Your Family is Gods #1 Priority!

Parents today have it harder than my hubby and I did when our kids were young. Now that Danae is almost 50 and since Cheryl's almost seven years younger, do the math and you'll discover that I'm an oldster, which, according me is a person who is old but still has enough opinions to stir things up, I hope in a good (or should I say God) way?

Looking back at the 80's which is when both of our daughters were teens, it was as needed then as it is now to check out everything and everyone our girls spent time with and find out what they were doing. Ron and I assumed there would be no problems. We were wrong and there were consequences we had to deal with.

Whether you call them problems or issues, they happen all the time. With most families today needing both parents to work, like I did, kids may think their parents don't care what happens to them as long as they look like their following the rules. God 's Word tells us that's wrong!

Well, if that's wrong, what's right? you may wonder. And I'd have been right there with you before I go the big ah-ha from Jesus, which was when I discovered that Every Family Matters to God! His Word God tells us what matters to Him, so let’s check it out.

1. When Adam sinned God punished him like we do are kids. Why? Because He knew we learn best by living with the consequences of our behavior.

2. When Abraham left Ur of the Chaldeans because God told him to go, he had to leave his father’s house. To become the man God needed He lead Abraham away from sin, and gave him, his family, and those who believe in Messiah an everlasting inheritance in heaven. 

We're still in the beginning of Genesis and we already see that God’s number one priority is families like yours.

Each Child Needs...JESUS!

For kids to have a sun-shine day here's what they must have. 

Before start, it's Not Stuff we Buy like video games, or fancy clothes. 

Children’s Hospital Colorado and other online sources say children need… 

1. Security—Kids must feel safe and sound. This means providing them with basic survival needs: shelter, food, clothing, medical care and protection from harm.

2. Stability—Stability comes from family and community. Ideally, a family remains together in a stable household. But when that ideal breaks down, your child’s life must be as little disrupted as possible. Kids and families should also be part of larger units to give them a sense of belonging and cultural continuity.

3. Consistency—Parents must synchronize their parenting. No “good cop, bad cop.” Consistency also means that important values should not be changed casually or for convenience.

4. Emotional support—Parents’ words and actions should facilitate kids’ trust, respect, self-esteem, and, ultimately, independence.

5. Love—Saying and showing you love your kids can overcome almost any parenting “mistakes” you might make. Even when your kids have disobeyed, angered, frustrated, and rebelled against you, they must know that you love them and that you’ll always love them.

6. Education—Make sure your kids get the best possible education for their future. This, of course, includes school. But it also includes the invaluable lessons about life that you provide during the time you spend together.

7. Positive role models—Parents are their kids’ first and most important role models. Be the kind of person you want them to become.

8. Structure—Rules, boundaries, and limits: Without them, kids are forced to be adults before they are ready, and they lose respect for you and other adults.

I like this list. Yet, as fallible as we all are, and as tired and stress as parents get from juggling everything, where can your kids needs be meet?

Aware that Jesus is The Answer, here's what I know:

1. Security - Jesus meets kids most important need because they know He loves and will never leave them. That He has prepared a special place for each of them in heaven.

2. Stability- Jesus is there always eager to listen to each kid. And, He keeps his promises.

3. Consistency - Jesus never changes His mind.

4. Emotional support - Even before something happens Jesus is there. He supports and encourages those who know Him through prayer, which is how we talk to Him and scripture, which is how he speaks to us.

5. Love - Jesus loves each child so much that He gave His life, so they could live in heaven with Him when the time came.

6. Education - Jesus though His Word and the Holy Spirit teaches kids things beyond our understanding. The things children learn from Him make life better.

7. Positive role models - Jesus is the Very Best Role Model a child can have because He is the same today, tomorrow, and forever.

8. Structure - Jesus has given us guidelines in scripture as to how kids and parents should treat each other. At every stage of your child's development you will find guidance in God's Word very beneficial.

4 the Kids Sake!

In the last 20 years America, the only country in the world founded on biblical principles, has become the third largest Christian mission field. Where previous generations took their kids to church many... perhaps most families today, with both parents working, needing the weekend to distress have gotten their kids involved in team sports and decided that since fair play, rules and character are stressed in those places going to church or reading the Bible isn't needed. 

WRONG! Nothing can take the place of the one location where we are asked to place our trust in God and given the opportunity to start a lifelong relationship with Jesus, the savior of our soul. 

The interesting thing is that kids need and respond to Gods love much quicker than most adults do. The seeds of faith planted early in a child's heart help them make good choices. Not so, kids that win a game but don't know the Lord.

Because of the desire of many in our country for each of us to have it all, our youngsters may be shortchanged when we chose what others did for their kids instead of what God's Word tell us to do. 

It's never too late to turn back to your first love, or if you don't know the Lord visit a church to find out why I'm so dead set on writing this. And, yes, I do know that there have been personal and church faith failures. However, God didn't fail, people and organization did!

Don't feel like going to church is your thing? Then get your kids and you some books where they'll experience God at work. 

Don't know where to shop? Check out Amazon online. If you want something fun for your child to read that's faith based, you can check out A Father's Broke Heart: 8-Year-Old Gracie & The Save a Soul Prayer Team at: https://goo.gl/2TgXWw

If you'd like something else, visit Paula Rose Michelson's Amazon author page for fiction and nonfiction reads.  https://goo.gl/2TgXWw

My List of Great Places for Authors to Post & Shoppers to find Kids Books

One of the Most Important Things I learned as a Published Author was to have my List of Facebook Groups where I share my books in an easy to locate one step local. Blogging my lists of places where I post my books was a no brainier! Throughout the years I have referred many Christian authors and readers to that list, and I'm sure those who write children's books will find this list an asset. However, *** I would be remiss if I didn't ask you to let me know if there's a group that I should add, which I will gladly do. ***

My hope is that many authors of Kid’s books will find the blog a great way to post and those looking for children's books will find this an invaluable tool. And of course, since I developed this because I am writing children's books at the end of this list you'll find info on my first kids book and the link to my *** Paula-Rose Amazon author page, which I hope you'll visit. ***

~~~~~ Great Places for Authors to Post & Shoppers to find Kids Books ~~~~~

Christian Kids Books

Christian Children's Books (for readers & authors) https://www.facebook.com/groups/193489594402937/

Christian Books for Children https://www.facebook.com/groups/193489594402937/

Kindle Books 4 Kids

Kindle Kids https://www.facebook.com/groups/KindleKidsBooks/  

Kindle Books for Kids https://www.facebook.com/groups/208163299388359/

Buy & Sell Kindle Books for Kids https://www.facebook.com/groups/kindlebooksforkids/about/

                                                       Other Kid Book Groups

1.      Children's Librarians, Teachers, and  Authors Against Bullying https://www.facebook.com/groups/775152809243380/ 

2.      Childrens librarians, Teachers and Authors  unite https://www.facebook.com/groups/141059309295339/ 

3.      Parents, Find Children's Books and Authors Here  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1653953491378698/

4.      GreatStorybook - Authors & Illustrators of Children's Books and YA https://www.facebook.com/groups/GreatStorybook/

5.      Children / Teen Book Reviews https://www.facebook.com/groups/108824272500425/ 

6.      Children's Books with Good Values https://www.facebook.com/groups/KidBooksWithGoodValues/ 

7.      Sweetbooks https://www.facebook.com/groups/658382991004993/ 

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find Other Authors Children's Book Post Here ~~~~~~~~~~

8.      Children's Book Authors https://www.facebook.com/groups/130968980816441/ 

9.      Children's Book Writers and Illustrators  https://www.facebook.com/groups/319221818420636/ 

10.  BooksGoSocial Children's Books https://www.facebook.com/groups/BooksGoSocialChildrensBookGroup/ 

11.  Children's books and Authors plus writers https://www.facebook.com/groups/312032178944862/ 

12.  Children's Book Publicity and Book Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/childrenbookpublicity/ 

13.  Children's Educational Books - Read & Learn (Children's World Authors) https://www.facebook.com/groups/530069277086060/ 

14.  Amazon Children's Book Promotion https://www.facebook.com/groups/Amazonwriters/ 

15.  Children's Books, Authors, Illustrators, VIdeos & Performers for Kindness https://www.facebook.com/groups/549587235373480/ 

16.  Children's Book Promotion Amazon!!! https://www.facebook.com/groups/Authorbookclub/ 

17.  Books for Children https://www.facebook.com/groups/BooksForChildren/ 

18.  Kindle Books for Kids  https://www.facebook.com/groups/208163299388359/ 

19.  Children's Stories  https://www.facebook.com/groups/121700001287567/ 

20.  Children's Books https://www.facebook.com/groups/452166128185361/ 

21.  Children's Authors https://www.facebook.com/groups/307805512644711/ 

22.  Kindle Kids https://www.facebook.com/groups/KindleKidsBooks/ 

23.  Cute kids books https://www.facebook.com/groups/1498468847102840/ 

24.  Children's Book Reviews and Promos https://www.facebook.com/groups/childrensbooksku/ 

25.  Promoting Books for Kids https://www.facebook.com/groups/promotingbooksforkids/ 

26.  Fantastic Kids' Books https://www.facebook.com/groups/FantasticKidsBooks/ 

27.  Teazurs: A Writer of Children's Books Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/213533088747491/

NEW Groups Added Below 

28. World's Best Children's Books  https://www.facebook.com/groups/826358460721615/

29. Children And Middle Readers  https://www.facebook.com/groups/841724132623526/

When Your Heart Points to God

For several weeks, due to a fall, my left pinky pointed to God. When people kept bumping into and hurting my digit, I thought about all those precious people whose hearts point to God. Beginning with the Apostles and each who followed and believed in Messiah in the Bible and to today there has seldom been a time when people of faith weren't treated differently. Jesus knew all about being singled out, for from His conception to His death on the cross, He was set apart. Our Saviors last words, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," (Luke 23:34), shows us a heart that points to God.

Considering all Christ suffered to set me and all who call upon His name free from the bondage of this world and the joy of seeing Him in heaven, my little finger 'owie' is like the ones children experience. However, when your heart points to God the bigger 'owie' we experience is the same one our Lord did daily. When things get difficult for us we might think, Why me? But the things we fear happened to Jesus... He was homeless throughout his ministry. Yet he spoke words of love, life and forgiveness. From His first words to His last, and until the end of this age we'll remember what He said because His words showed us God. Not God is the abstract, but a God of flesh and blood who loved us enough to redeem us with the blood of His son. Since Jesus took upon the sin of the world, and God cannot look upon sin, Jesus - the pure and spotless sacrifice - died alone. He was forsaken so we could become worthy of all God wishes to gift us.

This is what it means to take up our cross and follow Him. We take up our cross by choosing to not look at what was or worry about what we’ll be. We trust that God is sovereign. Aware that when we yield all we could end up homeless. What a ministry that would be if Jesus chose that for... "Ah, but..." Whatever you were going to say, I hope today you will choose joy, for we have so much to be joyful for when each of our hearts point to God.

Till we meet again, may God guide your way and His Word give you His peace which transcends our situations or finger 'owie's'.

A Bright Idea Let's do it 4 the Kids!

Way back when I was a kid, things were different! Since I'm a second generation American, I remember stories of how my grandparents, great uncles, aunts, and other members of their families came to America. Each one was sponsored by an American citizen. Only then could they be allowed in. To make sure they would be able to make a living, each learned English, attended citizenship classes, and became a citizen. They were proud to be part of this country and eager to bless America. My grandpa Louis and my great uncles Nate and Newman joined the Army when World War 1 began.

After my grandpa Louis retired, he loved to watch the horse races in Tecate, Mexico on Friday's. He was always home in time for our family dinner. However, there was one Friday night when we didn't eat because Grandpa didn't some home. Finally, at eight o'clock we got a phone call asking for my dad. When he got on the line we discovered the call was from a United States of America Boarder Guard. Grandpa had left home without his citizenship papers and they couldn't let him in! My dad got his father’s papers, drove to the boarder and once the guard verified that Louis Eisen was an American citizen let him in!

I'm 71 yet I have never forgotten how my grandfather was detained at the boarder because we were a country of laws. Though very young, I felt safer knowing that would happen to all who didn't belong here. During those days of 'duck and cover' feeling safe meant being able to do kid things without worrying. 

Our kids and all who live here legally need to feel safe. I have seen articles about people who have been here for many years being deported. Though each had time to become a citizen they, for whatever reason, chose not to. With MS-13 and terrorist pouring into our country, we must again act as all sovereign nations do by enforcing our laws. By doing what is necessary we will once again be The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

Why Sunday Matters Most

As the wife of a Lutheran Pastor and Messianic field missionary with Chosen People Ministries, a writer of faith stories and more importantly a believer in Messiah Yeshua, I thought it good to share these thoughts now because it seems 21 century families are not attending weekly worship as they did before.

Growing up in Synagogue or as some called it a Congregation, we Jews worshiped on Saturday because for us the new day begins at sundown. Throughout my childhood, my parents carpooled with others of our faith to get us kids to Shabbat school, which is the equivalent of Sunday school. My parents were seldom at worship, which was a common thing as far as I knew. Since my parents did not attend there were no family chats about the sermon or Bible study that preceded it. I did not think that odd until our girls, my husband and I gave our lives to Jesus within nine months.

Becoming aware that God loved and cared enough about each of us to offer His only son as the only acceptable ransom for our sins knit us together. Worshiping together as well as studying the same book of the Bible knit our hearts together in such tight bonds of love, commitment and service to God that we were changed from what we had been to what God had created us to become so we could draw others to Him.

Looking back, in light of today's trend, I see a red flag which I'll call 'Lack of Family Unity' that I believe can be changed when all family members worship together, study the same book of the Bible and talk about what they learned and how that applies to their life and the lives of others.

However, in this and most industrialized societies today, people are so busy chasing after whatever to get wherever without realizing that when we put God and His Word first, He gifts us peace, patience, joy and an awareness of what matters most. That dear friends is why Sunday Matters Most. For it is after we spend time with the Lord and our dear faith family that God's Word dwells in our hearts in a fresh new way encouraging us to look not at what we don't have or want, but at what we do have that we can thank Him for and share with others.