2024-08-18_Sunday 1st Service: Raising a Godly Generation Through Intercession. By PBC Children's Pastor, Pastor Susan Wanjira

God is good and all the time.

What do you want to tell to our children and our teachers and volunteers?

Yeah, we've had a wonderful, wonderful week.

We thank God for taking care of us.

Thank you, parents, for trusting us with your children.

Before we go to hear the Word of God, I want to appreciate our very special visitors that we have today.

Did you appreciate the children with uniform?

You know mine don't have uniform, but today you had other children presenting and they had uniform, so do you appreciate the team that had uniform?

I want to request Pastor Binzi and his wife.

They came all the way from Achakos and not only today.

They were sending their children to come for VBS and they are also very special because Teacher Jen, teacher Jen, where are you?

Teacher Jen is one of our Sunday school teachers.

She teaches grade one, but also she is also very involved.

You have seen our theme vision for the children.

She's also very involved.

You have seen our theme vision for the children.

She's in that group that makes sure that we have sat down and write the theme vision to the level of a child.

Let's appreciate them.

Thank you so much and, as I promised in the first service, we shall revenge.

We shall revenge by coming back to Machakos and ensure that you have a fiery Sunday school.

We shall train your teachers and my team here.

My teachers, are we going to Machakos?

I ensure that you have a fiery Sunday school.

We shall train your teachers and my team here.

My teachers, are we going to Machakos?

Yes, we shall go.

I want to also request the teachers and the volunteers to stand up.

I want you to stand up, kindly stand up.

The volunteers I know some in the morning.

You know I have many GNCs as volunteers, so in the morning they didn't come.

I'm sure they're in this service.

Let's all stand.

The people who made sure that the VBA was a success yes, before you, parklands Baptist Church is a team that worked closely with me.

You heard Risto.

Risto is our chair.

He mentioned that every day we had more than 1,400 children.

Now, if you are there and you struggle with your two, just imagine what Pastor Susan was going through in the week.

Yeah, because if two is one for you, we had more than a thousand.

They come from different homes.

They are different personalities but by the grace of God, we finished well.

Let's appreciate them.

Among those who are standing there is a very special team of our young people who have grown here.

They were born, they were dedicated, they went through Sunday school and they came back to stay.

Let's appreciate the volunteers.

There are many, I can't name their names, but there are so many.

We really, really thank God for the support we have received from the church.

Thank you for giving us an opportunity, because I know there could be other churches.

They do not allow their children to meet or even to lead a service the way we are doing today.

So, on behalf of the children ministry, our chair of PDB, there is also our associate pastor.

Thank you so so much from the children ministry, our chair of PDB, there is our and also our associate pastor.

Thank you so so much from the children ministry.

They can, you can have your seat Now before I.

I am not given.

No, there are some things you might do and then you pay next year.

So I know the ladies gave me their children in the week.

They have requested me.

Pastor Susan, you must say about convention.

So now all the ladies, can you hear me?

When is the convention?

October?

Which date?

5th of October, please?

We have a table outside.

Pass by, register and plan to attend.

We are looking forward to hosting More than between 700 and 1,000 women just coming together to learn together.

So we are looking forward to attending also.

So at this time, I want us to stand up so that we can be able to read the scripture.

Let's stand up.

Our scripture comes from the book of Psalms, chapter 78, verses 4 to 8, and we are going to read.

Psalms 78:4–8

We will not hide them from their descendants.

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and the wonders he has done.

He decreed status for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children.

So the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their God.

Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

They would not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and a rebellious generation whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirit were not faithful to him.

Let's pray, almighty God.

We want to thank you for this opportunity you have given us to be able to meet together and share your word.

We want to thank you that, even in, you, have given us to be able to meet together and share your word.

We want to thank you that even in this month that you are saying this is a month of open-door language and uplifted intercession we can just come to continue to pray and even, lord, to intercede on behalf of our children.

We want to thank you, lord.

We ask you that you may speak to us and each one of us, the ones who are here, the one in pavilion and even the ones online.

Oh, dear God, we want to thank you.

We want to bless you In Jesus' name.

We pray and believe we can have our seats as you get your seats.

We are still in the season of prayer.

I hope you all have this card.

Remember our senior pastor before he went on leave.

We launched this card.

All have this card.

Remember our senior pastor before he went on leave, we launched this card and this card we are supposed to write our prayer request and pray.

Today we finish the third week and tomorrow we are starting week four.

So I want to believe that we all have this.

Do we still have the mama that got lost somewhere?

Are we praying every day?

Pastor said at least for 10 minutes.

So please make sure you pray and you have written.

Feel free also to add, as you are told, we can even add a full cup.

So now, today, we want to hear the word of God.

We've had a wonderful, wonderful week with the children and today you allow me to speak to the parents, and when I say parents, we are all parents, because even if you do not have a child, you have a child in the neighborhood, you have your nephews, you have your nieces, and if you do not have all that, you come to Parklands Baptist Church every Sunday.

You see so many children passing through many doors, going to Sunday school.

So, even those ones, there is something you can do.

Our text today is Raising God regeneration Through intercession.

Raising God regeneration Through intercession.

We are saying that we have a call.

You and I have a call as a church, as a nation.

We have a call To be able to raise a generation Through prayer, because when we pray, god acts.

The children say that we need to pray about everything, anywhere, any place.

We don't have to wait.

One of the things that we teach our children is they don't have to wait on Sunday to come to be prayed for.

They also don't have to run to their pastor.

In fact, I tell them you don't have to run to their pastor.

In fact, I tell them you don't have to run to Pastor Susan to pray for you.

And sometimes, even when they come to me they want prayers.

I tell them I want you to pray in your own words first, then I pray for you.

And why do I do that?

Because I want them to know that praying for themselves is very important, because I want them to grow knowing I can actually talk to God on myself.

Yes, it's good to have a support, but even me, wherever I am.

Because these children are not with their parents or even with their teachers or their pastors all the time.

Sometimes they are alone and we want them even in those moments.

If it is dark in the night, those moments you just tell God what you are feeling.

That is my prayer.

So we have a call.

It's dark in the night, those moments you just tell God what you are feeling.

That is my prayer.

So we have a call to be able to bring up our children and help them to pray.

So how do we ensure that our children, how do we ensure that we raise a Godly generation?

Point one is praying for them and also teaching them the word of God.

We pray for them and we help them how to pray.

We also teach them the word of God According to Proverbs 22, verse 6.

Proverbs 22:6

And number two we are saying we discipline our children.

And, of course, when we are disciplining our children, we discipline them with love, according to Proverbs 29, verse 17.

Proverbs 29:17

Number three we are saying that we as the parents, we as the guardians, we as the grandparents, we as the society, we be godly role models that the children can be able to watch and imitate.

So we go to point one, that is praying and teaching our children.

That is praying and teaching our children, the duty of teaching our children the word of God, just the way we have said.

We have read from Psalms, chapter 8, 78,.

Psalms 8 · chapter mention

The duty of teaching our children belongs to us as a parent.

Teaching our children the word of God belongs to us as a parent.

Yes, it is good to take your children to a Christian school.

It's good for you to take your children to Sunday school, and by then we have a wonderful, wonderful Sunday school, two years to grade eight, and I can assure you that your children will be taught the word of God.

But you know what?

That duty of teaching the word of God.

It should start at home.

Me, I should just be affirming Me and my team here.

We should just be affirming what the parents already planted, the foundation that the parents have set at home, because home is the foundation.

It's the fab hub Hub.

You know everything happens.

Our parents do their work in the week.

So Pastor Susan and her team on Sunday will just come in and smoothen.

You know when people are constructing, I don't know what that thing is called.

You know when the walls are made, there's that kind of thing that comes like this I don't know what it is called, I can't remember.

According to me, that is a teaching aid for what I'm saying, but that thing is just to smoothen, you know.

So that should be the work of the church and also the Sunday school teachers, because the parents have already done their job and we do that job not alone.

We are doing it with God, because we know that all our children, with all their personalities, with all their many things that they do, they are given from who?

From God, and because they are gifts from God, god chose you to be the parent of that child.

So look at your neighbor.

If they look like your parents tell them you are the best parent, and because there are some grandparents in the house also, if you see a grandparent, also tell them you are the best grandparent.

Yeah, god chose you for a reason.

You might not feel it, you know, sometimes you feel sometimes the parents feel like their things.

Parenting is very hard and because the children are also harmful sometimes they can make you run you also feel I think I'm the worst parent.

But you're not.

God chose you.

You are the best.

And for God to have chosen you out of the billions in the world, there's a reason why he chose you.

So if you're a parent, do your part and do it well.

And remember those children belong to God first.

You should only collaborate with him.

You work together.

You involve God in every step.

So even as you teach your children, you also pray.

We pray for that.

Our children will grow the way Jesus grew.

In the book of Luke, chapter 2, verse 52, I know many of us know that verse how Jesus grew.

Luke 2:52

Let us pray that our children will grow the way Jesus grew.

He grew in stature, in wisdom.

We pray that our children shall have the wisdom of Christ.

They already have the mind of Christ, according to the scripture.

So let us pray that they'll have wisdom that comes from the Lord.

There are many wisdom, you know.

There's wisdom in the TV.

There is wisdom in the TV, I mean in the phones, the internet.

There's a lot of wisdom, but let us pray that our children will have the wisdom of Christ.

One of the prayers I pray for all the children who come to our school and our church is that they shall follow the ways of the Lord.

It doesn't matter where they come from, it doesn't matter what they are going through, but they shall follow the ways of the Lord.

It doesn't matter where they come from, it doesn't matter what they are going through, but they shall follow the ways of the Lord.

I love teaching these people.

They can be work, but we involve God.

Amen, they can be work.

That is why sometimes, when you come there and you're talking to me, I cannot even want to look at you because there are some toddlers who are running and I am thinking they might disappear Because I'm the one who will be in trouble if they leave.

So I just ignore the person who is big and I handle the little ones.

They are harmful, but you know what we purpose, to invest in them.

I love teaching children, the first service.

I was saying I've taught Sunday school now for 30 years and I'm praying that I'm going to teach many, many more and I have a team here.

If I was to ask, some of these people, some of these teachers also have taught more than 20 years this church.

Now, by the grace of God, we have the new ones.

We have the new ones who are just maybe one or two years, so we have different ages of these teachers.

So, pastor Simon, if you are planning to plant a church like Australia, you can give me leave for one year.

Sunday school will still run.

I can just go start a Sunday school there and come back, because I know there's a strong team here who can run the ministry even if I'm not there, and they love our boys and girls and I'm very proud of the teachers and the volunteers for what they do.

And just on the teachers, lest I forget, I know some of us parents, when you come you're not very kind to our teachers.

I know sometimes you have told them that we pay them.

Please note, and you can confirm with Pastor Simon, these teachers, they are free.

We do not pay them, even a coin.

Sometimes, when the parents come there, they tell the teachers we know we pay you to take care of our children.

I can't find my child.

Can you imagine?

It is on a Sunday.

So please, parents, I am saying on this pulpit that we do not pay these teachers.

They are volunteers.

On Sunday morning they wake up the way you wake up, they get ready.

You get ready to go and be ministered.

Then they wake up every Sunday to go and minister to your children.

So, even if you come and something is wrong, just be kind and patient to them.

Amen, parents.

Yes, we go back to growing.

We want our children to grow like the way Jesus grew.

Pray that God will help our children to grow in wisdom, that they shall be wise.

They shall not be wise in their own eyes, but they shall be wise, filled with the wisdom of God.

Let us pray also that they shall have the fear of the Lord.

The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Pray that God will help every child, whichever age that they are in, that God will help them.

We also need to pray that our children that will grow physically.

They shall grow in stature and as our children grow in stature.

This is also what we are supposed to do.

We are supposed to make sure they eat well, they take care of their bodies well, they cover their bodies well.

Those are also we are supposed to help our children to do that.

Their bodies well, those are also we are supposed to help our children to do that.

I know we are parenting.

Nowadays I hear people parent remotely as our parents were present.

Nowadays we just give orders.

You call the house girl and say hello, has so.

And so come home, have they done homework?

Have they taken a shower?

Have they eaten?

Then the house help says oh, no, no, no, no, they don't want to eat ugali because we have cooked ugali.

Then you say you can order for pizza and you actually order.

Remember that child.

They need to know how to eat the healthy food, as Pastor Edy said.

Pastor Edy says that children should not eat pizza and all those they should eat once in a while.

Let us help our children to be able to eat all meals.

There is no harm of your children taking breakfast or sweet potatoes or porridge.

I know some of the parents don't take, but that's why it will be very hard, but we will be coming to modeling, because also we need to be role model.

So, parents, let us also teach our children what to eat.

Let us teach our children about exercise.

Let us not just wake up in the morning and they sit.

Let us also teach them how to do duties in the house.

Let me tell you, you see, these two small girls, the kindergarten.

If you tell them to remove a cup from the table, can they do it.

If you tell them to wipe the table, can they wipe.

But what happens at home?

When they have finished eating their food, the house manager comes, takes the cup and wipes the table.

And, mommy and daddy, they are comfortable.

Are we helping this child physically?

No, when they grow up and God opens for them a job in Canada, will you be able to get them a house help there.

So, my dear parents, let us teach our children responsibility.

Let us not have children who just finish and leave the plate there.

They wake up, their bed is left like that.

When you go to their room, the clothes are from the door, you know.

And because the house manager is coming, what about if that house manager is not there?

What will happen to that child?

Are you training that child that they can be able to survive somewhere.

Because, let me tell you, these people here, right now they look very small, but in the next 15 years they'll be grown-ups, they'll be the people who'll be going to be employed.

Some of them, the older ones, will be even having their own families.

So how are you training them Physically?

Let them be fit, let them eat well.

Let the children know they are supposed to eat the food that has been cooked, not unless the doctor has said something.

And children, are you listening to me?

You know what are my rules.

Usually they know my rules.

I say children should not have phones.

I also say they should eat what is served.

So, boys and girls, are you listening?

So if today mommy serves skuma and ugali, don't complain.

But today they can give you something nice because you have worked so hard, isn't it?

Today they have done something good.

They need a kuambu, a pole.

So let us make sure our children eat well, they exercise well, they learn responsibilities early because we are raising a full person.

Eat well, they exercise well, they learn responsibilities early Because we are raising a full person.

So, as they continue to grow physically, let's also pray that they have favor before God and man.

Let us pray that they have favor before God.

And how do they have favor before God?

By interacting with him.

Let them know.

Yes, my parents are born again.

Yes, my parents are Christian, but I also need to have my faith, my fellowship with my God.

It is good to come from a Christian home and it is thank you so much for always bringing your children to church.

But also they need to have the faith of their own.

They need to interact with God personally.

And how does that come?

By making sure they study the word of God, they talk to God in prayer.

We have taught them and we keep teaching them on Sunday, and we know that God is still at work in their lives.

And finally, also, let's pray that our children will have favor before man.

Teach your children to respect other people.

Teach your children also to respect other people's things.

You know, when a child comes with a rubber at home that does not belong to you, do you tell them you can keep it or do you just assume that it came?

Teach them to respect other people's things.

Teach them that taking something without permission is stealing.

Tell them to teach them how to say sorry, say good morning, you know, even if they don't know.

Let the children know when they to say good morning In the morning, when they wake up.

Teach your children Say good morning to the first person you meet.

Say how are you?

You know if they are wrong.

Teach them how to say sorry If they want to pass and there are people, let them not just pass.

Teach them how to say excuse me.

Teach them remove the word I want.

You know Teacher Sally, she's in the Sunday school and in the school and she has this statement.

It says those who want never get.

So in the moment a child says I want, oh, teacher Sally is quick to say those who want never get.

But the moment a child says please, can I have?

Oh, they are given.

Teach our children that there's no those words that I want, I must.

There's nothing like that.

Yeah, there's nothing like that.

Life is not like that, not unless maybe your life is like that.

Whatever you want just comes, mine is not like that.

And these children that we teach we also want them to know life is not like that.

So pray that that we teach we also want them to know life is not like that.

So pray that your children will have favor before God, before man.

They also know how to have people skills.

You know how to interact with one another.

Usually we encourage them when they come.

If they come, they can come in a group and with many friends.

We always tell them you don't have to stay with your friends, make other friends, because we want them to develop their social skills.

So pray that your children will be able to have social skills.

They are able to teach another person, to talk to another person, and with a lot of respect.

Number two we say discipline.

We want to pray that our children will be disciplined, and when we talk about discipline, we are saying we discipline them in love.

In the book of Proverbs, chapter 29, verse 17,.

Proverbs 29:17

Media, if you can give me Proverbs 29, verse 17.

Proverbs 29:17

The Bible says discipline your children and they'll give you peace.

How many parents need peace?

How many grandparents need peace?

How many grandparents need peace?

Yeah, so now, discipline your children and they'll give you peace.

They will bring you the delights you desire.

Dear parents and guardians, let us discipline our children.

I know the children keep reminding me you know there's this children's right that you're not supposed to be beaten.

The children remind me a lot that they're not supposed to be beaten.

It's one of their right.

You know these children know their rights.

So you also have to know you, as a parent, you have to have rules of your house, what works in your house and what works out, because there are many.

So let us purpose to discipline our children.

The Bible says we are all born with a want to do the wrong things.

That means everyone, whether you are one year, you are 50, you are 70, you are 100.

If God has given you 100.

We are all born with a want to do the wrong thing.

These people are the same.

There's something in them that just want them to do wrong things.

So you, as a parent, you are the one to correct.

You are the one to give the direction and say, yes, this is wrong, but this is how we should do it.

And every time your child does something wrong, if they do it for the first time, you can sit down and explain to them and tell them this is wrong.

They do it the second time.

Now, the third time, you must act.

You must act and tell them.

I have told you one, two, three.

You have not listened and because of this this is a punishment.

Let us not be afraid of punishing our children.

God disciplines us.

Am I you?

God doesn't discipline you.

If God who is so loving because I know there is no parent that is loving as God If God who loves us so so much we sin, we do many things, he still loves us.

He disciplines us.

What about us as parents?

Things, he still loves us.

He disciplines us.

What about us as parents?

And I do not delegate the duty of disciplining our children to other people.

It is your role as a mommy and daddy, because God did not give your child to the house help.

You are the one House help just came to assist In the two-year-old class we have.

I have a rule that says the house helps are not supposed to come, not unless now the parents are sick.

Sometimes I know parents send their househelps to Sunday school and if I get to know it's a househelp, I tell them no, we cannot have the househelp, not unless if the mommy and daddy they are sick.

And why?

Because this role of teaching the child the word of God or even taking the child to Sunday school, does it belong to the household?

No, it belongs to the parent.

The same with discipline, it is you, as a father and a mother, to discipline and, whether you are single or you are married, that situation that you are in, because God knows you the way you are, it's your duty to discipline them.

And whatever indiscipline you allow in your child's life, give it to yours.

If your child can pinch another one and you say, oh sorry, sorry mom, sorry, dad, give it to yours.

That pinching will go to slapping Because it grows with their age.

Whatever you allow these two small ones, they are angels, they look very nice and I love them, but whatever you allow, it will grow with their age.

Whatever you shall allow when they are four, just give it ten years and you'll not be able to handle it.

If you allow in discipline when your child is small, it will continue to grow, to grow, to grow and one day it will be too hard for you to handle it.

And we don't want our children to be the one going out there being arrested because we did not do our part.

Let us do our part.

Let us know that we have a duty.

Just like where God trusted us with the children, he also requires you and I to be able to discipline them, because that is what he wants us and even as you discipline, also have a communication with your children.

Don't come to discipline when you're annoyed maybe you got annoyed with your boss or something happened or there's a disagreement in the family Then by the time you are coming into discipline, you're so angry.

You're not angry because the child has sinned, you're angry out of your heart.

You know just come.

You know the way us we used to be punished.

You know when our life was different.

This one God blessed them.

You know when Kitamba, when our parents came home and they were annoyed and you have done something wrong, what used to happen?

Hey, you used to get double.

You know, sometimes even the teacher already reported you.

Then you are beaten properly.

But now we are saying, when you are disciplining your child, this one because this one, they are very precious.

That is why we call ourselves precious treasure ministry.

Discipline them with love and discipline them for the wrong they have done, not because your mind is filled with other things.

Don't discipline them with anger.

Even when God is disciplining us, he does not discipline us with anger, he disciplines us with a lot of love.

So let's also make sure that we discipline our children.

We purpose Because they know.

They know how to extend the boundaries.

I know some of us have boundaries at home, but these people, they are bright, oh, they know how to extend the boundaries, to bend, you know.

Teach them to have self-control.

Yeah, let them not get everything they want.

You know what they want.

I want this, you go get.

I want this, I go get.

I want this, I go get.

That is not preparing them for life.

They're not going to get everything.

That is not how life is.

So teach your children to have self-control.

That as part of your discipline, and even as you teach them to have self-control, practice it also Practice, practice, practice.

We shall also be seeing how we can be the role model of our children.

And number three is being a role model.

Children learn from what they see more than what we tell them.

Even for us, as the teachers, the teachers who are with me here, it is what we teach them.

But for us, as the teachers, the teachers who are with me here, this is what we teach them.

But also they observe our lives.

Let us pray that God will help us to just not teach verbally, but we shall also be practicing At home.

Mommy and daddy, at home there's mommy and daddy, the children are watching mommy and daddy.

If there is one parent, the children are watching that parent.

If it is a guardian, or maybe the grandparents are the ones who are bringing up children, the children are watching.

Know that you are their role model.

What do you want to model?

When you sit down at home and you pray and read the word of God, those children grow knowing that it is very important for us to pray together with our parents.

One of the reasons why we bring our children for worship here is because we want our children to grow knowing mommies and daddy and their children can worship together and even if it doesn't happen at home, it is happening here.

Let us be the kind of Christian models that we want our children to imitate.

Let us practice the word of God at home.

We live and practice the word of God at home, and when we do that, our children will follow.

They are like sponge they get everything.

If you are the type that says Maybe your boss is calling you, they are asking sponge, they get everything.

If you are the type that says maybe your boss is calling you, they're asking you.

Oh, so and so.

Hi Francis, where have you reached?

You're saying I'm in West France, almost coming, but your son is watching you in the sitting room.

You know they might not tell you.

I'm sorry I've used your name.

They might not tell you, but they have heard and one of these days, because they are going to grow, they shall also do the same.

Then you come and punish them.

Is that fair?

Yes, but do we do that, parents?

Sometimes we do some things, but when our children do them, we want to punish them.

But we are the ones who have shown them.

We are the ones who have shown them that you can actually be in the sitting room and say I'm in town On the phone.

We thank God for the phones.

So children just know oh, kumbe, and you know.

Now they also know you are Christian.

But they also know.

They tell me their parents who are born again.

You know, they know you are Christian, but you can comfortably say you are in town but you are at home.

They are also Christian because we have led them to Christ.

They are also growing and they are just going to follow the footsteps of their father.

Let us model the right thing to our children.

Let us live the word of God.

If you are Christian, be a Christian, even before your children Practice what is right?

What do you want them to see?

Because let me tell you what they see.

And in the first service I asked a question and I said this question you do not have to answer or you can answer it in your heart.

And I asked if my daughter or my son, you ask yourself if my daughter or my son turned exactly to be like me, just the way you are, not what we see on Sunday.

You know there is what we see on Sunday.

Yes, we know Even these children, there is what I see on Sunday.

Then, when I meet in the week, know there is what we see on Sunday.

Yes, we know, even these children, there is what I see on Sunday.

Then, when I meet in the week, it's often what the parents can tell me.

If your children just stand to be who you are, not when you're coming to Paki for service, when you're at home, you're even alone will you be proud of them?

That question does not you answer in your heart, because that, what we are, is what our children are going to be, how we live our life, because, remember, they know we are Christian, they are also Christians.

So the things that we do, they also do them.

And please do not punish them if they do them and you, you do, because sometimes the things we punish them for doing we are also doing, because you have taught them well.

They are just doing what they have seen.

So may God help us, as parents, to discipline our children in love and call sin, sin, sin, sin.

And even when you are called because sometimes I know when you are called and you are told your children did want to and we are denying on their behalf we are so different, don't?

You do not know, but just do your part.

And because we are doing this work with God, we are not doing it alone.

God is with us and these children belong to him.

First, because God is also together.

Whatever we are doing, when we are disciplining our children, when we are praying for them, when we are teaching them the word of God, when we are modeling, whatever we are doing, god is not absent and he's such a faithful friend who can be able to help us.

And maybe you are here and you are thinking this parenting journey has been so hard.

I want you to know that God chose you to be a parent and because he knows you are capable.

It's not about what you have, it's not about who you are, but because it's about who has chosen you to be a parent and children.

As they grow, many things happen.

You know Children can change.

You know, even in those moments they change.

You are still the best parent, even if your child just bangs the door.

You know the teenagers as they grow, they reach a stage.

You're talking with them.

They roll their eyes, they bang the door.

You are still the best parent.

The only thing I want to encourage the parent is when you have done your part, allow God to do the rest.

Do not miss sleep because your teenager left the house yesterday.

You know why?

Because that teenager, wherever they are, they are having fun with their friends, but you, you cannot even sleep.

You just sit like this.

You think you are holding a blanket.

That person is not even about to sit.

The best you can do is go to their room, pick their clothes, pray and call them forth, pray for them.

Sometimes I encourage the parents with the teenagers.

You know, when they are teenagers, some of them don't want to be laid on their hands, on their head.

But now, when you go to their room, go with your anointing oil, anoint their bed, anoint their clothes and continue declaring God's word, because as they grow, they change.

Don't make yourself not to fall asleep.

You know at night you are just peeping to see if they are coming.

You are calling your friends and the young people are having fun and you, you are the one who is losing sleep.

Talk to God, tell God.

God, I release those children, I release that teenager, because sometimes I feel like the parents we judge ourselves so much.

But the decision of going out is not your decision.

It's not because you have failed.

That is their own decision they have made and you, as a parent, you have done your part.

So I want us to know that we are the best parents.

God is equipping us.

We are not in this journey alone, and let us always remember to depend and collaborate with God in this journey.

So I want us to bow our head as I invite our associate pastor to come, and as we bow our head, you know yourself.

You know yourself.

Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed by this journey of parenting.

I want you to just say God, help me, equip me.

If you've been looking down on yourself because you feel maybe you are failing as a parent.

You are the best.

Tell God to give you more energy.

Tell God to give you more grace.

And maybe also you are here and you've been trusting God to become a parent.

Also tell God, god is able.

Maybe you are here as a couple.

You've been trusting God for a child.

I want you to ask God, remember me.

Tell God, remember me, because our God is able.

He's the one who gives children and he chooses who to give.

So just tell God, remember me, bless us with a child.

Dear God, we come before you this afternoon.

We want to thank you that you're a good God.

We want to thank you, lord, because you are the best parent and we, as the parents, biological parents of our children some of us are grandparents, some of us are guardians, some of us are aunties and the uncles we can depend on you.

Help us, dear God, to always call on you because you are near to us and because these children belong to you.

First, you will also enable us to bring them up, lord, I want to remember that couple there, seated there or watching online and just wondering how will I, when will I ever be a parent?

Dear God, we pray that you may come and touch them, oh dear God, that you may come and open that home, oh dear God, that even then they may be able to have the joy of holding a baby in their own hands, even to be called a mommy or a daddy, and even being a parent.

So, lord, I remember that parent.

Oh Lord, there could be also another parent with the children who have disobeyed.

They have even left home.

Oh, dear God, we are calling for those children to come back home.

In Jesus' name, there also could be another parent who is here and they have separated.

Their marriage has not worked, they have separated, they are co-parenting and the co-parenting is not even working.

It's so draining.

Oh dear God, we call on you to come and intervene on behalf of the children in that home Because, lord, we know that even when separation happens, the people who suffer most are the children.

So, lord, I pray for that parent who is feeling overwhelmed by the issues of life, by even the whole idea of co-parenting.

Oh, dear God, may you come and equip them, and equip them to finish the work that you give them, oh dear God.

So, lord, we pray for all the parents.

Thank you for all the grandparents, the uncles, the aunties, and, lord, even thank you for Parklands Baptist Church Because, lord, they value our children and even they give them opportunity Even to hear your word.

And even for VBS, lord, we are so grateful for the opportunity we were given.

Thank you, lord, even for the team from Machakos.

Thank you, lord, even for our children from Kangemi, who came every day.

Lord, we just want to thank you, we want to bless you.

Receive all the honor, lord, receive all the glory.

In Jesus' name, we pray and believe, amen.