Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. i. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026. "DICTATOR, DOORMAT or DIPLOMAT? (1)" ‘…Don’t exasperate your children…’ Ephesians 6:4 TM PARENTING CHILDREN between puberty and young adulthood draws on every ounce of grace and wisdom you can muster. Your effort to train them - and their drive for independence - is a tug of war that frustrates you both. The outcome depends largely on which of three classic parenting styles you follow. Though parents with each style want the best for their kids, some styles work well and some don’t. Let’s examine each. The authoritarian style: some parents announce, ‘I make the rules and you follow them! Don’t question me, obey me’. Compliance at all times, respect for authority, traditional values and hard work are demanded. ‘There is only one opinion here: mine. All other opinions are considered mutiny!’. Authoritarians don’t tolerate losing face, don’t apologise or admit fault. They are blame-oriented, legalistic, judgmental, shaming, and belittling; expecting, yet exposing the worst in their kids. By coming down hard on them they provoke confrontations, then punish them harshly and unreasonably. Often they use Scripture to bolster their position. Let’s look at the pluses of this style: the rules are clear; it establishes chain of command; it speeds up the child’s response; it’s effective with very young and insecure kids, and can be useful in crisis times. Now let’s look at the minuses: it inhibits a child’s healthy individuation process; it retards mature communication; it promotes social dependence and incompetence; it discourages decision-making and initiative-taking skills; it elevates social anxiety and depression; it increases the likelihood of your child being intimidated and bullied, etc. Authoritarians may maintain military-style discipline, but they seldom rear happy, healthy, creative kids! Bible In A Year: Gen 30:25 – 31:55, Luke 9:37-45. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation💝🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🌷🎀💝🌹. ii. ICHABOD "She named the boy Ichabod, saying: 'The Glory has departed from Israel." - 1 Samuel 4:21 We read in 1 Samuel 4 about Israel fighting with their worst enemy, the Philistines. Israel suffered a defeat. The elders of Israel then came up with the idea to take the ark of the Lord from Silo into battle. When the ark arrived at the camp, the Israelites started to cheer. The enemies were frightened and said: 'The God of Israel, that same mighty God who struck the Egyptians with plagues, is in their midst.' The honor lost The Israelites expected to win the battle because God was where the ark was. However, the ark - the honor and glory of Israel - was conquered. What a disaster! Our country, the Netherlands with its Christian foundation, has also lost its honor. Our Christian foundation is torn into pieces. The ark of the old covenant was the image of Jesus Christ. For years, people have been dethroning the Lord Jesus Christ in many nations. When the wife of Pinechas heard that not only her husband, brother-in-law and the high priest Eli had died, but also the ark of the Lord had been captured, she was overcome by contractions and gave birth to a son. Before she died, she called him Ichabod: the honor has departed from Israel. Is Jesus the center of your life? Today I have a question for you: What about you? Is the ark of the Lord - Jesus Christ - in your life? Is He the center of your life? Are the glory and power of God in you? Or have they been captured? Have you lost Him? Have you changed? God says: 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever' (Hebrews 13:8). We have changed, the Church has changed. People lost the battle in Israel because of their sins. It is because of sin that the glory has disappeared from the Netherlands. Yet we see a desire; a desire for the glory to return in the Netherlands. Do you also have this desire for your nation? The Christian values and beliefs are good for everybody. 'If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face… then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land' (2 Chronicles 7:14). https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Morning Prayer for today. i. Morning Prayer For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. ⏤ Galatians 5:13 Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair. ⏤ G.K. Chesterton O God, who has redeemed us by the precious blood of the Lamb, help us to live for Your praise and glory in all that we do. Since Jesus Christ has died for us and we are not our own, we want to live lives worthy of Your holiness. We confess and renounce all our sins. Teach us to hate sin and give us the grace to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, to the glory of Your holy name. We ask You to reveal Yourself to us this morning as we go forth and to give us the assurance of Your presence. You have promised that as our days are, so shall our strength be, and that Your grace will always be sufficient for us. We cling to these promises as we enter a new day whose experiences we cannot predict. We do not know what dangers we will encounter, what burdens will be placed on us, what temptations will whisper in our ears, what pitfalls will lie in our path, or what insidious influences will threaten the purity of our souls. So we hide ourselves in You and trust You to keep us safe all day. We desire to be useful and helpful to others. Save us from selfishness and self-centeredness. Teach us the great lesson of service. May we have the mind of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. May we serve one another in love. May we live to help others and do good. Help us to see the needs we can meet, to perceive the ways we can serve, and then give us the true spirit of ministry so that we may do the things that will bless others. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we may be like You. We ask all this in the name of our Savior. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/39/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.