Lesson One: Hearts, Souls, Hands and Eyes

I loved being with my local Sonflower Sisters yesterday! Truly, it was the highlight of my month. What sweet fellowship.

For Online Sisters and locals who couldn't  make yesterday's gathering: Print out the "History of Sonflower Sisters," the "Hearts Drawn Close Introduction," and "Lesson 1: Heart, Soul, Hands and Eyes" from this web site and tuck them into a folder you can add to as we move along.

Read the History and Introduction before you move on to Lesson 1, which will be your guide for the next month. Online Sisters, Deb and Phyliss' groups: You will use this from 2/1-2/28. Cindy and Mel's groups: You will use this up until your next group gathering.

Local Hostesses for February, I will forward your leader the next lesson and Hostess Guide in a week so you will have it to plan.

If you have any questions, please email me at sonflowersisters at comcast dot net. I want you to know I look forward to making things clear for you.

Blessings,
Deb

Hearts Drawn Close

Lesson One: Heart, Soul, Hands and Eyes

You shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Deuteronomy 11:18

God’s Word reveals His heart to us. In it He tells us He created (Genesis 1:27), loves (John 3:16), has plans for (Jeremiah 29:11), redeems (Isaiah 43:1), renews (Psalm 51:10), and shapes us (Isaiah 64:8). He explains how He calls us out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9) and provides an inheritance for us (Acts 26:18). Oh, but I haven’t even gotten started! God’s Word is living and active; God’s Word came to earth to save us (John 1:1).

Your heart is for filling. God wants to fill it with Himself, with things straight from His own heart. The devil wants to fill it with worry, anxiety, selfishness and greed. Who do you allow to fill your heart, Sister? Choose God and take in His living and active Word—His very love poured out from Genesis to Revelation.

Each month during Hearts Drawn Close you’ll choose a new scripture verse to memorize. Ask God to reveal to you which verse He wants to plant firmly in your (and your daughter’s) heart and soul. Write or print the verse out and post it where you’ll both see it often.

Bind Our Hands

Our hands are for work. Ephesians 2:10 tells us “We are *God’s+ workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works which He has before ordained that we should walk in them.” God has specific jobs for our hands; he has already determined the good works we should do. So how can we find out what they are?

We ask. We listen. And we still our hands. We stop our own work in order to begin His work. Let me explain. Putting my children to bed is work. When they were younger, I bathed them, dressed them in their pajamas, laid them in their beds and pulled up the covers—a nightly ritual that left me exhausted. Yet I knew it was the work God had ordained for that season in our lives. Now that they’re older and can do most of these things by themselves, my work has changed. Now my job is so tell them stories, talk with them about their days, and sing and pray with them. When God showed me it was time to give up certain works of my hands, I stopped what I was doing and went His way. What sweet times I share with my children at bedtime.

If we are caught up in the work we think is ours but are unwilling to yield to God’s direction, we will miss the works He has waiting for us. He has plans for our hands in our daughter’s lives. Won’t you give control of your hands over to Him?

This month we will physically bind His Word on our hands as a reminder to yield our hands to Him in work. Make or buy a bracelet or wristlet that has Scripture on it. (See links at http://www.sonflowersisters.com/.) Each time you move your hands to disciple your daughter and feel his Word against them, ask yourself, “Lord, is this the work you have planned for me?”

Focus Our Eyes

When we journey, we set our eyes on our destination and follow with our feet. The destination determines our path. What is the destination for discipling our daughters? Is it to raise well-behaved, modest, lovely young women? Or is it to draw our daughters’ hearts close to God?

When we set our eyes on a set of behaviors and appearances, we pursue the destination of personality. When we set our eyes on introducing them to the Lord, we pursue the living God who reaches past personalities and works in deep and lasting ways in their very spirits. A young woman who loves God and is fashioned by Him is lovely, modest and well-behaved. But more than that, she is transformed into the image of God (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Sisters, let’s allow God to transform our thinking about discipling our daughters. Let’s ask Him to help us store up His Word in our hearts and souls; let’s give Him control of our hands; and let’s set our eyes upon Him as our destination.

Consider…

[a few questions to mull over in your own heart]

Is there a certain Bible story or passage God has used in your life recently? How did you know He was using that particular passage? Ask God to show you what passage or story He is using in your life right now. Ask Him to reveal to you a Scripture verse to memorize this upcoming month.

What good works have your hands been busy doing? Are you certain they’re the works God has prepared for you ahead of time? If you’re not, are you willing to stop what you’re doing in order to seek Him? Ask Him to help you stop the work of your hands until you are certain they are the works He has determined for you.

Have you located your discipling destination? Is it anywhere other than the Father’s heart? If it is, ask God to refocus your eyes. Jewish men wear a box containing Scripture on their forehead in response to the command to wear frontlets. How can you set God’s Word in front of your eyes so it keeps you focused on Him as your destination?

Commit…

[storing God’s Word in your heart and soul]

Ask God to help you choose your memory verse for the month. Craft it, post it and memorize it. You will be asked to recite it with your daughter at the next group gathering.

Write…

[ideas for your mother-daughter journal]

Idea: Share a story of when God used a particular verse in your life. Share the lesson He taught you and write out the verse.

Idea: Tell your daughter what work you enjoy doing in her life. Let her know you are thrilled to be honored with caring for her on this earth. Ask her which part of your care makes her feel most loved.

Respond…

[ideas for special time with your daughter]

Idea: Sit down over a cup of cocoa and share your latest journal entries.

Idea: Make or order bracelets with Scripture on them for both of you. Check out http://www.sonflowersisters.com/ for links to online stores.

Idea: Craft a frame or background for your memory verse and post it around the house, in the car, inside your daughter’s school locker, at your office, etc.

Progress…

[what comes next]

Continue using this as a guide for the rest of your month. Make or buy a bracelet that has Scripture on it. As the Lord leads, use the questions, journal and special time with your daughter to disciple her. Memorize your verse (with your daughter) and be ready to recite it together at your next group gathering. If you are hosting the next group gathering, make sure to schedule your planning session for about two weeks from now.

Pray…

Lord, this is Your journey because our lives are Your lives. Show us how to give our hearts, vision and plans over to You. Show us specifically how you want to use us in our daughters’ lives. You alone know our hearts fully. Help us to yield ourselves to You despite what we think or feel about Your ways. This not having a checklist is a little scary for us, so give us Your peace that passes all understanding and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

It’s in His name we pray.