Homegrown Children: Serving as a Family

As christians, we are called to serve.

It's easy to forget that serving others begins in the home.?
Every day, we as mothers serve our family?in numerous ways such as:

cooking nutritious meals for our family
keeping up the home
making our home a haven
loving our husband and children
choosing to do something fun with the kids when we wish to do something else that needs to be done.

Our children can serve in the home by:
being faithful to do their daily chores
helping prepare a meal
caring for a younger sibling while mom is busy
reading a book to a younger sibling
helping wherever there is a need

I believe it is also important to serve outside the home as family. ? So often I see parents of young children serving and neglecting their duties within the home and not including their children in ministry opportunities.? There are numerous ways we can serve together as a family.??Here are some ideas that we currently do or are considering doing:

1.? Visit the nursing home.
Once a month we go to the nursing home to visit and sing hymns with the residents.?? Seeing their faces light up when they see us come into the room makes it more of a blessing for us I think.

2.? Have your children color scripture pictures for an unsaved neighbor, grocery clerk, widows, the sick, or someone who needs encouragement. I love using "A Reason for Handwriting" which has scripture pages for the kids to copy and color in the back of the book.? This is an excellent resource!

So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

God's Word is powerful! Don't underestimate the impact of sharing scripture with others, especially the unsaved.

3.? Bake cookies/breads/meals for someone just because, or perhaps a new mom that has just had a baby.?

4.? Have children write a letter of encouragement to your pastor, prison inmates, or a simple thank-you note to someone who has made a difference in the life of your family.

5.? Be an intercessor.?
Be faithful to pray for the sick, unsaved, pastor and family, missionaries, and anyone else that needs prayer.?

6.? Volunteer an afternoon or evening to serve others.
Do you know?a widow lady or an elderly couple that needs help with yardwork, picking up prescriptions or groceries, or their house cleaned?? All you need to do is ask and usually there is something they can always think of that they need help with.

7.? Keep the doors of your house open.
Be hospitable to your children's friends, neighbors, and anyone else that God puts on your heart.? Invite someone over for dinner, dessert, and fellowship.?

8.? Donate used books, clothing, or household items to a family in need.

9.? Start a loose change jar and every year around Thanksgiving or Christmas choose a family to donate the money to.

10.? Support a child through Compassion, support a missionary family overseas, or get involved with Angel Tree (a prison ministry where you buy Christmas presents for the inmates children and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.)?
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For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.? Mark 10:45
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Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 11:25

What a?privilege it is to serve others and to share the love of Christ with all we meet! God blesses us so we can be a blessing.? In what other ways can you think of that we can be a blessing to others and serve as a family?

Source: http://homespunchildren.blogspot.com/2012/09/serving-as-family.html

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