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.

The Bible in our homes

The more I read, the more I realize that my job raising Calissa has a lot to do with my walk with God.  As I run after God, she will see, He will have victory in me, and He will live out His life within me.  We have such a wonderful, patient, and giving Father!   Here are some quotes that have given me direction with teaching the bible...

"Even when quite young, children notice; and if the parents show that the Word of God is not their guide and counselor,  if they disregard the messages brought to them, the same reckless spirit of, 'I don't care; I will have my own way,' will be shown by the children." Child Guidance  p. 509

"Do not think that the Bible will become a tiresome book to the children.  Under a wise instructor the Word will become more and more desirable.  It will be to them as the bread of life; it will never grow old."  Child Guidance p. 514

"Parents, let the instruction you give your children be simple, and be sure that it is clearly understood.  The lessons that you learn from the Word you are to present to their young minds so plainly that they cannot fail to understand. " Child Guidance p. 514

"The use of object lessons, blackboards, maps and pictures will be an aid in explaining these lessons and fixing them in the memory.  Parents and teachers should constantly seek for improved methods.  The teaching of the Bible should have our freshest thought, our best methods, and our most earnest effort." Child Guidance p. 516

 *  now we have so many more methods that can be used...

"Neglect anything of a temporal nature,(then it talks about unnecessary sewing and such being done away with)...but be sure that the soul is fed with the bread of life....  Make the Bible its own expositor, bringing together all that is said concerning a given subject at different times and under varied circumstances.  Do not break up your home class for callers of visitors.  If they come in during the exercise, invite them to take part in it.  Let it be seen that you consider it more important to obtain a knowledge of God's word than to secure the gains or pleasures of the world."  Review and Herald, Oct. 9 1883

Quiet Book

       Some wonderful friends, Becky and Judy Jarnes, made a very special book for Calissa.  Growing up we had quiet books and I had been wanting one for Calissa.  We got home one day and a very special package was at our door.  Calissa loves the book!.  I try to save it for the sermon so I can actually listen to it!  We have special books and activities that Calissa only gets to play with during church and this is now a favorite!

The fish and turtle can be put in the net.  The cup, fork, knife and spoon are all attached by Velcro too.

Queen Esther's hair is to be braided and the giraffe's spots are removable.

The tent zips and the Native Americans are great fun as well as the shapes that have their proper place.  

Flowers for arranging and a boat for building

Matching the heads with the proper attire and helping the bees into the beehive

Baby Moses hiding in the bulrushes and trying on some mittens

They put a surprise bag at the end so we could have something new in it each week!

A great addition to a church bag!!

Sabbath's special food

Previously we had posted ideas for making Sabbath special.  Well here are a few Sabbath meals that people have shared... :)  If you have any, we would love to see them.

I know this looks like it might take a lot of time but we do this every Sabbath and are no later for Sabbath school than we were previously. :)   We actually look forward to making them each week and our daughter gets very excited Sabbath morning as she is getting up for breakfast.

Beavers - pancakes; beaver tails - fruit leather;
water - blueberry yogurt; tree and dam - pretzels;
greens - celery leaves; sun - tangerine

Elijah on Mt. Carmel
Alter - tater tots; fire - Morningstar stipples;
 Offering - Morningstar  veggie sausage patties;
Elijah- pancake; belt - stripple;  

Caboose - pancake and strawberries; wheels - grapes;
train tracks - celery, sun - tangerine slices 

Moose - pancake; trees pretzels and parsley

snakes-alternate strawberries and bananas on skewer

Owls - pancakes; beak - carrot;
 perch - pretzels and googly eyes

Baby Moses
Baby - pear; water - Jello; land - pancake;
basket - kiwi; bulrushes -  green onions

octopus - hot dog

Worship Ideas

The Seventh-Day Adventist church has a website dedicated to reformation and revival.  On this site are many great resources.  Here is a link to some worship ideas for children.  

Discipline

I have been reading more that usual about discipline.  :)  I have found some helpful advice and caution to say the least. 

Parental approach and attitude:

"Be firm, be decided in carrying out Bible instruction, but be free from all passion.   Bear in mind that when you become harsh and unreasonable before your little ones, you teach them to be the same.... You are, parents, the light of your home.  Then let your light shine forth in pleasant words, in soothing tones of the voice.  Take all the sting out of them by prayers to God for self-control.  Angels will be in your home, for they will observe your light.  The discipline you give your children will go forth in strong and clear currents from your correctly managed home to the world. "  Child Guidance p240

"Sometimes they (children) will have to be punished, but never do it in such a way that they will feel that they have been punished in anger." CG p244

"Your children may have done something that demands punishment; but if you deal with them in the spirit of Christ, their arms will be thrown about your neck; they will humble themselves before the Lord and will acknowledge their wrong.  That is enough.  They do not need punishment." CG p.244


"If your children are disobedient, they should be corrected....Before correcting them, go by yourself and ask the Lord to soften and subdue the hearts of your children and to give you wisdom in dealing with them."  CG p. 244

Some advice on discipline:

"The moment that the child begins to choose his own will and way, that moment his education in discipline is to begin...Frequently mere babies show a most determined will.  If this will is not brought into subjection to a wiser authority than the child's untrained desires, Satan takes control of the mind and fashions the disposition in harmony with his will." Child Guidance p 230  


Some Bible verses that support this idea are:  
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?  Jer 17:9

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezek 36:26

      "Eli did not manage his household according to God's rules for family government.  He followed his own judgment.  The fond father overlooked the faults and sins of his sons in their childhood, flattering himself that after a time they would outgrow their evil tendencies.  Many are now making a similar mistake.  They think they know a better way of training their children than that which God has given in His Word.  They foster wrong tendencies in them, urging as an excuse, 'They are too young to be punished. Wait till they become older and can be reasoned with.'  Thus wrong habits are left to strengthen until they become second nature.  The children grow up without restraint, with traits of character that are a lifelong curse to them and are liable to be reproduced in others.   
     There is no greater curse upon households than to allow the youth to have their own way.  When parents regard every wish of their children and indulge them in what they know is not for their good, the children soon lose all respect for their parents, all regard for the authority of God or man, and are led captive at the will of Satan." CG p 231

   
     "Tell your children exactly what you require of them.  Then let them understand that your word is law and must be obeyed.  Thus you are training them to respect the commandments of God, which plainly declare, 'Thou shalt,' and 'Thou shalt not.'  It is far better for your boy to obey from principle than compulsion."  Child Guidance p 225

Book on Prayer

I have come to love this book!

It starts with a little girl having bedtime worship, and the girl realizes she can talk to God all the time. The next day she goes through a number of different situations where she realizes, "that's when I can talk to God."  

The book covers praise, thanksgiving, confession, requests of different types, when God answers a prayer, praying for others to know Jesus, disobedience and confession.  The book ends with discussing how God talks back to us. 

It is excellent in my opinion!  Now when our two-year-old hears sirens she wants to pray for the people.  Two-year-old children can understand the material,  but this book is appropriate for much older children too.