http://youtu.be/xeTjQX94u4I
(Sorry it won't let me embed the video as an easy link)
Hello everyone,
This video is by an organization of people (EGM) that have committed their lives to helping children learn about the Lord around the world. They are the group that we are going to Romania to help.
This weekend we are starting back up our invitation to join Children's Ministries in sowing seeds in our children that will grow by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. With over 450 children each weekend and growing, we desperately need your help.
Please be part of sharing the wonder and love of Jesus with our children so they in turn can drop their seeds of faith on others some day.
We still need 74 volunteers to open all our classes. Thank you to the many that have already stepped up. You all will be blessed to have been part of these precious little one's journey with Jesus.
Brenda
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Dive Dive Dive
Surface with Courage,
On this day in 1958, the Nautilus became the first submarine to cross the North Pole underwater. Nothing above ground had any idea there was a large object right below. It's probably cool, however , to sail unseen beneath everything, and very few people even know you're there. But do you ever wonder what else might be lurking under us or around us?
In Ephesians 6:10-18 we are warned about the real but unseen world of spiritual warfare. Paul tells us in verse 12,"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Sounds daunting. Fortunately for us we have the protection. However, we have to actively participate. We have to prepare ourselves. Accept the gift of salvation, learn God's truth, behave in a righteous way, practice peace, be faithful, and call in the Holy Spirit to assist you. We are also told to pray and stay alert. We all know to some extent how much they put our military soldiers through when they get them ready to face the enemy. Why is it then that we don't prepare and take the spiritual war we are in seriously?
Parents, satan would love nothing more than for you to continue to fly under the radar and do nothing. Live out your every day life as if nothing is at stake and he will be thrilled. However, I challenge you to be aware and alert that his agenda is hard at work to steal the hearts and minds of your children. You are God's weapon on their behalf. Train your children on how to recognize and defend themselves against evil. Help them recognize that each day something is right their hoping to help them trip up. Remind them that God wins and they want to be standing beside Him when He does.
Sorry this is so heavy, but it is heavy on my heart as I see so many of our children in our church choosing evil or holy lives. However we can help you let me know. We are here to do battle right alongside of you, but we all know that the real Biblically called trainers of our children are the parents.
Blessings to you all,
Brenda
On this day in 1958, the Nautilus became the first submarine to cross the North Pole underwater. Nothing above ground had any idea there was a large object right below. It's probably cool, however , to sail unseen beneath everything, and very few people even know you're there. But do you ever wonder what else might be lurking under us or around us?
In Ephesians 6:10-18 we are warned about the real but unseen world of spiritual warfare. Paul tells us in verse 12,"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Sounds daunting. Fortunately for us we have the protection. However, we have to actively participate. We have to prepare ourselves. Accept the gift of salvation, learn God's truth, behave in a righteous way, practice peace, be faithful, and call in the Holy Spirit to assist you. We are also told to pray and stay alert. We all know to some extent how much they put our military soldiers through when they get them ready to face the enemy. Why is it then that we don't prepare and take the spiritual war we are in seriously?
Parents, satan would love nothing more than for you to continue to fly under the radar and do nothing. Live out your every day life as if nothing is at stake and he will be thrilled. However, I challenge you to be aware and alert that his agenda is hard at work to steal the hearts and minds of your children. You are God's weapon on their behalf. Train your children on how to recognize and defend themselves against evil. Help them recognize that each day something is right their hoping to help them trip up. Remind them that God wins and they want to be standing beside Him when He does.
Sorry this is so heavy, but it is heavy on my heart as I see so many of our children in our church choosing evil or holy lives. However we can help you let me know. We are here to do battle right alongside of you, but we all know that the real Biblically called trainers of our children are the parents.
Blessings to you all,
Brenda
Monday, August 1, 2011
Count on Counting!
On this day in 1790 the first U.S. Census was conducted. The population of the U.S. was only 4 million people back then. In 2000 it was 281 million. A considerable difference. It is no surprise that with all the people in the world our children can feel as though they don't matter or can't make a difference.
Many times if they had their way their days would be filled with fun and self indulgence. Training our children to be selfless and yielded to God's plan for their lives takes effort on our parts.
Perhaps it would help to start by reminding them how much thought and time God spends on them.
*Genesis 1:26 reminds us that God made us in His image. *Each one of us has been created by a purposeful God. In 1 Corinthians 12 he speaks of how we are made each with our own special talents and abilities. *In Deuteronomy 31:8 it says, "And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” That shows that God is intimately aware of and involved in your daily life. *Not to forget the best of all; how He sent Jesus to die for us.
Help your child discover their unique purpose in God's plan. Help them pray to God daily to ask Him what He would have them do today. Many times we set out with a plan without asking God's blessing on it. Train your children to yield their lives to Christ and not seek only their own desires.
Help them to see that they can make a difference. Find opportunities for them to share of themselves and their time to help others. Type in 'children volunteer opportunities and your city' in a search engine, and see what comes up. See if they can lend a hand at school or talk to ministries in your church to see how they can help.
Help them seek ways to make a difference.
Bless you all for parenting your children bravely for Christ in a challenging world.
Brenda
Many times if they had their way their days would be filled with fun and self indulgence. Training our children to be selfless and yielded to God's plan for their lives takes effort on our parts.
Perhaps it would help to start by reminding them how much thought and time God spends on them.
*Genesis 1:26 reminds us that God made us in His image. *Each one of us has been created by a purposeful God. In 1 Corinthians 12 he speaks of how we are made each with our own special talents and abilities. *In Deuteronomy 31:8 it says, "And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” That shows that God is intimately aware of and involved in your daily life. *Not to forget the best of all; how He sent Jesus to die for us.
Help your child discover their unique purpose in God's plan. Help them pray to God daily to ask Him what He would have them do today. Many times we set out with a plan without asking God's blessing on it. Train your children to yield their lives to Christ and not seek only their own desires.
Help them to see that they can make a difference. Find opportunities for them to share of themselves and their time to help others. Type in 'children volunteer opportunities and your city' in a search engine, and see what comes up. See if they can lend a hand at school or talk to ministries in your church to see how they can help.
Help them seek ways to make a difference.
Bless you all for parenting your children bravely for Christ in a challenging world.
Brenda
Monday, July 25, 2011
What is contained in your container?
We missed out on celebrating the invention of the ice cream cone on Saturday. It was invented by Charles Menches in 1904. I think retroactive celebration is in order. Ice cream cones for everyone!
While you are eating one, talk to your children about what kind of containers they have heard of in the Bible. (Vessels, jars, baskets, urns etc.)Challenge them to find scripture of just one. The symbolism in the Bible of being molded by our Maker for His purpose and being used for service is a beautiful one. Conatainers are filled and wait for the time when what they are filled with is needed. Wouldn't be wonderful if we could remember this in our own life. To be that ready and willing at all times to be filled by the Holy Spirit, patient until the time we are called to be used, and then WILLING at any moment to be used by God.
As is always the case, this study adventure will lead to a different conversation for each of you. I would be excited to hear how it went. Have fun with it. Maybe this would be a fun time to make a vessel out of clay, playdough, paper mache. Enjoy learning about God's Word with your children. The memories you make will create a joy of learning about God in your children that will reap an eternity of benefits.
Travel to this link for a cheat sheet on containers and vessels used in the Bible. http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?number=T6398
More importantly is to help your child learn how to do a topic or word study on their own. My favorite online site for this is www.Biblegateway.com.
It is helpful for children to have a Bible that is written at their level and contains both the New and Old Testament in it. However, those Bibles often lack the good reference and study lists that a good adult study Bible has. If you have at least one great study Bible in the house, then the family can use it to seek out scripture references that your children can then use to read in their Bible. Help them practice using the concordance, and topic indexs and the internet to find scripture on specific topics or words.
Enthusiasum is contagious. If you enjoy your time in God's Word they will pick up on that. Blessings to you all.
Brenda
While you are eating one, talk to your children about what kind of containers they have heard of in the Bible. (Vessels, jars, baskets, urns etc.)Challenge them to find scripture of just one. The symbolism in the Bible of being molded by our Maker for His purpose and being used for service is a beautiful one. Conatainers are filled and wait for the time when what they are filled with is needed. Wouldn't be wonderful if we could remember this in our own life. To be that ready and willing at all times to be filled by the Holy Spirit, patient until the time we are called to be used, and then WILLING at any moment to be used by God.
As is always the case, this study adventure will lead to a different conversation for each of you. I would be excited to hear how it went. Have fun with it. Maybe this would be a fun time to make a vessel out of clay, playdough, paper mache. Enjoy learning about God's Word with your children. The memories you make will create a joy of learning about God in your children that will reap an eternity of benefits.
Travel to this link for a cheat sheet on containers and vessels used in the Bible. http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?number=T6398
More importantly is to help your child learn how to do a topic or word study on their own. My favorite online site for this is www.Biblegateway.com.
It is helpful for children to have a Bible that is written at their level and contains both the New and Old Testament in it. However, those Bibles often lack the good reference and study lists that a good adult study Bible has. If you have at least one great study Bible in the house, then the family can use it to seek out scripture references that your children can then use to read in their Bible. Help them practice using the concordance, and topic indexs and the internet to find scripture on specific topics or words.
Enthusiasum is contagious. If you enjoy your time in God's Word they will pick up on that. Blessings to you all.
Brenda
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Hiking boots in a slippery world.
"But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 1 Thes 5:21
How do children develop a Christian Worldview? More than likely it will not come from church. Most churches are hard pressed to even find enough volunteers to serve in Children's ministries each year, much less scan them for the ability to teach a solid worldview. Most adults don't have a good bead themselves on where they should stand on issues today or even how to defend their faith. Even if each church in America had an army of well prepared volunteers, we only get about 1 and 1/2 hours a week with your child. In a world that will commit to bombarding your child with contrary input, this is not adequate time to defend against it.
No, the responsiblity must be firmly placed in the parent's hand. It is not as hard as it sounds. First thing you must do is be clear on what you believe and why. If you don't know why you practice some of the things you do, ask an elder or pastor at your church.
Second, be around when your child is exposed to media. Teach them to see what they are watching or listening to objectively. Children's programming is filled with manipulation and bad messages of body image and popularity. Discuss whether what is happening is realistic. Have them think through their own experiences with school and peers. Be sure to show them that they can defend the faith against the message they are being fed.
Talk about what motivation may be behind the commericial or TV program. Help them develop critical thinking skills. If they don't agree with you, challenge them to defend their position by finding backing for it in the Bible. Don't lord over them with your opinions. Let them develop their own loyalty to God and their worldview. As long as they have a Biblical defense for it that is sound. Be prepared to be schooled by your kids. God always teaches me something new through them.
Make talking through the emotional parts of their day a norm in your home. This is where the real battles can surface. If you say, "How was your day?", they say, "fine". If you say, "What did you do?" They say, "Nothing". Don't stop there. Ask them if anything out of the ordinary happened. What was their high and what was their low. Did someone say something that suprised or confused them. Dig a bit deeper and the issues of their heart will surface.
You can do this. It is one day at a time that they slip away, so be sure they have hiking boots to help them hold their ground in a slippery world.
Blessings
Brenda
How do children develop a Christian Worldview? More than likely it will not come from church. Most churches are hard pressed to even find enough volunteers to serve in Children's ministries each year, much less scan them for the ability to teach a solid worldview. Most adults don't have a good bead themselves on where they should stand on issues today or even how to defend their faith. Even if each church in America had an army of well prepared volunteers, we only get about 1 and 1/2 hours a week with your child. In a world that will commit to bombarding your child with contrary input, this is not adequate time to defend against it.
No, the responsiblity must be firmly placed in the parent's hand. It is not as hard as it sounds. First thing you must do is be clear on what you believe and why. If you don't know why you practice some of the things you do, ask an elder or pastor at your church.
Second, be around when your child is exposed to media. Teach them to see what they are watching or listening to objectively. Children's programming is filled with manipulation and bad messages of body image and popularity. Discuss whether what is happening is realistic. Have them think through their own experiences with school and peers. Be sure to show them that they can defend the faith against the message they are being fed.
Talk about what motivation may be behind the commericial or TV program. Help them develop critical thinking skills. If they don't agree with you, challenge them to defend their position by finding backing for it in the Bible. Don't lord over them with your opinions. Let them develop their own loyalty to God and their worldview. As long as they have a Biblical defense for it that is sound. Be prepared to be schooled by your kids. God always teaches me something new through them.
Make talking through the emotional parts of their day a norm in your home. This is where the real battles can surface. If you say, "How was your day?", they say, "fine". If you say, "What did you do?" They say, "Nothing". Don't stop there. Ask them if anything out of the ordinary happened. What was their high and what was their low. Did someone say something that suprised or confused them. Dig a bit deeper and the issues of their heart will surface.
You can do this. It is one day at a time that they slip away, so be sure they have hiking boots to help them hold their ground in a slippery world.
Blessings
Brenda
Peace Baby
On this day in 1940 Winston Churchill was the first to use the finger 'V' sign for victory. Since then it has morfed into the peace sign. Do you have true peace? Have you shared with your children what true peace is and how to have it? For me peace comes in KNOWING God is on my side, has my life organized for good, and will provide what I need when I need it. When I don't understand, that's ok. It is a need to know situation. The more us people know the more we screw things up. Trust that God deserves to be the Lord of your life and the peace that surpasses all understanding will settle into your very being. It will bring you internal rest. I promise. Help your children practice trust. Look for everyday opportunities to trust God to help them handle what they cannot control. Offer up a prayer of surrender and gratitude with them when they face a fear or unknown. Help them to debrief the outcomes after. Trust is a spiritual muscle. You have to use it for it to grow.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Inside Out or Outside In
Hello Dear Families,
All parents long for their children to establish convictions that will carry them through tough times. Sometimes those convictions help them control their emotions. Other times, that internal foundation helps them do what’s right when others are tempting them to do wrong.
Responsibility, in part, is staying true to personal values even when no one is watching. Convictions are formed in the heart. When Jeremiah described the new covenant God will establish, he wrote that it will be different from the stone tablets of the old covenant. God said, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33).
One way to teach convictions to children is to use family rules. Rules are based on convictions. Rules are external prompters but convictions are internal prompters. The goal is to help children develop internal rules or convictions that will guide their behavior.
When you have discussions about rules, ask children if they can identify the convictions behind the rules. For example, one rule is that everyone comes to dinner whether they are hungry or not. Why? Because we have a conviction that meal times are social times, not just eating times.
Analyze rules with children to help identify the convictions behind the rules. This will helps kids to understand your values and even translate your convictions into new situations.
This parenting strategy comes from the video training program, Everyday Parents Can Raise Extraordinary Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
______________________________
Discussing the why behind the rules is a great way to help your child connect with the scriptures. Most of what we ask our children to do is grounded in God's Word. Before you have this conversation with your children, make a list of the rules and find their foundation in the Word. When you have the talk with the kids you will have what you need for the discussion. Transferring responsibility over to your child and making sure they know they are not only accountable to you but to God as well, will help them internalize obedience.
(By the way, when you do this you may discover a few stupid rules with no merit that you adopted from your environment growning up. This is a good time to chuck it and explain why to your kids. Being human to your kids is modeling our need for a Savior.)
Remember, whether they like it or not, you are called to be faithful to carrying out Godly parenting to the best of your ability. There will be times when you come up short or even fail, but God can work with that too.
Bless you all
Brenda
All parents long for their children to establish convictions that will carry them through tough times. Sometimes those convictions help them control their emotions. Other times, that internal foundation helps them do what’s right when others are tempting them to do wrong.
Responsibility, in part, is staying true to personal values even when no one is watching. Convictions are formed in the heart. When Jeremiah described the new covenant God will establish, he wrote that it will be different from the stone tablets of the old covenant. God said, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33).
One way to teach convictions to children is to use family rules. Rules are based on convictions. Rules are external prompters but convictions are internal prompters. The goal is to help children develop internal rules or convictions that will guide their behavior.
When you have discussions about rules, ask children if they can identify the convictions behind the rules. For example, one rule is that everyone comes to dinner whether they are hungry or not. Why? Because we have a conviction that meal times are social times, not just eating times.
Analyze rules with children to help identify the convictions behind the rules. This will helps kids to understand your values and even translate your convictions into new situations.
This parenting strategy comes from the video training program, Everyday Parents Can Raise Extraordinary Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
______________________________
Discussing the why behind the rules is a great way to help your child connect with the scriptures. Most of what we ask our children to do is grounded in God's Word. Before you have this conversation with your children, make a list of the rules and find their foundation in the Word. When you have the talk with the kids you will have what you need for the discussion. Transferring responsibility over to your child and making sure they know they are not only accountable to you but to God as well, will help them internalize obedience.
(By the way, when you do this you may discover a few stupid rules with no merit that you adopted from your environment growning up. This is a good time to chuck it and explain why to your kids. Being human to your kids is modeling our need for a Savior.)
Remember, whether they like it or not, you are called to be faithful to carrying out Godly parenting to the best of your ability. There will be times when you come up short or even fail, but God can work with that too.
Bless you all
Brenda
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