What does the Future look like for our Children?

The future of America is unknown right now.

With the election only days away, people are running scared. What will happen to America if a Socialist Muslim is elected to run our country? Not that Mr. McCain is Mr. Perfect either. But ... changes are coming. Can they possibly be good?

And ... what about the economy? I didn't lose anything in investments, because I don't have anything to invest. But ... I'm sure feeling the pinch at the grocery store and the gas pump. Where is the country headed?

Don't worry ... this is NOT going to be a political post. Seriously ...

I read a GREAT quote tonight, that I wanted to share ...


"We cannot always BUILD THE FUTURE for our youth ...
but we can BUILD OUR YOUTH for the future." Franklin D. Roosevelt

Yes, I can and will vote. I have read a LOT of information about this upcoming election, and know that my vote does count.

Yes, I can and will pray. Whomever the next leader of this great country is ... they need our prayers.

But ... even more than voting and praying for our president ... I am called to raise up my children, to face their future boldly ... to not fear the future (politically or economically), but to step out and do whatever God might call them to do.

Recently, someone asked me how I have raised up 3 children who have chosen to live overseas in service to the Lord. (Along with precious Cassie, who has done much world traveling, but is currently serving the Lord in Oregon.) This woman went on to say that it is exciting when even one child from a family chooses such a personal journey ... but for 3 to choose a similar journey was quite unbelievable for her.

No, we did not tell our children, "When you grow up, you should be a missionary." We did not focus all of our homeschool curriculum on missions (which would not at all have been a bad thing, it just wasn't something that we thought of). So, what did we do?


#1 We demonstrated an active, everyday, personal walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The heart of a true missionary must come from such a daily, vibrant relationship with the Lord, that they absolutely know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are called into missions work.

#2 We trusted God for financial provision, when having 13 children and a teacher's salary don't match up on the budget spreadsheet. Our kids know that the Lord will provide for their needs. They grew up learning how to pray, and how to trust God for the outcome.

#3 We talked about and read about missionaries ... ordinary people doing extraordinary things for God. One year, each of the children that knew how to read (7 kids that year, I think), read the Trailblazer Books or Christian Heroes Then and Now series (both from YWAM Publishing) for their homeschool history course that year.

#4 We watched videos of missionaries. The Gladys Aylward story was our first, I think.

#5 We went to hear missionary speakers. Cassie told us at age 10 or 11 that she wanted to go to India, after hearing (and meeting) K.P. Yohannan. (And ... she has been to India.)

#6 We supported missionaries. (We have supported Gospel for Asia, K.P. Yohannan's, ministry for over 15 years.

#7 We took our family on Mission Trips. In 2001, we took all 9 children to work in inner-city Los Angeles for 10 days. We weren't afraid to take them to the ghetto, to work at a church there. In 2006, we took all 10 children to New Orleans for 2 weeks. Just the other day, Elijah (who was only 4 at the time) asked me, "Mom, do you remember when we went to New Orleans and gave all the present to the kids there?" We didn't buy our children any Christmas Presents that year, but not one ever complained ... they were filled with joy to be giving presents to the children in New Orleans.


Seriously ... we didn't make a plan to "raise up missionaries". We made a plan to raise up children who joyfully love and serve Our Lord. Whether he calls them to the military, to missions, to teaching, to the pastorate ... it doesn't matter. Really ... ALL we have wanted for our children (career wise) is for them to love and serve the Lord in whatever they might do.

All of those things that we have done that have caused them to take a serious look at the option of missions work, is really preparation for their future, no matter what their career choice.

#1 A daily walk with the Lord is the very best preparation for the future that any young adult could have.

#2 Learning to trust God for financial provision is critical in this day and age (as it has always been). If you can trust God for financial provision, than you are more likely to step out in faith to a career that might not be a top-paying position, but might be exactly what God has called you to.

#3 Reading missionary stories, watching movies, listening to speakers ... all of these things were preparing our children to step out in FAITH (remember ... a Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him), no matter what the specific calling on their life is.

#4 Supporting missionaries for many years has shown our children to look beyond themselves and their needs. It has broadened their view of the world, which is a critical part of preparing our children for the future.

#5 Taking our children "out into the world" to minister to those less fortunate (and supporting them on MANY of their own mission trips) has also helped them to look outward, rather than inward. If the young adults of today are looking inward ... they are facing the uncertain economic times with a "what's going to happen to me"? perspective. And, they are facing the election with a "how can it benefit me?" perspective. However, if we have trained up our children to face the future with a world-perspective rather than a me-perspective, I believe it will positively affect who they vote for, and the difference they can make in today's world.


So, I want to encourage you to not worry (seriously ... do NOT worry ...) about your future ... or the future of America ... or the future of this world. God IS in control, no matter who wins the election.

And, I want to encourage you ...

... if you are a young adult ... to do ALL that God has called you to ... to live boldly for Him ... to embrace your future with a dream, a passion, a desire to walk in the extraordinary (did you read Monday's post?).

... if your are a parent ... to do all of the above and ... to build your children for the future ... help them to also embrace a life of service, without fear. Whether your children are preschoolers or teens, it is never too early or too late to begin preparing them for the life that God has for them.