Everyday is a day of Thanksgiving: Day 1
“I have so much to thank God for - so many wonderful blessings and so many open doors. A brand new mercy, along with each new day! That’s why I praise You! For this I give you praise!!”
In the spirit of the season, I thought I would take the next seven days to list 7 things I am thankful for.
Today, I am thankful for peace.
My life has been pretty hectic the past few weeks and I things are finally starting to slow down. Things were so crazy, that I felt soooo overwhelmed and pressured. But I’ve been praying that God will lead and direct me in every area of my life.
After laying all my request at the feet of the Almighty and telling Him how much I need His help, I can say that I’m beginning to have a feeling of peace that passes all understanding.
Everything is still hectic - but I’m not on the verge of losing my mind anymore!
Praise God!
What are you thankful for today? Please share in the comments section. We can all praise God together!
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | No Comments »
Christians and Halloween - Part 2
I shared my thoughts on Halloween and what God has called my family to do in the message posted here. And I invited other parents to share their thoughts.
I thought I would share some of the feedback I received:
These scriptures certainly give me something to think about. I have always enjoyed Halloween, mainly because it means Fall is here, or on the way. I love to decorate for Halloween, too. Most of our decorations are pumpkins, leaves, etc. The girls have enjoyed putting their school art projects on the windows as decorations. Since they are attending a Church Preschool/PDO program, none of the art is Halloween (ghosts, witches, etc.) specific. I may need to rethink my tablecloth that is covered with carved pumpkins. Interestingly enough, the girls don’t consider these “Jack-O-Lanterns”, but simply carved pumpkins.
I certainly recognize that Halloween has very Pagan roots. But then so does Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. We are very careful to test the girls the true meanings of Christmas and Easter, but we do write letters to Santa and hunt eggs. They haven’t started asking specific questions yet, but I can see how mixing in the Pagan characters with our celebrations of Jesus’s Birth and Resurrection can be confusing. The main difference with Halloween is that is has NO religious significance. Hmmm…
Our usual Halloween plans involve wearing “non-scary” costumes: Meagan will be “Stefanie” from LazyTown and Lauren will be dressed as a kitty-cat. We also participate in a Halloween Parade sponsored by my Mom’s neighborhood. After gathering for snacks and a costume contest, all parents and children walk down the parade route and folks sit in their front yards to view the costumes and give out candy. It seems pretty harmless to me, but again, you’ve given me something to think about. Thanks for the insight.
- Amy
“We don’t celebrate either. And as my daugther gets older the questions are more frequent. But we may attend “Hallowed Be Thy Name” this year at church. It’s an alternative to Halloween hosted by our Christian Education Ministry. The kids get to dress as their favorite bible character, play games, and have fun. It’s inside and kind of like a festival…the enitre community is invited. So I think we’ll give it a try and see how it goes.
-Felicia
We do not participate in Halloween either. When our daughter was 4, we decided to no longer participate in it.
Our conviction that participating = celebrating. How can you celebrate a holiday as a Christian, that epitomizes, ghosts, witches, goblins and such.
We are fortunate that the schools where we live do not have Halloween parties, so that has not been an issue. And our daughter (who is now 11), has used the opportunity to explain to her friends, and classmates, exactly why, we choose not to participate in Halloween activities.
We’ve never had a problem with the candy, we simply go to the store and buy a bunch all year long!
We have found it to be a great conversation starter, when people ask us, “what is your child dressing up as this year?” We can then share our faith with them.
-Tamara
I used to be wishy washy when my oldest child was young. I always felt convicted, but I took her trick or treating anyways. Now that I’m older and wiser, we do not celebrate Halloween at all. My children are in a Christian school, so I don’t have to worry about them participating there. We also go to our church for a Harvest Festivle, so we are not home to pass out candy.
-Sharon
Hey Chanda,
Here’s the other side.
I believe trick or treating,hanging your stockings and hunting for Easter Eggs all fall under fun Americian tradition. However, before I had children I was a Christian preschool teacher and I believed in acknowledging Halloween but not teaching scary and spooky. As a school we did not do costume parades and such. We celebrated all the wonders of the Harvest season. The days before Halloween we always had a photographer bring his pony for pictures and all the kids could dress up cowboy/girl pony pictures. I talked with children about trusting in God when you are afraid and letting your light shine for Jesus.
My fav book are Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs and Halloween Is it for Real? by Harold Myra. Now that I have two children 5 and 7. We decorate and dress up but not spooky or scary. My children have always loved to dress up I love to buy them costumes because they play in them all year. I believe dressing up is part of good childhood development. I know my time is coming that all of the innocence will change but I pray my honesty and example will make that road easier to follow. This year we will be inviting our friends and neighbors to a Halloween Carnival at our church.
-Carrie
We do celebrate Halloween…. Did as a child and do now with our children. We believe that the holiday is what you make it. Halloween is a time to get together with family to enjoy the outdoors and neighbors. The kids know that some people celebrate in a way that is not pleasing to God… It’s a great way to pass out tracts too.
-Nancy
Yes, I do allow my kids to go “trick or treating”. Halloween is so commercialized these days. It’s all about wearing costumes and going out for candy.
Furthermore, I think the devil has us Christians right where he wants us if we’re going to be all hunkered down in our houses with all our lights off on Halloween night. The Scriptures tell us that we are the light of the world. What better time than on Halloween night to shine our light to the world? What better time to shine our lights than on a night when all the world is coming to our front doors?
On Halloween night our house is lit up with all the garage & porch lights on, and we hand out little bags of candy. In them we put a Bible track. I don’t allow my kids to wear “horror-type”, “ghoulish” costumes. For example, throughout the years my boys have been Mr. Incredible, Bibleman, Eeyore (from Winnie The Pooh), and we have a McDonald’s french fries costume.
I don’t think that I’m being a wishy-washy, lukewarm Christian in doing this. I also don’t care when churches have their own little parties for their kids on Halloween night. You know the ones…trunk or treat, pizza parties, anything to keep their church kids from going out on Halloween. These are the very things that are giving victory to the enemy.
These are my thoughts. Hope this helps! Have a blessed Fall Season. :)
-Dorina
It was so great to hear what other Christian parents think. I hope you enjoyed this topic too. You can add your opinion by clicking the comments button below.
Have a blessed day!
Chanda
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | 1 Comment »
Christian Families & Halloween
Do you allow your children to participate in Halloween activities?
When I was a little kid, my parents didn’t allow us to participate in Halloween, but if any kids knocked on our door - even though the light was off - we would give them a shiney penny and some pecans from our tree. (That will keep the candy seekers away, right!)
Honestly, since I’ve become a parent, I’ve been a bit wishy-washy.
I don’t allow the kids to go out and trick or treat, but I would bring them up to my office at work for our company gathering. I was convicted about that, so I stopped.
Then, the next year, I still didn’t let them go trick or treating, but we always had candy at the house and eventhough the light is off - we still get kids coming to the door and I would give out candy.
But no more. My husband and I were convicted by Revelations 3:16 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” There’s not much room for wishy washiness in that scripture is there.
The hardest part of this is conveying this message to my children. Here are some of my thoughts on explaining to children why we don’t celebrate Halloween.
Also, I found an get book for only $4.99 called “Mommy Why Don’t We Celebrate Halloween” that you can get and read to your kids to help with the conversation.
So, tell me, do you let your children participate in Halloween activities? Click on the comments and let me know. I’d love to hear what other Christian parent think.
Be Blessed!
Chanda
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | 11 Comments »
Episode 8: Karen & Kids Radio Show
This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Mortimer of Karen & Kids Radio Show.
This is a syndicated children’s Bible radio program that’s likely playing on a radio station near you.
Listen in to hear how the program was started and how it can help you teach your children the Bible.
Show Notes:
Join the Kids Club by emailing “karen @ karenandkids.com”
Subscribe to the Karen & Kids Podcast in Itunes
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: The Podcast | No Comments »
The Lord Is My Shepherd
We did this lesson a couple weeks ago, but I’m just now getting around to sharing the boys reaction with you.
We read through the story twice because I wanted to make sure they understood what they were reading. Then we went through and talked about the meaning of each of the statements David made.
Then we got to the passage:
“Even though I walk through the darekst valley, I will not be afraid. You, God, are with me. Your shepherd’s rod and staff comfort me.”
I asked the boys what this meant to them. Bralon said it means he doesn’t have to be afraid of the dark because God is there with him.
Brandon said and I quote “Yeah, you don’t have to be afraid because they are just blinking eyeballs.”
I couldn’t figure out what in the world he was talking about. So I you’re right. You don’t have to be afraid. Then I looked down at the picture in the book. And realized what he meant. Brandon never ceases to come up with something from way out in left field!
Here’s the picture:
King David wasn’t afraid of those blinking eyeballs and neither is Brandon! Although, the sheep looks a little concerned…..
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
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I’m In Awe!
So I posted to this blog and sent an email out to my friends and family about the contest that I entered to win publicity help for TKTB.
Well, you guys and my friends and family emailed your friends and family and so on and so on. And in the end, guess what….I won!!!
I am in awe - if you have a minute to read some of the post, you’ll see why.
It was such a humbling experience to read what other people think about your website. I feel so blessed. I can’t wait to see what the Lord is going to do through TKTB and all the awesome publicity help we are about to receive.
Thanks so much for your votes! You rock.
Chanda
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: Odds & Ends, My Life & Kids | 2 Comments »
Help Me Spread The Word About TKTB!
I’m one of the finalist in a contest to win a year’s worth of free publicity help to promote this website.
This would be an awesome opportunity to spread the word about how parents can teach their children the Word of God.
Will you help me out by posting a comment on WAHM Talk Radio’s Blog? All you have to do is post a comment at the bottom of the post with the name of the person you would like to see win the contest. (Hopefully that will be me!)
Thanks for your help in spreading the word about TKTB!
Until next time,
Be Blessed!
Chanda Stegall
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: Odds & Ends, My Life & Kids | 4 Comments »
5 out of 7
Well, in the past 7 days, we have done our nightly lessons 5 times.
This has been a tough week - you know what they say about the plans of mice and men (and women).
We are on track and the goal this week is everynight - no matter what.
We are making a family tree chart because the jobs are getting a little lost on the “begots”. The whole Abraham - Isaac - Jacob on done to Moses has them a little confused.
So I thought it was time for a visual. I’ll post a picture when we have it complete.
That’s the update for now. I’m going to get back in the habit of nightly updates.
Chanda
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | No Comments »
Follow Along With Karla
Karla and her kids have joined the 31 Day Challenge as well.
I hope you will drop by her site and follow along with Karla and her kids.
She has tons of great ideas - a couple that I’ve already used with my kids.
I pray you are having as much fun and learning as much as my children and I are learning.
They never cease to make me laugh. Especially my 5-year-old. He gets the stories all missed up in his head and he starts quoting the funniest combinations. (See Peace Be Still post below.)
But today the mix-up came from my oldest son - Bralon. We read about Isaac and Rebekah and that they had twin sons named Jacob and Esau. Bralon says oh I know what’s about to happen. Esau has furry arms and Jacob doesn’t and Jacob is going to get so mad at Esau that he’s going to kill him.
Hold it buddy - you’ve got some of it right, but the that last part is about Cain and Able. He said oh yeah - I knew that. (He can be a smarty pants at times.)
Well, I asked them what was yesterday’s memory verse and they started singing our little song. I’m going to have to record them singing - it’s the cutest thing.
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | 2 Comments »
Is There Anything Too Hard For The Lord
Tonight, on the way home from my dad’s house, the boys reminded me that we needed to read our Bible stories when we arrived home.
Yep, just 4 days in and I’d almost forgotten. Good thing I told the boys that they had to help keep mommie accountable.
So we read about the Tower of Babel and discovered why God confused all the languages. And we even talked about why I somethings tell them to “quit babelling.” It has a whole new meaning for them now.
Then we read on to Abraham and Lot and God’s promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.
Our memory verse for tonight was Genesis 18:14(a) “Is there anything too hard for Lord.” We made a little song to help us remember. And after we finished singing it - I heard the boys still humming the tune.
We talked about what the memory verse means and I told the boys if they have any problems that they seem they can’t handle - they can take their concerns to God and He can help them because there’s nothing to hard for the Lord.
My oldest son named a specific problem (that I promised I wouldn’t mention) that he wanted God to help him with.
Praise God y’all - this is exciting. We are all growing so much. And the daily time together in God’s word is a blessing to our family.
I didn’t mention it yesterday, but after dinner the entire family drew pictures of the story of Noah’s Ark. It was so much fun. For some strange reason - my husband drew a pot of gold at the end of his rainbow. The boys told him he must not be listening to the Bible story - instead, he must have been thinking about eating Lucky Charms. He had a good laugh at his expense.
Until tomorrow -
Chanda
Increasing in Him,
Chanda
Topics: My Life & Kids | No Comments »