Emphasis On Moms     

 You are a Mom ~   You are a Wife ~   You are a Lady ~

       Don't run from who you are ~ embrace it!

Trust

TRUST: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability surety, etc...of a person or thing. (For us as Christian's that trust is in Christ) 

What does God say about Trust?

Jeremiah 17:7-10 (The Message)

7-8"But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They're like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers-- 
Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season. 9-10"The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be."   

Nahum 1:7 (English Standard Version)

7The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge (or trust) in him. 
 

Why is Trust important?  Trusting in God is the seed of our faith and salvation.  When we are young whether in age or in the beginning of our walk with the Lord it is that single act of our will being relinquished into the strong and safe hands of our Father in Heaven, God.  That seed begins to grow through our life experiences.  Some Christian’s in life experience many trials and lessons whether by choosing to not always trust in God and go  their own way or by God’s allowing to build that character muscle of complete trust through life’s challenges that he will’s for us.  Our Father truly does know what’s best!  If we didn’t fully put our trust in God we would be like any other person alive and believe we had the power and strength to go through life on our own merits.  With any close examination of our successes and failures to endeavor in our own strength we would quickly discover that we aren’t very good at it.  Therefore the Christian belief system is a reflection of Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” 
 

Book/Movie Tools:  A great book that can be used in personal or family devotion to teach the family on Trust:  “Perfect Trust” by Charles Swindoll 

A movie that will keep the whole family focused on choices in life when tough things happen~ to be bitter and full of revenge or trust in God for the outcome is my high recommendation “The Count of Monte Cristo”.  (ages 8 and up, of course parental guidance for discussion) 

Practical Ideas/Activities:   

“With Littles”~  Every day can bring teachable moments with our little ones.  Saying little phrases to them while your eating a meal together randomly for example: “Just like air…God is there”.  We build into their memory banks truths about God with something they experience.  We breathe air and see air move the leaves on a tree when there is a breeze, and watch air blow up a balloon and so forth…these are things kid’s can relate to and grasp.  Just like these examples God is the air we breathe keeping us alive, his Holy Spirit moves inside us like the breeze we can’t necessarily see it but we can feel it like that voice that helps us to know right from wrong and like the balloon, God fills us up with his love and peace.  Though we cannot see the air we can see the fruit of it. 

“With Olders”~  Reality moments building trust is a step stronger during the older years, let’s say between 10 and up. Trusting one another is essential to any healthy God honoring relationship.  God set the foundation of this honor system when he declared in  1 Samuel 2:30 (English Standard Version)

30Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares:(A) 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,'(B) but now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

A great example of building trust is when you say you are going to do something you must follow through and do it.  Of course there are times when you need to move a scheduled time of doing what was planned for various reasons, but if you do that again and again over time your child will learn not to trust you and vise versa.  And to really build up your child when he/she displays trust in God or with you as a parent affirms more growth.  Trust is vital to any relationship and must be based absolutely on God values not wordly values.  Our goal is to bring our children into a right relationship with God so that when they go through life experiences that make no sense they will put their full faith in God no matter what.  The end result produces trusting God with the outcome with the seed planted at in early age.  

*A practical hands on project that teaches trust.  Plant a veggie garden and/or fruit trees.  It’s a fun project for the whole family and paints a picture of trusting God for the outcome.  Plan your garden out on paper, go to a local nursery and pick out fresh packs of veggies or seeds, prepare the ground, plant the veggies/fruit trees and watch God produce a wonderful amazing garden that you will enjoy all summer. (The picture can be as vast as you want to paint it and can include~ fertilization is necessary to grow a good crop like when we fertilize our souls with the Word of God, water is the life source to growth at all without it things die.  Then you can mention that we like the plants need the sun/Son to be all that God desires us to be.  Lastly, there are things in the garden that sneak in and need to be pulled out, like weeds, or on a fruit tree, cut off because they aren’t good for the plants growth.  Just like sin that sneaks into our character God needs to prune away and pull out of us.  It may hurt a little but in the long run it’s for our good and His Glory.) 

~ Submitted By Carie Trost