Hello – Is there anybody out there (there… there…)?
Hello? Is there anybody out there?
I’d love to provide you with the support you need to effectively share the Bible with your children. But you guys are really quiet – I mean painstakingly quiet…
Can you tell me the type of resources you need?
You can click the comments button below – or if you feel more comfortable with email, you can send me an email at news @ teachkidsthebible.com
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: Bible Activities | 4 Comments »
A New Year – A Renewed Determination
Wow! Another year has come and gone. I can’t believe how quickly time is passing.
We have one major goal for our family in 2009.
Consistent Family Devotion
We want to have a consistent time of Bible Study in our home with our children. Our older boys are pretty well versed in the stories in their children’s Bibles as we’ve been reading from them for several years now. So in 2009 my husband will be leading a time of devotion for our entire family (that means we will be including the 3-year-old, much prayer will be needed).
We are going to move beyond Bible stories and talk more about Christian Beliefs, Christian Character and Christian Disciplines.
I’ll share the lessons here for those who are interested.
Our biggest challenge is picking a day/time for the devotions. Since my husband is a firefighter, he’s not home everyday and his scheduled days fluctuate every week. Please pray that we do not allow scheduling problems to stop us or quench our fire!
Do you have a goal of implementing and becoming more consistent with your family’s devotion in 2009? Please click on the comments and share your thought on what will work best for your family – as well as the challenges you may face in reaching this goal. I’d love to join you in prayer.
–
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | 1 Comment »
Keep Christ In Christmas Carol Contest
O Come All Ye Faithful
What Child Is This
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Away in a Manger
Silent Night
Don’t you just love Christmas Carols! I could go on and on listing my favorite songs of this season.
I love to hear these songs (all year round really). And I love to hear children sing.
Seems like the perfect time and perfect combination for a TKTB contest…We are bringing back the Keep Christ in Christmas Carol Contest!
We did this in 2006 and it was so much fun.
It’s easy to enter and your child could win some great prizes!
Entry is easy:
1. Call 888-294-1058
2. Introduce Your Child (Name & Age)
3. Let your child sing a Christmas Carol about Jesus
(example: Silent Night, Away In A Manger)
Entries will be taken until Friday, December 12, 2008
Voting will be held from December 13-15, 2008
Winner(s) will be announced on Tuesday, December 16 so that prizes may be delivered by Christmas.
Rules:
-The contest is open to children of all ages.
-The songs must be about Jesus (ie, Jingle Bells will not count)
-All entries may be used on the TKTB Podcast and the TKTB Keep Christ in Christmas CD.
Prize(s):
-The winner(s) will receive a $35 ChristianBook.com Gift Certificate -A Children’s Bible with their name inscribed.
-Their Christmas Carol rendition will be featured on the TKTB podcast and featured on our TKTB Keep Christ in Christmas CD.
-The Prize List is still growing, so check back soon for more!
Don’t wait around, pick up the phone today! I can’t wait to hear your kiddos sing! Hear our 2006 winner here.
(Interested in sponsoring this contest? Email news @ teachkidsthebible.com)
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | 3 Comments »
It’s Thanksgiving….GEEZ!
We went to my sister’s house tonight for a little pre-Thanksgiving gathering and when we arrived there, guess what they were preparing to do???
They were putting up their Christmas tree!!!
WHAT!
Who are these people (if it’s you, I’m so sorry!) who put up their Christmas tree before Thanksgiving. One at a time people! I can’t work this fast.
Before we’ve had any turkey and gone around the table to say what we are thankful for, many of you are already stuffing Christmas stockings!
My kids asked on the way home if we were going to put up our tree tonight and I said “NOOOO!!!! Not going to happen!” I’ve got to take the holiday season one day at a time – of no trees shall trim before their time.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING YALL!
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | No Comments »
Have I Become A Prude?
I took my sons to see High School Musical 3 last night and we had a blast! I loved the singing and the dancing. I found myself clapping after every musical selection.
I did have one complaint. I think some of Gabriella’s dresses and skirts were too short. When she’d spin and dance they would come dangerously close to showing too much. In fact, one time Taylor did show to much in my opinion on one of her dance moves.
Most of the kids who love HSM are 10 and under. Knee length skirts would have been more appropriate right? Which makes me ask myself “Have I become a prude?”
Really, I enjoyed the movie. I would have been happier with longer skirts, less closeness between Troy and Gabriella, lose the passionate kiss, and don’t have Troy take off his shirt and we would have a true Disney movie! Like the ones I watched when I was under 10…
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | No Comments »
Fireproof – The Movie
Have you heard of this movie? If not, here’s the website www.fireproofthemovie.com.
My husband and I went to see it today. What a powerful message. Our culture is so quick to say this isn’t working, so let’s give up. Or this marriage isn’t fun or fulfilling or what I thought it would be. Or I’ve changed and you haven’t – so I’m going to find someone else.
Divorce is so common and accepted in our world. My parents are divorced. Some of my friends are divorced. Some are thinking about divorce. It’s everywhere.
I shutter at the thought of my marriage ending in divorce. I truly want to grow old and grey(er) with my husband.
One of my favorite themes of the movie was watching God restore a marriage that seemed loveless and that all hope was lost. It’s amazing what He can do when we let him work in our lives. It’s amazing to watch His power in our seemingly hopeless circumstances.
It was a great reminder that when thinks aren’t 100% to our liking at home that we turn to parasites that can ruin our relationships. I’m taking an inventory of my life and removing any parasites – if we aren’t careful, that parasites (by definition) will consume us and destroy us.
I don’t want to give away any of the plot, but I do want to recommend that you go and see the movie.
I know this blog is about teaching kids the Bible – but like a Micheal said in the comments a couple weeks ago – we have to model the Bible for our kids too.
My husband told me last week that he wants us to model what a Godly marriage looks like for our sons. We are striving to do this everyday and this movie helped us see some practical examples of how we can do this.
Have you seen the movie? Did you enjoy it? Has it changed the way you view your marriage? Please share in the comments.
Chanda
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | No Comments »
Yes Ma’am, Yes Sir
Bralon, my oldest son has received a lot of my attention lately. He’s in third grade now and he has tons of homework. We’ve been spending a lot of time together working on getting all this homework done.
Plus, it’s so much fun to talk to him because he has such interesting things to say. His perspective on life (and stuff) is interesting to me.
We have always required our boys to say “Yes Ma’am” and “Yes Sir” to adults. We had about a 60% success rate with this issue. They often correct themselves such as when we call them and they “What?….I mean Yes Ma’am?” They know they are supposed to say it, but sometimes, they forget, initially.
Well in the last couple weeks, Bralon’s success rate skyrocketed to 99%!
I instantly thought it was a result of the extra one-on-one time we were spending together. I was so proud of my son!
You can tell by the “thought” and “was” that my assumptions and self praise were misguided…
On meet the teacher night, the third grade teachers announced their new five step success program. Step One: “Always answer/address adults with ‘Yes Ma’am” or ‘Yes Sir’.”
Can you see the wind blowing out of my sails???
Of course the teachers are offering a reward for students who are having success with the Success program. And my son is ALWAYS looking for a way to earn a reward!
Oh well – I’m sure his success has SOMETHING to do with the fact that we planted the seed…they are just watering it…and we all get to watch it grow.
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | No Comments »
Let Me Pray, Let Me Pray!
That’s what my 3-year-old says everytime someone says it’s time to pray. It doesn’t matter where we are, home or church or how many people are around.
And it’s always the same prayer.
“Lord thank you for this day. Thank you for this food. In Jesus name. Amen.”
Whether we are blessing our food or closing our Bible study. It’s the same thing.
Sometime he’ll add “Thank you for my brotters.”
But that’s only when they are letting him have his way.
I think it’s awesome that he’s not afraid to pray in any situation. How long do you think this enthusiasm will last?
Sometimes it’s like pulling teeth to get my oldest to pray. We all wait with our eyes closed for him to begin. Inevitably, I open one eye and give him the “get started boy” look then he’ll say the quickest and fastest prayer I’m sure God has ever heard.
Now that he’s older, 8, I want to spend more time with him individually studying the Bible. I want to spend more time on Christian character with him and less on Bible stories. We’ve been modeling Christian character and he’s been reciprocating – but now I want to make sure he understands the why behind everything – do that it will be in his heart and not just a role that he plays. Does that make any sense?
I think 8 is such a transition year. He’s taller. He’s wiser. He’s able to understand so much more than I ever give him credit for. I don’t want to keep giving him toddler food when he’s ready for a small portion of meat and potatoes.
Anyone else dealing with making this transition? Are we late? Should we have started earlier?
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | 2 Comments »
Determined to Get Focused
I am determined to not let my busy schedule get in the way of leading my children to Christ!!!
It’s so easy to put off devotion and prayer time.
It’s so easy to send the kids to read their Bible on their own.
It’s so easy to let the Children’s Ministry do all the work.
But no more!
I’m determined! I’ve decided! This was a decision that I made before my children were born.
What’s happened to me? What happened to my priorities? Geez Louise! Get it to together girl!
All that to say, I’m determined to get focused and get back to the basics – daily time with God with my children.
Has this happened to anyone else? How did you get back on track?
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | 3 Comments »
Don’t Quench the Spirit
Have you ever tried to explain this concept to your children?
We have a little devotion book that we started and the lesson for today was from 1 Thess. 5:19 “Do not quench the Holy Spirt of God.”
What was helpful was the boys were told to get dressed for the day and they were disobedient and didn’t follow directions.
After they got dressed, we did our devotion on Quenching the Spirit. I asked them if they ever start to do something and then hear a still small voice telling them to STOP? They all said yes. I told them that’s God’s way of directing them to do what is right.
I told them that quenching the Holy Spirit would be disobeying that still small voice of God and ultimately making God sad. This was the best application of this verse that I could think of – can you think of anything else?
I then asked them why we want to make sure we don’t make God sad. And Brandon, my 6 year old said “Because he made all the clothes even before we were born or any of the people were born – he made all the clothes in the world.”
Huh?
Oh well, at least he got the first part.
We ended with Bralon praying that we listen to the voice of God when he gives us directions.
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: Bible Activities, My Life & Kids | 1 Comment »