Train Up a Child

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

— Proverbs 22:6

Disciplining our children seems to have become taboo.  That’s because we have seen the public displays of so-called discipline: a parent yelling at a child in the grocery store because the child wants the parent to buy something; a parent calling a child vulgar names; a parent slapping a child on the face for some minor infraction, etc., etc.  We have all seen this happen and shrivel when it does. 

God wants us - in fact -  demands us as parents to discipline or train up our children in the proper way of doing and saying things.  We can be firm and loving without being unkind or vulgar.  Quite frankly, it takes discipline to discipline our children correctly.   We have to control our anger.  By doing so, we control our tongue and the rest of our body so we do not act or say anything that’s not proper.  Since God expects us to discipline our children, He will always be there to guide us in doing what is right.  Trust Him. 

Author Soraya Diase Coffelt

Parents & Grandparents- Follow the Example of Paul’s Protégé Timothy’s Parent and Grandparent in the Bible

Parents & Grandparents- Follow the Example of Paul’s Protégé Timothy’s Parent and Grandparent in the Bible
 
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
(2 Timothy 3:14-15 Holy Bible ESV)
 
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
(2 Timothy 1:5 ESV)
 
The Apostle Paul commended his young disciple and protégé Timothy for having learned about God and the holy scriptures from childhood.  He said that this made Timothy wise and gave him strong faith in Jesus.  Paul traced the foundation for Timothy’s great faith to his grandmother and mother, praising both of them for their steadfast faith and in essence, being role models and teachers for Timothy. 
 
Children learn about God primarily from those closest to them – their parents and grandparents.  How are you being a role model and teacher of faith to your child or grandchild? 

Author Soraya Diase Coffelt

Where is Your Treasure?

"Wear the old coat and buy the new book." — Austin Phelps
 
At Matthew 6:21, Jesus tells us that where our treasure is, there will our heart also be.   In other words, what do we hold in high esteem?  What do we do most of the time?   Is spending money on material things more important than reading to improve our minds or grow our relationship and intimacy with God?  What is truly the most valuable to us - because that is where our heart will be.
 
Ask yourself, if you had the money to spend – would you buy your child new, unnecessary clothes that just came into vogue or would you buy your child books to improve your child’s reading skills and knowledge of God?  Would you buy your child a toy based on a popular movie or a book teaching Christian principles?  As parents, what we spend our money and time on shows our children what is most important to us.  As they grow, what is most important to us will become what is more important to them too. 

Author Soraya Diase Coffelt

Reading Proficiency Among Minority Children is Still Very Low

Despite all the achievements that have been made in education, reading proficiency among minority children is still very low.   According to the Kids Count Data Book for 2014 published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 83% of African American children are still not reading proficiently by 4th grade and 81% of Hispanic children.  What future does a child have if that child can’t read proficiently?  As a Christian, if a child can’t read the Bible, how will that child ever be able to develop a deep Christian walk?  It’s is critical that we as parents and teachers to do all we can to ensure that all children are able to read proficiently, not matter what their origin or nationality is.

Author Soraya Diase Coffelt

Parents - We are the #1 Role Models for Our Children

As parents, we are often busy working at our careers, grocery shopping, doing household chores, dropping off and picking up our children at school, etc., etc.   Stop and think … how are we as role models for our children?

Throughout the day, our children are watching us and often, we are so busy we don’t pay attention.  How do we react to an angry person?  What do we spend our quiet time doing?  How do we express our love for others?  We can lecture our children all we want about the right things to do, but they learn from watching and listening to us.  Be mindful of that.  We should intentionally be the role models that our children deserve.

Author Soraya Diase Coffelt

Promoting Literacy

According to national literacy statistics, two-thirds of children who do not read proficiently by 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare.  This is a shocking statistic!  We at As the Stars of the Sky Foundation strongly promote literacy.  As parents, we have a tremendous obligation to our children – to not only raise them with good Christian principles, but to also ensure that they read proficiently so that they can be successful in life.  Make a commitment today to spend time reading and praying with your children.

Author Soraya Diase Coffelt

One of the Most Important Ways to Show a Child Love

Many parents believe that showering their children with gifts is an important way to show their love.  In other words, buy them something.  While it is true that gifts are one way to show our love, I believe that a more wonderful way is spending time with our children.  If you haven’t noticed, they are constantly seeking our attention.  With our two sons, my late husband and I had special times just for them –early in the morning and at night as we were putting them to bed.  Both those times were dedicated to reading to them.  Often, our sons would pick out their favorite books to read (or have read to them).  Other times, we had a new one to read.  It may have been a book about dinosaurs, or Star Wars, or taking baths – it didn’t matter.  We made it special for each of them.  In fact, I still have some of their favorite books as keepsakes and fondly remember those days!

Author Soraya Diase Coffelt

Dreaming

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

As we remember what happened in Selma 50 years ago, it is upsetting that in many places, we are still being judged by the color of our skin rather than the content of our character.  One of the ways that we break out of this is through reading.  The importance of reading cannot be over stated.  By reading a book, we can travel all over the world without ever leaving our home.  In essence, reading helps us dream.  The love of reading can easily be instilled in our children, because they are so eager to learn and imitate us.

This week, make a commitment to take a child to the public library or buy a child a book. Then, sit down and read it with him or her.  Be sure to talk about the characters in the pictures and the artwork too.  Be happy, be sad, be angry or laugh - do whatever is appropriate.  Above all, make it enjoyable and memorable.  That is all encompassed in "reading" to a child.

Author Soraya Diase Coffelt

Making Reading Fun for Children

Today is the birthday of Dr. Seuss.  His books are fun to read and often have a moral lesson to learn.  As many parents did, I read his books to my children over and over and over again.  I had fun times with my children as they laughed at the goofy rhymes and pictures.

As my books in "The Love Letters" series come out, I would like them to be read by parents over and over and over again to their children too.  Each book will have a strong Christian message and funny parts for them to laugh at.  Teaching Christianity to our children should never be boring.  Build irreplaceable memories by making reading a fun and enjoyable time for your children!

Author Soraya Diase Coffelt

As the Stars of the Sky – What is the significance of these words and how do they apply to children?

I’m always asked that question when I speak or write about As the Stars of the Sky Foundation, Inc. Those words actually come from a phrase in the Bible found in chapter 22 of Genesis and again at Hebrews 11:12. God spoke to Abraham about the importance of his faithfulness. He told Abraham that He would bless him because of his faithfulness. He then asked Abraham to look up at the sky and told him that one day, Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars of the sky.

According to Galatians 3:29, we are the true children or descendants of Abraham after we have made Jesus our Lord and Savior. We become heirs to the blessings of God.

People often believe that God’s Word only applies to adults. I know that is far from the truth! Nowhere in the Bible does God say that His Word is only for adults. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was about 9 years old. That was the turning point in my life and my faith has been the foundation of all that I have done and continue to do. My heart’s cry is to impact the lives of children so they can build a foundation on faith in God and help transform our world.