When our kids have a birthday, we put a scripture reference on their cake. The verse is read to them just before we light their candles. We take the time to explain why we picked that verse. We give the verse to the child for one of two reasons. The first reason could be we have seen the child grow in this area. The second reason might be that this verse may well serve them in the years to come.
The later is what we did for our thirteen year old daughter and her friends. Emma and her friend Tabby made the cake this year. A beautiful sunflower!
While they were baking away the afternoon, I was searching the scriptures to apply to this years traditional offering. I knew that 1Timothy 4:12 was going to be my main verse.
"Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe."
I had ten sweet girls who have become friends with my Emma over to spent the night. The living room was cleared and all the sleeping bags went down one after the other like they were a can of sardines.
Knowing I had this time with the girls, I was desiring to be purposeful with them. I purchased 8 X 10 frames from the Dollar Store. I printed out our verse - 1 Timothy 4:12 in a decorative font. I pulled stamps and stamp pads, markers and stickers from the hall closet.
Then when I had all these precious girls around the table, I asked them to look around at all the faces. These could be friends for all of eternity. You could watch each other marry one day, have babies and even watch some move away...and you can still be great friends... except for one foe that could ruin the whole future with one another.
They tried to figure out what that problem could be but eventually I had to tell them...Unrepentant Sin! Sin that had crept in and took over and not one person at this table could help that person to cast it off because that person loved their sin too much.
Then I shared the verses that spoke on what fellowship has darkness with light. How we must be a people for God and that we need to turn from sin and its path. Eph 5:11, 1 John 1:6, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:21, Titus 2:7, 2 Timothy 2:22, Galatians 6:1, Matthew 5:8
I knew that the sins that may so easily over take them might be gossip and modesty. The girls were so wonderful to help come up with code words to help each other convey a bigger message with out much explanation at the moment. We never want to embarrass some one. So for gossip...they came up with the word 'careful'. They can politely interrupt the conversation and ask if they can speak privately with the person who is talking. Taking them aside...then they can quietly say 'careful'. Then the person has the choice to return to the previous conversation or choose to stop in their tracks and talk about something else.
The other word the girls came up with was 'Bingo' for modesty issues. This was easily done if a bra strap was showing or the top was slipping downward. These ladies had found a way to communicate a bigger message. That message was...'I have your back'. I am willing to speak in love and I pray you understand I care about you.
It was a privilege to see these ladies decorate their verse with beauty and frame it. Then each girl sign the back of the frame to pledge in love they will uphold God's word with one another.
I asked them to consider 5 years from now...sitting at this table once again. Could they have the vision to care for one another in this way? Could they see hanging these frames one day above the crib of their own child in memory of the group of ladies that pledge to live for the word of God? It could be that special...It was up to them.
