I saw this idea today on a website and thought it was such a good idea! It would be a great way to incorporate even Awana verses. I love that it involves the whole family and gives a very simple way to learn verses. Begin this early! You will be amazed at how quickly your little ones will catch on!!
http://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/memorysys/
Friday, January 13, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Can I Raise Good Kids?
I just started a new book. It's another parenting book, but the title intrigued me. The small group that my friend and I just finished did a good one on the gospel and this parenting book seems to dovetail nicely into it by focusing on the gospel in light of parenting. Sounds perfect, huh? The book is called "Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids With the Love of Jesus". Boy, have I bitten off more than I can chew with this book.
The introduction and first chapter in the book more of less rocked my world...in a bad way. The more I read, the more I thought, "Boy, I don't know if I agree with this book at all! I don't like the direction we're going!" Some of the suggested conversations to have with your child crossed me and felt very silly and unrealistic. I agreed with the basic premise of the book, but was not enjoying the material as a whole. But, reading another person's view on parenting has to be met with a Berean mindset. I may NOT agree with everything this HUMAN writes. But what does GOD say? Am I willing to be challenged in my thoughts and beliefs? I have determined to finish the book.
Today I read Chapter 2 and found myself in tears. The Lord sure knows when to give me material and when to hinder me until I'm ready to listen. Today, I must have been ready to receive His message. It isn't for my kids. It's for ME. The chapter starts off with what I believe to be the most vivid account of Creation I've ever read. If nothing else speaks to me in this book, the beginning of Chapter 2 was incredible to read. I wish I could just type it all for you here so you could read it for yourself. But then the next section sent me, again, into a defensive mode of reading. The author shares that we need to understand that our children are NOT good. Scripture teaches they aren't good (Romans 3:10). When they obey, it's only by the grace of God. Not because they themselves CHOSE to obey (be good). Do I agree? Yes. Do I think I need to cram "You're not good. Only God is good. The only reason you obeyed is because of God's working in your life" down their throats? NO! This is my struggle.
But she goes on...and it gets good. Really good. There is a profound difference in human obedience and Christian righteousness. Human obedience is the kind of obedience that is good for society and our family. Even unregenerate parents teach their children obedience - to them, their teachers, the laws of society, civic duty, etc. What about Christian righteousness? Christian righteousness is "that level of goodness that can withstand the scrutiny of a perfectly holy God and earn the benediction, 'You are good!' It is perfect obedience in both outward conformity (human obedience) and inward desire. It is goodness for the sake of God's great glory motivated by a pure and zealous love for God and neighbor. It is the right action at the right time for the right reason. A record of this kind of goodness can never be earned; it can only be bestowed by grace through faith."
Do you understand that? Do you understand how that changes the way you parent? We can't make our children righteous! They are not good! They need the grace of God to bestow this level of obedience on them - a Christian righteousness - that goes beyond any kind of human obedience we can force upon them or teach them. Our children need God's grace! Oh, how this brings me to my knees to pray for the salvation of my children and utterly changes the way I parent them in terms of obedience.
The chapter went on to even relate this to our own goodness as Christian parents. Do you parent perfectly? I don't. Do you have pure motives when you train your children in righteousness? I sure don't. I want them to obey because it makes me look good and I am not interrupted in continuing whatever it is I want to do at the moment. It's inconvenient when children disobey and are naughty. Guess what? We are not good parents! If you had a sticker chart for your parenting, would you earn a sticker every day? Did you have a good attitude when you parented today? Did you show grace? Did you share the gospel with your children today as you parented them? How are your rewards on that chart? How we need the grace of God in our lives! In our parenting, in our training, in our daily conversations with our children - "there is NONE righteous, no not ONE!" But because of Christ's work on the cross, we are justified. We are righteous in His sight! He doesn't see our failures and frown or our successes and give us a thumbs up. He sees CHRIST! Justification isn't just Christ seeing you "just as if you had never sinned". It's Him seeing you "just as if you had always obeyed." Doesn't that just blow your mind?
Here's how the chapter ends. Meditate on this in light of everything:
"Raising good kids is utterly impossible unless they are drawn by the Holy Spirit to put their faith in the goodness of another. You cannot raise good kids, because you are not a good parent. There is only one good Parent, and he had had one good Son. Together, this Father and Son accomplished everything that needed to be done to rescue us and our children from certain destruction. When we put our faith in him, he bestows the benediction upon us: 'These are My beloved children, with whom I am well pleased.' Give this grace to your children: tell them who they really are, tell them what they need to do, and then tell them to taste and see that the Lord is good. Give this grace to yourself, too."
So, "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the [boy or girl] who takes refuge in Him." Psalm 34:8
The introduction and first chapter in the book more of less rocked my world...in a bad way. The more I read, the more I thought, "Boy, I don't know if I agree with this book at all! I don't like the direction we're going!" Some of the suggested conversations to have with your child crossed me and felt very silly and unrealistic. I agreed with the basic premise of the book, but was not enjoying the material as a whole. But, reading another person's view on parenting has to be met with a Berean mindset. I may NOT agree with everything this HUMAN writes. But what does GOD say? Am I willing to be challenged in my thoughts and beliefs? I have determined to finish the book.
Today I read Chapter 2 and found myself in tears. The Lord sure knows when to give me material and when to hinder me until I'm ready to listen. Today, I must have been ready to receive His message. It isn't for my kids. It's for ME. The chapter starts off with what I believe to be the most vivid account of Creation I've ever read. If nothing else speaks to me in this book, the beginning of Chapter 2 was incredible to read. I wish I could just type it all for you here so you could read it for yourself. But then the next section sent me, again, into a defensive mode of reading. The author shares that we need to understand that our children are NOT good. Scripture teaches they aren't good (Romans 3:10). When they obey, it's only by the grace of God. Not because they themselves CHOSE to obey (be good). Do I agree? Yes. Do I think I need to cram "You're not good. Only God is good. The only reason you obeyed is because of God's working in your life" down their throats? NO! This is my struggle.
But she goes on...and it gets good. Really good. There is a profound difference in human obedience and Christian righteousness. Human obedience is the kind of obedience that is good for society and our family. Even unregenerate parents teach their children obedience - to them, their teachers, the laws of society, civic duty, etc. What about Christian righteousness? Christian righteousness is "that level of goodness that can withstand the scrutiny of a perfectly holy God and earn the benediction, 'You are good!' It is perfect obedience in both outward conformity (human obedience) and inward desire. It is goodness for the sake of God's great glory motivated by a pure and zealous love for God and neighbor. It is the right action at the right time for the right reason. A record of this kind of goodness can never be earned; it can only be bestowed by grace through faith."
Do you understand that? Do you understand how that changes the way you parent? We can't make our children righteous! They are not good! They need the grace of God to bestow this level of obedience on them - a Christian righteousness - that goes beyond any kind of human obedience we can force upon them or teach them. Our children need God's grace! Oh, how this brings me to my knees to pray for the salvation of my children and utterly changes the way I parent them in terms of obedience.
The chapter went on to even relate this to our own goodness as Christian parents. Do you parent perfectly? I don't. Do you have pure motives when you train your children in righteousness? I sure don't. I want them to obey because it makes me look good and I am not interrupted in continuing whatever it is I want to do at the moment. It's inconvenient when children disobey and are naughty. Guess what? We are not good parents! If you had a sticker chart for your parenting, would you earn a sticker every day? Did you have a good attitude when you parented today? Did you show grace? Did you share the gospel with your children today as you parented them? How are your rewards on that chart? How we need the grace of God in our lives! In our parenting, in our training, in our daily conversations with our children - "there is NONE righteous, no not ONE!" But because of Christ's work on the cross, we are justified. We are righteous in His sight! He doesn't see our failures and frown or our successes and give us a thumbs up. He sees CHRIST! Justification isn't just Christ seeing you "just as if you had never sinned". It's Him seeing you "just as if you had always obeyed." Doesn't that just blow your mind?
Here's how the chapter ends. Meditate on this in light of everything:
"Raising good kids is utterly impossible unless they are drawn by the Holy Spirit to put their faith in the goodness of another. You cannot raise good kids, because you are not a good parent. There is only one good Parent, and he had had one good Son. Together, this Father and Son accomplished everything that needed to be done to rescue us and our children from certain destruction. When we put our faith in him, he bestows the benediction upon us: 'These are My beloved children, with whom I am well pleased.' Give this grace to your children: tell them who they really are, tell them what they need to do, and then tell them to taste and see that the Lord is good. Give this grace to yourself, too."
So, "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the [boy or girl] who takes refuge in Him." Psalm 34:8
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Complete in Him
This week we have experienced some van trouble. To preface this post, I want to give glory to our Heavenly Father for His sovereignty and provision for us. Our van decided to give it up after 450 miles of driving home this past Monday. We were about 60 miles west of Jacksonville, in the middle of nowhere, in the pitch dark! Thankfully, we did have power, so I was able to flip on the visor light and read to the girls while we waited for Bryan to get in touch with our insurance company and line up a tow truck to come get us - all 5 of us. It wasn't the most comfortable ride home, but it was warm in the truck and we all fit (snugly). We made it home just after midnight.
After two different automobile shops, we have determined that it will cost over $1000 to fix our van. I must admit, my heart sank into my stomach at the thought of putting that much money on a credit card this time of year. Aside from my feelings overall about debt and credit cards, the situation just seems overwhelming to me. How am I to respond to this? What should my focus be? Where is God in all of this?
It would have been easy to jump ship and lose all joy. There was a moment where I did lose joy. This was supposed to be Bryan's vacation week - time off, time as a family. It wasn't turning out that way at all! I wanted to go to the zoo, go shopping for Christmas together, start advent with the girls, maybe do some baking together. Our week was suddenly wrapped up in repairs and decisions and cramming all in one car to go anywhere.
Once my moment of self-pity was over, I went back to God's Word. I pulled out my Bible and read again from the book of Colossians, where our pastor has been faithfully preaching for the past several weeks. One phrase kept coming to my mind: "complete in Him." In Colossians 2:9-10, Paul says, "For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority." I am complete in Christ! My circumstances, good or bad, have NO bearing on my standing with my Savior. He has died for me and cancelled my debt of sin. I am righteous because of His work on the cross. I am COMPLETE! Van or no van, my joy is found in Him alone.
Life lessons are such a blessing! They are hard to swallow sometimes, but once you get over the initial blow...it really quiets the heart and settles the soul. I am thankful. Thankful for a car we CAN drive; for a Father who knows what is best for me and my family; for friends who have encouraged us along the journey; for a husband who maintains a calmness in trials like these. As I stated at the beginning: I give all glory and praise to my Savior and God who loves me and who has made me complete IN HIM!
After two different automobile shops, we have determined that it will cost over $1000 to fix our van. I must admit, my heart sank into my stomach at the thought of putting that much money on a credit card this time of year. Aside from my feelings overall about debt and credit cards, the situation just seems overwhelming to me. How am I to respond to this? What should my focus be? Where is God in all of this?
It would have been easy to jump ship and lose all joy. There was a moment where I did lose joy. This was supposed to be Bryan's vacation week - time off, time as a family. It wasn't turning out that way at all! I wanted to go to the zoo, go shopping for Christmas together, start advent with the girls, maybe do some baking together. Our week was suddenly wrapped up in repairs and decisions and cramming all in one car to go anywhere.
Once my moment of self-pity was over, I went back to God's Word. I pulled out my Bible and read again from the book of Colossians, where our pastor has been faithfully preaching for the past several weeks. One phrase kept coming to my mind: "complete in Him." In Colossians 2:9-10, Paul says, "For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority." I am complete in Christ! My circumstances, good or bad, have NO bearing on my standing with my Savior. He has died for me and cancelled my debt of sin. I am righteous because of His work on the cross. I am COMPLETE! Van or no van, my joy is found in Him alone.
Life lessons are such a blessing! They are hard to swallow sometimes, but once you get over the initial blow...it really quiets the heart and settles the soul. I am thankful. Thankful for a car we CAN drive; for a Father who knows what is best for me and my family; for friends who have encouraged us along the journey; for a husband who maintains a calmness in trials like these. As I stated at the beginning: I give all glory and praise to my Savior and God who loves me and who has made me complete IN HIM!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Devotional Thought
One thing I seem to constantly battle is being overwhelmed with life. I wish there was a switch to turn off the evaluating voice in my head. My pastor recently asked me if I was overwhelmed with ministry. To be honest, there are times when I am. However, ministry is something that drives me and gives me such joy. I feel it is an expression of worship to the Lord. I feel it is obedience to Him. I'm humbled to serve Him. Each ministry that I get involved in is one that I am passionate about. Teaching Sunday School, playing the piano, and discipleship. So, I asked, which one do I drop? At times these ministries overlap in a way that I honestly don't know how I'm going to manage. Add family life, homeschooling, and teaching in our co-op and it can almost put me over the edge. I know this isn't how God wants me to feel or live. So what is the answer to this battle? The Word. It's always the Word of God. Tonight I came home from an event honoring a friend's birthday. I was feeling so tired and discouraged and...overwhelmed. Bryan decided to run an errand, leaving me alone (children in bed). I pulled out my Bible and a devotional book. Timely. God's Word is always timely.
Deuteronomy 33:27 - "The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms."
Psalm 27:14 - "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD."
What are you overwhelmed about? Go to the Word. Take time to sit and wait for the Lord, eagerly and patiently (Ps. 40:1). Let Him give you rest for your soul. Getting overwhelmed is usually a result of trying to accomplish things in our own strength. We will fail every time. Aren't you glad, though? If we were strong enough, we wouldn't need a Savior. I don't know about you, but I NEED a Savior! I need rest for my soul!
Deuteronomy 33:27 - "The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms."
Psalm 27:14 - "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD."
What are you overwhelmed about? Go to the Word. Take time to sit and wait for the Lord, eagerly and patiently (Ps. 40:1). Let Him give you rest for your soul. Getting overwhelmed is usually a result of trying to accomplish things in our own strength. We will fail every time. Aren't you glad, though? If we were strong enough, we wouldn't need a Savior. I don't know about you, but I NEED a Savior! I need rest for my soul!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Yum-O
So, my newest favorite thing has been a Mocha Coconut (1 pump mocha) Frappucino from Starbucks. That'll put a dent in your wallet, though, right? So today, I came up with my own version. I'm sure it could use a lot of tweaking, but it was very tasty and certainly didn't cost $4.00!
Here's my simple recipe:
1 scoop of Publix Coconut Road ice cream
1/3 cup of strong coffee w/ 2 teaspoons of sweetener - I used succanat w/ honey
Roughly 1 cup of crushed ice.
I used my immersion blender to mix all this together. So quick and very yummy!
Here's my simple recipe:
1 scoop of Publix Coconut Road ice cream
1/3 cup of strong coffee w/ 2 teaspoons of sweetener - I used succanat w/ honey
Roughly 1 cup of crushed ice.
I used my immersion blender to mix all this together. So quick and very yummy!
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