October 4, 2025 • 21 mins
Stewards of Purpose: Parenting Through Mary’s Eyes
What if your child’s purpose isn’t your dream—but God’s? We explore parenting as stewardship, not ownership, through Mary.
Tired of culture downplaying family? Hear why parenting is noble work: procreation and purpose, with Mary as a living guide. What “kept in your heart” word are you holding for your child today?
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
I am not a parent yet, but that is my passion and
inspiration in the future.
So I don't really have much tosay in terms of experience when
it comes to parenting.
However, the scripture hastopics on every aspect of our
(00:23):
lives, be it in parenting,business, relationship, work,
anything that you're lookingfor.
Ministry, the Bible hasprinciples and insights, and
instructions and inspirationsthat you and I we can follow and
apply in our parental life.
(00:48):
Before I encourage this morning,I always would like to start
with a prayer.
So wherever you are, if you canclose your eyes or focus on the
Lord as we invite his presence,as we invite him to take
control, as we invite him tohave his way, whatever his will
is, let it be done, not ours.
(01:09):
Gracious Father, we thank youfor this amazing time that we
have gathered.
We thank you, Lord, because weknow that you are here with us.
Holy Spirit, we depend on you tospeak life to your people, to
speak life to your children, tospeak life to parents that are
here.
Holy Spirit, you are therevealer of truth.
(01:31):
Holy Spirit, you are our helper.
I submit myself to you.
Let me just be an instrument foryou to speak.
And at the end of the day, letyour name be glorified.
And I pray that God, your peoplewill be blessed.
They will obtain somethingtangible that they can apply in
their lives and area ofparenting.
(01:52):
I thank you, Lord, and I knowthat you have answered our
prayers.
I know that you haveaccomplished whatever it is that
you have ordained today.
This we ask in Jesus' preciouspowerful name we have prayed.
Amen.
Today I just want to brieflyencourage all of us as parents
(02:16):
or want to be parents.
I know it's not an easy job.
All I can tell is a noble job.
It's not easy, but it's a noblejob.
It's a job that has asignificant purpose.
It's a job that serves theprocreation of life.
(02:37):
It's a job that when God blessedman, he said, Let him be
fruitful, let him multiply,subdue, and fill the earth.
So you guys are partakers inbringing life into this world.
(02:58):
So I just want to say that theheavens celebrate you, and I
also celebrate the tremendouswork that you're doing,
investing in the lives of yourchildren.
It's a noble work.
Don't let nobody tell youotherwise.
Because I know we live in aculture that makes parenting or
having a family look not coolbecause of people's way of
(03:23):
living, their own preferences.
But family is a good thing.
The first institution that Godestablished when he created this
universe is family, not evenwork, it's family because God is
all about family.
So we have an example of whatparenting is all about.
And God describes himself as afather, meaning that he is a
(03:47):
parent.
A father is not just about yourmale organ.
Being a father is not just atitle that any man can claim.
Being a father is a title thatinvolves responsibility and
authority.
And God has that title of afather of being responsible for
his children and also havingthat authority, that oversight
(04:11):
over his children.
So we have an example in theBible that God is a father.
And that is why we have fathersand mothers in our lives.
And because that's who God is.
God married himself to Israel.
He called himself the husband ofIsrael.
Jesus Christ married himself tothe church.
(04:31):
He called himself the husband ofthe church.
So when you look at Genesis allthe way down to the gospel, it's
all about relationship.
It's all about family.
When you and I, as believers,when we end up leaving this
world, we're going to be part ofthe divine family of God.
So God really values familybecause He's all about family.
(04:54):
Even the Trinity, it's God inone, all relational.
And God wants to apply the samething here on earth.
That is why you establishfamily.
I just wanted just to highlightthe importance of family before
I get into a story of Mary, themother of our Savior Jesus
Christ, a special woman.
(05:16):
And if you look at key phrasesin the Bible, two times it is
mentioned that Mary ponder inher heart.
Some translation will say Marykept all these things in her
heart.
The focus is in her heart.
(05:38):
The Bible states Mary ponder inher heart in Luke chapter 2,
verse 19.
Luke chapter 2, verse 51, theBible states that Mary kept all
these things in her heart.
Let's look at the instances whyMary ponder things in her heart,
(06:00):
why Mary kept things in herheart.
Mary ponder and kept things inher heart regarding her son
Jesus Christ.
Regarding that special son.
So being a parent, like I said,is you bringing life into
(06:21):
existence.
Recently, a church, a woman ofGod, made a statement, a
powerful statement that you andI we are spiritually formed
before we are physically formed.
So in essence, our first parentsor our first father, because the
word father means source, youare created first by God.
(06:44):
So your children are createdfirst by God.
Okay, wow.
They are created first by God.
God just used both male andfemale to be the carriers of the
created child from God.
So you, as a parent, you are acarrier of life.
(07:06):
You didn't really create thatlife because God created that
life and just put that lifeinside of you.
So you are a steward of life.
You are a steward of life.
You have a divine command,commission to be a steward of
life, to be a servant of life,to cherish that life, to
(07:31):
cultivate that life, to care forthat life.
That is why abortion issomething very terrible.
And we as believers we shouldnot practice this.
I know there are circumstances,I understand.
But life is precious in thesight of God.
So Mary ponder in her heartbecause what she carried was
(07:52):
precious to her.
What she carried was so preciousto her.
Because the angel of the Lordappeared to Mary when we look at
Luke chapter 1, that encounterwhen the angel appeared to Mary.
And the angel said that, let meread from Luke chapter 1
(08:12):
quickly, verse 28.
The Bible says, and having comein, the angel said to her,
Rejoice, highly favored, thatthe Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women.
So for you to have a child is aprivilege because there are many
women who are looking for thewomb, but they're not able to
have it.
If you look at the OldTestament, there are instances
where being barren brought shameto women.
(08:37):
And there are many instances ofgodly women who were barren.
And when they pray to God, Godgave them special children.
So for you to be a mother, it'sa privilege.
You have been chosen to bringlife.
So we should not take it forgranted at all.
I understand at times it's hard,but at the end, it's a duty,
(09:00):
it's a noble duty.
So I just want to encourage youto make you feel like wow, I
have a noble mandate fromheaven, not from man, not from
society, not from government.
Because government did notinstitute family, it was God who
instituted family from thebeginning.
And that's what you and I asbelievers we need to believe.
(09:21):
So the angel appeared to Mary,said, Mary, man, you're gonna
conceive a child.
Don't be afraid.
That which is in your womb isspecial, and this child is gonna
be great, and this child isgonna be called the son of the
most high, and the Lord willbring him the throne of his
father David.
So the angel was trying toexplain to Mary, Mary, what
you're about to carry is notsomething ordinary.
(09:45):
What you're about to carry isnot something that you should
take for granted.
What you're about to carry,you're about to carry life and
purpose.
Life and purpose.
So your children, your children,when God give you those
children, they are meant for apurpose.
(10:08):
Your role is to procreate, tobring life about, and your
second role is to ensure thatlife that you have brought
about, that life serves apurpose.
So those are the two functionsof parents: procreation and
purpose.
You bring life about and toensure that that life fulfills
(10:29):
its maximum purpose.
So the children that you have,it is your responsibility not
only to bring them intoexistence, but it's also your
responsibility as a parent toensure that you care for them,
you cultivate them, you cherishthem, and you help them to
fulfill their calling in life.
(10:52):
That is why Mary pondered in herheart, because she has been
assigned to produce life, andnot only that, she has been
assigned to ensure that thischild of hers fulfilled its
purpose.
This child of hers fulfilled itspurpose.
That is why she kept it in herheart.
(11:14):
She was observing the dream thatshe had.
Let me keep these things in myheart concerning my child, what
my child is going to be.
My child is going to be thesavior of the world.
And look at the things that he'sdoing.
unknown (11:32):
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (11:32):
Instead of me to discourage my child, or instead
of me to tell my child, you knowwhat, you will not call to be a
doctor, become become a nursebecause myself, I was a nurse.
Fulfill the life that I wantedto fulfill.
But when you know that yourchild loves medical stuff,
instead of you to help yourchild to pursue that path, but
because you you want your childto fulfill your own dream, you
(11:56):
distract the child.
But not so with Mary.
Mary was given a mandate thathey, this child is gonna be
this, and I want you to helpthis child fulfill his purpose.
That is one of theresponsibilities of parenting,
to help your children fulfilltheir divine purpose on this
earth.
So the first instance where theBible says that Mary kept all
(12:19):
these things and pondered themin her heart was when the um,
let me see, when the shepherds,the shepherds came again, angel.
Angel appeared to the shepherdto tell the shepherds about this
special child, and the angeldirected them where they're
gonna find the special child.
And the shepherd came and theyfound the child.
And and the Bible says that whenthey came, let me read it
(12:43):
quickly.
When the angels appeared to theshepherd in Luke chapter 2,
verse 15, they said to oneanother, Let us now go to
Bethlehem and see this thingthat has come to pass, which the
Lord has made known to us.
Wow! And they came with hasteand found Mary and Joseph and
(13:05):
the babe and the babe lying inthe manger.
Now when they had seen him, theymade widely known the saying.
They made widely known the sin,and all of those who heard it
marvel, marvel at those thingswhich were told by them by the
shepherds.
Then verse 19, where my focusis.
But Mary kept all these thingsand pondered them in her heart.
(13:28):
She was getting revelationsabout her son from the angel,
from the shepherd.
We as parents, we need to goback to God.
Like I said, God is the firstparent of your children, you are
the second parent.
So walk with God to care foryour children.
(13:50):
Walk with God, who is who's whois a father to care for your
children.
God wants to get involved inyour family.
He knows you cannot do it all byyourself.
Cry out to God when at times youfeel overwhelmed.
Go to God so that He can carryyou and your family.
He wants to do that.
So God didn't leave Mary all byherself.
(14:12):
He gave Mary signs that, heyMary, that child is special.
And what is your role, what isyour response as a mother or as
a father, keep those things inyour heart concerning your
child, concerning your children.
Whatever you hear from Godconcerning what your children
are going to become in life,what your children are going to
do in life, keep them in yourheart.
(14:35):
Ponder them in your heart andmake sure that whatever you're
doing with your children, alignthem, what is in your heart
concerning them.
Don't distract them, don'tdisrupt them.
Make sure that they are in thecenter of God's will.
Because God was the one whofirst created them, and you are
just carriers of those children.
(14:56):
So the Bible states that Marykept all these things and
pondered them in her heart.
Verse 20, and then the shepherdsreturned, glorifying and
praising God for all the thingsthat they had heard and seen,
and it was told them.
So you bringing a child intoexistence brings glory to God.
That is why abortion will neverbring glory to God.
(15:19):
Because you're taking life.
God is life.
When you bring life intoexistence, it brings glory to
God because that life will servea significant purpose in life.
So what you guys are doing asparents, it brings glory to God.
So I want you to be proud ofyourself as a parent, taking
(15:43):
care of a wonderful, nobleresponsibility.
Don't shy away from it.
It's noble in the sight of God.
I know it's hard.
I know at times it's not easy.
That is why God is saying, Iwant to be with you.
Let us co-parent these childrentogether.
And he is a foster, he is ashield, he is faithful, he is
(16:03):
caring, he is gracious, he ismerciful, he is powerful, he is,
oh my God, he is forgiving, heis patient.
That's the God that we serve,that is willing to walk with
you.
And lastly, before I conclude,when you go down to Luke chapter
2, verse 51, the Bible statesthat then he went down with them
(16:26):
and came to Nazareth and wassubject to them, but his mother
kept all these things in herheart.
Jesus, as a child, you as aparent, if you don't tell your
children the purpose that Godhas for them, God himself will
reveal in the heart of yourchildren that this is my plan
for your life.
Don't forget that God, God isthe source of your children.
(16:50):
God is the creator of yourchildren.
Like I said, you are just acarrier, you are just a steward
of bringing life into existence.
Your children belong to God,they belong to God.
So if you fail to tell yourchildren what God has put in
your heart concerning whatthey're gonna do, what they're
gonna be in life, God Himselfwill do it.
God himself will take theinitiative to do it.
(17:11):
Why am I saying this?
Jesus Christ at the age of 12knew his purpose.
He went into the temple askingquestions, and then people were
asking him questions and hewould and he answered.
And then and then his parentswere looking for him, and he
responded was I'm about myfather's business.
(17:34):
But at the same time, when Jesusknew his purpose, the Bible said
he was submissive to his headlyparental guardianship.
He was submissive to Mary andJoseph.
But Mary saw that Jesus at thatage of 12 was into his purpose,
was on the path of his purpose,was on the path of fulfilling
(17:59):
his father's business.
She didn't stop him.
Her response was this she keptit in her heart.
And as a result of her notstopping Jesus Christ, Jesus
Christ was submissive to Maryand Joseph.
Sometimes the reason why there'sa fight in the family between
you and your children, when yourchildren want to do A, you want
(18:21):
her to do B.
When your son wants to become alawyer, you want your son to
become a soccer player.
When your daughter wants tobecome the next prime minister
of Canada, you want them tobecome a nurse.
Deep down her heart, that'sthat's what she wants to do.
She spends most of her timelearning about leadership.
But you want to take that awayfrom her.
(18:43):
Instead of you to help alignher.
Wow, I see that my daughter isinterested in leadership.
Let me buy leadership books forher.
I see that my son is into law.
I know he wants to become alawyer, a judge.
Let me invest in that path thatis taken.
That's exactly what Mary did.
The Bible said Mary kept allthese things in her heart.
(19:07):
To conclude, Mary, because sheknew the purpose of Jesus Christ
at the conception of JesusChrist, she remained with Jesus
Christ all the way at thecrucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Let me say that again.
Because Mary knew the purpose ofher son from conception, she was
(19:30):
faithful to walk along with herson, not just when Jesus was
young, even when Jesus was anadult till the death of her son
on the cross.
She was one of the women on thecross, um, down the cross, not
even the disciple, not even thedisciple.
(19:50):
And Jesus, when he was on thecross, he said, Woman, be all
your son, son, be all yourmother.
So Jesus being God was alsoresponsible for his mother.
Because at that time, Joseph isgone, he's the elder brother.
So as being God and also being ason to Mary, he didn't just
leave Mary like that.
(20:11):
He handed over theresponsibility of Kia, of Mary,
to John the beloved.
Because why?
Why?
Because that relationship hasbeen established.
Mary was into Jesus, Jesus wasinto Mary.
So if you want your children inthe future when they get older,
be into them, they can be intoyou.
Invest in them, pour in them,and they will never forsake you.
(20:36):
I remember when I was young,this is what mommy did for me.
Mommy saw far to put me inschool, mommy so far to make
sure I go to the best school.
They will always be grateful andfaithful for you and be and be
and be thankful for yoursacrifice.
Parenting takes a lot, it'ssacrifice, it's love, it's
patience.
(20:57):
I am not a parent, but I observewhat parents go through.
But I know God is also a parent.
And I pray that God will openyour eyes to see your role as a
parent that you are a procreatorof life.
(21:17):
Your role as a parent to fulfillthe purpose to ensure that your
children live and fulfill yourcalling.
I am not a parent yet, but that is my passion and
inspiration in the future.
So I don't really have much tosay in terms of experience when
it comes to parenting.
However, the scripture hastopics on every aspect of our
(00:23):
lives, be it in parenting,business, relationship, work,
anything that you're lookingfor.
Ministry, the Bible hasprinciples and insights, and
instructions and inspirationsthat you and I we can follow and
apply in our parental life.
(00:48):
Before I encourage this morning,I always would like to start
with a prayer.
So wherever you are, if you canclose your eyes or focus on the
Lord as we invite his presence,as we invite him to take
control, as we invite him tohave his way, whatever his will
is, let it be done, not ours.
(01:09):
Gracious Father, we thank youfor this amazing time that we
have gathered.
We thank you, Lord, because weknow that you are here with us.
Holy Spirit, we depend on you tospeak life to your people, to
speak life to your children, tospeak life to parents that are
here.
Holy Spirit, you are therevealer of truth.
(01:31):
Holy Spirit, you are our helper.
I submit myself to you.
Let me just be an instrument foryou to speak.
And at the end of the day, letyour name be glorified.
And I pray that God, your peoplewill be blessed.
They will obtain somethingtangible that they can apply in
their lives and area ofparenting.
(01:52):
I thank you, Lord, and I knowthat you have answered our
prayers.
I know that you haveaccomplished whatever it is that
you have ordained today.
This we ask in Jesus' preciouspowerful name we have prayed.
Amen.
Today I just want to brieflyencourage all of us as parents
(02:16):
or want to be parents.
I know it's not an easy job.
All I can tell is a noble job.
It's not easy, but it's a noblejob.
It's a job that has asignificant purpose.
It's a job that serves theprocreation of life.
(02:37):
It's a job that when God blessedman, he said, Let him be
fruitful, let him multiply,subdue, and fill the earth.
So you guys are partakers inbringing life into this world.
(02:58):
So I just want to say that theheavens celebrate you, and I
also celebrate the tremendouswork that you're doing,
investing in the lives of yourchildren.
It's a noble work.
Don't let nobody tell youotherwise.
Because I know we live in aculture that makes parenting or
having a family look not coolbecause of people's way of
(03:23):
living, their own preferences.
But family is a good thing.
The first institution that Godestablished when he created this
universe is family, not evenwork, it's family because God is
all about family.
So we have an example of whatparenting is all about.
And God describes himself as afather, meaning that he is a
(03:47):
parent.
A father is not just about yourmale organ.
Being a father is not just atitle that any man can claim.
Being a father is a title thatinvolves responsibility and
authority.
And God has that title of afather of being responsible for
his children and also havingthat authority, that oversight
(04:11):
over his children.
So we have an example in theBible that God is a father.
And that is why we have fathersand mothers in our lives.
And because that's who God is.
God married himself to Israel.
He called himself the husband ofIsrael.
Jesus Christ married himself tothe church.
(04:31):
He called himself the husband ofthe church.
So when you look at Genesis allthe way down to the gospel, it's
all about relationship.
It's all about family.
When you and I, as believers,when we end up leaving this
world, we're going to be part ofthe divine family of God.
So God really values familybecause He's all about family.
(04:54):
Even the Trinity, it's God inone, all relational.
And God wants to apply the samething here on earth.
That is why you establishfamily.
I just wanted just to highlightthe importance of family before
I get into a story of Mary, themother of our Savior Jesus
Christ, a special woman.
(05:16):
And if you look at key phrasesin the Bible, two times it is
mentioned that Mary ponder inher heart.
Some translation will say Marykept all these things in her
heart.
The focus is in her heart.
(05:38):
The Bible states Mary ponder inher heart in Luke chapter 2,
verse 19.
Luke chapter 2, verse 51, theBible states that Mary kept all
these things in her heart.
Let's look at the instances whyMary ponder things in her heart,
(06:00):
why Mary kept things in herheart.
Mary ponder and kept things inher heart regarding her son
Jesus Christ.
Regarding that special son.
So being a parent, like I said,is you bringing life into
(06:21):
existence.
Recently, a church, a woman ofGod, made a statement, a
powerful statement that you andI we are spiritually formed
before we are physically formed.
So in essence, our first parentsor our first father, because the
word father means source, youare created first by God.
(06:44):
So your children are createdfirst by God.
Okay, wow.
They are created first by God.
God just used both male andfemale to be the carriers of the
created child from God.
So you, as a parent, you are acarrier of life.
(07:06):
You didn't really create thatlife because God created that
life and just put that lifeinside of you.
So you are a steward of life.
You are a steward of life.
You have a divine command,commission to be a steward of
life, to be a servant of life,to cherish that life, to
(07:31):
cultivate that life, to care forthat life.
That is why abortion issomething very terrible.
And we as believers we shouldnot practice this.
I know there are circumstances,I understand.
But life is precious in thesight of God.
So Mary ponder in her heartbecause what she carried was
(07:52):
precious to her.
What she carried was so preciousto her.
Because the angel of the Lordappeared to Mary when we look at
Luke chapter 1, that encounterwhen the angel appeared to Mary.
And the angel said that, let meread from Luke chapter 1
(08:12):
quickly, verse 28.
The Bible says, and having comein, the angel said to her,
Rejoice, highly favored, thatthe Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women.
So for you to have a child is aprivilege because there are many
women who are looking for thewomb, but they're not able to
have it.
If you look at the OldTestament, there are instances
where being barren brought shameto women.
(08:37):
And there are many instances ofgodly women who were barren.
And when they pray to God, Godgave them special children.
So for you to be a mother, it'sa privilege.
You have been chosen to bringlife.
So we should not take it forgranted at all.
I understand at times it's hard,but at the end, it's a duty,
(09:00):
it's a noble duty.
So I just want to encourage youto make you feel like wow, I
have a noble mandate fromheaven, not from man, not from
society, not from government.
Because government did notinstitute family, it was God who
instituted family from thebeginning.
And that's what you and I asbelievers we need to believe.
(09:21):
So the angel appeared to Mary,said, Mary, man, you're gonna
conceive a child.
Don't be afraid.
That which is in your womb isspecial, and this child is gonna
be great, and this child isgonna be called the son of the
most high, and the Lord willbring him the throne of his
father David.
So the angel was trying toexplain to Mary, Mary, what
you're about to carry is notsomething ordinary.
(09:45):
What you're about to carry isnot something that you should
take for granted.
What you're about to carry,you're about to carry life and
purpose.
Life and purpose.
So your children, your children,when God give you those
children, they are meant for apurpose.
(10:08):
Your role is to procreate, tobring life about, and your
second role is to ensure thatlife that you have brought
about, that life serves apurpose.
So those are the two functionsof parents: procreation and
purpose.
You bring life about and toensure that that life fulfills
(10:29):
its maximum purpose.
So the children that you have,it is your responsibility not
only to bring them intoexistence, but it's also your
responsibility as a parent toensure that you care for them,
you cultivate them, you cherishthem, and you help them to
fulfill their calling in life.
(10:52):
That is why Mary pondered in herheart, because she has been
assigned to produce life, andnot only that, she has been
assigned to ensure that thischild of hers fulfilled its
purpose.
This child of hers fulfilled itspurpose.
That is why she kept it in herheart.
(11:14):
She was observing the dream thatshe had.
Let me keep these things in myheart concerning my child, what
my child is going to be.
My child is going to be thesavior of the world.
And look at the things that he'sdoing.
unknown (11:32):
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (11:32):
Instead of me to discourage my child, or instead
of me to tell my child, you knowwhat, you will not call to be a
doctor, become become a nursebecause myself, I was a nurse.
Fulfill the life that I wantedto fulfill.
But when you know that yourchild loves medical stuff,
instead of you to help yourchild to pursue that path, but
because you you want your childto fulfill your own dream, you
(11:56):
distract the child.
But not so with Mary.
Mary was given a mandate thathey, this child is gonna be
this, and I want you to helpthis child fulfill his purpose.
That is one of theresponsibilities of parenting,
to help your children fulfilltheir divine purpose on this
earth.
So the first instance where theBible says that Mary kept all
(12:19):
these things and pondered themin her heart was when the um,
let me see, when the shepherds,the shepherds came again, angel.
Angel appeared to the shepherdto tell the shepherds about this
special child, and the angeldirected them where they're
gonna find the special child.
And the shepherd came and theyfound the child.
And and the Bible says that whenthey came, let me read it
(12:43):
quickly.
When the angels appeared to theshepherd in Luke chapter 2,
verse 15, they said to oneanother, Let us now go to
Bethlehem and see this thingthat has come to pass, which the
Lord has made known to us.
Wow! And they came with hasteand found Mary and Joseph and
(13:05):
the babe and the babe lying inthe manger.
Now when they had seen him, theymade widely known the saying.
They made widely known the sin,and all of those who heard it
marvel, marvel at those thingswhich were told by them by the
shepherds.
Then verse 19, where my focusis.
But Mary kept all these thingsand pondered them in her heart.
(13:28):
She was getting revelationsabout her son from the angel,
from the shepherd.
We as parents, we need to goback to God.
Like I said, God is the firstparent of your children, you are
the second parent.
So walk with God to care foryour children.
(13:50):
Walk with God, who is who's whois a father to care for your
children.
God wants to get involved inyour family.
He knows you cannot do it all byyourself.
Cry out to God when at times youfeel overwhelmed.
Go to God so that He can carryyou and your family.
He wants to do that.
So God didn't leave Mary all byherself.
(14:12):
He gave Mary signs that, heyMary, that child is special.
And what is your role, what isyour response as a mother or as
a father, keep those things inyour heart concerning your
child, concerning your children.
Whatever you hear from Godconcerning what your children
are going to become in life,what your children are going to
do in life, keep them in yourheart.
(14:35):
Ponder them in your heart andmake sure that whatever you're
doing with your children, alignthem, what is in your heart
concerning them.
Don't distract them, don'tdisrupt them.
Make sure that they are in thecenter of God's will.
Because God was the one whofirst created them, and you are
just carriers of those children.
(14:56):
So the Bible states that Marykept all these things and
pondered them in her heart.
Verse 20, and then the shepherdsreturned, glorifying and
praising God for all the thingsthat they had heard and seen,
and it was told them.
So you bringing a child intoexistence brings glory to God.
That is why abortion will neverbring glory to God.
(15:19):
Because you're taking life.
God is life.
When you bring life intoexistence, it brings glory to
God because that life will servea significant purpose in life.
So what you guys are doing asparents, it brings glory to God.
So I want you to be proud ofyourself as a parent, taking
(15:43):
care of a wonderful, nobleresponsibility.
Don't shy away from it.
It's noble in the sight of God.
I know it's hard.
I know at times it's not easy.
That is why God is saying, Iwant to be with you.
Let us co-parent these childrentogether.
And he is a foster, he is ashield, he is faithful, he is
(16:03):
caring, he is gracious, he ismerciful, he is powerful, he is,
oh my God, he is forgiving, heis patient.
That's the God that we serve,that is willing to walk with
you.
And lastly, before I conclude,when you go down to Luke chapter
2, verse 51, the Bible statesthat then he went down with them
(16:26):
and came to Nazareth and wassubject to them, but his mother
kept all these things in herheart.
Jesus, as a child, you as aparent, if you don't tell your
children the purpose that Godhas for them, God himself will
reveal in the heart of yourchildren that this is my plan
for your life.
Don't forget that God, God isthe source of your children.
(16:50):
God is the creator of yourchildren.
Like I said, you are just acarrier, you are just a steward
of bringing life into existence.
Your children belong to God,they belong to God.
So if you fail to tell yourchildren what God has put in
your heart concerning whatthey're gonna do, what they're
gonna be in life, God Himselfwill do it.
God himself will take theinitiative to do it.
(17:11):
Why am I saying this?
Jesus Christ at the age of 12knew his purpose.
He went into the temple askingquestions, and then people were
asking him questions and hewould and he answered.
And then and then his parentswere looking for him, and he
responded was I'm about myfather's business.
(17:34):
But at the same time, when Jesusknew his purpose, the Bible said
he was submissive to his headlyparental guardianship.
He was submissive to Mary andJoseph.
But Mary saw that Jesus at thatage of 12 was into his purpose,
was on the path of his purpose,was on the path of fulfilling
(17:59):
his father's business.
She didn't stop him.
Her response was this she keptit in her heart.
And as a result of her notstopping Jesus Christ, Jesus
Christ was submissive to Maryand Joseph.
Sometimes the reason why there'sa fight in the family between
you and your children, when yourchildren want to do A, you want
(18:21):
her to do B.
When your son wants to become alawyer, you want your son to
become a soccer player.
When your daughter wants tobecome the next prime minister
of Canada, you want them tobecome a nurse.
Deep down her heart, that'sthat's what she wants to do.
She spends most of her timelearning about leadership.
But you want to take that awayfrom her.
(18:43):
Instead of you to help alignher.
Wow, I see that my daughter isinterested in leadership.
Let me buy leadership books forher.
I see that my son is into law.
I know he wants to become alawyer, a judge.
Let me invest in that path thatis taken.
That's exactly what Mary did.
The Bible said Mary kept allthese things in her heart.
(19:07):
To conclude, Mary, because sheknew the purpose of Jesus Christ
at the conception of JesusChrist, she remained with Jesus
Christ all the way at thecrucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Let me say that again.
Because Mary knew the purpose ofher son from conception, she was
(19:30):
faithful to walk along with herson, not just when Jesus was
young, even when Jesus was anadult till the death of her son
on the cross.
She was one of the women on thecross, um, down the cross, not
even the disciple, not even thedisciple.
(19:50):
And Jesus, when he was on thecross, he said, Woman, be all
your son, son, be all yourmother.
So Jesus being God was alsoresponsible for his mother.
Because at that time, Joseph isgone, he's the elder brother.
So as being God and also being ason to Mary, he didn't just
leave Mary like that.
(20:11):
He handed over theresponsibility of Kia, of Mary,
to John the beloved.
Because why?
Why?
Because that relationship hasbeen established.
Mary was into Jesus, Jesus wasinto Mary.
So if you want your children inthe future when they get older,
be into them, they can be intoyou.
Invest in them, pour in them,and they will never forsake you.
(20:36):
I remember when I was young,this is what mommy did for me.
Mommy saw far to put me inschool, mommy so far to make
sure I go to the best school.
They will always be grateful andfaithful for you and be and be
and be thankful for yoursacrifice.
Parenting takes a lot, it'ssacrifice, it's love, it's
patience.
(20:57):
I am not a parent, but I observewhat parents go through.
But I know God is also a parent.
And I pray that God will openyour eyes to see your role as a
parent that you are a procreatorof life.
(21:17):
Your role as a parent to fulfillthe purpose to ensure that your
children live and fulfill yourcalling.
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