DAY 4
by Carolin Sadler

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me!” That is what we used to say at my school when I was growing up whenever someone called us names. Have you ever heard that?

At school what do they think about you? Do they call you names, or label you: ugly, fat, nerd, slow, super kid, chicken boy and so on. What are some that you have heard? What about at home; looser, weird, you are just like your uncle, stupid. Whoever said that names don’t hurt is WRONG!

Have you seen the “Got Milk” commercial that was playing last year? It starts out by listing some of the nasty “names” people are called, and shows people stumbling or falling, or missing a basket in Basketball, and then ends up showing the same people with new labels like ‘winner’, ‘champion’, ‘student’ etc.

There are also labels that society gives the different generations. Like your mom may be called a Gen X or a Boomer, and you a Gen Y. What does that mean? See people were trying to describe what people of certain age groups had in common. Now there is truth to it, but does that mean that you are automatically just like all the other people that are Gen Y or Gen X? Does it mean that you HAVE to act like the label says?

In God’s kingdom, He sees you as a New Creation, a SON or DAUGHTER. As if that wasn’t enough 1 Peter 2:9 NIV says;

“You are a chosen people, (or generation) a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, THAT you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into wonderful light.” That is what God sees when He looks at you.

That means you are CHOSEN, ROYALTY, HOLY (or set apart), YOU BELONG!

In the Bible there was a very special custom that happened every Friday, on Shabbat. This is still practiced in Jewish homes today. Shabbat is a day set apart from all the other days of the week to rest, to worship God and be with family, and friends. One of the things that happens is that they have a special supper, and during the meal the Dad blesses each of the children and His wife. Let’s drop in and watch!

Watch as Papa gets up from the table and walks to where his wife is seated: He lays his hand on her shoulder and tells her, “You are a blessing, and you are worth more than rubies or diamonds. You take such good care of the family and even reach out to those in need. You are wise and beautiful.” …
After a minute or two, both Mama and Papa get up and go to their children. Each one gets a turn. They do not rush but take their time. Carefully they place their hands on each child’s head and say: “Isaac, may you be like David who loved the Lord with all his heart. Sarah, may you be like Ruth who loved her family and was a blessing to all. Gabriel may you be like the angel Gabriel who was God’s messenger of good news. May you, like him, tell many people about God’s love.”

Then they lay their hands on all the children at once and say:

"The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord makes His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace" (Numbers 6: 24-26).

Ever since you were little, Satan has spent a great deal of his time trying to convince you that there's something really wrong with you. He uses the lies that people have told you, or whispered about you to discourage you and make you feel that you could never do or be anything important or special. You know why? He is afraid that if you listen to God and believe God that the kingdom of darkness will be pushed back. And He REALLY doesn’t want that to happen.
Satan is a liar, right? So, should we be looking to find the truth about who we are in lies? Of course not! God's words are truth and life. Only He loves us enough to tell us who we really are. Only He clearly sees what we can do and the great plans He has in store for us. Look up (Jeremiah 29:11-14).
ACTION:

Shabbat is a day to bless each other. The Father in a Jewish home will sometimes read from Proverbs 31:10-31 when he gives a blessing to his wife. Read this or have someone read this to you and think about all the ways your mom is a blessing to you. What about your dad, how is he a blessing to you?

For Younger Kids:
1) Why not make a card or book mark and draw or write down some of the things you appreciated. Then give what you made to your mom or dad. Or you can pick some flowers, or find a really pretty rock or something special to give them. This is called “honoring your father and your mother.” Also try really hard to be obedient. Remember, that was one of the secrets God told Moses, that brings joy to God’s heart and to your parents as well. (Exodus 20:12). Even if you live with only your mom or your dad, or live with your grandpa or grandma, or your auntie or even a friend you can give a blessing to whoever takes care of you in your home

2) You can also have your mom or dad print off the sketch in the post and color it in.

For Older kids:
1) God wants to give us blessings and sometimes He uses us to share these blessings with each other. Ask God today if there is someone he wants you to give a word of blessing to today. As He brings someone to mind, ask Him what it is that he wants to encourage them with. Write out that word or speak that word out to the person that God brought to your mind. Isn’t it neat that God uses us to share His words of blessing to love others? That is bringing His Kingdom to earth!

One special way to bless each other is to spend time together. Just going for a walk with your dad to a favorite spot, or going fishing, or listening to some music together, going out late at night and looking at the stars are all ideas. What ideas can you come up with?

2) Now take the negative words that people have called you, write them down on some tissue paper, and wad them into a ball and then flush it down the toilet! That is where these words belong.

Then take the words, you are CHOSEN, ROYALTY, and HOLY (or set apart), YOU BELONG! And write them on a nice piece of paper and put it on the mirror where you will see it first thing every morning and let it go down deep into your heart. Remember all the other names you may have been called are lies, (unless they are nice names). But God cannot lie so He is telling the truth! As you think on this truth let it change who you are and how you act; SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE KING

Parents: Make a point each week of blessing each of your children. Give them a gift of words from your heart to point them to their God-given destiny. Find out what their names mean and the scripture attached to that meaning. Pray into their lives that they night rise up into the calling God has on their lives.
 

Carolin has been working with King’s Kids (a ministry of Youth With A Mission) for 11 years.  She has written 3 books, "Warrior Bride Arise", "On Daddy’s Knees", and "The Blessing".  She also is the moderator of a blog for equipping kids called Kids of the King Arise! (http://kidsofthekingarise.blog.com)  Her work with her husband Doug has led them to equipping kids and teens in intercession and international reconciliation ventures. At present she lives in Winnipeg and is the mother of 3 grown children.

Carolin can be reached by email at carolin@watchmen.org