It is incredibly scary to consider that with just one tap of a finger, our children have access to everything good and bad out on the internet. My son is 12 and my daughter is 10. They both have birthdays in the next two months and I’ll have a teenager and an 11 year old! About a year ago, I came to the realization that the oversight of my children’s use of their iPads was not sufficient. I could not be peeking over their shoulder every minute of the day, making sure every website they visited was safe. This past […]
Read MoreA Creative Way to Share the Gospel
My degree at Moody Bible was Evangelism and Discipleship. This technique is one we used in the subways and on the streets. After graduating from Moody, I used it during Neighborhood Bible Clubs. It’s so easy to gather kids around the big square on the ground and then tell them the “greatest love story of all time.” It takes less than 4 minutes to do – so check out the video to see how it’s done! (if you are reading this in a feed or email click here to see the video) This video took me two takes and BOTH times I […]
Read MoreMy List of Excellent Christian Parenting Books
My sister is back for her final Tuesday post. Jennifer writes: As this is my last guest post in this series, I thank you for graciously receiving me and for all of the additional book recommendations you gave in your comments! It has been a blessing to share the joy of reading with you! In this post, we will shift gears a little bit as I recommend my favorite parenting books for you to read. The parenting books that I have found to be most helpful are those that are not overly concerned about strategies for changing a child’s […]
Read MoreDevotional Books for Children
My sister Jennifer is back! ——-> “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16, 17 (NKJV) Jennifer writes: These familiar verses are favorites of mine, but the verses that come before these touch my heart as a mom. In II Timothy 3:14 and 15, Paul says to Timothy, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have […]
Read MoreList of Recommended Chapter Books For Children
It’s Tuesday which means my sister Jennifer is back with us again!!! Woohoo!!! Here’s her list of recommended chapter books for children! Jennifer writes: My favorite part of the day with my children is when we turn on the little lamp on the side table, prop up the pillows, and snuggle together with a good book. I began reading chapter books to my oldest child, Johnathan, when he was about 4 years-old. The first chapter books that I read to him were talking animal books like Mouse and the Motorcycle, Charlotte’s Web, and Cricket in Times Square since these seemed […]
Read More6 Lists of Great Picture Books For Kids
My sister Jen is back to share with us her favorite picture books! She writes: I love picture books and am so excited to share my family’s favorites with you. I began collecting picture books when I worked at the local library during college. As the library discarded old books, I would add them to my personal collection. When I became a teacher, I would order books from the monthly book orders and gather books from garage sales. It was such a blessing to have so many books on my shelves when my children were born! Reading to your […]
Read More5 Spiritual Reasons To Read To Your Child
My sister Jennifer ————>> …is back this week to lay the foundation for why it’s important to begin reading to our children at a very young age. Jennifer writes: The most important thing I can share about our parenting is the priority that we as a family have placed on reading together. It is the thing that has shaped our children the most. Reading together has served to develop their minds, their hearts, and their souls. It touches them not only intellectually but also spiritually. Most of the research and studies that show the importance of reading to […]
Read MoreMy Favorite Easter Breakfast – Resurrection Rolls
Every year we make these Resurrection Rolls – they are quick, easy and taste great! Here’s my kids making them 3 years ago at our old house. And here they are making them last year! These are so fun because when the rolls are done baking – they are empty inside… JUST like Jesus’ tomb! You need just 5 ingredients: crescent rolls, marshmallows, sugar, cinnamon and butter Give each child one triangle shaped section of crescent roll. This represents the tomb. Each child takes one marshmallow. This represents the body of Christ. Dip the marshmallow in the butter […]
Read MoreVlog ~ An Object Lesson & Prayer For Our Children
Ezekial 11:19 & 20 says: “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” I made this video this past summer but never posted it…but it goes with the Gentleness Challenge. Often times our frustrations with our children come because we are tired, exhausted and irritable…but sometimes it is because they have hard hearts and […]
Read MoreTeaching Our Children How To Be Gentle
Since the day my son came out of the womb – he was a rough and tumble little guy. It’s the way God wired him! As a toddler, he rarely cried when he fell or bumped his head and as a school boy he is very high energy. It’s hard to keep him from running, jumping, climbing and diving in the house! lol! He loves contact sports and has played flag football with the public school kids for the last 4 years. This year flag football was a lot like (full contact -minus- the pads) +plus+ some flags! I […]
Read MoreI Stumble A Lot!
We are now up to chapter 3 in our James Video Series! This chapter is a HARD one for me. It really points out so many flaws that I have. I am a woman of many words lol! and Proverbs 10:19 says “When words are many, sin is not absent. But he who holds his tongue is wise.” James 3 says that NO man can tame the tongue. It is filled with deadly poison. I long to be a woman who is filled with life giving words. Who is filled with grace and mercy. But the reality is – I stumble in many […]
Read MoreA Fun Easter Activity About Jesus
I love Easter! Easter has always been a BIG holiday for my family – we do it up like Christmas with a big dinner and huge overflowing baskets! This is the day our Savior rose from the dead – this is HUGE!!!!! One of my favorite activities to do with the children leading up to Easter are these Resurrection Eggs – which can be purchased at your local Christian bookstore, amazon.com and last year I saw them at Walmart! The store bought Resurrection Eggs come with a booklet and a story for each egg BUT these can also be […]
Read MoreMy Favorite Easter Breakfast – Resurrection Rolls
This is what we have for breakfast every Easter morning. These are so fun because when the rolls are done baking – they are empty inside – JUST like Jesus’ tomb! You need just 5 ingredients: crescent rolls, marshmallows, sugar, cinnamon and butter Give each child one triangle shaped section of crescent roll. This represents the tomb. Each child takes one marshmallow which represents the body of Christ. Dip the marshmallow in the butter and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture. This represents the oils and spices the body was anointed with upon burial. Lay the marshmallow on the dough […]
Read MoreMy Mom – My Role Model
(Tomorrow is my mom’s birthday – Happy Birthday Mom – I Love You! This is a repost.) Psalm 145:4,5 “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. My mom does not like the spotlight, so I know this blog post will make her uncomfortable. She and I are similar in our love and passion for God’s word but we are very different in personality. I’ve always been a sanguine and she has always been a […]
Read MoreVlog: How To Give Your Child An Effective Time-Out
Tedd Tripp in Shepherding a Child’s Heart (a book I highly recommend) says “You must not be embarrassed to be authorities for your children. You exercise authority as God’s agent. You may not direct your children for your own agenda or convenience. You must direct your children on God’s behalf for their good.” Remember that just as you are in authority over your children – you are under authority to God. You are both in the same boat – under the authority of God. When your child disobeys God by disobeying you – and we fail to be loving, kind, […]
Read MoreVlog: Children’s Object Lesson – Watch What You Say
Deuteronomy 6:7 says to teach our children God’s commands along the way of life. It is important that we train our children to watch what they say. We can save them from a lot of heartache by simply teaching them to think before speaking. (You’ll notice in the video that we had done a “dry run through” so the kids are a bit more “dramatic”and taking the words out of my mouth – so funny! I wish it were a little less scripted but you get the point!) James 3:5,6 says “The tongue is a small part of the body, […]
Read MoreVlog: Teaching Our Children About Friendships
I originally made this video with plans to run it on a Friday – but it’s Wednesday! So up it goes and I’m sorry for mentioning the wrong day on the video! (and the freeze frame of me below is even funnier than my mess up on the days lol!!!) Deuteronomy 6 says that parents are to teach our children along the way of life, the truth of God’s word. Sometimes we will be in formal settings reading God’s word to our children. But other times there will be opportunities just in the normal course of the day, to speak […]
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