imaginative interpretation of the subject .” The second definition is: “composition that, though not in verse, is characterized by great beauty of language or expression .” How God loves each of us and our children to compose us in such specific, artistic ways that showcase His imagination and sovereignty . How clearly He values our individuality and purpose . How deeply He yearns and calls for us to honor Him with what we do and how we use what He has instilled within us. As Christians, we can earnestly believe that we are to raise our child to honor Christ, yet be stuck in how to do it. How is a parent supposed to find the ways each child is unique? 1. Relationship with you – Spending time with your child, observing their tendencies and giftedness. The most important part of this piece is to observe your child through God’s eyes and heart to find what may be used for Him. 2. Play – We all know God works hard, but He also allows Himself to relax. Just seeing the playfulness of each of God’s creations, not only in people, proves that He crafted and understands the importance of play. Children deeply need time to process and understand life, relationships, feelings, and emotions. Try to spend at least a small portion of each day doing some type of play with your child. Much will be discovered during this personal time spent together. If your child is older, play time includes their love language: shopping together, visiting coffee shops, sitting in their room together, chatting and laughing, or enjoying a sporting event or physical activity together. It doesn’t include just going to watch them in an event. Make time to hang out together to deepen your relationship together and get the opportunity to really observe and enjoy your child. 3. Feelings and Emotions – Through much time spent together in playful and serious moments, you will witness your child will express a variety of feelings and emotions. As they express joy or pour out their thoughts or show you through actions, you have the opportunity to see how they are constructed. Are they quiet, do they withhold feelings, do they need time to process, or do they spill and regret? 4. Interests – What lights up the eyes of your children? What makes them excited? What disappoints or scares them? Do they repeatedly seek the same things or like new adventures? Is there a skill or talent that shines through them? How do we help our child to recognize the ways God has made him unique? 1. Healthy parent – When we have and are building a strong, mature relationship with Christ and we show our child the importance of relationship with Him, it will become important to our child. Accepting the gifts and talents God crafted within us is crucial. If we put ourself down and show no value in the way God has constructed us, our child will not find value in himself. As a parent, I believe we also have a very important responsibility to continue seeking God, allowing Him to develop and alter us. We cannot help and enable our children to become what God requires of them if we are not giving our needs to the Lord in humble, loving submission and allowing Him to graft Himself throughout us. Society often reminds us we can only do our best, but I don’t want your best or my best for our precious children. I desire God’s best for us so that they receive His best, as well. 2. Self-esteem – Whether we brag about our abilities or complain about what we feel is wrong with us, neither is the type of confidence Christ would have for us or our children. Building self-esteem through the Lord builds our walk with Him and becomes an example to our children, teaching them how to rely on Christ and trust that He has placed value within them. Helping our child to build their esteem through Jesus is the greatest foundation they will have. They must understand Who they belong to and what to craft their life around. Actively building that relationship with you and Christ together daily enables your child to recognize their godly potential and step out in faith to continue building it. How do we guide our child to use their giftings, interests, or talents for God? 1. Safety – When we are focused on constructing and maintaining strong relationship with our child and Christ, our child feels safe to learn and grow with us. It is much easier to trust Jesus when your child knows she can trust you. When we remark on their abilities and strengths and offer suggestions as to how to use them for the Lord, our child hears and listens to our suggestions and feels safe enough to trust our encouragement and testimony to pursue their own faith. 2. Encouragement – Acknowledging the strengths of our children and offering glory to God for them teaches them to do the same. 3. Relationship with Jesus – When our child discovers faith and purposely develops it as their own, relationship with Christ will slowly mature. As they see, hear, and remember the way we have taught them to respect how God made them individually and for a purpose, and see how we use our own giftings for the Lord, they will believe their Heavenly Father can guide them in the way to honor Him. As we continue to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and with all our strength, and humbly seek His way in building relationship with our children and allowing Him to continue transforming us moment by moment, our children are taught by example. As we recognize and help them develop the interests and talents God specifically chose to craft within them, then teach them the joy of serving God through them, we honor our Lord in ways that last for eternity. Dear Heavenly Father, how great You are! Thank you for entrusting us with the talents and gifts You crafted within each of us and for the ones You gifted to our children. Help all of us to see and use what You have given us and enable our children to use them in mighty ways for Your kingdom and purpose. May our children delight You in the way they use the creativity and interests You chose for them. Your word tells us that before You formed our children in the womb You knew them, before they were born You set them apart, just as You did for us. What a holy honor to walk in the plans You have set for us. Help us to be so close to You, help our children to choose You and walk in Your ways that we each easily discern Your purpose and ways. Your word assures us that even the very hairs of our head are all numbered . You tell us that You, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand . In so many ways You make it clear that You are the Great I Am, but You also show how deeply and clearly You love us and chose to be with us. How thankful we desire to be. Help us please You as we understand more clearly moment by moment just how good You are, just how lavishly You love. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this podcast. If you pray for your child, please look for my free ebook, “Prayers for My Child,” available on the website under the “Resources” page and is designed to guide the heart of your child to the feet of Jesus through scripturally-based prayer. The Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast is now available at terrihitt.com, where you can access the episodes housed in one convenient location, receive access to blog posts, read transcripts, and find additional resources designed to mature your walk with Christ and equip you to raise or influence connected children through Him. God knows that we are not capable of successful parenting on our own. As we rely on Him, releasing doubts and expectations, and humbly bow to His guidance and experience, we find greater clarity in parenting and a wondrous walk with our Creator that will extend to our children and those around us for generations . I pray this podcast helps you parent with purpose and deepen your connection to Jesus and your children as you intentionally place Christ above culture or self. Allow Him to work through you for true connection that will draw your children to Him and build a maturing relationship with Christ and your child that lasts for eternity. Previous Next

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 037 - Life Lessons From my Teen Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode #037 – Life Lessons From my Teen Thank you for listening to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast. My prayer is that you and I will parent with purpose and confidently connect with Christ and our children moment by moment. Since my middle daughter recently graduated from high school, I enjoy listening to her thoughts on childhood and her upbringing. While sharing a walk in the neighborhood recently, I spontaneously asked her to share 3 things she thought I did well while raising her. Would you like to hear her response? The top 3 things my daughter believes helped shape the morals she holds as a young adult were: 1. Church/Service – Because she was raised going to church out of reverence and love for God, and we were very active in many activities and committees as she was growing up, my daughter believes it taught her to make God a priority and that serving in the areas He calls you to at church is an act of love and obedience. Every committee meeting I could bring my daughter to, I made sure she was present. Sometimes my husband took her to his. My daughter helped set up for events, she danced at meetings and programs, and she helped make decorations. When I prepared materials for VBS, she helped. When I had to clean up after VBS, she helped. When we opened our home several times to house out of town college students, she was part of the conversations we had. Everything she could take part in, we allowed. Now she is a four-time Presidential Gold Service Award winner and has hours logged in other years that she never submitted for awards. Serving is natural for her and now, as an adult Christian she knows that she is serving for Him above all. 2. Awareness – Because we taught her to be selective and careful about what clothing she wore and what types of music she listened to, my daughter believes she learned a foundational understanding of being conscious of how she presents herself and what she allows to reside in her mind. She believes that how she learned to manage what she allowed into her mind taught her to carefully consider what she listens to or watches. For example, we taught her not to wear a bikini out in public as we did not want her to desire wearing scanty clothing when she was a tween or teen. We didn’t allow short shorts or shorts and sweats with writing on the bottom. Looking forward to the future with present decisions made a huge difference in what she came to desire as she matured. 3. Respect – Because my daughter feels that my husband and I respected the gifts and talents God placed within her, and that we helped and encouraged her to find and pursue them, she feels very blessed for our support. My daughter believes that when parents truly respect the child as a whole and unique person created by God, it makes it much easier to find the passions He crafted within and allows a stronger parent/child relationship. She felt that we actually paid attention to who she is and not what we wanted her to be or become. I enjoyed hearing her answers so much. I want to state that I didn’t know what she would say and truly, her answers surprised me. They weren’t the answers I thought she would give, but I’m so thankful for the ways God spoke to us while raising her. I thankful for the tiny acts that we made consistently over the years. They paid off for her and us in the best ways now that our daughter is facing young adult years. Please mothers, use what I shared to remember that what you do matters ! Continue to seek God’s Word and use it in practical, godly ways. Proverbs 4:5 says, “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them .” Ask God for the wisdom to raise your children wisely. Ask Him to lead you in raising godly children who know and honor Him. Ask Him to keep you consistent in pursuing and shining Him to your children and family. Making God a priority and remaining in Him over the years will teach your children that your faith is real because God is. If you’d like to hear more, I will release an interview with my daughter this summer. I’ll be sure to let you know when it airs. Remember, I’m not sharing this with you because I think I’m the greatest mother. I share because anything that worked well came from God. I know anything I did well came from His wisdom. Mothers, continue looking Up and seek Him in all decisions. Although I fall short, He still lifts up what I offer and multiplies beyond my wildest dreams. He will absolutely do the same for you. Dear Heavenly Father, Your goodness to us is overwhelming. Your love is beyond what we can comprehend. How faithful You are. I thank you for all You are and do in our lives. Father, even when we absolutely do not deserve Your best, You still offer it. Thank you. Lord, please help me, help each of us to continue to seek You through Your Word, prayer, and service in all the ways You call and desire. Help us to hear You clearly because we seek You consistently. May we, and our children, please You more each day. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” podcast. This summer the episodes will be shorter and I may occasionally offer favorite replays as I spend time with my family and follow a special collective I believe God is calling me to complete for Him. Remember, this podcast, and the “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast, may be found at terrihitt.com, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and they are part of the Spark Media Network. Both podcasts may also now be found on the Edifi app, where you can hear thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment. Have you rated or reviewed my podcasts on Apple Podcasts yet? Did you know that when you review my podcasts on Apple, it helps to elevate the standing of the podcasts online so that more people are allowed to find and hear them. Will you please take a moment to follow the shows and think of someone you can share the podcasts with and encourage them to follow and share, as well? Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will sway them away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Parent and Connect With Eternal Perspective. Previous Next

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast- Episode 107 - Why It's Important to Teach Your Child to Prioritize Jesus Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 107 – Why It’s Important to Teach Your Child to Prioritize Jesus Thank you for sharing your day with me. I pray this podcast gives you the awareness and tools you need to STOP being a GOOD mom and BECOME the GODLY mom God entrusts you to be. Then you will be the SET-APART woman PURPOSELY raising children to chase CHRIST over culture. Just a quick reminder as we start, if you enjoy Purposed Parent Connected Child podcast episodes, would you please share this episode or others with a friend or family member? When you graciously take a moment to do that, and leave a rating or review at Apple Podcast, you are ensuring that others will find the podcast. When you do, you’re helping affect generations for Jesus. Now on to this episode about why it’s important to teach your child to prioritize Jesus… One of the highlights of my days is sharing Bible study with my two youngest daughters. Teaching the truths of God, maturing our faith together, and viewing their faith growth is a gift and blessing I never take for granted. Because we share this time, I get to hear their questions and answers, see those “aha” moments, and watch them practice their faith in daily life situations. I know I’m not responsible for their faith in Christ, for God does the work within each of us. But I do know that one decision my husband and I made years ago became the foundation upon which their faith is grounded. We committed to raising our child for Him, no matter what obstacles life threw at us. When we knew God was calling us to adopt our sweet baby girl from China in 2005, we prayerfully and purposely created a parenting plan that would be the root of biblical training she (and a sister we brought home ten years later) would receive. Because we had already parented one set of children and experienced maturing faith in Christ, my husband and I had the gift of knowing what we wanted to change and what we thought worked well the first time we parented. You probably know that I often talk about being a good versus godly parent. When I tell you that I was a good parent the first time and a godly parent in my second round of parenting, I mean that I no longer rely on self. This parenting shift has nothing to do with my children, but everything to do with honoring God with the children He entrusted to me. As my personal faith grew and I realized how parenting values in this world are so far from what God desires, I knew what I offered was a shadow of what God commands. When raising my first two, I loved the Lord, but got sidetracked without knowing it. I never realized I was a good mom who unintentionally valued the world more than the Word . How is your life? Are you intentionally living with an eternal perspective that propels you to invite Jesus to rule over your life moment my moment? Maybe you’re His, but you haven’t really submitted to daily living under His Lordship. It’s not too late. Do it today. Do it now. You see, in order to desire to raise godly children, then complete that high calling, you must be intentional . Purposed . Jesus must be the focus of your parenting . You can’t simply hope to raise kind, successful, well-adjusted kids, because they’ll be raised on the standards of this world . Without purposely teaching your kids strong and intentional identity through Christ, your children won’t have lasting joy, hope, or peace. Those qualities and gifts are only present when your child is filled with the Holy Spirit and submitted to Christ themselves. As parents, we can know we love God, be His through salvation through Jesus, but still unknowingly focus on world more than Word. How? Because we are human. We get distracted. We think that just because we love Jesus and have called Him to be our Lord and Savior that our children will do the same. But with hectic schedules and all that comes with work, home life, raising kids, fostering relationships, and you know the list goes on…unless you commit to God and with your spouse that you will do whatever it takes to raise your children for Jesus with purpose each day, time will slip away. This is why it’s important that you prioritize Christ. Moment by moment. That’s how you will teach your children to prioritize Jesus. Deuteronomy 6:5-8 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ” Consider your home life…honestly. Do your days reflect you and your spouse loving God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength? Are God’s commandments on your hearts moment by moment? Is God top of mind or is it the newest designer bag or the errands you need to run? God made His command for parents very clear. Love Him with all your heart – with all your soul – with all your strength . You can’t do that if you don’t have a purposed relationship with Jesus. One that is growing , widening , and deepening moment by moment. Know God and His Word so you can teach your children His truths . Study God’s Word daily. Teach Him to your children moment by moment. This world is filled with deceit. How will you – how will your children recognize deceit if you don’t know God’s Word? You simply can’t . You will not recognize the lies of this world, of culture, of society, of flesh unless you know and follow God’s truths. Plant God’s commands on your heart. Impress them on your children. Not as a sword raised over their heads, but as truth you know, believe, love, and follow moment by moment. Consider this truth: You are the first Jesus your children see . How are you representing Him? Are you drawing your children toward God and His Word? Or do you ignorantly send them into the world to absorb deceit as truth? Talk about the Lord at home , on the road , when you lie down , and when you get up . Weave Him into your soul so that you breathe Him into all you do. What does this look like? This means you know Jesus well through fellowship and submission to the Word, God’s truths, and that you love and honor the Lord so much that you prioritize Him and place Him on the throne of your day. Start with Bible study, even if you have to get up earlier or listen instead of read some days. Make sure you are inhaling truth so that you can exhale truth to your children . Knowing and teaching God’s truths creates a solid foundation for your child to build on. Because you are teaching His Truth , you will begin teaching respect for God. You will teach honor and obedience to Him. Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise .” What else does this look like? Showing godly character even when no one is watching. It means following God when you relax as a family. The shows you watch, the music you listen to, the books and magazines you read should be evaluated through a lens of Christlike scrutiny. It sounds challenging. I know. We’re human. But as you submit to God in these areas, you will see the difference He makes in your life, the life of your spouse, and the life of your children and family as a whole. When you profess Jesus as your Savior, it takes effort to grow that relationship, just like it does with each person in your life. It’s frighteningly easy to drift away from the Lord and close relationship with Him. All it takes it you doing nothing. Falling into a pattern or not reading the Word, not praying, not listening for His voice and not obeying immediately when you do hear instruction. It’s taking shortcuts because you say you’re too busy, but we all know deep down that we can make time for what we really want to do. God deserves your attention. He deserves all glory and praise. As you are careful about how you live, as you teach your children about God, about relationship with Jesus, and to know truth and recognize deceit, you will also teach respect and praise for God. Ephesians 5:1-20 says, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ .” How convicting this passage is. We need to be convicted by God’s Word, lest we continue to fall away in ways we consider small day by day…and lead our children with us . We cannot lead our children to the Way unless we live the Word. There are several important, simple truths you can easily weave into conversations with your children. These will undergird the foundation you build on Christ. Discuss these during Bible studies, show them in your words and actions daily. I’ll share some now. · God has good guidelines or commands that we must obey. · God gives Mom and Dad guidelines, too. The most important is to teach our children about Jesus. · We must fear God - which means loving and respecting Who He is. · God gives grace. · Jesus is the way to relationship with God. · The Bible (God’s Word) leads us to His truths and relationship with Jesus · Relationship with Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit. · The Holy Spirit guides us in all truth and gives us the fruits of the Spirit. · We receive godly wisdom when we obey God. · We cannot make wise or godly choices without God’s truths and wisdom. · God is truth, so He perfectly guides us in truth. · The book of Genesis in the Bible gives us the keys to a godly life that is pleasing to our Father. · The book of Romans in the Bible shows God’s righteousness. Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you .” Also lovingly teach your children that they respect God when they honor, respect, and obey you - their parent. Then do not exasperate them . Do not ignorantly show your children the world instead of the Way. God has many reasons for calling children to respect parents. When children respect God, they desire to please Him . When a child desires to please God, they build more connection and stability within the family. When family members are all respectful of and loving to one another, they honor God. A family unit is built that shines Christ in society. When this happens, the community is strengthened because family is a central component to building a strong culture, government, and world. Your children must understand that God is sovereign . They won’t learn that fact unless you believe and teach it. God must be honored. He is the Creator of all. He deserves honor and praise. As each person is created in God’s image and for His good purposes, we must intentionally treat one another with love, honor, and respect. When we direct our children to prioritize Him above all else, we train our children to rely on God and His strength within them. As they travel through life, no matter what they face, this godly mind and heart attitude will teach them to submit to their Heavenly Father. Instead of walking beside Him, they will invite Him to carry them. Assess which areas you should place focus to strengthen in 2025. Look at where you may have failed in the past. Look at the strengths you hold for building relationship with Jesus in your home. Prayerfully seek God and ask what He desires you to release. Where does He want you to focus so that you and your family see and shine Him more freely and diligently? How can you joyfully (and with open hands) direct your children to prioritize Jesus? What will you change now so you will guide your children to His Word, Truths, and feet? It’s timely that this episode is coming out just before Christmas. As you run around doing tasks such as decorating and cooking, buying presents, and having parties, enjoy yourself! Have fun experiencing the holidays, but please remember to think of this season as we imagine God does. Jesus is first. Forgive the cliché, but He is the reason for the season. We experience Christmas in the ways of the world, and as parents, we try to make the holiday a memorable and beautiful one. I’m sure God loves to see us give and spread happiness, but true joy only comes from Him – the Holy Spirit living within us. Praise God for Jesus. Thank you, Jesus for all You sacrificed for us. Please remember to stop this year (if you haven’t already) and allow your focus to shift to an eternal lens. Put Jesus first and foremost in your activities. Create new traditions that shine more focus on Him – where it needs to be. Allow your children to experience the wonder of Christ and help them deepen their walk this Christmas. It’s the only gift that will last into eternity. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that guides and guards us. Thank you for Jesus who enables us to have joyful relationship with You that lasts into eternity. Help us to be godly mothers who place Jesus first as we progress through our days. Each moment is gone so quickly that time passes before we realize we haven’t focused on what You deem important. Forgive us our negligence and disobedience. Help us seek You more intimately and openly. Help us shine You into our families in ways that change generations for Jesus. In His precious name we pray. Amen. Raising children is challenging. No one has all the answers because each child is unique as are parenting styles and family dynamics. By connecting with and knowing your children as you maintain purposed growth in Christ, you will be better prepared for any situation you face. That’s why you hear me share about the Set-Apart Collective in this podcast. I work with professionals who care about making Jesus known to their children. Are you a high-achieving woman who loves Jesus, but is so busy with the rush of work and daily life that you feel like you’re being drained like the water in your bathtub? Do you yearn to get closer to Jesus and show Him to your kids so you will create a love that will last into eternity? The desire is there, but your days spiral out of control before you even think about opening your Bible. Do you ever stop to think that you are the first Jesus your child will see? Let me remind you there is hope. There is a way you can be equipped to raise kids who chase Christ over culture. If you want a connected relationship with Christ and your children that leads them to your side and His feet, instead of them seeking validation from peers, I have an 8-step program to move you from frustrated to fulfilled. I will show you how to reflect Jesus in a way that attracts your family to a connected relationship that lasts into eternity. Remember, godly parenting is rooted in relationship with Christ and the mindset you carry. If you don’t want peers and culture to be the main influence over your child, if you desire to parent to “prepare” your child for eternity with Christ, not repair your relationship with them, the Set-Apart Collective will arm you with a Christ-centered Motherhood Mindset Model™, and create a Purposed Parenting Plan™. You’ll also deepen your identity in Christ so you can mentor the way for your children to do the same. You will be a purposed mother with an intentional mind and heart set on Christ and your family and you will have the tools to raise set apart kids as you parent the heart, not simply the behavior. Does this sound like a lifeline to help you be that set-apart mom God has entrusted you to be? Visit terrihitt.com/coaching and click the link for a free, no obligation conversation call with me. This is a strategic call where I will hear your biggest struggle and show you how to turn it into a blessing that will bring you closer to Christ and your children. It’s time for believing mothers to be purposed in preparing their children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ. Time is short. Make yours matter for eternity. One last thing to remember - if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection with your children and Christ. Previous Next

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #057 – God’s Mission for Parents Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Would you like to know one of the highlights of my days? It’s when the girls and I share Bible and devotional time. The topics change with different studies, but right now we are studying Revelation. As powerful as it is to experience studying God’s word together, I know this is not enough to ensure that they have a solid foundation on which to build a life of passionate devotion to God. Prayer time together always precedes Bible study, and we frequently pray together through the day as needs arise or if we hear of someone who needs prayer. We always try to stop what we are doing and pray in that moment. I also ask my girls to pray for me. I want them to know I rely on the Lord to provide what I need and I want them to see that it is acceptable to not have all of the answers or abilities on their own. I want my chldren to be comfortable relying on God , no matter the need. Despite enjoying the blessings of purposely sharing this study time together, my youngest was not hungry to search the scriptures alone. It was time to encourage her to commit to the next step because I know she has a growing love for Jesus, but it cannot flourish if she does not root herself in God’s word. I knew had to reach her through one of her love languages. So now, before she receives any evening screen time, she has to have read from her Bible that day. It was time to develop the pattern that would give her the lifeline she will need to cling to in this world. Here’s the truth: we all have time for what is deeply important to us. I want God and His truths and words to be the oxygen required to make it through her day. How will she crave God if she doesn’t acquire a taste for Him? We settled on a schedule and I guided her with several suggestions to begin reading. Do you know what our best surprise was? My girl realized the joy of seeking and learning from God on her own. She learned it was fun to discover more about the wisdom of God and the people highlighted in the Bible. As she read Proverbs, she found the wisdom so fascinating that she read beyond the scheduled reading sections. As you may know, I am raising my second set of children. Like you, I learn as I go. Since I had my first two at 18 and 21, my parenting skills were similar to how my husband and I were parented. We made changes from what we didn’t like or appreciate growing up, but the rest was patterned after what we had experienced. I was not a follower of Jesus as a young mother. Thankfully, over the years, I have been blessed to discover and accept Jesus and to allow Him to mold me as He desires each moment. Jesus reveals mistakes and ideas to me often, as He does to all who seek Him diligently. I’m honored to be able to share what I have learned through trial and error, plus what God has revealed as I have studied Him and attempted to model my life after Jesus. Mothers, in order for our children to live a life that God would deem successful, we must continuously sharpen our personal skills to live each day with a perspective beyond the moment. Our heart and mind must be set in alignment with a compass focused on God, our True North. We are responsible for ensuring we have done everything to make Him known. Many children leave home without strong faith to set them apart in this world or one that equips them to cleave to God and allow Him to handle their decisions and battles. Ultimate parenting is God-centered and focused. Make each moment you have with your child count for eternity. You do not need to have all of the answers, but it is your duty and opportunity to guide your child to the One who does. The Bible is a God-inspired, perfect source of guidance, wisdom, and direction for parents. God purposely and generously offered His word to us as a guide for life, parenting, and relationships. As we study the Bible, and come to know Him more clearly, we develop skills needed to realize God’s commands, promises, and guidance consistently and introspectively. We feel and notice Him resetting our mind, heart, attitude, actions, thoughts, and behavior. As the Holy Spirit lives in us and we access and release His power through a maturing walk with God, others notice, as well. Each change we experience can impact the eternity of those around us, especially our spouse and children. When we read the Bible, we must consider the meanings and truths beyond what we see. There is a depth that exposes every need we have, as well as the solutions to living a God-centered life complete with joy and peace. Our children were not an after-thought. God provides for our need, as well as theirs, through His guidebook of life, the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” In order to direct our children to Him, we must already know God. Today, I want to read from one of my favorite areas of the Bible. The instructions God reveals are integral to pleasing our Heavenly Father and completing the task He has for parents and followers of Him. In Deuteronomy, God clearly directs us in what we are to hold as a sacred parental responsibility. This duty should be seen as a privilege when we already strive to live with a heart and mind set for Him. I want to share some of my favorite passages, because the words are such clearly instructive verses we are wise to follow. Deuteronomy 6:1-2a says, “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live.” God graciously gifts His people with formal, authoritative orders for our guidance and protection. What may seem binding or restrictive is meant to free us. Reverent fear for the Lord God isn’t mentioned often in society today. People, and many churches, tend to pass it by in favor of what they consider the “feel good” love of Jesus. Instead of facing God’s sovereignty, they tend to prefer speaking of gentleness and humbleness. Yet, God is a jealous God who wants our complete devotion. The author of excellence and creation, who created each of us for a purpose, deserves it. When we teach our children and grandchildren to humble themselves before the Lord and love and serve Him as He desires, we are gifting them beyond measure and for eternity. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says, “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” The greatest act of obedience we offer God is to love Him freely and passionately. In this passage, we are commanded to love God with our heart, soul, and all of our strength. This act is foundational for all of living. Do you believe we can be commanded to love? You may have heard that love is a choice. I believe that to be true. The best definition I’ve read about the love God offers and commands from us came from Dr. David Jeremiah. He wrote that, “Love in Hebrew is not confined to feelings; the term heart centers on the intellect, sensibilities, and will. So when God commands that His people love Him, it means to decide to cleave to Him, and Him alone. The command includes soul, which here is a synonym for heart – the true essence of a person. Strength translates a phrase that means, Give it all you have!” We are to love God with everything we are and have. God deserves and is worthy of our passionate love. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says, “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Breathing God in as the air we must have to sustain life, allowing Him to be head of our life, sharing Him naturally with our children, yet maintaining awe, and teaching them to honor and respect the Lord should flow naturally and readily because we love Him. Obeying the command to love God is a lifetime action of passionate devotion that becomes more meaningful daily as our love deepens. The God of all creation is not to be an after-thought. We are to willingly include Him in all. Deuteronomy 6:20-25 says, “In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the LORD our God has commanded us to obey? “Then you must tell them, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand. The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharaoh and all his people. He brought us out of Egypt so he could give us this land He had sworn to give our ancestors. And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear Him so He can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as He has done to this day. For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.” Mothers, we are God-assigned managers and stewards of His children. God commands us to love Him and teach our children to love Him. We are to mentor that passionate, devoted love for God that is for Him, and Him alone. Our children are to experience us loving God without the entrapment of idolatry in this world as we seek Him with our mind, heart, emotions, talents, time, and purpose. We are to live a lifestyle of worship as we seek, love, and follow Him so passionately that they will, too. When we pass on the love God commands, what He has done for us, and a strong faith to sustain and mature it, God lives fully through us and attracts our children more strongly than the world. Psalm 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” When our child sees us live with a passionate and consistent love for Christ that lovingly flows through all we are and do, they begin to recognize the difference He makes. Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your word and the Holy Spirit that lives inside believers. You have offered everything we need to equip us to live with a passion You deserve. Help us to clear our heart and mind to focus on what is important to You and show it to our children and others around us. Help us to study and know Your word so that it stands as our guide against the noise and distractions from this loud, harsh world. Teach us to live our life with the eternal perspective Jesus carried so that all we do honors and pleases You. May we bring you joy. May you carry that through to our children as we teach them to love and obey You, as well. In Your holy and precious name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this episode. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Christ and encourage you to raise or influence children to chase Jesus instead of this world. Be sure to sign up for my email list to be notified when my next resource, “Scattering Seeds: Planting Character and Faith in Your Child” releases soon. This eBook is an excellent encouragement and support for mothers or grandmothers of young children. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to Jesus and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up and find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 057 God's Mission for Parents Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #057 – God’s Mission for Parents Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Would you like to know one of the highlights of my days? It’s when the girls and I share Bible and devotional time. The topics change with different studies, but right now we are studying Revelation. As powerful as it is to experience studying God’s word together, I know this is not enough to ensure that they have a solid foundation on which to build a life of passionate devotion to God. Prayer time together always precedes Bible study, and we frequently pray together through the day as needs arise or if we hear of someone who needs prayer. We always try to stop what we are doing and pray in that moment. I also ask my girls to pray for me. I want them to know I rely on the Lord to provide what I need and I want them to see that it is acceptable to not have all of the answers or abilities on their own. I want my chldren to be comfortable relying on God , no matter the need. Despite enjoying the blessings of purposely sharing this study time together, my youngest was not hungry to search the scriptures alone. It was time to encourage her to commit to the next step because I know she has a growing love for Jesus, but it cannot flourish if she does not root herself in God’s word. I knew had to reach her through one of her love languages. So now, before she receives any evening screen time, she has to have read from her Bible that day. It was time to develop the pattern that would give her the lifeline she will need to cling to in this world. Here’s the truth: we all have time for what is deeply important to us. I want God and His truths and words to be the oxygen required to make it through her day. How will she crave God if she doesn’t acquire a taste for Him? We settled on a schedule and I guided her with several suggestions to begin reading. Do you know what our best surprise was? My girl realized the joy of seeking and learning from God on her own. She learned it was fun to discover more about the wisdom of God and the people highlighted in the Bible. As she read Proverbs, she found the wisdom so fascinating that she read beyond the scheduled reading sections. As you may know, I am raising my second set of children. Like you, I learn as I go. Since I had my first two at 18 and 21, my parenting skills were similar to how my husband and I were parented. We made changes from what we didn’t like or appreciate growing up, but the rest was patterned after what we had experienced. I was not a follower of Jesus as a young mother. Thankfully, over the years, I have been blessed to discover and accept Jesus and to allow Him to mold me as He desires each moment. Jesus reveals mistakes and ideas to me often, as He does to all who seek Him diligently. I’m honored to be able to share what I have learned through trial and error, plus what God has revealed as I have studied Him and attempted to model my life after Jesus. Mothers, in order for our children to live a life that God would deem successful, we must continuously sharpen our personal skills to live each day with a perspective beyond the moment. Our heart and mind must be set in alignment with a compass focused on God, our True North. We are responsible for ensuring we have done everything to make Him known. Many children leave home without strong faith to set them apart in this world or one that equips them to cleave to God and allow Him to handle their decisions and battles. Ultimate parenting is God-centered and focused. Make each moment you have with your child count for eternity. You do not need to have all of the answers, but it is your duty and opportunity to guide your child to the One who does. The Bible is a God-inspired, perfect source of guidance, wisdom, and direction for parents. God purposely and generously offered His word to us as a guide for life, parenting, and relationships. As we study the Bible, and come to know Him more clearly, we develop skills needed to realize God’s commands, promises, and guidance consistently and introspectively. We feel and notice Him resetting our mind, heart, attitude, actions, thoughts, and behavior. As the Holy Spirit lives in us and we access and release His power through a maturing walk with God, others notice, as well. Each change we experience can impact the eternity of those around us, especially our spouse and children. When we read the Bible, we must consider the meanings and truths beyond what we see. There is a depth that exposes every need we have, as well as the solutions to living a God-centered life complete with joy and peace. Our children were not an after-thought. God provides for our need, as well as theirs, through His guidebook of life, the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” In order to direct our children to Him, we must already know God. Today, I want to read from one of my favorite areas of the Bible. The instructions God reveals are integral to pleasing our Heavenly Father and completing the task He has for parents and followers of Him. In Deuteronomy, God clearly directs us in what we are to hold as a sacred parental responsibility. This duty should be seen as a privilege when we already strive to live with a heart and mind set for Him. I want to share some of my favorite passages, because the words are such clearly instructive verses we are wise to follow. Deuteronomy 6:1-2a says, “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live.” God graciously gifts His people with formal, authoritative orders for our guidance and protection. What may seem binding or restrictive is meant to free us. Reverent fear for the Lord God isn’t mentioned often in society today. People, and many churches, tend to pass it by in favor of what they consider the “feel good” love of Jesus. Instead of facing God’s sovereignty, they tend to prefer speaking of gentleness and humbleness. Yet, God is a jealous God who wants our complete devotion. The author of excellence and creation, who created each of us for a purpose, deserves it. When we teach our children and grandchildren to humble themselves before the Lord and love and serve Him as He desires, we are gifting them beyond measure and for eternity. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says, “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” The greatest act of obedience we offer God is to love Him freely and passionately. In this passage, we are commanded to love God with our heart, soul, and all of our strength. This act is foundational for all of living. Do you believe we can be commanded to love? You may have heard that love is a choice. I believe that to be true. The best definition I’ve read about the love God offers and commands from us came from Dr. David Jeremiah. He wrote that, “Love in Hebrew is not confined to feelings; the term heart centers on the intellect, sensibilities, and will. So when God commands that His people love Him, it means to decide to cleave to Him, and Him alone. The command includes soul, which here is a synonym for heart – the true essence of a person. Strength translates a phrase that means, Give it all you have!” We are to love God with everything we are and have. God deserves and is worthy of our passionate love. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says, “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Breathing God in as the air we must have to sustain life, allowing Him to be head of our life, sharing Him naturally with our children, yet maintaining awe, and teaching them to honor and respect the Lord should flow naturally and readily because we love Him. Obeying the command to love God is a lifetime action of passionate devotion that becomes more meaningful daily as our love deepens. The God of all creation is not to be an after-thought. We are to willingly include Him in all. Deuteronomy 6:20-25 says, “In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the LORD our God has commanded us to obey? “Then you must tell them, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand. The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharaoh and all his people. He brought us out of Egypt so he could give us this land He had sworn to give our ancestors. And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear Him so He can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as He has done to this day. For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.” Mothers, we are God-assigned managers and stewards of His children. God commands us to love Him and teach our children to love Him. We are to mentor that passionate, devoted love for God that is for Him, and Him alone. Our children are to experience us loving God without the entrapment of idolatry in this world as we seek Him with our mind, heart, emotions, talents, time, and purpose. We are to live a lifestyle of worship as we seek, love, and follow Him so passionately that they will, too. When we pass on the love God commands, what He has done for us, and a strong faith to sustain and mature it, God lives fully through us and attracts our children more strongly than the world. Psalm 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” When our child sees us live with a passionate and consistent love for Christ that lovingly flows through all we are and do, they begin to recognize the difference He makes. Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your word and the Holy Spirit that lives inside believers. You have offered everything we need to equip us to live with a passion You deserve. Help us to clear our heart and mind to focus on what is important to You and show it to our children and others around us. Help us to study and know Your word so that it stands as our guide against the noise and distractions from this loud, harsh world. Teach us to live our life with the eternal perspective Jesus carried so that all we do honors and pleases You. May we bring you joy. May you carry that through to our children as we teach them to love and obey You, as well. In Your holy and precious name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this episode. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Christ and encourage you to raise or influence children to chase Jesus instead of this world. Be sure to sign up for my email list to be notified when my next resource, “Scattering Seeds: Planting Character and Faith in Your Child” releases soon. This eBook is an excellent encouragement and support for mothers or grandmothers of young children. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to Jesus and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up and find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 117 - Should Kids Be Spanked? Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 117 – Should Kids Be Spanked? Thank you for sharing your day with me. I pray this podcast gives you the awareness and tools you need to STOP being a GOOD mom and BECOME the GODLY mom God entrusts you to be. Then you will be the SET-APART woman PURPOSELY raising children to chase CHRIST over culture. Just a quick reminder as we start, would you please share this episode with a friend or family member who would enjoy learning more about raising kids for Christ? Also, many have promised to leave a rating and review for the podcast, but life happens…and they don’t. So, if you haven’t already, would you please take a moment to leave a rating or review at Apple Podcast? Sharing episodes and leaving a review ensures that others will find the podcast. Then guess what? You’re helping affect generations for Jesus. Now on to this episode with an important and controversial question with an often divided answer…should kids be spanked? First, I want to start with a story. I was on a neighborhood walk recently when a loose dog was crisscrossing the street and a screech of brakes alerted me that it was almost hit. Terrified by the sound and the loud voice of the driver, the dog stood frozen in front of the car. When the owner heard the commotion and saw his dog standing in the roadway, he lovingly called from his yard for the dog to come to him. Seeing his beloved, trusted master and hearing his sweet call, the dog quickly ran home, expecting safety. Instead, as soon as the dog reached him, the owner beat his dog and yelled at him for being in the street. Will this act change the behavior of the dog? As you know, the topic of this episode is spanking, so you might wonder why I opened with this story about a dog. You could argue that a dog and a child can’t be compared as they don’t reason the same. However, according to developmental tests reported by NBC News, even the average dog has the abilities of a toddler. In some areas, dogs are even more intelligent than preschoolers. Speaking of preschoolers, according to a study by the American Psychological Association, they’re the most likely group to be spanked. I don’t want to make this episode one that shames, but I do want parents to realize the gravity of the gift we’ve been given. We are raising children for the Great I Am. We want to be good parents. Of course we want to do our best. But remember, our best falls far below the standard of our holy Heavenly Father . That’s why we must , as those entrusted to parent for God, stop and evaluate the reasoning behind why we make specific decisions and why we take certain actions. Why do some parents choose to spank instead of correcting their children in another way? What do we think we’re teaching our children when we respond with such forceful correction? As we ponder these questions, it leads me to the next ones. Should spanking be the first act a parent takes when a child needs correcting? Are parents behaving biblically when they spank? Or are they succumbing to frustration? Or last resorts when they grab the belt, hair brush, or use their hand in an effort to teach their child? Most parents who spank were spanked as a child. It’s the way they were raised, so it’s what they revert to. But does that mean it is the best method for training God’s children in righteousness? Is spanking the choice we should make to build connection with God and us? Many parents also share that the reason they spank is to cause pain that changes the behavior of their child. We have to consider what type of changes will occur. Surprisingly, research also indicates that parents will hit their child more frequently when they are an active or strong-willed boy between the ages of three to four. When you hear that statistic, how does it make you feel? The common phrase, “boys will be boys” seems appropriate in this application. Does the fact that boys disrupt quiet or make messes make them targets for spanking? Does spanking make them better men when they grow up? Or does a relationship of teaching and connection make the necessity to spank disappear? The answers to these questions are what parents should seek before deciding to spank. We’ve talked about some of the reasons parents choose to spank. The frequency of spanking also varies based on parental or child age, race, gender, education, or socio economic status of the family. The topic of spanking is a divisive one. Most people have feelings one way or another. As I shared earlier, those feelings often stem from the way parents were disciplined as a child. One Bible verse is often quoted as evidence to back pro-spanking parents. Proverbs 13:24 says, “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” If we look at the verse with an observant, knowledgeable heart and take our thoughts captive for Christ to prayerfully seek God’s wisdom in this area, we may come to a different conclusion about spanking. For example, Strong’s Lexicon, a type of concordance, teaches that the rod was generally a stick used by shepherds for protecting and guiding their flocks. Shepherds used the rod to steer the sheep in the right direction, or to keep them gathered when they strayed. The rod was also used to fend off predators or warn and comfort the sheep. Used these ways, the rod isn’t a tool for inflicting injury. Instead, it is a tool for loving, protective guidance . When many parents hear the word discipline, they imagine spanking or another form of punishment. However in biblical days the meaning was quite different. In the semitic root, the word rod refers to a type of measuring stick. In the same way we use a yardstick today, the rod was used to measure distances to danger or to measure the growth of sheep in the shepherd’s care . The rod was not intended to inflict pain upon people or sheep. The word rod is also used for scepter. Although the verse from Proverbs 13:24 is usually interpreted as a directive to spank children, when we consider how a scepter was used, we understand that it could be used to extend grace and mercy or death by the King. Since the king wouldn’t speak much or at all to his subjects, he would often make his intentions or directives known by his scepter, the recognized symbol of authority. Whether it was the king or an appointed servant using the scepter, it was understood that the instrument held authority. So as we read Proverbs 13:24 we can see that the rod is seen as the idea of authority , not a literal rod. If you also consider that it was Solomon who penned the verse in Proverbs, you must remember that he was a king. His terminology would have been written with the mindset of one who used the scepter for the purposes I just shared. As king, Solomon was an authority figure to many, but remember, he was also a father, or symbol of authority to his children. Using this frame of thinking, we can reason that Solomon wasn’t condoning beating children, but instead encouraged using the rod, which would be showing love or direction. So, when parents extend the rod, we are paying attention to what our children are doing. We are considering the current situation, as well as looking forward to the future. We are choosing to extend mercy by correcting the behavior, not simply punishing. Dealing with the situation we need to address doesn’t mean to beat or spank. It doesn’t mean to ignore the actions of our children, either. Just as God extends mercy and forgiveness to us when we are disobedient, He also allows us to suffer consequences. Consequences will differ depending on the act and repercussions, but God doesn’t desire that we beat down children. His discipline is always designed to reach and transform our heart for Him. Just as we should intentionally strive to do with the children He entrusted to our care. Correcting our children means to instruct and guide in ways that lead to Christlikeness and connection through heart change . Remember, lack of discipline can cause destructive or ungodly morals and behavior. So does the wrong kind of discipline. Discipline offered in anger can destroy connection and confidence in the parent, then ultimately in Christ. Spanking doesn’t show loving discipline that exhibits clear connection between the action of the child and the consequence. Spanking is often given in anger or bitterness, frustration or embarrassment, or even because of a feeling of disrespect. Spanking often resembles beating and can inflict injury, but doesn’t reach the heart of the child. Also, parents often spank in the heat of the moment and can accidentally abuse their child. Since spanking isn’t tied to natural consequences of the behavior, it has often been shown to increase aggressiveness in children. Instead of resorting to spanking quickly, pay attention to the times your child is misbehaving. Could it be when you’re very distracted or busy and your child is trying to get your attention? Is your child misbehaving because he is tired or hungry? Look for the root cause and discipline to bring about godly discipleship. Remember, discipline should be loving guidance and correction that disciples the heart , not a form of punishment. Discipline comes in many forms. Children are unique. There is no “one size meets all requirements” approach. But I do believe every parent should see the word discipline as discipleship to keep them accountable to building relationship and connection between their child and God. All godly correction should allow children to grow up with closer connection to Christ and family, and a joy-filled life with respect for their Heavenly Father and society. Discipline should be a step that builds transformation of the heart of your child. If a parent still intends to spank, I do not recommend it as a first form of correction. Just as I said earlier, children are unique on purpose. Just as God reaches each of us in different ways over time, parents must find what form of discipline works for each child. Be careful not to use a strong-willed child as an excuse to spank. Find ways to craft that strong will into a strong heart for godliness and with connection for Christ. Your child’s will must be guided, not squashed into rebellion. Alternate means of correction might be: loss of privileges, time out, time in, stern looks, hand signals, a hushed voice, work, or redirection of behavior. Use your situation to find natural consequences for teaching your children, but always remain mindful of the objective of stepping them closer to God and changing their heart for Him through the form of correction you choose. When a child consistently misbehaves or disobeys, it’s important to locate theroot cause in order to reach their heart for change. Remember, discipline should be correction and training toward discipleship, not punishment. Discipline should be designed as an instrument that assists in correcting behavior and facilitating heart change . Spanking doesn’t get to the core of what needs correcting. Correcting behavior (which stems from the heart of your child) allows you to draw your child’s heart nearer to Christ. Addressing heart issues moves the child closer to transformation, both in the heart and in the behavior that stems from it . Spanking punishes, but doesn’t change the heart, except perhaps planting bitterness that can place a wedge between parent and child, or more importantly, between Christ and child. Proverbs 9:10 which says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding .” Apart from the Lord we don’t have wisdom or understanding. Both are needed as you prayerfully determine whether God calls you to spank His children. Remember, that in order to change behavior, children should also see that their parents acknowledge their own personal sins. They need to understand that Mom and Dad repent to God. Then they understand that correction is a lifelong process for both children and adults. They begin to understand that we all need behavior that is fitting to the Lord. Everyone needs to honor God and submit to Him so we develop obedience and closer relationship with Him. Consider this thought - spanking doesn’t teach children to obey the parent or obey God out of love, trust, and obedience. We know that God’s grace and mercy should be the motivator used to discipline children. Discipline should be intended to draw the heart and mind of children nearer to the heart and mind of God. Using discipleship as discipline is the way to reach the heart. God’s Word teaches, corrects, trains, equips, and forgives. Our method of correction should do the same and build a foundation for our children to desire God’s Word and ways. Make sure you and your spouse are prayerfully aligned, so you’ll follow how God instructs you to discipline to disciple. Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your mercy and goodness to us. Thank you for gifting us with the honor and privilege of raising Your children. Thank you for Your patience and forgiveness in our lives. Please show us the way to mentor our children with Your loving kindness. Don’t let us forget the holy authority You entrusted to us with the responsibility of parenting Your precious children, even on the most challenging days. Help us to seek You in every way, including the way we discipline to disciple. Help us keep You in the forefront of our mind so we remember the truth that discipling should be correcting and directing, not punishing. Help our children love, trust, honor, and obey You because they see us do the same. Show us the way to the hearts of the children in our care. Transform us daily because we continue to seek You and rest and abide in Your capable arms. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. This is the part of the episode that you usually hear me talk about the Set-Apart Collective. Today I want to share about my new mini program called “Establish Identity.” Why? Your identity is a major force behind what you do. Who you believe yourself to be, and who you find your identity through affects the way you live, parent, love, serve, and discipline. Your identity is one of the lifelines, a pulse point of your home. Do you ever stop to think that you are the first Jesus your child will see? Even if they are grown, your identity affects your child. The way you think, speak, and react is rooted in your identity. Send me a message at info@terrihitt.com if you’d like details or go to terrihitt.com and join my email list. You’ll get updates before anyone else and hear a little about what makes this so important. If you join the email list you’ll also be able to access free resources such as my new Good to Godly: A 31 Day Scripture and Prayer Guide for Moms. One last thing to remember - if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection with your children and Christ. Previous Next

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #054 – Parenting His Purpose Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. A few days ago I was working on the podcast, but stopped and began listening with a smile when I heard my daughters giggling together over something in the kitchen. Their carefree laughter brought such joy to my spirit. It brought to mind how God must feel each time we eagerly seek His presence and take joy in learning more of Him. Just as the girls were authentically sharing moments together, God wants us to invite Him to share both large and small memories with Him. Our Heavenly Father created us for special fellowship together. Since the fall of creation, this world we live in has been warped and broken. Our spirits have been yearning to reconnect with God in the intimate ways He designed for us. The Good Father created us on purpose with a purpose. As we know, before Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they shared a very unique and special relationship with God that carried privileges we have never experienced. 1. Adam and Eve were privileged to walk and talk with God daily. 2. Adam and Eve saw God through the pure lens God desired. They were not confused or misled by sin, as it had not yet entered their lives. 3. Adam and Eve lived with a richness and fullness that God intended for their spirits and minds, unaffected by our now-fallen world. After disobeying God, sin damaged and severed their perfect relationship with God. The intimate bond and communion Adam and Eve shared with God was destroyed. After they chose to believe Satan, and made choices that tore them from God’s perfection, their knowledge and understanding of God became twisted. Although they once walked with God in abundant life, they now hid in the shadows of their once peaceful world, as death entered their world and altered their existence. Our lives are now positioned on what occurred through Adam and Eve’s choice and what the world became after the Fall. Every man and woman has been separated from God, we are not wise to the truths of God, and we are each condemned to not only a physical death, but a spiritual death as well. Thankfully, because of Jesus, we have a Redeemer and Rescuer who has brought us back into a beautiful fellowship with God. We don’t have to live alienated from God, ignorant of God, condemned to death, or without hope or purpose. So why do so many Christians who rejoice in the fact that they are saved through Jesus and proclaim to love the Lord neglect to live a lifestyle that focuses on eternity with a heart and mindset like Jesus? Why don’t we teach our children to live with a mindset and purpose that is set for eternity and raise them for Jesus? Because, just like Jesus said in Luke 23:34a, “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Just as Satan’s words to Eve contained partial truth (although it was twisted), the devil uses the same tactics with us today. Satan tempts humans by appealing to our desires. Often, mothers want so much for their children that we forget how very little they really need. We are so busy trying to do and get all we can for them. All they really need is a firm foundation set on Jesus and a life that seeks and reflects Him. The same truth applies to us. Our life should not be defined by how much our children have or what they do. Stop trying to present them with the best or the most and commit to loving them as God calls. Help them build a firm and solid foundation on Jesus. God will equip and lead you to give them what they truly need and He will also surprise you with blessings beyond as you follow Him with a joyous and honoring heart. As a woman who has raised two sets of family over a span of forty-two years, I’ve watched fads come and go, and I’ve seen the way current culture affects home and family. I’ve experienced the consistency of a firm foundation settled on Jesus, as well as life without much thought to Him. No strategy, no amount of love or attention, no hope, no plans, no relationship with a human, nothing carries the value and hope that a maturing relationship with God through Jesus holds. When we live a life connected to Jesus, it builds a lifeline between our children and the Lord. Philippians 3:8 says, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” If we really believe that verse, why don’t we live like it? Why don’t we ensure that our children know Jesus and teach them that nothing in this life lasts, nothing matters but a firm foundation built on Him? Do you understand what the word foundation means in relation to our child and his relationship with and dependency on Christ? Really take a few moments to soak in the importance of the word and meaning. A life built on the foundation of Jesus will have a life-affirming, truthful basis for a belief system, stability, support, and a life patterned after the Authority and Creator. For a year I have written podcasts set to build our relationships with God through maturing our walk with Jesus. Without Him, this world has no hope, no peace, and cannot offer love or understanding. Look at the way our culture continues to change and the effects it has on us, let alone our children. Media, shows, books, magazines, fashion, education, celebrities, and superstars all desensitize our precious children and we are to blame, as we ignorantly or lazily let it continue. Many kids grow up wanting fame at the cost of anything, including morals, reputation, relationships, and life. Instead of humbly following the Lord, they follow strangers who lead them far away from where a true believer and follower of Christ should be. Our children have time for phones and social media, but make no time to invest in growing and deepening a walk with Jesus. We have ourselves to blame if we have not allowed Christ to rule our life and modeled Him humbly and purely to them daily. Most of the time, our children pattern themselves and their life choices after what they see us do. I hope that if you are listening to this podcast you are either already maturing your walk with Jesus through an intentional, continuous basis or that you are very interested in doing so. I have known Jesus for 39 years. My walk with Him has not been perfect, but Jesus has never left my side. It is my honor, and frankly my duty, as I know where God is calling me, to teach you what God has shown to me, as well as to lead you straight to Him through the practical ways I’ve shared over the last year. Heavy on my heart at this time, as I know God has laid it there, is the knowledge that He is calling me to walk with you in the way our children are raised. Am I saying I have all of the perfect answers to raising children? Absolutely not! But I know Who does and how to guide you to Him. I have seen the truth of God’s word come true over and over again. Everything in the Bible is truth and God is not mocked. We do reap what we sow. Our children are affected by what we believe and the actions we choose. As you raise and provide for your precious children, be certain of what you believe and stand for, how you represent Jesus, and what you model for your children. I’m going to list questions that each of us should regularly remember to ask ourselves and evaluate honestly. These are vitally important, not only for us, but for those around us, especially for the children God entrusted to our care. 1. What do I believe? Do I know my beliefs and how they affect my eternity? Have I thought about how they shape the eternity of those around me? If I am a believer in Jesus, it is imperative that I am clear in these areas and striving to grow in Him daily and make Him clearly known to my children. 2. Is it apparent that I am a Christian? What does that word mean to me? Have I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior? How do I represent Christ each day? Do I say one thing and do another? Am I consistent in my attitude and heartitude, making my maturing relationship with Jesus loving and evident? 3. What are my children learning? Do they know Jesus as Savior? Are they lovingly and intentionally maturing their walk with God through Jesus each day or are they Christians in name or claim only? Do I see fruits of the spirit continuously ripening in them? 4. Am I actively helping my children grow in Jesus daily or expecting the church or someone else to help them grow in maturity? How are they seeing me intentionally grow my walk with Christ? What kind of relationship do they see? Am I making Jesus known to them in real and personal ways? Do I regularly model and mentor them in Jesus in a loving and godly way? Let’s think back to the points I made at the beginning of this podcast when I discussed Adam and Eve in the garden. 1. Adam and Eve were able to walk and talk with God daily. As mothers who believe in Jesus, it should be our deepest desire to see our children walk and talk with God daily. 2. Adam and Eve saw God through the pure lens God desired. They were not confused or misled by sin, as it had not yet entered their lives. We should desire that our children know the word of God and His love through Jesus so that they are not confused by sin and are not attracted to what this world shoves at them. 3. Adam and Eve lived with a richness and fullness that God intended for their spirits and minds, unaffected by our now-fallen world. Godly parenting looks for ways to fill the minds of our children with the fullness of joy God intends for them and looks for ways to help our children mature and shine fruits of the Spirit. 4. Adam and Eve looked forward to spending time with God. Getting to know the Lord should not be a chore or something we barely make time for. Our relationship with God should be a priority so that it becomes one for our children. How can we, as humans, fill these demanding roles? Only through the power and presence of Jesus in our life. Parenting is hard. I think of our loving Heavenly Father, who always stands ready to carry us. God never leaves our side. If you are a parent, grandparent, or person of influence over a child’s life, I urge you to acknowledge that there is nothing more important you can do for the one you love than to allow God to work through you to form their soul and eternal relationship with Him. God did not pick you because you have it all together. He is allowing your influence on His child, because God trusts that you will allow Him to work through you. When I became a mother at the age of 18, I did not have a relationship with Christ. I thought I was so mature for my age, and I was to a point. But as Jeremiah 9:23 says, “This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.” Likewise, Proverbs 3:13 says, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.” And listen to this wisdom from Job 28:28, which says, “And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.” One of my favorites is Luke 2:52, which says, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” How blessed we (and our children) are if God can proclaim that our children are growing in favor with Him! It is up to each one of us to have such a close, honoring, and obedient relationship with the Lord that we must equip our children to develop deep and wide-spread roots of faith. When the storms of life come, and they will, our children will be able to withstand the trials of life because the soil they embed their life in is rich and their roots are straining to the depth and width strong faith requires. Trees with weak root systems and poorly cultivated soil will weaken and “hollow-out” as life attacks them. Storms and winds, pestilence and disease are strong when the tree is not lovingly watched over and provided for. When the root system of a tree is not carefully guarded, the tree fails to thrive and often dies. In contrast, a healthy root system can even sprout new trees when the above ground part of the tree is burned. It is imperative for our children to have strong faith roots in order for them to know, honor, follow, and shine Jesus. We are the gardener, working directly for the Master to ensure that His trees are raised to bloom healthy and strong in and through Him. Life in this world will not prepare our children for a lifetime of following Jesus and living a rich life blessed with the fruits of following Him. As the mothers entrusted to protect, nurture, and train God’s precious child, we must grasp the weight of the holy work our Heavenly Father God has allowed us to participate in. Jesus is our strength and guide. In order to properly guard and counsel our children, it is imperative that we are attuned to Him through a close and maturing walk ourselves. We live in a world that is in direct opposition to what God desires for and requires of us. An example of this comes to mind when I think of how our schools have taught a warped science that excludes God and religion. How can you teach a subject without including the author of that subject? Science and religion are not separate. Educators use textbooks that teach subjects without divine inspiration from the author of creation, and they are unable to speak His word or truths in school. Our children are victims, living without wisdom or values from God and striving for the emptiness of this world system, which will never fulfill them. Mothers, it is imperative that we take a stand. One day each of us will stand before God and be held accountable for the way we influenced His children. Your future relationship with your child and their eternal future depends on the decisions and priorities you establish and adhere to right now. As you may know, I homeschool. It has made a critical difference in my ability to reach my children for the Lord. An education at home has allowed me the benefit of studying and understanding my children at a depth I would not have been privileged to observe and discover if I sent them away for hours to go to school elsewhere each day. I see the character and attitudes of my girls clearly and honestly, and the same is true in reverse. They see the passion I have for Jesus, and my loving desire and reasons for them to know, honor, love, and obey Him. My children are receiving an education based on morals and integrity taught from God’s Holy Word and learning the basis for what we hold to be standards for right and wrong. Character formation is a difficult, but worthy and holy task. I am blessed to work at it at great lengths daily in our time together. I have also raised children through the public school system. I also know many Christians who have. I pray that each of us will trust God to provide and guide, and not make decisions based out of fear or ignorance. Allow Him to choose where and how your child will be educated, but understand that the decision will influence how much “clean up work” you will be involved in. Many children have been raised through the public school system or private schools and they have stayed true to the faith taught by diligent parents, however, I know it is becoming more and more difficult to combat the lies and unbiblical actions thrust at our children every day for years. When I was a young mother and a new Christian, I foolishly believed that the church was where my children learned about God. I thought that if they know I loved Jesus and we went to church each week, that they would be raised as followers of Jesus. How naïve! This world, school systems, peers, social media, strangers, and others have much access to the ones we love most and we must have a plan in place to teach them the truths and joys God desires for them. God provides freedom from this world, not restriction. He bestows grace, not condemnation. Teach the truth because it is absolutely certain that others are filling your children with deceit. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for lovingly entrusting your precious, specially-crafted children into our hands. I pray we have the mindset you desire to raise them and lovingly teach them of You. Help us to perfect our walk with you more and more daily, mentoring the way for our children to have an even stronger walk with You. May each generation become stronger and deeper in faith and reach many as You work through them. Show us the way You desire us to love and teach each unique child you have allowed us. Make it clear where we need to change and grow in You ourselves, and may we admit our mistakes and change our course. May we shine You so well that our children cannot turn away. In Your precious name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this episode. The Live With Eternal Perspective podcast is currently linked to terrihitt.com, where you can access the episodes housed in one convenient location, as well as receive access to blog posts, transcripts, and additional resources designed to mature your walk with Christ and equip you to raise or influence children with love and purpose through Him. If you would like another episode specifically about parenting children, you may like listening to “Equipping Children,” Episode #7 of the Live With Eternal Perspective podcast. I pray you intentionally continue to draw nearer to Jesus and cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up and find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 054 Parenting His Purpose Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #054 – Parenting His Purpose Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. A few days ago I was working on the podcast, but stopped and began listening with a smile when I heard my daughters giggling together over something in the kitchen. Their carefree laughter brought such joy to my spirit. It brought to mind how God must feel each time we eagerly seek His presence and take joy in learning more of Him. Just as the girls were authentically sharing moments together, God wants us to invite Him to share both large and small memories with Him. Our Heavenly Father created us for special fellowship together. Since the fall of creation, this world we live in has been warped and broken. Our spirits have been yearning to reconnect with God in the intimate ways He designed for us. The Good Father created us on purpose with a purpose. As we know, before Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they shared a very unique and special relationship with God that carried privileges we have never experienced. 1. Adam and Eve were privileged to walk and talk with God daily. 2. Adam and Eve saw God through the pure lens God desired. They were not confused or misled by sin, as it had not yet entered their lives. 3. Adam and Eve lived with a richness and fullness that God intended for their spirits and minds, unaffected by our now-fallen world. After disobeying God, sin damaged and severed their perfect relationship with God. The intimate bond and communion Adam and Eve shared with God was destroyed. After they chose to believe Satan, and made choices that tore them from God’s perfection, their knowledge and understanding of God became twisted. Although they once walked with God in abundant life, they now hid in the shadows of their once peaceful world, as death entered their world and altered their existence. Our lives are now positioned on what occurred through Adam and Eve’s choice and what the world became after the Fall. Every man and woman has been separated from God, we are not wise to the truths of God, and we are each condemned to not only a physical death, but a spiritual death as well. Thankfully, because of Jesus, we have a Redeemer and Rescuer who has brought us back into a beautiful fellowship with God. We don’t have to live alienated from God, ignorant of God, condemned to death, or without hope or purpose. So why do so many Christians who rejoice in the fact that they are saved through Jesus and proclaim to love the Lord neglect to live a lifestyle that focuses on eternity with a heart and mindset like Jesus? Why don’t we teach our children to live with a mindset and purpose that is set for eternity and raise them for Jesus? Because, just like Jesus said in Luke 23:34a, “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Just as Satan’s words to Eve contained partial truth (although it was twisted), the devil uses the same tactics with us today. Satan tempts humans by appealing to our desires. Often, mothers want so much for their children that we forget how very little they really need. We are so busy trying to do and get all we can for them. All they really need is a firm foundation set on Jesus and a life that seeks and reflects Him. The same truth applies to us. Our life should not be defined by how much our children have or what they do. Stop trying to present them with the best or the most and commit to loving them as God calls. Help them build a firm and solid foundation on Jesus. God will equip and lead you to give them what they truly need and He will also surprise you with blessings beyond as you follow Him with a joyous and honoring heart. As a woman who has raised two sets of family over a span of forty-two years, I’ve watched fads come and go, and I’ve seen the way current culture affects home and family. I’ve experienced the consistency of a firm foundation settled on Jesus, as well as life without much thought to Him. No strategy, no amount of love or attention, no hope, no plans, no relationship with a human, nothing carries the value and hope that a maturing relationship with God through Jesus holds. When we live a life connected to Jesus, it builds a lifeline between our children and the Lord. Philippians 3:8 says, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” If we really believe that verse, why don’t we live like it? Why don’t we ensure that our children know Jesus and teach them that nothing in this life lasts, nothing matters but a firm foundation built on Him? Do you understand what the word foundation means in relation to our child and his relationship with and dependency on Christ? Really take a few moments to soak in the importance of the word and meaning. A life built on the foundation of Jesus will have a life-affirming, truthful basis for a belief system, stability, support, and a life patterned after the Authority and Creator. For a year I have written podcasts set to build our relationships with God through maturing our walk with Jesus. Without Him, this world has no hope, no peace, and cannot offer love or understanding. Look at the way our culture continues to change and the effects it has on us, let alone our children. Media, shows, books, magazines, fashion, education, celebrities, and superstars all desensitize our precious children and we are to blame, as we ignorantly or lazily let it continue. Many kids grow up wanting fame at the cost of anything, including morals, reputation, relationships, and life. Instead of humbly following the Lord, they follow strangers who lead them far away from where a true believer and follower of Christ should be. Our children have time for phones and social media, but make no time to invest in growing and deepening a walk with Jesus. We have ourselves to blame if we have not allowed Christ to rule our life and modeled Him humbly and purely to them daily. Most of the time, our children pattern themselves and their life choices after what they see us do. I hope that if you are listening to this podcast you are either already maturing your walk with Jesus through an intentional, continuous basis or that you are very interested in doing so. I have known Jesus for 39 years. My walk with Him has not been perfect, but Jesus has never left my side. It is my honor, and frankly my duty, as I know where God is calling me, to teach you what God has shown to me, as well as to lead you straight to Him through the practical ways I’ve shared over the last year. Heavy on my heart at this time, as I know God has laid it there, is the knowledge that He is calling me to walk with you in the way our children are raised. Am I saying I have all of the perfect answers to raising children? Absolutely not! But I know Who does and how to guide you to Him. I have seen the truth of God’s word come true over and over again. Everything in the Bible is truth and God is not mocked. We do reap what we sow. Our children are affected by what we believe and the actions we choose. As you raise and provide for your precious children, be certain of what you believe and stand for, how you represent Jesus, and what you model for your children. I’m going to list questions that each of us should regularly remember to ask ourselves and evaluate honestly. These are vitally important, not only for us, but for those around us, especially for the children God entrusted to our care. 1. What do I believe? Do I know my beliefs and how they affect my eternity? Have I thought about how they shape the eternity of those around me? If I am a believer in Jesus, it is imperative that I am clear in these areas and striving to grow in Him daily and make Him clearly known to my children. 2. Is it apparent that I am a Christian? What does that word mean to me? Have I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior? How do I represent Christ each day? Do I say one thing and do another? Am I consistent in my attitude and heartitude, making my maturing relationship with Jesus loving and evident? 3. What are my children learning? Do they know Jesus as Savior? Are they lovingly and intentionally maturing their walk with God through Jesus each day or are they Christians in name or claim only? Do I see fruits of the spirit continuously ripening in them? 4. Am I actively helping my children grow in Jesus daily or expecting the church or someone else to help them grow in maturity? How are they seeing me intentionally grow my walk with Christ? What kind of relationship do they see? Am I making Jesus known to them in real and personal ways? Do I regularly model and mentor them in Jesus in a loving and godly way? Let’s think back to the points I made at the beginning of this podcast when I discussed Adam and Eve in the garden. 1. Adam and Eve were able to walk and talk with God daily. As mothers who believe in Jesus, it should be our deepest desire to see our children walk and talk with God daily. 2. Adam and Eve saw God through the pure lens God desired. They were not confused or misled by sin, as it had not yet entered their lives. We should desire that our children know the word of God and His love through Jesus so that they are not confused by sin and are not attracted to what this world shoves at them. 3. Adam and Eve lived with a richness and fullness that God intended for their spirits and minds, unaffected by our now-fallen world. Godly parenting looks for ways to fill the minds of our children with the fullness of joy God intends for them and looks for ways to help our children mature and shine fruits of the Spirit. 4. Adam and Eve looked forward to spending time with God. Getting to know the Lord should not be a chore or something we barely make time for. Our relationship with God should be a priority so that it becomes one for our children. How can we, as humans, fill these demanding roles? Only through the power and presence of Jesus in our life. Parenting is hard. I think of our loving Heavenly Father, who always stands ready to carry us. God never leaves our side. If you are a parent, grandparent, or person of influence over a child’s life, I urge you to acknowledge that there is nothing more important you can do for the one you love than to allow God to work through you to form their soul and eternal relationship with Him. God did not pick you because you have it all together. He is allowing your influence on His child, because God trusts that you will allow Him to work through you. When I became a mother at the age of 18, I did not have a relationship with Christ. I thought I was so mature for my age, and I was to a point. But as Jeremiah 9:23 says, “This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.” Likewise, Proverbs 3:13 says, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.” And listen to this wisdom from Job 28:28, which says, “And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.” One of my favorites is Luke 2:52, which says, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” How blessed we (and our children) are if God can proclaim that our children are growing in favor with Him! It is up to each one of us to have such a close, honoring, and obedient relationship with the Lord that we must equip our children to develop deep and wide-spread roots of faith. When the storms of life come, and they will, our children will be able to withstand the trials of life because the soil they embed their life in is rich and their roots are straining to the depth and width strong faith requires. Trees with weak root systems and poorly cultivated soil will weaken and “hollow-out” as life attacks them. Storms and winds, pestilence and disease are strong when the tree is not lovingly watched over and provided for. When the root system of a tree is not carefully guarded, the tree fails to thrive and often dies. In contrast, a healthy root system can even sprout new trees when the above ground part of the tree is burned. It is imperative for our children to have strong faith roots in order for them to know, honor, follow, and shine Jesus. We are the gardener, working directly for the Master to ensure that His trees are raised to bloom healthy and strong in and through Him. Life in this world will not prepare our children for a lifetime of following Jesus and living a rich life blessed with the fruits of following Him. As the mothers entrusted to protect, nurture, and train God’s precious child, we must grasp the weight of the holy work our Heavenly Father God has allowed us to participate in. Jesus is our strength and guide. In order to properly guard and counsel our children, it is imperative that we are attuned to Him through a close and maturing walk ourselves. We live in a world that is in direct opposition to what God desires for and requires of us. An example of this comes to mind when I think of how our schools have taught a warped science that excludes God and religion. How can you teach a subject without including the author of that subject? Science and religion are not separate. Educators use textbooks that teach subjects without divine inspiration from the author of creation, and they are unable to speak His word or truths in school. Our children are victims, living without wisdom or values from God and striving for the emptiness of this world system, which will never fulfill them. Mothers, it is imperative that we take a stand. One day each of us will stand before God and be held accountable for the way we influenced His children. Your future relationship with your child and their eternal future depends on the decisions and priorities you establish and adhere to right now. As you may know, I homeschool. It has made a critical difference in my ability to reach my children for the Lord. An education at home has allowed me the benefit of studying and understanding my children at a depth I would not have been privileged to observe and discover if I sent them away for hours to go to school elsewhere each day. I see the character and attitudes of my girls clearly and honestly, and the same is true in reverse. They see the passion I have for Jesus, and my loving desire and reasons for them to know, honor, love, and obey Him. My children are receiving an education based on morals and integrity taught from God’s Holy Word and learning the basis for what we hold to be standards for right and wrong. Character formation is a difficult, but worthy and holy task. I am blessed to work at it at great lengths daily in our time together. I have also raised children through the public school system. I also know many Christians who have. I pray that each of us will trust God to provide and guide, and not make decisions based out of fear or ignorance. Allow Him to choose where and how your child will be educated, but understand that the decision will influence how much “clean up work” you will be involved in. Many children have been raised through the public school system or private schools and they have stayed true to the faith taught by diligent parents, however, I know it is becoming more and more difficult to combat the lies and unbiblical actions thrust at our children every day for years. When I was a young mother and a new Christian, I foolishly believed that the church was where my children learned about God. I thought that if they know I loved Jesus and we went to church each week, that they would be raised as followers of Jesus. How naïve! This world, school systems, peers, social media, strangers, and others have much access to the ones we love most and we must have a plan in place to teach them the truths and joys God desires for them. God provides freedom from this world, not restriction. He bestows grace, not condemnation. Teach the truth because it is absolutely certain that others are filling your children with deceit. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for lovingly entrusting your precious, specially-crafted children into our hands. I pray we have the mindset you desire to raise them and lovingly teach them of You. Help us to perfect our walk with you more and more daily, mentoring the way for our children to have an even stronger walk with You. May each generation become stronger and deeper in faith and reach many as You work through them. Show us the way You desire us to love and teach each unique child you have allowed us. Make it clear where we need to change and grow in You ourselves, and may we admit our mistakes and change our course. May we shine You so well that our children cannot turn away. In Your precious name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this episode. The Live With Eternal Perspective podcast is currently linked to terrihitt.com, where you can access the episodes housed in one convenient location, as well as receive access to blog posts, transcripts, and additional resources designed to mature your walk with Christ and equip you to raise or influence children with love and purpose through Him. If you would like another episode specifically about parenting children, you may like listening to “Equipping Children,” Episode #7 of the Live With Eternal Perspective podcast. I pray you intentionally continue to draw nearer to Jesus and cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up and find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #132 – Am I Hearing You, God? Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to seek, find, and follow Jesus together as we live with purposed eternal perspective. January, 2018 was the last time I spoke to my father-in-law. Sadly, he passed from cancer shortly after his 80th birthday. One of his best qualities and one of the things I loved most about him is that he was always ready to talk about Jesus to anyone at any time. Beyond the gospel or how Christ has changed my life, I also enjoy sharing what I call God-stories. The Lord has done so much in my life, changing me from the inside, and has provided for me beyond my wildest dreams. One of the ways He has done this is by speaking directly to me and helping me learn to love, worship, and obey Him. People have often asked me how I know when God is speaking to me. How do I know I am hearing Him through the noise, distractions, and fleshly desires that seem to be so much louder in this world? When I think about hearing from God, I think of our perfect example, Jesus. What a beautiful mentor for showing us how to hear God! I’m far from the example Christ set, but Jesus surely showed us the way to mature every aspect of our Christian walk and our relationship with the Father; especially how to hear the voice of God and respond in obedience to Him. Did you know that Jesus did not begin His earthly ministry until He was 30 years old and filled by the Holy Spirit? Philippians 2:5-7 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” If we pay attention to and study Scripture, we see that Jesus showed us how to walk with and hear from God. Through Him, we learn that the Holy Spirit, who lives inside every believer will guide us in the Truth. John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.” When we become believers of Christ, the Holy Spirit living within us will help us to hear from and to speak to our Heavenly Father. Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Jesus teaches us that: 1. God desires personal relationship. John 8:47 says, “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” 2. God calls us to repent and listen. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” 3. God calls us to connect through prayer. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 4. God calls us to know Him. Psalm 119:160 says, “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 5. God wants us to get rid of distractions and focus on Him. Proverbs 3:5-7 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.” 6. God calls us to renew our mind so it is in alignment with His. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 7. God calls us to humble ourselves before Him. John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” 8. God calls us to seek His wisdom, discernment, and guidance. Psalm 27:11a says, “Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path.” Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” 9. God speaks in different ways to each person, but always in alignment with Scripture. Isaiah 30:21 says, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Deuteronomy 13:4 says, “You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.” 10. God assures us that those who love and follow Him will hear His voice. John 10:4-5 says, “When He has brought out all his own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from Him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” How Can You Ensure You Hear From God? 1. Study His Word – Read and study the Bible so you know God’s Word, His character, commands, promises, holiness, sovereignty, and love. Then you will recognize and respond to Him. We make time for what we want to do. 2. Recognize His Voice – Once you recognize His voice, remember that God can speak loudly, as a warning to keep you from danger or to provide and protect – or He can speak softly, depending on the need and situation. He also finds personal ways to speak to each believer and follower. Situations, people, and whispering in your spirit may be some of the ways. He may speak differently to you, but God will never speak anything to you that goes against His holy Word. Know His Word and know Him, then you will recognize Him speaking to you. 3. Focus on God – Thoughts, desires, hurts, confusion, and a variety of other things can keep you from centering your mind on Him. Staying in His word, studying God’s Word, consistent prayer with Him, and intentionally maturing your walk are ways to quiet your spirit and prepare to meet and hear Him at any time. 4. Pray Scripture – Even if you have to read verses from the Bible as you speak to God, pray His powerful words to Him. As you read and pray about the splendor, holiness, sovereignty, and love of God or read His promises and truths, it becomes easier to focus on pleasing Him, praising Him, serving Him, and obeying Him. 5. Talk to God and Listen For God – Spend quiet time with the Lord, but also abide with Him through each day. Share with God. Ask Him to speak to you. You must have the desire to hear God before you will listen for Him. Be prepared to listen, pray, and obey. Make sure to check what you believe God is saying to you against Scripture and the character of God. God does speak to His children. Sometimes He fills our mind and heart with His desires, sometimes He whispers gentle commands for us to obey. Other times, God places people in our path to direct us. At other times, God may issue loud warnings in our spirit. Sometimes a Bible verse or passage may be the exact word we need. Sometimes events happen that are so personal and unique that we know the finger of God has extended to earth. These are not the only ways God works or speaks. I know the ways He usually reaches me. I’m forever thankful for my Father and pray that I am always able to hear His voice and follow His commands more clearly and quickly each day of my life. What are some benefits of making sure you clearly hear God? God’s Word and Voice Give Peace. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s Word and Voice Hold Wisdom. Proverbs 11:14 says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” and Ecclesiastes 7:12 says, “For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.” God’s Word and Voice Convict. John 16:8 says, “And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” God’s Word and Voice give Rest. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” God’s Word and Voice Remove Fear. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” God’s Word and Voice are Truth. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” God’s Word and Voice Discern. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God’s Word and Voice offer Strength. Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” God’s Word and Voice offer Hope. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” The closer we draw to Christ, the clearer we hear our Father speak. Jesus shows us the way to God and the way to clearly hear His voice. Our patient Father waits for us to seek His wisdom, guidance, and discernment. Know He personally speaks to each of us, but also remember that His voice always aligns with Scripture and His character. Dear Heavenly Father, You are so good. Your patient guidance calls to us to seek You and follow where You lead. Thank you for the personal and intimate care You long to offer each of us who know and follow You. God, Your loving kindness is overwhelming. We pray that Your voice is the one we seek and hear. We pray that we hear You more clearly than our desires and demands. May we draw ever nearer to Christ and allow You to carry us to the heights You have purposed for us because they glorify You and draw others even nearer to You and Your ways. Father do not exalt us, but fill us with Your beautiful promises and provisions. Bring others to You. Help us walk and stay within Your guidelines and grow in the ways You purpose so that we may hear Your voice. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast. Remember that you may find transcripts online at terrihitt.com. On the website you may also find my “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” podcast and transcripts. Both podcasts are also available on iHeart Radio, Spotify, and they are part of the Spark Media Network. Both podcasts may also now be found on the Edifi app, where you can hear thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment. Have you rated or reviewed my podcasts on Apple Podcasts yet? When you review my podcast on Apple Podcasts, it helps to elevate the standing of the podcast online so that more people are allowed to find and hear it. Will you take a moment to follow the shows and think of someone you can share the podcasts with and encourage them to follow and share, as well? Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will direct them away from Christ. Live With Eternal Perspective helps us to find, trust, and follow Christ more intimately. Purposed Parent/Connected Child shares biblical, practical truths for parents and grandparents to influence and mentor Christ over culture. I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 132 - Am I Hearing You God? Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #132 – Am I Hearing You, God? Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to seek, find, and follow Jesus together as we live with purposed eternal perspective. January, 2018 was the last time I spoke to my father-in-law. Sadly, he passed from cancer shortly after his 80th birthday. One of his best qualities and one of the things I loved most about him is that he was always ready to talk about Jesus to anyone at any time. Beyond the gospel or how Christ has changed my life, I also enjoy sharing what I call God-stories. The Lord has done so much in my life, changing me from the inside, and has provided for me beyond my wildest dreams. One of the ways He has done this is by speaking directly to me and helping me learn to love, worship, and obey Him. People have often asked me how I know when God is speaking to me. How do I know I am hearing Him through the noise, distractions, and fleshly desires that seem to be so much louder in this world? When I think about hearing from God, I think of our perfect example, Jesus. What a beautiful mentor for showing us how to hear God! I’m far from the example Christ set, but Jesus surely showed us the way to mature every aspect of our Christian walk and our relationship with the Father; especially how to hear the voice of God and respond in obedience to Him. Did you know that Jesus did not begin His earthly ministry until He was 30 years old and filled by the Holy Spirit? Philippians 2:5-7 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” If we pay attention to and study Scripture, we see that Jesus showed us how to walk with and hear from God. Through Him, we learn that the Holy Spirit, who lives inside every believer will guide us in the Truth. John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.” When we become believers of Christ, the Holy Spirit living within us will help us to hear from and to speak to our Heavenly Father. Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Jesus teaches us that: 1. God desires personal relationship. John 8:47 says, “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” 2. God calls us to repent and listen. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” 3. God calls us to connect through prayer. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 4. God calls us to know Him. Psalm 119:160 says, “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 5. God wants us to get rid of distractions and focus on Him. Proverbs 3:5-7 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.” 6. God calls us to renew our mind so it is in alignment with His. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 7. God calls us to humble ourselves before Him. John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” 8. God calls us to seek His wisdom, discernment, and guidance. Psalm 27:11a says, “Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path.” Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” 9. God speaks in different ways to each person, but always in alignment with Scripture. Isaiah 30:21 says, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Deuteronomy 13:4 says, “You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.” 10. God assures us that those who love and follow Him will hear His voice. John 10:4-5 says, “When He has brought out all his own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from Him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” How Can You Ensure You Hear From God? 1. Study His Word – Read and study the Bible so you know God’s Word, His character, commands, promises, holiness, sovereignty, and love. Then you will recognize and respond to Him. We make time for what we want to do. 2. Recognize His Voice – Once you recognize His voice, remember that God can speak loudly, as a warning to keep you from danger or to provide and protect – or He can speak softly, depending on the need and situation. He also finds personal ways to speak to each believer and follower. Situations, people, and whispering in your spirit may be some of the ways. He may speak differently to you, but God will never speak anything to you that goes against His holy Word. Know His Word and know Him, then you will recognize Him speaking to you. 3. Focus on God – Thoughts, desires, hurts, confusion, and a variety of other things can keep you from centering your mind on Him. Staying in His word, studying God’s Word, consistent prayer with Him, and intentionally maturing your walk are ways to quiet your spirit and prepare to meet and hear Him at any time. 4. Pray Scripture – Even if you have to read verses from the Bible as you speak to God, pray His powerful words to Him. As you read and pray about the splendor, holiness, sovereignty, and love of God or read His promises and truths, it becomes easier to focus on pleasing Him, praising Him, serving Him, and obeying Him. 5. Talk to God and Listen For God – Spend quiet time with the Lord, but also abide with Him through each day. Share with God. Ask Him to speak to you. You must have the desire to hear God before you will listen for Him. Be prepared to listen, pray, and obey. Make sure to check what you believe God is saying to you against Scripture and the character of God. God does speak to His children. Sometimes He fills our mind and heart with His desires, sometimes He whispers gentle commands for us to obey. Other times, God places people in our path to direct us. At other times, God may issue loud warnings in our spirit. Sometimes a Bible verse or passage may be the exact word we need. Sometimes events happen that are so personal and unique that we know the finger of God has extended to earth. These are not the only ways God works or speaks. I know the ways He usually reaches me. I’m forever thankful for my Father and pray that I am always able to hear His voice and follow His commands more clearly and quickly each day of my life. What are some benefits of making sure you clearly hear God? God’s Word and Voice Give Peace. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s Word and Voice Hold Wisdom. Proverbs 11:14 says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” and Ecclesiastes 7:12 says, “For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.” God’s Word and Voice Convict. John 16:8 says, “And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” God’s Word and Voice give Rest. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” God’s Word and Voice Remove Fear. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” God’s Word and Voice are Truth. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” God’s Word and Voice Discern. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God’s Word and Voice offer Strength. Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” God’s Word and Voice offer Hope. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” The closer we draw to Christ, the clearer we hear our Father speak. Jesus shows us the way to God and the way to clearly hear His voice. Our patient Father waits for us to seek His wisdom, guidance, and discernment. Know He personally speaks to each of us, but also remember that His voice always aligns with Scripture and His character. Dear Heavenly Father, You are so good. Your patient guidance calls to us to seek You and follow where You lead. Thank you for the personal and intimate care You long to offer each of us who know and follow You. God, Your loving kindness is overwhelming. We pray that Your voice is the one we seek and hear. We pray that we hear You more clearly than our desires and demands. May we draw ever nearer to Christ and allow You to carry us to the heights You have purposed for us because they glorify You and draw others even nearer to You and Your ways. Father do not exalt us, but fill us with Your beautiful promises and provisions. Bring others to You. Help us walk and stay within Your guidelines and grow in the ways You purpose so that we may hear Your voice. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast. Remember that you may find transcripts online at terrihitt.com. On the website you may also find my “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” podcast and transcripts. Both podcasts are also available on iHeart Radio, Spotify, and they are part of the Spark Media Network. Both podcasts may also now be found on the Edifi app, where you can hear thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment. Have you rated or reviewed my podcasts on Apple Podcasts yet? When you review my podcast on Apple Podcasts, it helps to elevate the standing of the podcast online so that more people are allowed to find and hear it. Will you take a moment to follow the shows and think of someone you can share the podcasts with and encourage them to follow and share, as well? Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will direct them away from Christ. Live With Eternal Perspective helps us to find, trust, and follow Christ more intimately. Purposed Parent/Connected Child shares biblical, practical truths for parents and grandparents to influence and mentor Christ over culture. I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #021 – Peace That Passes Understanding Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you today to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Our topic today. Peace that passes understanding. Who doesn’t want to claim that? In the midst of writing this particular podcast episode, I experienced a morning that was far from peaceful. Are you a believer that there is spiritual warfare in the world? Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” It was real today. But, as we know, God always has the final victory. Does it mean things always turn out the way we want them to? No. In fact, sometimes things get worse before they get better. But God has already and will always be the victor. Several things went wrong as I attempted to start my day and work on this episode. After I had breakfast I tuned in to listen to the podcast I had just released. I don’t always listen after the episode releases, but I kept having little thoughts that I should. About three minutes in, I realized the unedited version was aired instead of the final cut. “Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh, No, no, no.” I kept repeating. Stunned that the wrong version was being played to anyone tuning in, I was so upset. After the podcast episode was removed and the correct one aired, I realized I was still sad inside and wondered how many people had heard how terrible it sounded. I strive each week to write, record, and produce episodes that I believe God is calling and directing. I want to quality to continue to improve each week. When I heard the episode with several mistakes, it really hurt. I didn’t want people to think I didn’t care about what went out or to get too focused on the errors to hear the value behind what I was trying to say. Anxiety does not visit me often, but oh, I could feel it rising in the pit of my stomach that morning. I had to make myself focus and sit down to pray. I asked God to remove the feelings I was having and to allow me to absorb His peace, knowing that this mistake was not the worst thing that could ever happen. I stayed, and resting in God’s presence, talking to Him, until I felt His peace cover and protect me. Although it was distressing to have, and to work to quickly resolve the episode mix-up, the person most affected throughout the day was my husband. It seemed that everything he tried to do brought more problems that he had to tackle or correct. One after another issue popped to his attention and took up his time until evening arrived and it seemed he received a reprieve. You know those days. We all get to experience them. While we cannot escape the dreaded, “bad day,” we can monitor and shift our attitude and heartitude to remember what Jeremiah 12:3a says, “But as for me, Lord, you know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts.” We must continue to train ourselves to allow obstacles to extract bitterness, anxiety, and dissatisfaction from within us. We must pray for them to as we place them in God’s capable hands. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When we, as believers, release our anxiety to God we are trusting Him, believing that our Heavenly Father will give us His peace. Even more than just calmness, we receive God Himself, the Holy Spirit within us extending His presence, comfort, and protection. Have you felt it? The deepest tranquility flowing through you, extending past our level of understanding. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” When our mind is fixed on Him, when it “stays” on Him, He is faithful to His word. We have to remember Him – His strength and not rely on our own limited abilities. The verse from Isaiah relays the truth well. He keeps us in perfect peace when our mind is fixed on Him. When we trust that He will carry our loads, that He is able and desirous, we readily release our burdens to Him. Whenever I experience the slightest awareness of fear or stress, I must remember to immediately stop what I am doing and realize that means that I am attempting to carry concerns or hardships myself, which prompts me to pray. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” God’s peace cannot be defined by the standards of the world. His ways are above our logic or limited understanding. John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” Pay attention that Jesus did not say, “If you have trouble.” He said, “When you have trouble.” Afflictions, burdens, irritations, and concerns will come. Even Jesus had hardships and troubles. Why should we expect anything less? Remember, obstacles are opportunities that press us into the arms of Jesus. We have the freedom to choose to let the experience, whether large or small, cause us to draw nearer to Him and grow in Him. Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Peace is a gift extended as we believe and ask our Father to carry our loads. Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. God so intensely desires peace to inhabit us that He is called “the God of Peace.” Peace is part of Who and What our Heavenly Father is. As believers carrying the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have that peace within us. As frail, sinful humans, we often forget that power and source because we rely on self unless we intentionally focus on Him and live with an eternal perspective mindset that pertains to all that we have been given or that affects us. Peace is absent in many, yet each of us desire it. When peace is not present in our life, it is often due to the pace we are living. Are we moving too fast? Do we set ourselves up to experience calmness or tranquility? Peace cannot exist when we move too fast to fix our spirit on God. Busy schedules and lifestyles don’t allow us time to fix our gaze above. Our heart must be given the opportunity to seek Him above all else. 2 Thessalonians 3:16a says, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.” To experience peace we must abide in the Source. Isaiah 48:17-18a says, “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river.” God knows what is best for us, and because He is a loving Father, we should listen to Him. Peace flows to those who pay heed to what God teaches and directs. We must seek to know Him in order to obey Him. As believers, it is our duty to seek Him. The closer we draw to Jesus, the more deeply we desire Him to lead our life. As we allow Him to work through us and we begin to experience the riches of a Christ-centered life, our love for Him deepens, causing us to aspire to higher obedience. Therefore, if peace is absent from our lives, there are certain questions we should stop to consider. 1. Who do I rely on? Self-reliance and reliance on God cannot co-exist. Peace cannot be present when we rely on self instead of God. 2. What do I hold in my heart? Are bitterness or unforgiveness weaving a thread through the tapestry of my emotions? Forgiveness is sometimes easily extended, but at other times, the hardships and pains of this world are too excruciating to release without total reliance on Jesus. Without erasing the disobedience of unforgiveness and bitterness from our spirit and heart, we cannot carry peace. 3. What are you afraid of? God does not give the spirit of fear. 4. How do I handle mistakes? Am I a perfectionist? Only God is perfect. Stop trying to be Him. 5. What do I value? Does materialism have a grip on me? What do I value? Where do I spend my time and money? 6. Who do I choose to grant time to? Who are the people I am with most? What kind of influence do they have on me? 7. What do I choose to grant time to? 8. Am I able to handle my emotions? Am I even-tempered? 9. What does my heart seek? 10. Where do I find my worth? Does the world carry more weight with my thoughts and actions or does the Holy Spirit living inside me influence my emotions and behavior? 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 says, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” As we intentionally mature in our Christian relationship through Jesus, we see more clearly all that the Lord has for us. Our walk leads us closer to Him in fresh ways as we discover life is not about our selfish whims and desires. Through study of His holy word, we learn ways to grow in and through Him to understand Him more clearly to please Him. As we do so, we draw the peace promised by God into our lives. 1. Know the Bible. In order to develop and deepen our on-going relationship with Jesus, we must read His word. In order to know Him and all that He desires, we have to know His word and seek and recognize His truths. Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” 2. Pray. Prayer is an integral and continuing responsibility and privilege for believers. Pray for God’s will and purpose in our life. Pray to see, know, and understand Him more clearly. Pray to make Him known to others. Pray for His peace and guidance. Psalm 85:8 says, “I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.” We hear God speak when we are close enough to listen. 3. Search our self and motives to ensure we live according to God’s ways and purposes. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” 4. Release our dreams to Him. God created us and knows exactly what will truly fulfill us. Trust Him and His design for our life. If we live in opposition to what God desires for us, we never find peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33a says, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” 5. Believe that obstacles are opportunities. Treat them as such. Our positive mindset allows the peace of God to reside within us. Allow Him to carry the burdens and fears. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 6. Obey God. Seek to please and rely on Him. Seek Him to know His will and ways and put them into effect in our life. Turn away from sin that may be restricting the peace of God. Ask God to seek your heart and reveal areas to you that need to be turned away from or repented and given to Him. 1 Peter 3:11 says, “Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” 7. Gratitude, despite surroundings or events should be reflected in our heart, mind, words, and attitude. Isaiah 26:12 says, “Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us.” 8. Serve others less fortunate. When we look at others with a heart for and from the Lord, we seize the ways we can shine Him to others and it allows us to live with more grateful hearts. When we serve others, it causes us to examine our relationship with those we serve, and with God. Serving erases division and unites. James 3:18 says, “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 14:19 says, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 says, “Finally, brothers rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 9. Go outdoors. Sometimes a steady heart naturally flows through us when we seek solace in His creation. Ezekiel 34:25 says, “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.” 10. Relax. God never called us to perfection. Learn to distinguish between what does not matter and can be let go. Concentrate on what God calls to attention in your life to reduce anxiety or stress. Psalm 29:11 says, “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.” Other important questions to ponder are: Where do I find my peace? Is it ever-lasting? Does it come from trusting Jesus and my relationship with God through Him or from my surroundings and circumstances? God says He will give peace to His people. He longs for harmony and contentment to be fixed in our spirit and life. His encompassing peace truly can be well with our soul when we surrender regularly and naturally to God’s sovereignty over us and maintain a closeness that remains committed to keeping Him on the throne of our life. I want to share one more verse that is actually a promise from God. Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Prince of Peace. Jesus, the Prince of Peace lives within you when you are His. There is absolutely no greater power to give you or restore peace within you than Him. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, would you please make time to leave a review and rating for the show? Send me an email at thedoovermom@gmail.com if you don’t know how and I will walk you through step-by-step. I pray you find value in our weekly topics. In order for others to be able to hear about Jesus through Live With Eternal Perspective, I need the support of listeners who will invest a few minutes in subscribing and reviewing to lift this podcast higher on the charts so that the platform shows it to everyone. Right now, because the podcast is new and the following is small, listeners won’t find it unless they specifically know the name to search for. Can you think of a friend who might enjoy encouragement? If so, please share this podcast with them so that they will also find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 021 Peace That Passes Understanding Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #021 – Peace That Passes Understanding Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you today to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Our topic today. Peace that passes understanding. Who doesn’t want to claim that? In the midst of writing this particular podcast episode, I experienced a morning that was far from peaceful. Are you a believer that there is spiritual warfare in the world? Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” It was real today. But, as we know, God always has the final victory. Does it mean things always turn out the way we want them to? No. In fact, sometimes things get worse before they get better. But God has already and will always be the victor. Several things went wrong as I attempted to start my day and work on this episode. After I had breakfast I tuned in to listen to the podcast I had just released. I don’t always listen after the episode releases, but I kept having little thoughts that I should. About three minutes in, I realized the unedited version was aired instead of the final cut. “Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh, No, no, no.” I kept repeating. Stunned that the wrong version was being played to anyone tuning in, I was so upset. After the podcast episode was removed and the correct one aired, I realized I was still sad inside and wondered how many people had heard how terrible it sounded. I strive each week to write, record, and produce episodes that I believe God is calling and directing. I want to quality to continue to improve each week. When I heard the episode with several mistakes, it really hurt. I didn’t want people to think I didn’t care about what went out or to get too focused on the errors to hear the value behind what I was trying to say. Anxiety does not visit me often, but oh, I could feel it rising in the pit of my stomach that morning. I had to make myself focus and sit down to pray. I asked God to remove the feelings I was having and to allow me to absorb His peace, knowing that this mistake was not the worst thing that could ever happen. I stayed, and resting in God’s presence, talking to Him, until I felt His peace cover and protect me. Although it was distressing to have, and to work to quickly resolve the episode mix-up, the person most affected throughout the day was my husband. It seemed that everything he tried to do brought more problems that he had to tackle or correct. One after another issue popped to his attention and took up his time until evening arrived and it seemed he received a reprieve. You know those days. We all get to experience them. While we cannot escape the dreaded, “bad day,” we can monitor and shift our attitude and heartitude to remember what Jeremiah 12:3a says, “But as for me, Lord, you know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts.” We must continue to train ourselves to allow obstacles to extract bitterness, anxiety, and dissatisfaction from within us. We must pray for them to as we place them in God’s capable hands. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When we, as believers, release our anxiety to God we are trusting Him, believing that our Heavenly Father will give us His peace. Even more than just calmness, we receive God Himself, the Holy Spirit within us extending His presence, comfort, and protection. Have you felt it? The deepest tranquility flowing through you, extending past our level of understanding. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” When our mind is fixed on Him, when it “stays” on Him, He is faithful to His word. We have to remember Him – His strength and not rely on our own limited abilities. The verse from Isaiah relays the truth well. He keeps us in perfect peace when our mind is fixed on Him. When we trust that He will carry our loads, that He is able and desirous, we readily release our burdens to Him. Whenever I experience the slightest awareness of fear or stress, I must remember to immediately stop what I am doing and realize that means that I am attempting to carry concerns or hardships myself, which prompts me to pray. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” God’s peace cannot be defined by the standards of the world. His ways are above our logic or limited understanding. John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” Pay attention that Jesus did not say, “If you have trouble.” He said, “When you have trouble.” Afflictions, burdens, irritations, and concerns will come. Even Jesus had hardships and troubles. Why should we expect anything less? Remember, obstacles are opportunities that press us into the arms of Jesus. We have the freedom to choose to let the experience, whether large or small, cause us to draw nearer to Him and grow in Him. Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Peace is a gift extended as we believe and ask our Father to carry our loads. Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. God so intensely desires peace to inhabit us that He is called “the God of Peace.” Peace is part of Who and What our Heavenly Father is. As believers carrying the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have that peace within us. As frail, sinful humans, we often forget that power and source because we rely on self unless we intentionally focus on Him and live with an eternal perspective mindset that pertains to all that we have been given or that affects us. Peace is absent in many, yet each of us desire it. When peace is not present in our life, it is often due to the pace we are living. Are we moving too fast? Do we set ourselves up to experience calmness or tranquility? Peace cannot exist when we move too fast to fix our spirit on God. Busy schedules and lifestyles don’t allow us time to fix our gaze above. Our heart must be given the opportunity to seek Him above all else. 2 Thessalonians 3:16a says, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.” To experience peace we must abide in the Source. Isaiah 48:17-18a says, “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river.” God knows what is best for us, and because He is a loving Father, we should listen to Him. Peace flows to those who pay heed to what God teaches and directs. We must seek to know Him in order to obey Him. As believers, it is our duty to seek Him. The closer we draw to Jesus, the more deeply we desire Him to lead our life. As we allow Him to work through us and we begin to experience the riches of a Christ-centered life, our love for Him deepens, causing us to aspire to higher obedience. Therefore, if peace is absent from our lives, there are certain questions we should stop to consider. 1. Who do I rely on? Self-reliance and reliance on God cannot co-exist. Peace cannot be present when we rely on self instead of God. 2. What do I hold in my heart? Are bitterness or unforgiveness weaving a thread through the tapestry of my emotions? Forgiveness is sometimes easily extended, but at other times, the hardships and pains of this world are too excruciating to release without total reliance on Jesus. Without erasing the disobedience of unforgiveness and bitterness from our spirit and heart, we cannot carry peace. 3. What are you afraid of? God does not give the spirit of fear. 4. How do I handle mistakes? Am I a perfectionist? Only God is perfect. Stop trying to be Him. 5. What do I value? Does materialism have a grip on me? What do I value? Where do I spend my time and money? 6. Who do I choose to grant time to? Who are the people I am with most? What kind of influence do they have on me? 7. What do I choose to grant time to? 8. Am I able to handle my emotions? Am I even-tempered? 9. What does my heart seek? 10. Where do I find my worth? Does the world carry more weight with my thoughts and actions or does the Holy Spirit living inside me influence my emotions and behavior? 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 says, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” As we intentionally mature in our Christian relationship through Jesus, we see more clearly all that the Lord has for us. Our walk leads us closer to Him in fresh ways as we discover life is not about our selfish whims and desires. Through study of His holy word, we learn ways to grow in and through Him to understand Him more clearly to please Him. As we do so, we draw the peace promised by God into our lives. 1. Know the Bible. In order to develop and deepen our on-going relationship with Jesus, we must read His word. In order to know Him and all that He desires, we have to know His word and seek and recognize His truths. Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” 2. Pray. Prayer is an integral and continuing responsibility and privilege for believers. Pray for God’s will and purpose in our life. Pray to see, know, and understand Him more clearly. Pray to make Him known to others. Pray for His peace and guidance. Psalm 85:8 says, “I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.” We hear God speak when we are close enough to listen. 3. Search our self and motives to ensure we live according to God’s ways and purposes. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” 4. Release our dreams to Him. God created us and knows exactly what will truly fulfill us. Trust Him and His design for our life. If we live in opposition to what God desires for us, we never find peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33a says, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” 5. Believe that obstacles are opportunities. Treat them as such. Our positive mindset allows the peace of God to reside within us. Allow Him to carry the burdens and fears. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 6. Obey God. Seek to please and rely on Him. Seek Him to know His will and ways and put them into effect in our life. Turn away from sin that may be restricting the peace of God. Ask God to seek your heart and reveal areas to you that need to be turned away from or repented and given to Him. 1 Peter 3:11 says, “Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” 7. Gratitude, despite surroundings or events should be reflected in our heart, mind, words, and attitude. Isaiah 26:12 says, “Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us.” 8. Serve others less fortunate. When we look at others with a heart for and from the Lord, we seize the ways we can shine Him to others and it allows us to live with more grateful hearts. When we serve others, it causes us to examine our relationship with those we serve, and with God. Serving erases division and unites. James 3:18 says, “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 14:19 says, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 says, “Finally, brothers rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 9. Go outdoors. Sometimes a steady heart naturally flows through us when we seek solace in His creation. Ezekiel 34:25 says, “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.” 10. Relax. God never called us to perfection. Learn to distinguish between what does not matter and can be let go. Concentrate on what God calls to attention in your life to reduce anxiety or stress. Psalm 29:11 says, “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.” Other important questions to ponder are: Where do I find my peace? Is it ever-lasting? Does it come from trusting Jesus and my relationship with God through Him or from my surroundings and circumstances? God says He will give peace to His people. He longs for harmony and contentment to be fixed in our spirit and life. His encompassing peace truly can be well with our soul when we surrender regularly and naturally to God’s sovereignty over us and maintain a closeness that remains committed to keeping Him on the throne of our life. I want to share one more verse that is actually a promise from God. Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Prince of Peace. Jesus, the Prince of Peace lives within you when you are His. There is absolutely no greater power to give you or restore peace within you than Him. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, would you please make time to leave a review and rating for the show? Send me an email at thedoovermom@gmail.com if you don’t know how and I will walk you through step-by-step. I pray you find value in our weekly topics. In order for others to be able to hear about Jesus through Live With Eternal Perspective, I need the support of listeners who will invest a few minutes in subscribing and reviewing to lift this podcast higher on the charts so that the platform shows it to everyone. Right now, because the podcast is new and the following is small, listeners won’t find it unless they specifically know the name to search for. Can you think of a friend who might enjoy encouragement? If so, please share this podcast with them so that they will also find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #063 – Praying Scripture – Part 1 Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. On a recent Sunday evening, I asked my family to sit with me for a special prayer time. Are you this way? Do you need to share your heart with your family to get their support through prayer? That is exactly how I was feeling. I knew I could pray on my own, but I had ideas to ponder, emotions to share, and needed input from the people who know and love me the best and who would agree to pray with me because they also believe in the power of lifting requests to our Heavenly Father. At our house, my youngest receives electronic privileges before bedtime. When we all sat down to talk, it was less than an hour before her scheduled time to play, but I felt fairly certain we would be finished before she would see the clock ticking into her special time. As I began sharing all that I was experiencing and the needs I wanted my family to pray about, the clock chimed eight o’clock and we were still talking. After sharing all the feelings and thoughts that were heavy on my heart, Brooklyn asked if we could pray. Assuming she was antsy to get finished, I agreed that we could go ahead and pray at that time. We decided who would pray first and who would end, and began. Several minutes later, we finished, and I told our girl she could be excused to play. Wanting to stay with us, she looked a little surprised. I was blessed to hear her say that she wanted to stay and finish the discussion with us. So often, we assume we know what others are thinking or what their motives are. How wrong we can be. Brooklyn had wanted to get our prayer started because she knew I needed it. My heart was emotionally needy for what only God could provide, and recognizing this, she jumped ahead to get guidance and assistance from God started immediately. If you also pray regularly with your family, I bet you will agree that it is difficult to imagine life without this simple act of obedience and faith. Praying together has grown each of us individually and collectively in ways only God can explain. He goes before us, paving ground that we need later and providing for us in intimate ways only the Lord can know. James 5:13-16 says, “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” Praying together opens our hearts to God in ways that invites His intervention. We also create deeper intimacy with our loved ones as we pray together. Whether we are suffering hardships, living in fullness of joy, praising, in need of healing, or forgiveness, God desires our heartfelt and faithful pleas to intercede with His will. The Lord honors a parent raising their children for Him and delights when we teach them to rely on Him for all of their needs and are living examples as to how to do so. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.” God delights in blessing families who invite Him into their midst to pray together. Praying together is essential. Do you know what makes prayer time more effective and meaningful? Using scripture to pray. Although my family is good about praying together, I want us to become stronger at praying God’s word daily. Praying scripture enables us to become stronger at knowing God’s word and allows us to release His power into our life. Specifically seeking His word and utilizing it in our prayers is a faithful and trusting act of obedience as we rely on God’s powerful words and truths. To pray His word, we must know it, study it, and claim it. By purposely connecting our heart to God’s and intentionally praying His words, we are beseeching our Heavenly Father to use His will, just as Jesus modeled for us. In order to prepare ourselves or our family to deepen prayer time individually and collectively by drawing nearer to God and using His word as ours, we may need to examine and adjust the way we pray. Prepare your heart and mind to connect with intimate devotion to God by crafting your language to align with scripture. Here are a few examples of how to enter the presence of the Lord and initiate your prayer. Ephesians 3:12 says, “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.” When praying scripture, we simply craft God’s words and truths into the prayer we speak to Him. When entering God’s presence through prayer, we may use this verse from Ephesians to say, “Father, because of your gift to us through Christ, and the faith I have in Him, I thank you that I can now boldly and confidently enter into Your presence.” Hebrews 10:19-23 says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Using this passage, our prayer could be, “Gracious Heavenly Father, because of the blood of Jesus, I know I can enter Your Most Holy Place. By His death Jesus has given me intimate and holy access to You. I enter Your presence with a sincere heart of trust knowing my guilt has been covered through the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. I know that because He has washed me with pure water, I can hold tightly and without waver to the hope You have affirmed and that I can trust You to keep Your promises to me.” Romans 8:26-28 says, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Our prayer through this passage might be, “Holy Spirit, I trust that You help me in my weakness. Draw near to me. My emotions are too complex; I cannot utter what I need to pray. Please intercede and express my needs in groanings that cannot be expressed by mere words. My Heavenly Father, Who knows all hearts, will understand as You plead for me in harmony with His will. I believe that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Thank you for Your goodness and faithfulness to me.” Psalm 18:30 says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” This beautiful verse can be spoken as we enter into prayer or call upon His truths from this verse when we need protection, reassurance, or comfort. “Father God, Your way is perfect; Your word is flawless. You are my shield when I take refuge in You.” Do you see the beauty and inspiration God’s word brings? Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Praying God’s living, active word releases His profound power as we believe, trust, and call upon it to judge our intentions and do the work God wills. Why don’t most of us utilize this method of prayer more often? Probably because our lives are so fast-paced that we tend to believe we can come to God with requests when we need to. We do not stop to consider that we possess privilege and strength in God’s holy word. By relying on self, even though we do not consciously realize we are doing it, we lose the strength, peace, joy, and relief we could access at any moment, as well as the power released when we pray God’s word. We also miss the blessing of a more personal and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, who created us to enjoy fellowship with Him. 2 Samuel 22:31 says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” Let’s examine several Bible verses and how we can accept God’s invitation to seek refuge in Him through His perfect word and ways. Most mothers pray not only for themselves, but seek God through prayer for their spouse, children, and family. We also offer intercessory pray for friends, co-workers, strangers, and elected officials. Possibilities for prayer are vast. So is God’s omnipotence. Imagine the authority and blessings we miss when we consider ourselves too busy to delve into His word and claim His truths as our provision in every area. Praying scripture strengthens our bonds with God as we trust His word and rely on Him for every need as our mind and heart align with His. Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.” When we begin praying with God’s word, our mind and heart are directed toward His desires and will for us and others. We should not hastily come before Him with our own agenda. God’s word allows us to see with His eyes and submit to His heart and sovereignty. Isaiah 55:6-9 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Studying, then using God’s word as the groundwork for our prayers allows us to absorb His truths and righteousness in ways we may have never experienced. As we use the verses from Isaiah 55, our prayer could be something like this. “Father, I seek You while You may be found, I call on You while You are near. Help me forsake my own way, will, and thoughts and return to You while You have compassion and will freely pardon. My thoughts are certainly not Yours, as my ways are not Yours. As the heavens are higher than the earth, Your ways and thoughts are higher than mine. I submit to You and Your ways for me.” Approaching God, our Father, the Creator of heaven and earth with a sincere and humble heart ready to accept His will for us and genuinely craving to please and follow Him changes the way we pray. It alters our desires. It cleanses our heart and mind and prepares our spirit for His cleansing and higher growth in and for Him. Prayer exposes our core belief system. Kneeling before our Lord in supplication, whether literally or through our heart, mindset, and actions, is a natural extension of our personal relationship with and our trust, faith, and belief in Him. Our reliance on God through the act of prayer exhibits our dependence on our Heavenly Father, humbling our position with Him, and improving the level of our reliance on Him. How do we establish this lifestyle of prayer? The important word to ponder shouldn’t be how, but rather, Who. Jesus is our life and prayer model. When God sent His son to earth as a sacrifice for our sins and to form a way to Him, it was the most extravagant gift He could give us. Our sovereign God stepped into this world through flesh to exist and walk among us. He came to show us exactly how to live, suffer, love, rejoice, and how to pray. Each day should bring us closer to the Father’s heart in numerous ways, prayer included. As we depend on the Father through the act of prayer, we humbly seek Him in new and deeper ways by using His sacred, living word as a guide for submission, conversation, and conversion with Him. Prepare to connect with God in intimate devotion by shifting your heart to align with scripture, our Father’s will. 1. Jesus’s prayers were an example for us to follow. Jesus is God in human form. Jesus did not need to pray, yet He lived and suffered as a human, relinquishing everything for us, even to the point of death, modeling the ways we are to live as we trust in and rely on Him. 2. Jesus prayers were the perfect instruction in communication. Every prayer He uttered is a holy framework for us to follow. 3. Jesus’s prayers modeled submission in the purest form. Jesus genuinely shared all: His heart, fears, pain, sorrows, hopes, anything. Yet, He did not expect to get His way. Jesus trusted God’s sovereign will and ways and yielded His desires to the Father. 4. Jesus’s prayers proved reliance on God. Rather than complaining or protesting, Jesus accepted the will of God and honored what He was called to do, despite great suffering and personal cost. Prayer instructs us in holiness. Just as Jesus modeled for us, we must pray in specific ways. As we offer God’s holy words back to Him through prayer we accomplish the ability to do the following: 1. Pray with sincerity. 2. Pray with submission to holy preeminence. 3. Pray with faith. 4. Pray with trust in God’s timing. 5. Pray with heart, but yield to God’s will. 6. Pray consistently. 7. Pray with focus. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.” May the prayer we offer be like this, “Father, I know that every word that proceeds from Your mouth will not return to You empty. Your words will prosper as they accomplish what You please. Help my thoughts and attitude be as Yours are and my words be Yours as I speak my heart and requests.” Now that we realize the importance of praying not only the words of our soul, but of aligning our heart, mind, and words to match God’s through study of the Bible and growth of our relationship with Him through Jesus, may we deepen our walk even more through scriptural prayers. Join me next week as I share several verses, scripture passages, and craft prayers from each that will help us study, learn, and use God’s words as the backbone of prayer time with our Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father, Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to You, our God. How pleasant and lovely our words are to You as we lift praise and submission to Your will through Your holy words to us. Thank you for allowing us Jesus as our perfect sacrifice and mentor to bring us to You. Your words are faithful and true. Help our hearts be the same as we draw nearer to You. Help us hear and lift Your words as a sacrifice and offering to know and follow You more deeply. Thank you for sending us truth, love, and hope. In Your precious and holy name we pray. Amen Thank you for listening to this podcast. If prayer is a topic you would like to learn more about, you may enjoy listening to episode 18, “Prayer.” Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture. I’m thrilled to share that my latest free resource, “Scattering Seeds: Planting Character and Faith in Your Child” has released! This eBook is an excellent encouragement and support for mothers or grandmothers of young children. I encourage you to visit my website to access and download it soon. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 146 - Praying Scripture - Part 1 replay Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #063 – Praying Scripture – Part 1 Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. On a recent Sunday evening, I asked my family to sit with me for a special prayer time. Are you this way? Do you need to share your heart with your family to get their support through prayer? That is exactly how I was feeling. I knew I could pray on my own, but I had ideas to ponder, emotions to share, and needed input from the people who know and love me the best and who would agree to pray with me because they also believe in the power of lifting requests to our Heavenly Father. At our house, my youngest receives electronic privileges before bedtime. When we all sat down to talk, it was less than an hour before her scheduled time to play, but I felt fairly certain we would be finished before she would see the clock ticking into her special time. As I began sharing all that I was experiencing and the needs I wanted my family to pray about, the clock chimed eight o’clock and we were still talking. After sharing all the feelings and thoughts that were heavy on my heart, Brooklyn asked if we could pray. Assuming she was antsy to get finished, I agreed that we could go ahead and pray at that time. We decided who would pray first and who would end, and began. Several minutes later, we finished, and I told our girl she could be excused to play. Wanting to stay with us, she looked a little surprised. I was blessed to hear her say that she wanted to stay and finish the discussion with us. So often, we assume we know what others are thinking or what their motives are. How wrong we can be. Brooklyn had wanted to get our prayer started because she knew I needed it. My heart was emotionally needy for what only God could provide, and recognizing this, she jumped ahead to get guidance and assistance from God started immediately. If you also pray regularly with your family, I bet you will agree that it is difficult to imagine life without this simple act of obedience and faith. Praying together has grown each of us individually and collectively in ways only God can explain. He goes before us, paving ground that we need later and providing for us in intimate ways only the Lord can know. James 5:13-16 says, “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” Praying together opens our hearts to God in ways that invites His intervention. We also create deeper intimacy with our loved ones as we pray together. Whether we are suffering hardships, living in fullness of joy, praising, in need of healing, or forgiveness, God desires our heartfelt and faithful pleas to intercede with His will. The Lord honors a parent raising their children for Him and delights when we teach them to rely on Him for all of their needs and are living examples as to how to do so. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.” God delights in blessing families who invite Him into their midst to pray together. Praying together is essential. Do you know what makes prayer time more effective and meaningful? Using scripture to pray. Although my family is good about praying together, I want us to become stronger at praying God’s word daily. Praying scripture enables us to become stronger at knowing God’s word and allows us to release His power into our life. Specifically seeking His word and utilizing it in our prayers is a faithful and trusting act of obedience as we rely on God’s powerful words and truths. To pray His word, we must know it, study it, and claim it. By purposely connecting our heart to God’s and intentionally praying His words, we are beseeching our Heavenly Father to use His will, just as Jesus modeled for us. In order to prepare ourselves or our family to deepen prayer time individually and collectively by drawing nearer to God and using His word as ours, we may need to examine and adjust the way we pray. Prepare your heart and mind to connect with intimate devotion to God by crafting your language to align with scripture. Here are a few examples of how to enter the presence of the Lord and initiate your prayer. Ephesians 3:12 says, “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.” When praying scripture, we simply craft God’s words and truths into the prayer we speak to Him. When entering God’s presence through prayer, we may use this verse from Ephesians to say, “Father, because of your gift to us through Christ, and the faith I have in Him, I thank you that I can now boldly and confidently enter into Your presence.” Hebrews 10:19-23 says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Using this passage, our prayer could be, “Gracious Heavenly Father, because of the blood of Jesus, I know I can enter Your Most Holy Place. By His death Jesus has given me intimate and holy access to You. I enter Your presence with a sincere heart of trust knowing my guilt has been covered through the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. I know that because He has washed me with pure water, I can hold tightly and without waver to the hope You have affirmed and that I can trust You to keep Your promises to me.” Romans 8:26-28 says, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Our prayer through this passage might be, “Holy Spirit, I trust that You help me in my weakness. Draw near to me. My emotions are too complex; I cannot utter what I need to pray. Please intercede and express my needs in groanings that cannot be expressed by mere words. My Heavenly Father, Who knows all hearts, will understand as You plead for me in harmony with His will. I believe that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Thank you for Your goodness and faithfulness to me.” Psalm 18:30 says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” This beautiful verse can be spoken as we enter into prayer or call upon His truths from this verse when we need protection, reassurance, or comfort. “Father God, Your way is perfect; Your word is flawless. You are my shield when I take refuge in You.” Do you see the beauty and inspiration God’s word brings? Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Praying God’s living, active word releases His profound power as we believe, trust, and call upon it to judge our intentions and do the work God wills. Why don’t most of us utilize this method of prayer more often? Probably because our lives are so fast-paced that we tend to believe we can come to God with requests when we need to. We do not stop to consider that we possess privilege and strength in God’s holy word. By relying on self, even though we do not consciously realize we are doing it, we lose the strength, peace, joy, and relief we could access at any moment, as well as the power released when we pray God’s word. We also miss the blessing of a more personal and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, who created us to enjoy fellowship with Him. 2 Samuel 22:31 says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” Let’s examine several Bible verses and how we can accept God’s invitation to seek refuge in Him through His perfect word and ways. Most mothers pray not only for themselves, but seek God through prayer for their spouse, children, and family. We also offer intercessory pray for friends, co-workers, strangers, and elected officials. Possibilities for prayer are vast. So is God’s omnipotence. Imagine the authority and blessings we miss when we consider ourselves too busy to delve into His word and claim His truths as our provision in every area. Praying scripture strengthens our bonds with God as we trust His word and rely on Him for every need as our mind and heart align with His. Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.” When we begin praying with God’s word, our mind and heart are directed toward His desires and will for us and others. We should not hastily come before Him with our own agenda. God’s word allows us to see with His eyes and submit to His heart and sovereignty. Isaiah 55:6-9 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Studying, then using God’s word as the groundwork for our prayers allows us to absorb His truths and righteousness in ways we may have never experienced. As we use the verses from Isaiah 55, our prayer could be something like this. “Father, I seek You while You may be found, I call on You while You are near. Help me forsake my own way, will, and thoughts and return to You while You have compassion and will freely pardon. My thoughts are certainly not Yours, as my ways are not Yours. As the heavens are higher than the earth, Your ways and thoughts are higher than mine. I submit to You and Your ways for me.” Approaching God, our Father, the Creator of heaven and earth with a sincere and humble heart ready to accept His will for us and genuinely craving to please and follow Him changes the way we pray. It alters our desires. It cleanses our heart and mind and prepares our spirit for His cleansing and higher growth in and for Him. Prayer exposes our core belief system. Kneeling before our Lord in supplication, whether literally or through our heart, mindset, and actions, is a natural extension of our personal relationship with and our trust, faith, and belief in Him. Our reliance on God through the act of prayer exhibits our dependence on our Heavenly Father, humbling our position with Him, and improving the level of our reliance on Him. How do we establish this lifestyle of prayer? The important word to ponder shouldn’t be how, but rather, Who. Jesus is our life and prayer model. When God sent His son to earth as a sacrifice for our sins and to form a way to Him, it was the most extravagant gift He could give us. Our sovereign God stepped into this world through flesh to exist and walk among us. He came to show us exactly how to live, suffer, love, rejoice, and how to pray. Each day should bring us closer to the Father’s heart in numerous ways, prayer included. As we depend on the Father through the act of prayer, we humbly seek Him in new and deeper ways by using His sacred, living word as a guide for submission, conversation, and conversion with Him. Prepare to connect with God in intimate devotion by shifting your heart to align with scripture, our Father’s will. 1. Jesus’s prayers were an example for us to follow. Jesus is God in human form. Jesus did not need to pray, yet He lived and suffered as a human, relinquishing everything for us, even to the point of death, modeling the ways we are to live as we trust in and rely on Him. 2. Jesus prayers were the perfect instruction in communication. Every prayer He uttered is a holy framework for us to follow. 3. Jesus’s prayers modeled submission in the purest form. Jesus genuinely shared all: His heart, fears, pain, sorrows, hopes, anything. Yet, He did not expect to get His way. Jesus trusted God’s sovereign will and ways and yielded His desires to the Father. 4. Jesus’s prayers proved reliance on God. Rather than complaining or protesting, Jesus accepted the will of God and honored what He was called to do, despite great suffering and personal cost. Prayer instructs us in holiness. Just as Jesus modeled for us, we must pray in specific ways. As we offer God’s holy words back to Him through prayer we accomplish the ability to do the following: 1. Pray with sincerity. 2. Pray with submission to holy preeminence. 3. Pray with faith. 4. Pray with trust in God’s timing. 5. Pray with heart, but yield to God’s will. 6. Pray consistently. 7. Pray with focus. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.” May the prayer we offer be like this, “Father, I know that every word that proceeds from Your mouth will not return to You empty. Your words will prosper as they accomplish what You please. Help my thoughts and attitude be as Yours are and my words be Yours as I speak my heart and requests.” Now that we realize the importance of praying not only the words of our soul, but of aligning our heart, mind, and words to match God’s through study of the Bible and growth of our relationship with Him through Jesus, may we deepen our walk even more through scriptural prayers. Join me next week as I share several verses, scripture passages, and craft prayers from each that will help us study, learn, and use God’s words as the backbone of prayer time with our Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father, Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to You, our God. How pleasant and lovely our words are to You as we lift praise and submission to Your will through Your holy words to us. Thank you for allowing us Jesus as our perfect sacrifice and mentor to bring us to You. Your words are faithful and true. Help our hearts be the same as we draw nearer to You. Help us hear and lift Your words as a sacrifice and offering to know and follow You more deeply. Thank you for sending us truth, love, and hope. In Your precious and holy name we pray. Amen Thank you for listening to this podcast. If prayer is a topic you would like to learn more about, you may enjoy listening to episode 18, “Prayer.” Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture. I’m thrilled to share that my latest free resource, “Scattering Seeds: Planting Character and Faith in Your Child” has released! This eBook is an excellent encouragement and support for mothers or grandmothers of young children. I encourage you to visit my website to access and download it soon. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #094 – Interview with Emily Hladik – Understanding American History – Part 2 Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. The feedback for the Part 1 episode with Emily Hladik from last week has been wonderful. I appreciate those who give input and let me know the ways God is speaking to you through the episodes. Today I air Part 2 of my interview with Emily. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I suggest you do before listening to this one as we pick up right where we left off last week. Emily has so much wisdom and knowledge to share and I don’t want you to miss any of it! As a brief reminder, let me share that my guest for this podcast is Emily Hladik, a wife, follower of Jesus, and a homeschool mother who shares her passion for truth through eLearning to reach the next generation of American patriots. Emily doesn’t care much for shopping and decorating, but is passionate about Jesus, history, politics, and is the founder and curriculum creator of Great American Studies. I appreciate her directness and wise, godly views on history and what we must do to honor and uphold it in society today. In Part 2 of this interview, we dig deeper into American history, politics, religious history in America, the truth about separation of church and state, God’s longsuffering and judgement, and parental rights. So much to cover in such a short interview, but we do it. I could speak to Emily for hours and from the response I’ve received, I think you could listen to her for hours, as well. Listening to Emily reminds us that living with eternal perspective also includes keeping a heart and mind focused on authentic history and remembering what has occurred so that we preserve the freedoms set and allowed by God Himself for His purposes. Nothing we receive or own comes from our own hand. God allows the privileges we carry and the reasons are not for selfish gain, but for the good of His kingdom and purposes to honor Him. That we have enjoyed so much because of the suffering of Jesus and the patriots before us is a heavy burden. We must understand and appreciate our privileges in order to preserve them for the next generation. We are alive and living in this period for such a time as this. -----------------------------------------------INTERVIEW----------------------------------------------------- What a wonderful conversation with Emily! You can learn more about her or Great American Studies at www.greatamericanstudies.com or on Facebook at Great American Studies. https://www.facebook.com/greatamericanstudies/ I will leave the links in the show notes. Emily’s courses are great for home or traditionally educated students, as well as parents who want to refresh their mind on history never taught to them, or learned long ago. I plan to complete her course with my family soon. May we each view history with truth and greater clarity, eyes on Jesus, and a heart for what matters to God. May we view the future in the same way with a godly desire for Jesus that propels us to act as He calls. Father God, Your mercies are everlasting. Your kindness to us immense. You are the Great I Am, yet You look on us with such love. Yet, as a Good Father, You also call us to obedience and You discipline those You love. Father, help us to clearly see Your will for us and not flinch or run from it. Help us to cling to You, drawing nearer consistently, whether times are hard or easy. May we be open vessels for You to pour into, allowing us to be Your hands and feet in a parched world that needs Your living water. God, my heart cries for the ways we let You down, the ways we do not recognize the mercies of Your hand or the gifts You lovingly dispense. Open our eyes and hearts, allow our mindset to shift to Yours. May we be hurt by what hurts You and compelled to act where You call. May we stand for what You stand for, and may we rely on You to prompt and carry us, to strengthen us for the battles ahead. May we kneel to You and not this world. May we crave Christ over culture and lovingly exemplify You in our thoughts, words, actions, and lifestyles. Father, may we adore You and shine You like the sun as we carry You within us each day. Draw others to You through us. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. As always, please feel free to let me know if you have specific questions I may be able to answer or if you need information or encouragement about a specific topic related to the podcast or interviews. You can reach me at info@terrihitt.com. Thank you for listening to this podcast. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 094 - Understanding American History - Interview with Emily Hladik - Part 2 Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #094 – Interview with Emily Hladik – Understanding American History – Part 2 Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. The feedback for the Part 1 episode with Emily Hladik from last week has been wonderful. I appreciate those who give input and let me know the ways God is speaking to you through the episodes. Today I air Part 2 of my interview with Emily. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I suggest you do before listening to this one as we pick up right where we left off last week. Emily has so much wisdom and knowledge to share and I don’t want you to miss any of it! As a brief reminder, let me share that my guest for this podcast is Emily Hladik, a wife, follower of Jesus, and a homeschool mother who shares her passion for truth through eLearning to reach the next generation of American patriots. Emily doesn’t care much for shopping and decorating, but is passionate about Jesus, history, politics, and is the founder and curriculum creator of Great American Studies. I appreciate her directness and wise, godly views on history and what we must do to honor and uphold it in society today. In Part 2 of this interview, we dig deeper into American history, politics, religious history in America, the truth about separation of church and state, God’s longsuffering and judgement, and parental rights. So much to cover in such a short interview, but we do it. I could speak to Emily for hours and from the response I’ve received, I think you could listen to her for hours, as well. Listening to Emily reminds us that living with eternal perspective also includes keeping a heart and mind focused on authentic history and remembering what has occurred so that we preserve the freedoms set and allowed by God Himself for His purposes. Nothing we receive or own comes from our own hand. God allows the privileges we carry and the reasons are not for selfish gain, but for the good of His kingdom and purposes to honor Him. That we have enjoyed so much because of the suffering of Jesus and the patriots before us is a heavy burden. We must understand and appreciate our privileges in order to preserve them for the next generation. We are alive and living in this period for such a time as this. -----------------------------------------------INTERVIEW----------------------------------------------------- What a wonderful conversation with Emily! You can learn more about her or Great American Studies at www.greatamericanstudies.com or on Facebook at Great American Studies. https://www.facebook.com/greatamericanstudies/ I will leave the links in the show notes. Emily’s courses are great for home or traditionally educated students, as well as parents who want to refresh their mind on history never taught to them, or learned long ago. I plan to complete her course with my family soon. May we each view history with truth and greater clarity, eyes on Jesus, and a heart for what matters to God. May we view the future in the same way with a godly desire for Jesus that propels us to act as He calls. Father God, Your mercies are everlasting. Your kindness to us immense. You are the Great I Am, yet You look on us with such love. Yet, as a Good Father, You also call us to obedience and You discipline those You love. Father, help us to clearly see Your will for us and not flinch or run from it. Help us to cling to You, drawing nearer consistently, whether times are hard or easy. May we be open vessels for You to pour into, allowing us to be Your hands and feet in a parched world that needs Your living water. God, my heart cries for the ways we let You down, the ways we do not recognize the mercies of Your hand or the gifts You lovingly dispense. Open our eyes and hearts, allow our mindset to shift to Yours. May we be hurt by what hurts You and compelled to act where You call. May we stand for what You stand for, and may we rely on You to prompt and carry us, to strengthen us for the battles ahead. May we kneel to You and not this world. May we crave Christ over culture and lovingly exemplify You in our thoughts, words, actions, and lifestyles. Father, may we adore You and shine You like the sun as we carry You within us each day. Draw others to You through us. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. As always, please feel free to let me know if you have specific questions I may be able to answer or if you need information or encouragement about a specific topic related to the podcast or interviews. You can reach me at info@terrihitt.com . Thank you for listening to this podcast. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. https://www.greatamericanstudies.com https://www.facebook.com/greatamericanstudies/

Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 017 Tara Dickson Interview Listen to Episode http://www.taradickson.com

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #022 – Discerning Truth/Detecting Lies Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you today to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. My youngest daughter should be nicknamed, “Shadow.” She follows me around the house at least 95% of each day, watching everything I say and do. I believe one of her strongest skills is the power of observation. Due to her background and history before us, she had ample time to hone this ability. Time with her has been short, but her desire and strengths have allowed her to catch up in several areas of deficit much quicker than anticipated. Seeing her learn through the gifts of examination and consideration have been powerful and insightful for me as a mother. It impresses upon me even more strongly the importance of what she sees through me daily. Sticking so closely to my side allows her the opportunity to see every action and hear every word I offer. My eyes and heart need to remain fixed above so that I have a greater ability to shadow the actions and intents of Jesus for her to model. As parents, we all strive to teach certain skills to our children before they leave our care. We easily think of the obvious abilities they will need to live alone, such as washing and mending clothing, keeping a clean home, balancing their money, and other necessities like these. However, when we consider the intentionality of teaching our children to pursue an eternal perspective lifestyle, we also desire to teach them proficiency in spiritual skills such as discernment. During a conversation with my other daughter last week, she shared with me that she would appreciate learning more about living with outstanding judgement and understanding through God’s viewpoint. I was pleased with her request, because she is wise for her age, an old soul, yet she still wants to live with pleasing values and intentions that rely on and draw from God’s wisdom. How do we ensure that we live in ways that are pleasing to God? What must we do to make sure we live in ways that observe and draw from His wisdom? When we intentionally think with God’s truths, we actually exercise outstanding judgment and understanding. We look at the world and occurrences through the guidelines of His truths. We observe and ponder that which is obscure to the wisdom of this world (or self) and perceive or grasp it through eternal perspective insight given by God so that we are able to comprehend and discern how God would call us to act, speak, or believe. Godly discernment is vitally important. We must know God’s truths because of our relationship with Him through Jesus. We must read and study his word to prevent us from being deceived by this unbiblical world. We must desire to develop the mindset of Christ, not this world we are traveling through. Unbiblical minds and hearts lead to disobedient and unfruitful lives of sorrow, bitterness, judgements, and chaos. Proverbs 1:1-7 in the New Living Translation expresses the truths of the book and what we should strive for in life very simply. “These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” King Solomon is said to be the wisest man (besides Jesus) who ever lived. Yet, although God blessed him with much wisdom and wealth, Solomon still made dreadful mistakes in his walk with God. Anyone who takes his eye off of God will fall victim to sinning against God, despite the intentions we set out with or the gifts He has blessed us with. The opposite of God’s wisdom is ignorance, foolishness, and absence of discernment resulting in mistakes and disappointments. As Proverbs clearly shows us, a foolish person will ignore God’s wisdom and discernment and continue persisting in walking in their own strength and wisdom. No other section of the Bible offers as much instruction or clarity on the basics of living a Godly life than the book of Proverbs. If you desire wisdom and instruction, to perceive words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, or to give prudence to the simple, and to give the young man knowledge and discretion, you must study and put into practice the words shared as you seek God, His answers, and His direction to life. The book of Proverbs stands the test of time throughout each generation with timeless cautions, insights, and truths that expose the wisdom of God, who longs to love, protect, and guide us. Beyond reading, understanding, and practicing principles taught in Proverbs, what will enable us to develop godly, biblical discernment from the Lord? In condensed form, the foundation of truths taught in this book are as follows. 1. We must be humble. Despite the intelligence God gives and allows us to possess, we do not know or understand (and never will) nearly as much as God does. Even the greatest minds the world has ever held fall way below God, who created them. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 says, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” As we submit to God in humble acknowledgement of Who and What He is, the Holy Spirit is able to work within us, imparting wisdom and understanding through illumination by Him. 2. We must trust God. He is God. We are not. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” We must train ourselves to live with stillness that allows God to be acknowledged. He is always present and has made a perfect plan for our lives. We simply have to draw near to Him with the desire to surrender through trust and obedience. 3. We must live by faith, seeking to know and please Him more each day. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” As we deepen our walk with the Lord through Jesus, learning Biblical truths and promises, and allowing God to build our worth through Him, we walk in step with Him and learn to trust that faith is enough. 4. We must pray for God’s wisdom, insight, and understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” God grants wisdom and discernment to those who truly desire it for the right reasons. 5. We must desire, read, and study God’s word (as well as put it into practice) and cling closely to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit within us in order to carefully discern God’s holy truths. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Do not deceived by this world. Many false teachings exist and the only way to discern what is truly of God is to cling tightly to Him and His Holy word, studying and examining the meanings, and the messengers. We must compare teachings and beliefs against the word of God to see whether they are in perfect alignment. 6. We must maintain good relationships with other believers who encourage us and challenge us to live for God. Romans 1:11-12 says, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” 7. We must know and live in the light of God’s truth, cleaving our hearts and desires to His. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The word of God is a discerner means that God’s anointed words are a judge. Only the very words of God can correctly sift and measure whether our thoughts and intentions are pure and godly or born of our flesh. 8. We must observe the life of Jesus. When we understand Him, we become more like Him. Becoming more Christlike is such a priority if we want to live with eternal perspective. Jesus is our living manual as to how to navigate this world and prepare for the next. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” 1 John 2:3-6 says, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 9. We must continue to seek God’s wisdom, never falling victim to the lie that we have learned all we can. Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” 1 Corinthians 3:18 says, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.” Matthew 7:24 says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house of the rock.” Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” 10. We must desire and pursue intimacy with God. Psalm 63:1-8 leaves a beautiful and poetic example. “O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water. So I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory. Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift my hands. My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You. When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night. For You are my help; I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” 11. We must continue to draw near to God, despite momentary circumstances, deepening our maturity with and through the Lord. Psalms 145:18-19 says, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” When we test daily occurrences and hardships against God’s word, we begin to mature the ability to discern between not only right and wrong, but also the gray areas that cause such division and diversion in our lives and relationships. There is a right by God’s standards and a right by the codes of this world or our personal preference. They are vastly different. As we focus more intently on living with eternal perspective, the desires of this world shift and fade, releasing a grip on our hearts, minds, words, and actions, allowing them to be transformed through Christ. Through this process, we must diligently seek to do the following. 1. Pray steadfastly for God’s purpose and direction. 2. Allow our mind to be transformed to believe as God’s, accepting His passions, dislikes, and desires. 3. Seek wise spiritual counsel and compare it against God’s word and values. 4. Make decisions based on the shifts God has made in our mindset. 5. Do not impulsively follow our own wishes or desires rather than seek God’s through prayer. 6. Allow our setbacks and mistakes to guide and humble us as we grow closer to the Lord. 7. Choose a circle of godly friends for encouragement and reach out to those we can mentor in the Lord, as well. 8. Turn away from selfish desires and cultural trends. 9. Align our morals against the compass of God’s truths. 10. Build a fence that guards us far from the cliff of disaster. Obtaining and living with His valued judgement and understanding does not cause us to be judgmental, but rather, to access God’s discernment, holding us close to what He demands, while relying on Him to personally guide and direct us individually. Godly judgement seeks to be judged personally by God as we look Up to Him, not looking around us to evaluate or criticize the walk of another. Yet, as godly parents, we must hold closely the high call God has bestowed on us to seek, know, and follow Him as He desires, then model and teach the same values to our children and the next generation. Let me share five more verses that speak to living with discernment. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 says, “Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” Philippians 1:9-11 says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Hebrews 5:12-14 says, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” John 17:15-17 says, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 4:23-24 says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Father, I pray that You help us to desire the discernment that only You can give. May we joyfully and humbly accept Your guidelines as our own and seek godly judgement and understanding that draws us nearer to You and closer to the model Jesus set for us when He walked the earth, as well as hearing and obeying the Holy Spirit inside us. Amen. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, would you please make time to leave a review and rating for the show? Send me an email at thedoovermom@gmail.com if you don’t know how and I will walk you through step-by-step. I pray you find value in our weekly topics. In order for others to be able to hear about Jesus through Live With Eternal Perspective, I need the support of listeners who will invest a few minutes in subscribing and reviewing to lift this podcast higher on the charts so that the platform shows it to everyone. Right now, because the podcast is new and the following is small, listeners won’t find it unless they specifically know the name to search for. Can you think of a friend who might enjoy encouragement? If so, please share this podcast with them so that they will also find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 022 Discerning Truth, Detecting Lies Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #022 – Discerning Truth/Detecting Lies Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you today to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. My youngest daughter should be nicknamed, “Shadow.” She follows me around the house at least 95% of each day, watching everything I say and do. I believe one of her strongest skills is the power of observation. Due to her background and history before us, she had ample time to hone this ability. Time with her has been short, but her desire and strengths have allowed her to catch up in several areas of deficit much quicker than anticipated. Seeing her learn through the gifts of examination and consideration have been powerful and insightful for me as a mother. It impresses upon me even more strongly the importance of what she sees through me daily. Sticking so closely to my side allows her the opportunity to see every action and hear every word I offer. My eyes and heart need to remain fixed above so that I have a greater ability to shadow the actions and intents of Jesus for her to model. As parents, we all strive to teach certain skills to our children before they leave our care. We easily think of the obvious abilities they will need to live alone, such as washing and mending clothing, keeping a clean home, balancing their money, and other necessities like these. However, when we consider the intentionality of teaching our children to pursue an eternal perspective lifestyle, we also desire to teach them proficiency in spiritual skills such as discernment. During a conversation with my other daughter last week, she shared with me that she would appreciate learning more about living with outstanding judgement and understanding through God’s viewpoint. I was pleased with her request, because she is wise for her age, an old soul, yet she still wants to live with pleasing values and intentions that rely on and draw from God’s wisdom. How do we ensure that we live in ways that are pleasing to God? What must we do to make sure we live in ways that observe and draw from His wisdom? When we intentionally think with God’s truths, we actually exercise outstanding judgment and understanding. We look at the world and occurrences through the guidelines of His truths. We observe and ponder that which is obscure to the wisdom of this world (or self) and perceive or grasp it through eternal perspective insight given by God so that we are able to comprehend and discern how God would call us to act, speak, or believe. Godly discernment is vitally important. We must know God’s truths because of our relationship with Him through Jesus. We must read and study his word to prevent us from being deceived by this unbiblical world. We must desire to develop the mindset of Christ, not this world we are traveling through. Unbiblical minds and hearts lead to disobedient and unfruitful lives of sorrow, bitterness, judgements, and chaos. Proverbs 1:1-7 in the New Living Translation expresses the truths of the book and what we should strive for in life very simply. “These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” King Solomon is said to be the wisest man (besides Jesus) who ever lived. Yet, although God blessed him with much wisdom and wealth, Solomon still made dreadful mistakes in his walk with God. Anyone who takes his eye off of God will fall victim to sinning against God, despite the intentions we set out with or the gifts He has blessed us with. The opposite of God’s wisdom is ignorance, foolishness, and absence of discernment resulting in mistakes and disappointments. As Proverbs clearly shows us, a foolish person will ignore God’s wisdom and discernment and continue persisting in walking in their own strength and wisdom. No other section of the Bible offers as much instruction or clarity on the basics of living a Godly life than the book of Proverbs. If you desire wisdom and instruction, to perceive words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, or to give prudence to the simple, and to give the young man knowledge and discretion, you must study and put into practice the words shared as you seek God, His answers, and His direction to life. The book of Proverbs stands the test of time throughout each generation with timeless cautions, insights, and truths that expose the wisdom of God, who longs to love, protect, and guide us. Beyond reading, understanding, and practicing principles taught in Proverbs, what will enable us to develop godly, biblical discernment from the Lord? In condensed form, the foundation of truths taught in this book are as follows. 1. We must be humble. Despite the intelligence God gives and allows us to possess, we do not know or understand (and never will) nearly as much as God does. Even the greatest minds the world has ever held fall way below God, who created them. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 says, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” As we submit to God in humble acknowledgement of Who and What He is, the Holy Spirit is able to work within us, imparting wisdom and understanding through illumination by Him. 2. We must trust God. He is God. We are not. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” We must train ourselves to live with stillness that allows God to be acknowledged. He is always present and has made a perfect plan for our lives. We simply have to draw near to Him with the desire to surrender through trust and obedience. 3. We must live by faith, seeking to know and please Him more each day. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” As we deepen our walk with the Lord through Jesus, learning Biblical truths and promises, and allowing God to build our worth through Him, we walk in step with Him and learn to trust that faith is enough. 4. We must pray for God’s wisdom, insight, and understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” God grants wisdom and discernment to those who truly desire it for the right reasons. 5. We must desire, read, and study God’s word (as well as put it into practice) and cling closely to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit within us in order to carefully discern God’s holy truths. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Do not deceived by this world. Many false teachings exist and the only way to discern what is truly of God is to cling tightly to Him and His Holy word, studying and examining the meanings, and the messengers. We must compare teachings and beliefs against the word of God to see whether they are in perfect alignment. 6. We must maintain good relationships with other believers who encourage us and challenge us to live for God. Romans 1:11-12 says, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” 7. We must know and live in the light of God’s truth, cleaving our hearts and desires to His. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The word of God is a discerner means that God’s anointed words are a judge. Only the very words of God can correctly sift and measure whether our thoughts and intentions are pure and godly or born of our flesh. 8. We must observe the life of Jesus. When we understand Him, we become more like Him. Becoming more Christlike is such a priority if we want to live with eternal perspective. Jesus is our living manual as to how to navigate this world and prepare for the next. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” 1 John 2:3-6 says, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 9. We must continue to seek God’s wisdom, never falling victim to the lie that we have learned all we can. Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” 1 Corinthians 3:18 says, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.” Matthew 7:24 says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house of the rock.” Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” 10. We must desire and pursue intimacy with God. Psalm 63:1-8 leaves a beautiful and poetic example. “O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water. So I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory. Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift my hands. My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You. When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night. For You are my help; I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” 11. We must continue to draw near to God, despite momentary circumstances, deepening our maturity with and through the Lord. Psalms 145:18-19 says, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” When we test daily occurrences and hardships against God’s word, we begin to mature the ability to discern between not only right and wrong, but also the gray areas that cause such division and diversion in our lives and relationships. There is a right by God’s standards and a right by the codes of this world or our personal preference. They are vastly different. As we focus more intently on living with eternal perspective, the desires of this world shift and fade, releasing a grip on our hearts, minds, words, and actions, allowing them to be transformed through Christ. Through this process, we must diligently seek to do the following. 1. Pray steadfastly for God’s purpose and direction. 2. Allow our mind to be transformed to believe as God’s, accepting His passions, dislikes, and desires. 3. Seek wise spiritual counsel and compare it against God’s word and values. 4. Make decisions based on the shifts God has made in our mindset. 5. Do not impulsively follow our own wishes or desires rather than seek God’s through prayer. 6. Allow our setbacks and mistakes to guide and humble us as we grow closer to the Lord. 7. Choose a circle of godly friends for encouragement and reach out to those we can mentor in the Lord, as well. 8. Turn away from selfish desires and cultural trends. 9. Align our morals against the compass of God’s truths. 10. Build a fence that guards us far from the cliff of disaster. Obtaining and living with His valued judgement and understanding does not cause us to be judgmental, but rather, to access God’s discernment, holding us close to what He demands, while relying on Him to personally guide and direct us individually. Godly judgement seeks to be judged personally by God as we look Up to Him, not looking around us to evaluate or criticize the walk of another. Yet, as godly parents, we must hold closely the high call God has bestowed on us to seek, know, and follow Him as He desires, then model and teach the same values to our children and the next generation. Let me share five more verses that speak to living with discernment. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 says, “Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” Philippians 1:9-11 says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Hebrews 5:12-14 says, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” John 17:15-17 says, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 4:23-24 says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Father, I pray that You help us to desire the discernment that only You can give. May we joyfully and humbly accept Your guidelines as our own and seek godly judgement and understanding that draws us nearer to You and closer to the model Jesus set for us when He walked the earth, as well as hearing and obeying the Holy Spirit inside us. Amen. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, would you please make time to leave a review and rating for the show? Send me an email at thedoovermom@gmail.com if you don’t know how and I will walk you through step-by-step. I pray you find value in our weekly topics. In order for others to be able to hear about Jesus through Live With Eternal Perspective, I need the support of listeners who will invest a few minutes in subscribing and reviewing to lift this podcast higher on the charts so that the platform shows it to everyone. Right now, because the podcast is new and the following is small, listeners won’t find it unless they specifically know the name to search for. Can you think of a friend who might enjoy encouragement? If so, please share this podcast with them so that they will also find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #145 – How to Know Truth in a Mixed-Up World of Pride Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to seek, find, and follow Jesus together as we live with purposed eternal perspective. I can’t believe it’s already June! I have always loved summer! When I was a little girl, I always secretly wished that my birthday was in June instead of November. Now I have a grandson and a daughter with June birthdays. Guess what? Ironically, my youngest daughter wishes she could trade with me and have a November birthday. Why did I want the June birthday? Well, I highly dislike cold. Winter is my least favorite time of year. Although I can honestly say that I try to honor God and appreciate the beauty of snow falling and covering the ground in fluffy white silence, He and I both know I would trade that beauty for a warm summer day in a microsecond! I love the weather, the carefree summer days, the ease of dressing and going out without cumbersome coats, boats, gloves, and having to drive slowly in inclement weather. I even dislike the color of the November birthstone and have always been an admirer of creamy pearls that grace the birthstone of June. Summer flowers, scents, and activities are favored over any in cold months one, too. Well, I think I’ve given enough evidence for why I highly favor June, the month that ushers in summer. In current society, however, the month of June has been overtaken with a new meaning injected by 21st century culture. Instead of a time that brings freedom for kids as they move into warm weather adventures, they are bombarded with daily Pride Month agendas and advertisements. It’s not enough to indoctrinate publicly ran educational institutions, now kids are hit when watching television, listening to music, playing games, and shopping. In this mixed-up world of agendas that seek to break apart and redefine what family is, God is unheard and pushed away. No matter what society attempts, God cannot be erased, and He certainly will not be mocked. Proverbs 16:1-7 says, “To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster. The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” I find it curious that those who developed Pride Month chose the name they did. As believers, we know that Scripture says, “pride goes before a fall.” Throughout Biblical history, we have learned that pride deceives, pride steals, and pride divides. This is certainly so of the LGBTQ alphabet soup of letters agenda and all that flows from it. Love has been redefined and questioned by deceitfulness, identities have been stolen, and families have been divided. In this sinful world, God’s Word remind us of the truth in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Hearts have been shattered and lives have been altered by LGBTQ pride teachings and beliefs. People say that “love is love.” But that doesn’t make all love Biblical or defined by God. Humans can love each other without agreeing or accepting what another person’s definition of love is, just as God loves each one of us without condoning the sin we allow ourselves to entertain or wallow in. He sees us in what He defines as sin, and calls us to come out of it, not “come out” for people to accept what is done against His commands simply because someone “feels” a certain way. In Proverbs 8:12-14, God’s Word says, “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.” God’s Word is very clear on the subject of same sex marriage or relationships. In our sinful world, where people are angry and dismissive if they are living outside of the boundaries God has set, and someone doesn’t agree with their decision to do so, they direct the anger on the one they believe is judging them. While that is common, I suppose that even more hurtful, cruel anger must be subjected to themselves and God. It cannot be joyful or peaceful to live against what God calls, even when one doesn’t profess to know or follow Him. Proverbs 8:32-36 says, “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD. But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.” As believers, we must strive to know, love, and honor Christ, growing in wisdom and discernment daily as our relationship with Jesus matures. While we cannot expect those who do not know Him to understand why Christians do not agree with specific lifestyles, we should strive to believe as the Bible states, which means we need to be in it – studying it daily. God’s Words are like nonsense to those who do not know Christ. I do believe that believers can love others involved in compromising lifestyles without compromising God’s truths or Word, and we can use discernment without being judgmental. Each of us sins in some way daily, whether we follow Jesus or not. Those who do not know Christ in a deep relationship believe that Jesus came in love, but believers know that Jesus came with Truth. He loved without compromise, but was clear about teaching God’s Word and commands and He uncompromisingly lived them every moment. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” God’s Word is Truth. Scripture is Holy - formed and given by God. The Bible is not simply words written by men. What we believe does not matter. What we feel does not matter in the context of truth. Why? Truth comes from and is defined by God. God’s Word carries power - Holy power that: Saves Teaches Trains Guides Counsels Revives Restores Warns Rewards Nourishes Judges Sanctifies Frees Enriches Protects Strengthens Wisens Rejoices Prospers Psalm 19:7-11 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” In this month where culture and the cross collide in such blatant ways, rest in His truth. Love without judgement, yet seek to make Him known without compromise. None of us are without sin, but we should never attempt to draw others into what goes against God’s commands and teachings. For a group that demands respect, I have not seen any given to those who disagree. For a group that commands that others allow them to express themselves, I do not understand why it must be done to the detriment of others. If one does not want to hear about my God, I should be able to say that I do not wish to see them mock and ridicule Him without retaliation. If love is love, I’d like to see a passionate, affectionate respect for those who do not agree with the agenda or the movement. I believe a sex life should be lived behind closed doors, and should not influence my children or feed them with messages they are too young to understand. I believe we as Christians should not judge, yet I do not want to be inundated with beliefs that attempt to force me to accept a lifestyle that goes against God’s Word just because someone else desires to live in that way. I would compare it to a non-believer not wanting me to publicly proclaim a month of Christianity that would shove the Bible at them day after day. Just as God gives each of us free will to live the way we desire, I respect each person’s right to choose. I also believe that it is my right to not want to hear about the LGBTQ agenda and transitioning every day. It is my right to teach my children God’s Word and values. It is my right to teach my family about God’s view of sexuality and purity, not the group with the loudest voice. The truest love was quiet, yet forceful when needed and never strayed from God’s Word or commands. Mothers, what you believe, say, and do makes a difference. Know the Word, study the Word, and speak the Word over your children, with your children, and to others. If you are not set-apart for Christ, your child most likely will not be. Confusion and pride are not from Christ. He provides true and lasting joy and peace. Without Him, the Holy Spirit will not reside inside and pride and deceit will overtake wisdom and truth. Dear Heavenly Father, We love you. As we seek You, You fill our heart with greater desire for You, just as You promise. How great You are, how merciful, forgiving, and wise. Thank you for Your Holy Word that guides and provides, protects and nourishes our lives. We need You so much more than we understand or imagine. Be with each of us; those who know You and those who don’t. Help believers to speak up where needed, where You command. Help us to be compassionate like Christ, yet fearless and Holy. Give us the words You desire we speak and the heart needed to show You clearly and point others to You in the ways You desire in a darkening world. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast. You can find this and other transcripts online at terrihitt.com. Remember that both of my podcasts are available on the website. You can also find them on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and they are part of the Spark Media Network. Both podcasts are also found on the Edifi app, where you can hear thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment. Have you rated or reviewed my podcasts on Apple Podcasts yet? When you review my podcast on Apple Podcasts, it helps to elevate the standing of the podcast online so that more people are allowed to find and hear it. Will you take a moment to follow the shows and think of someone you can share the podcasts with and encourage them to follow and share, as well? Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will direct them away from Christ. Live With Eternal Perspective helps us to find, trust, and follow Christ more intimately. Purposed Parent/Connected Child shares biblical, practical truths for parents and grandparents to influence and mentor Christ over culture. I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 145 - How to Know Truth in a Mixed-Up World of Pride Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #145 – How to Know Truth in a Mixed-Up World of Pride Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to seek, find, and follow Jesus together as we live with purposed eternal perspective. I can’t believe it’s already June! I have always loved summer! When I was a little girl, I always secretly wished that my birthday was in June instead of November. Now I have a grandson and a daughter with June birthdays. Guess what? Ironically, my youngest daughter wishes she could trade with me and have a November birthday. Why did I want the June birthday? Well, I highly dislike cold. Winter is my least favorite time of year. Although I can honestly say that I try to honor God and appreciate the beauty of snow falling and covering the ground in fluffy white silence, He and I both know I would trade that beauty for a warm summer day in a microsecond! I love the weather, the carefree summer days, the ease of dressing and going out without cumbersome coats, boats, gloves, and having to drive slowly in inclement weather. I even dislike the color of the November birthstone and have always been an admirer of creamy pearls that grace the birthstone of June. Summer flowers, scents, and activities are favored over any in cold months one, too. Well, I think I’ve given enough evidence for why I highly favor June, the month that ushers in summer. In current society, however, the month of June has been overtaken with a new meaning injected by 21st century culture. Instead of a time that brings freedom for kids as they move into warm weather adventures, they are bombarded with daily Pride Month agendas and advertisements. It’s not enough to indoctrinate publicly ran educational institutions, now kids are hit when watching television, listening to music, playing games, and shopping. In this mixed-up world of agendas that seek to break apart and redefine what family is, God is unheard and pushed away. No matter what society attempts, God cannot be erased, and He certainly will not be mocked. Proverbs 16:1-7 says, “To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster. The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” I find it curious that those who developed Pride Month chose the name they did. As believers, we know that Scripture says, “pride goes before a fall.” Throughout Biblical history, we have learned that pride deceives, pride steals, and pride divides. This is certainly so of the LGBTQ alphabet soup of letters agenda and all that flows from it. Love has been redefined and questioned by deceitfulness, identities have been stolen, and families have been divided. In this sinful world, God’s Word remind us of the truth in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Hearts have been shattered and lives have been altered by LGBTQ pride teachings and beliefs. People say that “love is love.” But that doesn’t make all love Biblical or defined by God. Humans can love each other without agreeing or accepting what another person’s definition of love is, just as God loves each one of us without condoning the sin we allow ourselves to entertain or wallow in. He sees us in what He defines as sin, and calls us to come out of it, not “come out” for people to accept what is done against His commands simply because someone “feels” a certain way. In Proverbs 8:12-14, God’s Word says, “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.” God’s Word is very clear on the subject of same sex marriage or relationships. In our sinful world, where people are angry and dismissive if they are living outside of the boundaries God has set, and someone doesn’t agree with their decision to do so, they direct the anger on the one they believe is judging them. While that is common, I suppose that even more hurtful, cruel anger must be subjected to themselves and God. It cannot be joyful or peaceful to live against what God calls, even when one doesn’t profess to know or follow Him. Proverbs 8:32-36 says, “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD. But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.” As believers, we must strive to know, love, and honor Christ, growing in wisdom and discernment daily as our relationship with Jesus matures. While we cannot expect those who do not know Him to understand why Christians do not agree with specific lifestyles, we should strive to believe as the Bible states, which means we need to be in it – studying it daily. God’s Words are like nonsense to those who do not know Christ. I do believe that believers can love others involved in compromising lifestyles without compromising God’s truths or Word, and we can use discernment without being judgmental. Each of us sins in some way daily, whether we follow Jesus or not. Those who do not know Christ in a deep relationship believe that Jesus came in love, but believers know that Jesus came with Truth. He loved without compromise, but was clear about teaching God’s Word and commands and He uncompromisingly lived them every moment. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” God’s Word is Truth. Scripture is Holy - formed and given by God. The Bible is not simply words written by men. What we believe does not matter. What we feel does not matter in the context of truth. Why? Truth comes from and is defined by God. God’s Word carries power - Holy power that: Saves Teaches Trains Guides Counsels Revives Restores Warns Rewards Nourishes Judges Sanctifies Frees Enriches Protects Strengthens Wisens Rejoices Prospers Psalm 19:7-11 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” In this month where culture and the cross collide in such blatant ways, rest in His truth. Love without judgement, yet seek to make Him known without compromise. None of us are without sin, but we should never attempt to draw others into what goes against God’s commands and teachings. For a group that demands respect, I have not seen any given to those who disagree. For a group that commands that others allow them to express themselves, I do not understand why it must be done to the detriment of others. If one does not want to hear about my God, I should be able to say that I do not wish to see them mock and ridicule Him without retaliation. If love is love, I’d like to see a passionate, affectionate respect for those who do not agree with the agenda or the movement. I believe a sex life should be lived behind closed doors, and should not influence my children or feed them with messages they are too young to understand. I believe we as Christians should not judge, yet I do not want to be inundated with beliefs that attempt to force me to accept a lifestyle that goes against God’s Word just because someone else desires to live in that way. I would compare it to a non-believer not wanting me to publicly proclaim a month of Christianity that would shove the Bible at them day after day. Just as God gives each of us free will to live the way we desire, I respect each person’s right to choose. I also believe that it is my right to not want to hear about the LGBTQ agenda and transitioning every day. It is my right to teach my children God’s Word and values. It is my right to teach my family about God’s view of sexuality and purity, not the group with the loudest voice. The truest love was quiet, yet forceful when needed and never strayed from God’s Word or commands. Mothers, what you believe, say, and do makes a difference. Know the Word, study the Word, and speak the Word over your children, with your children, and to others. If you are not set-apart for Christ, your child most likely will not be. Confusion and pride are not from Christ. He provides true and lasting joy and peace. Without Him, the Holy Spirit will not reside inside and pride and deceit will overtake wisdom and truth. Dear Heavenly Father, We love you. As we seek You, You fill our heart with greater desire for You, just as You promise. How great You are, how merciful, forgiving, and wise. Thank you for Your Holy Word that guides and provides, protects and nourishes our lives. We need You so much more than we understand or imagine. Be with each of us; those who know You and those who don’t. Help believers to speak up where needed, where You command. Help us to be compassionate like Christ, yet fearless and Holy. Give us the words You desire we speak and the heart needed to show You clearly and point others to You in the ways You desire in a darkening world. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast. You can find this and other transcripts online at terrihitt.com. Remember that both of my podcasts are available on the website. You can also find them on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and they are part of the Spark Media Network. Both podcasts are also found on the Edifi app, where you can hear thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment. Have you rated or reviewed my podcasts on Apple Podcasts yet? When you review my podcast on Apple Podcasts, it helps to elevate the standing of the podcast online so that more people are allowed to find and hear it. Will you take a moment to follow the shows and think of someone you can share the podcasts with and encourage them to follow and share, as well? Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will direct them away from Christ. Live With Eternal Perspective helps us to find, trust, and follow Christ more intimately. Purposed Parent/Connected Child shares biblical, practical truths for parents and grandparents to influence and mentor Christ over culture. I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

< Back Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode 030 - How to Teach Your Child to Listen for God Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode #030 – How to Teach Your Child to Listen for God Thank you for listening to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast. My prayer is that you and I will parent with purpose and confidently connect with Christ and our children moment by moment. Listening for the voice and direction of God has become one of my favorite aspects of living the Christian life. I adore how intimately God speaks to His children. Scripture makes that evident, but so does a life of obediently following Christ. As we experience what the Word says through deepening our walk and communication with the Lord, we will hear Him more completely and clearly. It's very interesting to me to hear how the voice of our Heavenly Father reaches each individual person. One of the best ways believers can be certain that we have heard direction from God is by experiencing the peace that passes understanding. I believe God’s peace can be the foundational connection that erases uncertainty as to whether a person has clearly heard instruction from God. Let’s examine peace first. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus .” Three facts to remember about peace are: 1. Peace is not built upon or affected by circumstances. 2. Peace is based upon God’s promises and truths. 3. Peace isn’t an emotion – it is a miraculous benefit promised by God How do we set ourselves up to experience this supernatural peace that passes our human understanding? 1. By studying , not just reading Scripture 2. Open, honest communication with God through prayer 3. Utilizing God’s Word and maturing our desires to reflect His 4. Deepening our faith through relationship with Christ 5. Claiming the truth and inerrancy of God’s Word and promises Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You .” Before we can teach our children to listen for and recognize the voice of God, we must purposely deepen our own walk with Christ. As we reflect and experience a godly lifestyle and communication with the Lord, we can confidently mentor the way to hear the Father. We’ve already discussed how one of the precious gifts of following Christ is the underlying peace God provides. Although believers are blessed with an ability to abide in perfect peace as we trust in and follow God, we can also experience moments where we feel extra close to Him. My deepest peace is often felt early in the morning when I awaken. My soul cries to begin the day with God and it helps me to get out of bed early when I think of spending private time together. Sometimes in the middle of the night I will awaken and feel a great peace, knowing my God is watching over me and I will spend sweet time with Him in a few hours. We want our children to know and trust that God is always present, but to anticipate special moments with Him. His peace can abide within them at all times, but they can also cherish intimate and personal moments with Him as they develop and mature their walk together. When we have walked with God longer, it’s logical to feel closer than at the beginning of our faith journey. Our children are beginning a relationship and are getting to know their Heavenly Father and trust Jesus as Savior. Because of that, they may experience moments where they don’t feel the presence of God at all. This can even happen to believers after they have spent years walking with Christ. In fact, many people, depending on what they are experiencing in life have had moments where they did not feel closeness to God or His peace. Because we trust God’s inerrant Word, we know that we are the ones who move away from God, not the other way around. We should also remember that just because we “feel” a certain way, it doesn’t mean it is true. That is why the steps I mentioned earlier are so important for us to master. This enables us to teach our children the truths of God in order to equip them to feel the peace and hear the voice of God. As we parent and encourage our children in their walk with Christ, we have the privilege of helping them grow to live with an underlying sense of constant peace based on faith, trust, and truth. Until then, we can help them decipher when they feel an underlying peace versus uncertainty or indecision . Discovering how to pay attention to the difference is one of the ways they will learn to listen to and for God. Remember, trials and tragedies will always be a part of this broken world, but they do not have to be the dictator of our emotions, thoughts, feelings, or reactions. God truly can provide a healing and protection that fills us with peace despite what we can tend to feel or think. In order to teach our children how to look for the peace that surpasses understanding, we must know how to find and carry it deep within our soul. We must trust the Scriptures over emotions, thoughts, or feelings that can shift like the wind. As parents build personal trust and faith, we are better equipped to guide our children to build a strong lifeline of trust, faith, and hope in Christ. Without God’s peace, we tend to listen to the world or self instead of His still, calm voice. As believers build our hope and trust in the Lord we are able to direct our children to understand and remember certain truths about the character of God that enable them to hear His voice despite seasons or circumstances they may be facing in life . Let’s hear 8 truths that will help our children live with a peace that enables them to hear God speak:. 1. God desires relationship 2. God desires intimate, personal communication 3. God desires faith 4. God desires obedience 5. God desires affection – He wants to be sought - and He wants to be found 6. God desires genuine hearts 7. God desires us to remember that His voice may come in different forms to each person, but will always be in perfect alignment with Scripture 8. God desires us to listen As we teach our children about the peace of God, we must also teach them the ways God speaks. But there is one important step before they will hear the voice of God – relationship with Christ. Before coming to know Christ as their personal Savior, our children won’t recognize God’s voice. How could they if they do not know Him? A parent must prepare the heart and mind of their children to see Jesus at work in them and to desire Him in their life . By mentoring a godly relationship , cultivating a godly home , and always bringing the glory and recognition to Jesus , our children begin to understand who He is and why He is important. When our words, actions, and reactions are pleasing to God and the décor in our home, our clothing, our words, attitude, tone, and activities match the character of God, our children see and seek Him. Teach your children the ways God is transforming you, helping you, and carrying you. Help your children see the ways He is at work in their life as well. Pray specific prayers that are in alignment with God’s Word so that your children recognize you repeating Scripture and relying on God. If they believe all you do is self-focused or generated, they will never see the need for relationship with Christ. Teach your children that: 1. God speaks through Scripture – let them see you with your Bible. If possible, have a chair or special place you can sit with your Bible and a notebook for writing Scripture, studying God’s Word, and praying. Let them hear you pray for others and for them, your spouse, and yourself. Teach them to rely on God as easily as drawing their next breath. Help your children experience God’s Word with an age appropriate Bible. Remember that your children will need new Bibles purchased as they mature. This is a necessary expense. To gift them in this way is a beautiful and wise investment in eternity. 2. God speaks through Prayer – Just as we’ve already discussed in this episode, it is a privilege to pray for your children. Pray with them daily, for them daily, and encourage your children to speak to God on their own time and ask them to pray for you. 3. God speaks through the Holy Spirit – When your children come to know Christ as Savior, teach them to listen for indications that God is speaking to them. The Holy Spirit inside will speak through Scripture, people, church messages or programs, and feelings. Although feelings and emotions are not something to rely on, we can trust feelings that are within God’s character and in alignment with Scripture. God chooses to speak in multiple ways and we must teach our children to be sensitive to how God directs them. Teach them to remember that God’s peace always accompanies His presence. 4. God speaks through Others – Surround yourself and your children with trusted and godly mentors and friends. Let them experience a Christian lifestyle that extends beyond your family. 5. God speaks through Nature – God intended us to enjoy and know His beautiful creations. Have you ever gone outside for a walk and felt the peace of God as you inhale fresh air, feel the sunshine, or simply relax? Being outdoors enjoying nature allows us to relax in ways not experienced indoors. Cultivate the talents of observation, drawing, singing, dancing, exercising, or whatever fits the unique characteristics of you and your children and experience them outdoors. Relaxing in God’s intended surroundings allows a new way to hear Him speak. 6. God speaks in the Morning – Scripture taught that Jesus sought God early in the morning. I never understood why that was important until I began doing the same consistently. There is a special communication when you seek the Lord early, intentionally, and consistently. As you place Him first, you hear His voice more clearly. Faith is grown by deepening our walk with Christ. The closer we grow to God, the nearer He draws to us. This truth is the same for your children. As our faith grows and our walk with Christ matures, we are able to hear His voice and mentor the way for our children to do the same. Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word speaks truth. We thank You for Your Son and for Your perfect peace and protection. We thank You for Your constant care and guidance. Help us to draw nearer to You daily and show our children how to do the same. Teach us to cast our own cares on You so You will sustain and mature us so that we will mentor You to our children in ways that please and honor you and draw our children ever nearer to You day by day. Let them never be shaken and help them to always look to Your perfect wisdom and instruction. Help them clearly hear Your righteous voice and obey You as they rest in Your peace that passes understanding. Help us to mentor the way to You and clearly teach the way for them to hear You speak to their heart and mind. May our relationship with You draw them nearer to You and to us. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” podcast. This and my “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast may be found at terrihitt.com, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and they are part of the Spark Media Network. Both podcasts may also now be found on the Edifi app, where you can hear thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment. Have you rated or reviewed my podcasts on Apple Podcasts yet? Did you know that when you review my podcasts on Apple, it helps to elevate the standing of the podcasts online so that more people are allowed to find and hear them. Will you please take a moment to follow the shows and think of someone you can share the podcasts with and encourage them to follow and share, as well? Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will sway them away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Parent and Connect With Eternal Perspective. Previous Next

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 115 - How to Teach Your Child to Turn From Sin and to God's Grace Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 115 – How to Teach Your Child to Turn From Sin and to God's Grace Thank you for sharing your day with me. I pray this podcast gives you the awareness and tools you need to STOP being a GOOD mom and BECOME the GODLY mom God entrusts you to be. Then you will be the SET-APART woman PURPOSELY raising children to chase CHRIST over culture. Just a quick reminder as we start, if you enjoy Purposed Parent Connected Child podcast episodes, would you please share this episode or others with a friend or family member? When you graciously take a moment to do that, and leave a rating or review at Apple Podcast, you are ensuring that others will find the podcast. When you do, you’re helping affect generations for Jesus. Now on to this episode about how to teach your child to turn from sin and to God’s grace. Have you ever done something in your life that you knew was direct disobedience to God? Or maybe you didn’t know it at the time, but later your heart was pierced with grief at the way you sinned against God. Perhaps you knew at the time that you were sinning against God, but rebelled as you chose to walk in your way. Repentance goes beyond simply being sorry. Repentance drives us to our knees before God and leads to changed heart and actions. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death .” Acts 3:19 says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord .” In the Old Testament God demands that people turn away from their sin and wickedness, and in the New Testament we read about repentance in the stories of specific people such as John the Baptist, Peter, the disciples, Paul, and Jesus. When we consider biblical characters who sinned and repented, we can think of King David or Paul. Both of them show mighty examples of how a person can sin greatly against God and others, yet find true, life-changing repentance. In order to find such a move of conscience that leads to change bringing a deeper relationship with God, there are a few requirements. 1. We must experience godly sorrow for our sin. This isn’t simply being sorry we got caught, but a sorrow that pierces our heart with the realization that we have sinned greatly against God Almighty. 2. Next, we must confess our sin. When we have sinned against someone it is always wise to ask them for forgiveness, which sets us on the right path to come before God. 3. We must also confess before God, asking Him for forgiveness. This is the most important step in repentance. We must learn to come before our Heavenly Father with a heart for forgiveness and change. 4. As we realize we have sinned before God, and ask Him for forgiveness, we also ask Him to keep us from repeating that sin or others, we receive deeper fellowship and humble obedience. 5. In order to continue to deepen our walk with God, we must also continue seeking Him daily. He knows our weaknesses and as we step into His arms and ask Him to keep us obedient to Him, He hears our cries. Psalm 51:1-6 says, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place .” Teach your child that God is merciful in little ways daily. He doesn’t wait for us to mess up so He can punish us. Instead, He waits for us to turn to Him with sincere repentance. We are all sinners, but God doesn’t leave us in that state. In His loving righteous care for us, He has given us the ability to be cleansed. Psalm 51:10-12 show us how God delights as we desire a pure heart. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me .” Psalm 51:17 finishes with a plea we desire our child to utter before God. It’s also what we should be doing moment by moment. “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise .” Now that we’ve discussed repentance and what it is, how do you teach your child to have a heart for seeking God and living with a repentant heart? As you build the foundation of faith for your child in all the ways we’ve discussed in previous episodes, help him or her to build faith and trust on God's Word and truths. Remind your children to turn to Scripture in every circumstance of life. Help them do that by sharing Scripture early in your time with them. Refer to God’s Word when you lovingly disciple them in their disobedience. Yes, you discipline your child, but do so with the heart of discipleship, not punishment. They will suffer consequences of their actions, but you never want to discipline for the sake of punishment. You aren’t trying to beat your child down, but are attempting to lift them up in the Lord and mold their heart for Him. Help your children direct desires and actions according to God's Word. As you teach day by day, look up passages that have to do with sin, character, integrity, and so on. Show your children how to use biblical truths and commands to guide their morals and integrity. Let your child see you do the same each day. Talk to them about how you use God’s Word to guide your daily life, choices, and actions. Show your children how you repent and ask God for forgiveness in your daily life - apologize to them and others when needed. Teach them how God deals with sin and repentance in the Bible and show them how to apply those teachings in their life. God's grace is greater than our sin, but He requires us to repent and turn away from sin through His strength. Remember, we are always parenting the hearts of our children and with the desire to help them shape character and behavior that is Christlike and pleasing to God. Everything can be used for His glory and as ways to teach for Him. Dear Heavenly Father, we are humbled to come before You and thankful for Your mighty presence in our life. Thank you for the freedom to make choices, and for the grace You offer when we make mistakes, yet come to You with a heart of repentance. Help us change to be more pleasing in Your sight. Help us to teach the qualities You desire to our children and to show them Your heart and truths. Help us teach them by our actions, desires, and through Your Holy Word. May we use Your truths as the way to their heart. May our life be godly examples they can see and may we lead them straight into Your arms. Please keep them from sinning against You. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. This is the part of the episode that you usually hear me talk about the Set-Apart Collective. Today I want to share about my new mini program called “Establish Identity.” Why? Your identity is a major force behind what you do. Who you believe yourself to be, and who you find your identity through affects the way you live, parent, love, serve, and discipline. Your identity is one of the lifelines, a pulse point of your home. Do you ever stop to think that you are the first Jesus your child will see? Even if they are grown, your identity affects your child. The way you think, speak, and react is rooted in your identity. Send me a message at info@terrihitt.com if you’d like details or go to terrihitt.com and join my email list. You’ll get updates before anyone else and hear a little about what makes this so important. If you join the email list you’ll also be able to access free resources such as my new Good to Godly: A 31 Day Scripture and Prayer Guide for Moms. One last thing to remember - if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection with your children and Christ. Previous Next

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< Back Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode 019 - How to Help My Child Find and Live God's Biblical Truths Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode #019 – How to Help My Child Find and Live God’s Biblical Truth Are you yearning for greater connection with your child? Would you like to parent beyond the moment with eternal perspective? Let’s grow together now with practical tips, scripture, and stories geared to draw your heart to Jesus and guide your child into His arms. Back in the 80’s and 90’s, when I raised my first set of children, the majority of Americans considered themselves Christians. Now only an approximate 65% of Americans identify as Christian. Even worse, I recently heard nearly 70% of born-again Christians disagree with the biblical position that Jesus is the only way to God. Haven’t they ever read John 14:6-7 , which says, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him .” Times have certainly changed. To be honest, although it sounds judgmental, and I certainly do not mean it that way, the truth is that many who label themselves as Christian simply do not live a biblical lifestyle that supports their claim. I often tell my teenaged daughters that they are living in a generation that needs to be able to defend their faith. In this current day, not only are Christian beliefs ridiculed, but Christians carry (or should carry) a reflection of holiness, through the Holy Spirit within us, that those who do not believe are offended by. If a Christian convicts the world simply by carrying the morals and truths of Jesus, we know that the world is actually repulsed by Christ because darkness exists in their soul. In fact, the Bible warned us of this happening. If the virtues we carry are found offensive, causing us to be hated, those in disagreement will lash out in fear or shame, whether they realize it in the moment or not. As the world moves deeper into sin and away from the solid foundation of Christ, the more justified those living in transgression feel about themselves and their choices. The kingdom of darkness rules this world, and the words found in 1 Peter 5:8-9 are eternally true. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings .” Our children are growing up in a world that does not seek truth . Look around at programs enticing our children and luring them to the world of sin such as the new cartoon, “Little Demon.” Our culture is desensitizing adults and children with television shows, movies, books, magazine, music, and even phone filters, such as one I saw this week. It actually turns the face of the viewer into a devil. What parent would ever allow their child to use such an app or filter? Obviously more than we probably think. Whether the parents realize it or not, every choice they make (or don’t make) that isn’t purposely done for Christ through an eternal perspective, their child is drifting closer to Satan. Relative truth reigns in our culture and is extracted from whatever anyone wants to believe (or hopes is real), and actually stands for nothing. Even schoolrooms promote anti-biblical agendas that are destroying the fabric and soul of our children and nation. God’s truth is the only authentic and lasting source of integrity. Authored by Truth, God’s words and ways show us and our children the only way to live with hope, love, trust, faith, and purpose. Do you desire to raise a child who walks with Jesus in truth and confidence? Or would you rather parent a confused child who will never experience the love, joy, or peace of one following the Lord? In John 15:18-19 Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” Do not misunderstand. As God warned that the devil is prowling this world looking for victims to deceive, we must be ever mindful or we will fall prey to his schemes. Our nation and the families within it are more divided than I have seen in my lifetime. If we are not reading, studying, practicing, and teaching God’s commands and warnings of the Bible, we are walking in step with the deceiver of this world and playing directly into his hands. Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” This verse is one of several lines of Scripture in the Bible in which God clearly allows us to hear exactly how He wants us to live and direct our children to Him . 1. Act justly – People will try many things in an attempt to please God, but in the ways they desire. Living with an eternal perspective, however, and mentoring that mindset to our children will lead us (and them) straight to God’s word . Instead of guessing what God desires or selfishly doing what we want, His commands clearly show us the way to please and honor Him. 2. Love mercy – When we live in ways that honor God, and we treasure His word, we will become more Christlike in character. To walk justly and love mercy means that we are fair in dealing with others and show mercy, even when it is not deserved. Our actions reach and teach our children more quickly than our words . We truly begin to live more like Jesus did. 3. Walk humbly with God – As we know God more clearly through time spent in His word , in prayer and fellowship with Him, and we listen to His voice and direction , we will step in alignment with His desires. As we obediently submit where He calls, we humbly walk with our Father. As our children see this example, and we communicate the importance of living in this way through loving ways, they will be drawn to the same attitude toward God and much more likely to choose an eternity-driven mindset and lifestyle. We cannot live in this manner through our own strength. Our children cannot live like this without knowing Christ, hopefully through our patient and loving mentorship. Only Christ can equip any of us to live in ways that please and honor our Heavenly Father. Godly influence must be present in our home or our children will follow the leadership of the world . They must have the moral compass of God existing in their heart and mind to be able to recognize the lies of this world. They must wear the armor of God to be protected from the trappings and lures of this world. That means we must be a true north that keeps our child connected to the true compass, God. Throughout the Bible, God makes the way to a joyful life that is pleasing to Him clear for us to follow. As pursue the Lord’s ways and truths, we are able to direct our children to an abundant life. Micah 7:1-2 says, “What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets.” What will become of our children and their children if godly influence disappears entirely in the world? Micah 7:3-4 says, “Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire—they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion.” What will become of our children and future generations if we continue with escalating violence, along with business and political corruption? Micah 7:5 says, ”Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips .” What will our world be like when future generations live with unfaithful friendships and no allies? Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Strength is in numbers and a threefold cord is not broken.” Micah 7:6 says, “For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.” Through all of the indoctrinations and deceit in our world today, we already see children dishonoring parents. When public schools and government officials seek to remove parental rights, teach radical thoughts and lies, remove history from schools, and introduce perverted lifestyles and values to minors, more and more families will be broken, hurting, and separated from each other and our Lord. Micah 7:7 says, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me .” Our only hope comes from a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. As the world continues down a slippery slope of our own selfish and distorted making, nothing will change hearts except Jesus and the truths of God. Actions stem from what is already held in the heart and reflect what is ruling the mind . Christ came to deliver us from self and sin. John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Trust in the Lord. Seek Him and His ways. Know His teachings so that you and your child can follow a life of abundance, peace, and love that this world cannot know without Christ. Dear Heavenly Father. There is none like You. Your love for us is greater than we can ever imagine. Your truths are for our good and protection. Forgive us for forgetting You. Forgive us for letting our children down when we seek to raise them in our own strength instead of relying on Your truths and commands that lead to life eternal with You. Father, keep pursuing us. Do not let us lead our children astray. Help us to raise them in the image of Christ and allow You to build up the foundation beneath them that will weather the future of this nation and the plans You have for them. Help them to make a difference for You because they carry Your joy, peace, love, and truths within them. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen . Thank you for listening to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast. Both of my podcasts may be found at terrihitt.com, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and are also part of the Spark Media Network. Both podcasts may also now be found on the Edifi app, where you can hear thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment. Have you rated or reviewed this podcast on Apple Podcasts yet? When you review my podcast on Apple Podcasts, it helps to elevate the standing of the podcast online so that more people are allowed to find and hear it. If you believe the content you hear should be heard so that more people can raise or influence children for Christ, would you please write a review and rate the podcast for me? Please also follow and share both of my podcasts with friends or family who would like to choose Christ over culture and be a parent (or be a grandparent) who connects with eternal purpose. Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will direct them away from Christ. Live With Eternal Perspective helps us to find, trust, and follow Christ more intimately. Purposed Parent/Connected Child shares biblical, practical truths for parents and grandparents to influence and mentor Christ over culture. I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Previous Next

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #087 – Secrets To a Joyful Marriage Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. This week my husband and I celebrated our 43th wedding anniversary. The fact fills me with such joy. Does it make me feel old? Not at all! I feel extremely blessed to be able to live with the person I was created to be with for so many years and although I selfishly desire more years, but gratefully and humbly offer gratitude for what I have received. People have asked me what I believe helps people to stay married. People have also asked me how to cultivate close relationships. I don't have the perfect answer to either question. But I know what I rely on. Does my answer make all my relationships perfect? Not even close. But it strengthens the good ones and it carries me through misunderstandings, giving me hope and promise that all can be made new. Christ is the secret. Psalm 16:11a says, “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence." God does fill me with joy! As His word says, when I seek Him, I find Him. He enables me to react to situations in ways that are directed by Him, not me. I am certainly not perfect, but I am perfectly led when I choose to listen and obey. The guidance I receive from above carries me beyond the initial human response I may desire to exhibit and allows me to rest in His ways. Am I able to do that perfectly each time? No. Good relationships also offer grace, especially when all people involved strive to follow the only One who can transform us. It is my hope that others, especially those closest to me - my husband, my children, and my grandson will see light and love in my reactions to them. I pray they see joy and delight in my eyes when I look at them and in my responses to them. God chose me to be the life partner for my husband. He chose me to parent each of my children. It is not by accident that any of us are together. We are together on purpose, for a purpose. When I live in the presence of the Lord, I learn and grow each day. He enables me to see what He does and what He has given me more clearly daily. The Holy Spirit continuously works to cleanse and transform me. I am not the person I was yesterday and am not the person I will be tomorrow. Praise God!! Our Heavenly Father does the same for each one of us who allows Him to work through and for us. Joy. Gratefulness. Faith. Love. Peace. Patience. Hope. These are the qualities I choose to allow into my life. These are the qualities I pray for. These are the qualities I have in abundance. These are the gifts He still grows in me daily. These are the gifts He wants to bestow on you. Even if you have no desire to marry or have children, He will give you the desires of your own heart when you allow Him to direct your life. After all, He desired you, made you, and filled your heart with the yearnings you possess for a purpose. When I am no longer living on this earth I want those who knew me to remember Him. I want people to believe in Jesus because they saw Him at work in me and know that I gave the honor and glory to Him. I want my children to grow up with the certainty that they are cherished and valuable. I want my husband to know he is a gift, a treasure. I want my family to find their identity, purpose, and passion for life through the One who created them. God. What do you want? It's not too late to put in the effort to make it happen. It's not too late to thank the Lord for the opportunities He has given you. It's not too late to get to know Him so that you can have joy and the peace that passes all human understanding. It's not too late to share what you have been given with others. Life brings hard circumstances, disappointments, failures, tears, and fears - even when you follow Jesus. We live in a messed-up, broken, sinful world. There is only One who can carry you through it. There is One who can wipe away the bitterness that threatens to take root in your heart or the pain that betrayal or hurts have caused. Sometimes we are swallowed by grief or fear. There are countless reasons to shrink inside of self and believe the lie that nothing can change. But it can. Through Jesus. 2 Cor. 4:8 says, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." All the pain, loss, humiliations, trials - whatever this world can throw at us - are openings for Christ to demonstrate His power and mighty presence through it. Whether it be a mistake we made, a lesson to transform us, or for the purpose of growing others, it doesn't matter. We learn, change, and grow despite and through the cause or reason. Prayerfully, what we face and endure through seeking the Lord will create a willingness in us to grow closer to Him and to allow Him to shine through us. 2 Cor. 4:16-18 says, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Look Up. Not inside. Not around. Don't compare. Wear invisible “blinders” to the world, self, or others, and look Up. To Jesus. Let Him produce a life of fullness, love, and grace, through the valleys and the mountain moments. When I am asked for the key to a blessed and joyful long marriage, I know that I have been blessed far beyond what I deserve. Marriage takes work from both spouses. It is not a breeze to be permanently linked to one human who is also imperfect. As perfectly matched as I believe my husband and I are, we are both flawed and only through allowing Jesus to work His transforming, sanctifying power through us are we altered daily and able to walk through differences of opinion, disagreements, or disappointments. In fact, we see more alike than different and recognize the beauty of God’s hand carrying us together. What if you are struggling in a marriage with a spouse who does not know Christ? Continue to follow the Lord. Trust and know Him more intimately. Loyally commit to mature your walk with Him. But don’t nag your spouse or flaunt your relationship with Jesus, yet don’t ignore Jesus, either. Allow Christ to flow through you as a sweet fragrance as He works His gift of transformation in your life. God warns and instructs us in His word, 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?” When my husband and I married we were not both Christians. Through the grace of God we have both come to know and mature in Jesus. The Lord has made all the difference! Instead of resolving issues by our own flesh, I see the mighty work God does in both of us and I feel and recognize Him allowing me the honor of serving Him and allowing Him to strip “Terri” away and transform me into the wife and mother He created me to be. Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Even if you and your spouse both have a developing or strong walk with the Lord, each of you is only human. The following steps are good prompts for every married couple to purposely practice. 1. Mature your personal walk with Jesus – Hebrews 5:13 says, “For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.” Growing in the knowledge and understanding of the Lord, relying on Him to carry loads, and trusting that He is good and present takes a lifetime to fully mature. The closer we get to Jesus, we realize how far away we really are. Intentionally make a goal to grow in depth and maturity through Jesus moment by moment or you will realize you are moving away from your true source of light and strength. 2. Pray – Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God can perform miracles we never even dreamed of. What He transforms is always far better than we could imagine it to be. Never give up praying for others, even those who persecute you. Also remember to pray for yourself. I treasure not only praying for others over the years, but remembering that I need many prayers, too. Good works have been completed in me and I know there are far more to come. If you don’t know how to pray for yourself or others, start with God’s word. He will always honor you praying His word to Him and seeking to become more like His image. Prayer humbles and remodels us. It pleases the Father and the Son. 3. Let Christ be seen and known through His transformation in you – Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.” Our words can have a strong impact on others, however, a life lived in ways that prove that the Holy Spirit is alive and working speaks much louder than we can. 4. Make your spouse your priority (after Jesus) – Ephesians 4:2 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Romans 12:9-10 says, “Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.” The Lord should always be placed first in our life and we should always be improving ways to mature our walk with Him. However, in God’s eyes, our spouse is one flesh with us. We must place our spouse directly beneath God. Make time for God. Make time for your spouse. Mark 10:7-8 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.” 5. Allow your children to know Jesus – Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Proverbs 22:6 says, “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.” God commands much from us as parents. He especially desires and commands that we are godly and intentional parents. If your spouse is not a Christian, do not let that stop you from making Jesus known to your children. Our attitude and thankfulness show much about our walk with Jesus. Jesus can be made real in so many different ways each day. Always make sure you tie actions and mindset back to the reason you carry the hope, light, and love you do. 6. Realize your marriage won’t be perfect, even if your spouse finds (or already knows Jesus), but it will be a union blessed by God as you both mature your walk with Jesus and each other - Ephesians 4:1-3 says, “As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Revelation 21:5 says, “And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” As you work to know and make Jesus known in your personal walk, your spouse will see the difference. Although it is your desire that your spouse come to know Christ, it is not your responsibility. God alone does the good work in and through us. Do all you can to know, love, obey, and show the Lord in a strong and growing relationship, while honoring your spouse without removing Jesus from the throne in your heart. Continue to pray and make God known in your actions and attitude. Humbly continue to pray and trust God for results. Father God, You are the Great I Am. You desire good things for all your people. You ordained marriage. You want it to be good. We thank you for the gifts You give us, even the many we never recognize and the ones we cast away. Please help us to see ourselves and see our spouse the way You see us. Help us to love our spouse and ourselves the way You do. We know we are a treasure to You. So is our spouse. May my walk with You draw my spouse to You in deep ways and bless the marriage we share. Help us to walk with humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love. May our children and grandchildren know You clearly through their walk with us. We thank You, Good Father for the gift of marriage and the ways You grow us through the union. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this podcast. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 087 Secrets to A Joyful Marriage Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #087 – Secrets To a Joyful Marriage Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. This week my husband and I celebrated our 43th wedding anniversary. The fact fills me with such joy. Does it make me feel old? Not at all! I feel extremely blessed to be able to live with the person I was created to be with for so many years and although I selfishly desire more years, but gratefully and humbly offer gratitude for what I have received. People have asked me what I believe helps people to stay married. People have also asked me how to cultivate close relationships. I don't have the perfect answer to either question. But I know what I rely on. Does my answer make all my relationships perfect? Not even close. But it strengthens the good ones and it carries me through misunderstandings, giving me hope and promise that all can be made new. Christ is the secret. Psalm 16:11a says, “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence." God does fill me with joy! As His word says, when I seek Him, I find Him. He enables me to react to situations in ways that are directed by Him, not me. I am certainly not perfect, but I am perfectly led when I choose to listen and obey. The guidance I receive from above carries me beyond the initial human response I may desire to exhibit and allows me to rest in His ways. Am I able to do that perfectly each time? No. Good relationships also offer grace, especially when all people involved strive to follow the only One who can transform us. It is my hope that others, especially those closest to me - my husband, my children, and my grandson will see light and love in my reactions to them. I pray they see joy and delight in my eyes when I look at them and in my responses to them. God chose me to be the life partner for my husband. He chose me to parent each of my children. It is not by accident that any of us are together. We are together on purpose, for a purpose. When I live in the presence of the Lord, I learn and grow each day. He enables me to see what He does and what He has given me more clearly daily. The Holy Spirit continuously works to cleanse and transform me. I am not the person I was yesterday and am not the person I will be tomorrow. Praise God!! Our Heavenly Father does the same for each one of us who allows Him to work through and for us. Joy. Gratefulness. Faith. Love. Peace. Patience. Hope. These are the qualities I choose to allow into my life. These are the qualities I pray for. These are the qualities I have in abundance. These are the gifts He still grows in me daily. These are the gifts He wants to bestow on you. Even if you have no desire to marry or have children, He will give you the desires of your own heart when you allow Him to direct your life. After all, He desired you, made you, and filled your heart with the yearnings you possess for a purpose. When I am no longer living on this earth I want those who knew me to remember Him. I want people to believe in Jesus because they saw Him at work in me and know that I gave the honor and glory to Him. I want my children to grow up with the certainty that they are cherished and valuable. I want my husband to know he is a gift, a treasure. I want my family to find their identity, purpose, and passion for life through the One who created them. God. What do you want? It's not too late to put in the effort to make it happen. It's not too late to thank the Lord for the opportunities He has given you. It's not too late to get to know Him so that you can have joy and the peace that passes all human understanding. It's not too late to share what you have been given with others. Life brings hard circumstances, disappointments, failures, tears, and fears - even when you follow Jesus. We live in a messed-up, broken, sinful world. There is only One who can carry you through it. There is One who can wipe away the bitterness that threatens to take root in your heart or the pain that betrayal or hurts have caused. Sometimes we are swallowed by grief or fear. There are countless reasons to shrink inside of self and believe the lie that nothing can change. But it can. Through Jesus. 2 Cor. 4:8 says, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." All the pain, loss, humiliations, trials - whatever this world can throw at us - are openings for Christ to demonstrate His power and mighty presence through it. Whether it be a mistake we made, a lesson to transform us, or for the purpose of growing others, it doesn't matter. We learn, change, and grow despite and through the cause or reason. Prayerfully, what we face and endure through seeking the Lord will create a willingness in us to grow closer to Him and to allow Him to shine through us. 2 Cor. 4:16-18 says, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Look Up. Not inside. Not around. Don't compare. Wear invisible “blinders” to the world, self, or others, and look Up. To Jesus. Let Him produce a life of fullness, love, and grace, through the valleys and the mountain moments. When I am asked for the key to a blessed and joyful long marriage, I know that I have been blessed far beyond what I deserve. Marriage takes work from both spouses. It is not a breeze to be permanently linked to one human who is also imperfect. As perfectly matched as I believe my husband and I are, we are both flawed and only through allowing Jesus to work His transforming, sanctifying power through us are we altered daily and able to walk through differences of opinion, disagreements, or disappointments. In fact, we see more alike than different and recognize the beauty of God’s hand carrying us together. What if you are struggling in a marriage with a spouse who does not know Christ? Continue to follow the Lord. Trust and know Him more intimately. Loyally commit to mature your walk with Him. But don’t nag your spouse or flaunt your relationship with Jesus, yet don’t ignore Jesus, either. Allow Christ to flow through you as a sweet fragrance as He works His gift of transformation in your life. God warns and instructs us in His word, 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?” When my husband and I married we were not both Christians. Through the grace of God we have both come to know and mature in Jesus. The Lord has made all the difference! Instead of resolving issues by our own flesh, I see the mighty work God does in both of us and I feel and recognize Him allowing me the honor of serving Him and allowing Him to strip “Terri” away and transform me into the wife and mother He created me to be. Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Even if you and your spouse both have a developing or strong walk with the Lord, each of you is only human. The following steps are good prompts for every married couple to purposely practice. 1. Mature your personal walk with Jesus – Hebrews 5:13 says, “For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.” Growing in the knowledge and understanding of the Lord, relying on Him to carry loads, and trusting that He is good and present takes a lifetime to fully mature. The closer we get to Jesus, we realize how far away we really are. Intentionally make a goal to grow in depth and maturity through Jesus moment by moment or you will realize you are moving away from your true source of light and strength. 2. Pray – Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God can perform miracles we never even dreamed of. What He transforms is always far better than we could imagine it to be. Never give up praying for others, even those who persecute you. Also remember to pray for yourself. I treasure not only praying for others over the years, but remembering that I need many prayers, too. Good works have been completed in me and I know there are far more to come. If you don’t know how to pray for yourself or others, start with God’s word. He will always honor you praying His word to Him and seeking to become more like His image. Prayer humbles and remodels us. It pleases the Father and the Son. 3. Let Christ be seen and known through His transformation in you – Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.” Our words can have a strong impact on others, however, a life lived in ways that prove that the Holy Spirit is alive and working speaks much louder than we can. 4. Make your spouse your priority (after Jesus) – Ephesians 4:2 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Romans 12:9-10 says, “Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.” The Lord should always be placed first in our life and we should always be improving ways to mature our walk with Him. However, in God’s eyes, our spouse is one flesh with us. We must place our spouse directly beneath God. Make time for God. Make time for your spouse. Mark 10:7-8 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.” 5. Allow your children to know Jesus – Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Proverbs 22:6 says, “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.” God commands much from us as parents. He especially desires and commands that we are godly and intentional parents. If your spouse is not a Christian, do not let that stop you from making Jesus known to your children. Our attitude and thankfulness show much about our walk with Jesus. Jesus can be made real in so many different ways each day. Always make sure you tie actions and mindset back to the reason you carry the hope, light, and love you do. 6. Realize your marriage won’t be perfect, even if your spouse finds (or already knows Jesus), but it will be a union blessed by God as you both mature your walk with Jesus and each other - Ephesians 4:1-3 says, “As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Revelation 21:5 says, “And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” As you work to know and make Jesus known in your personal walk, your spouse will see the difference. Although it is your desire that your spouse come to know Christ, it is not your responsibility. God alone does the good work in and through us. Do all you can to know, love, obey, and show the Lord in a strong and growing relationship, while honoring your spouse without removing Jesus from the throne in your heart. Continue to pray and make God known in your actions and attitude. Humbly continue to pray and trust God for results. Father God, You are the Great I Am. You desire good things for all your people. You ordained marriage. You want it to be good. We thank you for the gifts You give us, even the many we never recognize and the ones we cast away. Please help us to see ourselves and see our spouse the way You see us. Help us to love our spouse and ourselves the way You do. We know we are a treasure to You. So is our spouse. May my walk with You draw my spouse to You in deep ways and bless the marriage we share. Help us to walk with humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love. May our children and grandchildren know You clearly through their walk with us. We thank You, Good Father for the gift of marriage and the ways You grow us through the union. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this podcast. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast - Episode 080 - The Power of Using Scripture in Parenting - A Guide for Christian Parents Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 080 – The Power of Using Scripture in Parenting: A Guide for Christian Parents Oh my goodness! I still clearly remember that day I walked out of the local mall with my one year old screaming at the top of her lungs. I forced myself to casually push the stroller instead of running out like I wanted to. The shrillness and volume of her screams combined with the fact that we’re different races, made me concerned someone might think I was kidnapping her. I expected someone to confront me as I made my way out of the mall, and I wondered how I would convince them I was the mother and my girl was usually very happy. I hoped I had pictures of us together in my purse, as at that time I didn’t own a cell phone that held photos. That afternoon we’d been at the mall play area for quite a while. It was past my daughter’s naptime, but she had such fun playing with other children that I let her stray off schedule. When I told her it was time to go and lifted her into the stroller, she did the one thing I hadn’t yet experienced when raising my first two. She began screaming and stiffening her body so I couldn’t easily get her into the stroller. Once I got her in, I thought she’d calm down when I began pushing her away. Instead, the movement made the screaming worse. She didn’t hear me when I tried to soothe and talk to her. Her cries were now a matter of will and exhaustion. It was like ripping a band-aid off. I needed to get out of that mall quickly. Escape was foremost on my mind. As I drove home, her screams continued. I tried talking to her, singing to her, playing music. Nothing I did stopped her cries. I had already tried to soothe her, so I kept driving. About the time we pulled into the driveway, she fell asleep. After a long nap, she awakened to her usual cheery self. I have never looked at mothers of disobedient children in the same way. There’s now a camaraderie. I know that when I see when her child disobey or cause a scene in public I’m just witnessing a portion of the story. I don’t know the child’s background, what has happened in the past, nothing. I just see that there’s another mother who just wishes her child would obey. Are you wondering why I’m sharing this story? The world teaches you to raise children who are well-behaved, good citizens . Our Heavenly Father calls you to parent with a higher objective. God calls you to raise children who love Him and are called according to His purpose. He calls you to raise godly kids, not good kids. It’s true. Parents want kids who obey. No one likes to be the embarrassed mom everyone is staring at because her children are acting up in public. Somehow, society expects children to be perfect, although we know they’re not. Neither are adults, and we know we were never perfect kids. Of course, children must be lovingly trained in the way they should go, but just as adults still make mistakes or bad decisions, our children are learning and growing, and they will, too. Instead of raising children with the goal of teaching them to perfectly obey us , we must parent with the purpose of raising children who obey the Lord . When your children love and trust Jesus, you will receive a beautiful by-product as they love and obey You, as well. First, however, you must be intentional in raising children to obey God and honor Him . Children need parents who understand they are raising imperfect humans sent from God to be raised for His glory . That means you must remember that the discipline you give is to be crafted with the purpose of molding godly character traits and drawing your children to Christ . Remember, the behavior your children exhibit exposes the condition of their heart. So, how do you cultivate the soil of your child’s heart to be ready for the seeds you will sow for Christ? How do you instill behavior that honors God and you? The answer is simple, but takes dedication and consistency. It’s the way you live for Christ and show Him through your words, desires, actions, and reactions. The way you prioritize Jesus and live a lifestyle of humble love and service to Him , instead of just saying you follow Christ. It’s several purposed steps that build a life that honors Jesus . Using godly discipleship and the Bible as your parenting guide as you build and mature a connection with Christ and your child allows you to address behaviors your children express. As you observe their tendencies, actions, words, and desires, you see a glimpse into the condition of their heart. Use this insight to keep you focused on forming behavior and characteristics that are pleasing to God. Guide your children into His arms as you teach them to also recognize ungodly character traits and grow a relationship with Christ to transform behavior. Would you like to know the most powerful tool to influence your child’s behavior? Scripture. God’s powerful, holy Word cultivates godly character. In yourself and your child. I’ll share three powerful truths to remember as you parent with the purpose of cultivating Christlike character traits in your children. 1. Display the qualities you want your child to possess. 2. Don’t ignore character and behaviors that need to be addressed and corrected. 3. Train your child in God’s truths. This allows you to instill characteristics needed to build a godly foundation for future behaviors and decisions. Scripture has power to guide you and transform each of these areas in your life and the lives of your children. While parenting two sets of children over two generations, God has brought my attention to the importance of using Scripture to influence the behavior of my children. The most memorable and impactful ways I have found are: 1. Bible – Read and know God’s Word so you have a strong foundation to build the godly groundwork for your children to build a house of faith and obedience. Self-help books, parenting guides, advice from others, and punishment are weak in comparison to the wisdom God offers in His holy Word. The Bible addresses every concern a parent carries. Studying God’s Word prepares you, your spouse, and your family for a lifestyle of devotion to Him. As your character is transformed, you are better equipped to disciple the behavior of your children. 2. Song – Even if you’re not a singer, singing God’s Word is a memorable way to teach your children Biblical truths from a young age. The power of Scripture and music combined will trigger another method of memorization in the minds of your children. As they get older, music with Scripturally based-lyrics bring truths they will sing and remember. 3. Prayers – Praying Scripture with and for your children is a powerful blessing. Teaching your children to pray Scripture helps them recognize another way to remember and use God’s Word in ways that honor Him and uses His power in ways they will see and remember. 4. Lifestyle – The way you live, the music you listen to, what you read, what you desire, etc., should all reflect what you say you believe about God. Your words, actions, and reactions should mirror the ways God would call you to act. As you use Scripture to form your personal character and beliefs, your child will see God at work within you and know that you live , not just preach a lifestyle devoted to Jesus . 5. Discussions – Don’t neglect using life moments as they arise. Each day brings moments you can capture and utilize for planting godly seeds and nurturing what you have sown. Keep your ears, eyes, and heart open to opportunities. Let your discussions be personal ways to connect with your child or children and allow God to mold you as He works through them. Don’t make the moments preaching sessions, but a sharing of God in natural ways that will shape their heart and relationship with you and their Heavenly Father. I’ve compiled several Scripture verses and passages to show you the power of using God’s Word in your habits, training, and prayers so you can mold His character and beliefs in your children. If you want your children to have wisdom that comes from God, remember Proverbs 3:7 which says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil .” As you train and correct your children, remember you are discipling them. Teach them that human wisdom falls short of God’s wisdom. As they learn God’s truths and remember that His ways are higher than ours and that wisdom as this world teaches it is opposite of God’s, they will learn to detect what is truly wise with your direction. If you want your children to love like Jesus, remember Deuteronomy 6:5 which says, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Teach them to love God first, then others in the ways He loves. If you want your children to live with gratitude that is pleasing to God, remember Psalm 118:24 which says, “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it .” Teach them that each moment, each day is a blessing from God. No matter the circumstances, they are to trust and keep faith that God is using their daily happenings for His purposes and for their good if they love Him and are called according to His purpose. If you want your children to live with integrity , remember Proverbs 10:9 which says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out .” Teach them that God is always present. Humans may not know the things others do in secret, but God does. He knows their thoughts, sees their actions, and loves them. Yet, in all His holiness, God doesn’t want them to stay the way they are. He has a better way for them to live. Then live out integrity in ways they see. Talk about decisions you have made to live with integrity pleasing to God, not to make yourself look good, but to show them how God is your guiding source of light and life. Point out times they have made godly choices. Give them scenarios and help them find answers or solutions that are pleasing to God. If your want your children to live with trust in God, remember 1 Peter 5:7 which says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Teach them how God has carried you, your spouse, and the family. Let them know He cares about every detail. He is a personal and intimate God who wants to take care of their every need. If you want your children to live a life of obedience , remember Ephesians 6:1-3 which says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise—so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth .” As you train them to love and obey God, they will also love and obey You. As you can see, it is easy to choose Scripture to form character and behavior. As you know and trust God’s Word, you are able to use it as you disciple your child in life and choices. Teach them about these characteristics before situations arise so that godly character is beginning to form inside them before they need to use them. As I share the following verses, remember to look for opportunities to use the verse or teaching behind it in daily life. Communication with God and your children is vital to forming lives pleasing to God. If you want your children to live a life of surrender to God, remember Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” If you want your children to live a life of generosity , remember Luke 6:31 which says, “Do to others as you would like them to do to you .” If you want your children to live a life of abundant love , remember Romans 12:10 which says, “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other .” If you want your children to live a life of forgiveness, knowing they are forgiven and forgiving others, remember Ephesians 4:32 which says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you .” If you want your children to live a life of contentedness, remember Philippians 4:11 which says, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances .” Here are more Scriptures and the characteristics they can help you to disciple for your children. Think of characteristics you want your children to carry or qualities you observe they need help with. Forbearance - Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Mindset - Ephesians 4:23 says, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes .” Kindness - Proverbs 11:17 says, “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves .” Faithfulness - Proverbs 20:6 says, “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?” Humility - Mark 10:44 says, “And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all .” Godliness - Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law .” Pure Faith - Matthew 15:8 says, “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me .” Teachable - Hebrews 12:5-6 says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son .” Endurance - Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it .” John 15:5-7 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you .” As you pray for a life that beautifully mentors Jesus to your children and spouse, and humbly ask God for His mercy and guidance to flow from You as you disciple and raise your children for Him, He will honor your prayers in extraordinary ways that will last for eternity. Remember, the world tells us to raise good kids who obey. God calls for you to raise godly children who obey Him. Your walk matters. Relationship with Jesus and a maturing walk with Him makes a difference. Surrender to the Lord so you will mentor Christ to the children He entrusted to you. Use opportunities to discuss the qualities you desire them to carry, such as fruits of the spirit. Use books, movies, school assignments, life situations, sporting events, and more to capture moments you can impress God’s desires for them and the way to develop these life skills. Show them in the way you use the characteristics. Bring attention to times you have to be long-suffering or forgiving. Read Bible stories highlighting characteristics your child exhibits or needs work in. There are many creative ways to pray for, show, and teach your child how to desire and develop godly qualities that will last for a lifetime. You can bet that in the days after our loud mall exit, we began reading specific verses and stories about listening and obeying parents. We prayed together about honoring mother and father. Even before she grasped the full understanding of what I was teaching, she was receiving a message that rooted in her heart. I also remembered not to exasperate my child and be more aware of not exciting and tiring her beyond what she could endure for her age. As you work with your children under God’s sovereign guidance, expect beautiful and godly results for each of you. Dear Heavenly Father, You entrusted Your children to us for this time. You know we are unable to raise children for You without Your strength and direction. Thank you for Your holy Word, which is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. Only Your wisdom and love can guide Your children to Your arms. Please lend it to us. We need You so much and humbly bow before You in gratitude and awe. Thank you for depositing the Holy Spirit inside us to lead and love, guide and guard us and our children. Only through You can we become new each moment and show our children the characteristics they need to live a life called by You. Help us to clearly identify the behaviors and traits we must nurture for You and show us the way to mentor You in loving, respectful, and honoring ways. Thank you for entrusting us with sacred responsibility. Help us parent in ways that honor and bless You. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Supporting and encouraging mothers to rest in Christ and pursue a holy relationship with Him so they purposely raise set-apart children is the cry of my heart. Godly parenting is rooted in relationship with Christ and the mindset a mother carries. That’s why I’ve created the Set-Apart Collective. Have you decided peers and culture won’t be the main influence over your child? Would you like to parent to prepare your child for eternity with Christ, not to repair a relationship? In the Set-Apart Collective, you will deepen your walk with Christ, learn a Christ-centered Motherhood Mindset Model™, and create a Purposed Parenting Plan™. You will be a purposed mother with an intentional mind and heart set on Christ and your family. The Set-Apart Collective is open now. Please send me an email at info@terrihitt.com to let me know you’d like to receive information or look online at terrihitt.com/setapart. We can also set up a 15 minute call to chat about details. It’s time for believing mothers to be purposed in preparing their children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ. If you connected in some way with this episode, would you please rate and review the podcast on Apple or Spotify? It only takes a minute or so and makes a big difference in people finding the podcast. You and I know that the best reviews are by word of mouth, so would you please choose a friend to recommend the show to? Let them know that the podcast is found at terrihitt.com, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Imagine the change we will see in the way mothers parent for Christ if they learn to be intentional, too. Remember, if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will likely sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection. 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< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 078 - Does Upbringing Affect Motherhood: Understanding the Influences of Past Experiences Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 078 – Does Upbringing Affect Motherhood: Understanding the Influence of Past Experiences When you’re a child, you look at the world and the adults in it through eyes of innocence and trust. Children see parents, especially their primary caregiver, which is usually their mother, as someone they trust and love. A mother is usually the first window to the world. Because of her vast experience and devotion, a mother carries great importance and influence over her children. Whether it be affection, character, actions, reactions, words, education, or faith, what the mother believes and lives will adhere to her children and usually become their governing beliefs and convictions. Because I’ve been blessed to parent two sets of children over two generations, I’ve experienced the difference a strong walk with Christ makes when parenting. If you’ve listened to the podcast for long, you probably know I often speak of being a godly mother over a good one. That’s because when I raised my first set of children, I loved Christ, but ignorantly and unknowingly parented more in my strength than I have during the second round of parenting. Deepening my relationship with Jesus has been the strength I’ve used to craft strong ties with my children and God. The Lord has been merciful with me. Through God, Scripture, and the gift of the Holy Spirit residing within me, I have been transformed moment by moment and continue to be. Praise God! When I was a child, I never wanted to grow up and become a mother. I didn’t have a great relationship with mine. We had a dysfunctional home, and my mother loved me, I know. But she had heavy things on her mind and heart and it was hard to break that shell surrounding her. By God’s grace, I did eventually become a mother, and am in awe that He chose me for this holy privilege and blessing. Somehow, God saw fit to bless me with not one, but four of His children. One of the things I always focused on as I raised every one of my children was developing a close relationship with them. How beautiful that God desires strong relationship with each of us. Motherhood allows women the honor to lead children to the Lord and see them mature in Him as they utilize gifts and talents bestowed to them by and for their Heavenly Father. As a child, my gifts and interests weren’t nurtured for God. I knew what I liked to do, but my parents rarely complimented my talents or encouraged my desires, and never in ways that gave glory to God. I’m not faulting them, but they were involved in their own lives and didn’t understand how to do so. When I got married, insecurities came with me to my marriage. Beliefs about how all men must be were finally erased by the difference in my husband. Thankfully, he patiently loved me and showed me that he saw gifts and beauty in me that I couldn’t recognize myself. He led me to follow the dreams God crafted in me when I was formed. It was a gift to build our family with my husband. Together, we looked for the abilities God gave our children and encouraged them to follow those passions. Although I had found Jesus as my Savior after having children, I wasn’t discipled well, and it wasn’t until years later that I looked upon my first parenting journey and saw cracks in the life we built. Although we were a Christian family, many of the things we did came more from the world than what God would call. Movies we watched, books we read, and songs we listened to were part of that, but more importantly, our attitude – what resided in our heart and mind was more of self rather than full dependence on Christ. Our first years of parenting weren’t bad. We were very good parents. But we weren’t focused on being godly parents, as called by God. That is His desire for every family. Believing parents shouldn’t be able to look back on years and say that they were good rather than godly. Of course, we draw closer to godly actions and desires as we draw nearer to Christ, but our daily goal should be to show Him with increasing ability as we live the honor of loving and following Jesus. Did my husband and I love Jesus? Absolutely! However, humbling submitting to Christ moment by moment and yearning to be more like Him day after day, looking at the world through a heart and mind set on seeing it as He did, and placing Scripture and prayer as a leading guide for godliness in your home was not a priority as it is now. We thought we were following Jesus, but the closer I am to Him, the more I see how far away we were. We loved Jesus, but didn’t humbly submit moment by moment as we now strive to do. I wasn’t raised in a Christian home, but came to know Jesus as Savior later. I can look back on all of the mistakes I made in ignorance. Every parent comes from different backgrounds and homes. When you look back on your years as a child, what events shaped you? Were you in a religious family? Or were you in a godly home that prioritized relationship with Christ? Did your family know and humbly follow Jesus? Was your family secretly dysfunctional? There is so much that happens when a person is growing up that forms character and beliefs. Can a child grow up to forge their own way to Christ? Definitely. But wouldn’t you rather build a relationship with Jesus early and form that foundation for your child to do the same? A set-apart woman intentionally deepens her walk with Christ moment by moment. Love propels her through excuses or set-backs. She remembers others may come to, or walk away from Jesus, based on what they see of Him in her. You may have heard me share about the Set-Apart Collective™ on this podcast. Today I want to uncover a little more of what I teach. One of my favorite components of the group is the Motherhood Mindset Model™. This piece of the collective trains your mind, heart, and mouth to react with godly responses. The model was created to be a helpful tool that identifies areas in which you can work to submit to Christ, God’s Word, and invite holy transformation, so you will be increasingly pleasing to God. No matter the past experiences you lived, no matter what hardships you face today, there is freedom and peace in Christ. You can live with joy despite circumstances. Do you realize that your daily actions carry holy importance? Actions stem from what resides in your heart and mind. Your words, activities, and responses expose whether you are a faithful or unfaithful witness of Christ. They will form the ways your child sees God and the importance they may come to place on knowing Christ as Savior. What you lived in the past when you were growing up or even last week can be transformed through Christ. Romans 8:5 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires .” Do you recognize that each of us need transformation? Are you able to recognize some of the ways you need to be transformed? 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ” Your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, responses, and behaviors will affect or infect people in your life . Being a wife and mother stretches you. As you grow in Christ these roles expose your heart in ways that you may never have realized without the assignment. God has not placed your children with you for the purpose of becoming their best friend or because He thinks you are worthy of being a parent. He hasn’t given you a spouse because you deserve the relationship. Many reasons play into what God purposes. Although I can’t pretend to know all the reasons God does the things He ordains, I do believe that He places our children under our stewardship because of the divine objective He desires to work through us and in them. God is molding parent and child, as well as families together as He guides and grows and works through you at the same time. Parenting, or relationships for that matter, are not about or strictly for us. God has gifted each of us in the roles to allow participation in an eternal purpose with far greater significance than we can see or imagine. He is entrusting His precious minors in your care so that you will lift them up to Him as you seek His wisdom and guidance. He is using your past, the hard, bad, ugly, and beautiful to help you seek and serve Him as you submit, inviting His redeeming work in you and your family. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the Lord protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain .” Another important aspect of your walk with Christ and parenting journey is covered in The Set-Apart Collective™. In order to leave the trash of your past, you must first reflect on, strengthen , and respect your holy position to parent for God. That begins with the importance of crafting your identity through Christ. Before you can become a godly spouse or parent, the circumstances of your past must be reconciled with the Truth of your present and your eternity . 1. Where do you find and shape your identity? 2. Where do you find your hope, peace, and joy? 3. How do you define yourself? 4. Where do you find success? 5. Who or what do you rely on? 6. How do you plan to mold the mindset of your children? 7. What is your parenting objective? Without you fully accepting and moving past circumstances of your past and allowing Jesus to craft your present and eternal future, your children most likely will not be able to receive the spiritual foundation they need to flourish. Christ calls for every aspect of your children’s experiences with you and your life together to press them into His arms . 3 John 1:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth .” Jesus is calling you to be His Truth . As you allow relationship with Jesus to sculpt the pains and mistakes of your past into secure salvation, your children will learn of an eternal future with Jesus. The foundation of your child’s eternity is your responsibility. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates .” As you release hurts, misunderstandings, trials, pain, and heartache to Jesus as Savior, you will find that God’s wisdom and provisions are enough. Your future is secure in His hands. Your child’s future is secure in His hands when you trust in Him to fill, transform, and guide you in leading them to Him. In the passage we read from Deuteronomy 6, we see that God has given very specific instructions. 1. Know and keep His words as a treasure in your heart. 2. Teach His Words to your children through relationship and mentorship. 3. Discuss the Lord and His ways. 4. Ponder Him and His teachings. 5. Fix your thoughts on Him. 6. Talk to God throughout your day as your Father and your friend. 7. Remember God’s faithfulness and promises and make sure to teach them to your children. 8. Show God to your children and to others through the way you live. In Matthew 22:36 Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is. He answered with a verse found in Matthew 22:37 and in Deuteronomy 6:5. In Matthew 22:37 , Jesus relays the following words. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind .” The heart, soul, and mind are representative of an entire person – our heart, brain, and spirit. We are to cherish, know, love, and serve God, to represent and seek Him with all we are. When we do that, we allow Him to naturally flow from us and into others, especially our children. But we must also purposely teach and model God to them. How? By making time to read, know, understand, and respect the Word of God. His words are to be in our heart. We don’t simply read and gain head knowledge without heart acceptance. We seek God, savor His Word, ponder, and reflect His wisdom and guidance as we allow Him to transform us. We purposely reflect the work God is completing within us to our children. We draw attention to the changes God is making within us, giving Him the glory. We also demonstrate the characteristics our changed life has brought. We draw attention to Him in creation, in daily activities, and in the works He completes in our families and lives. Nothing you have been through in the past or are going through now is too far from the power of transformation through God. Nothing you have said or done is too hard for Him to love. But our perfect, sinless God doesn’t want us to stay where we are. He made a way through Christ for us to be reconciled, and healed, forgiven, and transformed. Relationship with Christ isn’t a one-time occurrence where we accept Him as Savior and continue living the way we desire. It is a humble release of self that allows us to see life through an eternal lens with a perspective defined by God. We trust and believe that all things, good, bad, hard, easy, surprising, or unexpected are opportunities to cleave to Him and draw others to Him. As we speak, our words are scripted by Him, our actions formed as we become more like Him moment by moment. He is as much a part of us, flows as naturally from us as taking our next breath. In fact, did you know that in Hebrew the term, “love ” doesn’t only refer to feelings or emotions ? The word, “heart ,” as Jesus uses it, focuses on the intellect , affection , and inclinations or desires of the person. Jesus is commanding us all to cling to God with devotion in every way and at every moment . Jesus is calling us to seek God in everything, to ponder His requirements of us, His sacrifice for us, to live within His guidelines for us, to seek His heart instead of our own, and to model a life for our children that does not strictly follow laws, but the heart of Jesus. We are to lovingly teach our children to desire God through Christ and a pattern of His love and Word represented in our lives. That doesn’t mean following our whims, succumbing to our past experiences, or listening to thoughts that pop up. It doesn’t mean following others because majority rules. It means reading the Word of God and discerning it through the Holy Spirit inside and through prayerful communication with and requests to your Heavenly Father. The culture we live in, our experiences, desires, thoughts, emotions, and feelings are not accurate gauges. Only God alive within us through relationship with Jesus should lead the way you live and influence your children for Him. Your children are not saved by following your authority. They are saved through submitting to His. Your are the bridge they will travel to Him. Don’t remain in your past. Don’t let trials or tragedies shape the future of your child. There is hope and redemption through Christ. He is a Master at relationships. Craft yours with Him so you can help the lives of your children be transformed. Dear Heavenly Father, You are so good to us. Thank you for Your everlasting love and the gift of Jesus. You desire that all our children be taught by You. You give us the tools and the hope we need to bring our children to a saving knowledge of You. Prepare their hearts and our tongues. Examine our motives and desires so that they are pleasing to You. Bring the results You desire. Allow our families to shine for You. Show us the way to change. Help us to know that when we belong to You, our past is forgiven and forgotten. It is washed new. Help us be pleasing to You and help our children to do the same. Show us where we must humbly bow before You in all areas of our life. We need You so much. Thank you for rescuing us. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Supporting and encouraging mothers to rest in Christ and pursue a holy relationship with Him so they purposely raise set-apart children is the cry of my heart. I believe godly parenting is rooted in relationship with Christ and the mindset a mother carries. That’s why I’ve created the Set-Apart Collective. Have you decided peers and culture won’t be the main influence over your child? Would you like to parent to prepare your child for eternity with Christ, not to repair a relationship? In the Set-Apart Collective, you will deepen your walk with Christ, learn a Christ-centered Motherhood Mindset Model™, and create a Purposed Parenting Plan™. You will be a purposed mother with an intentional mind and heart set on Christ and your family. The Set-Apart Collective is open now. The next group of women is forming. Please send me an email at info@terrihitt.com to let me know you’d like to receive information. It’s time for believing mothers to be purposed in preparing their children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ. If you connected in some way with this episode, would you please rate and review the podcast on Apple or Spotify? It only takes a minute or so and makes a big difference in people finding the podcast. You and I know that the best reviews are by word of mouth, so would you please choose a friend to recommend the show to? Let them know that the podcast is found at terrihitt.com, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Imagine the change we will see in the way mothers parent for Christ if they learn to be intentional, too. Remember, if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will likely sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection. Previous Next

< Back Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode 005 - Battle for Your Child Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode #005 – Battle for Your Child Are you yearning for greater connection with your child? Would you like to parent beyond the moment with eternal perspective? Let’s grow together now with practical tips, scripture, and stories geared to draw your heart to Jesus and guide your child into His arms. On the last Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast episode number 004, we discussed Arming Your Child Spiritually. As I stressed in the episode, we must intentionally mature our walk with Jesus so that He pours from us and fills the heart and mind of our child. Are you aware that there is an unspoken, evil agenda in this world? It’s always been present, but I believe it is more apparent now. Our enemy, the devil roars like a prowling lion seeking whom he can devour. His eyes are on your child . Satan actively engages in battle against your child, and he entices others to desire and make ungodly choices that affect your child and family. 1 Corinthians 16:13 reminds us, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. ” We must remember that we are to stand strong in the armor of God , not in our own professed strength. No matter how strong we may be, we are nothing against the enemy, Satan. Thankfully, God didn’t design us to fight our own battles, but to submit to Him along in humble obedience. 1 Peter 5:7 commands, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you .” This world is far from what God originally created for us to live in. His perfect world would have no sin or brokenness. Because we live in a fallen world, we are painfully aware of sin and brokenness. God sees our damaged, defective world and the ugly effects we, and our children suffer. It is imperative that we seek the Father to guide and protect those He has entrusted to our care. When we have a maturing relationship with God, we seek what He desires and we will inherit characteristics from Him that shine the image of our Heavenly Father to our children. We begin to exhale the fragrance of our Lord for our children to inhale. They need us to lead them with the guidance and wisdom only God can provide. He is the source of wisdom and strength we need to pass on to the next generation. As I have shared on Live With Eternal Perspective podcast episode number 110, “Armed for Spiritual Warfare,” one way to do that is by wearing the armor of God. To be armed for warfare, we must stand strong, wearing armor as God has specifically prepared it to be utilized. Have you listened to that episode yet? If so, do you remember that almost all of the pieces of God’s armor are used for offense ? When we wear God’s armor in life, and as we raise our children, we must obediently and intentionally cling to the Lord, growing and deepening our relationship with Him moment by moment as we seek His direction and sovereign understanding to raise the individuals He chose to entrust to us. We humbly trust Him to be our protection and strength instead of floundering hopelessly and ignorantly in our own defense. Our children must see us apply God’s clear, strong offense through accepting His protection and allowing Him to be the voice we teach them to hear and follow . Communication is key. We must let our children know of our trust in and reliance on the Lord for every provision, then live out our profession as a witness for them to emulate as they build their own faith. As they see us allow God to go before our trials and tribulations, as we submit to His work, guidance, and protection in our life as He lovingly carries us through each battle, they are more apt to do the same. This is the example we must mentor to our children so that they learn the blessing of an obedient life and grasp the power of God’s protection plan. God’s armor also carries an important weapon for defense . Scripture tells us in Hebrews 4:12 , “The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires .” God’s holy word allows us the privilege of strong defense against not only the devil, but this world and our own flesh. Nothing carries the power or wisdom of scripture. Absolutely anything that challenges the word of God will fall short and be exposed in light of His truth . Finally, just as Jesus spent time alone with God, despite His extraordinarily demanding schedule, we must seek the face of our Father. We must allow our children to see that we prioritize time with the Father. As we come to know Him intimately through time spent with Him, we recognize His voice. We seek His wisdom and ways and trust His direction, even when we do not understand. Our child sees the difference our time with God makes in our life. There is a definite assault against our children and the only way to rise above it and protect the heart , mind , and soul of our most precious gifts is to live in step with Jesus and teach them to desire and do the same. I believe that one of the best outcomes of Covid is that the ways this world is after the heart of children was exposed more clearly to parents. Many lived in ignorance of the indoctrination in educational institutions prior to school shut-downs. Even the radical library story hours and topics of paranormal, gender-confused, drug and sex filled books for children and teens that line the shelves of libraries and bookstores have come to light during lock-down. We’ve seen how many churches have altered doctrinal truths to suit what they believe crowds want to hear or what they believe will fill the pews. Unless we know God’s truths through carefully reading and understanding the bible, we are easily swayed or fooled. Parents must stay connected to the issues our children face and are being fed by others, many those we thought we could trust. We must be a godly example our children can rely on for truth and wisdom taught by God alone. Your walk with Jesus and the home life you create are the most important influences your child will have . Parenting is hard . You must strive to stay ahead of what influences the world is creating and thrusting upon your child and hold everything up in comparison to God’s words and instructions. Teach your child to do the same . The Bible is the compass of truth and morality, which will never get old or outdated. God’s holy word will never steer you, or your child wrong. Let’s look at 6 areas of attack parents should be aware of and how the Bible clearly guides us in God’s holy and sovereign wisdom . The bible is just as relevant and practical as it was when it was divinely inspired by our Heavenly Father many years ago. 1. Satan – The roaring lion who seeks whom he can devour delights in planting false teachings and ideas into our world and mind. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God .” Do you want your child blinded by the deception of Satan? Or do you want your child living in the fullness a life submitted to God experiences? They must study and understand God’s word in order to know God and desire to please Him. You are the one God selected to lead the way. 2. Culture/Society – One way Satan deceives is through our fleshly, selfish nature. It didn’t take much for the serpent to confuse Eve or convince her that God said something different than what He truly instructed. The devil knows our patterns and ways of life, he recognizes our pride and ego and knows exactly how to tempt and sway us away from the best that God has for us. Unless we are closely walking with the Lord, seeking His face and purpose or desires for us, the interests we pursue, the way we spend our money, or what we are influenced by are all led by what feels good or what others tell us we should want or do. If we do not know or follow God’s moral codes and instructions, we fall victim to what society tells us is right instead of knowing and following God’s holy truths. James 1:13-15 says, “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” This world is influenced and corrupted by Satan and fleshly desires. Every area of our life from home to schools and institutions, churches, religions, relationships, gender, literature, movies and music, speech, attire, sanctity of life, marriage, parenting, politics…any area that can be touched has been influenced by the wicked lies of the evil one. While God desires goodness, life, and light for us, Satan destroys and deceives. Galatians 5:16-17 says, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.” When we do not know God’s word, we do not have the power and godly direction or protection set within our mind to live according to the principles God has established. Our culture calls for us to form our own truths and morals based on what we have experienced, what others tell us, or what feels good or right in the moment. Following our fleshly instincts will lead to disaster and heartache. Step by step, we are deceived and confused, and led farther from God. This will happen to your child unless you purpose to raise them knowing God’s truth, so they will recognize evil and deceit. Teach your child God’s love for him and study His word together, explaining scripture and weaving God’s truths and morals into everyday living. Use godly morals with daily occurrences and make sure you live up to the standards you are teaching your child to obey. 3. Parental – Because we can easily revert to parenting according to what we have experienced, what others instruct us to do, how we were raised, or what seems to be the easiest, instead of seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit’s guidance and protection for each individual child, our children eventually look to what the world says and teaches to be their guideline of absolute truth. Without a godly moral compass built within them through intimate relationship with Jesus, our child will always lead opposite of the truths God has established because that is the way our world operates. Satan seeks to destroy your child and family. He will utilize enticements that have worked throughout the course of history. Prideful and deceitful, the devil knows his time is short. He seeks to carry as many as possible with him straight into darkness. Our minds are easily influenced by what is easy and appealing, such as trying to be a best friend to our child, or presenting gifts and opportunities we never instead of teaching them of our perfect Creator who cherishes them with an everlasting love that will perfectly fill them. Satan’s influence in this world through those who do not follow God or who meekly sit in ignorance of God or in lukewarm relationships devoid of the knowledge of truth, grooms our children for disaster. Unless we know and humbly seek God’s word for wisdom, insight, and guidance, we fall to the low estimation and expectations of the deceiver, meekly and ignorantly allowing him governance over the mind and life of our child. Deuteronomy 6:6-8 says, “These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates .” Another area where we fail our children is accepting old sayings such as, “they’re just being a teen,” or “they all go through that,” as we look at what society and culture offers our children in light of what God desires for them. Our children can absolutely be raised “set-apart” and do not have to follow the societal limitations allowed through history. God desires so much more for your child. So should you. Philippians 4:6-8 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.” Imagine the godly qualities your Heavenly Father desires for each of your children. Make a list, petition the Lord to add or subtract from it and carry it to Him with prayers that honor Him and allow you to raise the children He has loaned to you for such a time as this. 4. Self-worth – Now that you understand there is a battle for the mind and the soul of your children, what are you going to do? Not only is your child fed lies about what God thinks of them, but also about what He calls for them. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, “For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Our culture seeks to influence parents and children with lies that we can be and do all that we want, even change the sex God implanted at conception. Instead, we should be convinced of, and teach our children to seek what desires, strengths, talents, and gifts God has crafted into them. Society influences the way we look at our faces, figures, and minds through advertisements, publications, movies, books, and music, twisting truth and implanting lies and impossibilities that tear our children down and instill confusion. The last two years have pitted God’s children against each other, with culture causing problems with about skin tone and superiority. God purposed to make each of us unique and beautiful. In His eyes no one is higher or lower than another. God created the uniqueness of varying skin colors and hair types, just as He made different eye colors, heights, and bone structures. The Creator of the Universe desired variety . In His eyes, we are all beautiful. We are all worthy. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the Lord does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the Lord sees the heart .” We must teach our children to seek God’s word to learn on how to view others, as well as himself. Our children must know that what they think, what others say, what society or media preaches, or what their friends tell them are simply worldly opinions biased by fleshly desires, failings, sin, and corruption. Only the word of God will truthfully guide them. God created each person purposely with a loving hand, eye, and heart that specifically wanted them uniquely as they are. In fact, God views them as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. It is our responsibility to guide our children to be exactly what God desires for them and to teach them to seek and want that, as well. 5. Attitude/Speech – Jesus taught that character, which springs from the condition of our heart, matters more than any spiritual act or word we utter. It is vitally important that we conduct our lives in a way that models godly character qualities for our children. When we possess (and teach them to carry) love for Jesus, confidence through who He says we are, generosity, compassion, honesty, integrity, resiliency, and gratitude despite circumstances, our children are mentored in the values that lead to eternal perspective and fullness of life. Psalm 49:13 says, “My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.” Speech is another area in which we must remember that God created us with two ears and one mouth. We must learn to listen more than we speak and when we use our tongue, use it with the modest and honest submission God calls for us to carry. Our children will likely become what they see and hear. How do you expect your child to be living 5 years from now? James 3:9-12 says, “With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen .” Psalm 141:3-4 says, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies .” 6. Calling – One of the deep joys of parenting comes from watching and knowing our child; interests and talents are usually exposed when children are young. How wonderful it is that we are entrusted by God to help our child discover what He calls for them in life. Why did He create them just as He did? What can they do to bring honor and glory to God in their lifetime? Matthew 6:33-34 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” It is our responsibility to help our child seek the very heart of God to see where He will lead and guide them in the world. Direct and pray with them. Serve with your child. Be at the feet with your children. 1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen .” Life is not about us. God doesn’t desire for our children to seek fleshly recognition or fame. Teach your child to find what He is purposed to do in this world to honor God and use the life he has been given for the glory of Jesus, instead of selfish ambition that fades away and leaves him empty. We must know and show God in order for our child to seek Him. One of the most loving acts we can offer our child is to obediently love God so wholly that our child experiences Him fully through our life and they seek Him for themselves because they desire what we are experiencing. Today we have talked about the ways we can battle for and prepare our child to withstand the battles of this world and be equipped by God to lead lives that honor and obey Him. We see that the true way to battle for them is to be equipped by the armor of God and teach them to rely on Him. Remember the offensive piece we discussed earlier? Prayer. On the next episode of Purposed Parent/Connected Child, we will list specific prayers that will enable you to bring your child to the feet of Jesus so you will both be able to stand against the wicked schemes of Satan, flesh, and this world. Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You for all that You are and call us to be. Help us to live in ways that honor and please You. Enable us to mentor our children as You desire. May we so love and obey You that our children cannot help but seek and find You. God, we humbly ask that you protect our children from the evil desires and influences of this world. We pray that You guide us in the ways we need to bring our children to a good and strong knowledge of and love for You. Battle for us. Encourage us in Your ways. We need You Father, and so do our precious children. Thank you for entrusting them to us for this time. May we please You in our decisions for them and guidance of them. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this episode. The Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast will soon be available at terrihitt.com, where you can access the episodes housed in one convenient location, receive access to blog posts, read transcripts, and find additional resources designed to mature your walk with Christ and equip you to raise or influence connected children through Him. God knows that we are not capable of successful parenting on our own. As we rely on Him, releasing doubts and expectations, and humbly bow to His guidance and experience, we find greater clarity in parenting and a wondrous walk with our Creator that will extend to our children and those around us for generations . I pray this podcast helps you parent with purpose and deepen your connection to Jesus and your children as you intentionally place Christ above culture or self. Allow Him to work through you for true connection that will draw your children to Him and build a maturing relationship with Christ and your child that lasts for eternity. Previous Next

Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 051 Interview With Marissa Hitt, Co-Founder, Melane & Co. What an honor this episode is for me! Why? It begins the second season of the Live With Eternal Perspective podcast! My family members have been such strong supporters of my desire to follow God in new ways through Live With Eternal Perspective and have patiently helped in any way needed to bring the podcast to fruition each week. I cannot think of a better person to bring on as a guest this week than one of my biggest encouragers, my daughter, Marissa. I hoe you will be delighted to listen to us share and converse and that our dialogue allows you to see God in new ways and rest in Him. _____INTERVIEW_____ Thank you for listening to this episode. The Live With Eternal Perspective podcast is currently linked to terrihitt.com, where you can access the episodes housed in one convenient location, as well as receive access to blog posts, transcripts, and additional resouces designed to mature your walk with Christ and equip you to raise or influence children with love and purpose through Him. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to Jesus and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up and find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. www.melaneandco.com instagram.com/marissa_hitt instagram.com/melaneandco facebook.com/melaneandco Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 051 Interview with Marissa Hitt, Co-Founder, Melane & Co. Listen to Episode Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 051 Interview With Marissa Hitt, Co-Founder, Melane & Co. What an honor this episode is for me! Why? It begins the second season of the Live With Eternal Perspective podcast! My family members have been such strong supporters of my desire to follow God in new ways through Live With Eternal Perspective and have patiently helped in any way needed to bring the podcast to fruition each week. I cannot think of a better person to bring on as a guest this week than one of my biggest encouragers, my daughter, Marissa. I hoe you will be delighted to listen to us share and converse and that our dialogue allows you to see God in new ways and rest in Him. _____INTERVIEW_____ Thank you for listening to this episode. The Live With Eternal Perspective podcast is currently linked to terrihitt.com, where you can access the episodes housed in one convenient location, as well as receive access to blog posts, transcripts, and additional resouces designed to mature your walk with Christ and equip you to raise or influence children with love and purpose through Him. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to Jesus and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up and find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. www.melaneandco.com instagram.com/marissa_hitt instagram.com/melaneandco facebook.com/melaneandco You can also find Marissa at https://www.instagram.com/marissa_hitt/ and https://www.instagram.com/melaneandco/ http://www.melaneandco.com

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #079 – Interview with Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Do you know someone who carries a vivid imagination and possesses the ability to make everyday stories come to life? Perhaps they love Jesus and old testament Bible stories and share them with grace and faith that applies to any situation. They know God’s word and make the Bible come to life with a zeal that makes you want to sit at their feet. Rachel Ruth Lotz Wright simply loves Jesus and the stories God has entrusted to us through the Bible. Conversing with her made me wish I had had the chance to be a little girl listening to her reenact biblical history with her enthusiastic words, growing my knowledge and wisdom with every story. Or maybe become one of the thousands of women who participate in her online Bible classes, (which I’m positive are making more disciples of Jesus through the work God does as she obediently allows Him to work through her). Our conversation together shares the importance of consistently walking with Jesus and submitting to His Lordship as we deepen our relationship with Him. Rachel-Ruth was born into a strong Christian family through the grace of God. What she is doing with her faith is now because she has made the faith of the family her own. As she shares, you learn that her faith is not wimpy, but as she once prayed to the Lord, she relies on Him to continue to stretch and guide her moment by moment. Rachel-Ruth was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, the daughter of Anne Graham Lotz and granddaughter of Billy Graham. Following her graduation from Baylor University in Waco, TX, she married Steven Wright, a high school football coach, and now has three daughters: Bell, Sophia, and Riggin. Rachel-Ruth teaches a weekly women’s Bible study at the University of North Carolina and has shared God’s word at numerous events around the country. She also serves on the Board of Directors for AnGel Ministries, in addition to chairing the weekly prayer team that undergirds her mother’s ministry. Rachel-Ruth’s passion for leading children to Jesus and getting them into God’s word compelled her to lead monthly missions chapels at her children’s school, to teach middle school children at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coaches Camp, and helped to inspire her mother’s first children’s book, “Heaven: God’s Promise for Me.” Rachel-Ruth feels called to encourage others to fall in love with Jesus through the teaching of His word. Her love for Him is solid and real. I hope you enjoy our conversation together as we discuss life stories and timeless biblical truths applicable to society today. Because each of us are imperfect beings, we underline the importance of not subjecting others to our opinions, but striving to learn, apply, and teach God’s holy and perfect word, and the instructions and promises He left for us. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Through Him, we have the ability to live a life filled with the fruits of the spirit and one that fills the deepest longings within us. ------------------------------------------------------------INTERVIEW------------------------------------------------------- Father God, there is none like You. You alone are righteous and holy. Your word promises that if we accept Your words and hide Your commandments within us, that if we incline our ears to Your wisdom, and direct our heart to Your understanding, that if we seek You like silver, we will discover Your knowledge. May we acquire Your wisdom and understanding, Father, that we may live lives pleasing to You. May we live uprightly with the wisdom and knowledge You enter into our heart and minds because we love You and desire You more than gold. Please watch over us and guard our steps. Allow us to lead a blameless life as we walk in Your ways and in sweet fellowship with You. Help us to strengthen our walk with You through knowledge of Your word and time spent with You and multiply our delight at simple moments with You. In Your holy and precious name we pray. Amen. Psalm 119:131 says, “I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments.” May each of us continue deepening our relationship with the Lord intentionally every moment so that Jesus sees us yearn for Him and living His commands, because of our sweet fellowship with Him that draws others nearer to God, as well. This week I pray you find new ways to rest in Him and cause yourself to cling to Him in deeper ways that test your faith and understanding. Allow Him to bring you to a new level of trust and abandonment of self. Please visit terrihitt.com to access additional podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture as You rely on God to direct your steps. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to the Lord and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 079 Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright Interview Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #079 – Interview with Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Do you know someone who carries a vivid imagination and possesses the ability to make everyday stories come to life? Perhaps they love Jesus and old testament Bible stories and share them with grace and faith that applies to any situation. They know God’s word and make the Bible come to life with a zeal that makes you want to sit at their feet. Rachel Ruth Lotz Wright simply loves Jesus and the stories God has entrusted to us through the Bible. Conversing with her made me wish I had had the chance to be a little girl listening to her reenact biblical history with her enthusiastic words, growing my knowledge and wisdom with every story. Or maybe become one of the thousands of women who participate in her online Bible classes, (which I’m positive are making more disciples of Jesus through the work God does as she obediently allows Him to work through her). Our conversation together shares the importance of consistently walking with Jesus and submitting to His Lordship as we deepen our relationship with Him. Rachel-Ruth was born into a strong Christian family through the grace of God. What she is doing with her faith is now because she has made the faith of the family her own. As she shares, you learn that her faith is not wimpy, but as she once prayed to the Lord, she relies on Him to continue to stretch and guide her moment by moment. Rachel-Ruth was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, the daughter of Anne Graham Lotz and granddaughter of Billy Graham. Following her graduation from Baylor University in Waco, TX, she married Steven Wright, a high school football coach, and now has three daughters: Bell, Sophia, and Riggin. Rachel-Ruth teaches a weekly women’s Bible study at the University of North Carolina and has shared God’s word at numerous events around the country. She also serves on the Board of Directors for AnGel Ministries, in addition to chairing the weekly prayer team that undergirds her mother’s ministry. Rachel-Ruth’s passion for leading children to Jesus and getting them into God’s word compelled her to lead monthly missions chapels at her children’s school, to teach middle school children at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coaches Camp, and helped to inspire her mother’s first children’s book, “Heaven: God’s Promise for Me.” Rachel-Ruth feels called to encourage others to fall in love with Jesus through the teaching of His word. Her love for Him is solid and real. I hope you enjoy our conversation together as we discuss life stories and timeless biblical truths applicable to society today. Because each of us are imperfect beings, we underline the importance of not subjecting others to our opinions, but striving to learn, apply, and teach God’s holy and perfect word, and the instructions and promises He left for us. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Through Him, we have the ability to live a life filled with the fruits of the spirit and one that fills the deepest longings within us. ------------------------------------------------------------INTERVIEW------------------------------------------------------- Father God, there is none like You. You alone are righteous and holy. Your word promises that if we accept Your words and hide Your commandments within us, that if we incline our ears to Your wisdom, and direct our heart to Your understanding, that if we seek You like silver, we will discover Your knowledge. May we acquire Your wisdom and understanding, Father, that we may live lives pleasing to You. May we live uprightly with the wisdom and knowledge You enter into our heart and minds because we love You and desire You more than gold. Please watch over us and guard our steps. Allow us to lead a blameless life as we walk in Your ways and in sweet fellowship with You. Help us to strengthen our walk with You through knowledge of Your word and time spent with You and multiply our delight at simple moments with You. In Your holy and precious name we pray. Amen. Psalm 119:131 says, “I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments.” May each of us continue deepening our relationship with the Lord intentionally every moment so that Jesus sees us yearn for Him and living His commands, because of our sweet fellowship with Him that draws others nearer to God, as well. This week I pray you find new ways to rest in Him and cause yourself to cling to Him in deeper ways that test your faith and understanding. Allow Him to bring you to a new level of trust and abandonment of self. Please visit terrihitt.com to access additional podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture as You rely on God to direct your steps. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to the Lord and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. http://@rachelruthlotzwright | https://www.facebook.com/RachelRuthLW | https://www.annegrahamlotz.org/about-rachel-ruth-lotz-wright/

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 012 - Values in a World of Immorality Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode #012 – Values in a World of Immorality Are you yearning for greater connection with your child? Would you like to parent beyond the moment with eternal perspective? Let’s grow together now with practical tips, scripture, and stories geared to draw your heart to Jesus and guide your child into His arms. On the last “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” podcast episode we discussed “Roots of Wisdom.” We read from one of the best sources of wisdom in the Bible, Proverbs. Today I’d like to share about another type of wisdom in our life – morality constructed on the foundation of godly wisdom. What is the best definition of wisdom? If we turn to the dictionary, we see the definition the world gives: the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting . It is also described as common sense and good judgement . Yet, we have to stop and ponder who defines what is good or can label something as common sense. Let’s turn from our human-written dictionary and refer to the Bible to see what 1 Corinthians 3:18-21a says, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about human leaders!” In order to build and maintain godly values in this world of immorality, we must stand firmly on God’s truths. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” God offers wisdom to any who seek it from Him. Our Heavenly Father desires that we receive His wisdom and use it for His glory, as well as the good of others . It’s so easy to rely on what we believe is good or true. Growing up, I always considered myself mature for my age, yet I remember mistakes made because I followed self and what felt right, rather than allowing God to penetrate every decision or choice I made. We each desperately need the Holy Spirit within us to guide and transform us daily; we need God’s truths and guidelines to firmly direct and protect us. As believers, we understand through God’s word that a human’s definition of righteous will never reach the height of God’s holiness . Man’s law is in direct opposition to God’s law; desires of our flesh and the righteousness of God will never align with our sinless Heavenly Father. God is so high above us, yet through His holy, personal love for us, He established a way to experience Him intimately, a way that allows Him to fill and transform us more into His image. This is not a likeness that lifts us to become like God, but one that peels away the layers of our selfish, sinful hearts, and presents us with a foundation of holiness only available through Jesus, one that penetrates what feels good or seems to be right in our mind. One that allows us His wisdom, the true source of knowledge and discernment. 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 , says, “And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love Him—these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ .” In this world we live in, people try to preach that truth is relative, that we each carry personal truths. Nowadays, it’s common to hear people say that we should all get along and yet, if someone doesn’t agree with what they say or believe, somehow their stated belief that we can each have our personal truths goes out the window and they angrily attack the ones who disagree. In my lifetime I’ve witnessed generations of people who disagreed, but agreed to do so without conflict, respecting each person’s right to freedom of choice or belief, but now, the opposite is often true. People attack and accuse while also proclaiming about getting along and accepting everyone. The truth is that those who act this way only want to get along with those who agree with them and offer no challenge to what they profess. Why? Because they don’t understand that truth is not relative. What is the only way for us to know truth? Attunement with God and a close, maturing relationship with Him that searches and studies the scriptures and invests in prayer. We are living in a time of rapid moral decline. Although many proclaim that truth is relative, strong believers know that God’s truth is truly the only moral compass. How do we live by and teach our children or grandchildren godly values in a world filled with immorality and confusion? Beginning in preschool, children are bombarded by lies shared in direct opposition to the truths of God. The days of enjoying Saturday morning cartoons on television like I did as a child are long gone. Most programming, as well as books, music, toys, and educational institutions, even the local library are filled with what I will simply call trash . Indoctrination camps are what I call learning institutions today and I believe that most parents are finally waking up to the lies and the evilness our precious children are actively being subjected to. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Everything our children are exposed to will shape their mindset, beliefs, and actions. Parents cannot wait to teach the godly values and faith God desires that we mentor to our children. We must begin from the earliest time we have with them. As our walk with Christ is purposely strengthened daily, our desire to inhale Jesus and exhale a holy walk with Him becomes evident in all we do. Our children will accept and build from the relationship they see us build and carry with Christ, but we have to be purposed . Those out to steal and destroy the innocence in your child and fill their minds with wisdom of this world are intentional with each step they take. As I always say, the first step in teaching our children the good news about Christ and helping them to form a personal walk with Jesus is by establishing a strong walk with Him ourselves. Once we have that intimate connection with Christ, and we are purposely maturing it moment by moment, we have the foundation and the desire to ensure that our children have the opportunity to do the same. Once our children have built their worth and shaped their world views through Christ, they understand that truth is not relative . Beyond what we have already discussed in past episodes, (most importantly, that your walk with Jesus be personal and maturing) how do parents help their children build a strong relationship with Jesus, and not only recognize , but live by His truths? What do we teach them to look out for? How do we help them to live in this world without following everything the world professes as good and right? Our generation of Christian parents must face hard, confusing topics with their kids early. Children are learning subjects such as relative truth, racism, abortion, sexuality, identity, and love viewed through the opinions of the world , instead of on what God’s word teaches. Each of these subjects will play a part in whether your family is built up with an ungodly or godly foundation. In other words, a foundation that crumbles or one that stands. God’s word is the only truth that should be taught throughout the life of your child. Because of what our educational institutions have and are teaching our children, because of the negligence of the church, because of parental confusion or ignorance, moral relativism has a grasp on our culture and thus, our children. Moral relativism, or the belief that morals are not based on an absolute standard, is destroying family, spiritual relationships, education, the church, our legal system, and our country. Once belief in God, or the absolute truths He teaches are shaken, and truth is considered relative, we live with the devastating assumption that there must be no authority. If no authority is present, society has no moral compass to establish right from wrong; we (and our children) are left with worldly wisdom and morals to lead us. Isaiah 5:20-21 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!” What 6 steps must we follow to ensure we teach our children God’s truths? 1. Read God’s word . Read your Bible in your private time and read the Bible with your children. Help your children to establish times to read the Bible themselves, as well. If your child is too young to read, let them see you read your Bible so that the importance of God’s word is mentored to them and they can mirror the habit. Invest in a good study Bible for older children and keep investing in new editions as they grow. When your child is young, read story Bibles and act out, draw, or sing the adventures together. Let them know how important you consider God’s word to be and begin telling them from infancy that God’s word is truth and light for our lives. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2. Discuss scripture and fold God’s word into daily life. Don’t wait to teach about topics at a certain time. Weaving God’s truths into the daily life and routine of your child sets the foundation for beliefs that stick. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 3. Teach your children to understand what culture is. Help them see the fallen values and norms a society accepts without the wisdom of God to direct them. Society is the resulting behavior of the people’s beliefs, as we see in our world today. Discuss current events and compare events, culture, and society in light of God’s word in age appropriate ways. Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” 4. Pray scripture in your prayers alone and with your children. Pray for your children in accordance with God’s desires daily. Cover your family and your guidance to your children in prayer. Help your children incorporate prayer into their personal time. John 14:15 says, “If you love me, keep my commands .” 5. Surround yourself and your family with godly influences – personally, in music, literature, shows, movies, lessons, friends, etc. We must live the lifestyle God has chosen for us and show that we honor and believe Him in the way we live. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” 6. Know the Bible well and discuss it with your children often. Much of the degradation of society comes from not knowing the word of God or practicing it. Proverbs 10:9 says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” We can only walk in integrity when we step in the paths God has directed for us to follow . Why is it so important to know God’s word? When we are familiar with God’s word, we are blessed with the ability to recognize falsehoods and twisting of His holy truths. The Bible lays a clear groundwork for our walk with God. If we listen and obey, we find how to construct the foundation for a life of peace, joy, and fellowship with Him and others and we learn important basic life lessons that are meant to form the foundation for everything we believe and do as individuals and as a society . Through the Bible God establishes facts that prove His truths and warn against about destructive beliefs. Our society has been constructed on sand that is eroding beneath poorly laid foundations and our children and future generations will pay the price. Although society tries to make us believe that we are able to do what feels good, or what we desire instead of following the commandments of God, the following verses prove what God truly calls for us. Let’s look at 10 ways our culture is deceiving our children and what God’s wisdom says. As I read each point, listen prayerfully and ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you in directing your children or grandchildren in His truth and light. So many people want to be loving, so they accept what society does without mentioning God’s truths. We can love without condemning, as God gives each of us free will and the ability to choose how we want to live. It is not our place to judge another person, however, we also have the responsibility to know, practice, and teach God’s truths and commandments to our children and to live in ways that honor God. 1. God’s Sovereignty - God created the heavens and the earth, and all things in them. In Hebrew, the word created is associated only with God – and the word speaks of something that only our holy, sovereign Heavenly Father can do – establish something out of nothing. In Genesis we see that God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, co-existing in the Trinity, was present before time began. He is our true Creator. Genesis 1, 2 2. Sin - Sin created separation between God and man. Before the fall when Adam and Eve had not yet disobeyed and sinned against God, they walked and talked with our Heavenly Father. Their minds were not clouded by lies and confusion. Adam and Eve were alive physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. After they chose to follow the evil lies of the serpent and went against God’s commands, sin entered the world and intimacy with God was broken. Instead of living in the fullness of life with their Creator, they hid from Him and the whole world was covered in sin. Genesis 3:4-7 3. Salvation - God is sovereign; He already knew what would happen with His creation and already had a beautiful plan for eternal life through Jesus in place for us. Genesis 3:15 4. Racism – Those who focus on skin color to identify race miss the point that God created and sees each of us as members of one human race . Each person is uniquely planned, formed, and made as His beautiful creation with purpose and love. Acts 17:26, Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 11:1-9 5. Sexuality and Identity – God created male and female, the only two sexes that are to be identified and accepted, per our Heavenly Father, the Creator of sexuality and identity. No matter what surgeries or medication might be completed, a body will never fully become another sex. Genesis 1:27 6. Marriage - God created one man and one woman to come together through a spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, legal, loving bond, and union. This basic, simple truth is the foundation for what our beliefs about same sex marriage should be. Genesis 2:23-25 7. Abortion – Each life is precious to God, who planned and formed every single person, unborn or born. No matter the circumstances under which a person came to be formed in the womb, they are known and loved by our Heavenly Father. Psalm 22:10, Psalm 49:15, Psalm 139:13-16 8. Love – Even in relationships that are not united in holy matrimony, such as dating, God ordained opposite, not same sex relationships. Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:25 9. Truth – Despite what society tries to push, truth is not relative. Without a strong moral compass following God’s truth, humans divert to selfishness, ambition, pride, deceit, idolatry, and wickedness. John 1:14, John 8:32, John 14:6, John 17:17, 1 John 1:6, Psalm 51:6, Psalm 119:142, Hebrews 4:12-13 10. Deceit – Satan is the father of lies. There is no truth in him. Anything that is in opposition to God’s word will harm us. Our loving Heavenly Father wants to protect and prosper us, if only we listen and obey. He will fill the true desires of your heart that He placed inside you when you were formed in the secret place. Beware of living apart from God’s commands. Live inside His desires and find true peace, life, joy, and love. So many people are being harmed by the morals and values our society has confused. John 10:10 It is up to each believer to spread the gospel and live a life that is in step with our Heavenly Father so that we reflect Him in the proper ways. Sinfulness, and disobedience have not made the beauty of Jesus evident or attractive to those who do not know Him. It won’t make Jesus known to our children, either. I also believe that it is up to each of us to know and follow the will of God without condemning those who do not. I have nothing against those who chose to live a different lifestyle. I can still love them with a holy love from God, even if they do not believe or accept it because I may not agree with their choices based on what God’s word teaches. However, each of us (including me) have made many mistakes in our lifetime and have sinned more times than we can measure. Because some may live what God considers sin out in the open for all to see does not make them less loved. We all fall short of what God calls for us. Please know if you are listening to this podcast episode and hearing something you are doing being identified as sin or you have lived some of the topics I mentioned, I am not judging you. You are loved. There is healing in and through Jesus when and if you desire. If you find your identity in Him and truly realize how much He treasures you and that there is forgiveness found through Him, He can totally transform your life. If you need information about living fullness of life through Him, please let me know. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you find freedom through Christ. Listeners, remember to read and study the word of God. Each of us will grow more like the image of God and honor Him more and more clearly as we learn and obey what our Heavenly Father commands. Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Dear Gracious and Loving Heavenly Father, You are so good. Thank you for Your patient, unending love. Even when we turn from You and follow our own ways, You are present, waiting for us to repent and turn to You. Thank you for giving us free will and loving us despite what we choose, yet still holding us accountable as You must. Father, prepare our heart and mind, help us to be sober-minded, as You call. Equip us to be obedient to You and help us to not conform to the passions of our own ignorance. Help us to be holy, as You are holy. May our love for You and our knowledge of You be so great and unyielding that we keep Your commandments with pleasure and never consider You to be a burden. Help us not to satisfy the desires of our heart, but Yours instead, dear Father. Help our bodies to be living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to You, despite what this world teaches or allows. May we seek to be transformed by Your renewal of our mind and carry the ability and desire to test and approve Your good, pleasing, perfect will and teach the values to our children that You desire. Carve out the immorality from this world and replace it with Your truths and morals, for we need You so much more than we realize. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this podcast. If you would like to hear more about the condition of our heart, the root of all issues, please listen to the Live With Eternal Perspective podcast episode 001, Heart Conditions or episode 046, Maturing Character Like Christ. If you pray for your child, please look for my free ebook, “Prayers for My Child,” available on the website under the “Resources” page and is designed to guide the heart of your child to the feet of Jesus through scripturally-based prayer. The Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast is now available at terrihitt.com, where you can access the episodes housed in one convenient location, receive access to blog posts, read transcripts, and find additional resources designed to mature your walk with Christ and equip you to raise or influence connected children through Him. God knows that we are not capable of successful parenting on our own. As we rely on Him, releasing doubts and expectations, and humbly bow to His guidance and experience, we find greater clarity in parenting and a wondrous walk with our Creator that will extend to our children and those around us for generations . I pray this podcast helps you parent with purpose and deepen your connection to Jesus and your children as you intentionally place Christ above culture or self. Allow Him to work through you for true connection that will draw your children to Him and build a maturing relationship with Christ and your child that lasts for eternity. Previous Next

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #085 – An Essential Invitation Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss intentional changes that will equip each of us to concentrate on Jesus and live with heart and mind focused on eternity to seek more ways to live with eternal perspective. For the past week I have worked on and wrote most of a podcast during the cracks of time I found between running to appointments. As I waited for my daughter to have two procedures completed at the local Children’s Hospital, I quietly sat with my laptop concentrating and focusing on finishing the episode I felt would release this week. Although something is supposed to release in just over 9 hours, I do not feel releasing what I have would be the right timing. Instead, all I can concentrate on is the goodness and mercy of God as it overflows from my heart and mindset. I am filled with so much gratitude this week that I cannot concentrate on anything but sharing what my heart is honestly filled with. Releasing another piece would not feel authentic when praise is pressing to be released! If you have listened to the “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast from the beginning, you know a lot about my family. I pray the stories I share have also directed your heart to the Lord in renewed ways as I lift honor and thanksgiving to Him. God is faithful. He is sovereign. Even in the darkest of times, when it seems that good has been stolen from me, He has kept my joy intact. When the world tries to distract or sway me to go a certain way, the Lord clears my path and shows me where and how to travel. Yesterday we spent the entire day at the hospital. For a total of about 12 hours we wearily allowed our precious daughter to undergo two procedures, and sat by her side and helped her as she had to lie still for 6 hours afterwards. We had no idea how either procedure would turn out. Yet God, in His goodness, allowed our minds to focus elsewhere and rest in a wrap of peace that surpasses human understanding. The joy of the Lord is my strength. My hope and trust are fixed on Him. Psalm 28:7 says, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him." After awakening this morning, my mind replayed events from yesterday as my heart rested in remembrance of all the goodness God has graced us with this last month. I wept as I humbly lifted recognition, thanksgiving, and praise to my Heavenly Father. Life is filled with difficulties and it would be so easy to give up. Yet, those of us who know the Lord have a strength that surpasses any human understanding. It carries us through hardships with a joy and peace and wraps us in a protective shell that stands against the arrows from the wicked one or the hits this life can throw. I can say that this summer has kept my gaze fixed even more securely on Jesus. My eyes, heart, and mind have not wandered from the presence of the Lord. The peace that He has enabled me to behold as He soothed is a gift I cannot explain or begin to understand. The truth of the matter is that it is free and available to each one of us. I am not special, but the Father who watches over us is. Peace that carries us despite the outcome of our journey is a gift to treasure. As we are willing to lay down our treasures and place them in His hands He awaits, already working before us to fill any need. I know the balance between this world and the next is delicate. It is but a vapor and so close. Days like yesterday remind me of that truth anew. Live With Eternal Perspective was started out of obedience. Because the Lord has shown me His love for each of us and the power He carries through any life storm, I was compelled to begin my podcast. If you know anything about me, you know it is not just a program; it is a lifestyle born out of gratitude and surrender. Life is a daily bowing to Jesus with a mindset of thankfulness for every single moment I have, especially with loved ones. Our journey with Brooklyn has been another important piece of surrender to the grace and joys God has in store for us and I am incredibly blessed to share on the episodes just how much He loves His children and the blessings He weaves through our life. Yesterday felt like one of the longest days I've experienced. When Jaime died, or Brooklyn's first heart surgery with us, the passing and illnesses of parents, they are all up there. When we sent our precious girl off to have her liver biopsy and heart catherization, I was unsure what they would find. Everything truly rested in the hands of a sovereign and holy God. Yet, for me, there was an absence of fear and an amniotic wrap of peace surrounding me. There was a lot of information given to us yesterday, but honestly, if I could list all of it, the majority would go over the heads of most people. Heart defects are incredibly unique and in the words of the pediatric cardiologist interventionist who worked on Brooklyn for the heart catherization yesterday, "I drew this picture of her heart to show you, but I'll leave it with you because no one else will have a heart like it." Just as each precious person in this world is special, so are the hearts that beat inside us. There is so much I could say about the miracles God blessed us with through the day, even through this summer, actually. The doctor who worked on her is the same doctor Brooklyn's cardiologist we love so much worked with back in June when the CT scan was performed. He is the one who knew her anatomy and gave recommendations then. He, thank God, has the same mindset as we do. Do not touch anything that is working. He is concerned that when doctors go in to try to make things better they often make things worse, and although he sees conditions that typically need attention through certain methods, he does not think doing anything will make her quality of life better. As Brooklyn is stable, we all want to leave her that way instead of trying to increase her blood oxygenation and other things and possibly make her worse. Of course, I am boiling info down to a minimum here, but his advice was such a blessing. He sat with us for a long time after the procedure, going over her CT scans, as well as the photos and images taken during the catherization procedure yesterday. He professed to be a humble man who bows to God as his strength, knowing that he must remain humble to allow God to work through him. He even said that he does not want harm to come to any of his patients because he tries to rely on his own strength. Please try to pray for him to continue to be a man of God even more every day, as his mother passed away in June and she used to pray for him daily. We worked with another doctor for the liver biopsy. Those results should return within a few days. There is a very delicate balance with the health of the children, both short and long term, when they live with a heart like our special girl. Especially after the type of heart surgery she had in 2016. The anatomy of her heart is hard on her other organs and although she looks stable on the heart side right now, as I have shared before, the condition of her other organs is a concern to keep in prayer, as well. Sometimes the heart looks stable for the condition the patient is in, but the other organs begin to fail. She will likely end up needing not only a heart transplant, but additional organ, such as liver transplant one day. Brooklyn is very complex, and as my other heart mama friends know, it is exhausting to wrap your heart and mind around so many details, yet alone attempt to share them all. After returning home from the hospital last night, I needed time to rest in my Heavenly Father, full of thankfulness. My mind and body are still a little weary, but I have a peacefulness that covers all other emotions, thoughts, or feelings. The best words I heard yesterday are worth repeating on this podcast episode. They were spoken by our girl’s pediatric cardiology interventionist. "God has His hand on Brooklyn. He is not done with her. It is a miracle she is here." Job 14:5 says, “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.” The Bible says all of our days are numbered. If you are listening to me speak, or are reading the transcript of this episode, you are still alive. While you still have days of life, you have a purpose and you and believe that God is sending you a personal and essential invitation. What type of invitation? I’m not talking about salvation, although that is the highest invitation and gift God offers through Jesus. As I rested in the goodness of God to my family this summer, I replayed the gifts He gives each of us daily. Sometimes we neglect them or forget to think of them daily, but as we desire to live a life that seeks Jesus and focuses on a heart and mind set on eternity, I want to list the ways I viewed the gifts of God this morning. God offers us the following essentials through His invitation to humbly walk with Him. To be honest, there are many verses that I may have chosen for the following points, but the ones below are near to my heart as I bask in the goodness and faithfulness of our loving God. 1. Intimacy – Mark 12:30 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” There is no intimacy like that of knowing and trusting Jesus. No matter the time of day, the feelings pressing against our mind or heart, the emotions we feel, He is present. He cares. 2. Peace – Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Peace that passes understanding is a gift most people in this world are missing. Few carry God’s full peace, yet everyone desires it. They desire Him, whether they know it yet or not. 3. Joy – John 15:11 says, “I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” Without peace from Jesus, one cannot have joy. As we rest in Him and allow troubles and cares to be carried on His shoulders, joy follows. 4. Relationship – 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.” Relationship with God comes through Christ. As we walk and study broken relationships in this world, we do not come near the intimacy and perfection that a walk with Jesus offers. 5. Trust – Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Trusting in the Lord is not natural. We cannot see Him, we speak into darkness, trusting that He will hear and care. Yet when we allow Jesus to fill our hearts as we accept and belief with faith and trust, life changes in miraculous ways we will most likely not understand until Heaven. 6. Grace – James 4:6 says, “And He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Jesus made the ultimate humbling sacrifice. Without pride, He bowed to the harshest demand God could make and He offers us a life many take for granted. Commit to finding new ways to accept and share the grace Jesus offers and allow it to flow willingly through to others. 7. Security – Galatians 2:20 says, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Through trust, faith, belief, and grace we are offered security that nothing in this world can touch. 8. Love – John 14:21 says, “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” When we mature a walk with God through Christ, we begin to experience and offer true love. Each day offers us the opportunity to grow a love defined and perfected by Jesus. Our humanness falls short of the love and grace only He offers, yet moment by moment He calls us to return to Him and experience life with the fulness He brings if only we respond to His perfect love. 9. Promise – Mark 10:27 says, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” Hope births promise. Promise is possible through relationship with Jesus. 10. Identity – 1 John 3:1-3 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.” God’s word is clear about identity. The book of Genesis begins the Bible with a clear picture of who we are and the rest of the Bible clearly represents a love so great a life was willingly sacrificed. Through relationship with Jesus, we are made new and become a reflection of who He is and a framework of what we are becoming. Moment by moment we have the opportunity to accept a relationship that alters each bit of who we are and are becoming. Don’t look back. Respond to Jesus with each moment you have left. Allow Him to craft a new creation daily. Intentionally plan to meet with Him in ways you have forgotten or have not yet started. It is not too late to meet Him as He calls from within you. Gracious, loving Heavenly Father, how you yearn for us to respond to You. Through all of creation You have called to us, wooing your children to draw nearer to You so that You may draw nearer to us. Father, so often we worry when You stand ready to carry any burden on Your capable shoulders. We see things work for good in our lives, yet do not credit You for the miraculous ways You have gone before us, parting the sea simply with Your breath because You care about every detail we face. God, help us to call out to You daily, to live in union with You, to seek Your face in the stillness of the night, the freshness of the morning, and in the depths of our despair. We need You in ways we have not yet discovered. Whether we are in union with You, our steps moving in perfect unison or as we are carried over mountains and through valleys, we fail to rejoice at the simple fact that You enjoy providing for us and meeting needs. When we do not receive our desires or face uncertainties or rejection in life, or we feel we have been robbed of what is rightfully Yours, we sulk in anger or bitterness. Forgive us Father for forgetting You, who should be our first love, the author and perfector of our faith, the joy of our life. May we please You more tomorrow than we do this day and may our gaze set on You without moving as we face tomorrow as we trust Your word and promises to us. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this podcast. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 085 - An Essential Invitation Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #085 – An Essential Invitation Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss intentional changes that will equip each of us to concentrate on Jesus and live with heart and mind focused on eternity to seek more ways to live with eternal perspective. For the past week I have worked on and wrote most of a podcast during the cracks of time I found between running to appointments. As I waited for my daughter to have two procedures completed at the local Children’s Hospital, I quietly sat with my laptop concentrating and focusing on finishing the episode I felt would release this week. Although something is supposed to release in just over 9 hours, I do not feel releasing what I have would be the right timing. Instead, all I can concentrate on is the goodness and mercy of God as it overflows from my heart and mindset. I am filled with so much gratitude this week that I cannot concentrate on anything but sharing what my heart is honestly filled with. Releasing another piece would not feel authentic when praise is pressing to be released! If you have listened to the “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast from the beginning, you know a lot about my family. I pray the stories I share have also directed your heart to the Lord in renewed ways as I lift honor and thanksgiving to Him. God is faithful. He is sovereign. Even in the darkest of times, when it seems that good has been stolen from me, He has kept my joy intact. When the world tries to distract or sway me to go a certain way, the Lord clears my path and shows me where and how to travel. Yesterday we spent the entire day at the hospital. For a total of about 12 hours we wearily allowed our precious daughter to undergo two procedures, and sat by her side and helped her as she had to lie still for 6 hours afterwards. We had no idea how either procedure would turn out. Yet God, in His goodness, allowed our minds to focus elsewhere and rest in a wrap of peace that surpasses human understanding. The joy of the Lord is my strength. My hope and trust are fixed on Him. Psalm 28:7 says, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him." After awakening this morning, my mind replayed events from yesterday as my heart rested in remembrance of all the goodness God has graced us with this last month. I wept as I humbly lifted recognition, thanksgiving, and praise to my Heavenly Father. Life is filled with difficulties and it would be so easy to give up. Yet, those of us who know the Lord have a strength that surpasses any human understanding. It carries us through hardships with a joy and peace and wraps us in a protective shell that stands against the arrows from the wicked one or the hits this life can throw. I can say that this summer has kept my gaze fixed even more securely on Jesus. My eyes, heart, and mind have not wandered from the presence of the Lord. The peace that He has enabled me to behold as He soothed is a gift I cannot explain or begin to understand. The truth of the matter is that it is free and available to each one of us. I am not special, but the Father who watches over us is. Peace that carries us despite the outcome of our journey is a gift to treasure. As we are willing to lay down our treasures and place them in His hands He awaits, already working before us to fill any need. I know the balance between this world and the next is delicate. It is but a vapor and so close. Days like yesterday remind me of that truth anew. Live With Eternal Perspective was started out of obedience. Because the Lord has shown me His love for each of us and the power He carries through any life storm, I was compelled to begin my podcast. If you know anything about me, you know it is not just a program; it is a lifestyle born out of gratitude and surrender. Life is a daily bowing to Jesus with a mindset of thankfulness for every single moment I have, especially with loved ones. Our journey with Brooklyn has been another important piece of surrender to the grace and joys God has in store for us and I am incredibly blessed to share on the episodes just how much He loves His children and the blessings He weaves through our life. Yesterday felt like one of the longest days I've experienced. When Jaime died, or Brooklyn's first heart surgery with us, the passing and illnesses of parents, they are all up there. When we sent our precious girl off to have her liver biopsy and heart catherization, I was unsure what they would find. Everything truly rested in the hands of a sovereign and holy God. Yet, for me, there was an absence of fear and an amniotic wrap of peace surrounding me. There was a lot of information given to us yesterday, but honestly, if I could list all of it, the majority would go over the heads of most people. Heart defects are incredibly unique and in the words of the pediatric cardiologist interventionist who worked on Brooklyn for the heart catherization yesterday, "I drew this picture of her heart to show you, but I'll leave it with you because no one else will have a heart like it." Just as each precious person in this world is special, so are the hearts that beat inside us. There is so much I could say about the miracles God blessed us with through the day, even through this summer, actually. The doctor who worked on her is the same doctor Brooklyn's cardiologist we love so much worked with back in June when the CT scan was performed. He is the one who knew her anatomy and gave recommendations then. He, thank God, has the same mindset as we do. Do not touch anything that is working. He is concerned that when doctors go in to try to make things better they often make things worse, and although he sees conditions that typically need attention through certain methods, he does not think doing anything will make her quality of life better. As Brooklyn is stable, we all want to leave her that way instead of trying to increase her blood oxygenation and other things and possibly make her worse. Of course, I am boiling info down to a minimum here, but his advice was such a blessing. He sat with us for a long time after the procedure, going over her CT scans, as well as the photos and images taken during the catherization procedure yesterday. He professed to be a humble man who bows to God as his strength, knowing that he must remain humble to allow God to work through him. He even said that he does not want harm to come to any of his patients because he tries to rely on his own strength. Please try to pray for him to continue to be a man of God even more every day, as his mother passed away in June and she used to pray for him daily. We worked with another doctor for the liver biopsy. Those results should return within a few days. There is a very delicate balance with the health of the children, both short and long term, when they live with a heart like our special girl. Especially after the type of heart surgery she had in 2016. The anatomy of her heart is hard on her other organs and although she looks stable on the heart side right now, as I have shared before, the condition of her other organs is a concern to keep in prayer, as well. Sometimes the heart looks stable for the condition the patient is in, but the other organs begin to fail. She will likely end up needing not only a heart transplant, but additional organ, such as liver transplant one day. Brooklyn is very complex, and as my other heart mama friends know, it is exhausting to wrap your heart and mind around so many details, yet alone attempt to share them all. After returning home from the hospital last night, I needed time to rest in my Heavenly Father, full of thankfulness. My mind and body are still a little weary, but I have a peacefulness that covers all other emotions, thoughts, or feelings. The best words I heard yesterday are worth repeating on this podcast episode. They were spoken by our girl’s pediatric cardiology interventionist. "God has His hand on Brooklyn. He is not done with her. It is a miracle she is here." Job 14:5 says, “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.” The Bible says all of our days are numbered. If you are listening to me speak, or are reading the transcript of this episode, you are still alive. While you still have days of life, you have a purpose and you and believe that God is sending you a personal and essential invitation. What type of invitation? I’m not talking about salvation, although that is the highest invitation and gift God offers through Jesus. As I rested in the goodness of God to my family this summer, I replayed the gifts He gives each of us daily. Sometimes we neglect them or forget to think of them daily, but as we desire to live a life that seeks Jesus and focuses on a heart and mind set on eternity, I want to list the ways I viewed the gifts of God this morning. God offers us the following essentials through His invitation to humbly walk with Him. To be honest, there are many verses that I may have chosen for the following points, but the ones below are near to my heart as I bask in the goodness and faithfulness of our loving God. 1. Intimacy – Mark 12:30 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” There is no intimacy like that of knowing and trusting Jesus. No matter the time of day, the feelings pressing against our mind or heart, the emotions we feel, He is present. He cares. 2. Peace – Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Peace that passes understanding is a gift most people in this world are missing. Few carry God’s full peace, yet everyone desires it. They desire Him, whether they know it yet or not. 3. Joy – John 15:11 says, “I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” Without peace from Jesus, one cannot have joy. As we rest in Him and allow troubles and cares to be carried on His shoulders, joy follows. 4. Relationship – 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.” Relationship with God comes through Christ. As we walk and study broken relationships in this world, we do not come near the intimacy and perfection that a walk with Jesus offers. 5. Trust – Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Trusting in the Lord is not natural. We cannot see Him, we speak into darkness, trusting that He will hear and care. Yet when we allow Jesus to fill our hearts as we accept and belief with faith and trust, life changes in miraculous ways we will most likely not understand until Heaven. 6. Grace – James 4:6 says, “And He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Jesus made the ultimate humbling sacrifice. Without pride, He bowed to the harshest demand God could make and He offers us a life many take for granted. Commit to finding new ways to accept and share the grace Jesus offers and allow it to flow willingly through to others. 7. Security – Galatians 2:20 says, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Through trust, faith, belief, and grace we are offered security that nothing in this world can touch. 8. Love – John 14:21 says, “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” When we mature a walk with God through Christ, we begin to experience and offer true love. Each day offers us the opportunity to grow a love defined and perfected by Jesus. Our humanness falls short of the love and grace only He offers, yet moment by moment He calls us to return to Him and experience life with the fulness He brings if only we respond to His perfect love. 9. Promise – Mark 10:27 says, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” Hope births promise. Promise is possible through relationship with Jesus. 10. Identity – 1 John 3:1-3 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.” God’s word is clear about identity. The book of Genesis begins the Bible with a clear picture of who we are and the rest of the Bible clearly represents a love so great a life was willingly sacrificed. Through relationship with Jesus, we are made new and become a reflection of who He is and a framework of what we are becoming. Moment by moment we have the opportunity to accept a relationship that alters each bit of who we are and are becoming. Don’t look back. Respond to Jesus with each moment you have left. Allow Him to craft a new creation daily. Intentionally plan to meet with Him in ways you have forgotten or have not yet started. It is not too late to meet Him as He calls from within you. Gracious, loving Heavenly Father, how you yearn for us to respond to You. Through all of creation You have called to us, wooing your children to draw nearer to You so that You may draw nearer to us. Father, so often we worry when You stand ready to carry any burden on Your capable shoulders. We see things work for good in our lives, yet do not credit You for the miraculous ways You have gone before us, parting the sea simply with Your breath because You care about every detail we face. God, help us to call out to You daily, to live in union with You, to seek Your face in the stillness of the night, the freshness of the morning, and in the depths of our despair. We need You in ways we have not yet discovered. Whether we are in union with You, our steps moving in perfect unison or as we are carried over mountains and through valleys, we fail to rejoice at the simple fact that You enjoy providing for us and meeting needs. When we do not receive our desires or face uncertainties or rejection in life, or we feel we have been robbed of what is rightfully Yours, we sulk in anger or bitterness. Forgive us Father for forgetting You, who should be our first love, the author and perfector of our faith, the joy of our life. May we please You more tomorrow than we do this day and may our gaze set on You without moving as we face tomorrow as we trust Your word and promises to us. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this podcast. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 143 - Prayer (replay) Listen to Episode

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 133 - Stop Getting in God's Way: Let Him Parent Through You Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 133 – Stop Getting in God’s Way: Let Him Parent Through You Thank you for sharing your day with me. I pray this podcast gives you the awareness and tools you need to STOP being a GOOD mom and BECOME the GODLY mom God entrusts you to be. Then you will be the SET-APART woman PURPOSELY raising children to chase CHRIST over culture. Before we start today’s episode, I want to invite you to work with me. If you’re feeling overwhelm instead of overjoy, or you simply feel you don’t have time to do all the things you think will help your kids know Christ, send me a message at info@terrihitt.com . There is a way to alleviate frustration or fear and find freedom as a godly mom. No matter the age of your kids, from infant to adult, your relationship can improve and you can find greater connection with Jesus that will affect theirs. Send me a message today for info about how easy it is to work together and begin experiencing change for only $397. Now, let's talk about how to stop getting in God's way, so you can let Him parent through you. One of the best revelations a follower of Christ can make is jumping into and abiding in the arms of God. People often remark that they’re walking with God, or holding His hand. I want you to be intentional. Go deeper. Our Heavenly Father never belongs by our side. The Lord of All, Prince of Peace, Author and Perfecter of our Faith, and the Alpha and Omega holds out His strong and capable arms, ready for us to rest and abide within His arms. This means He isn’t behind or beside us. Instead, He is the One carrying and sustaining you through every disturbance, disruption, and delight. Where are you now? Are you abiding in the Father’s arms? Or are you choosing to trust Jesus for eternity, but not for each moment? Matthew 14:22-33 says, “Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God .” What a decision Peter made! He chose to step out of the boat and into the choppy, stormy waters to walk toward Jesus. While His eyes and mind were centered on Jesus, Peter actually walked on the water! When his focus slipped away from Christ and fell to self and surroundings, Peter experienced fear, panic, and difficulties. Jesus had not moved; He had not changed. Jesus remained centered on Peter and ready to care for him. Peter’s mind moved away from Jesus and he began to sink. Focus marks the distinction between faith and fear. Are you choosing to focus on self, the world and those around you, or on the Only One who can carry you? While it is easy to blame Peter and belittle his faith, he was willing to be the one who walked toward Jesus. Peter was willing to leave the other disciples, leave what he knew, and venture alone into the turbulent waters toward Jesus. The other men remain unchanged and unmoving inside the boat while Peter took the risk of trusting Christ. Why did the others remain in the boat? Why didn’t they walk with Peter? Why is it so difficult to place and keep our mind, heart, and focus on Christ? What do people struggle to trust God with each occasion and stage of life? There are actually multiple reasons. Let’s look at what the most common causes are and how we can turn to Scripture to battle them. 1. Trust – It can be difficult to trust or believe in what we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen .” John 20:29 says, “Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed .” 2. Worry/Anxiety – It’s easy to imagine what might happen and allow our thoughts to spiral out of control. Anxiety and stress are products of this world, not by-products of the Way. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you .” Matthew 6:31-34 says, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble .” 3. Control – We don’t want to relinquish our perceived control. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest .” Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God .” The only One who holds control is our Father. You weren’t meant to be in charge. Release the need and trust as you lay in His hands. 4. Doubt – When things don’t go the way we desire or think they should or if we begin to wonder why there is hardship and evil in the world, doubt can begin to creep in. Hebrew 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen .” Matthew 6:30 says, “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith ?” 5. Sinfulness – I also like to call this selfishness. When we don’t want to give up sin, we are choosing self over Christ. We’re also choosing self over our family. Personal sin always affects those who love us. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body .” Romans 7:22-23 says, “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members .” 6. Arrogance/Pride – Pride rears up in each of us through different ways. Whether it be entitlement, perfectionism, bragging, if we think we are superior to someone or deserve something more than another, the root of each thought ties back to arrogance or pride. James 4:6 says, “But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble .” James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you .” 7. Unworthiness – Each of us was bought with a price. The life of Jesus was exchanged so that we could begin to understand our great worth to God. Isaiah 43:18 says, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old .” Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope .” Matthew 6:26 says, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they ?” 8. Fear – When fear creeps in, it’s because we’ve taken our mind and eyes off of God and centered them on self or surroundings. Every time I have felt fear even begin to touch me I stop and focus on Jesus (and in my mind I actually picture blinders on my face that force my vision upwards on God). As I rest in His presence and pray to Him about the situation I am fearing, He takes the burden and calms any fears. It is said that God leaves the message “Do not fear” 365 times in the Bible. I'm not sure whether that is an accurate count, but I trust that the Lord gives us the command as many times as needed. He knows our thoughts can easily be distracted and move from His sovereign holiness and perfect provision and protection. Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears .” Psalm 115:11 says, “You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.” John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid .” 9. Faith – Perhaps our belief doesn’t feel real or big enough. Maybe difficult times in the past, unanswered prayers, or present hardships may cause us to feel like God has forsaken us or that He isn’t real. Each of the points we discussed can arguably return back to the thought of faith that is too little. But remember, God’s Word tells us all we need is a faith the size of a mustard seed. Plant that seed and let it grow and mature through Christ. James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing .” Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us .” We each know how easy it can be to allow self or situations to distract us and move our eyes off Christ. Being aware of this offers us the opportunity to purposely prepare to be ahead of our next season of trials. Intentionally living in ways that set us up to trust God gives us assurance that our focus will not be easily swayed this moment or tomorrow. That’s the only way to be able to mentor this behavior full of faith and trust to your children. Without you living in ways that magnify the Lord and His mighty work in your life, your testimony won’t influence generations for Jesus. How can you live in ways that set your family up to trust God for eternity and the everyday? 1. Know Jesus through a personal relationship. 2. Read and study God’s word. 3. Prayer – speak to God and listen for God. 4. Pursue close relationship with God daily. 5. Invite and allow Christ to transform your life. 6. Decide to rest and abide in His arms. Take your thoughts captive for Christ and see the difference He makes to your surrendered soul. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me .” Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places .” As you study God’s Word and think about or pray about the verses we read today, ponder the following questions: Teach these question and habits to your children to continue. 1. What does this verse promise? 2. What does this verse command? 3. Where do I need to apply this in my life? Ask God to carry your cares and deepen your faith and trust. He alone is able to reach the crevices of your body and spirit and remedy what troubles you. He alone can use your faithfulness to influence your whole family for Him. Dear Heavenly Father, Your love for us is so great! Your glory fills the earth and yet we fail to experience Your love and power as You desire. Help us to see You clearly as Your word instructs and to love us with a love that fills us in the deep and dark spaces of need we each carry. Thank you for loving us first and for making a way straight to You through Jesus. Help our faith to be full, alive, and active. Enable us to cling to You through every moment we face and trust in Your provision and protection despite what happens in the world around us. Fix our eyes and our heart on You. Help us mentor our children to do the same. In the precious name of Your Holy Son, Jesus we pray. Amen. If you have questions after this episode, please reach out to me at info@terrihitt.com . I’m happy to help you discover the ways you can ensure you trust and submit to God to lead your parenting. I also have a resource that you’ll find helpful as you navigate your daily routine as a mom. If you’re ready to become the godly mother God entrusts you to be for Him and His children, you’ll love my free “Good to Godly: A 31-Day Scripture and Prayer Guide for Moms.” Visit terrihitt.com to receive this resource. Time is short. Make yours matter for eternity. Remember - if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection with your children and Christ. Previous Next

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 092 - The Master Blueprint: Exploring the Life of Jesus and What it Means for You and Your Family Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 092 – The Master Blueprint: Exploring the Life of Jesus and What It Means for You and Your Family Thank you for sharing your day with me. I pray this podcast deepens your walk with Jesus and your children, equipping you to become a set-apart woman and mother. Jesus . Just saying the name of my Savior name brings me peace , joy , and assurance . Try it. Stop and say His name . Jesus . What feelings or emotions does speaking His name bring to you? I wish we knew more about the life of Jesus from Bible. Wouldn’t It be a beautiful blessing to know more of the day to day moments of His childhood? How about when He was going through puberty? How did He act, what did He think? How did He treat His parents, His siblings? We know Jesus was fully God and yet fully man. Surely, He wrestled with insecurities and fears, or wondered about His future? Or did He? As fixed as He was on the Father, I believe He led a glorious life that reflected how to function with godliness in this world. Although it would be wonderful to know even more details about the life of Jesus, I trust that God gave us exactly what we need to know. While I wish there were more detailed accounts of the life of Jesus, I believe we have just what we need to construct a blueprint of the life Jesus lived here on earth. The first place we should start to know more about Christ is the Bible. My favorite books to read are usually found in the New Testament. With the exception of Genesis, which is the standard for how God wants us to live, I think most people might agree that New Testament books are easier to understand and more enjoyable to read overall. That being said, compare what I just stated with foods. Isn’t it much more enticing to eat desserts instead of the main course? Or, if you’re not really into sweets, at least you may agree that fruits carry more interest than vegetables. Now let’s compare the Bible to these thoughts about foods. While the New Testament, the story of Jesus, and how our lives are changed because of Him is easier and more interesting for many to read, we still need the foundation and direction found in the Old Testament. In fact, it has been said that the Old Testament is the blueprint , while the New Testament is the building . Why? Blueprints show the inner workings of what is to be built . A blueprint explains what is being constructed . The blueprint exposes what is to come . The Old Testament is God’s blueprint to us. Think about this amazing truth I’m about to share. The Old Testament was the beautiful Scripture Jesus Himself read and used. For us, the Words in the Old Testament set a foundation and expectation for what was to come . The Old Testament also exposes problems and promises . Without these truths and prophecies , we cannot understand God’s heart or the healing that is to be offered ; we can’t begin to fathom the sovereignty and holiness of our God. As important as the entire Bible is, there are major differences between the old and new testaments. Have you ever considered this thought? The Old Testament offers the framework that the New Testament is built upon . God reveals Himself in both testaments; through prophets in the Old Testament, and through Jesus in the New. In the Old Testament, God exposes the depravity of sin and how far it is from His holiness . In the New Testament, we learn the importance of repentance and how far our loving, merciful God will go to set us free from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus revealed that the Old Testament pointed the way to Him . He stressed that He came to fulfill the law , and to set us free from it. However, now that we have the grace and mercy of God to save us through the acts of Christ in the New Testament, we must realize that it is impossible to understand faith, love, grace, or mercy without studying the framework God established for us within the Old Testament . Like a balanced meal with all food groups, we must study both old and new testaments in order to grasp the reality of who God is, what He has done for us, and what is to come . Because of Jesus, we can experience abundant life without fear of death. We can live with assurance that we will stand before Him without shame, with sins cleansed . If you’re a believer and follower of Jesus and have proclaimed Christ as your personal Savior, you can know with certainty that you will one day face Him with joy as He welcomes you into eternity . What a gift! Are you living like one redeemed by the King? In the meantime, we have the blessing of God’s Word to help us envision and understand the life of Jesus in deeper ways. Unless we intentionally use the Bible to study Him, we fail to grasp the fullness of what God offers us through Christ. Earlier I shared that Jesus came for many reasons, yet the most important one was to save us from sin and death. In our human mind, it is impossible to grasp the holiness or forgiveness of Jesus. We don’t understand the richness of His mercy, love, or grace. Many adjectives can describe our Savior, but while using them, we still fail to comprehend exactly what each description means or how it affects us. Today we’ll draw nearer to Jesus and attempt to see Him as a Holy Savior, Best Friend, Comforter, King, and so much more. Why is exploring the life of Jesus so important for you and your family? Jesus changed everything . Without Him, this world, you, and your family would have no hope. You would remain entangled in sin and death. As you absorb more of what the life of Jesus means to you, as you better understand His sacrifices and sufferings, you are more equipped to live a godly life pleasing to our Heavenly Father. Then you’re better able to mentor a godly lifestyle and mindset for your children. As we explore the life of Jesus, I think we need to highlight ten very significant details of His life. 1. Birth – Jesus was born of a virgin. Yes, followers of Christ know this fact. But how often do we think on it? What a miracle! Have you pondered the fact that if Jesus were not born of a virgin, we would not have a sinless Savior? As fully God and man, Jesus had to be born of a virgin overshadowed by God to become fully God and fully human. Also, if Jesus had not been born of a virgin, he would have been born as a descendant of Adam and God’s Word is clear that “in Adam all die.” When you look at the birth of Jesus, you also see that His life fulfilled prophecies proclaimed in the Old Testament. All Scriptures point to Christ, even when they are not specifically prophetic. The law is perfectly kept by Christ, yet all sins of humanity are poured out on Him , proving the law is not the way to righteousness and eternal life, only Christ. The miraculous birth of Jesus fulfilled prophecies and build the foundation for the purpose of His life . 2. Baptism – Jesus was about thirty years old when He was baptized by his relative, John the Baptist. This is the time His ministry began. Although Jesus was holy and righteous, He chose to be baptized to fulfill requirements we needed to see and learn. He chose to be baptized not to turn from sin, as He carried no sin, but to dedicate Himself to fully following God’s will on this earth. He chose to show us the way to live as a follower of God. Now we are able to be baptized into Him as we submit to Christ as Savior. In return, He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. At the time of Jesus’ baptism, we also learn that Jesus’ act of obedience confirmed His identity as Messiah in three key ways. After Jesus was baptized, we see from Scripture that the Spirit of God descended on Jesus like a dove from heaven. This simple act was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 11:2 that the Messiah would have the Spirit of God resting on Him. Also, the voice of God from heaven said after the baptism, "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased ," which confirmed Jesus' identity as the Son of God . We also have the testimony of John the Baptist, who had been proclaiming that the Messiah was greater than Him. When Jesus came to be baptized, John immediately recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God and the Son of God. The baptism of Jesus showed all three persons of the Trinity at the same time: the Son being baptized, the Holy Spirit descending, and the Father speaking from heaven . The act of baptism confirmed Christ's deity as Jesus perfectly submitted to the will of His Father . 3. Miracles – There are around 37 recorded miracles of Jesus in the Bible. Of course, we know that there were many more unrecorded . In fact, John 20:30-31 says, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name .” Likewise, John 21:25 says, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written . 4. Teachings – Jesus left the world with many teachings, but two of the most popular that readily come to mind are the Sermon on the Mount and the parables He used. How I wish I had to wisdom to teach with parables the way He did. Jesus caused others to think and assess their life, desires, and motives. He loved each person where they were, but called them to change. He doesn’t want any of us to stay immersed in sin. In fact, He calls us to go and leave our life of sin. 5. Sufferings – In fulfillment of Isaiah 53 and other prophecies, Jesus suffered persecution, was arrested, beaten, and nailed to a cross to die. Jewish leaders evilly handed Him over to a death sentence approved by the Roman leader Pilate. 6. Death – We often hear that Jesus paid the ultimate price. He suffered, was pierced for our transgressions. He cried out as He was crucified and slowly died a painful death. Yet do we really absorb these facts? I think the truth is so far from what we can humanly comprehend. It’s too ugly and barbaric for our minds to really go there. But our heart needs to. Jesus died for you. He died for your husband, your children, those you love, and those you don’t. Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. 7. Burial – After His death, Jesus was embalmed with around seventy-five pounds of spices, and laid alone to rest in a tomb for three days. The miracle was about to happen ! 8. Resurrection – After three days, Jesus conquered death as He rose from the tomb. New Testament records show that many people witnessed His empty tomb. They relayed the miracle that Jesus was seen alive . 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 says, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time .” 9. Ascension – After forty days Jesus ascended, leaving with a promise that He would return again (as spoken in Matthew 28, Luke 24, and Acts 1). Praise the Lord for His promise to us ! 10. Predicted Return – Several New Testament teachings write of the promised return of Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is one example that speaks to this certainty. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words .” Jesus gave hope to encourage followers to live for Him, share testimonies and faith, and so they would look forward to the certainty of eternity with Him . What a miraculous gift that we can come to Christ through His abundant grace and love. Because God sent His son, our Savior to earth to be born from a virgin, live as fully God and fully man, and to be humbly raised by a human mother and adoptive father, everyone can relate to Christ. He came for all and all can know Him. Jesus also clearly relayed to us how to live fully for God. His teachings were direct and truthful. He spent His life abiding in and pursuing the Father. As a child, Jesus craved and considered deep understanding, insight, and wisdom from God’s holy Word. He maintained prayerful communication with the Father. Through His teachings, Jesus showed us how to do the same. Jesus was able to converse and consult with temple teachers, even as a preteen. Through this act of dedication and desire for more, He modeled His miraculous ability to absorb and comprehend complex theological questions, answers, and truths. His insight and understanding were clear, concise, and correct. Jesus’ teachings serve as a foundation for our life and relationship with God . Not only do we have access to how Jesus lived through the Word, but we also learn His focus, priorities, and teachings. We can see that He demonstrated the power of God, as well as the heart and hope of our Heavenly Father. Jesus understood that His life purpose was to fulfill Scripture, mentor to us how to live and reach God, and how to deepen faith and relationship with God and others. He also taught how to please our Heavenly Father. Jesus’ life showed us we do not have to fear death . He secured and showed us the way to eternal life, and He asked us to help others do the same. Jesus was a living example of hope, love, mercy, forgiveness, joy, and compassion. He lived on this earth with us as a man, but died in His rightful place as a King who taught us how to find the true treasure in life. When we submit to Him, we find the key to unlock to secrets of our heart and live a fulfilling, godly life that lasts into eternity. Can you see how exploring the life of Jesus means joy , peace , and life for you and your loved ones? Christ came so that we might live abundant lives in humble obedience to the Father. He came so that we could live with assurance and grace . What does that mean for you and your family? What will you do to follow the blueprint of Jesus’s life and make relationship with Him more meaningful for your children and family? Dear gracious and merciful Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us Your Son. We have limited words to express what Your gift means because our human minds cannot fully grasp the depth of Your love. We humbly thank you for giving us eternal life through Jesus. Please guide and guard us as we journey through life. Give us a strong yearning for You and Your ways. Equip us to grow nearer to You moment by moment and show our children how to do the same. Lord, as we ponder the life of Jesus help us to become stronger in our determination to live for you and to live a godly, pleasing life . We ask this in the precious and holy name of Jesus. Amen. Raising children is challenging. No one has all the answers because each child is unique as are parenting styles and family dynamics. By connecting with and knowing your children as you maintain purposed growth in Christ, you will be better prepared for any situation you face. That’s why you hear me share about the Set-Apart Collective in this podcast. Godly parenting is rooted in relationship with Christ and the mindset a mother carries. If you don’t want peers and culture to be the main influence over your child, if you desire to parent to “prepare” your child for eternity with Christ, not repair your relationship with them, I have two suggestions. First, consider the Set-Apart Collective. I guarantee this program will deepen your walk with Christ if you let it. You’ll learn a Christ-centered Motherhood Mindset Model™, and create a Purposed Parenting Plan™. You will be a purposed mother with an intentional mind and heart set on Jesus and your family. Let me know if you’d like more information on this 8-week program where my heart, mind, and prayers support your walk with Christ and godly parenting growth. Second, like most moms, you may have questions or doubts about the way you’re parenting. I invite you to visit terrihitt.com/coaching and click on the link for a call. This is a private one-on-one complimentary session so that I can get my heart and experience on your needs. We’ll pray together and see what God-led strategy will ensure you stop being a good mother and become a godly parent. This is my gift to you and I have a very limited number of spots. Claim yours today and see the difference purposed parenting for Christ makes in your home as you prepare your children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ. It’s true that the parenting days are long, but the years are short. Make both matter for eternity. If you appreciated this episode, would you please rate and review the podcast on Apple or Spotify? It only takes a few minutes and makes a big difference in whether people are able to find the podcast. Also, you and I know that the best reviews are by word of mouth, so please choose a friend to recommend the show to. Imagine the changes we will see in the way mothers parent for Christ if they learn to be intentional, too. Remember, if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will likely sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection. Previous Next

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #105 – God is Present in the Darkness Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Psalm 112:4 says, “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.” One evening last week I dropped my middle daughter off at an event and told my youngest we would do something special together while we were waiting for her sister. We were quite a distance from home, so we didn’t know the area at all, but I was confident we could find something to do together. After leaving Marissa, I plugged in the name of a local place to get food or drink, but the navigation system said the nearest location was 200 miles away. Knowing that my system, or “Navi,” as we like to call it, is often simply wrong, I typed in another destination I thought would bring up results. After receiving info, I selected an option and drove off, knowing Brooklyn and I would share some fun over the next 90 minutes. After driving away, I followed exactly where “Navi” guided me to go, and ended up with uncertainty surrounding us on an unfamiliar, one-lane gravel road. Light barely shined from my headlights as they attempted to pierce the blackness. Although it wasn’t all one-lane, almost all of it was in total darkness, except for the “too-bright” lights of occasional other cars headed in the opposite direction. Driving in the country on unlit gravel roads and highways are not my idea of fun or relaxation. Wanting to be calm in front of my daughter, so that she did not worry, I shifted my priority to remaining in prayer along the journey. Deep in thoughtful conversation and petition, I kept hearing myself ask God to keep us safe, show us the way to civilization, keep us from hitting any deer, and keep any deer from hitting our car. Prayer and connection with the Lord was all that separated me from fear. Instead of building anxiety, my level of peace began rising with each word spoken to my Father. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” After about 15 minutes of concentrated connection through prayer, especially concerning deer, I passed a large buck just standing on the side of the road. Only about six feet separated us. As our car passed by him, the creature watched us, yet his body remained in place. I knew with certainty that God had stilled him until our car moved by. At that moment, I felt the peaceful, intimate voice of God whispering to my spirit, “I see you. I hear you. I am always with you.” Romans 8:26 says, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” I believe the Holy Spirit impressed the importance of praying about deer specifically. During the drive I felt a quiet urgency to pray for protection. Because it was constant and steady without being alarming, I chose to heed the call and obey through prayer. Seeing the deer standing by the side of the road, I felt the animal was a symbol of the protection God supplied because I obeyed and cried out to Him. Although He didn’t need to prove Himself, God allowed me a special glimpse of the personal care He intimately chose for us that night. Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He is merciful and His provisions are perfect for our needs. God is gracious to us in our times of need, distress, or confusion. He is the Light in the Darkness, our Beacon of Hope. Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” How often God provides for us. Daily, He goes before, around, and behind us, without our knowledge. He is constantly at work. The Lord knows each second of our day, what every need is and will be, and how He will provide. God understands where we are weak, where we need to be weakened, and when we will humbly submit to His providential care. Lamentations 3:25 says, “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” As unease began to seep into my consciousness that night, I remember thinking that fear never comes from God. My prayers immediately began, forming a wall of spiritual protection between the devil’s schemes and God’s promise as spoken in Jeremiah 1:8, which says, “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.” It is so easy for our eyes to slip from the Lord. Don’t allow it to happen. We must live with purpose, each moment, with invisible blinders on, guarding our vision, just as trainers do with horses, for example. With blinders on, our gaze is directed up, singled to, and fixed on the Lord, who is able to calm us, protect us, and comfort us. With our attention on Him, it is diverted from a world of chaos and confusion. Nothing in this world or within our spirit is able to comfort or calm. Left alone, our weak fleshly body and mind will spiral to fear, doubt, anxiety, depression, worry, or a host of other emotions. Yet, with God, we have hope. We have release. We have relief. With God, we have promise. Even if we do not feel him, He is present. Micah 7:7 says, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” In order to remember and draw from His strength, we must be and stay connected. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” Purpose to spend time with the Father this week. Remain connected. Sit with Him in prayer and reflection. Read His word. Let Jesus know He is a priority. Ask Him to enable you to live the life He has purposed for you. Watch for the quiet ways He is at work in your life. It does not matter how busy our lives are. Excuses are easy to find. Peace, hope, joy, and love, as well as any other fruit of the Spirit, will not abide within us unless He does and we allow His mighty work within us and our life. Make an appointment with Jesus each day. Before you realize it, you will walk with Him intimately each moment. Prayers will easily slip from your mind, heart, and lips without realizing the thoughts or words because your spirit is intertwined with His. Time with Jesus is a gift, an honor we cannot forget to embrace each day. Look for new ways to spend moments with Him today, soak in His word, apply it in your life, and allow the Lord to expose to you new ways to live with eternal perspective. Dear Heavenly Father, our good and gracious Lord, thank you for Your help and comfort us to us. We have seen Your goodness. We watch for and hope in you. We trust that Your ears are open to our cries, calls, and pleas for help. Enable us to live in ways that show our devotion to You. Grow our walk with You so that we never leave Your presence. Grow our walk so that others will seek Your presence because of the way they see You in our lives. You are good. Help us to see You in each day and sing Your praises to those around us. May they see You in our words, actions, reactions, and in any circumstance we find ourselves in. Show us the ways You desire us to live with an eternal perspective beyond this world and help us to shine them to others through the way we embrace living with You. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening. If you find value in what you hear, I invite you to help others find the podcast. Please share Live With Eternal Perspective episodes with friends and family so that they can begin to listen each week. I’m very excited to share that my second podcast, “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” will release February 3. I hope you will listen and share with friends or family who would like to choose Christ over culture and parent (or be a grandparent) who connects with eternal purpose. You can find more details on my website at terrihitt.com. Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will direct them away from Christ. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 105 God is Present in the Darkness Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #105 – God is Present in the Darkness Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Psalm 112:4 says, “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.” One evening last week I dropped my middle daughter off at an event and told my youngest we would do something special together while we were waiting for her sister. We were quite a distance from home, so we didn’t know the area at all, but I was confident we could find something to do together. After leaving Marissa, I plugged in the name of a local place to get food or drink, but the navigation system said the nearest location was 200 miles away. Knowing that my system, or “Navi,” as we like to call it, is often simply wrong, I typed in another destination I thought would bring up results. After receiving info, I selected an option and drove off, knowing Brooklyn and I would share some fun over the next 90 minutes. After driving away, I followed exactly where “Navi” guided me to go, and ended up with uncertainty surrounding us on an unfamiliar, one-lane gravel road. Light barely shined from my headlights as they attempted to pierce the blackness. Although it wasn’t all one-lane, almost all of it was in total darkness, except for the “too-bright” lights of occasional other cars headed in the opposite direction. Driving in the country on unlit gravel roads and highways are not my idea of fun or relaxation. Wanting to be calm in front of my daughter, so that she did not worry, I shifted my priority to remaining in prayer along the journey. Deep in thoughtful conversation and petition, I kept hearing myself ask God to keep us safe, show us the way to civilization, keep us from hitting any deer, and keep any deer from hitting our car. Prayer and connection with the Lord was all that separated me from fear. Instead of building anxiety, my level of peace began rising with each word spoken to my Father. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” After about 15 minutes of concentrated connection through prayer, especially concerning deer, I passed a large buck just standing on the side of the road. Only about six feet separated us. As our car passed by him, the creature watched us, yet his body remained in place. I knew with certainty that God had stilled him until our car moved by. At that moment, I felt the peaceful, intimate voice of God whispering to my spirit, “I see you. I hear you. I am always with you.” Romans 8:26 says, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” I believe the Holy Spirit impressed the importance of praying about deer specifically. During the drive I felt a quiet urgency to pray for protection. Because it was constant and steady without being alarming, I chose to heed the call and obey through prayer. Seeing the deer standing by the side of the road, I felt the animal was a symbol of the protection God supplied because I obeyed and cried out to Him. Although He didn’t need to prove Himself, God allowed me a special glimpse of the personal care He intimately chose for us that night. Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He is merciful and His provisions are perfect for our needs. God is gracious to us in our times of need, distress, or confusion. He is the Light in the Darkness, our Beacon of Hope. Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” How often God provides for us. Daily, He goes before, around, and behind us, without our knowledge. He is constantly at work. The Lord knows each second of our day, what every need is and will be, and how He will provide. God understands where we are weak, where we need to be weakened, and when we will humbly submit to His providential care. Lamentations 3:25 says, “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” As unease began to seep into my consciousness that night, I remember thinking that fear never comes from God. My prayers immediately began, forming a wall of spiritual protection between the devil’s schemes and God’s promise as spoken in Jeremiah 1:8, which says, “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.” It is so easy for our eyes to slip from the Lord. Don’t allow it to happen. We must live with purpose, each moment, with invisible blinders on, guarding our vision, just as trainers do with horses, for example. With blinders on, our gaze is directed up, singled to, and fixed on the Lord, who is able to calm us, protect us, and comfort us. With our attention on Him, it is diverted from a world of chaos and confusion. Nothing in this world or within our spirit is able to comfort or calm. Left alone, our weak fleshly body and mind will spiral to fear, doubt, anxiety, depression, worry, or a host of other emotions. Yet, with God, we have hope. We have release. We have relief. With God, we have promise. Even if we do not feel him, He is present. Micah 7:7 says, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” In order to remember and draw from His strength, we must be and stay connected. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” Purpose to spend time with the Father this week. Remain connected. Sit with Him in prayer and reflection. Read His word. Let Jesus know He is a priority. Ask Him to enable you to live the life He has purposed for you. Watch for the quiet ways He is at work in your life. It does not matter how busy our lives are. Excuses are easy to find. Peace, hope, joy, and love, as well as any other fruit of the Spirit, will not abide within us unless He does and we allow His mighty work within us and our life. Make an appointment with Jesus each day. Before you realize it, you will walk with Him intimately each moment. Prayers will easily slip from your mind, heart, and lips without realizing the thoughts or words because your spirit is intertwined with His. Time with Jesus is a gift, an honor we cannot forget to embrace each day. Look for new ways to spend moments with Him today, soak in His word, apply it in your life, and allow the Lord to expose to you new ways to live with eternal perspective. Dear Heavenly Father, our good and gracious Lord, thank you for Your help and comfort us to us. We have seen Your goodness. We watch for and hope in you. We trust that Your ears are open to our cries, calls, and pleas for help. Enable us to live in ways that show our devotion to You. Grow our walk with You so that we never leave Your presence. Grow our walk so that others will seek Your presence because of the way they see You in our lives. You are good. Help us to see You in each day and sing Your praises to those around us. May they see You in our words, actions, reactions, and in any circumstance we find ourselves in. Show us the ways You desire us to live with an eternal perspective beyond this world and help us to shine them to others through the way we embrace living with You. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening. If you find value in what you hear, I invite you to help others find the podcast. Please share Live With Eternal Perspective episodes with friends and family so that they can begin to listen each week. I’m very excited to share that my second podcast, “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” will release February 3. I hope you will listen and share with friends or family who would like to choose Christ over culture and parent (or be a grandparent) who connects with eternal purpose. You can find more details on my website at terrihitt.com. Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will direct them away from Christ. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

< Back Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode 028 - Don't Grow Weary Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode #028 – Don’t Grow Weary Are you yearning for greater connection with your child? Would you like to parent beyond the moment with eternal perspective? Let’s grow together now with practical tips, scripture, and stories geared to draw your heart to Jesus and guide your child into His arms. Recently on social media, I’ve seen several friends who admitted that 2022 was not a great year for them. Are you also in a hard season? Maybe it’s a time of trouble for you personally. Or your child may be experiencing hardships. Your spouse or other loved ones may be going through illnesses or suffering. My heart is with you for where you find yourself this very moment. Whether you are living in a season of riches and prosperity through Christ or in a time of total dependence in Him, I understand. Each person has been in both places and will be again. But I want to remind you of the truth. Mothers, God sees the Holy work you do for Him. He sees the moments you feel you can’t go another day. He knows when you pour your heart into your child and don’t see the results you hope for. He understands your pain, frustration, helplessness, and confusion. He’s with you on the mountain and He’s ready to carry you through the valleys. Despite how you may feel, you are not alone. Romans 2:11 says, “For God shows no partiality .” You probably already know that our Heavenly Father is not a respecter of persons , but He is certainly a respecter of hearts . He loves us each the same, but He knows our hearts are varied. He sees inside to the core of everyone and knows what lies within us. God sees you intentionally mature your walk with Him; He watches you seek to show His heart, truths, and commands to your children. It is human to get weary, to be discouraged, or to feel alone. But remember, when those feelings hit, they are fueled by emotions . Emotions can be controlled through reliance on Him . Our emotions and feelings are simply how we feel . They are not indicators of truth unless they match the Word of God. Although God allows us individual feelings and emotions, we must recognize that they are not necessarily His truth. We must intentionally use them to steer us in the way we should pivot to draw nearer to Him. Obviously, sometimes we are weary because we are simply bone-tired from not getting enough rest. If your weariness comes from a place of feeling weary of life or you feel like you’re always under pressure, always behind where you should be, always less than, or always alone, do not give up. Look Up ! Physical weariness can be detrimental to your mind and body. Physical weariness can actually cause you to be easily misled or deceived. As I said, spiritual weariness is destructive to your mind and body, but especially to your soul . Spiritual weariness affects your eternity , as well as the eternal future of those around you, especially the little eyes who watch every move you make. I believe there are important questions to consider when you first begin to feel spiritually drained: 1. Are you seeking the world more than the Creator? 2. Do you believe feelings over God’s truth? 3. Are you lifting your emotions, feelings, and troubles to God or attempting to carry them alone? Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up .” Does your weariness cause: Anger? Depression? Loneliness? Hopelessness? If what we feel conflicts with what God’s truths expose, we must remember that He does not change . God does not move away from us. Use these times to adjust your alignment with Him and move in the direction He desires – toward Him. Here is a list of 13 actions to take when you realize you are growing weary spiritually or when the burdens of life seem to be crushing you down. Remember, you can listen now and look at the list or print it later from terrihitt.com. 1. Make time to read God’s Word . Even ten minutes spent studying the Bible instead of scrolling on the phone does wonders. The more time you spend with Him, the more you crave the Father and your personal time together. You find it easier to make time to be with Him. Isaiah 58:11 says, “And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail .” 2. Make sure to get enough rest . Physical exhaustion makes every part of our mind and body weak. Look for ways to ensure you get better quality sleep or simply more of it. 3. Remember life is full of seasons . Nothing lasts forever. As hard as it gets to remember that truth when you are in the midst of turmoil, let yourself remember that your current season will pass. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me .” 4. Change your mindset . When the demands of your children seem overwhelming, remember that caring for them is service to the Lord. Ask for help. Find a trusted Christian friend who will at the very least pray with and for you to strengthen you in this time. Look for help in the areas you need. Allow help to step in where needed. Don’t allow anything to pull you away from growing in Christ . 1 Peter 5:6-8 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour .” 5. Study the demands in your life and learn to say, “no” when needed . Even to good things. If something is draining in this season, it is not worth doing. Your walk with Christ and your home life are the most important issues to handle. Psalm 119:28 says, “My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! ” 6. Assess what you can get rid of in your life . If something is no longer serving your growth in the Lord or is hindering your ability to have a mindset like Christ, it might be time to shelf the opportunity, at least for a season. Maybe you are in a season of family. Hebrews 6:10 says, “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do .” 7. Consider what may need to be added to your life . Perhaps you need lunch or coffee with a Christian friend, time alone with your spouse, a walk outdoors, a hot bath, a hobby, or a book. You may even enjoy letting things go and having old-fashioned play time with your children. Making a date to connect with them in this way daily does wonders for your relationship and the attitude of your children. Find their “love language” and place connecting with your children above a spotless home or gourmet dinner. One of the biggest blessings I have was making sure I included Bible study with my children daily. Psalm 119:28 says, “My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! ” 8. Talk to your spouse and let him know how to help you . Discuss, pray together, study God’s Word together, and find things to enjoy together. 9. Set your mind on things above . Claim and pray Colossians 3:2 , which says, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ” Look for ways to live this verse. 10. Claim the hope and strength of Christ . Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me .” Ponder how much you believe this verse. Find ways to move closer to God through the hardships and trials that will enable you to allow God to carry you through anything you face. 11. Praise God, despite circumstances and continue to share the goodness of God . Even when times are tough, look back on what God has done and given in the past. Remember and focus on His truths in His Word and share. Praising despite difficulties lifts your spirits and those around you as they see the power of Christ at work in you. Matthew 11:28-29 says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls .” 12. Talk to trusted believers . If you need support, you don’t need to air all your dirty laundry, but if you have friends, family, or a pastor who will listen to what you are enduring and give sound Biblical advice, consider sharing with them. Trusted believers are a gift from Him. 13. Pray the Word and commit to trusting and resting in God’s truths . Isaiah 40:29-31 says, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Stopping to critically assess your life and walk with Christ and the way it affects your children and spouse is critical . Out of any of the new year resolutions or habits a person might want to add, I believe viewing your present situation or circumstances through eyes set for eternity is the best way to spend your time . Psalm 63:1-4 says, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding Your power and glory. Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands .” Despite what this world preaches and pushes, we need Him. Our children need Him. Become more and more Christlike daily as you pursue Jesus for yourself, your children, and your family. 3 John 1: 4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Rethink this verse with your name and the names of your family members. Pray it daily and watch the hand of God change you, your desires, and your circumstances. Dear Heavenly Father, You reign in Heaven, yet also live within those of us who follow You. How great is Your love for us and Your sacrifice to be with us. Thank you for allowing us to know and fellowship with You. Thank you for sending your children to live and be trained by us! How hard it must be to see us flounder without Your perfect will and purpose. Help us to seek and follow You more earnestly with great intention to know and show You to our children. Help us deepen our personal walk with you this very moment. Be near to us and draw nearer as we turn our heart toward you. Help our children to find You irresistible because You reside within us and are shown so clearly through us. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” podcast. This and my “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast may be found at terrihitt.com, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and they are part of the Spark Media Network. Both podcasts may also now be found on the Edifi app, where you can hear thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment. Have you rated or reviewed my podcasts on Apple Podcasts yet? Did you know that when you review my podcasts on Apple, it helps to elevate the standing of the podcasts online so that more people are allowed to find and hear them. Will you please take a moment to follow the shows and think of someone you can share the podcasts with and encourage them to follow and share, as well? Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will sway them away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Parent and Connect With Eternal Perspective. Previous Next

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 109 - How Your Productivity is Holding You Back Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 109 – How Your Productivity is Holding You Back Thank you for sharing your day with me. I pray this podcast offers you the biblical tools to STOP being a GOOD mom and BECOME the GODLY mom God entrusts you to be. Then you will be the SET-APART woman PURPOSELY raising children to chase CHRIST over culture. Just a quick reminder as we start, if you enjoy Purposed Parent Connected Child podcast episodes, would you please share this episode or others with a friend or family member? When you graciously take a moment to do that, and leave a rating or review at Apple Podcast, you are ensuring that others will find the podcast. When you do, you’re helping affect generations for Jesus. Now on to this episode about how your productivity is holding you back.. My middle daughter and I had a lovely, blessed trip to Florida in mid-September 2024. We went to a Christian business conference together and it could not have been a better trip. We were so grateful for the time together, the things we learned, and seeing friends we only knew online in person. Plus, we had the bonus of meeting new friends. It was such a perfect trip full of unexpected blessings. Except, about a week after I returned home I got very sick. I don’t think it was from the trip itself, although I know my resistance was very low. Truth be told, I only received about 2 hours of sleep per night and wasn’t able to eat as much as normal due to food allergies and intolerances. Of course, we also had two plane flights…and you know they say it’s a germ fest on a plane and in the airport. Also, the Monday after I returned, I had a well woman visit at the doctor’s office. I’m guessing that in my lowered resistance state I probably picked up a bug there. Regardless, when I say I was sick, I mean I was knocked off my feet and made to rest. It turned out that I had pneumonia. During this time, I also found out that I have mild heart disease. In fact, it was at a scheduled CT cardiac scan that they discovered both. Let me just admit that I don’t like to rest. I love to sleep, but whenever I wake up often through the night, I always seek the clock to see if it is late enough to get up for the day. It just feels like resting is such a waste of time. With more awake hours, I could get to see and enjoy my family and do the work God has inspired and purposed me to allow Him to complete through me. I love being awake! However, when I was sick with pneumonia, I felt like I was suddenly lazy and unproductive. It was ultra challenging to come home from such a dynamic business conference with so much new knowledge and inspiration, and ideas I wanted to implement, but then be forced to stop and rest. Because I didn’t want to be isolated from my girls during the day, I would usually take several naps a day on a large chaise in our great room off the kitchen. Our kitchen is a central hub that’s occupied most of the day by someone. By staying in the great room, I could be near them if I was needed, which took away some of the guilt I felt for being unable to do my usual chores and tasks. I could hear everyone visiting and feel like I wasn’t missing anything. Resting there also allowed me to see the world and not feel as isolated. The chaise sits beside a row of floor to ceiling windows where I could easily observe the weather, nature, and the neighbors. I was sick with that crazy pneumonia for nine weeks total! Of course, after about a month I was very slowly getting better every day, but it was extremely slow. I feel like I missed two months of my life. During most of that time I was too weak to take my usual daily walks with my middle daughter. The beautiful fall weather turned from the comfortable temps with beautiful leaves to chillier conditions with falling leaves and acorns crunching under my feet on the sidewalk by the time I was able to participate in one of my favorite activities again. Because life was literally passing me by daily, I knew I needed to humbly acknowledge that there must be a reason I was made to rest. Since I’m not a nervous or anxious person, I didn’t believe He was teaching me to relax, but there had to be many lessons God wanted me to learn. I decided to stop wishing I could get more work done and look for the opportunities He gave me while I was down. I also began appreciating my usual physical activity levels. Despite being an older mom, I usually get through the days with enough energy to keep up with my active girls. For some reason, God was calling me to focus not on them, but on myself. As I prayed for God to keep my attitude pleasant and my mind fixed on Him, I saw little ways He was blessing me daily. I was able to focus on things I didn’t normally have time to do with my business, and God provided people to help in ways that were nothing short of miraculous. His personal provisions proved that He was in charge and still wanted me to pursue the calling He gave me. His methods were perfect encouragement when I felt useless. He also showed me how He had already been caring for and protecting me when I received news from the doctor’s office about my heart health. Considering all that was happening made me understand that I didn’t usually take time to rest. My lack of focus on rest made me realize that there were things God commanded in the Bible that I was simply ignoring. All in all, I am a very balanced person. I plan my days so that I don’t work in ways that take away from my family, I make sure to read the Bible daily, study the Bible, and also enjoy a daily Bible study and prayer time with my family. Yet I had never studied rest and what God desired in that area. As you plan your new year, I want to share the ways God spoke to me and help you to make time to rest deeper in God for yourself. Society always shows us ways to do more, not less. Social media can make us believe we’re less than. Sometimes (like me) we’re our own worst critic because we feel lazy or unproductive if we take time to rest. But we must remember, even God rested. You have permission and a commandment from your Heavenly Father to do what He did on the seventh day. Rest. Let’s look at the perfect model and see how we can mold our lives more closely to His. The first thing I think of is how God Himself modeled rest. On the seventh day of creation He rested. Do you think God needed to rest? Definitely not. The Maker of Heaven and Earth modeled how He wants us to live. Genesis 2:2-3 says, “By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done .” Knowing that God prioritized and mentored the act of rest for us, I think it’s important that we ensure we know the full meaning of the word. The dictionary definition of “rest” is: “refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor, relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs, or a period or interval of inactivity, repose, solitude, or tranquility .” One final statement on the meaning of the word “rest” carries special importance. It means “mental or spiritual calm.” If you look at the life of Jesus, you see that He also modeled rest. Mark 6:30-32 says, “The apostles returned to Jesus and told Him all that they had done and taught. And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves .” If we consider rest the way we see the Great I Am or Jesus do, we realize that rest is a physical and spiritual renewal for our mind, body, and soul. When we rest, we are able to reflect , renew , and rejuvenate . In our society, busy is a sort of status symbol. We wear the label “busy” with pride. On the flip side, rest is often thought of as laziness or incompetence. Then, the way we view rest is complicated by the weariness that comes from not resting. Think about how difficult it is to make good choices when you’re tired. For me, it’s most challenging to think wisely when I’m tired or hungry. Our health can easily decline when we don’t get enough rest. Our minds don’t work as well when we’re sluggish or worn out. I’ve found that I also eat more when I don’t get enough rest. I haven’t researched to see if I’m accurate, but I know my body. When I don’t get enough sleep, I crave more food like my body is trying to fuel up to stay awake. Another truth about tired is that when we don’t get enough rest we tend to get less done. Why? We simply can’t operate with optimal energy or enthusiasm when we haven’t gotten the rest we were fashioned and mentored to need. It’s really another reminder of the Bible verse in Galatians 6:7, which says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” When we choose to get little rest, we reap little. I find it interesting that the word “rest” is mentioned 548 times. Why would God model rest, command rest, and have the Bible speak of rest if it wasn’t important? Another beautiful truth to remember is that Jesus didn’t seek solace simply to be alone. Christ sought solace in the presence of God alone. Jesus mentored the way to rest. He mentored the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He showed us that rest means more than sleep . Rest is more than mending physically, mentally, or emotionally. Rest brings us spiritual healing from the Great Physician . Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light .” Because we live post Jesus, we now have the teachings of the New Testament and the Old. Of course, there are things in the Old Testament that modern day believers no longer have to follow. We are freed from rituals and practices though life in Christ. We don’t have to make burnt offerings because Jesus became the offering for God. But there is also much wisdom found in the pages and words of the Old Testament. We aren’t bound by the laws of the Israelites , but we also find blessed significance in the laws we have learned. Just as we don’t throw out the commandments God made to not steal or kill, we can step into the promise of rest on the Sabbath, as well as incorporating patterns of rest through our week. Here are twelve steps to help you focus on what matters for eternity and gain the rest that honors and pleases your Heavenly Father. 1. Pray for God to show you where you need to step into the promise of rest with Him. 2. Humbly submit to Christ as Savior and release burdens to God. 3. Prioritize the Bible. Read or listen daily. 4. Stay connected to God through prayer. 5. Work to keep regular sleeping habits. 6. Don’t eat heavily right before bed and get enough healthy foods and drinks. 7. Don’t sleep with your phone on and in your room. 8. Get out in nature regularly (if not daily). 9. Use gifts and talents God gave you. That’s makes “work” a blessing. 10. Use discernment and prayer before scheduling or committing to activities and learn how to say “no” without guilt and with guidance from God. 11. Practice Sabbath rest. Find a day or portion of the day to rest, or commit to resting after church on Sundays. It doesn’t mean you have to eat bon bons all day and do nothing, but you can. I found that doing activities or hobbies I don’t usually make time for are very enjoyable on a Sunday afternoon. 12. Enjoy time with God and family as you pray, play, and rest. As you pray over this list, God will expose areas He wants you to focus on. None of us will find perfect rest, especially if we’re not prioritizing the practice. But God is good. He desires that we seek and follow rest as He modeled and He will bless the efforts you give for Him. It’s such a blessing to look at the life of Jesus and find better ways to follow Him. He truly is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We’re so blessed to have a mentor to follow to become more Christlike every day. As this new year begins, enjoy the fruits of rest physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Your productivity won’t hold you back as you try to spin your wheels through fatigue or burnout. Instead, you’ll learn to rest in Him and enjoy fellowship and peace by slowing down. By the end of the year you will be much better rested and restored in the Lord with a renewed soul that rests in Him and makes you even more productive. Dear Heavenly Father, You are the Great I Am. We are so thankful that You sent Jesus to show us the way to You and create a path to Your arms. Thank you for Your sacrifice that we may live and have abundant lives. Please equip us to rest in the ways You desire. May we slow down to live more fully aware of the ways You provide and protect. May we slow down to have our souls restored. May we slow down to please You and humbly submit to Your ways. Thank you for showing us the way to a joyful and restful life. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Raising children is challenging. No one has all the answers because each child is unique as are parenting styles and family dynamics. By connecting with and knowing your children as you maintain purposed growth in Christ, you will be better prepared for any situation you face. That’s why you hear me share about the Set-Apart Collective in this podcast. I work with professionals who care about making Jesus known to their children. Are you a high-achieving woman who loves Jesus, but is so busy with the rush of work and daily life that you feel like you’re being drained like the water in your bathtub? Do you yearn to get closer to Jesus and show Him to your kids so you will create a love that will last into eternity? The desire is there, but your days spiral out of control before you even think about opening your Bible. Do you ever stop to think that you are the first Jesus your child will see? Let me remind you there is hope. There is a way you can be equipped to raise kids who chase Christ over culture. If you want a connected relationship with Christ and your children that leads them to your side and His feet, instead of them seeking validation from peers, I have an 8-step program to move you from frustrated to fulfilled. I will show you how to reflect Jesus in a way that attracts your family to a connected relationship that lasts into eternity. Remember, godly parenting is rooted in relationship with Christ and the mindset you carry. If you don’t want peers and culture to be the main influence over your child, if you desire to parent to “prepare” your child for eternity with Christ, not repair your relationship with them, the Set-Apart Collective will arm you with a Christ-centered Motherhood Mindset Model™, and create a Purposed Parenting Plan™. You’ll also deepen your identity in Christ so you can mentor the way for your children to do the same. You will be a purposed mother with an intentional mind and heart set on Christ and your family and you will have the tools to raise set apart kids as you parent the heart, not simply the behavior. Does this sound like a lifeline to help you be that set-apart mom God has entrusted you to be? Visit terrihitt.com/coaching and click the link for a free, no obligation conversation call with me. This is a strategic call where I will hear your biggest struggle and show you how to turn it into a blessing that will bring you closer to Christ and your children. It’s time for believing mothers to be purposed in preparing their children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ. Time is short. Make yours matter for eternity. One last thing to remember - if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection with your children and Christ. Previous Next

< Back Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode 022 - Mature Your Child Toward Perfection in Christ Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Purposed Parent/Connected Child Podcast Episode #022 – Mature Your Child Toward Perfection in Christ Are you yearning for greater connection with your child? Would you like to parent beyond the moment with eternal perspective? Let’s grow together now with practical tips, scripture, and stories geared to draw your heart to Jesus and guide your child into His arms. Do you ever stop to think about the fact that: Every decision you make impacts the life of your child. Every decision you make exposes your relationship with God. When my husband and I told our family we were going to China to adopt our third child, a ten-month old baby girl in China when we were 44 years old, we weren’t met with approval. In the beginning we didn’t have the support of either set of parents. Although we were not old, we weren’t near the age we were when we began raising our first two children, and we weren’t the young age at which our parents began parenting, either. Since everyone in our family had children at an early age, the idea of beginning what was basically another family in our early forties (since our first two were completely raised and no longer living in the home with us), seemed crazy. Nowadays, it’s not at all uncommon to begin having children in your late thirties or early to mid-forties. In fact, even though our parents didn’t quickly approve, I think my mother was forgetting that her very own mother raised two biological children with her husband, my grandpa, then after the girls (my mother and my aunt) were raised, grandma got pregnant two more times, which brought my aunts. One is two years older than me and one who is one month older than me. In hindsight, as we’re now 17 years past bringing home our baby, and we’ve returned to China ten years later to bring home our then 9 year old daughter, I can see that the process of adoption grew my husband and I, as well as our parents. Our first two children also moved closer toward the perfection of God through lessons they learned. Each of us was transformed in ways only God can measure through our obedience to Him through this beautiful and holy step of love. Every decision you make can bring you closer to or away from the mirror image of God. Every decision you make can move your child closer to or away from reflecting the image of God. 1 Corinthians 15:49 says, “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. ” I treasure knowing that as we establish close relationship with Jesus, and move in humble obedience to His Word and ways, we are being crafted into image bearers of the Lord. As this transformational process continues, followers are able to grasp the special, specific purposes God individually desires for each of us. Matthew 5:48 reveals the words of Jesus, “’Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect .’” Obviously, no one on earth is or can be perfect. As much as we love our children, we know that they can sometimes be very far from perfect as they follow fleshly desires. So can we. How do we guide them? Let’s examine this verse spoken by Jesus. 1. Jesus is speaking of character . None of us will ever be flawless, so obviously our children won’t, but Jesus calls us to aspire to a character like Christ. As we react to and raise our children, we must be mindful of how our responses and training, as well as our example of daily living reflects the character of Jesus. 2. Jesus is speaking of holiness . In a world of sin and enticement that claims to fulfill our fleshly desires, we must remember to teach our children about the holiness of God. This doesn’t mean hammering them over the head with their unholiness each time they make a mistake, but living as examples of holiness for them to emulate. As we seek and follow the Lord in obedience, our children see what we desire and do. As we are devoted to the desires God carries and shows to us, we are better able to be examples of His mercy and light for our children to learn. The closer we are to Christ, the nearer they will be drawn to Him . 3. Jesus is speaking of maturity . Although it takes time and devotion to grow our maturity in Christ, as we seek and follow Him moment by moment, the changes made to our life become more and more evident. As our children grow and mature, they are able to witness the effects of submitting to holy living under God and see the level of love and devotion we offer Him. 4. Jesus is speaking of love . 1 John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. ” Our children will mature toward perfection as they submit to Jesus and experience and exhibit the love He carries for them. As we mature in our faith and obedience to the Lord, we are better equipped to mentor our children . Obviously, each day brings more opportunities to live and grow in Christ, but as we humbly submit to Him, we can live with assurance that we are growing in perfection through His strength. Are we perfect? No, but - Our character, holiness, maturity, and love are reflecting His perfection within us. Perfection, in the way we and our children can develop, doesn’t mean perfect as the world describes the word. To develop a more godly or Christlike character is the goal for each of us as parents and to set for our precious children to follow. Only Jesus can fulfill the ultimate perfection. Only He can set the example of what perfection consists of or looks like. As we follow Him, submit and cling to Him, draw our children nearer to Him, obey Him, and proclaim Him, they will be able to witness the Way, the Truth, and the Life and be drawn to Him for a true, deep, and eternal relationship. 1 John 3:2-3 says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure. ” Our life under Christ is a process that transforms us to become more and more Christlike as we submit and follow Him through personal relationship . Our process of transformation won’t be complete until we stand face-to-face with Christ one day, but while we are on earth, we have the opportunity to continue growing in and through Him, striving toward His perfect purity of character and holiness. As we change, our children are changed. Their present and future are altered. As we draw nearer to Christ, and desire our children to mature in perfection with Him, we cannot ignore the effects of culture around us and the negative way these values and lies affect our children. On the last podcast, “Say NO to Ungodly Influences in Your Heart and Home,” we looked at a list of ways we may be allowing ungodly influences to penetrate our heart and the home of our children. In turn, this sets our children up to accept or ignore the ungodliness we tolerate. In fact, what we permit in the lives of our family now will become accepted and applauded in the future. Don’t let what culture pushes or idolizes affect your decisions. Only God’s Word and values should be used to discern what will touch and teach your children. One item I forgot to add to the list we reviewed in the last episode is the way culture has accepted and pushed LGBTQ agenda in recent years. While I believe this subject needs to be addressed with love and respect, because each person is made in God’s image and with His utmost care, I recognize and honor that the only guide to offer authentic truth and direction is the Bible, God’s Holy Word. If God says marriage is between one man and one woman, that is what we should build our life upon and teach to our children. As believers, we must focus on God, pleasing and following Him. To those who do not know Him, this is viewed as an act of hatred or aggression, however, if we treat those who do not agree with love as God would do, we do not need to agree with or condone what they do. Neither do we need to shrink away in fear or embarrassment as society would have us do. Each person in the world makes mistakes and sins against God in some way daily. To the Lord, those transgressions are not large or small in the way humans tend to categorize them. Sin is sin. Our Almighty, Sovereign Holy Father allows each of us to make our own decisions about whether or not we follow Him and how we will live our life. Keep looking to Him for guidance and direction. Our heart desire should be to please, honor, and obey Him and to teach our children to do the same. The acceptance of gay marriage in our culture was a slippery slope that has branched to include much more. Each step moves closer to the next thing, like a chain with many attached links. Although most gay individuals do not accept the agenda that is currently being pushed in our schools, such as transgenderism and sexual fluidity, the movement to accept gay marriage did start the process for more inclusion along the same lines. We need to remember that God does not command us to follow His guidelines simply to impose rules we may not understand, but to protect and provide for us. Whether we tell a lie, rob a bank, entertain impure thoughts, or lust after another of the same sex, God sees the sins as the same. While some say that “love is love,” their human opinion does not matter. The truth is that loving another person’s spouse, a person of the same sex in a sexual way, or an adult loving a minor in an impure way is simply and obviously not the same as the beautiful way a mother loves a child or a man loves his wife. Humans can label whatever we want to do in whatever fashion makes us feel good, but it does not change the truth of how our Holy God views and categorizes the act. Our children must be taught to know, love, honor, and obey Jesus in order to follow Him all the days of his or her life. This means respectfully and lovingly educating them in the words of the Bible - and first and foremost, modeling a genuine love and humble respect for and relationship with Jesus and others. Another topic I did not address in the recent podcast episode is abortion. I don’t understand how this is a touchy subject within the Christian community, but somehow, even believers are divided. God created and values life. Each fearfully, wonderfully made person was knitted together in the womb and the days of our life are seen and numbered for specific purposes. Who knows, perhaps the cure for cancer will never be found because the individual who would have found the prevention or cure was not allowed to live and was killed in the womb. Our children must read , study , and know the words in the Bible to begin to understand the mind of God and live within His holy commands to experience the freedom and joy only Christ can bring. In order to do so, we must be on the frontlines, learning and growing through Christ ourselves. We must value the Lord and cultivate a right and righteous relationship with Jesus so that we are able to instruct our children in the ways of the Lord. There is no greater honor than to be entrusted by God Himself to be a godly parent for the children He has entrusted to us. Proverbs 17:6 says, “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. ” Proverbs 23:22 says, “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old .” Do not look at your life or the ways of culture through worldly eyes and heart. Entrust your child to God alone and strive to be a mirror image of Him more and more each day so that you can mature yourself and your child to perfection through Christ. Dear Heavenly Father, only You are holy. Only You are good. This world feeds into the human need for more, for popularity, for acceptance, for riches, for indulgences. All we crave or pursue is actually found in and through You alone. When we trust in You, we find that You , the One who conceived and knitted us together knows the deepest needs of our heart and can fulfill us like no other. Please enable each of us to be the parent You desire. Equip us to be pleasing in every way to You and to help our children become a mirror image of You. Dear Father, help us to stay on the path You chose for us and to guide our children on the path You have carved for them. May they be holy, as You are holy. Help us to excise things from our life that displease You or harm our children now or in the future. We thank you for the loving care You are able to give to each one devoted to following You. Help our children to be one of them. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” podcast. This and my “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast may be found at terrihitt.com, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and they are part of the Spark Media Network. Both podcasts may also now be found on the Edifi app, where you can hear thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment. Have you rated or reviewed my podcasts on Apple Podcasts yet? When you review my podcast on Apple Podcasts, it helps to elevate the standing of the podcast online so that more people are allowed to find and hear it. Will you take a moment to follow the shows and think of someone you can share the podcasts with and encourage them to follow and share, as well? Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will direct them away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Parent and Connect With Eternal Perspective. Previous Next

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 130 - Are You Living With Eternal Perspective? Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 130 – Are You Living With Eternal Perspective? Thank you for sharing your day with me. I pray this podcast gives you the awareness and tools you need to STOP being a GOOD mom so you can BECOME the GODLY mom God entrusts you to be. Then you’ll be the SET-APART woman PURPOSELY raising children to chase CHRIST over culture. Just a quick reminder as we start, if you enjoy Purposed Parent Connected Child podcast episodes, would you please share this episode or others with a friend or family member? When you graciously take a moment to do that, and leave a rating or review at Apple Podcast, you are ensuring that others will find the podcast. When you do, you’re helping affect generations for Jesus. Now on to this episode that poses an important question: Are you living with eternal perspective? 1 John 2:25 says, “And this is the promise that He made to us—eternal life .” Eternal life. Forever Alive. No death. It’s impossible for our human mind to grasp the depth, the mercy, or the holiness of this promise. We cannot comprehend all that God has in store for those of us who humbly love Him, and follow Him with humble faith, love, and obedience. So many believers hear the words eternity, eternal life, or live with eternal perspective and have a moment of gratitude for the gift God promises. Yet, how many of us actually grasp those words and apply them to daily living? What does it even mean to purpose to live with a perspective beyond self and this world? 1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life .” When many people imagine the end of their life, they hope for something good. Christians can be certain of life with Christ in eternity, but we only have our limited human understanding of what it might be like. In fact, 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” Some people don’t want to dwell long on thoughts about life after death because they begin to feel depressed or anxious. But hallelujah ! Because of Jesus, we can be assured of life eternal with Him and that it will be far beyond our miniscule expectations. The promise I read from 1 Corinthians 2:9 isn’t based on how we feel or what we hope for, but on God’s truth . If you have confessed and committed your life to Christ, you can rest in assurance through faith that you will have eternal life with Jesus. How beautiful that life will be…more exquisite than words can convey when you sit and really soak that promise in and take it to heart. As a long-time believer, I thought I was living with eternal perspective when my oldest daughter passed away. I already had a close, maturing relationship with God through Jesus. I loved Him, served Him, honored, and obeyed Him. Yet, when my beautiful child died unexpectedly at the age of twenty-nine, my life was forever altered. Suddenly one of my children was gone. She was living somewhere else - without me. She was in another place – somewhere I couldn’t go to visit her. She had moved into her eternal home. Never again would I see her gorgeous, light up a room smile. I’d never get to hug her again. I’d never share another conversation, listen to her musical laugh, and I’d never hear her witty jokes, funny thoughts, or get to offer her advice. Because I was so young when I had my firstborn, we used to tease that we’d grow old together. My heart squeezed with pain that she was gone before me and I wasn’t able to say an intentional last goodbye and hold her so tightly God would let her stay. My precious daughter was simply immediately gone . It was then that I understood living with one foot here on earth, and one firmly planted in Heaven. This is where God has me for now. One day it will be my time to go to be with Him forever in eternity. Right after my hug from Jesus, I want to see and hug my girl. Her death made me realize with surety that everything in this life is temporary, and begin to live like it. With one foot here and one foot creating a bridge to where my Jesus and my Jaime reside, I immediately changed my thought and living patterns. I don’t waste moments – each one carries a lesson or opportunity to grow in Him or nurture another for Him. Each moment is captive for Christ. I’m still far from perfect, but seek His perfect guidance moment by moment as I rest and abide in the Father’s arms. Are you living like I used to? Do you think you’re experiencing each moment with a perspective beyond this world? Or are you going through the motions of life just “believing in eternity” without the effects of seeing how thin the veil between worlds is? Are you living without intention that shows the Father you’re using the time He’s allotted for you with purpose for Him? There are four beautiful verses that offer hope, truth, and assurance for us now and in the future. Let me share them now. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few .” Jesus stressed that He knows how difficult it is to stay focused on following Him. Represented by the two gates are the two choices each person must face. Will you purpose to faithfully and intentionally follow Jesus or something else? John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ” This verse captures truth about God’s plan. Who would sacrifice their beloved son? But God’s plans are never what we expect, yet somehow they are exactly what we need, even before we know or carry the ability to understand. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them .” Believers are not saved by our works, but we have been saved for the good works He will accomplish through us. As we mature our personal relationship and grow a godly lifestyle through maturing our Christian walk, the works are an outgrowth, an extension of Christ within us as He works through our humble, obedient spirit. John 14:1-3 says, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also .” In these precious words from Jesus, we find assurance that our way to eternal life is secure . If your hope and faith are in Him, you can trust that He has personally prepared your way to and in life eternal. Jesus didn’t give specific details, but with faith, we don’t need them. Our trust is in Him and our future is with Him . Obviously, the promise of eternal life isn’t based on our works, but on His Word and His sacrificial act. Why wait for eternity to begin claiming this gift? You and I can live for eternity in the present. Right now. In ways that honor and please Christ. Jesus lived with His heart and mind fixed on eternity – not this world. This place was a temporary holding ground that enabled Him to fulfill the purpose God held for Him. How do you view this world? Do you live for fleshly desires or to fulfill God’s will? Do you live with your eyes fixed above, knowing Jesus could return at any moment? Do you live with a heart that longs to please your Heavenly Father? Do you live with a mind that honors and dwells on thoughts pleasing to God? Or are you getting through each day without grasping the significance of the moments you’ve been granted? Are you holding moments loosely and allowing the Father to craft them into the purpose He desires? Are you teaching your children to do the same as they watch the way you honor the life you’ve been given with such great cost? No matter the suffering Jesus faced, He never faltered. He never failed, because Jesus carried a godly and righteous view of eternity . Jesus lived backwards according to the way most humans live on earth. The Lord looked to the end of His earthly days to plan out what He did as He relied on, honored, and obeyed God fully. His life was defined by His longing for obedience under God and eternity with Him . When we live with Jesus’s mindset, we carry His mind and strength to cleanse our life of the sin that pulls us away from our Heavenly Father. It is only by His grace and Spirit within us that we can begin to understand and desire a life focused beyond this world. Then we can allow our relationship with Jesus to dictate our earthly walk and fellowship with Him and others. We can allow Him to show us what to count as important or worthy of attention. We consider what our life should look like under God and strive to live in ways so that others may detect His presence within us and be drawn to Him because of it. Especially our spouse and children. Would you like to know ways to ensure you live for eternity now? 1. Cling to Jesus – with an intentionally intimate and deepening relationship. Abide in the Father’s arms and live in the fullness of Christ’s sacrifice and with His mind and heartset. 2. Connect with prayer – Through intimate conversation with the Father throughout each day, set times to pray, scriptural prayers, and heartfelt musings, and remain connected to the Father through this lifeline to Him. Listen for His responses and guidance. Keep an open conversation and set times for deeper praise and petition. 3. Read, study, and share God’s word – Mature your walk and share Him and your testimony with others, whether they be friends, family, or strangers, not only through words, but in your actions, reactions, desires, and integrity. The way we present ourselves must be in alignment with how we live and how we treat family members, friends, and strangers. Our lifestyle must be in alignment with God’s Word. 4. Love the Lord - with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and expose Him through words, actions, reactions, and desires. 5. Find and follow God’s will – Following and obeying the Lord, studying His word, and conversing through prayer, listening for His voice and direction, and heeding sound biblical advice are ways to find and follow the Lord. 6. Raise children to know and honor Him – As we draw nearer to Him, our children are drawn closer, as well. The same is true for your spouse. As you hear this list, does it seem overwhelming? I promise it’s not. As you seek the Father through relationship with Jesus and seek time with His Word daily, then converse with prayer and worship, you will find more and more time to continue. He begins to take priority over worthless tasks or time-suckers you may be wasting time on right now. Through this transformation, you will be centered on Christ most of all. As He flows through all that you are, you become more like Him. You view the world more as He does, and realize more of the desires God crafted within you. So often we scan the library and bookstores to find the perfect books to improve and change us or to change others. Books challenge and develop us, but not always in the ways God desires. The Bible is the single most important book ever written, yet so often we pass it by as we seek the newest fad or forget the true wisdom it holds. The keys to healthy, joyful living and the secrets to living with eternal perspective are written in every book the Bible contains. As a book lover and a reader, I understand the value of reading books with godly values, but please don’t overlook the most important and influential book. Don’t place it to be read last or when you think you have time. Make sure to read it first, then include other quality books that align with God’s morals and directives. The focus of your heart behind the desire to change or improve as a believer should be what directs and propels you to act. Place Christ at the forefront of daily thinking and witness the changes He makes in and through you. This self-development is the most important change you can make because the results matter for eternity. 1. Search the Scriptures 2. Humbly submit to Christ 3. Honor the Father 4. Serve how He calls 5. Witness the changes He makes in you and others because of your obedience Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others .” As you draw nearer to God through Scriptures, prayer, and relationship, your faith becomes a deeper love. It becomes one that humbles you to receive what Christ desires to accomplish within and through you. Are you using and truly believing the power of God’s Word? Luke 9:23 says, “And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me .” Dying to self is not something we can accomplish on our own. By trusting Jesus more each day as you grow your walk with Him, looking upward toward the eternal plan He has established, toward the eternity you will have with Him, you will be drawn to allow Him more access to your heart and home. Galatians 5:22-26 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another .” Living with eternal perspective takes the sting out of disappointments as we trust the Father. This eternal-driven mindset takes the competition out of daily life. We trust that our personal life holds a purpose no one else has. Likewise, we recognize that the lives of others are unique and purposed by the same Hand that crafted each individual with intention. The fruits we receive from the Holy Spirit thriving and growing within us become focused on serving others over self. Intentionally developing godly character qualities honors the Father who intentionally crafted each one of us with purpose. Jesus placed others before self, yet allowed God full reign over His life. Each step we take toward following Christ moves us closer to eternity as we live for it in the present. Grow in Him. Inhale Christ so you can exhale Him on your family. In time you will see a difference in your connection with Jesus and those you love. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit .” Dear Great and Glorious Heavenly Father, help us in Your Sovereign love for us, to view this world through Your eyes. May our treasures be placed under You because they are what You have deemed worthy of praise. Help us to decrease as we allow You to be increased within us. Lord, You tell us that if we hate our life in this world we will keep it for eternity. May we follow You as faithful servants yearning to honor and please You. May our minds be sober and our intentions pure as we cling to Your promises of tomorrow today. Help our life to be so transformed that the lives in our families are as well. May Your glory and grace be so evident in us that it shines through the lives of our spouse and children. May that cycle continue for generations. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. If you’re ready to become the godly mom God entrusts you to be for Him and His children, you’ll love my free “Good to Godly: A 31-Day Scripture and Prayer Guide for Moms.” Visit terrihitt.com to receive this resource. If you’re ready to be more intentional - to be purposed in preparing your children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ, contact me at info@terrihitt.com . I think you’ll be interested in my Set-Apart summer renewal for $197. Time is short. Make yours matter for eternity. Remember - if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection with your children and Christ. Previous Next

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #102 – Resolution or Reflection Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Let’s talk about anticipation. I consider it one of the gifts we have in this life. Have you ever experienced the joy of planning a vacation or special event, awaited a holiday or birthday, perhaps a visit from or a surprise for a loved one? Each event carries the anticipation of what we hope for. Half of the fun is in the planning and anticipation. What if we carry that expectation into the new year in regards to our walk with Jesus? Each year people make New Year Resolutions. Sometimes they stick. Most of the time they’ve disappeared within days or weeks. What would you like your walk with Jesus to look like in the new year? What would you like it to be like at the end of your life? What do you want others to see in you? Do you desire a reflection of the Lord to shine for all to see and be drawn to Him? Over the last two years, through this podcast, I have shared interviews with many people who have spoken of their God stories about how the Lord has, or is, working in their life. I’ve shared practical tips and advice on deepening your walk with God through a personal relationship with Jesus, and how to continue growing the depth and width of your walk. Nothing gives me as much joy as finding ways to experience the fullness of joy that Christ has for each one of us Right now we are each sandwiched between Christmas and New Year’s. For some, it is business as usual as they continue their schedule without change or much thought. For others, they are in that glorious time of year in which they are off work and able to stay home before heading back off to work next week. For others, like me, it is a special time of year in which we are out of school until after the beginning of January and we are each busy getting things we normally don’t have time to do accomplished. I also use this time to think of the upcoming year. Each morning we awaken is a gift. Gratefulness abounds for me the moment I open my eyes. Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” I don’t want to journey into the new year without pondering with great anticipation what the Lord has for me. What work does God request that I allow Him to accomplish through me? I challenge each of us to look not for resolutions for the new year, but to sit with our Bible and in prayer as we seek the Lord and reflect on what He speaks in the silence. Which will deepen and mature your walk with Jesus? Resolution or Reflection? What will draw you nearer to God so that He will draw nearer to you? Resolution or Reflection? Think of what areas you need change or results in life. Will making a resolution help? Maybe. But with certainty, I promise that if you hand it to God and seek Him for guidance and reflection, He will show you the way to a true and lasting resolution. Not just a New Year’s resolution. How should you reflect with the Lord? Simply. 1. Find a quiet space 2. Sit alone with God 3. Seek Him 4. Converse in prayer 5. Listen 6. Respond When we ask for God to intervene and take control, to guide us in His will and ways, He does. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait patiently for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the Lord!” Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.” No matter what you are facing in this moment or hour, God is present. He knows your situation and is waiting on you to turn to Him and continue to rely on His strength and wisdom. Heavenly Father, thank you for this moment in time. You are our lighthouse, our strong and mighty fortress. Thank you for allowing us to turn to You, dear Father, our Jehovah-Jireh. There is none like You. Our Great Provider. May we not focus on our trials, but accept Your provision, even when it is not what we expect. Help us to trust You more and more each moment. May we focus on a life with You that extends beyond the world that we can see and taste. Help us to crave eternity with You and our eternal home each day, as we continue to widen our hope and trust in You. We pray that You come quickly, dear Lord. Rescue us from this world that is farther from You than we even understand. We need You so much. May the new year bring us to our knees in search of greater relationship with You. May we experience Your mighty grace and compassion, may Your hand move in this land and in our hearts and homes as we resolve to reflect You in solitude and through our thoughts, attitude, words, and actions. Shine from us, Father because we seek and desire You above all else. Let us reflect on You, reflect Your nature, and resolve to mentor the way to You for others. May we live with anticipation of the glorious ways we will see you at work within and around us daily. In the precious and holy name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this podcast. If you find value in what you hear, I invite you to help others find the podcast. Please share Live With Eternal Perspective episodes with friends and family so that they can begin to listen each week. You can share my website, terrihitt.com and let others know that on it they will be able to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature their walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage them to raise or influence children and grandchildren to choose Christ over culture. I also invite you to listen to the top ten downloaded episodes of 2021. Is your favorite among them? Simply go to the link in the transcript of this episode (on my website and in the podcast notes) to see who made the list. I’d appreciate it if you would share the link with friends who may like to discover the podcast, too. Thank you for making God known in new and eternal ways. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2KsuvrYwl4uP34lJmU5b0g I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 102 Resolution or Reflection Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #102 – Resolution or Reflection Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Let’s talk about anticipation. I consider it one of the gifts we have in this life. Have you ever experienced the joy of planning a vacation or special event, awaited a holiday or birthday, perhaps a visit from or a surprise for a loved one? Each event carries the anticipation of what we hope for. Half of the fun is in the planning and anticipation. What if we carry that expectation into the new year in regards to our walk with Jesus? Each year people make New Year Resolutions. Sometimes they stick. Most of the time they’ve disappeared within days or weeks. What would you like your walk with Jesus to look like in the new year? What would you like it to be like at the end of your life? What do you want others to see in you? Do you desire a reflection of the Lord to shine for all to see and be drawn to Him? Over the last two years, through this podcast, I have shared interviews with many people who have spoken of their God stories about how the Lord has, or is, working in their life. I’ve shared practical tips and advice on deepening your walk with God through a personal relationship with Jesus, and how to continue growing the depth and width of your walk. Nothing gives me as much joy as finding ways to experience the fullness of joy that Christ has for each one of us Right now we are each sandwiched between Christmas and New Year’s. For some, it is business as usual as they continue their schedule without change or much thought. For others, they are in that glorious time of year in which they are off work and able to stay home before heading back off to work next week. For others, like me, it is a special time of year in which we are out of school until after the beginning of January and we are each busy getting things we normally don’t have time to do accomplished. I also use this time to think of the upcoming year. Each morning we awaken is a gift. Gratefulness abounds for me the moment I open my eyes. Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” I don’t want to journey into the new year without pondering with great anticipation what the Lord has for me. What work does God request that I allow Him to accomplish through me? I challenge each of us to look not for resolutions for the new year, but to sit with our Bible and in prayer as we seek the Lord and reflect on what He speaks in the silence. Which will deepen and mature your walk with Jesus? Resolution or Reflection? What will draw you nearer to God so that He will draw nearer to you? Resolution or Reflection? Think of what areas you need change or results in life. Will making a resolution help? Maybe. But with certainty, I promise that if you hand it to God and seek Him for guidance and reflection, He will show you the way to a true and lasting resolution. Not just a New Year’s resolution. How should you reflect with the Lord? Simply. 1. Find a quiet space 2. Sit alone with God 3. Seek Him 4. Converse in prayer 5. Listen 6. Respond When we ask for God to intervene and take control, to guide us in His will and ways, He does. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait patiently for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the Lord!” Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.” No matter what you are facing in this moment or hour, God is present. He knows your situation and is waiting on you to turn to Him and continue to rely on His strength and wisdom. Heavenly Father, thank you for this moment in time. You are our lighthouse, our strong and mighty fortress. Thank you for allowing us to turn to You, dear Father, our Jehovah-Jireh. There is none like You. Our Great Provider. May we not focus on our trials, but accept Your provision, even when it is not what we expect. Help us to trust You more and more each moment. May we focus on a life with You that extends beyond the world that we can see and taste. Help us to crave eternity with You and our eternal home each day, as we continue to widen our hope and trust in You. We pray that You come quickly, dear Lord. Rescue us from this world that is farther from You than we even understand. We need You so much. May the new year bring us to our knees in search of greater relationship with You. May we experience Your mighty grace and compassion, may Your hand move in this land and in our hearts and homes as we resolve to reflect You in solitude and through our thoughts, attitude, words, and actions. Shine from us, Father because we seek and desire You above all else. Let us reflect on You, reflect Your nature, and resolve to mentor the way to You for others. May we live with anticipation of the glorious ways we will see you at work within and around us daily. In the precious and holy name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this podcast. If you find value in what you hear, I invite you to help others find the podcast. Please share Live With Eternal Perspective episodes with friends and family so that they can begin to listen each week. You can share my website, terrihitt.com and let others know that on it they will be able to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature their walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage them to raise or influence children and grandchildren to choose Christ over culture. I also invite you to listen to the top ten downloaded episodes of 2021. Is your favorite among them? Simply go to the link in the transcript of this episode (on my website and in the podcast notes) to see who made the list. I’d appreciate it if you would share the link with friends who may like to discover the podcast, too. Thank you for making God known in new and eternal ways. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2KsuvrYwl4uP34lJmU5b0g I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #061 – Seeking and Seizing Teachable God Moments Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Before we start the podcast today, I’d like to mention the upcoming Who Is Carter Foundation third annual Gala fundraiser on April 9th at 6:00 PM. The Brain Possible Podcast is fully funded and operated by this wonderful, nonprofit organization. Who Is Carter would love for you to be there in person or online! Your support at the gala ensures the ability to continue to bring you their podcasts, resources, and more into the coming year. There are two ways to attend: If you live in the Kansas City area, attend in person at The Bardot Luxury Event Space at 1616 Grand Avenue in Kansas City, MO. There will be great food, an inspiring program, live music, and unique auction items such as a stay at the Ritz Carlton, Cancun or a Guatemala fishing resort trip, and even a VIP meet-and-greet with Chiefs’ wide receiver Tyreek Hill! Of course, every available COVID-19 precaution will be in place to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance. If you don’t live in the Kansas City area, or are more comfortable staying in, you can join the activities virtually! Tune in online on the evening of the 9th; you’ll even have full access to bid on silent auction items online! Visit whoiscarter.org/gala for more information and to purchase tickets. This wonderful organization I have mentioned on the podcast before looks forward to being with you on April 9! Thank you for considering attending the Who Is Carter Foundation Gala. Now, on to this week’s episode. Have you ever wished you knew more about Jesus? His days growing up? Imagine if He had kept a diary for us to read. I would treasure reading His day to day thoughts. At least we can learn so much about how to live through reading Jesus’s words recorded in the Bible and I am incredibly thankful for that. Of course, the more we study His words, really dig in theologically, the better we understand and can model our lives after His. Jesus must have sought and seized simple daily opportunities as teachable God moments. Just as I am sure our Heavenly Father would like us to do. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Capture all moments of life for Him. Loving Jesus is like breathing; He is the air we need to survive. The Lord cannot be compartmentalized; Jesus flows into every area of our life. As we shift our focus to continuous living with an eternal mindset that is aware of how we respond and how it affects others for Jesus, we live with a gentleness and respect for the Lord, people, and the world around us. We desire to share the hope that is in us through the Holy Spirit and the sacrifice of Jesus. Today I simply want to share a few stories of everyday life with you. I often get comments from people saying they enjoy these glimpses into our life the best. I think people just like to see how other people use daily moments to love and honor God. I would love to hear your stories, as well. After listening to the podcast, feel free to email me through the link on my website at terrihitt.com. I would treasure hearing your stories of seeking and enjoying the teachable God moments with your children or of how God has matured you personally in your walk with Him. He tenderly and intimately personalizes special moments with each one of us who have eyes to see and hearts to experience and believe. This first story happened with my youngest about three years ago. I’m going to read it as I originally wrote it, almost in a diary form. Brooklyn admired my rings as I was putting on jewelry today. Remembering that I have other rings I don't usually wear anymore, she went to my jewelry box, hoping she could wear one of them. I've never been one to want big, fancy, expensive pieces, but what I have has sentimental value. She pointed to a blue ring and got it out to look at. With excitement, she discovered that it fit her middle finger. "Oh, that ring is special," I told her. "You picked out a good one. Bring it over to the light," I said. She followed me to the bathroom and we stood under the vanity lights. Still not quite bright enough for what I wanted to show her, I swiped my phone screen and brought up the flashlight. Shining it toward the top of the ring, we looked again. The blue surface now had a brilliant white star on top. "Oh, pretty!" she exclaimed. "That's a star sapphire," I said. "That ring is the first gift Daddy ever gave Mommy. He gave me that ring when we were dating," We went upstairs to a skylight and looked at the ring again in the bright sunlight. "Another reason that ring is so special is that it reminds me of Jesus," I said. "When the ring doesn't have light on it, you can't see the star inside. When you flash the light on it, the beautiful star shines." Brooklyn looked at me as I continued talking. "When people go out in the world, we all look the same. But when Jesus shines His light through us, other people can see it. They see Him in us, just like we see this star in the ring." She smiled, absorbing more truths that were unspoken to her for too long. We left for speech therapy together - a mommy with one of her special daughters and a little girl wearing a ring that will never outshine the beauty Jesus is growing inside of her. When I was driving later, tears gathered in my eyes as I thought about how God knew long ago that the ring Dennis gave me for Christmas when I was 17 would be a tool in our future daughter, Brooklyn's life to help shape and grow her in Him. We will continue looking for miracles and living in His grace. I deeply appreciate the way God goes before us. How beautiful, merciful, and good His ways are. We simply cannot fathom the love and care He has for us. I did not know Jesus when I was a teenager, yet God knew me and loved me enough to use a gift from my boyfriend to set a plan in place for our future youngest child to learn of Him in a special and deeper way over half a century later. Psalm 139:5-6 says, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” Psalm 136:16 says, “Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever.” This next story is one I shared on my blog. I will read it as I shared there. Earlier this week I heard words that I knew might one day be said. In 15 years of adoptive parenting, they had never been spoken to me. “You’re not my real mom.” Instead of pain, my first thoughts were “How can I help her? What is going on inside her mind and spirit?” Always so good with eye contact, my youngest did not meet my eyes this time. Even when we received her as ours after meeting for the first time in China, she had perfect eye contact. In fact, her gaze was so impressive that I knew we had a fireball in our family. I remained calm and kept my voice gentle. “Why do you say that?” I asked. “Why do you say I’m not your real mom?” “Because you are wearing make-up today,” she said. I began to laugh. I couldn’t help it. My youngest loves to stay home. Her perfect day includes me waking her up in the morning wearing no makeup and my “stay home” clothes. Yes, there is a distinct difference in the way I look at home and when I go out in public. Comfy clothes are all I wear at home. Not pajamas, but close – soft and warm clothes. Brooklyn wears her pajamas all day – every day, unless we go out. This was her unique way of telling me how dissatisfied she was with me. After hugging, I explained to her that I knew she didn’t like to go to the doctor. I promised her it would be an easy visit and that we could stay home – without makeup – the next day. The next morning after awakening her (of course in my no makeup, stay home attire), I asked her if her “real mommy” was back. She smiled and told me, “Yes. Mommy likes to stay home with me.” It’s so important for us to dig deep into the messages we hear. This world sends so many false messages. As I have matured in my walk with Christ, He has enabled me to get better at letting Him discern what I believe and how I control my responses. It is so important for us to read and study His word daily so that we are not controlled by our flesh. We can make time for what we deem important, and even fifteen minutes of study will increase our desire to know and follow where God calls. As we make His word a priority, we establish Him as a priority. Life can be so difficult and confusing. The only anchor we have is Jesus. Our responses, desires, and attitude, as well as actions are all a direct result from the time we spend with Him. We have to know our beliefs in order to live them. Our Savior must be alive inside of us in order for us to reflect Him. Things are not always what they appear to be. Words are not always defined by our interpretation. Let Jesus be the One to guide and influence what you prioritize, believe, and how you respond. He alone will keep us from being deceived in this world full of lies. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” So often we think we know what others mean or we project our thoughts onto them. Children teach us how beautiful simple conversation and honesty are. No wonder Jesus wants the children to come to Him. I remember writing this next piece because I was deeply touched by how God ministered to and taught me through my middle daughter. Before I begin reading it, let me share that I’m the kind of person who wants to help people. When I know someone is hurting, I immediately want to help them find a way to make things better. Yet, God often needs to do a work in or through us before pain can be erased. Often, our trials may not be just for us to learn and grow, but for the others who will see or participate and learn and grow through them. Our Heavenly Father is sovereign. God used a dishwasher to help me remember that sometimes we just need to stand in the pain with others as we trust and allow Him to work. Here’s the next story: Our family washes dishes by hand (after our dishwasher stopped working several years ago). People actually get anxious when I admit that we didn’t run out to replace this appliance immediately. They say they couldn’t imagine living without a dishwasher. Do I miss it? Sometimes I definitely do! On the days we are in and out of the house with just enough time to eat and spread dirty dishes everywhere, I really miss it. Most days, no. Why? I cherish the time spent with my family while completing chores together. We have a system. Usually, I wash and rinse dishes, and Marissa dries and puts them away. Many times, my husband will join in to help dry and put the dishes away, too. While we take care of dishes, Brooklyn folds and puts away the laundry we washed that day (she brings it to the kitchen to work on). May I share that she doesn’t just fold it. The items look professionally pressed. She “hand irons” pieces as she folds, lovingly forming soft creases in the fabric that express her deep gratitude for us, her beloved family. My mother’s eye observes and treasures special qualities God blessed us with in our home, and the way we commit their use to one another in His honor. We usually have the best discussions while everyone is gathered together without distractions. Often, we sing and dance while music is played and we always find something to laugh about. Even the dogs join in. Can you believe our Mini Schnauzer loves us to sing to her? One day last week, the girls and I were listening to a variety of songs as we worked. Naively, I chose one that I had not listened to in years. Instruments sounded the opening chords of a piece I used to enjoy with my oldest daughter, Jaime in her teen years. A realization pierced me. I have officially lived twice as long as Jaime. My age is 58 years. My beloved daughter died at age 29. Then, another thought occurred. Jaime was born when I was 18. It has been 10 years since she passed away. That means I have now lived a total of 28 years of my life without her. Now I have lived a little over half of my life without her. My heart seized at the realization. I wept. My pain wasn’t expressed in a loud, sobbing cry, but with a quiet, resigned sadness that understands I cannot change anything, yet accepts that sorrow will always line my soul with the painful loss only God has carried me through. Soon, the years will begin adding up so that I have lived more and more of my life without her. It’s not supposed to be that way. Children are supposed to live longer than parents. The imperfections in this world could rip apart our relationship with God. Yet, He doesn’t desire it to. “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.” Psalm 91:4 He created us to desire Him. Not only in the good times. A best friend cradles and carries you. They never leave your side in the hardest moments. That is Jesus. My best friend. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not, they are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 As my silent tears exposed my grief, Marissa tightly hugged me. We shared the longest embrace I can remember. Wishing she could erase my pain, yet understanding that I had to embrace this season of it, my daughter simply and bravely stood with me in it. She acknowledged my grief and loved me in it. Just like Jesus does. Our broken dishwasher was a catalyst for the continued work the Lord was crafting in my personal journey, as well as in our family connection. The multi-faceted mystery of God is so much more than we see or imagine. Faith continues growing in our home. In our lives. In our hearts. In the actions of my children. I am immensely thankful for the love we share each day. I’m also grateful for the tears. “Jesus wept.” John 11:35 Just like me. Just like you. “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in your book?” Psalm 56:8 Jesus is so concerned about our pain that He lovingly keeps track of what we do and what happens to us, storing our tears in a bottle, personally and intimately caring about every single event that occurs in our lives. Beautiful examples are modeled for us to follow for others. Marissa couldn’t store my tears or pain in a bottle, but she could stand with me. In the pain. No words needed. Just like Jesus. Living with eternal perspective means that we must condition ourselves to look for Jesus in the ordinary pockets of life. Hopefully, the more get accustomed to living that way, we get better and eventually live more with that mindset than without. My next piece exposed my desire to protect my daughter, but without the mind and heartset that Jesus would have me model for her. We must strive to adjust and keep all areas in our life focused on Him properly. Yet, even through our mistakes, Jesus knits good together despite the tattered threads of our unraveling attempts to be like Him. Let me expose my mistake and the way God redeemed it through working a good work in me for my daughters to see. Last week, I specifically asked God to humble me and allow me to become more like Him. As I whispered the words I truly meant, I knew that I was “asking for trouble.” Sometimes the prayers we offer to God can be scary. Just like when we pray for patience, I knew I would encounter both “painful” and “blessed” experiences ahead. I forgot to add the adjective, “embarrassing” to my list. As my Creator, God knows exactly what I need to become more like Him. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10 It didn’t take long. Just a few days later I went to the county fair with my family. God was at work. I often reflect on my calling as a Christian and how that pertains to how I act and react to others daily. But, as at the fair, sometimes our emotions get the best of us, and we don’t think before we react. In Ephesians, Paul reminds us to walk worthy of the calling with which we are called. Sometimes, it’s hard. Obviously, it was for me that day at the fair. “Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1b-3 I had a few frustrating things happen, but the incident that triggered me to react the opposite of how I wish I would have…was…at the kiddie airplane ride. I’m not proud of my reaction. We stood in line while the multi-colored airplanes twirled, lifting small children high and low into the air. I watched my youngest daughter as she waited first in line. This was her fourth full summer with us. Almost four years of her life had now been spent in the company of a forever family who adores her instead of in a tiny crib with no human interaction. She adores family time. Absolutely treasures time with us. Going to fairs and carnivals is a delight for her. After waiting for the planes to stop spinning and letting other riders out, the operator opened the gate for her to enter the ride area. Then he stopped and asked her to measure her height at a sign near the entrance to the ride. A sign we had not seen. My girl was about an inch taller than the maximum height requirement. “She is wearing tennis shoes that make her about an inch taller,” I informed him. He shook his head. “No ride,” he said in limited English. “But she’s not really that tall,” I insisted. “The shoes make her taller.” “No,” he insisted as he continued shaking his head. “Are you serious?” I asked. “Whatever,” I remarked with frustration. “Let’s go,” I told my daughter as we got out of line. I couldn’t believe that he had let us wait in line all that time and then told her she was too tall, when she really wasn’t. Also frustrating was the fact that he wouldn’t admit that it was clear her shoes made her taller. My kids (and my husband) watched me as we left the line. They were a little surprised at my reaction. Actually, I was too. No one else was as frustrated as I was. Immediately, I thought about what a bad example I was being to my family and to the ride operator. “When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2 I had a choice as to whether I wanted to be frustrated or to realize that this silly airplane ride didn’t really matter. I was acting like foolishly. My frustration began to evaporate. How could I remain frustrated when God was already speaking to me? Of course, the conversationalist that I am, I discussed the experience and my reaction with my kids while we were still at the fair. I want to think about how what I do affects others around me. My responses can draw someone to or push them away from Jesus. Drawing others to Him, just by allowing Him to shine, means everything to me. I’m so glad I prayed to be humbled. I wonder what is next… My prayer is now that I will handle being humbled with more visible grace and light as I allow Jesus to continue transforming me moment by moment. How often do you jump in to rectify a situation or protect a loved one without waiting to see what God may have planned? His mercy is never ending. I am incredibly thankful for the work He has done and is doing in me. I’ll share one more story today. I hope my mistakes and joys allow you to cling more closely to God and perfect your ability to see His grace, wisdom, and provisions in each moment of your day. When I gave birth to my two biological children, I never considered bonding and attachment. The gift naturally occurred. In my defense, I was not a seasoned mother. I was only 18 when I delivered my first child and 21 when my second child was born. Yet, I wonder if all older mothers give much consideration to the fact that not all babies have the same beginnings in life. Even when a child stays with their birth family, there is still a need for intentional and purposeful bonding and attachment. When we adopted an infant from China 26 years after having our second child, we had obtained many years of parenting experience, as well as ongoing early childhood education on trauma, bonding, and attachment. Our eyes and hearts were opened wide by our innocent baby girl and the needs she carried. Then, we adopted again ten years later, and brought home an older child. We were as prepared as we could be. That doesn’t mean we had all the answers, but we knew where to go. God has made all the difference. Each child is unique. Each family is unique. Each situation is unique. But I knew; God is always the same. He has carried us every step of the way. Our eyes and minds have been fixed on Him for wisdom, guidance, understanding, peace, love…everything. He makes all things possible. But not all things are easy. What undeserved blessings we have received! We've witnessed miracles. Loss and grief have mingled with new beginnings that only God could orchestrate. What brokenness we have watched God heal. Shortly after our youngest child was home, she was overwhelmed by emotions that could not be expressed, except through tears. Although she was unable to tell me what she was feeling, I wanted to stay near – and I sat on the floor of her bedroom with her. Our language was strange; she had never heard it before coming to America. Everything was completely different: the language, smells, foods, sounds, home, people, animals, and even the way we responded to her. Used to no attention, she was now cherished by strangers. Her emotions told me she was frightened, overwhelmed, and she was grieving all that she knew and understood. Although I knew this was completely normal for the situation we were in, I just wanted to be close to her, for her to realize that I wouldn’t leave her in the hard places. She would never be abandoned. She was treasured. It was hard. She wouldn’t let me hold her. She didn’t want to hear my voice. But she did let me sit near her. In fact, if I tried to move away, she wailed louder, confirming my instincts to stay. As I stayed close, the lyrics of the Casting Crowns song, “Just Be Held,” flowed through my mind, intermixed with fervent prayers as I begged my Heavenly Father to help her. “Hold it all together. Everybody needs you strong. But life hits you out of nowhere and barely leaves you holding on.” Yes. Both of us were trying to hold it together. She was struggling to find a way to keep her control. I was definitely praying as I sat with her or I would not be able to hold it together for her. It was extremely difficult to sit through all the wailing and not be able to do anything. My heart was breaking for all she was fighting and going through. I thought of how God sees us when we hurt and struggle. Song lyrics continued in my mind. “And not a tear is wasted. In time, you’ll understand. I’m painting beauty with the ashes. Your life is in My hands.” “Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place. I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held. Just be held. Just be held.” If only she could just let go and be held, I thought. But there was no way she could understand the changes her life was undergoing or the depth of our love for her already. I had to make sure I let go and let God handle the situation. I had no answers. I had to rely on Him to comfort her, unique to her needs, and individual to the plan He had for her life. I wanted her to realize that she was safe. That she could trust me - trust us. That with time, she could trust our love. God's love. Our family didn’t even know the way our love would deepen and evolve as we all bonded, attached, and grew together. Just as we cannot possibly fathom the love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. He has a special love and relationship with each of us. We need to just let go and simply be held. Just accept. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1 How many of us resist God and struggle for years? How many still do not release control and allow themselves to be held? How many do not realize their worth through Him? As we believe we have released control in one area, there is always another to work on. Nothing we experience in life is wasted. Not even one tear. “Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll – are they not in your record?” Psalm 56:8 “Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world. Red, brown, yellow, black, or white. They are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” Just as he adores them as grown-ups. No matter what we think or do. Let yourself be held. Experience transformation through Him. He truly is (more than) enough for all of our needs. Seek and seize the teachable moments God places before you and your children. Wear His eyes to see and experience His heart to believe. Father God, we thank you that you love us through our imperfections, but You don’t leave us there when we seek You. Thank you for offering a bridge for us to come straight to You through Jesus. Father, help us be more aware of Your presence in our life daily. Without You, we are nothing. God, we need You desperately! Help us to please You more each moment as we see and show You more clearly in our lives. Thank you for revealing Yourself through daily life, in the large and small moments that speak to us so intimately. Help us use those times, hard and easy, to cling more closely to You and shift our behaviors and thoughts to match Yours. In Your Precious name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this episode. I’m thrilled to share that my latest free resource, “Scattering Seeds: Planting Character and Faith in Your Child” has released! This eBook is an excellent encouragement and support for mothers or grandmothers of young children. I encourage you to visit terrihitt.com to access and download it soon. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 061 Seeking and Seizing Teachable God Moments Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #061 – Seeking and Seizing Teachable God Moments Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Before we start the podcast today, I’d like to mention the upcoming Who Is Carter Foundation third annual Gala fundraiser on April 9th at 6:00 PM. The Brain Possible Podcast is fully funded and operated by this wonderful, nonprofit organization. Who Is Carter would love for you to be there in person or online! Your support at the gala ensures the ability to continue to bring you their podcasts, resources, and more into the coming year. There are two ways to attend: If you live in the Kansas City area, attend in person at The Bardot Luxury Event Space at 1616 Grand Avenue in Kansas City, MO. There will be great food, an inspiring program, live music, and unique auction items such as a stay at the Ritz Carlton, Cancun or a Guatemala fishing resort trip, and even a VIP meet-and-greet with Chiefs’ wide receiver Tyreek Hill! Of course, every available COVID-19 precaution will be in place to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance. If you don’t live in the Kansas City area, or are more comfortable staying in, you can join the activities virtually! Tune in online on the evening of the 9th; you’ll even have full access to bid on silent auction items online! Visit whoiscarter.org/gala for more information and to purchase tickets. This wonderful organization I have mentioned on the podcast before looks forward to being with you on April 9! Thank you for considering attending the Who Is Carter Foundation Gala. Now, on to this week’s episode. Have you ever wished you knew more about Jesus? His days growing up? Imagine if He had kept a diary for us to read. I would treasure reading His day to day thoughts. At least we can learn so much about how to live through reading Jesus’s words recorded in the Bible and I am incredibly thankful for that. Of course, the more we study His words, really dig in theologically, the better we understand and can model our lives after His. Jesus must have sought and seized simple daily opportunities as teachable God moments. Just as I am sure our Heavenly Father would like us to do. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Capture all moments of life for Him. Loving Jesus is like breathing; He is the air we need to survive. The Lord cannot be compartmentalized; Jesus flows into every area of our life. As we shift our focus to continuous living with an eternal mindset that is aware of how we respond and how it affects others for Jesus, we live with a gentleness and respect for the Lord, people, and the world around us. We desire to share the hope that is in us through the Holy Spirit and the sacrifice of Jesus. Today I simply want to share a few stories of everyday life with you. I often get comments from people saying they enjoy these glimpses into our life the best. I think people just like to see how other people use daily moments to love and honor God. I would love to hear your stories, as well. After listening to the podcast, feel free to email me through the link on my website at terrihitt.com. I would treasure hearing your stories of seeking and enjoying the teachable God moments with your children or of how God has matured you personally in your walk with Him. He tenderly and intimately personalizes special moments with each one of us who have eyes to see and hearts to experience and believe. This first story happened with my youngest about three years ago. I’m going to read it as I originally wrote it, almost in a diary form. Brooklyn admired my rings as I was putting on jewelry today. Remembering that I have other rings I don't usually wear anymore, she went to my jewelry box, hoping she could wear one of them. I've never been one to want big, fancy, expensive pieces, but what I have has sentimental value. She pointed to a blue ring and got it out to look at. With excitement, she discovered that it fit her middle finger. "Oh, that ring is special," I told her. "You picked out a good one. Bring it over to the light," I said. She followed me to the bathroom and we stood under the vanity lights. Still not quite bright enough for what I wanted to show her, I swiped my phone screen and brought up the flashlight. Shining it toward the top of the ring, we looked again. The blue surface now had a brilliant white star on top. "Oh, pretty!" she exclaimed. "That's a star sapphire," I said. "That ring is the first gift Daddy ever gave Mommy. He gave me that ring when we were dating," We went upstairs to a skylight and looked at the ring again in the bright sunlight. "Another reason that ring is so special is that it reminds me of Jesus," I said. "When the ring doesn't have light on it, you can't see the star inside. When you flash the light on it, the beautiful star shines." Brooklyn looked at me as I continued talking. "When people go out in the world, we all look the same. But when Jesus shines His light through us, other people can see it. They see Him in us, just like we see this star in the ring." She smiled, absorbing more truths that were unspoken to her for too long. We left for speech therapy together - a mommy with one of her special daughters and a little girl wearing a ring that will never outshine the beauty Jesus is growing inside of her. When I was driving later, tears gathered in my eyes as I thought about how God knew long ago that the ring Dennis gave me for Christmas when I was 17 would be a tool in our future daughter, Brooklyn's life to help shape and grow her in Him. We will continue looking for miracles and living in His grace. I deeply appreciate the way God goes before us. How beautiful, merciful, and good His ways are. We simply cannot fathom the love and care He has for us. I did not know Jesus when I was a teenager, yet God knew me and loved me enough to use a gift from my boyfriend to set a plan in place for our future youngest child to learn of Him in a special and deeper way over half a century later. Psalm 139:5-6 says, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” Psalm 136:16 says, “Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever.” This next story is one I shared on my blog. I will read it as I shared there. Earlier this week I heard words that I knew might one day be said. In 15 years of adoptive parenting, they had never been spoken to me. “You’re not my real mom.” Instead of pain, my first thoughts were “How can I help her? What is going on inside her mind and spirit?” Always so good with eye contact, my youngest did not meet my eyes this time. Even when we received her as ours after meeting for the first time in China, she had perfect eye contact. In fact, her gaze was so impressive that I knew we had a fireball in our family. I remained calm and kept my voice gentle. “Why do you say that?” I asked. “Why do you say I’m not your real mom?” “Because you are wearing make-up today,” she said. I began to laugh. I couldn’t help it. My youngest loves to stay home. Her perfect day includes me waking her up in the morning wearing no makeup and my “stay home” clothes. Yes, there is a distinct difference in the way I look at home and when I go out in public. Comfy clothes are all I wear at home. Not pajamas, but close – soft and warm clothes. Brooklyn wears her pajamas all day – every day, unless we go out. This was her unique way of telling me how dissatisfied she was with me. After hugging, I explained to her that I knew she didn’t like to go to the doctor. I promised her it would be an easy visit and that we could stay home – without makeup – the next day. The next morning after awakening her (of course in my no makeup, stay home attire), I asked her if her “real mommy” was back. She smiled and told me, “Yes. Mommy likes to stay home with me.” It’s so important for us to dig deep into the messages we hear. This world sends so many false messages. As I have matured in my walk with Christ, He has enabled me to get better at letting Him discern what I believe and how I control my responses. It is so important for us to read and study His word daily so that we are not controlled by our flesh. We can make time for what we deem important, and even fifteen minutes of study will increase our desire to know and follow where God calls. As we make His word a priority, we establish Him as a priority. Life can be so difficult and confusing. The only anchor we have is Jesus. Our responses, desires, and attitude, as well as actions are all a direct result from the time we spend with Him. We have to know our beliefs in order to live them. Our Savior must be alive inside of us in order for us to reflect Him. Things are not always what they appear to be. Words are not always defined by our interpretation. Let Jesus be the One to guide and influence what you prioritize, believe, and how you respond. He alone will keep us from being deceived in this world full of lies. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” So often we think we know what others mean or we project our thoughts onto them. Children teach us how beautiful simple conversation and honesty are. No wonder Jesus wants the children to come to Him. I remember writing this next piece because I was deeply touched by how God ministered to and taught me through my middle daughter. Before I begin reading it, let me share that I’m the kind of person who wants to help people. When I know someone is hurting, I immediately want to help them find a way to make things better. Yet, God often needs to do a work in or through us before pain can be erased. Often, our trials may not be just for us to learn and grow, but for the others who will see or participate and learn and grow through them. Our Heavenly Father is sovereign. God used a dishwasher to help me remember that sometimes we just need to stand in the pain with others as we trust and allow Him to work. Here’s the next story: Our family washes dishes by hand (after our dishwasher stopped working several years ago). People actually get anxious when I admit that we didn’t run out to replace this appliance immediately. They say they couldn’t imagine living without a dishwasher. Do I miss it? Sometimes I definitely do! On the days we are in and out of the house with just enough time to eat and spread dirty dishes everywhere, I really miss it. Most days, no. Why? I cherish the time spent with my family while completing chores together. We have a system. Usually, I wash and rinse dishes, and Marissa dries and puts them away. Many times, my husband will join in to help dry and put the dishes away, too. While we take care of dishes, Brooklyn folds and puts away the laundry we washed that day (she brings it to the kitchen to work on). May I share that she doesn’t just fold it. The items look professionally pressed. She “hand irons” pieces as she folds, lovingly forming soft creases in the fabric that express her deep gratitude for us, her beloved family. My mother’s eye observes and treasures special qualities God blessed us with in our home, and the way we commit their use to one another in His honor. We usually have the best discussions while everyone is gathered together without distractions. Often, we sing and dance while music is played and we always find something to laugh about. Even the dogs join in. Can you believe our Mini Schnauzer loves us to sing to her? One day last week, the girls and I were listening to a variety of songs as we worked. Naively, I chose one that I had not listened to in years. Instruments sounded the opening chords of a piece I used to enjoy with my oldest daughter, Jaime in her teen years. A realization pierced me. I have officially lived twice as long as Jaime. My age is 58 years. My beloved daughter died at age 29. Then, another thought occurred. Jaime was born when I was 18. It has been 10 years since she passed away. That means I have now lived a total of 28 years of my life without her. Now I have lived a little over half of my life without her. My heart seized at the realization. I wept. My pain wasn’t expressed in a loud, sobbing cry, but with a quiet, resigned sadness that understands I cannot change anything, yet accepts that sorrow will always line my soul with the painful loss only God has carried me through. Soon, the years will begin adding up so that I have lived more and more of my life without her. It’s not supposed to be that way. Children are supposed to live longer than parents. The imperfections in this world could rip apart our relationship with God. Yet, He doesn’t desire it to. “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.” Psalm 91:4 He created us to desire Him. Not only in the good times. A best friend cradles and carries you. They never leave your side in the hardest moments. That is Jesus. My best friend. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not, they are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 As my silent tears exposed my grief, Marissa tightly hugged me. We shared the longest embrace I can remember. Wishing she could erase my pain, yet understanding that I had to embrace this season of it, my daughter simply and bravely stood with me in it. She acknowledged my grief and loved me in it. Just like Jesus does. Our broken dishwasher was a catalyst for the continued work the Lord was crafting in my personal journey, as well as in our family connection. The multi-faceted mystery of God is so much more than we see or imagine. Faith continues growing in our home. In our lives. In our hearts. In the actions of my children. I am immensely thankful for the love we share each day. I’m also grateful for the tears. “Jesus wept.” John 11:35 Just like me. Just like you. “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in your book?” Psalm 56:8 Jesus is so concerned about our pain that He lovingly keeps track of what we do and what happens to us, storing our tears in a bottle, personally and intimately caring about every single event that occurs in our lives. Beautiful examples are modeled for us to follow for others. Marissa couldn’t store my tears or pain in a bottle, but she could stand with me. In the pain. No words needed. Just like Jesus. Living with eternal perspective means that we must condition ourselves to look for Jesus in the ordinary pockets of life. Hopefully, the more get accustomed to living that way, we get better and eventually live more with that mindset than without. My next piece exposed my desire to protect my daughter, but without the mind and heartset that Jesus would have me model for her. We must strive to adjust and keep all areas in our life focused on Him properly. Yet, even through our mistakes, Jesus knits good together despite the tattered threads of our unraveling attempts to be like Him. Let me expose my mistake and the way God redeemed it through working a good work in me for my daughters to see. Last week, I specifically asked God to humble me and allow me to become more like Him. As I whispered the words I truly meant, I knew that I was “asking for trouble.” Sometimes the prayers we offer to God can be scary. Just like when we pray for patience, I knew I would encounter both “painful” and “blessed” experiences ahead. I forgot to add the adjective, “embarrassing” to my list. As my Creator, God knows exactly what I need to become more like Him. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10 It didn’t take long. Just a few days later I went to the county fair with my family. God was at work. I often reflect on my calling as a Christian and how that pertains to how I act and react to others daily. But, as at the fair, sometimes our emotions get the best of us, and we don’t think before we react. In Ephesians, Paul reminds us to walk worthy of the calling with which we are called. Sometimes, it’s hard. Obviously, it was for me that day at the fair. “Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1b-3 I had a few frustrating things happen, but the incident that triggered me to react the opposite of how I wish I would have…was…at the kiddie airplane ride. I’m not proud of my reaction. We stood in line while the multi-colored airplanes twirled, lifting small children high and low into the air. I watched my youngest daughter as she waited first in line. This was her fourth full summer with us. Almost four years of her life had now been spent in the company of a forever family who adores her instead of in a tiny crib with no human interaction. She adores family time. Absolutely treasures time with us. Going to fairs and carnivals is a delight for her. After waiting for the planes to stop spinning and letting other riders out, the operator opened the gate for her to enter the ride area. Then he stopped and asked her to measure her height at a sign near the entrance to the ride. A sign we had not seen. My girl was about an inch taller than the maximum height requirement. “She is wearing tennis shoes that make her about an inch taller,” I informed him. He shook his head. “No ride,” he said in limited English. “But she’s not really that tall,” I insisted. “The shoes make her taller.” “No,” he insisted as he continued shaking his head. “Are you serious?” I asked. “Whatever,” I remarked with frustration. “Let’s go,” I told my daughter as we got out of line. I couldn’t believe that he had let us wait in line all that time and then told her she was too tall, when she really wasn’t. Also frustrating was the fact that he wouldn’t admit that it was clear her shoes made her taller. My kids (and my husband) watched me as we left the line. They were a little surprised at my reaction. Actually, I was too. No one else was as frustrated as I was. Immediately, I thought about what a bad example I was being to my family and to the ride operator. “When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2 I had a choice as to whether I wanted to be frustrated or to realize that this silly airplane ride didn’t really matter. I was acting like foolishly. My frustration began to evaporate. How could I remain frustrated when God was already speaking to me? Of course, the conversationalist that I am, I discussed the experience and my reaction with my kids while we were still at the fair. I want to think about how what I do affects others around me. My responses can draw someone to or push them away from Jesus. Drawing others to Him, just by allowing Him to shine, means everything to me. I’m so glad I prayed to be humbled. I wonder what is next… My prayer is now that I will handle being humbled with more visible grace and light as I allow Jesus to continue transforming me moment by moment. How often do you jump in to rectify a situation or protect a loved one without waiting to see what God may have planned? His mercy is never ending. I am incredibly thankful for the work He has done and is doing in me. I’ll share one more story today. I hope my mistakes and joys allow you to cling more closely to God and perfect your ability to see His grace, wisdom, and provisions in each moment of your day. When I gave birth to my two biological children, I never considered bonding and attachment. The gift naturally occurred. In my defense, I was not a seasoned mother. I was only 18 when I delivered my first child and 21 when my second child was born. Yet, I wonder if all older mothers give much consideration to the fact that not all babies have the same beginnings in life. Even when a child stays with their birth family, there is still a need for intentional and purposeful bonding and attachment. When we adopted an infant from China 26 years after having our second child, we had obtained many years of parenting experience, as well as ongoing early childhood education on trauma, bonding, and attachment. Our eyes and hearts were opened wide by our innocent baby girl and the needs she carried. Then, we adopted again ten years later, and brought home an older child. We were as prepared as we could be. That doesn’t mean we had all the answers, but we knew where to go. God has made all the difference. Each child is unique. Each family is unique. Each situation is unique. But I knew; God is always the same. He has carried us every step of the way. Our eyes and minds have been fixed on Him for wisdom, guidance, understanding, peace, love…everything. He makes all things possible. But not all things are easy. What undeserved blessings we have received! We've witnessed miracles. Loss and grief have mingled with new beginnings that only God could orchestrate. What brokenness we have watched God heal. Shortly after our youngest child was home, she was overwhelmed by emotions that could not be expressed, except through tears. Although she was unable to tell me what she was feeling, I wanted to stay near – and I sat on the floor of her bedroom with her. Our language was strange; she had never heard it before coming to America. Everything was completely different: the language, smells, foods, sounds, home, people, animals, and even the way we responded to her. Used to no attention, she was now cherished by strangers. Her emotions told me she was frightened, overwhelmed, and she was grieving all that she knew and understood. Although I knew this was completely normal for the situation we were in, I just wanted to be close to her, for her to realize that I wouldn’t leave her in the hard places. She would never be abandoned. She was treasured. It was hard. She wouldn’t let me hold her. She didn’t want to hear my voice. But she did let me sit near her. In fact, if I tried to move away, she wailed louder, confirming my instincts to stay. As I stayed close, the lyrics of the Casting Crowns song, “Just Be Held,” flowed through my mind, intermixed with fervent prayers as I begged my Heavenly Father to help her. “Hold it all together. Everybody needs you strong. But life hits you out of nowhere and barely leaves you holding on.” Yes. Both of us were trying to hold it together. She was struggling to find a way to keep her control. I was definitely praying as I sat with her or I would not be able to hold it together for her. It was extremely difficult to sit through all the wailing and not be able to do anything. My heart was breaking for all she was fighting and going through. I thought of how God sees us when we hurt and struggle. Song lyrics continued in my mind. “And not a tear is wasted. In time, you’ll understand. I’m painting beauty with the ashes. Your life is in My hands.” “Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place. I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held. Just be held. Just be held.” If only she could just let go and be held, I thought. But there was no way she could understand the changes her life was undergoing or the depth of our love for her already. I had to make sure I let go and let God handle the situation. I had no answers. I had to rely on Him to comfort her, unique to her needs, and individual to the plan He had for her life. I wanted her to realize that she was safe. That she could trust me - trust us. That with time, she could trust our love. God's love. Our family didn’t even know the way our love would deepen and evolve as we all bonded, attached, and grew together. Just as we cannot possibly fathom the love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. He has a special love and relationship with each of us. We need to just let go and simply be held. Just accept. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1 How many of us resist God and struggle for years? How many still do not release control and allow themselves to be held? How many do not realize their worth through Him? As we believe we have released control in one area, there is always another to work on. Nothing we experience in life is wasted. Not even one tear. “Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll – are they not in your record?” Psalm 56:8 “Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world. Red, brown, yellow, black, or white. They are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” Just as he adores them as grown-ups. No matter what we think or do. Let yourself be held. Experience transformation through Him. He truly is (more than) enough for all of our needs. Seek and seize the teachable moments God places before you and your children. Wear His eyes to see and experience His heart to believe. Father God, we thank you that you love us through our imperfections, but You don’t leave us there when we seek You. Thank you for offering a bridge for us to come straight to You through Jesus. Father, help us be more aware of Your presence in our life daily. Without You, we are nothing. God, we need You desperately! Help us to please You more each moment as we see and show You more clearly in our lives. Thank you for revealing Yourself through daily life, in the large and small moments that speak to us so intimately. Help us use those times, hard and easy, to cling more closely to You and shift our behaviors and thoughts to match Yours. In Your Precious name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this episode. I’m thrilled to share that my latest free resource, “Scattering Seeds: Planting Character and Faith in Your Child” has released! This eBook is an excellent encouragement and support for mothers or grandmothers of young children. I encourage you to visit terrihitt.com to access and download it soon. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast. Episode #011 – Abundance Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed and thrilled to be back with you today to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Forced changes in our nation over the last several weeks have shaped a new definition of abundance in the minds of most Americans. If you ponder the definition of the word, you most likely think of “a very large quantity of something” or “plentifulness of good things,” or “prosperity.” Throughout our years of marriage, my husband and I have shared times of ease and of difficulty. Getting married right out of high school with only $1,000 in savings was hard. Within the first year we had a baby and new expenses, medical bills, plus my health took a hit. After suffering for a few years with health issues, I had to have a hysterectomy at the age of 22. By then, we had two children and a lot more medical bills and expenses. I look back at those early years with wonder at how we survived. Before we knew God was caring for us, He was. My in-laws were there to help in many ways, and they prayed for us daily. Gradually, my health improved, and I began babysitting at home until our children were a little older and then I had to go to work outside of the home. We were working very hard to get out of debt. I remember paying about $100 total a month (which was a lot), breaking payments into $5 per medical specialist we owed just to keep them from calling collections on us. It was all we could afford. The Lord definitely provided miracles for us multiple times where we had no idea what we would do. Then, in later years, after our first two children were young adults, and we were in the last months of our first adoption from China, we needed $9,000.00 for the remaining expenses and travel money we needed to bring our infant daughter home. We prayed together daily through our “paper pregnancy” and this was one of the many requests we lifted to the Lord. After praying specifically about this need for about two weeks, my husband was called into his boss’s office at work and received a bonus check. After taxes and tithing, the amount was exactly $9,000.00. Matthew 6:11 says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” On our second adoption, I was no longer working outside of the home as I left my job the week before we left for China the first time. We had sucked through savings when we had to pay for the unexpected funeral of our oldest daughter and then my husband was laid off his job for almost two years. We honestly had no idea how we would pay for another adoption. The cost had risen substantially from ten years earlier, yet we knew with a certainty that God was calling us to obey and adopt. It was clear that God had a plan and we needed to bring home our last child. We knew it was our obligation to be clear on His calling and then step out in obedience. We were absolutely certain that God would provide everything we needed because of what He tells us in His word and faithfulness to us in the past. During this time, God blessed us with many loving friends and family members who donated small amounts that added up to help enormously. He also prompted two special friends to give large amounts that surprised and blessed our hearts immensely. We were recipients of several small grants from various organizations and a matching grant that complimented the giving of friends and family I mentioned earlier. Yet, just one week before our travel date, we were still in need of $3000.00. As I sat in a meeting with hospice discussing arrangements for my mother with Alzheimer’s, who had suddenly taken a turn for the worse, I received a call from one last organization. They wanted to let me know that they had a last-minute grant for us in the amount of $3,000.00. Only God. Matthew 6:33-34 says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” We stepped out in abundant obedience and let God manage the abundant details. Through the years, God has proven to me that I have taken times of abundance for granted. The more we made financially, sometimes I expected more. It doesn’t matter whether I felt like we were doing things with our money that God would approve of or not. What was critical is that I began to feel entitled to what I had. Life insurance is a great example of what I mean. Earlier I mentioned my husband’s job loss. It was when the economy took a dip about ten years ago and was the only income source our family had. My husband and I had made a pact that I would remain a stay-home mother as we raised our second family. It was extremely important to us to honor that promise we made to God and each other. Due to his job loss, we had to purchase COBRA (Continuation Coverage Assistance), which was extremely expensive. In addition, my insurance eligibility was suddenly questioned. It took months of work, a doctor visit with different blood tests, and petitioning from a rheumatologist and me before the insurance company decided they would insure me. I knew God heard our urgent prayers. I remembered each time I had complained about insurance premiums and co-pays being so expensive in the past and appreciated the blessing of just being covered now, despite it costing much more money. God had changed my heart while still providing care. Deuteronomy 8:2 says, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands.” Everything we experience in life, whether we are ignoring the Lord or following Him intentionally, can be used to deepen our faith and understanding of Him and to allow us to draw nearer to Him so He will draw nearer to us. I consider that ultimate abundance. The majority of us in the United States live abundant lives. Especially in comparison to much of the world. Because of that, even if we live with what we consider to be grateful hearts, we may not live with an abundant awareness that everything we have is truly a gift provided by God. Deuteronomy 8:17-18a instruct us, “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Everything is formed by His hands and comes to us from His hands. Often, when times are plentiful, we take things for granted without realizing it. We neglect to remember that our prosperity is not to be credited to our own wit, determination, or power. God allows and gives us all that we are and have. Although His love for us is intense and lasting, He rightfully expects us to manage all that He gives us in ways that will be pleasing to Him and with a remembrance that it is all from and for Him. God gives and takes for seasons and purposes that allow His abundant work to be completed in and around us. What God allows us to possess must be used for Him. If our lives are full of abundance, He has entrusted those gifts to us for a purpose at this time. The more we receive from His hands, the higher our responsibility to use our time, understanding, and resources becomes. Often, when our gifts and resources are financial, we find it is easy to become self-reliant and to forget what we have is a gift. It may or may not continue to be entrusted to us. We are to have open hands and an open heart with all we receive from God. Mark 10:23 says, “Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When we already possess everything we could want and have the means to purchase anything we desire, it can be difficult to recognize our abundant need for a Savior. It is also easy to convince ourselves that the gifts and abundance we have are for our pleasure. Yet, when God has entrusted a resource to us, He expects us to use it for others to glorify His name and bring others to Him. 1 Peter 4:10-11a says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” How loving God is to endow us with gifts and talents! He could have allowed none of us to enjoy abilities that bring joy and pleasure. That He enables us to serve Him with them is further evidence that His love for us is extravagant and of course, abundant. Have you noticed that when you use what God has gifted you for selfish purposes just how little pleasure is felt? When we exercise generosity and serve others with what we have received, fullness of joy and gratitude flood in and propel us to give more. I have a friend who lives in South Carolina. During the last four years that I have known her, I have witnessed her embody giving with a beautiful spirit of grace. When our youngest celebrated our first birthday home with us, this friend ordered her a beautiful cake that was shipped to us. This past Christmas I received a late Christmas gift in the mail. It was a beautiful Christian Planner that I now use for work in this ministry. Who do you think it was from? Yes, it was also sent from this same South Carolina friend. She always looks for ways to give and enables others to feel seen and honored. I have been immensely blessed in being a recipient of her personalized care and generosity. She has found a way to show the principle of giving with a whole heart that has caused me, and I am sure many others, to feel abundantly loved. Joy and contentment are eternal. When we allow God to fill us with the ability to live and give joyfully with what He provides and strive to honor Him with it, we will also have the abundant peace that accompanies joy and contentment. Philippians 4:11b-13 says, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Is it easy to live with abundant contentment? No, not easy, but possible. To embody continuous contentment, we must make a choice to rely on the Holy Spirit alive in us to teach the behavior needed to ignore circumstances, or emotions, and build our resistance to complaining or searching for more. The Greek word for contentment is also translated as “satisfied, adequate, competent, or sufficient” in the New Testament. God’s will is for us to be abundantly satisfied despite circumstances. Galatians 5:22-25 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.” Living with abundance is not just about money or contentment mindsets. Jesus gives us the ability to fully live with abundant hearts, thoughts, peace, gratitude, joy, hope, love, kindness, gentleness, patience, self-control, and contentment. Because of Him, our minds and emotions can be free to live with the abundance He intends for us. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” When we strive to live closely with Jesus, He opens our eyes and minds, as well as our heart, to see and firmly believe that an abundant life is built on what we claim through and because of Him. Colossians 3:1-2 says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” I think something extremely important in the verses I mentioned from Colossians is found in what comes next in verse 3, which says, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Surrendering to Him each and every moment is crucial if we desire an abundant life. Abundant surrender. We cannot recognize and we will not claim all He intends for us if we are not becoming more like Him daily. I want my will to be bent and shaped to His. Less of me and more of Jesus is the chant I keep reminding myself daily. I have recognized that Jesus is the key to fulfilling the abundant desires God placed in me when I was a thought in His heart. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” My abundance has been found in following Him with a willing heart and obedient steps. Psalm 36:8 says, “They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.” Through living with an abundant and obedient heart, we are able to allow others to see and taste what God has done and claim Him for themselves. God does not love any of us more than the other. He desires abundance through Him for every single one of us. When we look at what abundant means in the Greek translation, we see, “exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than one would expect or anticipate.” What does that mean for followers of Jesus? He promises us a life that is much greater than we could ever imagine. How can that be? Think of all of the intelligent and highly creative minds this world has ever held. Not a single one of us can conceptualize what God has in store. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” Wealth, power, and privilege are not priorities in the eyes of Jesus. The King of Kings left His throne to come to this broken world for us. The usual way this world thinks is opposite of the way God’s mind or kingdom operates. Obviously, some Christians have been blessed with wealth and power for a purpose, however, many of us are faithfully seeking what He calls us to count as abundant. Each breath we take, our loved ones, our health, the ability to have an occupation, and so much more that we have been given, are all abundant blessings. Simply knowing Jesus as our personal Savior is the most abundant provision and miracle we have been offered. God calls us to seek spiritual abundance with Him as the focus rather than rely on or chase after worldly abundance. If He looks after the sparrow, and cares for its every need, if He clothes the fields, how much more will He provide for us? We must be faithful to fix our minds and hearts on Jesus; God will abundantly care for the rest. 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” As we continue to desire to be more Christ-like, and be stretched and grown through our walk with Him, we have an ever-present hope and promise. When we stand before Jesus one day, we will finally experience the grace and joy of a faithful life that has proven to be amply fulfilled by His passionate, abundant love for us. My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, God does provide abundantly. He knows the details of our lives and desires good for us. He also expects abundance from us in return. He desires abundant trust and demands abundant obedience. He longs for us to desire Him with abundant passion. He seeks our abundant gratitude for His loving grace. He wants us to be abundantly content with all He has given and taken away. He wants us to surrender willingly and abundantly to Him. Thank you so much for listening to the Live With Eternal Perspective podcast. God has impressed so much on my heart to share. Living with an eternal perspective affects absolutely everything in my life. I am thrilled to delve into different areas with you. Since everything affects our eternity, we have a lot to discuss! I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you found value in this podcast, please subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. I also encourage you to leave a review. In order for others to be able to find this podcast, I will need the support of listeners who will invest a few minutes in subscribing and reviewing to lift Live With Eternal Perspective higher on the charts so that the platform shows it to everyone. Thank you again for sharing part of your day with me. Until next time, keep looking Upward and finding new ways to live with an Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 011 Abundance Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast. Episode #011 – Abundance Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed and thrilled to be back with you today to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Forced changes in our nation over the last several weeks have shaped a new definition of abundance in the minds of most Americans. If you ponder the definition of the word, you most likely think of “a very large quantity of something” or “plentifulness of good things,” or “prosperity.” Throughout our years of marriage, my husband and I have shared times of ease and of difficulty. Getting married right out of high school with only $1,000 in savings was hard. Within the first year we had a baby and new expenses, medical bills, plus my health took a hit. After suffering for a few years with health issues, I had to have a hysterectomy at the age of 22. By then, we had two children and a lot more medical bills and expenses. I look back at those early years with wonder at how we survived. Before we knew God was caring for us, He was. My in-laws were there to help in many ways, and they prayed for us daily. Gradually, my health improved, and I began babysitting at home until our children were a little older and then I had to go to work outside of the home. We were working very hard to get out of debt. I remember paying about $100 total a month (which was a lot), breaking payments into $5 per medical specialist we owed just to keep them from calling collections on us. It was all we could afford. The Lord definitely provided miracles for us multiple times where we had no idea what we would do. Then, in later years, after our first two children were young adults, and we were in the last months of our first adoption from China, we needed $9,000.00 for the remaining expenses and travel money we needed to bring our infant daughter home. We prayed together daily through our “paper pregnancy” and this was one of the many requests we lifted to the Lord. After praying specifically about this need for about two weeks, my husband was called into his boss’s office at work and received a bonus check. After taxes and tithing, the amount was exactly $9,000.00. Matthew 6:11 says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” On our second adoption, I was no longer working outside of the home as I left my job the week before we left for China the first time. We had sucked through savings when we had to pay for the unexpected funeral of our oldest daughter and then my husband was laid off his job for almost two years. We honestly had no idea how we would pay for another adoption. The cost had risen substantially from ten years earlier, yet we knew with a certainty that God was calling us to obey and adopt. It was clear that God had a plan and we needed to bring home our last child. We knew it was our obligation to be clear on His calling and then step out in obedience. We were absolutely certain that God would provide everything we needed because of what He tells us in His word and faithfulness to us in the past. During this time, God blessed us with many loving friends and family members who donated small amounts that added up to help enormously. He also prompted two special friends to give large amounts that surprised and blessed our hearts immensely. We were recipients of several small grants from various organizations and a matching grant that complimented the giving of friends and family I mentioned earlier. Yet, just one week before our travel date, we were still in need of $3000.00. As I sat in a meeting with hospice discussing arrangements for my mother with Alzheimer’s, who had suddenly taken a turn for the worse, I received a call from one last organization. They wanted to let me know that they had a last-minute grant for us in the amount of $3,000.00. Only God. Matthew 6:33-34 says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” We stepped out in abundant obedience and let God manage the abundant details. Through the years, God has proven to me that I have taken times of abundance for granted. The more we made financially, sometimes I expected more. It doesn’t matter whether I felt like we were doing things with our money that God would approve of or not. What was critical is that I began to feel entitled to what I had. Life insurance is a great example of what I mean. Earlier I mentioned my husband’s job loss. It was when the economy took a dip about ten years ago and was the only income source our family had. My husband and I had made a pact that I would remain a stay-home mother as we raised our second family. It was extremely important to us to honor that promise we made to God and each other. Due to his job loss, we had to purchase COBRA (Continuation Coverage Assistance), which was extremely expensive. In addition, my insurance eligibility was suddenly questioned. It took months of work, a doctor visit with different blood tests, and petitioning from a rheumatologist and me before the insurance company decided they would insure me. I knew God heard our urgent prayers. I remembered each time I had complained about insurance premiums and co-pays being so expensive in the past and appreciated the blessing of just being covered now, despite it costing much more money. God had changed my heart while still providing care. Deuteronomy 8:2 says, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands.” Everything we experience in life, whether we are ignoring the Lord or following Him intentionally, can be used to deepen our faith and understanding of Him and to allow us to draw nearer to Him so He will draw nearer to us. I consider that ultimate abundance. The majority of us in the United States live abundant lives. Especially in comparison to much of the world. Because of that, even if we live with what we consider to be grateful hearts, we may not live with an abundant awareness that everything we have is truly a gift provided by God. Deuteronomy 8:17-18a instruct us, “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Everything is formed by His hands and comes to us from His hands. Often, when times are plentiful, we take things for granted without realizing it. We neglect to remember that our prosperity is not to be credited to our own wit, determination, or power. God allows and gives us all that we are and have. Although His love for us is intense and lasting, He rightfully expects us to manage all that He gives us in ways that will be pleasing to Him and with a remembrance that it is all from and for Him. God gives and takes for seasons and purposes that allow His abundant work to be completed in and around us. What God allows us to possess must be used for Him. If our lives are full of abundance, He has entrusted those gifts to us for a purpose at this time. The more we receive from His hands, the higher our responsibility to use our time, understanding, and resources becomes. Often, when our gifts and resources are financial, we find it is easy to become self-reliant and to forget what we have is a gift. It may or may not continue to be entrusted to us. We are to have open hands and an open heart with all we receive from God. Mark 10:23 says, “Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When we already possess everything we could want and have the means to purchase anything we desire, it can be difficult to recognize our abundant need for a Savior. It is also easy to convince ourselves that the gifts and abundance we have are for our pleasure. Yet, when God has entrusted a resource to us, He expects us to use it for others to glorify His name and bring others to Him. 1 Peter 4:10-11a says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” How loving God is to endow us with gifts and talents! He could have allowed none of us to enjoy abilities that bring joy and pleasure. That He enables us to serve Him with them is further evidence that His love for us is extravagant and of course, abundant. Have you noticed that when you use what God has gifted you for selfish purposes just how little pleasure is felt? When we exercise generosity and serve others with what we have received, fullness of joy and gratitude flood in and propel us to give more. I have a friend who lives in South Carolina. During the last four years that I have known her, I have witnessed her embody giving with a beautiful spirit of grace. When our youngest celebrated our first birthday home with us, this friend ordered her a beautiful cake that was shipped to us. This past Christmas I received a late Christmas gift in the mail. It was a beautiful Christian Planner that I now use for work in this ministry. Who do you think it was from? Yes, it was also sent from this same South Carolina friend. She always looks for ways to give and enables others to feel seen and honored. I have been immensely blessed in being a recipient of her personalized care and generosity. She has found a way to show the principle of giving with a whole heart that has caused me, and I am sure many others, to feel abundantly loved. Joy and contentment are eternal. When we allow God to fill us with the ability to live and give joyfully with what He provides and strive to honor Him with it, we will also have the abundant peace that accompanies joy and contentment. Philippians 4:11b-13 says, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Is it easy to live with abundant contentment? No, not easy, but possible. To embody continuous contentment, we must make a choice to rely on the Holy Spirit alive in us to teach the behavior needed to ignore circumstances, or emotions, and build our resistance to complaining or searching for more. The Greek word for contentment is also translated as “satisfied, adequate, competent, or sufficient” in the New Testament. God’s will is for us to be abundantly satisfied despite circumstances. Galatians 5:22-25 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.” Living with abundance is not just about money or contentment mindsets. Jesus gives us the ability to fully live with abundant hearts, thoughts, peace, gratitude, joy, hope, love, kindness, gentleness, patience, self-control, and contentment. Because of Him, our minds and emotions can be free to live with the abundance He intends for us. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” When we strive to live closely with Jesus, He opens our eyes and minds, as well as our heart, to see and firmly believe that an abundant life is built on what we claim through and because of Him. Colossians 3:1-2 says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” I think something extremely important in the verses I mentioned from Colossians is found in what comes next in verse 3, which says, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Surrendering to Him each and every moment is crucial if we desire an abundant life. Abundant surrender. We cannot recognize and we will not claim all He intends for us if we are not becoming more like Him daily. I want my will to be bent and shaped to His. Less of me and more of Jesus is the chant I keep reminding myself daily. I have recognized that Jesus is the key to fulfilling the abundant desires God placed in me when I was a thought in His heart. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” My abundance has been found in following Him with a willing heart and obedient steps. Psalm 36:8 says, “They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.” Through living with an abundant and obedient heart, we are able to allow others to see and taste what God has done and claim Him for themselves. God does not love any of us more than the other. He desires abundance through Him for every single one of us. When we look at what abundant means in the Greek translation, we see, “exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than one would expect or anticipate.” What does that mean for followers of Jesus? He promises us a life that is much greater than we could ever imagine. How can that be? Think of all of the intelligent and highly creative minds this world has ever held. Not a single one of us can conceptualize what God has in store. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” Wealth, power, and privilege are not priorities in the eyes of Jesus. The King of Kings left His throne to come to this broken world for us. The usual way this world thinks is opposite of the way God’s mind or kingdom operates. Obviously, some Christians have been blessed with wealth and power for a purpose, however, many of us are faithfully seeking what He calls us to count as abundant. Each breath we take, our loved ones, our health, the ability to have an occupation, and so much more that we have been given, are all abundant blessings. Simply knowing Jesus as our personal Savior is the most abundant provision and miracle we have been offered. God calls us to seek spiritual abundance with Him as the focus rather than rely on or chase after worldly abundance. If He looks after the sparrow, and cares for its every need, if He clothes the fields, how much more will He provide for us? We must be faithful to fix our minds and hearts on Jesus; God will abundantly care for the rest. 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” As we continue to desire to be more Christ-like, and be stretched and grown through our walk with Him, we have an ever-present hope and promise. When we stand before Jesus one day, we will finally experience the grace and joy of a faithful life that has proven to be amply fulfilled by His passionate, abundant love for us. My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, God does provide abundantly. He knows the details of our lives and desires good for us. He also expects abundance from us in return. He desires abundant trust and demands abundant obedience. He longs for us to desire Him with abundant passion. He seeks our abundant gratitude for His loving grace. He wants us to be abundantly content with all He has given and taken away. He wants us to surrender willingly and abundantly to Him. Thank you so much for listening to the Live With Eternal Perspective podcast. God has impressed so much on my heart to share. Living with an eternal perspective affects absolutely everything in my life. I am thrilled to delve into different areas with you. Since everything affects our eternity, we have a lot to discuss! I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you found value in this podcast, please subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. I also encourage you to leave a review. In order for others to be able to find this podcast, I will need the support of listeners who will invest a few minutes in subscribing and reviewing to lift Live With Eternal Perspective higher on the charts so that the platform shows it to everyone. Thank you again for sharing part of your day with me. Until next time, keep looking Upward and finding new ways to live with an Eternal Perspective.

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #100 – Journey to Hope - Interview with Dwyatt Gantt Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Did you notice the episode number in the title? One hundred. That means there have been 100 Live With Eternal Perspective episodes! What a blessed journey I have been honored to travel as I stepped forward in obedience when I heard God call me to podcast. Our gracious Heavenly Father amazes me weekly as He continues to grow and deepen my maturity and relationship with Him through producing each episode. If you have enjoyed or grown through any of the Live With Eternal Perspective podcasts, give our Almighty God the glory! I knew absolutely nothing about podcasting when I began, but my heart was focused on obeying where I heard God calling me to walk. He has made sure the resources I need are available at each step. When we trust and follow the Lord, we see that His vision is always larger than we imagine and the blessings more abundant! God doesn’t seek the equipped to serve Him. Our Heavenly Father yearns for us to release self, doubt, fear, and anything that hinders or holds us back from stepping out for and through Him. He desires to complete us as we completely trust, love, and obey Him. Walking in faith through trusting the Lord is one of my favorite ways to obey God. It is exactly what my husband and I chose to do back in 2004 when we began our adoption journey. It was the definitely one of the biggest blind steps of faith we had taken so far. Why is that important? That piece of our faith and life journey is why it is an honor for me to share my special guest with you today. Dwyatt Gantt also lives each day to hear and follow where he believes God is calling him to go. Because of faith and obedience, Dwyatt’s life, and miracles of God, intertwined with ours and with thousands of others. Dwyatt Gantt is the Founder and Executive Director of Children’s Hope International, and is committed to the mission of compassionately engaging in changing the lives of the vulnerable, orphans, sick, weak, and the poorest of children and families. The organization places its hope in God and the staff is intent on taking His love to those whose hope has died. Through strongly focusing on children who are orphans, abandoned and forgotten, often sick or with special needs, or families struggling with debt and despair because of the health of their children, this non-profit organization brings hope and relief with Dwyatt at the helm. Dwyatt is also the proud patriarch of four children, seven grandchildren, and twenty-one great grandchildren. When my husband and I knew for certain that God had a daughter for us in China back in early 2004 and we began completing all of the paperwork, it was the local branch of Children’s Hope that guided us as extended family. Every person on staff was a true joy to know and an absolute pleasure to work with. Through personal guidance and monthly meetings designed to educate and equip parents as we walked the precious journey we were privileged to travel, we experienced joy and peace as the trajectory of our lives was forever changed. Please enjoy this very special episode of Live With Eternal Perspective as I speak with Dwyatt about the way God has provided him with a purpose and passion that was written on his heart long before Dwyatt realized it was there. Listen as Dwyatt shares how God revealed Himself and the blind faith journey his life was to take. As he says in the interview, “Discover your purpose and never let it go.” -----------------------------------------------INTERVIEW-------------------------------------------------- Corrie Ten Boom said, “Never be afraid of an unknown future with a known God.” Dwyatt has captured this quote as inspiration and lived it well. Mark Twain wrote, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Dwyatt believes he discovered his purpose at age 50. He doesn’t want you to wait that long. What is God whispering to you? Are you ready to take a blind faith journey with the Lord carrying you every step of the way? Dear God, our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, our Creator and Keeper, our Provider and Protector, how Great You are. Thank you for placing us on this earth with a purpose straight from You. May we discover more clearly day by day what you have for us to do in Your name and through Your will and ways as we draw nearer to You. Help us cling to You through good and bad, easy and hard. Through persecution may we rise up in Your strength and may we be concerned with what concerns You. May we wait upon You to have our strength renewed, may we mount up with wings like eagles, may we run and not grow weary, walk and not faint because we humbly rely on Your strength and provision. Thank you Father, for Your goodness and grace. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this podcast. If you find value in what you hear, I invite you to help others find the podcast. I have two requests. If you are able, please go to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review to push the podcast out for more people to find. Without good reviews, others won’t hear the episodes designed to mature walks with Christ and equip all to live for eternity now. You can also share podcast episodes with friends and family so that they can begin to listen each week. You can share my website, terrihitt.com and let others know that on it they will be able to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature their walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage them to raise or influence children and grandchildren to choose Christ over culture. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 100 Journey to Hope Interview with Dwyatt Gantt Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #100 – Journey to Hope - Interview with Dwyatt Gantt Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Did you notice the episode number in the title? One hundred. That means there have been 100 Live With Eternal Perspective episodes! What a blessed journey I have been honored to travel as I stepped forward in obedience when I heard God call me to podcast. Our gracious Heavenly Father amazes me weekly as He continues to grow and deepen my maturity and relationship with Him through producing each episode. If you have enjoyed or grown through any of the Live With Eternal Perspective podcasts, give our Almighty God the glory! I knew absolutely nothing about podcasting when I began, but my heart was focused on obeying where I heard God calling me to walk. He has made sure the resources I need are available at each step. When we trust and follow the Lord, we see that His vision is always larger than we imagine and the blessings more abundant! God doesn’t seek the equipped to serve Him. Our Heavenly Father yearns for us to release self, doubt, fear, and anything that hinders or holds us back from stepping out for and through Him. He desires to complete us as we completely trust, love, and obey Him. Walking in faith through trusting the Lord is one of my favorite ways to obey God. It is exactly what my husband and I chose to do back in 2004 when we began our adoption journey. It was the definitely one of the biggest blind steps of faith we had taken so far. Why is that important? That piece of our faith and life journey is why it is an honor for me to share my special guest with you today. Dwyatt Gantt also lives each day to hear and follow where he believes God is calling him to go. Because of faith and obedience, Dwyatt’s life, and miracles of God, intertwined with ours and with thousands of others. Dwyatt Gantt is the Founder and Executive Director of Children’s Hope International, and is committed to the mission of compassionately engaging in changing the lives of the vulnerable, orphans, sick, weak, and the poorest of children and families. The organization places its hope in God and the staff is intent on taking His love to those whose hope has died. Through strongly focusing on children who are orphans, abandoned and forgotten, often sick or with special needs, or families struggling with debt and despair because of the health of their children, this non-profit organization brings hope and relief with Dwyatt at the helm. Dwyatt is also the proud patriarch of four children, seven grandchildren, and twenty-one great grandchildren. When my husband and I knew for certain that God had a daughter for us in China back in early 2004 and we began completing all of the paperwork, it was the local branch of Children’s Hope that guided us as extended family. Every person on staff was a true joy to know and an absolute pleasure to work with. Through personal guidance and monthly meetings designed to educate and equip parents as we walked the precious journey we were privileged to travel, we experienced joy and peace as the trajectory of our lives was forever changed. Please enjoy this very special episode of Live With Eternal Perspective as I speak with Dwyatt about the way God has provided him with a purpose and passion that was written on his heart long before Dwyatt realized it was there. Listen as Dwyatt shares how God revealed Himself and the blind faith journey his life was to take. As he says in the interview, “Discover your purpose and never let it go.” -----------------------------------------------INTERVIEW-------------------------------------------------- Corrie Ten Boom said, “Never be afraid of an unknown future with a known God.” Dwyatt has captured this quote as inspiration and lived it well. Mark Twain wrote, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Dwyatt believes he discovered his purpose at age 50. He doesn’t want you to wait that long. What is God whispering to you? Are you ready to take a blind faith journey with the Lord carrying you every step of the way? Dear God, our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, our Creator and Keeper, our Provider and Protector, how Great You are. Thank you for placing us on this earth with a purpose straight from You. May we discover more clearly day by day what you have for us to do in Your name and through Your will and ways as we draw nearer to You. Help us cling to You through good and bad, easy and hard. Through persecution may we rise up in Your strength and may we be concerned with what concerns You. May we wait upon You to have our strength renewed, may we mount up with wings like eagles, may we run and not grow weary, walk and not faint because we humbly rely on Your strength and provision. Thank you Father, for Your goodness and grace. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this podcast. If you find value in what you hear, I invite you to help others find the podcast. I have two requests. If you are able, please go to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review to push the podcast out for more people to find. Without good reviews, others won’t hear the episodes designed to mature walks with Christ and equip all to live for eternity now. You can also share podcast episodes with friends and family so that they can begin to listen each week. You can share my website, terrihitt.com and let others know that on it they will be able to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature their walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage them to raise or influence children and grandchildren to choose Christ over culture. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 100 - Purposed Parenting to Build Generational Faith and Leave an Eternal Legacy with Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright and Riggin Wright Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 100 – Purposed Parenting to Build Generational Faith and Leave an Eternal Legacy with Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright and Riggin Wright Thank you for sharing your day with me. I pray this podcast deepens your walk with Jesus and your children, and equips you to become a set-apart woman raising children to chase Christ over culture. Today I have the joy of sharing a conversation with two special guests. My first guest, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She’s the daughter of Daniel and Anne Graham Lotz and granddaughter of Billy and Ruth Graham. Following graduation from Baylor University in Waco, TX, she married Steven Wright, a high school football coach, and they have three daughters: Bell, Sophia, and Riggin. Rachel-Ruth teaches a weekly women’s Bible Study that originated at the University of North Carolina and now, through Zoom, has gone worldwide. She also shares God’s Word at numerous events around the country. She serves on the Board of Directors for AnGeL Ministries, in addition to chairing the weekly prayer team that undergirds her mother’s ministry. Her passion for leading children to Jesus and getting them into God’s Word helped to inspire her mother’s first children’s book, Heaven: God’s Promise for Me. She has co-authored two books with her mother, Jesus Followers, and Preparing to Meet Jesus. Rachel-Ruth feels called to encourage others to fall in love with Jesus through the teaching of His Word. My second guest, Riggin Wright is the daughter of Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright and Steven Wright. She’s a high school senior. Riggin is very involved in sports and just like her mom, enjoys sharing the love of Jesus. Riggin also leads a Bible study at her school. In our conversation we discuss how to be a purposed parent and the importance of building generational faith so we can leave an eternal legacy that honors God and points our children straight to the heart and feet of Jesus. We share personal family stories and how we learned to parent the heart not simply the behavior. You’ll hear us discuss how parenting requires complete surrender and inviting God to renew us daily. We also discuss why women must stop striving to be good moms, so they can become godly moms and how we are responsible to pray for God to claim the hearts of our children, but that starts with our personal walk with Christ. ____________________________ INTERVIEW_______________________________ (Read full interview notes at Apple Podcast transcripts) Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending us Your Son, Jesus and allowing us the privilege of choosing You. Thank you that we can enter into Your presence at any time and find You waiting and already steps ahead of us. Thank you for depositing the Holy Spirit inside those who belong to You and enabling us to shake off self and step into being more Christlike moment by moment, day by day. Father, equip us as mothers to raise the children You so lovingly entrusted to us in ways that bring you delight and glory. Help us to remember that we are unable to parent in any way that pleases, but that through You we are equipped. Empower us with the mercy, grace, love, insight, understanding, wisdom, and strength we need. Remind us to rest in Your ever capable arms and seek Your guidance and guard as we parent Your special blessings to us. May we ever long for You and seek You first above all things so that we can brightly shine Your truths and a desire for You for our children. Help us be purposed and consistent in the way we seek and obey You and in the ways we receive Your great provisions to parent. It is all from You and for You. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Raising children is challenging. No one has all the answers because each child is unique as are parenting styles and family dynamics. By connecting with and knowing your children as you maintain purposed growth in Christ, you will be better prepared for any situation you face. That’s why you hear me share about the Set-Apart Collective in this podcast. I work with professionals who care about making Jesus known to their children. Are you a high-achieving woman who loves Jesus, but is so busy with the rush of work and daily life that you feel like you’re being drained like the water in your bathtub? Do you yearn to get closer to Jesus and show Him to your kids so you will create a love that will last into eternity? The desire is there, but your days spiral out of control before you even think about opening your Bible. Do you ever stop to think that you are the first Jesus your child will see? Let me remind you there is hope. There is a way you can be equipped to raise kids who chase Christ over culture. If you want a connected relationship with Christ and your children that leads them to your side and His feet, instead of them seeking validation from peers, I have an 8-step program to move you from frustrated to fulfilled. I will show you how to reflect Jesus in a way that attracts your family to a connected relationship that lasts into eternity. Remember, godly parenting is rooted in relationship with Christ and the mindset you carry. If you don’t want peers and culture to be the main influence over your child, if you desire to parent to “prepare” your child for eternity with Christ, not repair your relationship with them, the Set-Apart Collective will arm you with a Christ-centered Motherhood Mindset Model™, and create a Purposed Parenting Plan™. You’ll also deepen your identity in Christ so you can mentor the way for your children to do the same. You will be a purposed mother with an intentional mind and heart set on Christ and your family and you will have the tools to raise set apart kids as you parent the heart, not simply the behavior. Does this sound like a lifeline to help you be that set-apart mom God has entrusted you to be? Visit terrihitt.com/coaching and click the link for a free, no obligation conversation call with me. This is a strategic call where I will hear your biggest struggle and show you how to turn it into a blessing that will bring you closer to Christ and your children. It’s time for believing mothers to be purposed in preparing their children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ. Time is short. Make yours matter for eternity. One last thing to remember - if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will likely sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection with your children and Christ. Previous Next

< Back Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 082 - The Dangers of Raising a Good Kid Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 082 – The Dangers of Raising a Good Kid When I was young, I often heard the phrase, “be a good girl” from my parents. After I became a young mom at the age of eighteen, I was told to “raise a good child.” As I love to do, I thought I’d look up the definition of the word “good.” Did you know that the word “good” is described as upright , righteous , and obedient? Of course, it’s easy to recognize that these are wonderful qualities. Yet, you and I must stop and consider what gives authority to create the description of the word? Better yet, who defines good ? Who has the authority to call you or me or our children upright, righteous, or obedient? Any person could add whatever spin they desire to the definition of these words, right? However, there is One who has final authority on word meanings. God alone knows what is defined as good , righteous , upright , or obedient . Of course, our Heavenly Father desires that we raise children who carry these qualities. However , He wants the defining actions or characteristics the child carries to be in alignment with what He calls good. When our holy, sovereign, righteous God calls anything good or upright, we trust His evaluation. If we move past our opinion or the dictionary definition and pick up God’s holy Word , we learn what God calls good or righteous. Then we understand that His Word gives much insight and instruction . Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will .” Renewing your mind cannot be completed through following the patterns of the world . If you learn or study worldly wisdom and thoughts, you begin to apply its practices and beliefs and allow them to transform your thought processes. Or you can take a better way. A godly way. Renew your mind through the goodness and truth of God’s Word . Matthew 19:17 says, “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Now I’ll share a passage from 2 Peter 1:3-9 which says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” As you heard in the verses, the Bible instructs us to escape the corruption in this world. Trying to renew the mind through the thoughts and practices of humans or the culture we live in will never bring transformation of what is rightly called good by God . The goodness of man is measured by inferior and untrue standards, but the goodness of God is supported by faith and increasingly built upon by fruits of the Spirit. Ephesians 5:8-10 which says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” Scripture teaches why it’s dangerous to mentor mere goodness to your children. Your actions as a believer and parent should reflect your faith and how you are building it through your relationship with Christ . Your life should be morally above reproach so your lifestyle, desires, and the way you parent reflects God’s goodness, righteousness, and truth. You can only accomplish that through Christ. God’s holy Word and truths prove it is dangerous to strive to raise a good kid. Without Christ, none of us are righteous or good. Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” If God tells us He has shown what is good, and requires that we act justly and walk humbly with Him, we understand that to walk with the world and its definitions of righteousness or goodness will be the opposite of God’s definition and desire. Ephesians 4:20-24 says, “That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” What a beautiful analogy to put off our old self as we put on the new self through Christ. As our attitude and desires are transformed , we are able to mentor God’s goodness to our children, not the definition the world gives. There was a period in my life when I wanted to make sure I was a good person. A good woman. A good wife. A good daughter. A good mother. As my relationship with Jesus matured, I understood that limiting myself to “good ” was “ungodly .” God calls believers to a much higher standard than good. Good isn’t enough for God. It’s true that in the beginning, God proclaimed what He made to be good. However, God is proclaiming His creations are good, not that we individually or collectively are. He spoke the title of good over what He made by His intelligent and perfect design. Everything God makes is good. Yet, in this sinful, fallen world, it didn’t take long for God’s creations to choose sin. Without Christ indwelling you , it is much more difficult for your children to pursue Christ. Without the Holy Spirit within you , there is no godliness for your children to see and emulate. Without Jesus, you and your children are unable to claim the status of “godly,” or “good.” So how do you move from desiring a good life to building a godly life? Only through Christ. Once you recognize your need for God, you begin to realize the need for His perfect Son. Jesus came to pay the price for your sin. He came to pay the ransom for the sins of your children. Once you realize the need for a Savior, and accept the free gift Jesus offers, you are able to live with His Holy Spirit within. You are no longer bound to the world or the sinful temptations. Through relationship with Christ, the Holy Word, and prayerful conversations with God, you can experience a shift from good to godly. That is, if you are seeking Him and a humble, obedient, close connection moment by moment. What you desire must be held up to a mirror, so to speak, as you look at how your desires are reflected against what God calls for you in His holy Word. How you parent must also be held against God’s standards of what is good and righteous. Have you wasted time pursuing what this world calls good? Have you only allowed God access to your dreams and desires, your life, the way you work, live, or parent in small degrees? I wish I could profess to be one of those people who surrendered fully in the moment they accept Christ, but the truth is that each of us have varying degrees of surrender throughout our lifetime. We never reach that finish line in this life. We are so very far beneath God, and so far from Him, that our lifetime should be focused on pursuing deeper relationship with Him and continuing to surrender self. Just as the layers of onion are peeled away exposing more, as we surrender to God we see that there is so much more to offer Him of self. Are you wasting moments striving to be “good” instead of godly? Are you damaging the relationship between your children and Jesus by mentoring the world’s definition of good instead of God’s godliness? Maybe you’re a believer who loves God, but you’re unsure of how to disciple your children in ways that cause your child to build a faith that will last. Or maybe you dream of being a mother one day and wonder how to start building faith that lasts in your children. I remember being in that spot. I didn’t yet understand that the Christian walk is a beautiful relationship between God and man. I didn’t understand the command in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 , which says, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 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 .” I assumed that what I was doing to teach my children about Jesus was enough. In reality, they were learning my limited non-discipled faith, and since I was not growing as well as I should have been, they were only able to mimic a portion of my faith, not being discipled well to chase Christ for themselves as children. They were living a narrow view of good instead of the godly goodness of our Heavenly Father . I remember when God clearly showed me how to shift from good to godly parenting and how important it was to Him. The fact that God entrusted His children to me and to you is beyond belief. Mere fallen humans parenting God’s children is a miracle. The role we carry as mothers and spiritual advisors is one we cannot complete in our own strength or by being a good person or mother. The privilege we have been bestowed is one I take very seriously and I pray you do, too. You may have heard of The Set-Apart Collective, where I mentor women in their walk with Christ, help them grow godly mindset through my Motherhood Mindset Model™ and help them create a unique parenting formula based off of my Purposed Parenting Plan™. Because you are a listener of this podcast, I want to share that if this episode resonates with you, please contact me for a very special offer only for listeners. I want your mind and heart to be anchored on Christ through all obstacles. I want to see your family stand on the firm foundation of Christ together. When deep waters swirl around you, when tragedy and troubles plague your home, I want your grip secure on that three-fold cord that keeps Jesus in the center of all. No matter what happens, you will be committed to raising your children and growing with your spouse for Christ. It is time to rise and raise children who know and honor God. How long will mothers sit back and watch as children follow peers over parents or Christ? It doesn’t matter how good a parent you are or want to be. God calls you to be a holy, godly mother. There is nothing greater you can do than fix your heart and mind above and focus on raising His children for Him . Whether you are not yet a mother, but know you want to be in the future, whether you are expecting, or whether you have an infant, toddler, preschooler, or elementary aged child, you have influence. The time to start with purposed practices for Christ is now . Raising a good, typical child should not be your goal. Listen to that still, small voice inside that desires each child to know and serve Him with love and respect. The church alone isn’t going to raise your children to love and serve God fully. It is the day by day moments that will define you and your children, your family as a whole. Did you know that the Greek word for church means, "called-out ones?" The children entrusted to your care were hand-chosen by God to be under your mentorship. He is trusting that you will find every way possible to be the godliest woman and mother you can be so that you will raise called out, or set-apart individuals who bless His Spirit. Stop being a good mom and don’t raise good kids. Dear Heavenly Father, You alone are good. Thank you for showing us the way to You through Jesus and for ensuring that we understand Your definition of good and righteous. Father, we know we don’t deserve Your mercy and kindness, yet You extend it to us over and over through our lifetime. Help us to recognize Your goodness in our life. Help us to make Your goodness known to our children and to extend it to our spouse. Please protect us from the danger of raising good children. Let our children be set-apart and help them see You in us and desire You with a heart set on love and humble obedience to You and Your will and ways. May we please you as we parent and help us hear Your voice in ways that guide us and our children deeper into Your loving, faithful arms. Don’t let us be good women who raise good kids. Let us be set-apart for godliness through Christ. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Supporting and encouraging mothers to rest in Christ and pursue a holy relationship with Him so they purposely raise set-apart children is the cry of my heart. Godly parenting is rooted in relationship with Christ and the mindset a mother carries. That’s why I’ve created the Set-Apart Collective. Have you decided peers and culture won’t be the main influence over your child? Would you like to parent to prepare your child for eternity with Christ, not to repair a relationship? In the Set-Apart Collective, you will deepen your walk with Christ, learn a Christ-centered Motherhood Mindset Model™, and create a Purposed Parenting Plan™. You will be a purposed mother with an intentional mind and heart set on Christ and your family. The Set-Apart Collective is open now. Please send me an email at info@terrihitt.com to let me know you’d like to receive information or look online at terrihitt.com/setapart. We can also set up a 15 minute call to chat about details. It’s time for believing mothers to be purposed in preparing their children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ. If you connected in some way with this episode, would you please rate and review the podcast on Apple or Spotify? It only takes a minute or so and makes a big difference in people finding the podcast. You and I know that the best reviews are by word of mouth, so would you please choose a friend to recommend the show to? Let them know that the podcast is found at terrihitt.com, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Imagine the change we will see in the way mothers parent for Christ if they learn to be intentional, too. Remember, if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will likely sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection. Previous Next

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Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #058 – Building Biblical Self-Esteem Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. I have been blessed over the last five years that we’ve had our youngest daughter home, to help her build self-esteem through who God desires her to be. Neglected for most of her life, learning to view herself with a higher esteem was not easy, and did not come naturally to her. However, once she knew whose she was through the sacrifice of Jesus, viewing herself through His eyes and building worth based on Him became tangible for her. How do we build biblical self-esteem? Many of us can think of someone with offensively high self-esteem. We know that often that conceit really masks low esteem of self. Or sometimes that inflated ego is because the person has been gifted with looks, wealth, or power that takes the place of God in their life. A person can begin to wrap identity in items, instead of who God created them to be through Him. Instead of a godly, biblical humility, they can achieve isolation, heartache, suffering, and mistakes or regret. In the book of Genesis, we learn the story of Cain, who was the first child born to Adam and Eve. Cain’s selfish, jealous heart is revealed when we read about the weak offering he made to the Lord. In contrast, his brother, Abel gave the best he had, exposing his contrite and grateful heart. Cain clearly did not give from a heart full of love and devotion to God. I find it interesting that in Hebrew, the name Cain sounds like the verb translated “I have acquired.” Cain wanted to achieve and collect all he could for himself, then pass the leftovers to God. Cain carried a secular, inflated self-esteem. 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” Had Cain built his inflated self-worth and confidence on God and His provisions, he may have carried an attitude and heartset like his brother, Abel, who desired God to receive the very best he had. Abel was pleased to offer a sacrifice made on God’s terms and desires because he held a respectful, honoring, and humble mindset of his position with his Heavenly Father. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 says, “I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.” But can our self-esteem drop too low? Then, there’s the flip side - those who build their worth on what they have learned the world expects. Some people have self-esteem so low that they are critical of every detail about themselves. Neither type of person is very enjoyable to be around for an extended time. Yet, I understand how easy it is to fall victim and get into the habit of harsh judgement on yourself. When we place more value on what others think of us (or what we perceive them to think), we will never “feel” good enough. Self-esteem built through this method can be formed through many means. Sometimes it is the way a person is raised. Often it comes from the experiences we had with people we thought were our friends, our accomplishments, talents, financial worth, opportunities, appearance, relationships, spouse, or children. Living with confidence, appeal, and worth created through a worldly perspective pulls us away from God as we rely on life experiences, people, thoughts, feelings, and emotions to build and inflate our self-esteem. We know culture and trends change quickly. Esteem for self through this method finds few highs and usually settles into depressing lows. When we do not cling to the Lord and view or respect ourselves as He sees us, we miss the opportunity to experience life with the fullness God purposed for us. We are each specially designed by God. He highly values us, no matter what we think of Him. Psalm 139:13-16 says, “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.” What do we do if we do not want to possess or project a bloated self-esteem, yet we do not desire to live with low or no confidence? How do we build esteem for self that biblically follows what God desires for us? Jesus was the perfect example of living with confidence in God, not self. Romans 12:3 says, “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” Jesus lived with the humble mind and heart of a servant. His only desire was to bring glory to the Father. Jesus placed the truth of who God is foremost in His life and obeyed every call made for Him. Glory was not something He craved or chased. Jesus lifted all praise, worship, honor, and glory to God. Yet, Jesus is worthy of living a life of high self-esteem. As the word is defined, self-esteem means a favorable impression of oneself or an inordinately or exaggeratedly favorable impression of oneself. Jesus could never live with an over-inflated ego, because He is worthy of everything. Yet, Jesus is our perfect model of exactly how God desires our esteem to be built. Philippians 2:3-11 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 2 Corinthians 10:17 says, “As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” Through the life model Jesus left for us to follow, He demonstrated perfect humility, love, and obedience that can only exist through the strength of God. Esteem others more highly than yourself. Ephesians 4:17-32 says, “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. “That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” This can seem impossible. People will always let us down somehow. They hurt us, offend us, and betray us. It isn’t always strangers. Sometimes it is our spouse, child, parent, extended family member, a co-worker, or someone we considered to be a best friend. Yet, there is hope and healing through Jesus. Apart from Him we can do none of this. Jesus is our model for forgiveness. If He forgave each one of us, you and me, for all we have or will do, we can learn to forgive others. Eventually, we can even view them as worthy in Christ’s eyes and heart. Only through a personal relationship with Jesus can we achieve the mindset of Christ, which removes the “self” from our esteem and shifts it to Christ and all He made. We then understand the following important life shifts. 1. Only God is perfect. 2. Each one of us is a sinner who can only be saved by the grace of Jesus. 3. As we mature in Christ, we will model our life after Him and see ourselves as He does. 4. Because Jesus extended grace to us, we can offer it to others, and allow ourselves grace when needed, as well. 5. We can construct personal esteem through humility modeled by Jesus and strengthened by a healthy relationship with God and the value He places on us. Unless we honor, love, and obey God through an intentional, growing relationship, we cannot understand or appreciate the worth God sees in us and purposed for us and cannot build godly self-esteem. When we study the word and connect through prayer, praise, and worship, we set God in His rightful place and honor what He values above this world or ourselves. We see the worth in others and build a healthy esteem by fruits of the Spirit, and God’s values and expectations that drive us to seek Him for fulfillment, value, and worth. Through this strong and maturing relationship we allow God to fulfill us with the desires He placed in us. Esteem is built by a committed, consistent, Creator who yearns for each of us to shine for Him, not selfish personal glory. Romans 12:1-8 says, “Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another. We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 12:6-10 says, “If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Ephesians 3:12 says, “Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.” Construct your worth and esteem of self on God’s view of you. Allow Him to work through you to hold that esteem to a biblical value and use God’s heart and mind to penetrate your life and carry you to do the work He has purposed for you. Father God, thank you that none of us should have to search this world for our worth . Help us not to build our self-esteem on secular values and keep us from forming warped opinions of ourselves or others, but let us strive to view all You have created with the love and worth You deem us to hold. Enable us to seek and worship You with the praise You deserve and please You with the value we place on You first, others next, and then self. Thank you for sending Jesus to model exactly what we need to do to live a life pleasing to You. In Your precious name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this episode. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Christ and encourage you to raise or influence children to chase Jesus instead of this world. Be sure to sign up for my email list to be notified when my next resource, “Scattering Seeds: Planting Character and Faith in Your Child” releases soon. This eBook is an excellent encouragement and support for mothers or grandmothers of young children. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to Jesus and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up and find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 058 Building Biblical Self-Esteem Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #058 – Building Biblical Self-Esteem Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. I have been blessed over the last five years that we’ve had our youngest daughter home, to help her build self-esteem through who God desires her to be. Neglected for most of her life, learning to view herself with a higher esteem was not easy, and did not come naturally to her. However, once she knew whose she was through the sacrifice of Jesus, viewing herself through His eyes and building worth based on Him became tangible for her. How do we build biblical self-esteem? Many of us can think of someone with offensively high self-esteem. We know that often that conceit really masks low esteem of self. Or sometimes that inflated ego is because the person has been gifted with looks, wealth, or power that takes the place of God in their life. A person can begin to wrap identity in items, instead of who God created them to be through Him. Instead of a godly, biblical humility, they can achieve isolation, heartache, suffering, and mistakes or regret. In the book of Genesis, we learn the story of Cain, who was the first child born to Adam and Eve. Cain’s selfish, jealous heart is revealed when we read about the weak offering he made to the Lord. In contrast, his brother, Abel gave the best he had, exposing his contrite and grateful heart. Cain clearly did not give from a heart full of love and devotion to God. I find it interesting that in Hebrew, the name Cain sounds like the verb translated “I have acquired.” Cain wanted to achieve and collect all he could for himself, then pass the leftovers to God. Cain carried a secular, inflated self-esteem. 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” Had Cain built his inflated self-worth and confidence on God and His provisions, he may have carried an attitude and heartset like his brother, Abel, who desired God to receive the very best he had. Abel was pleased to offer a sacrifice made on God’s terms and desires because he held a respectful, honoring, and humble mindset of his position with his Heavenly Father. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 says, “I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.” But can our self-esteem drop too low? Then, there’s the flip side - those who build their worth on what they have learned the world expects. Some people have self-esteem so low that they are critical of every detail about themselves. Neither type of person is very enjoyable to be around for an extended time. Yet, I understand how easy it is to fall victim and get into the habit of harsh judgement on yourself. When we place more value on what others think of us (or what we perceive them to think), we will never “feel” good enough. Self-esteem built through this method can be formed through many means. Sometimes it is the way a person is raised. Often it comes from the experiences we had with people we thought were our friends, our accomplishments, talents, financial worth, opportunities, appearance, relationships, spouse, or children. Living with confidence, appeal, and worth created through a worldly perspective pulls us away from God as we rely on life experiences, people, thoughts, feelings, and emotions to build and inflate our self-esteem. We know culture and trends change quickly. Esteem for self through this method finds few highs and usually settles into depressing lows. When we do not cling to the Lord and view or respect ourselves as He sees us, we miss the opportunity to experience life with the fullness God purposed for us. We are each specially designed by God. He highly values us, no matter what we think of Him. Psalm 139:13-16 says, “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.” What do we do if we do not want to possess or project a bloated self-esteem, yet we do not desire to live with low or no confidence? How do we build esteem for self that biblically follows what God desires for us? Jesus was the perfect example of living with confidence in God, not self. Romans 12:3 says, “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” Jesus lived with the humble mind and heart of a servant. His only desire was to bring glory to the Father. Jesus placed the truth of who God is foremost in His life and obeyed every call made for Him. Glory was not something He craved or chased. Jesus lifted all praise, worship, honor, and glory to God. Yet, Jesus is worthy of living a life of high self-esteem. As the word is defined, self-esteem means a favorable impression of oneself or an inordinately or exaggeratedly favorable impression of oneself. Jesus could never live with an over-inflated ego, because He is worthy of everything. Yet, Jesus is our perfect model of exactly how God desires our esteem to be built. Philippians 2:3-11 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 2 Corinthians 10:17 says, “As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” Through the life model Jesus left for us to follow, He demonstrated perfect humility, love, and obedience that can only exist through the strength of God. Esteem others more highly than yourself. Ephesians 4:17-32 says, “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. “That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” This can seem impossible. People will always let us down somehow. They hurt us, offend us, and betray us. It isn’t always strangers. Sometimes it is our spouse, child, parent, extended family member, a co-worker, or someone we considered to be a best friend. Yet, there is hope and healing through Jesus. Apart from Him we can do none of this. Jesus is our model for forgiveness. If He forgave each one of us, you and me, for all we have or will do, we can learn to forgive others. Eventually, we can even view them as worthy in Christ’s eyes and heart. Only through a personal relationship with Jesus can we achieve the mindset of Christ, which removes the “self” from our esteem and shifts it to Christ and all He made. We then understand the following important life shifts. 1. Only God is perfect. 2. Each one of us is a sinner who can only be saved by the grace of Jesus. 3. As we mature in Christ, we will model our life after Him and see ourselves as He does. 4. Because Jesus extended grace to us, we can offer it to others, and allow ourselves grace when needed, as well. 5. We can construct personal esteem through humility modeled by Jesus and strengthened by a healthy relationship with God and the value He places on us. Unless we honor, love, and obey God through an intentional, growing relationship, we cannot understand or appreciate the worth God sees in us and purposed for us and cannot build godly self-esteem. When we study the word and connect through prayer, praise, and worship, we set God in His rightful place and honor what He values above this world or ourselves. We see the worth in others and build a healthy esteem by fruits of the Spirit, and God’s values and expectations that drive us to seek Him for fulfillment, value, and worth. Through this strong and maturing relationship we allow God to fulfill us with the desires He placed in us. Esteem is built by a committed, consistent, Creator who yearns for each of us to shine for Him, not selfish personal glory. Romans 12:1-8 says, “Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another. We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 12:6-10 says, “If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Ephesians 3:12 says, “Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.” Construct your worth and esteem of self on God’s view of you. Allow Him to work through you to hold that esteem to a biblical value and use God’s heart and mind to penetrate your life and carry you to do the work He has purposed for you. Father God, thank you that none of us should have to search this world for our worth . Help us not to build our self-esteem on secular values and keep us from forming warped opinions of ourselves or others, but let us strive to view all You have created with the love and worth You deem us to hold. Enable us to seek and worship You with the praise You deserve and please You with the value we place on You first, others next, and then self. Thank you for sending Jesus to model exactly what we need to do to live a life pleasing to You. In Your precious name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to this episode. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Christ and encourage you to raise or influence children to chase Jesus instead of this world. Be sure to sign up for my email list to be notified when my next resource, “Scattering Seeds: Planting Character and Faith in Your Child” releases soon. This eBook is an excellent encouragement and support for mothers or grandmothers of young children. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to Jesus and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up and find new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #074 – Brandon Janous Interview Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Believers in Christ often think we live with an eternal perspective, yet we don’t comprehend the depth and weight of eternity until we face death in some form. Whether it is through the passing of a loved one, or the impact of an illness, we each encounter moments where we must confront the truth of our mortality. On today’s podcast, I share a conversation with Brandon Janous. Because Father’s Day is coming soon, I knew this was the perfect time to introduce you to Brandon. As you hear the story of his family, you will meet a man who made the choice to allow God to carry him through the most difficult season of his life. Brandon is living the definition of what a godly and committed father practices. Placing his family before himself and allowing God to have center place in his life. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” A believer does not grieve as one without hope. I think you’ll be encouraged by this episode and see the difference the faith of one woman made in the lives of those left to navigate this uncertain world. Because of his relationship with Jesus, Brandon is continuing the legacy left by his wife, Rachel and allowing others to be drawn nearer to Christ by his testimony. The truth is that we are here to point the way to Jesus. You’ll hear that in the podcast today. ----------------------------------- Interview with Brandon Janous --------------------------------------- I hope you enjoyed this episode and that you will ponder the words of Rachel Janous, “I know that I’m dying, and I’m at peace with that. At this point, all I have left to give is Jesus and that’s more than enough.” Rachel’s words are a truth that we each need to intentionally put into perspective each moment of our life. Allow the viewpoint she shared with Brandon to remind you of the basic fact that Jesus is more than enough and our focus should never stray from striving to live in ways that point others to Him and allow us to be ready to meet Him in eternity. Life is full of heartache and beauty, mixed with pain, grief, and suffering, but a peace that passes understanding is available any time we look to Him and release our burdens into His capable and willing hands. Thank you for listening to this podcast. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 074 Brandon Janous Interview Listen to Episode Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode #074 – Brandon Janous Interview Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective. Believers in Christ often think we live with an eternal perspective, yet we don’t comprehend the depth and weight of eternity until we face death in some form. Whether it is through the passing of a loved one, or the impact of an illness, we each encounter moments where we must confront the truth of our mortality. On today’s podcast, I share a conversation with Brandon Janous. Because Father’s Day is coming soon, I knew this was the perfect time to introduce you to Brandon. As you hear the story of his family, you will meet a man who made the choice to allow God to carry him through the most difficult season of his life. Brandon is living the definition of what a godly and committed father practices. Placing his family before himself and allowing God to have center place in his life. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” A believer does not grieve as one without hope. I think you’ll be encouraged by this episode and see the difference the faith of one woman made in the lives of those left to navigate this uncertain world. Because of his relationship with Jesus, Brandon is continuing the legacy left by his wife, Rachel and allowing others to be drawn nearer to Christ by his testimony. The truth is that we are here to point the way to Jesus. You’ll hear that in the podcast today. ----------------------------------- Interview with Brandon Janous --------------------------------------- I hope you enjoyed this episode and that you will ponder the words of Rachel Janous, “I know that I’m dying, and I’m at peace with that. At this point, all I have left to give is Jesus and that’s more than enough.” Rachel’s words are a truth that we each need to intentionally put into perspective each moment of our life. Allow the viewpoint she shared with Brandon to remind you of the basic fact that Jesus is more than enough and our focus should never stray from striving to live in ways that point others to Him and allow us to be ready to meet Him in eternity. Life is full of heartache and beauty, mixed with pain, grief, and suffering, but a peace that passes understanding is available any time we look to Him and release our burdens into His capable and willing hands. Thank you for listening to this podcast. Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture. I pray this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective. https://www.instagram.com/brandonjanous/ https://www.facebook.com/brandon.janous