Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts

Thursday, April 30, 2015

We are... because of God

Yesterday morning, Wee One and I walked into school with one of her friends.  The friend immediately shared, "You know what I have been thinking about? Where I come from.  I know I came from my mom, and her mom came from her mother, and her mother came from her mother but where did it all start? Why am I here? This is what keeps me up at night." 

The kid is 5.

Wee One did not comment but took my hand as we peeled away to enter the classroom.  While the friend was busy putting her belongings into a cubby, I asked her how she would have answered the friend's question.  She proudly replied, "From God!"  I was beaming but at the same time, I was a tad unsettled.  In this highly competitive academic environment, parents are always comparing their children and looking for ways to gain the edge.  While I try to stay distant from such behavior, it is easy to get sucked in and worry my own children will somehow be behind.  To my knowledge, my daughter does not ponder such big questions. 

I shared this event with my husband later that evening.  His response was filled with wisdom and eased my mind.  "Maybe the reason she doesn't worry about such things is because she already knows.  She is confident in knowing where she came from and why she is here."

Thank you, God, for blessing our family! My most enduring prayer has been that my children would know the Lord and would confess Him before others.  Thank you, Jason for helping me see we are on the right track. 

Are you looking for a way to find this confidence?  Do you wish to impart it in your own family?  With faith and obedience in Christ Jesus comes peace, true happiness and freedom.  Connect with other Christians. Look for a Church in your area.  Attend Bible class. Study God's Word.  Do not be lured into thinking the ways of this world, or the things it contains, are to be sought after. 

A more meaningful life exists!


Friday, January 30, 2015

Valentine's Day Countdown

While scanning Pinterest, my favorite me-time activity, I came across this incredible idea for a Valentine Advent Calendar

Image retrieved from  http://happyhomefairy.com/2012/01/24/a-valentines-day-countdown-free-printable/

Although this was my first encounter with the Happy Home Fairy, this will certainly not be my last.  What a great idea this is!  My kids are always asking how many more days until whatever special event is next.  Since my birthday (mid January) they have been hounding me about Valentine's Day.  This perfect little printable from the HHF is just the ticket.

The printable consists of 15 Bible verses about love... and one very corny but cute joke.  In her blog post, she details how the verses can be used.
Image retrieved from http://happyhomefairy.com/2012/01/24/a-valentines-day-countdown-free-printable/

I chose to use the verses for two purposes.

After printing and cutting out copies of the verses, I gathered my materials.
  • seasonally appropriate cardstock
  • heart stickers (dollar bin at Target)
  • tape
  • string
  • scissors

I cut out 14 hearts from the cardstock and affixed a verse to each heart.

I divided the pile of hearts and cut the sheet of stickers in two and gave one set to each of my kiddos.  They had fun decorating the hearts.



Once decorated, I suspended the hearts from our living room ceiling. 

The plan is to have the children select one heart to pull down from the ceiling each night, beginning Feb 1 and ending Feb 14.  We will use the heart during devotional time by reading the verse and discussing how it applies to our lives.  We will also reinforce counting with our youngest as he counts the remaining hearts each day. 


The second way we will use these verses is by cutting them out and passing a card along to each person at services the Sunday before Valentine's Day.  We may even add a chocolate heart.  How fun to share God's love with others!  I also look forward to the experience my children will have connecting with others in the congregation.

How will you make Valentine's Day special for your family and those around you?