family devotions

Lessons from Bees: Working Together

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Daily Truth:  “Do all things without murmurings and disputings:”  Philippians 2:14

 

My 6 year old son has been obsessed with bees lately.  Not sure what has brought this on, but you never know how a 6 year old mind works.

Any rate, he brought home from the school library the other day two books on bees and a Moody Bible Institute DVD titled City of the Bees.

Super excited about it, he insisted we watch it THAT night.  So, once all the homework was done, I put in the DVD.

Now, mind you, this DVD was more on the level of a 5th grader but who was I to squash his curious mind.

While watching the movie, my 5 year old son kept asking my 6 year old son a gazillion questions about the bees.  My 6 year old son answered them in only the way a 6 year old can.  My 7 year old daughter sat on the couch with the look of utter boredom on her face.

The next morning at breakfast we talked about the movie on bees that they watched.

Below is how the conversation played out.

Seven year old:  “Did you know that if we humans worked together like the bees, there wouldn’t be any fighting?”  (I guess she did learn something!)

Six year old:  “Did you know that the queen whistles when there is an enemy coming?”  (hmmm – didn’t know that)

Now we have been working on Philippians 2:14 this past week as a family.  The kids have been doing way to much “murmuring and disputings” for this mom’s taste the last two weeks!

Even wrote the verse on the window with window markers!  (desperate or brilliant – not sure)

Use Window Markers or dry erase markers to write on windows.
Use Window Markers or dry erase markers to write on windows.

Can we say “teaching moment”!!!!

Mom: “So, if the bees are to have honey and a ‘happy hive’ they have to work together, right?”

Eleven year old: “I know where this is going!”

Mom: “Well, according to our verse, if we are to be able to enjoy fun and pleasant things, we need to work together without complaining and fighting just like the bees do.  Then we’ll have a ‘happy hive’.”

(giggles)

Mom: “Who is in charge of the hive?”

All: “The Queen Bee.”

Mom:  ” What would happen if the bees heard the Queen Bee whistle the warning and one of them said, ‘Oh, I’ll come in a minute’ ?”

5 year old: “They could die!”

Mom: “It’s important that the bees obey right away.  Whose in charge of you during the day?”

Kids: “You are.”

Mom: “Let’s call me the Queen Bee.”
(Insert 11 year old rolling eyes – working on that!)

“When I tell you to do something and you say, ‘Just a minute’ are you obeying right away?”

Kids: “No. We get in trouble.”

Mom: “Right.  So, see we can learn lessons from even the bees that God created about obedience and working together.”

Ok.  So maybe watching the DVD on bees was not MY first choice on spending 27 minutes with my kids before bed.  However, the lessons they learned from an unlikely source were invaluable.

My 6 year old is now insisting that dad watch it with us this Friday night.

Popcorn will be handy for this encore presentation.

Until next week,

Rebekah

klink

 

 

 

 

Going for the Gold, Why Not a Crown?

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Daily Truth:   “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Olympic gold medal

The Winter Olympics have been enjoyable to watch and when the athletes receive their awards it is a memorable moment.  In the first Olympics crowns of olive leaves were given as the awards. To receive an award for your efforts sets one apart from the others.  Why do we enjoy hearing the medal count for each country at the end of each broadcast? There is a competitive aspect and achievement recognition that interests us. It is good to see those who have worked hard be recognized for their efforts.

These elite athletes have overcome many obstacles in order to compete in this year’s Winter Olympics.  Some of the athletes have fought through injuries that most of us would still be recuperating from and in some sort of physical therapy.   Other athletes have overcome great grief of the death of loved ones. A bobsled was broken and there was a team working through the night to repair it so the athletes could compete the next day. What about Nick Goepper who learned to snowboard in the hills of southern Indiana?   He and his parents found a way in which he could perfect his skills to the point of becoming an Olympian and medalist.

What characteristics do these elite athletes have in common? Can we apply these characteristics to Christian parenting?

  • The Olympians fight through setbacks and injuries while becoming the elite athlete they each are today.  Do we focus on the situations in our life or do we focus on the prize? (Eternity with Jesus Christ and laying crowns at His feet.)  Prayer is important for the Christian.  Keep a family journal of prayer requests and answered prayer so children can see God.  Come back to those answered prayers in time of difficulty and remind children that God helped in the past and will help in the future.
  • The Olympic athletes must eat well in order to fuel their bodies to perform at this elite level.  As Christians we must feed on the things of God. Spending time with God in prayer and reading His Word are imperative if we want to finish this life well.  In order to teach our children to love the Lord we must spend time with God first and then share that love with our family.  Pray with your children before school. Have Bible fact night at the dinner table once a week.  Pray for a missionary before dinner. If your hear an ambulance pray for all concerned.  Be creative and see how many ways you can point your children toward God in a day.
  • Practice is imperative in order to become an Olympic athlete.  Have a time of Bible teaching with your children.  Memorize Scripture as a family.  Use teachable moments in nature to teach the things of God.  Practice is repetition and adding creativity to the repetition is key.  Make learning the things of God repetitive, fun, and creative.
  • Encouragement from mothers has been a theme of many advertisements during the broadcast of the Olympics.  As mothers we have a great responsibility to encourage our children in the things of God.  Just think of Hannah in the Old Testament and her son Samuel.  She brought him a coat each year he was growing up with Eli as an act of love and support.
  • The medal winners are very thankful for the people who have helped them on the arduous journey toward perfection of their specific sport. As Christians do we provide encouragement to others? Do we praise God for His Word that imparts so much and are we thankful for the Holy Spirit that wants to guide us in all things?  Let children see your praise and thankfulness of God and others. Help your children think of  “random acts of kindness”  to bless others.

We may never earn an Olympic medal but we all have the ability through Christ to earn a crown that we will want to lay at the feet of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown but we for an imperishable crown.”         1 Corinthians 9:24-25

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?”  1 Thessalonians 2:19

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”  James 1:12

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away”. 1 Peter 5:4

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”  2 Timothy 4:8

As this year’s Olympics come to a close and the medal count is posted consider the importance we are placing on the rewards God gives to us.  Are we teaching our children about God’s rewards?  Our we teaching them to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind?   Let’s run this race well and teach to our children what counts for eternity.

Until the next “Truth” sharing moment,

Cathy Jo Johnson

 

 

 

 

Getting to the Heart of the Matter: More than a Valentine

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Daily Truth:   “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ” Matthew 22:37

valentine_lace_9

Getting to the heart of a matter can be a difficult thing for several reasons.  Let’s face it, we sometimes try to pack too many activities into a day. Our schedules do not allow us to address important topics.  At other times we just do not think the time is right to discuss issues that arise in our family.  Sometimes we do not feel equipped to teach our child what should be taught in a particular situation. We are surrounded by things in this world that vie for our attention.  We have difficulty distinguishing between good, better, and best.  At times we can lose sight of “getting to the heart” of the matter.

At the heart of the matter is Truth.  Truth teaches to the heart.  As parents we come up with many family sayings as:  always do your best,  finish the job, or obey quickly.  But, if we are not using God’s Word with God’s principles we are not teaching to the heart.

John wrote these words in John 12:37-43.

“But although He [Jesus] had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

‘Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’

Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’

These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;  for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Teaching to the heart of our child means that our own hearts must be right first. If you do not know how to be a child of God yourself and would like to know more please click here.

If over scheduling yourself and your family is a problem  ask God to help you with prioritizing. Align yourself with God.   If you feel unequipped or are in need of a systematic way of guiding your child’s heart to God below are some reliable resources to help with the training and teaching of your child.

Leading Little Ones to God       Shepherding a Child’s Heart

Step Into the Bible: 100 Family Bible Devotions to Grow Your Child’s Faith

 Let’s live for God’s glory and show our children that living for God is what really matters.  Living for God and reaching the hearts of children for God is what counts for eternity.

What are some things you do or resources you like to “get to the heart” of the matter?

Until the next “Truth” sharing moment,

Cathy Jo Johnson

All material written is the property of Truths for Tots.

 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas Tree Gospel

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Daily Truth: ” And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

 

  Almost every home has some sort of Christmas tree in it this time of year.  Did you ever stop to think how the Christmas tree can be a vivid representation of the Gospel? The Christmas Tree has a LONG history behind it, but I won’t go into that.  Instead I want to show you how you can use your Christmas tree to teach your children about the true meaning of Christmas. 1.  The Christmas Tree is “ever”green.  God is everlasting.  (Psalms 90:2) His mercy is everlasting (Psalms 103:17).  One day He will set up an everlasting kingdom. (Micah 5:2) 2.  The Christmas Tree points to God – The top of the tree comes to point, directing our eyes to the Heavens.  God is the creator of all (Psalms 19:1) and is in Heaven preparing a place for all those who know Him as Savior (John 14:2). 3.  The Star – The star at the top of the tree reminds us of the star that shown over Bethlehem directing the wise men to the Christ child. (Matthew 2:1-3) 4.  The Angel – Some put an angel on the top of the tree reminding them of the angels that told the good news of the Saviors birth to the shepherds.  (Luke 2:8-17) 5.  The Christmas Tree lights. God is the light of the world. (John 8:12)  God’s Word is a light to those who are in the darkness of their sin. (II Corinthians 4:4) When we know Christ as our personal Savior, His Word lights our pathway. (Psalms 119:105)  We are then to be a light to those around us directing them to Christ by our lives (Philippians 2:15) 6.  The Red Ribbon – The red ribbon reminds us of Christ blood shed for our sins.  (Hebrews 9:22) 7.  The Grapevine Garland – On our Christmas tree, I put a grapevine garland down the center of the tree to remind us that Christ’s ultimate purpose of being born was to die for our sins.  The grapevine symbolizes the crown of the thorns that were placed on Christ when he was crucified.  (Matthew 27:29) 8.  The Gifts – The gifts remind us of the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus. (Matthew 2:11) They are also a reminder of the ultimate gift – God’s gift of salvation to all who will receive it.(John 3:16) 9.  The Ornaments – The ornaments remind us of the jewels in a kingly crown.  One day Christ will be crowned King of Kings (Revelation 17:14) for He alone is worthy. (Revelation 5:12).  One day every knee will bow, confessing that He is Lord of all. (Philippians 2:9-11) As we get closer to Christmas Day, let us take time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Until next week, Rebekah klink

Christmas Advent Devotional: How Excellent is Your Name O LORD

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Daily Truth:   “O LORD, our Lord,  how excellent is Your name in all the earth!”

 Psalm 8:9

Names are important to us and to God.  When we know someone we use their name when talking with them.  When we learn God’s Hebrew names we learn more about Him.  Each name reveals a character quality of God.

Advent Cover

“Wise men still seek Him.”

I have created a family “Christmas Advent Devotional”.  Each day a new name of God is learned. A chain link craft adds enjoyment and anticipation to this study.

DSCN0505

 

Day 1 of Christmas  Advent Devotion:  Yahweh (LORD) yah-WEH

This name of God by Jewish tradition was too Holy to be said aloud.   It was said as YHWH without the vowels.  YHWH is referred to as the Tetragrammaton (which means “four letters”).  YHWH comes from the four Hebrew letters:  Yud, Hay, Vav, Hay.  The modern spelling is Yahweh and now spoken by Jewish people as Jehovah.

 In the Old Testament, the name Yahweh, is the most frequently used name of God.  It is found over 6,000 times. The first time it is written is in Genesis 2:4 where it is written as Yahweh Elohim  (yah-WEH e-lo-HEEM).  This name of God as you will see can be written as Yahweh or a long side another name of God. When written with another name of God a new character quality of God is revealed.

Read Genesis 7:1-3

“Yahweh said to Noah, ‘Go into the ship with your whole family because I have seen that you alone are righteous among the people of today.   Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean and one pair of every kind of unclean animal.  Also, take seven pairs of every kind of bird to preserve animal life all over the earth after the flood.’ ”

Yahweh is LORD (all capital letters) over all.  Noah knew God and obeyed God.  Because of Noah’s love of Yahweh and fear (respect) of Yahweh his entire family was spared from certain death.

Questions:  

If you would have lived in the days of Noah what would have kept you safe from the flood that Yahweh sent to cover the earth?

What today can keep you safe from separation from God? (Romans 10:9)

Yahweh, you are holy, powerful, slow to anger, continually loving, full of grace toward us.  You know our sinful hearts yet you love us all the same.  Help us to love and respect you and follow where you lead.

To get each day’s devotions and a pdf of the Names of God chain link please see http://truthsfortots.com/

A wonderful children’s book to accompany this study is “What’s in a Name?” :  Learning about the Names of God by Cathy Jo Johnson  http://truthsfortots.com/whats-in-a-name/

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas Season.

Until the next “Truth” sharing moment,

Cathy Jo Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

Angels: The Servants of God

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Daily Truth:  “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”  Psalms 91:11

 

 

Angels are always an interesting topic.  Kids imagine them with white dresses, wings, and halos floating above their heads.

Did you know that they are mentioned over 108 times in the Old Testament and over 165 times in the New Testament and that 44 of the 66 books of the Bible mention angels. (Yes, I listened in church on Sunday.)

There are weeks that I come to Wednesday morning and I don’t know what to write about.  This week the Lord laid the topic of angels on my heart.

Last week, one of our family devotions dealt with the topic of angels.  It was very interesting to see the kids responses.  Here is what we learned.

1.  There are two angels – Michael and Gabriel.  Michael is the archangel and sometimes has to fight Satan (Jude 1:9).  The boys thought that was pretty cool. Gabriel is the messenger angel.  (Luke 1:19).

2.  The angels were made to serve God.(Psalms 104:4)

3.  Although the angels are God’s servants they do not have God’s powers.  They aren’t omniscient. (Matthew 24:36)

4.  We are each given a guardian angel assigned the task of watching over us.  (Matthew 4:6, Matthew 18:10) The kids were AMAZED by this.

“You mean that there are angels in the room right now watching us?”

“Why can’t we see them?”

“You mean their job is to take care of us?”

“If they don’t know everything, how do they know not to protect us?  For instance when it is time for us to go to Heaven, how do they know to stop doing their job?”  (Hate those hard questions.)

The last question we answered like this:  Angels are told to take care of us and protect us.  Yet, God is all knowing.  When it is time for us to go to Heaven, they are still protecting us, but God is telling those angels that their job is now to bring us to Heaven because God knows it is time for us to be with Him.

“Why can’t we see them?” We told the kids we can’t always see them but the Bible indicates that there are times that we see them and don’t know it. (Hebrews 13:2)

There are many incidents in the Bible where people saw angels.  We focused on two stories.

The first story was about Peter being in prison and how the angel walked him right out of prison. (Acts 12:5-17) The kids thought that was pretty amazing that Peter was able to just walk right past all the guards and they didn’t even see him!

Then there was the story of Elisha who was being chased by a king.  The king sent an army to the city where Elisha was to take him prisoner.  (Side note:  Why in the world did the king think he needed a whole army to capture Elisha?  Just a thought.)

Elisha’s servant turns to him in panic and asks what are they supposed to do.

Elisha prays and asks God to open his servant’s eyes.  When God does, the servant sees the hillside full of angels in chariots of fire surrounding the king’s army.  (II Kings 2:16-18)

“WOW!” was the kids response and somehow I think that might have been the servant’s response as well.

There are many other stories in the Bible that talk about angels (Genesis 28:11-13, Daniel 6:16-22. Daniel 3:19-25).

Despite all the amazing things angels can do, we learned the most amazing thing yet.  Angels will never experience the joy of salvation. In fact, they rejoice when a soul is saved. (Luke 15:10)

The angels are servants of God, we can become the children of God.  How much better is it to be God’s child!!

I have always loved the words to this chorus:

“Holy, holy is what the angels sing, And I expect to help them make the courts of heaven ring: But when I sing redemption’s story, they will fold their wings, For angels never felt the joys that our salvation brings.”   Holy, Holy is What the Angels Sing by Rev. Johnson Oatman

So, as we teach our children about angels focus on the fact that we can become the children of God.

Until next week,

Rebekah

klink

 

Appearance: The Lesson from a Pumpkin

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Daily Truth: “For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” I Samuel 16:7

I love the appearance of the collage pumpkins and mums  make on a doorstep. Their appearance marks the beginning of fall.  To me, they are some of the most beautiful fruit.    I mean, really, how many other fruit do we decorate our doorsteps with? (Yes, it is technically a fruit.)

There is one thing that I despised about pumpkins when I was a little girl – the guts!  I hated it when my dad would pull out a handful a pumpkin guts and try to get us dirty with it.  To me the insides were ooey, gooey, and slimy.

Then, we would have to rinse the pumpkin seeds of the stringy goo so that we could roast the seeds. We all enjoyed the seeds but to get to the good part you had to go through all the gross part!

I was thinking about that the other day when I was cleaning out the insides of some freshly cooked pumpkins.

I had gone with my boys on their field trip to the pumpkin patch.  My youngest picked out a perfectly shaped pumpkin.  My older son picked out a pumpkin with some marks on it. I picked out one with some mud on it but I could tell it was a good one.P1070261

My middle son couldn’t believe that I would pick a dirty one until he started wiping the dirt off in the hay of the wagon.  Slowly, as the dirt was rubbed away, he saw what I had seen.  He took one look at his marked up pumpkin and decided he wanted mine.

When you looked at the outward appearance of our two pumpkins, my was definitely a 10.  However, when I cut them open, the insides were both consistent of that ooey, gooey mess.

It reminded me of Jesus talking to the pharisees. The pharisees were so concerned about their outward appearance that they didn’t bother to take care of what was inside.

In fact, the Savior used rather forceful language to describe them (Matthew 23:27).  He compares the pharisees to whited sepulchres – beautiful on the outside but full of dead bodies.

Fast forward to the 21st century.  Appearance is a big deal in our time.  Let’s face it – we are bombarded with magazines, commercials, billboards, etc on how to improve our appearances.  Yet, I don’t see too many magazines, commercials, or billboards on how to improve our inside – our heart.

Why is that?  Ummm – hello – nobody can see it!

Don’t get me wrong, your appearance does say a lot about you.  Remember, God told Samuel that man looks on the outward appearance.  We can’t help it, we’re human. However, that shouldn’t be our focus.

Our outward appearance is not the most important part of our appearance.  God doesn’t see how well we dress or if we have the latest fashion or if our house looks like something out of Pottery Barn.  Instead God looks at our heart.  He knows every thought, motive, concern that we have.  He sees our heart.

There are a myriad of examples in the Bible where God looked on the heart and not the outward appearance.  One last example is given to us in Luke 7.

Go back to those whited sepulchre pharisees.  One woman, the Bible calls her a sinner, heard that Jesus was eating at one of these pharisee’s homes.  She brings a bottle of ointment, about a years worth of wages, and walks right into this pharisee’s home.

She then does the unthinkable.  She washes Jesus feet with the ointment and her tears and then washes them with her hair.  Jesus looked past her outward appearance and looked right into her heart.

Moms, as we raise our children we need to be more concerned with their heart than their appearance.

So how do we use the pumpkin to teach our little ones about God looking on the heart.

1.  Believe that I am a sinner and that Jesus died for my sins. (Romans 3:23, John 3:16, Acts 16:31)

2.  God has to clean our hearts from sin.  (I John 1:9, Psalms 51:10)

3.  Sometimes it isn’t pleasant but God has to scoop out all the sin to help us make our hearts match our outward appearance. (Psalms 51:7)

So, as you clean out the inside of your pumpkins this year, take the time to teach your own little “pumpkins” the lesson you can learn from a pumpkin:  Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart.

Until next Wednesday,

Rebekah

klink

Fear Not: Turning Fear into Faith

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Daily Truth: “Fear not, for I am with you.”  Isaiah 41:10

scared child

Fear can be a paralyzing emotion.  Different things or events cause people fear to fear different things.

My boys fear storms at night. So, the lights stay on.

My middle daughter feared sleeping in her room at night because the dark blue walls made her think monsters were in the room.  (Her walls are now a lovely shade of a pale green).

My oldest daughter fears getting on a school bus.

At times, I fear running by myself.  I think it’s because I have read to many Reader’s Digest “Drama in Real Life”!  So, I take my pepper spray, use a little wisdom, and plug in the music.

Fear is such a powerful emotion and can be a very controlling emotion if we allow it.

We were having our family devotions the other day out of the Heroes and Villains book that we have been enjoying this summer. The scripture was on Peter denying Christ.photo (24)

Yes, denying Christ was a horrible thing for him to do.

Yet, what was the basis of him denying Christ?

Let’s see.  One of his friends betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, his other friends scattered, and he had watched at a distance the events in the home of the high priest.  Peter also was fully aware of the cruelty of the Romans.

So, what was the underlying issue that caused Peter to deny Christ?  Fear.

Yet, despite Peter’s fear leading to his denial of Christ, God used him above and beyond what Peter could have even imagined at the Day of Pentecost!

Fear caused David to lie and commit murder. Yet, God would later call him a “Man after His own heart”.

Fear caused Jacob to run from Esau rather than admit his deception. Yet, God would have Jesus come through Jacob’s line.

Fear can be dibilitating.  Yet, fear can also cause us to be victorious.

Fear caused Esther to pray and fast and then go before the King to ask for the salvation of her people.

Fear caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Obednego to stand before King Nebuchadnezzar and be thrown into the fiery furnace.

Fear caused Daniel to continue praying three times a day to God and then be cast into the lion’s den.

What was the difference?  They allowed their fear to become a demonstration of their faith. They had faith that their God was bigger than their fear.

So, back to the devotional.

“Kids, do you think Peter was afraid that night?

“Yes.”

“Do you think God could have helped him overcome that fear if Peter had asked?”

“Yes.”

Turning to my oldest, “So, can God help you over come your fears such as getting on the bus this Thursday to go play in a volleyball game?”

Silence.  Then, “I really don’t want to get on that bus, mom.”

“I know.  But don’t you think your God is bigger than your fear?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t you think the devil is using the emotion and lie of fear to cause you not to have faith that God will help you on that bus?”

“Yes.”

“How about turning that fear into faith.  It will be a step of faith for every parent to send their child on that bus this Thursday.  It will also be a step of faith for everyone of your teammates and friends to get on that bus.”

So, how can we combat fear in our lives and help our children combat fear in their lives?

1.  Prayer.  Pray with your children.  Pray for their specific fear know matter what it is.  Pray with them that God would give them the strength to overcome that fear.

2.  Scripture.  It has been said that there are over 365 “Fear Not” verses in the Bible – one for each day of the year.  Give them scripture that deals with fear to help them conquer those fears.  At night, my oldest listens to the Psalms being read  from the Bible Gateway app.

3.  Music.  Good Christian music is so calming as well as relaxing classical music. We often play music for the kids to settle down.  When I was delivering my oldest, we brought a CD player and some soft classical music.  All the nurses wanted to stay in our room because it was so relaxing.

Here are two of our favorite “fear” verses.

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”  Psalms 56:3

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”  Isaiah 41:10 (Actually, you really need to read the whole chapter.)

So, Thursday afternoon, I will be taking a step of faith with so many other parents as our children take their own step of faith getting onto the buses to go to games, turning our fear into faith.

Until next Monday,

Rebekah

klink

 

 

Just a Boy

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Daily Truth:  “There is a boy here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”  John 6:9

 

                                                 Just a Boy.

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We have been reading through a devotional book entitled “Heroes and Villains of the Bible” this summer in our family devos. Mostly the heroes and villains have been adults – until Saturday night.  That night we read about how a boy’s lunch fed 5000 men.

Just a Boy.

Now, the kids have heard this story before.  However, to hear it light of a “hero” was a whole other view point.  I mean…really…a child as a “hero”?  You could see the question spinning through their heads.

 

 

Just a Boy.

Of course, the number “5,000” means nothing to 4, 5, and 6 year olds.  So, we had to put it in perspective for them.

“Sam, let’s pretend that I pack you a lunch with 5 rolls and two small fish and you take it church.  Now let’s say, we walk into the auditorium and we tell you to share your lunch with everybody in the church.  Would it happen?”

Once again the wheels spinning. “What?!?!”

Micah, “No way that would work!”

Now we have no where near 5,000 members in our church but just the thought of having to share that little with that many was overwhelming.

Just a Boy.

Then Alexandra chimed in, “Dad, I’m sure there were other people that brought a lunch.  How come Jesus didn’t use their lunches?”

“Maybe, they didn’t offer to help like this little boy did.”

Just a Boy.

Then we reminded the kids that we don’t know the boys name, but he is forever remembered as the “Boy with the five loaves and two fish that over 5,000 men”.

I mean can you imagine him running home to his mom and exclaiming, slightly out of breath, “Mom you will never believe what Jesus did today!”

Just a Boy,

Why is this boy remembered through all time?  Why did God say to John, “Hey, remember the feeding of the 5,000?  Tell about that as you write this book”.

Why? Simply because the boy was willing to share in only a way a child could.

He didn’t see the vast number of people.  He didn’t see the impossibility.  He didn’t calculate how much money he would need like the disciples did.  No, he just simply handed his lunch to Jesus – willingly.  No tempers.  No coercing from dad.

Just a Boy.

So, another thought occurred to me as we finished up the devotional.  How was a little boy so willing to share his little lunch?  I’m sure it was hot and had been a tiring walk.

I mean, I have two boys and when they are ravenous, telling them to share their lunch is right up with asking them to eat their broccoli with a happy spirit.

So, how did this boy willingly give away his lunch?

Training.  Parents training him at a young age to share all he has with others.  No restraints.  No questions.  Just a willing spirit.

Demonstrating. Parents demonstrating by their actions how to share and help others with a willing spirit.  Not grudgingly.

Convicting!

It always amazes me how God’s Word can reach all ages with the same story.

Just a Boy.

So, my kids went away with the idea that even though they are little, they can still be a hero for God.

I went away reminded to keep on with the training because God can use just a boy.

Until next Monday,

Rebekah

P.S.  The little maid to Naaman’s wife is another little hero God used for Him.

klink

“The World Itself Could Not Contain the Books”

Truthsfortots Blog, Cathy Jo's Blog , , , 0 Comment

Daily Truth:  “And there are also many things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”  John 21:25

Pile of Books

Did you know there were 1,052,803  books published in 2009 and approximately 3,000,000 books published in 2011? (These statistics are from Bowkers, the company in the U.S., that issue ISBN numbers.)  Google actually counted the number of books in existence and as of August 5, 2010 there were 129,864,880 books in print.  Yet, “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” of all that Jesus did while on earth.

All the things that Jesus did if written in books would fill the earth. That is a huge statement.  How big is the earth you ask?  The circumference at the equator is 24,901 miles. (One of those facts remembered from grade school.)  And yet, “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” of all that Jesus did while on earth.

Are you getting the picture?  It is mind boggling to think of how much Jesus did in three years. His compassion was great!  His love was deep!  He could not but help those around him.

When we teach our children about Jesus feeding the 5,000, turning water into wine, meeting the woman at the well, healing the sick, blind, deaf and lame, and raising the dead we are just telling about a few of Jesus’s miracles and teachings. Remember, “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” Do not lose the enthusiasum and wonder of a child.  Get amazed at what the Lord Jesus Christ did!  Share that love, compassion and amazment with the children in your life.

We do not need to wonder what was not included in the Bible because God has included just the right teachings and miracles for us to know and learn. Matthew 5:18 tells us that “no jot or tittle shall in no way pass from the law, until all be fulfilled.”  Everything written in the Bible is for a purpose.  How good it is that God inspired holy men of God to write about Himself and His Son, Jesus Christ, all in one book, the Bible.  Can you imagine needing to read thousands of books to understand the character of God, His plan of salvation, Jesus’s miracles, how to live with one another, and all the other many things God teaches us through His Word?  God is so good to us.

And yet, “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” of all that Jesus did while on earth. How wonderful it is to think about Jesus’s great compassion for the people around him.  Not only in the time he walked this earth but the eternal home He is preparing for those who believe in Him. Jesus gave His life for us that we may live with Him in eternity.  His compassion was and is too great to fathom.  It is also too great to record in volumes of books.  Truly amazing!

Share this concept with a young child, especially a visual learner.  Try going to your city library and pointing out all the books and then discussing that all that Jesus did while on earth could not even be held in that library.  Check out Truths for Tots Pinterest board on Books and Libraries to get another visual on large collections of books.

Also, check out Truths for Tots Pinterest board on Children’s Books that Point to Jesus.

Remember, “And there are also many things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one,  the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25

Until the next “Truth” sharing moment,

Cathy Jo