I had the privilege of speaking to moms in several villages in Uganda last week. Uganda has the 2nd highest fertility rate in the world – 6.65 children born/woman.  What do you say to them about training their children spiritually when the physical needs of clothing, shelter, and food are so overwhelming?   Elaine Moody spoke before me and told the ladies about how everyone of us must relate to God with our spirits (John 4:24)
This led right into my speaking to them about training their children’s spirits to be sensitive to God.

I shared with them about Samson’s parents who asked how to order their son and the only instruction given was what the mother was to eat during pregnancy.  This led us to examine the fact that there are 9 fruit of the spirit and 9 months of pregnancy.  Meditating on one fruit of the spirit each month and praying that fruit for your unborn child can help his spirit grow as his little body grows. (see previous blog post on this subject)

I told them that Deuteronomy 6 instructs us to teach our children as we lie down, as we rise up, and as we go.  I showed them pictures of things they might see, hear, taste, touch, and smell.  I sang songs they could sing with their children to remind the children that God has given them the senses to enjoy His beautiful world.  I told them to involve all their senses in helping their children learn about God.

I don’t know how much the moms took away from the time we had together.  I can only pray they caught the passion to train their children’s spirits to relate to Christ . . . for He is our only hope whether we live in a well-built home in America or a mud-brick home in Uganda.

Matthew 25:40
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

At the age of nineteen, Katie Davis felt God leading her to move to Uganda to teach children.  That step of faith led her to start a nonprofit organization, and then to adopt 14 children who now call this 21 year old ‘Mama’.  She is bringing the love of Jesus to a whole village where she lives and is a shining example to us all of  how to love Jesus by sacrificial love and care for the ‘least of these’.  Read her story – Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption

Acts 1:8
But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Matthew 28:18-20
He told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this–that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”

Young children naturally think they are the center of their world.  It is up to us as parents to begin at an early age to give them a Biblical world awareness of God’s love for the whole world.

Early on give them a map and a globe to look at and handle.

Point out where they live, places they have been, and where people they know live.

Point out where there have been natural disasters, wars, etc.  Lead your children to pray for people in these places.

Get a pen pal from another country; support a child in another country; or support a missionary.  Talk about and pray for these with your children and let them be active in corresponding with them.

A World Map Shower Curtain is a fun way to always keep that view of the world before us – we love ours!!

An Inflatable Earth Globe Beach Ball 16″ Diameter is a great teaching aide.  Sing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” while you play.

Click here to order more resources to help make your children aware of the vastness of the world God created.

Here are some links to help make us more aware of needs of others in the world:

http://www.kidzkonnect4jesus.org (equips kids to know, care, pray, give, love)

http://www.billygraham.org/d2bd_index.asp (a program called ‘Dare to Be a Daniel’ for tweens, ages 9-14)

http://www.compassion.com/

http://www.operationworld.org/

http://www.worldvision.org/

http://410bridge.org/

http://www.sweetsleep.org/

http://www.persecution.com/

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prayer-calendar/id432550884?mt=8 (this is an app for iphone or ipad that reminds you to pray for persecuted Christians)