Books

Here are some books that we have really enjoyed.

This is one of the best kids' "Bible" we have read to our daughter.  A good friend lent it to us and both my husband and I think it does a really good job of communicating the main points from the Bible stories.  The narrative is short as are most kids "Bibles." Our daughter loves it.  We have read the NT portion in one sitting several times to her.
Big Picture Story Bible can be found here

This book attempts to explain what it means to give your heart to Jesus.  It is about a mom who tells her daughter she gave her heart to Jesus and the little girl figuring out what that means.
A Heart for Jesus can be found here

This book was also shown to me by a good friend but since it didn't have many pictures, I didn't get very interested in it.    It is probably one of my favorites books ever!  Our daughter loves it too even though it lacks pictures.
The book takes a Bible verse and then tells a positive story about a family and how this verse applied to their experiences that day.  I also love that they are constantly talking about how the Holy Spirit reminded them or helped them to do what God was wanting them to do.  It communicates that we don't try really hard to obey but that we cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
You can find the book here

These books are very nice.  They use stories to illustrate truths that might be hard to understand.  The three books deal with God's Love, Salvation, Forgiveness, Obeying, The Bible, Conversion, Helping others, Joy in Jesus, Trust, Choices, Prayer, and Jesus.  We have appreciated having them since they use everyday life to explain some of the terms kids will hear a lot being raised in the church.

You can find them here

This is part of the story illustrating Salvation

Books

This is a very good parable about several orphan kids who have been told that the king is coming to get them.  All but one start working on special talents to impress the king.  One girl had no talent but took time for others.  When the king comes, everyone is too busy except this little girl.  It is a very good book but I can't say that a 3 year old understands the significance yet.  I have been told it is out of print so it is one that we have and will use in the future.
You can still get it here

This is a nice book with good pictures that goes through the last week of Jesus' life.

You can find it here and it's on sale.

I am a big fan of this book!  It uses a story to illustrate and teach about tithe and offering.  It is British, therefore using pounds instead of dollars but an excellent book.

You can get the book here

This is a nice book about a girl who had a grumpy elderly neighbor.  Through love, she and her family brought him to Jesus.  It is also centered around Easter, but good anytime of the year.

you can get it here

This a nice little board book for Valentines day.  It talks about what we do and also talks about God's love.

you can find it here

Service

Random acts of kindness.

I found this really good post on a friend's pinterest page.  It is something that could be done most anytime.    

35 Random acts of kindness

Sabbath

Church Bag items

A lot of people bring a bag of special goodies to church for their kids to occupy them during the service.  These are "toys" that are saved only for Sabbath.  Our daughter looks forward to her special playtime during church, and she gets upset if we leave after Sabbath school.

This is a book of puzzles.

You can get them here.  There are a lot of different options.





Felt bible story book

This is a little book with different Bible stories. The children can use the pieces to tell the bible story.

This book can be found here

Other books are also available and can be found here.

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Christmas is an amazing time of year with so many opportunities for focusing on Jesus.  We had our first Christmas at home last year and these are some of the things that we did and are repeating this next year.  It was a blessed Christmas focusing on Jesus.  

Christmas Eve, waiting for baby Jesus

Nativity:
This is our nativity but each piece gets wrapped up and put under the tree.  I only have 15 different pieces, so each evening (the 15 days before Christmas) our daughter opens up a present.  She is delighted with each one and our worship that night focuses on the part of the Christmas story that the object represents.  As she get older we will get more in depth with the lessons.

Christmas morning opening up baby Jesus

Presents:

We have asked everyone in our family give our daughter one present for Christmas.  We do the same.  We don't want Jesus to get lost sight of in the midst of "getting."  We have talked a lot this year about the way we give Jesus presents for His birthday is by giving to others.  “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."  Matt. 25:40  Therefore we are looking for the "least of these" to help.  Growing up, we adopted a family every year and brought Christmas to them, we are wanting to continue that tradition.  We are also planning on visiting an elderly person with no family on Christmas day and taking them dinner.  We want to focus on giving special gifts to Jesus.

Advent Wreath of sorts:

Instead of a wreath we have four candles on the mantle (hard to see in picture, will put up a better one soon).  Each candle represents a different part of Christmas, we did peace, love, joy, and hope.  The four Friday nights before Christmas we would light a new candle until all four were lit.

After lighting the candle, we had little cards to hang on the Christmas tree.  One for each person present. On the card we wrote how we had experienced each of the four characteristics (love, joy, peace, and hope) of Christmas that year.  Then we wrote how we thought God had experienced each (love, joy, peace and hope) because of our lives in the past year.  Then the card was hung on the tree.  

Birthday cake for Jesus:

We have a birthday cake for Jesus after Christmas dinner.  My mom sent some ideas for the cake.  Here is the link if you are interested. 

Cards:

One fun part of Christmas is receiving Christmas cards from friends and family.  At dinner each night, one can pray for the families of the cards that were received that day in the mail.  

Santa:  

At this point we are telling our daughter about the historical character St. Nicholas.  We have also been telling her that Santa celebrates Jesus birthday by giving presents to people.  Trying to focus it on the giving aspect.  

These are some of the things we are doing this holiday season.  I would love to hear about traditions you have. I will try to post more as I get time, time has been lacking lately...  

Chad Stuart, a pastor and good friend, has a blog that is really good for those who are interested.  He shares thoughts on things of God.  I am referring you to a post he wrote called "What My Parents Did Right."  He shares some good things to consider and apply. 

Sabbath Pajamas

We have previously posted on Sabbath PJ's but have added some elements.  On Friday evening baths are taken and then white pajamas, worn only on Sabbath, are put on.  While dressing we talk about how Jesus takes away our dirty clothes and gives us clean white clothes.

Some verses that we use to go with the lesson are: Zechariah 3:1-6, Rev. 3:4-5, 18

REQUEST:
I know most people have special things for kids to play with during church, things they only get during church.  If you have anything that is special, that your child likes a lot, I would love to know what it is.  If you could send a picture of it to growingtoknow@gmail.com, that would be wonderful!  Thanks so much! .  

scripture songs

Heather Steinke, wrote quite some time ago about a CD she found.  The CD is all scripture songs and is amazing.  I have to admit that the other scripture songs I have are good but they are for kids.  I love this one!!  It is one of my favorite CD's and I hope this group continues to write more songs.  Heather says she leaves it in her car so while driving it is playing for her little one.  She says they are still not tired of it.  I highly recommend it!  You can find it here.  They allow you to listen to a sample of all the songs. 


If you like that, here are some blogs that she also recommends.  They have some great ideas and are very helpful.  
http://www.doorposts.com/blog/

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/

http://raisingolives.com/

Thanks so much Heather for all the great resources!  

Operation Christmas Child

Here is a great way to focus kids on helping others.  We are looking forward to doing this next week.  November 14-21 is the collection week.  You can find more information for packing your shoe box here.  We are hoping to make it a little party for the kids. 

Loving our neighbors

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”    Matthew 22:36-40


Megan, a friend who is living with us for a couple of months, challenged me with the idea of raising our daughter to live to give.   It is a total mind shift but I believe a biblical one.  "You shall love your neighbor as yourself", is pretty far reaching.  I have to admit that I do a lot more for myself than those who have greater needs around me.  So in a small way we began to love our neighbors.  We needed bread so we made some for us and some for our neighbors.  Calissa had a blast and talked about her little friends next door and across the street who were going to receive the bread.  We made it a little more special than usual.   

 I need to get a food marker to draw eyes on next time. 

On a little more serious note, I have been thinking a lot about the way we live for awhile. 
I have curtains, a couch, plenty of food, toilet paper etc.  There are many around the world who are dying from lack of food and I have the ability to help if I were to love them... I could go with a lot less so that they might have life.  I know I can't afford to feed all the hungry in the world but I can feed some, I can love some.  What if I spent just as much on others as I do myself?  

Temptation

In learning about Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, we wanted our daughter to understand what temptation is, and what it feels like.

Our daughter loves ice cream more than anyone I have ever known.  She can hardly contain herself with it so it was the perfect way for her to feel tempted.

We put blueberries and ice cream in front of her and told her not to eat the ice cream but she could have the blueberries.  We then left the room and watched from where she couldn't see us.  She poked  the ice cream with her fork but eventually put it down and ate the blueberries.  It was a great way to talk about temptation.  After that we read the story of Jesus temptation in the wilderness from the bible (NIrV), using felts to illustrate.  Although, I must admit that our daughter now thinks Jesus was offered ice cream instead of bread...

We then talked about how Jesus and His words (Jesus answered temptation with the word of God, nothing else) help us to beat temptation.

"For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."  Heb. 2:18


The next morning for breakfast she got an ice cream breakfast with a little real ice cream (on the side) too.  

More food ideas from friends

could use for the story of Samson or Jonathan

Jonah, fishermen turned fishers of men, or the coin found in the fish's mouth are some options

Noah's ark

Dove:  came to Noah, came down after Jesus' baptism

Raven fed Elijah

Angel:  Zachariah visited by, Mary visited by, Shepherds.... lots of options

Little Dresses for Africa

Little Dresses for Africa was previously posted...

Here is one of the dresses made at a sewing party.  It was made out of a pillow case.  This particular dress is going to go to Fuji with a medical mission trip led by Carmie Hadley.

While making the dresses, my daughter kept clarifying that the dresses were being made for other little girls who didn't have clothes.  I want to do this again when I have older children that are learning to sew, it is VERY simple to make.

If you are interested in the mission trip, they go several times a year and are in need of those in the medical profession.  I can put you in contact with the leader.

Here is a link with instructions directions for makeing a dress from  pillow cases.  

Music

Recently I have searching for more scripture songs.  I know that when a scripture has been put to song, it is hard to forget.  All during the week we play Steve Green's CD "Hide 'em in Your Heart" .  I want our minds filled with God's words.  


While contemplating all of this a friend that I hadn't seen since high school sent this  link!  It is a song that covers  the main ideas of the 10 commandments.  He learned it growing up and said he still refers to it.  

I also received CD suggestions from a mom whose son I taught while in high school.  He is now in college.  He has a heart for Jesus and for service.  His mom said, "he fell asleep many nights listening to these songs."


*these are not scripture songs  

1.  Cedarmont kids hymns (she did not recommend other albums by them)

2.  "Sleep Sound in Jesus" by Michael Card

3. "Come to the Cradle." by Michael Card

Coming soon, we are going to post some video's of scripture songs written and sung by Godfrey and Debbie Miranda!!!  I can't wait!  :)  

The mother of Moses

This excerpt if found in Patriarchs and Prophets, page 244, by Ellen White.  My father-in-law sent this to me.  It is very motivating and affirming of the role a mother plays in the life of a child.


 "How far-reaching in its results was the influence of that one Hebrew woman, and she an exile and a slave! The whole future life of Moses, the great mission which he fulfilled as the leader of Israel, testifies to the importance of the work of the Christian mother. There is no other work that can equal this. To a very great extent the mother holds in her own hands the destiny of her children. She is dealing with developing minds and characters, working not alone for time, but for eternity. She is sowing seed that will spring up and bear fruit, either for good or for evil. She has not to paint a form of beauty upon canvas or to chisel it from marble, but to impress upon a human soul the image of the divine. Especially during their early years the responsibility rests upon her of forming the character of her children. The impressions now made upon their developing minds will remain with them all through life. Parents should direct the instruction and training of their children while very young, to the end that they may be Christians. They are placed in our care to be trained, not as heirs to the throne of an earthly empire, but as kings unto God, to reign through unending ages." 

Sharing Jesus

We had the pleasure of visiting with some good friends this last week.  They have a little girl named Genna who turned one in March.  While talking I found that Genna and her mom go door to door and ask for prayer requests.  After praying, Genna gives a glow tract to the people.  These pictures are staged but I found it interesting that when Genna knocked on the door and there was no answer, she promptly tried to stick the tract into the door with no direction or encouragement.  Her mom says that she loves going out and is such a happy little girl during and afterwards.  What a wonderful way to raise a child to share Jesus with others while in the process, actually sharing Jesus.