This week as we are celebrating our nation’s stars and stripes, I thought it would be a good time to share how a mom used a verse about stars in her family.  MOPS Mentor Mom, Kari Roberson, shared this wonderful parenting with Scripture application with me when I spoke in Canton recently…

“When my children were little, we taught lots of Scripture and we also let them see it in action.  One particular week, the children were arguing with each other and with my husband and I, and wwwwwhhhhhhiiiiiinnnnnnniiiinnnnnggggggggg!  It was at the end of the week, I was in my quiet time and exhausted asking the Lord to help.  He is always faithful and led me to the verse below.

Phil 2:14-16  NIV
Do everything without grumbling or arguing,  so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life…

I had an inspiration to challenge the children to “shine among them like stars!”  In order to “shine” you must do all things without arguing or complaining about them.   I wrote that whole Scripture on top of a poster board and tacked it on the wall.  I challenged the kids to not only learn the verse, but when I “caught” them shining likes lights for Jesus, they were able to put a star sticker on the poster board.  For every 5 star stickers for that particular child they were able to go to the store with Mom or Dad and purchase a whole soda & a whole candy bar!  (We never let them have these things at home, so that was very special to them.)  I reminded them often as they would come and tell me “good” things they had done, that I had to catch them doing it because it showed character & integrity to do things not for show, but for Jesus.  My kids are all teenagers now, and they still remember this verse and how to shine!”