Soccer Camp Friday Wrap Up & BBQ
Thank you parents for entrusting your children with us! We’ve been having a great week!!
On Friday morning parents are welcome to come out and watch the final game of Soccer which happens at 10:30am to 11:15am. The finally rally happens right after!!
Come join us for the Soccer Camp Friday Wrap Up BBQ at 6pm (which is NOT at the school but at Ross Road Community Church just north on Ross Road across Fraser Hwy).
Bring your lawn chairs for outside on the grass!!
Then we head into the church hall to see the highlight DVD of the week (which you may also purchase for $5 and will have a few of the favourite songs on it with video and photos of the week. You can also pre-order these at the BBQ and we’ll be making copies next week)! We will also sing a few favourite songs for the parents, Mr. Craig will share a favourite story of the week and kids will get to receive Soccer Camp Awards from their coaches!!
Some of you have been asking about purchasing the Soccer Camp CDs and DVDs. We are going to put in an order for some! So, if you’d like to order either, please bring payment either Friday morning or Friday at 6pm at the BBQ.
Music CDs are $15 CDN and Music Action DVDs are $30 CDN. They will take 1-2 weeks to arrive and when they come in, we’ll give you a phone call!
Come join us in celebrating a great week with your kids!!
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Soccer Camp Raining Back Up Plan
We missed a rain out on Monday and Tuesday!! Yay!!
Wow, God is good. Soccer Camp Day 2 was a success! It was pouring rain and then 1 minute before we stepped outside, it stopped for the entire morning!!!!
What if it rains on Wednesday or any following day?
We have a small gymnasium this year and yet plan to do activities in it with the kids that do come, if it is raining – such as ‘four corners soccer’ and a few relays. So, I leave it up to you parents to decide what your child would enjoy.
We will do our best with what happens to the weather!! Monday, the kids never noticed a light sprinkle and we can easily do that again. But, for heavy rain, we will take the kids inside for games in the gym.
Thanks again for entrusting your children with us this week!!
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Soccer Camp Begins!
As I write, it is 6:20am in the morning on Monday and I am excited for Soccer Camp!
Registration begins at 8:30am on Monday and then Tuesday to Friday the start time is 9am at Ross Elementary! Here’s the Schedule for the week:
Monday: 8:30am Registration and then the day continues on with 9AM Opening Rally… finishing off at 12noon
Tuesday to Friday:
9am – Parents Sign In/ Opening Rally (Gym)
9:20am-Soccer Session
10:15 – Huddle/Snack Time
10:30-Soccer Session
11:15-Closing Rally (Gym)
11:45-Huddle 2 (Gym)
12-Parents Sign Out, Dismiss
12:10- Team Meeting (Volunteers) for 15 minutes
What do do in case of rain? If it is a light rain, we’ll go ahead. For heavy rain, we’ll be inside the school Gym.
For emergency questions, you may contact our secretary at 604-856-2024 who can get in touch with our on field director or nurse. Otherwise, feel free to ask questions at point of drop off or pick up of your children.
We’re ready for a great week of Soccer Camp!!!
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RRCC For Sunday, July 5th, 2009…
Just a reminder for this weekend…
Don’t forget this Sunday’s service starts at 10am! Come early for a good parking spot! (10AM start for all of July and August). Preschoolers dismissed after a few songs.
All Soccer Camp Volunteers please come at 9:40am on Sunday to get your T-shirts and be ready to be commissioned (you’ll be prayed for wearing your T-shirt)! Get your T-shirts upstairs in Kids Zone!
Soccer Camp starts Monday!! -Come for registration at 8:30am (Volunteer Team Meeting at 8am) at Ross Elementary. You can still get your registrations in!! Please drop off forms and payment at the church office on Thurs or Fri 8-4. If there are still spots open, we may take ‘walk ons’ on Monday the 6th.
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Summer Preschool for July and August ‘09 at Ross Road Community Church runs at 10AM – Our parents serve on rotation to give teachers a much deserved summer off. Kids start in the main services and are later dismissed after a few songs.
All parents have been given a rotation schedule.
If you have any questions, please email me or give me a call!
Merri Ellen, KIDS Pastor: 604-856-2024 or merriellen(AT)rossroadcc.ca
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What’s happening July and August in Kids Zone?
Ross Road is going to one service at 10am as most folks are away on holidays during the summer. (Will be back to 2 services in Sept for 9am and 10:45am.)
July 5th 6:30pm Soccer Camp Team Meeting at the church!
Summer Preschool July and August 10AM – parents serve on rotation to give teachers a much deserved summer off. Kids start in the main services and later dismissed after a few songs.
Kids Church Registration in August – for new students going into Grade 1 or new attendees. Look for the forms in the foyer (and in Common Grounds Aug 23 and 30th)
New Kids Church Leaders Orientation Aug 23rd 6:30pm in Fireside Room
All Kids Church Leaders Orientation Aug 30th 6:30pm in Fireside Room
If you have any questions, feel free to let me know!
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Parents: you can nurture development in your child best by helping them discover what they are good at doing.
“Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6
Early in life, children show personality traits and preferences for what they like and dislike. By planning learning opportunities with children’s unique personality styles in mind, you nuture their positive feelings about themselves.
A child who can’t stay on task during piano lessons and who gets angry when asked to practice may not be the best candidate for music lessons. Keeping a child involved in an unsatisfying activity may keep the child from discovering something more satisfying. A child who enthusiastically gets dressed and ready for soccer practice 15 minutes early and who talks endlessly about the most recent game may have found a wonderful place to nurture his or her skills and interests.
You can work with your child to discover and nurture their personal learning strengths and abilities. Encourage them to practice and exercise their talents so that skills grow and improve. If you provide opportunities that touch on the different kinds of learning, children will recognize which activities come naturally, feel right and are satisfying.
So, how do you do this? I came across the following site that had some very good points…
Read more on how to nurture your children’s talents and development…
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Sunday, June 14th we’re having our Grade 5 Grad!
Here’s what’s happening…
8:50am -
Grade 5 parents arrive in Junior Big Room
Kids and teachers arrive in the classrooms
9am -
Welcome
Kids sing for parents
Grads receive their card, gift and verse from teacher
Prayer for Grads by Prayer parents of the Grade 5 Grads – Cliff and Gloria Hiebert, Henry and Elizabeth Kornelson
Thank You for Teachers
Encouragement for Parents and Grads
Kids sing final songs for parents
Parents dismissed
Bible Sword Drill with the kids and teachers!
We’re looking forward to honouring our Grade 5 Grads and bless them!
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What’s Up in June in Kids Zone??
Woa, heat wave! It’s hot up here in my office!! Hope you’re staying cool!
What’s happening for June in Kids Church?
June 7th – The Age 5 class and teachers get to visit the Junior Big Room with the Grade 1-5s! (Parents drop of kids in Age 5 class room as usual)
June 14th – Grade 5 Grad in Junior Kids Church: @ 9AM – Grade 5 parents invited! Prayer Parents: Cliff & Gloria Hiebert and Henry & Elizabeth Kornelson will be joining us to bless the kids and families.
June 21st – Father’s Day – Celebration Sunday, later all kids dismissed, Kids Church Class Parties and Thank Your Teacher day!
June 28th –No Junior Kids Church /Summer Preschool Schedule begins – parents and volunteers on rotation
June 28th – 6:30pm – Soccer Camp Volunteers Team Meeting in the Fireside Room
July and August- Ross Road is going to one service at 10am as most folks are away on holidays during the summer. (Will be back to 2 services in Sept for 9am and 10:45am.)
If you have any questions, feel free to let me know!
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If you have a difficult three year old or any age in preschool, what is the problem? A recent report on MSNBC suggested that parents’ pre-occupation with their kids’ self-esteem may have produced “rude” children who lack compassion for others.
According to MSNBC, “many experts say today’s kids are ruder than ever.”
A difficult three year old is often due to a lack of discipline. Child psychologists have been telling us to build up our child’s self-esteem. However, pampering them doesn’t do this. Instead it inflates a child’s self esteem and they have no respect for parents, other adults or other children.
“High self-esteem doesn’t make you any better; it only makes you think you are better, which, in the end, makes you worse.” Roy F. Baumeister, professor of psychology at Florida State University
So, how do you deal with a difficult three year old? One book that changed my parenting style and gave me help was “Secrets of Discipline: 12 Keys for Raising Responsible Children” by Ronald G. Morrish. As a parent, you need to know what the guidelines are and how to teach your child to follow them. You must teach your child courtesy and respect, deal effectively with defiance, prepare your child for independence down the road. You don’t have to pull your hair out.
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The biggest laugh that God has given me has been also a strong lesson in surrendering to God’s Will. Yes, I am serving as Children’s Pastor and am a mother of two boys but if you told me ten years ago that I’d be both a mom and Kids Pastor, I would have laughed. You see, I never saw myself with children of my own; despite doing kids ministry all my life. Why? Well, because I was a strong-willed child and I remember Dr. Dobson’s book, “The Strong Willed Child” was dog-eared in our home.
Growing up, I remember causing my mom lots of frustration. My poor mom! Once I married I figured, if we had children, it would be payback time and so I avoided motherhood like the plague. So for me, becoming a mother was a difficult thing for me. With the help of friends and family and reading God’s Word, I slowly discovered that God had a different plan for me than what I originally thought. I had to let go and let God lead when, after seven years of marriage, I discovered I was pregnant. “How do I do this?” I thought.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.- Prov 3:5,6
Seeing how God has led me to lead kids ministry and to enjoying being a mother, I have recognized that God simply asks us to trust Him in all things and when we do that, He provides for us in leaps and bounds. For me those leaps and bounds are currently two boys at home and over 200 kids in kids’ ministry. Funny how God works!
God has asked me as a mom to continue to trust in Him and to pass on His Word to my children.
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” -Deut 6:5-9
If God can give me direction, He can give every mom direction when she seeks and trusts in Him in her parenting.
-Merri Ellen
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Tags: building faith at home, christian parenting, faith at home, mother, Parenting
“This is Love” by Renee Swope
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (NIV)
Devotion:
I was driving my son to school one morning when out of the blue I started wondering what makes him feel loved. I assumed it was when I buy him something, or when I make his favorite food, or when I let him have a friend over. Basically, I figured he feels most loved when I give him what He wants.
I decided to ask him. “Andrew, what makes you feel loved?”
He sat there quietly, thinking. Then he blurted out a surprising answer.
“THIS!”
“This?” I asked.
“Yeah, Mom. This. You being with me. You driving me to school and talking to me about my day. You telling me you’ll be there when I get home. That makes me feel loved. Thanks, Mom. I love you, bye!” And he hopped out of the car.
This is love?
You mean I don’t have to run out and buy something? Me being there for him is love? Even after I was harsh with my words yesterday prompting him to ask if I was mad about something. Still, this is love?
As I drove away, I wondered if God were to ask me what makes me feel loved, what would I say? Immediately my heart whispered, “Lord, this is love. You asking and caring. You being there. You keeping Your promises like You said You would.”
This is love.
A promise that is kept.
A place that is certain.
Someone who asks.
Someone who listens.
Someone who is present again and again.
We are loved. We don’t have to wait for God to show it. He already has! He sent His Son so that we could know Him in an intimate relationship. Then promised He’d always be there for us, and He is. He is present and listening. Asking and caring. No matter what we are going through today, we can live in His love. And we can love from the overflow of being loved. We can know and rely on God’s promises and presence, and be made complete in Him.
This is love.
Dear Lord, thank You that You first loved us. Remind us and embrace us and pour out on us Your perfect, completing and unfailing love today. As we think of those we love, and the ways we want to be loved, remind us that we are Yours and we are loved! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
A Love Worth Giving: Living in the Overflow of God’s Love by Max Lucado
The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman
Visit Renee’s Blog today to find out how you can experience God’s love in a powerful way, and then give His love to others.
Application Steps:
Ask your child, or someone you are close to, “What makes you feel loved?” Then look for simple ways to love them in that way.
Visit Renee’s blog for a powerful way to experience God’s love and show God’s love to others in a way they’ll never forget.
Reflections:
What makes you feel loved by others?
What makes you feel loved by God?
It’s easy to believe God’s love when He gives us what we want, but God showed His love by giving us what we need, Jesus. If you’ve doubted God’s love, tell Him today and then take time to thank Him for His immeasurable love! And, if you’d like to know more about how God demonstrated His love through Christ, click here.
Power Verses:
1 John 4:9, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (NIV)
1 John 4:16, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (NIV)
1 John 4:17-19, “God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day–our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life–fear of death, fear of judgment–is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love–love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.” (MSG)
© 2009 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org
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How To Discipline My Toddler?
I had a few parents ask me this past week, “How do I discipline my toddler?” Ah, discipline – it’s the number one topic of both parents and teachers. It’s the foundation of positive parenting and teaching. So, together, the mother and I had the opportunity right then and there to do a teachable moment. You can use this technique with your toddler and watch your parenting effectiveness develop. I love this technique…
This is what happened after the mom asked, ‘how to discipline my toddler without yelling’..
The two toddlers suddenly took off running. Sound familiar? It happens to me and my two preschoolers all the time. It’s simply the stage of life they are in. Kids need repetition. “If I told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times…” We’ve said that before. Toddlers need gentle reinforcement and reminders. Trouble is, this takes a major dose of patience. So, we herded the toddlers back and said, “let’s do that over again. Let’s do a ‘do-over’. So, we took the boys back to the door and practiced walking with mom closely and slowly through the parking lot to the car. It worked!
In sports ‘perfect practice makes perfect’. If you do the wrong thing over and over again in practice, you’ll do the wrong thing in a game. So, you need to show your child how to do something right and often over and over again with a calm, gentle but firm voice. With my own kids, I’ll practice what it looks like to do a grocery store run ahead of time. We’ll even pretend to do grocery shopping at home. I know that my sons are visual learners so they need to see what proper behaviour looks like before we ‘discover’ it by chance. Discipline by discovery doesn’t work.
Sometimes I use a gentle ear tug if my son is crossing the line. I squat to his level and whisper gently in his ear “remember son, this is unacceptable. What should you be doing instead?” Often, simply a gentle hand on his shoulder works first and there is no need for an ear tug but, that’s because we’ve practiced good behaviour over and over.
By no means am I a perfect parent. I’m on the journey of parenting toddlers too. So, I read a good amount of books and one that was recommended to me before I had toddlers even was, “Secrets of Discipline: 12 Keys for Raising Responsible Children” by Ronald G. Morrish. The old saying, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” goes for this book. It is a low budget printed book, but with the most valuable content on discipline I have ever read. It’s absolutely clear and practical.
What’s the book’s basic message on how to discipline toddlers?
“Real discipline has three parts and they work like building blocks. Each has an essential role to play in creating the structure that we call discipline.”
Block one is train. You have to train a child to obey adult direction, to respect authority and to comply with rules and limits. He gives easy practical examples and steps which work!
Block two is teach. The only way that children become responsible and cooperative is to learn the skills. They must learn how to resolve conflict, how to work and play with others. These skills must be systematically taught using appropriate teaching techniques, including direction instruction, practice, correction and review. Again he gives easy, practical examples and steps that work.
Block three is manage. This deals with choices. If children are to become responsible adults, they need to be given more freedom as they get older. You can begin to give your child choices once they’ve got the first two building blocks down. Then as the child becomes older, they can become responsible! This usually comes down the road after toddlerhood but simple choices can be given to your toddler once you get the first two blocks down. How freeing this is when your child shows signs of responsibility!
“Children are expected to learn their skills from personal experience. Supposedly, they will learn to be responsible and co-operative just by experiencing the outcomes of their choices. This is why so many children are struggling these days and why so many adults are frustrated with discipline.”
“Children who are not well-trained and well-taught are often called “unmanageable”.
If you don’t do the training and teaching of discipline first, the management part won’t work for you.
Need some help on how to discipline toddlers? Get yourself a copy of “Secrets of Discipline: 12 Keys for Raising Responsible Children” by Ronald G. Morrish and let me know what you think and how it goes. Perhaps we could start up a discussion group on the book. If you’re interested, let me know. I’d love to hear real life examples and learn a few things from you too!
Blessings on your parenting journey as you learn how to discipline toddlers in order to raise responsible adults.
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Abbotsford Soccer Camp 2009
“It’s coming back by popular demand…”
Soccer Camp 2009!
For kids entering Gr. 1-5
July 6-10th 8:30am – 12noon
Free Family BBQ on July 10th at 6pm to receive awards!
$25/child ($20 for 2nd child, $15 each extra child)
Last year was a huge success with 101 kids!
Where will it be held?
This year’s location will be at Ross Elementary School
Email merriellen (AT) rossroadcc.ca or more info, call 604.856.2024 today!
Our logo from last year to spark some memories…
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How can you be an effective parent and be effective in teaching your child? One thing I have discovered is that my son is a visual learner just like me.
My husband told me the other day about a discussion he had with our son…
“We were talking about words that rhyme. Tavis said cat and gloves. I couldn’t figure out what he was talking about. Then he said you know the gloves you where in the snow. I realized he was trying to rhyme kitten and mitten ( cat and gloves).”
I realized that my son had probably seen a picture of a kitten and a mitten at school used by his teacher. He was seeing the pictures in his mind!
Once you discover the learning style of your child, your message will get further across. You will find that with your love and gentleness and teaching according to their learning style, you will be an effective parent. Sure, my son didn’t quite get the rhyming words but that is the next step! He was half way there! All it took was gentle encouragement and clarification on my husband’s part and he got it!
I know that in order to get something through to my son, I have to have his eye contact and I need to either draw him a picture or walk him through it. Just like a ‘do over’. When he does something wrong, I ask him to stop and do it over again correctly. If he can’t, then I know he doesn’t understand. So, I show him. His eyes light up and he gets it!
So, in order to be an effective parent and get the edge on your child, you must determine how your child learns! Once you understand this, your parenting/teaching becomes more powerful!
The learning styles are (with links for further explanation):
- Visual (spatial). You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
- Aural (auditory-musical). You prefer using sound and music.
- Verbal (linguistic). You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
- Physical (kinesthetic). You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
- Logical (mathematical). You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
- Social (interpersonal). You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
- Solitary (intrapersonal). You prefer to work alone and use self-study.
So, take some time to help yourself become a more effective parent by using the more effective mode of teaching according to your child – and each child is different!
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What I Hate, I Do
“I do not understand what I do.
For what I want to do, I do not do,
but what I hate I do.”
-Romans 7:15 (NIV)
Devotion:
He came home from work, feeling tired I am sure. But instead of complaining, he rolled his sleeves up and jumped right in making french toast and frying bacon for our dinner. As he worked, he told me about the rough day he had–more than 100 people had been laid off at his company. While he had not been laid off, he felt sorry for those who had been, and wondered if he would be on the next list of names.
After dinner, he tackled bath times with the younger kids. After they were safely tucked into bed, he took one son with him to the store. He returned home happy, reeling off the things on the list he had gotten for me.
“You didn’t get the vitamins,” I told him. “That was the whole reason you went!” His smile disappeared. Bewildered, he offered to go back out and get the vitamins if we really needed them. “Well, of course we do or I wouldn’t have asked for them,” I said. He left again. It was late. He was tired.
He returned home for the second time, happy again, brandishing an off brand bottle of the vitamins I had asked for. “These were buy one, get one free!” he said, waving two boxes, one in each hand. I took one look at those boxes and sneered.
“There are some things you don’t bargain shop for,” I chided. He slunk off to the kitchen to stow the vitamins in the cabinet, out of sight. Later, he fell asleep on the couch, the book he had attempted to read rising and falling on his chest as he slept.
This is an actual scene from life at my house. This morning as I was in prayer, God brought that scene to mind, allowing me to see my ugliness. Here we see this really great guy trying to serve and love and give – and here we see his snippy, unappreciative wife totally dropping the ball on loving and serving him in return. Instead we see how she wants her own way and pouts like a two year-old when she doesn’t get it. We see that, once again, her need to say little unnecessary comments surfaces. We see her focusing on the negative and missing so much positive in the process.
Today I was reminded again of what I have – and what I stand to lose. My words wound or, at the very least, fall far short of what they could bring to my husband’s life. I choose to nitpick instead of nurture. I choose to litigate instead of love. I hate these choices I make, and yet, again and again I go back to this same driving need to plead my case, assert my rights, get my way, and be first. When God asks me to be willing to be last (Mark 9:35). In life. And in marriage.
I want to do better, to speak kinder, to look for the many good things instead of seizing on the bad. I want to be a wife who brings him good and not harm all the days of her life (Proverbs 31:12). I am working on it, but some days I fall right back into flesh patterns that are so evil and ugly I recoil at my own image when it’s played out for me. I know better – I should do better.
Tomorrow, I will try again. And, Honey? Thanks for hanging in there on days when I don’t.
Dear Lord, help me to honor my husband with my words, my deeds and my thoughts. Help me to realize that my words matter. I can choose to build him up or tear him down. Help me to choose to build him up and give me the strength to do so. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Becoming a Woman of Influence (CD) by Marybeth Whalen
Praying Through the Deeper Issues of Marriage: Protecting Your Relationship So It Will Last a Lifetime by StormieOmartian
Visit Marybeth’s blog
Application Steps:
The next time you are tempted to speak unkind words to your husband, pray first, recognizing that God can give you victory over your flesh through His Spirit.
Reflections:
A question I ask myself often is: Is it more important for you to be right or in relationship?
Power Verses:
Romans 8:6, “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” (NIV)
Galatians 5:17, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” (NIV)
© 2009 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
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When You Need Directions In Life
Following My Father’s Directions
“The Lord said, ‘It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me orfollowed my law.‘” Jeremiah 9:13 (NIV)
Devotion:
The car was packed; the gas tank full; a cooler stood chock-full of sandwiches for the long ride. This was it! My three kids and I were excitedly off on a summertime adventure. In the midst of a stressful and busy move and while waiting for the kids’ bedrooms in the basement to be finished, we threw caution to the wind and took my friend Marybeth up on an invitation to join her at an ocean beachfront home she was being allowed to use for free.
Now this was no small undertaking. It was going to be a 17-hour trip with three kids in the car. Besides the necessities we needed to pack, most of all we needed directions. We had to see on paper just how to get from our little home in the middle of Michigan to sunny Ocean Isle, North Carolina, without getting lost!
Should be a piece of cake in this era of online sites that spit out detailed directions, right? Of course! So I printed them off, tucked them in a folder and revved up the car’s engine. Before I left, however, my father called me. He winters near Ocean Isle and he wanted to give me verbal directions since he has traveled that course twice a year for the past 18 years and is very familiar with how to get there.
I reluctantly wrote down his instructions, complete with highways to avoid and exit names, etc. Then, I tossed the directions into the glove compartment. I thanked him for the gesture but assured him I probably wouldn’t need it since I had the newest, slick Internet directions already. But “Father knows best!’ he assured me. I smiled and headed off.
About half-way to our destination, I noticed that the exit number and name on the Internet’s directions didn’t match up. I began to panic. Should I take the exit number it gave or the exit name it listed? I chose the exit number. Soon after that, we became completely lost. None of the directions made sense any more. We got off the exit, headed back to where we’d made the turn and tried again.
But this way didn’t work either! We were soon heading north instead of south and there wasn’t an exit in sight for miles! When we finally got off, I popped into a gas station and asked for help. The attendant smiled and handed me a piece of paper with corrected directions already written on it. It seems that the Internet site does not completely have the directions. In fact, the station gets dozens of lost souls wandering into their establishment everyday longing just to get back on the right track. They were ready with printed directions to give out to such weary travelers.
Worried that the rest of my Internet directions might be wrong as well, I quickly fumbled through the glove compartment to find my father’s handwritten instructions. I ran them by the gas station attendant. “Perfect!” he commented. My father knew the way without any wrong turns. “Just stick to your father’s instructions and you won’t be lost” I was told.
Like so much of life, we hear of new fangled shortcuts, ways to find happiness or even new paths for getting to heaven. Celebrities say they have found new spiritual dimensions or perfect peace in a New Age practice. We must resist the desire to trust these so called ‘new ways’ completely and instead follow our Father’s original instructions: the Holy Bible. His ancient words ring true. He is the way, the ONLY way, and following His instructions will never result in our souls being lost.
Perhaps it is time we did away with the new and went back to the old. God’s instructions are never wrong. They lead to peace and contentment and a home with Him in heaven forever. Why, that is even better than a week at the beach!
Dear Lord, help me to get and stay forever grounded inYour ancient instructions, the Bible. May I follow onlyYour holy ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Pierced By the Word: 31 Meditations for Your Soul by John Piper
For more on following God, visit Karen’s blog
A Life that Says Welcome by Karen Ehman
Application Steps:
What new ways does the world present for finding happiness or achieving eternal life?
How do these ways measure up to what the Bible says?
Reflections:
What are some actions I can take that will keep me grounded in God’s Word? How can a friend help me in this endeavor?
Power Verses:
Psalm 16:11, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (NIV)
© 2009 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
Filed under: Directions In Life, Family Road Trips, Life Nuggets | Leave a Comment
Tags: direction for your life, direction in life, direction of your life, directions to life, finding direction in your life, finding your way home, i need direction in life, i need direction in my life, life directions, when lost, when you are lost
8 Ways To Encourage Your Kids!
Kids Need to Feel Special
Here are eight ways to give attention and affirmation to your kids at church and home.
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6
1. Please call me by name — especially when you see me outside the classroom. Pray for me by name out loud.
2. Make gentle and direct eye contact. If you really want to honor me —I listen when you kneel down to my level.
3. Please don’t ask me “yes” or “no” questions but ask me “how” and “what about” questions. Let me talk and tell you what I think.
4. Touch me in appropriate ways to communicate love. I like hugs, pats on the back, tousling hair, and holding hands. (This does depend on how old I am.)
5. Please be aware of how I’m feeling and accept my feelings. If I’m shy, approach me tenderly. If I’m rambunctious, I might need simply to play with you for a while.
6. I need compliments. But I especially need compliments on the things that God compliments, not just outward signs of beauty the way the world compliments. Compliment the fruits of the spirit that you see in my life.
7. I will really listen to you when I know that you care about me enough to send me a postcard. Wow! Hardly anyone has ever done that for me before!
8. Grownups are often in a hurry. I need you to slow down and relax. Take some time and enjoy God with me. After all, didn’t he take a day and make it special just so there would be time for his people to spend with him?
This article supplied by kids kount publishing. For more information about Children’s Ministry and Family Ministry, contact at www.kidskountpublishing.comor 888.549.8687/402.614.8720.
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by Nancy White Carlstrom, author of This Is the Day!
Enjoy God’s creation not just on Earth Day (April 22, 2009) but every day. Here are a few practical “how- to” suggestions to celebrate God’s good gifts with your whole family, from youngest to oldest.
1. It starts with you – Appreciation of God’s creation can be caught as well as taught. Your children will notice your curiosity in the natural world.
Call birds, plants and animals in your region, town and neighborhood by name.
When traveling find out about the nature you will see along the way.
Research the flora and fauna of areas where missionary friends live.
Expose your children to nature photographs in books and newspapers.
2. Begin in your own backyard. – You don’t need to go far to see the amazing works of God’s creation. Take the time to stop, look and listen.
Encourage your children to lift up rocks and see what’s underneath.
Buy a magnifying glass and binoculars and teach your children how to use them. Keep both out and easy to find.
Put up a bird feeder or leave a tree snag standing to provide bird habitat.
Grow plants which attract butterflies and ladybugs to your yard.
In the fall, let your children rake up leaves, jump in the piles and then spread them around shrubs and plants for winter mulch.
Grow a garden. If you don’t have yard space, grow herbs or tomatoes in pots.
Plant an avocado seed and watch it grow.
3. Be Aware of Local Nature Expertise and Experiences. – Wildlife biologists, naturalists, park employees and local librarians are wonderful sources of information. Don’t forget a friend who might be an avid birder or gardener.
Watch your newspaper for season specific events – snow geese returning, herons nest building, spring peepers serenading at the pond.
Go owling or on a guided nature walk.
Take short daily family walks in your neighborhood. You will notice more each day. Keep a list of the birds or other wildlife you see. Visit parks or nature trails with eyes and ears wide open.
Visit a farm to see where food is grown. Some may offer groups an opportunity to feed calves, milk cows, and make ice cream.
Go berry picking and then make jam or buy vegetables at a local farmers’ market and make stir-fry. Your children should know where food comes from….
Nancy White Carlstrom has received many awards including the Children’s Choice award, Parents’ Choice award, Outdoor Book award, Independent Booksellers’ award, numerous American Booksellers “Pick of the List,” Parent Magazine’s “Top 50 Children’s Books” and more. Her new book, This Is the Day!(Zonderkidz, February 2009, 978-0-310-71428-6, $15.99, Hardcover), bring kids a day-by-day celebration of God’s creatures and nature. From frogs and ladybugs to rocks and creeks, she reminds kids to see God’s fingerprint in all their favorite things and protect the Earth He made. Carlstrom resides in Seattleand Friday Harbor, Wash. Learn more at www.nancywhitecarlstrom.com.
Filed under: Creation Lesson | Leave a Comment
Tags: building faith at home, child creation, christian parenting, creation activities, creation activity, creation bible activities, creation children, creation for kids, Creation Lesson, creation lessons, creation object lesson, creation resources, creation story activities, creation story children, creation story for kids, creation story lesson, faith at home, god's creation, god's creation activities, god's creation for kids, god's creation kids, god's creation story, kids creation, kids creation story, teach creation, teaching children about creation, teaching kids about creation, teaching kids creation
What’s the Purpose of Parenting?
Guest post:
Finding God’s Purpose and Perspective in Parenting
by Renee Swope
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
Devotion:
A few weeks ago, I shared a devotion about the day I wanted to quit being a mom. I spent time that afternoon writing in my journal, processing my emotions with God and asking Him to help me. Later that day I read something in Zig Ziglar’s book, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World, that God used to completely change my perspective as a mom and as His child. Here’s what I read:
Andrew Carnegie was the wealthiest man in America in the early 1900s, so wealthy that he employed over 42 millionaires! One day a reporter who was intrigued by Carnegie’s wealth asked how he developed these men to become so valuable that he would pay them that much money. Carnegie explained, “Men are developed the same way gold is mined. When gold is mined, several tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold, but one doesn’t go into the mine looking for dirt — one goes in looking for gold. And the more he looks for, the more he finds.”
After this story, Ziglar challenged parents to look past their children’s mistakes and mine for gold in them. I’d been buried in the dirt that day! My discouragement and feelings of failure as a mom left me so disappointed in myself. I was also convinced God felt the same way about me.
Pity set in and I started wishing I had a gold-miner in my life who could see beyond my mistakes and find the gold in me. That’s when God whispered to my heart, “Renee, I am that gold-miner. You are the one who is so critical of yourself. You are the one who focuses on your faults. But I see the gold of My image in your heart, and I want to bring it to the surface so your kids can see Me in you.”
As I sat there trying to process what God was whispering to my heart, stories and promises from the Bible started flooding my thoughts helping me believe that God really does see beyond who I am to who I can become. It would take time for those truths to sink in, but that day God used His thoughts to give me a new perspective – of Himself and of myself. Then He challenged me to look for ways to transfer that perspective to my children.
It’s easy to get buried in the dirt of discontentment, disobedience and discouragement. You may even be thinking, Where’s the gold in it all? I wondered, too. But after reading Carnegie’s story and hearing God speak to my heart, I wanted to become a gold-mining mom. As I thought about the gold I’d like to find in my children, character traits like patience, kindness and contentment came to mind. I decided to make a list of golden attitudes and actions and look up Bible verses we could learn together. I even made gold nuggets by balling up foil and spray-painting them gold. I decided that each time my kids showed a golden attitude or action, I’d reward them. When they saved up enough nuggets, they’d get a special treat.
Each week we’d find a new character trait and Bible verse, write down ideas to live it out and make them part of our family devotions. God’s Word became a part of our everyday lives as He taught me to take my eyes off of my children’s habits and focus on their hearts. Not only did it change my kids’ attitudes and actions, it changed me, too. For the first time in months, I was excited about my role as a parent. God had given me a new perspective, and a whole new sense of purpose as a mom!
Dear Lord, thank You for not focusing on the dirt in my life but seeing beyond who I am to who I can become. Help me believe that, receive that and give it away to my kids, my husband and my friends. Help me look at their hearts and encourage the glimpses of You that I see in them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Visit Renee’s Blog for more practical ways to connect spiritually with your kids. Also, sign up for a chance to win D6 Devotional magazines for parents and children.
Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Chart and CD: Wisdom, encouragement and tools to develop character in your kids. By Renee Swope
Click here to find out how you could win an all-expense paid trip for two to the The D6 Conference.
The Mom I Want to Be, by T.Suzanne Eller
Application Steps:
Encourage character in your kids by noticing and celebrating things they do like sharing a snack (generosity), putting away toys (responsibility), feeding the dog (initiative), concern for a friend (compassion), and saying thank you (kind words).
Reflections:
What character trait and Bible verse can you and your kids learn and demonstrate together this week?
Power Verses:
Ephesians 5:1-2,”Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering to God.” (NIV)
Colossians 1:28, “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” (NIV)
© 2009 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved. Used with permission
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
Filed under: Faith At Home Parenting | Leave a Comment
Tags: christian parenting, cognitive parenting, faith at home, families with purpose, family devotions, family with purpose, Parenting, parenting on purpose, parents pray, purposeful parenting
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