Monthly Archives: January 2014

Connecting Children to Their History

January 29, 2014

Some words for parents and teachers to carefully ponder from Tedd and Margy Tripp,

The Scripture teaches us much about the world we live in....Scripture is history that tells us about ourselves. This revelation isn't just about distant physical and spiritual relatives—it's about each of us by name. Let that truth wash over you with all its implications and power. Bathe our children in that truth. Otherwise, the Bible's prophecies, provisions, promises, and pronouncements will not motivate our speech and behavior. And our children will treat the Bible like a news story.

Curriculum Teaching Devotional Parenting

Why Should Children Be Taught the Ten Commandments?

January 28, 2014

Consider these words by Sally Michael from the preface of the curriculum, The Righteous Shall Live By Faith: A Study for Children and Adults on the Ten Commandments:

...studying the Ten Commandments is not old fashioned and need not be legalistic or boring. The Ten Commandments have much to teach us about our great and glorious God. They reflect to us the perfections of God and His heart for His people. They are the foundation of God’s moral law. They show His children how to “walk in all His ways.” The Ten Commandments have been part of the religious education of Western countries for hundreds of years and have often been part of the public school curriculum. It is only recently that they have been considered “outdated.” We are in great need of moral absolutes in the 21st Century. The Ten Commandments stand as God’s great moral

Encouragement Parenting

The Fruits of Blessing Your Children

Jill Nelson - January 27, 2014

It had been a tense and frustrating day. We had had it "up to here" with our son: his bad attitude and disobedience had made the day miserable for everyone. By bedtime, we didn't even want to speak to him anymore. My husband was in no mood to follow the normal routine of praying with Jacob and giving him a blessing before bed. So everyone just went to bed, good and mad. Well, about 10 minutes later, into our room stomped Jacob (about six years old at the time). Placing his little clinched fists on his hips, he angrily demanded, "I won't go to bed without my blessing!" Great request—but lousy attitude and delivery. What happened next?

Products Worship

3 Resources for Singing Scripture

January 23, 2014

This week, we have been discussing the importance and value of singing the Gospel with children on our Lullaby Theology blog series. The other day I was playing with a friend who is six, and several times she broke out into song. It was not the latest animated movie theme song she was belting though, it was her memory verse set to song and her favorite hymn. This was an encouragement and challenge to me to incorporate more content-rich music into my life. For some of you reading this, music comes naturally, and it is easy for you to find hymns and worship songs to teach children, but some of you may be like me—I need help. Here are three Children Desiring God resources that will help you and your children start singing the Gospel. Let the Little Children Sing This Scripture Songbook helps

Encouragement Parenting

Lullaby Theology 102: Singing the Whole Gospel of God—Part 2

January 22, 2014

Our lullabies of truth shouldn’t be songs of horror, but they should tell of the whole Gospel, not just the nice parts of the story. Children see and live out the bad news every day of their lives, so we might as well put labels to it. Even toddlers must know they are sinners acting in rebellion against a holy and righteous God, and thus justly deserving of His wrath. When David storms and stomps and bites his mommy, his offense isn’t mainly against his mother, but the God who created him and his mother. And the consequence for that sin is much worse than he can imagine or mommy can implement. This isn’t good news, but it is reality.

Encouragement Parenting

Lullaby Theology 102: Singing the Whole Gospel of God, Part 1

January 21, 2014

I’m one of those people who don’t believe in playing Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, so while As with Gladness, Men of Old may sneak into sleepy time repertoire a couple of times in the warmer months, we don’t sing Christmas music until Advent begins. Once Advent begins, Christmas music is almost the only music we sing, because it would be hard to top Infant Holy, Infant Lowly or Silent Night at the close of a winter day with a bundle of baby in your arms. The soft and sweet melodies that roll with such gentle adoration for a newborn King speak tender benedictions over the littlest heads with assurances of God’s nearness, mercy, and grace.

Why Did I Sign Up for This?

January 20, 2014

For me, this question and related comments come every winter, and sound something like....

"Why do I live here? It's -12°F outside. I'm freezing to death. Why don't we just pick up and move!" When times get hard or we feel out of our comfort zone, it's easy to question why we put ourselves in the situation in the first place.

Teaching Testimonies Encouragement

Encouragement from Sudan

January 16, 2014

As a team, we are always encouraged and uplifted when we receive news of how the Lord is spreading the fame of His name throughout the nations. Recently, we received an update from one of the most pain-stricken, war-torn regions in the world: South Sudan. Since 1955, the region has experienced two civil wars and casualties of more than 2.5 million people. In this seemingly hopeless land, Emilie Gonzalez and her team are being used to share the truth of the Gospel and the beauty of God’s character to children using Sally Michael’s book God’s Names. In her message to us, Emilie writes,

Encouragement Parenting

Teaching the Seven "A"s of Confession

January 14, 2014

In yesterday's post we highlighted the importance of modeling redemption in our homes, which included the necessity of admitting to and confessing sin. Peacemaker Ministries has a guide called the "Seven A's of Confession" that can help both parents and children alike to better understand and practice biblical confession with one another. From their website:

Parenting

Modeling Redemption in the Home

January 13, 2014

Have your children ever played the "blame game" when confronted with some kind of wrong attitude? Have they ever tried to deny the obvious, even when caught in the act? Have they ever come up with some "whopper stories" to explain away why they didn't do what you told them to do? Did they learn any of those creative evasion tactics from us? Here are some good thoughts from Paul Tripp about the importance of creating a "redemptive community" in the home,