Telling Parables to My Kids

Reading The Story about Ping to my kids last week it hit me, "I'm doing what Jesus did...telling parables to explain God's word and ways to my kids."

It was an ah-ha moment.

I've been doing the Five in A Row studies with my boys. It's only our second week, we're on Storm in the Night, but it's been great!!

Today my son asked, "Mom, do those people worship Jesus?" pointing to the characters in the book.

I answered, "Maybe they do, I don't know son."

He stated confidently, "No, they don't cause you didn't read that they said anything about Jesus."

I smiled. I went on to explain to him that just because they didn't say Jesus or God in the book doesn't mean they don't worship Jesus. I said, "In a way son, all these stories tell about Jesus."

"Nuh-uh," he nayed.

"Yes son, because... who made that man? (pointing to the man in the story)"

"Jesus," he answered.

"Yep! And who made that boy?"

"Jesus."

"And who made that storm?"

"Jesus."

"See son we don't know whether those people in the book worship Jesus or not, they may or they may not, but we can worship Jesus whether the story says Jesus' name or not because all things were created by Jesus and for Jesus."

"Hmmm," he replied, curious about my answer.

I love reading the Bible to my boys and explaining what I've read to them. I love singing a memory verse to them and applying it to different situations throughout our days. But I also love these day to day parables I get to tell through storybooks and t.v. shows and different things which present an opportunity for me to show my boys that WE WORSHIP JESUS IN EVERYTHING WE DO, and that His fingerprints are everywhere.

Do you tell your kids parables?

Honoring our soldiers and postponing the challenge posts

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. - Romans 13:7

I honor the sacrifice of men and women in our military and the sacrifice of moms and dads, brothers and sisters, wives, husbands, daughters and sons.

If any of you showed up for the Deut.6:6-7 challenge I had completely forgotten about Memorial Day when I planned to post the first week of this challenge today. Also, this being the week I've chosen to take "off" blogging (except to honor our soldiers), I think it's fitting that the Deut. 6:6-7 Challenge be postponed to next week Monday, June 2nd. Please come join us then!

Had to share this

On the way home from the gym this morning my 5 year old asked to listen to my ipod and so I let him. I just have my favorite worship tunes on there and the Searchlight Radio broadcasts (WHICH I LOVE!). I thought it was on a worship song, but when we pulled up into the driveway, Connor (my 5 y/o) was yelling, "Mom! He said Moses!"

I thought he'd picked up on some lyrics from one of the songs or something so I listened to see what he was hearing and it was a teaching from Pastor Jon Courson, from Searchlight, in 1 Samuel.

I said, "Oh, son, your listening to the man teach the Bible!"

He answered, "Yeah!" And quickly shoved the buds back in his ears and continued to listen for AN HOUR! I was soooo blessed and was praying for the Word to be deeply planted as he listened.

I had been praying for the boys to be influenced by MEN who love Jesus and His word, not just their mommy. I want them to know that the love of God's word is not just for mommies or women, but for men! I want them to that influence which they don't have in this house. And so at home during the day I've been playing some teachings from pastors I listen to on the radio aloud in the house. I just want them to hear a man's voice speaking the Word of God. There's just something so irreplacable about a man teaching God's word.

Anyway I was soooo blessed.

And speaking of pastors I listen to, I just wanted to share this link to a Living On the Edge series with pastor Chip Ingram which is on the radio currently. It's a great series on child training called What's a parent to do?

I'm reading an incredible book!

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. ~ Ephesians 6:4

Yesterday, at church, I was given To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debi Pearl (No Greater Joy Ministries). It was God's perfect timing.

In just one day, I'm already seeing the fruit of peace in this house! Lord, help me to be consistent!

When I had no children, I had all kinds of advice and beliefs about how to raise children and how I would raise mine when I had them. I was tested, and still am, by the two eternal souls God has loaned to me to tend and train. I find what's really in my heart through the spiritual gardening that goes on with my sons daily. The results don't lie. The seeds of faith and obedience to the Lord in my own life- of living by the Spirit before my kids and loving them with Christ-like love, teaching them the scriptures as we go, training and disciplining them sprout up joy and a desire to obey in my children. Likewise, the seeds of doubt, frustration, disobedience to the Lord, anger, laziness, etc. in my own life all have sprung forth doubt, frustration, disobedience, anger, laziness, etc. in my children's lives.

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1Timothy 4:8

I'm not saying I'm solely responsible for their natural sinful nature. What I am saying is that I'm very aware of my lack of understanding and ability in parenting God's way, and am very aware of the fruit of my own ways. I'm also sooooo thankful for the Holy Spirit, for speaking to me, bearing with me and guiding me to see how He wants me to parent my children for His glory.

This book is just a confirmation of the things I know He's speaking to my heart through His word!

Yesterday began an immediate repenting of my ways in one area and obedience to God's in the same area.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness...~ 2 Timothy 3:16

I have been continually reacting to my childrens' disobedience and natural selfish tendencies with discipline, plus many times anger (grinding my teeth) and frustration. I knew that my wrong was inconsistency. Telling them something was forbidden, letting them get by with it when I was finally too tired to get up and deal with the disobedience, and then finally reacting to the disobedience with frustration and anger. (I know, it sounds terrible- it is!) I know I daily need to be consistent. But what I didn't know or realize I was doing was not setting up deliberate times of training to teach my children where the boundaries clearly are in this house and that they are REALLY THERE, no sneaking in under the fence of mom's frustrated fatigue!

When I read the first chapter of To Train Up a Child yesterday, I immediately clearly saw God's tool of training handed to me. I realized I needed to create deliberate times dedicate to training my kids to believe and obey my words. Because I had not created those deliberate times I was frustratingly responding to their every testing of my words with discipline. So, just as I would spend some time training them to throw a ball, or learn their ABC's or fold towels, I dedicated the rest of yesterday, and today, to training sessions. After today, I'll dedicate a set aside portion of the day to "training sessions" and then continue to walk in that attitude of training which will get set by that session all day- by God's grace and by the Holy Spirit!

Because of this proactive step of obedience training I have had ZERO frustration today, and my kids and I are really enjoying each other more! Plus, I'm getting more done! I'm serious! In fact it's as though I can see the frustration start to creep in now and I realize it's because I'm trying to explain obedience in words that sound like, "Wa, Wa, Waaaaa" to my kids dulled ears (dulled by how I've trained them to obey when I'm frustrated, not when I say something kindly and quietly the first time). When I stopped explaining- other than the initially confession that mommy's not been obeying Jesus in training and she's going to start obeying Jesus- the quiet, firm, yet loving confirmation of my commitment to my word was all the explanation required.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:25

An example of this "obedience training" which I'm focusing on today is as follows:

• Erase from calendar or plans things I hope to accomplish on my own (this is happening all day today, but will happen in just a set aside time, an hour I'm thinkin', starting tomorrow- and then prayerfully I'll walk in that mode all day). Doing this is ultimately opening up more time for me to accomplish "on my own" things- such as reading, praying alone, studying, writing, etc. It is also training me to have this attitude towards the high responsibility of training my children in the admonition of the Lord all day long, so that when I must respond to discipline, or I take the opportunity to train my kids and it requires me to leave something I want to do I don't get angry with them, but rather see it as a worthy investment
• Give my child an assignment such as "Sit here on this mat and play quietly with these legos."
• When the child gets up or ceases to be quiet ( I did a literal no talking time with this situation) I remind or reinforce my rule of sit here and be quiet verbally.
• When the child gets up again or ceases to be quiet I give a swat on the bottom to reassure that I meant what I said, with no words of "Why did you do that?" or frustrating remarks like, "I just told you not to do that!" But rather just a little swat along with, "Sit here and be quiet," said kindly and with a quiet and calm tone.
• Make the training session brief and let it be over on a positive note, when they're quiet and sitting (in my example). Play and hug!

Today I'm doing this all day not in the sense that I've got them on a mat all day, but that there's not free play, but rather organized times of training all day. Even the times of play I'm planning and carrying out these training sessions. I'm really training myself!

I think I've embarked on a healing and restorative work in my relationship with my kids as their parent which is going to require endurance and consistency.

I'll keep you posted!


Here's a quote from the book that really struck me, I completely agree and see that this is what I must do to show my kids that I really do love them:

Some will say, "But, I couldn't take it emotionally." Sometimes it is difficult to set aside your feelings for the sake of training your child. It does involve emotional sacrifice. Yet, what is love, but giving? When we know it will work to the temporal and eternal good of the child, it is a joy instead of a sacrifice. It is a thrill to see it work to the child's benefit.

(P.11 from To Train Up a Child)

Thoughts about Passover, Unleavened bread, Firstfruits...

This month we began studying the Biblical holidays, starting with Passover. I've been seeing Jesus all over the place and learning more about the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses...Israel as I go. The teacher is learning more than the students I think, but I'm trusting the seeds are being planted.

I just wanted to share some thoughts as we've been going through these studies.

• First I think it's awesome and beautiful...perfect, that God would designate Passover as being the begining of months for Israel (See Exodus 12:1). It is the begining- the begining of months for anyone who by faith appies the blood of the Lamb to the doorposts of their lives. They did it physically and it represented Jesus' coming sacrifice, nevertheless they did it by faith and it was salvation and deliverance to them who believed and obeyed. It is also the beginning of our new "school" year in this house. Or at least it's a purposeful and designated time when my husband and I are declaring our plans and intentions to homeschool- at least for one year. Here we are studying Passover and my husband, who should have absolutely no reason to think what I'm doing in teaching our sons the scriptures and "school" things using the scriptures, is giving us his blessing to homeschool. It is a begining for us, though I know I have already been teaching them and would continue to even if they were to go to public school. But I feel like I've been given a great oppurtunity here, to, for the next year, study, teach the scriptures and model a life of faith in Christ more saturatedly than ever. So we're just gonna follow the calendar the Lord set up for Israel starting with Passover for this coming year and see what God teaches us.


• About Unleavened bread. This feast (see Leviticus 23:4-8) begins the day after Passover and continues for seven days with the eating of unleavened bread. Leaven is a type of sin in scripture and the ways of the old man (see 1 Cor.5:7). We are rid of sin ONLY after and because of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Also, in our deliverance out of a life of sin (Egypt), there's no time to try to make a nice tasty cake- a good life. We don't try to create a pleasing life with good works before we leave Egypt, that is before we turn our backs on our old sinful ways, WE JUST GRAB OUR DOUGH AND GO! And for the next 7 days (the number of completeness in scripture), so for a complete period of time, we don't add into our lives any of the old leaven, that is, those old practices and ways which characterized our lives while we were still slaves to sin. We've put off the old man (eating leavened bread) and we put on the new man (the eating of unleavened bread). That leads to Firstfruits.


• The FIRST of the Firstfruits feast is offered the day after the Sabbath during Unleavened bread (or the day after Passover) and waved before the LORD to be accepted, "...on your behalf..." (See Leviticus 23:9-14) Jesus IS the FIRST of the Firstfruits of those who've fallen asleep, and He was waved before the LORD to be accepted on our behalf and is, "...a sweet aroma..." to the LORD (See Leviticus 23:13 and 1 Corinthians 15:20).


• The feast of Firstfruits begins with the First offering (Jesus- He's the first) and ends, 50 days later with the reaping of the harvest and the baking of two LEVEANED loaves of bread, which are the firstfruits to the LORD (See Leviticus 23:15-22). I've been learning both through reading the Biblical Holidays book (which I can't say enough good about!) and through listening to a study through the book of Ruth on Searchlight (which I also can't say enough good about), that the feast of weeks is celebrated by the Jews to commemorate the giving of the law (two tablets), and the 50th day is called Pentecost. Pentecost is, of course, also the day when the Holy Spirit was given in Acts 2:1-4. Well, it just so happens (tongue in cheek, nothing just happens with God- He's teaching me something) that the book of Ruth is read at Pentecost by the Jews, and the book of Ruth typifies the church (Ruth), Israel (Naomi) and Messiah (Boaz). All that to say, the beauty of God's pictures in scripture when you allow yourself to listen and study is amazing! God painted a picture of His plan to harvest souls not through the law but through the Redeemer and through the giving of His Holy Spirit, and it's pictured clear back in Leviticus and the Old Testament with the setting up of the Feast of Weeks.


• We are the firstfruits of those Jesus has Redeemed! We are FREE of the OLD leaven, but we are prepared or baked with the NEW leaven of the Holy Spirit which is permeating all God's people and making us a sweet aroma to the LORD when we are burned in the firey trials of life!


• In all this it strikes me why God said Israel was to do these things and teach them to their children and that their children would ask questions: He wants our kids to remember and know the REAL JESUS. He wants them to know Israel's Messiah as their own Kinsman Redeemer (like the Gentile Ruth).


• My kids are asking questions. Not why are we sacrificing a lamb (cause we didn't and don't) but, "Why do we have to clean up the trash?" And other questions, and maybe someday they'll ask why we DON'T sacrifice a lamb. And like it was thousands of years ago when Israel answered their children, my answer is, "Because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt." (Exodus 13:8).


• When I'm living a life of obedience, worship in faith in Jesus, my kids are gonna ask questions and the answer for why I do what I do needs to be not, "Because we have to." Or, "Because it's the good Christian thing to do." But rather, "Because of what the LORD has done for me."


• In this study the Lord has really been teaching me the importance of telling my kids about the God of Israel. HE IS THE ONLY GOD! And that way they'll learn of their need for a Savior and of the character of Jesus our LORD who IS the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Who was and always will be!


• When I started listening to Ruth I was so captivated. I'm planning to do a post series at my Wife of Valor blog through that book, but as far as being a Timothy Mom is concerned this struck me: Ruth learned of the goel (the kinsman redeemer) law through Naomi. We gentiles (non Jew) also learn of the One who is Messiah, our Redeemer, through the example of Israel throughout scripture. Through Israel we are led to the feet of Jesus to seek His mercy and grace- and there we find it! And just as it is for us it is for our children. For Ruth took her child to Naomi to be nursed (See Ruth 4:14-17). When we let the life giving, pure milk of the Word of God (which came through Israel and is recorded in the entire Bible, not just the New Testament) nurture and grow our children, they are given the best feeding to make them wise unto salvation which is through Jesus Christ.

My study on God's methods of teaching

I posted this originally over at my new homeschool blog, but I thought it was fitting to post it here also.

Not only am I studying the Word, and praying for God's direction on the best way to teach my two sons "school stuff" (which I plan on doing as I teach them God's Word), but also the best way to teach them God's word.

The Lord has been faithful to pour so much of His word into me as I've asked and have begun this study. Below is the post, it's fairly lengthy. I plan to derive from this study a more concise post on what He's teaching me concerning teaching my kids God's word and teaching my kids period!

I've been reading other homeschool bloggers' differing methods and approaches to teaching children. I've felt an Amen with many of them and others I haven't agreed with. As I've been prayerful and listening to how the Spirit would direct me in this journey I keep feeling like He's given me the perfect teaching model in His word.

The way God the Father chooses to teach His children and disciples- those who would follow Him- and how He tells Israel to teach their children is throughout scripture. I'm not talking specifically about the content, but the METHOD, the APPROACH God takes when teaching people.

These things are standing out to me and as I meditate on them I plan to develop a written teaching model to go off of.

1. Use special days, routines, activities to get across a message


2. Do things that draw out questions


3. Be a person who models the message


4. Use song/music to aid in memory


5. Verbally, consistently and constantly speak the message in everyday life experiences.


6. Be a servant- that's the best and un-challengable platform from which anyone can teach those who follow them.

Here's the word study on teaching:

Q- How does God teach people?

• Exodus 18:20And thou shalt teach * them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Teach in this verse is: Zahar- to admonish, warn, teach, shine, send out light, be light, be shining
(Niphal) to be taught, be admonished
(Hiphil)
to teach, warn
to shine, send out light

Ordinances in this verse talks about boundaries or limits.

Law in this verse means direction or instruction

Shew means to learn to know or to know

Way is manner, journey, path, course of life

Work is work, labor, business, enterprise, deed

Do is to do, work, make, accomplish

o I get from this to be an example to them of the way of being servant, just as Jesus taught us to do in John 13. John 13:13-17: You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

o And also to guide a child on a path that is in accord with God’s purposes or design for them, such as is spoken of in Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

o Deut.31:19
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

teach in this verse is:
1. to learn. teach, exercise in
a. (Qal) to learn
b. (Piel) to teach
c. (Pual) to be taught, be trained

2. What I get from this is the importance of using songs/music to teach something you want remembered. Makes me think of Ephesians 5:19: speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Jesus modeled perfectly how to teach to His disciples:

o Matt.7:29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes
o Mark 2:13Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them.
o Mark 4:2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:
o John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

o I get from this teach not opinions or interpretations but what the Father has taught you from scripture which matches up with what Jesus modeled and teach it without doubt.

o Also, teach wherever you go

o Teach using stories/parables from everyday life


Q- How does God tell us to teach our children?

• Deut.4:9
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; 4:10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

• Teach in verse 9 is: to know, to learn to know, recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess, be familiar with.
• Teach in verse 10 is: to learn. teach, exercise in
o (Qal) to learn
o (Piel) to teach
o (Pual) to be taught, be trained

o First, I get from this teaching begins with knowing what God’s word says for yourself and what He has done in your life; meditate and be sure to remember them, and a way we do that is by teaching them to our children. The teacher learns as much or more than the students. When we teach our kids what God’s word says and what He’s done in our lives we remember.

o Also, remembering what God has done, the times He’s spoken to your heart and telling those things to your kids trains them.

Deut. 6:7
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

o diligently in this verse is: to sharpen, whet Qal) to whet, sharpen (Piel) to sharpen,teach (incisively) (Hithpolel) to be pierced

o We should be teaching our children God’s word all day long, in everything we do, this sharpens them! Makes me think of the arrows God speaks of our children as being- weapons against the enemy. Psalm 127:4: Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.

o Deut. 11:19
And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

1. Teach in this verse is: to learn. teach, exercise in
a. (Qal) to learn
b. (Piel) to teach
c. (Pual) to be taught, be trained

Teaching our children all day long, in everything we do not only sharpens them, but trains them like a coach.

o Exodus 10:2
And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.
tell is: count, recount, relate

Tell stories of what God has done, in our lives and in the lives of His children throughout history.

o Exodus 13:6-8
Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters.And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

1. shew is: to be conspicuous, tell, make known
a. (Hiphil) to tell, declare
1. to tell, announce, report
2. to declare, make known, expound
3. to inform of
4. to publish, declare, proclaim
5. to avow, acknowledge, confess 1a
b. messenger (participle)
c. (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported



o Do special activities, holidays, practices, rituals, that declare, proclaim, publish, make known what God has done for you. I believe this is why we should study feasts, not to keep them (Jesus kept them- he fulfilled them), but as an activity that God set up to clearly proclaim His message. But I also believe since there is no keeping of the law in the since that we aren’t try to fulfill it by doing certain practices, but by living a life of faith, in any culture a Spirit-led application of these feasts that point to and teach us about the Jesus of the Bible could be practiced.

o Exodus 13:14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

o This instructs us to tell our children why we give our reborn lives and the first of all we have to the Lord for service (speaking of the verses 11-12 where what was done was the setting apart to the Lord all that open the womb)

o Deut.6:20 "When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord our God has commanded you?'

o Do what is good in the sight of God and wait for your children to ask questions. Tell them as Jesus told His disciples that you do what the Father shows you to do.

o Joshua 4:6
that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'

o Joshua 4:20-24
20 And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. 21 Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' 22 then you shall let your children know, saying, 'Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land'; 23 for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever."

o Set up memorials with your children to remember spiritual crossroads in your life. I also see in this that the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 disciples are the memorials, the stones, we go back to when remembering what God has done for us. We are to let the scriptures account of their lives be examples and memorials for us to learn from.

Amen to this post!

"...that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you." 1 Thess.4:11

Higher Up and Further In has been a key resource in parenting and teaching my sons. Even before making the decision to homeschool them "officially" I desired to begin using the time I have with them as more of an investment rather than something I had to get through, and Lidafay's posts have been key in helping me begin to step down that path.

This post I read on her blog today was one of the most refreshing posts I've read concerning homemaking! It's one I am in complete agreement with- one that very much describes me and my household.

Here's some of her post: I don't believe a woman has to be some sort of multitasking, micromanaging super woman to maintain a happy homeschool and a beautiful, orderly home and family. I am certainly NOT a multitasker. Just ask my kids. They tease me about not being able to carry on a conversation and cook at the same time. My husband however, is amazing in this area. He can Skype someone on the phone, write out business invoices, translate a medical document, text someone in Turkey via Messenger and have ten other windows open on his computer at once and manage just fine. His desk looks a mess but he knows where each item is located and can pull it up in a flash-- and he's never paid a bill late. I wish I could accomplish such feats, but God didn't wire me that way. So I have to keep things real simple and straightforward in order to be a good homemaker and teacher. Here are some decisions I've made that have helped me in this area. Go here to read the full post

Happy Passover!

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:6-7

There's so much to take in from the pictures God paints in the accounts of the Old Testament. The special days He set up and instructed Israel to observe and remember are His "field trips" to impress truths in our hearts about Jesus and His kingdom using all our senses. He's the perfect Daddy. He knows how we learn best. He knows how to teach us!

My kids have different learning styles but as children they both generally learn the same. That is, neither of them can read. To get across a message or story we look at picture books and observe nature and watch good movies. They can only sit so long and be verbally told a story...they need to engage their other senses. Now, as they grow they'll learn to read and their minds will be the canvas God paints His pictures on using words they read. But for now, they need pictures.

It's the same way with us grown ups (and kids) who follow the Lord. We need pictures to understand the language of heaven. Preparing for this Passover dinner tonight- going through the house to find any remaining yeast bread, taking it outside and burning it, hearing the story of the Exodus and the initiation Passover and now obeying it's order and observing one for ourselves is giving us an in-living-color, up-close-and-personal picture of the price of freedom, mercy and grace and the sweetness of it for us who are redeemed.

Tomorrow, I'll have to share point by point things areas I see Jesus more in this celebration, but for now I just want to say, thank You Father! Thank You for teaching us with tastes, and things we do that demonstrate eternal truths about You and Your kingdom! Take my mouth and my life as a instrument in Your hand. Let me not be the teacher, but the tool You use as THE Teacher to guide the souls You've entrusted to me through this lesson.

I pray You would cause Connor and Ryland to ask questions and me too! Draw out the questions we need to ask so You can answer us with the answers that give us life.

Show me where any old leaven is in my life that I might live a life that my children and others can feed on- like unleavened bread, with sincerity and truth.

Backyard surprise!

A couple days ago the boys were playing in the backyard and came running in shouting, "Mom, there's swaps (that's how they say wasps)!"

So I headed out to see where the swap was and found this!

A mass of bees in my tree. Not sure what kind of bees, and knowing we've got Africanized bees in Arizona I hearded the kids inside. Later that day my husband came home to see and to exterminate. Once he found them in the tree he came back in the house to get the bee killer spray that shoots 27 feet, but when he went back outside THEY WERE ALL GONE! JUST LIKE THAT! GONE!

Wierd huh?!

Any of you know what might have happened or what they were doing in a mass like that in our tree?

I thought they were building a hive, but apparently there was no hive just a massive congregate of bees that suddenly disappeared!

I haven't had a chance to research what happened but if you might know I'd love to hear.

Our Passover centerpiece

I am sooooooo enjoying this months theme of study on Passover with my sons! I'm seeing Jesus daily as we sing, read, do crafts and talk about who our Passover is.

Here's the centerpiece I put together with the boys using the instructions from the Biblical Holidays book (which I HIGHLY recommend, if for nothing else but personal Bible study and learning more about Jesus from the Old Testament).

The boys colored the pictures for the flags and Connor made the lamb in the center (Ryland made one too but since there's just one lamb per household Ryland's is on display elswhere). Mom just put the thing together...and for a non-crafty crafter it was pretty simple.

I was also soooo blessed by this video I watched (in part, the whole thing is 40 minutes long so I'm watching it in segments the rest of this week with the boys) from Jews for Jesus online of the director of Jews for Jesus putting on a Seder meal for a congregation and explaining the story as they went. It's awesome! I went to one of these at a church I was part of in Oregon and it made me thirst for more of the beautiful pictures God designed in the feasts and holidays of the O.T. which foreshadow Jesus and His story. Here's the video if you'd like to watch it, or you can go to the page and watch it another time.

We're having a blessed month and I've been prayerful about the Passover dinner and the week of eating unleavened bread afterwards. My husband is like a watchful, permissive authority in all this. Peacefully permitting and wanting me to do whatever I desire in teaching the boys but not participating himself. I wanted to invite others to come but am still prayerful about it as I feel weird having others celebrate this meal that's all about Jesus with me while my husband's not participating. Unless the Lord directs me otherwise I'm leaning towards it just being me and the boys. I know for sure the Spirit says I must teach my sons God's word. He doesn't say I must invite others...at least not now.

Annnnywayyy... along those lines I ask for your prayers.

While I was watching the video with the boys today it a lot of things struck me, but particularly that the husband/father of a Hebrew household always wears a special garment and hat which symbolizes his kingly and priestly role in the house during the Seder supper. He, therefore, reads the story and directs the meal.

The wife/mother on the other hand actually begins the entire service with the lighting of the candles and prayer. The speaker noted how this symbolizes the truth that it was through a woman that the Light of the world was born.

We are so blessed in the roles we're each designed to play in God's story. Even without the husband or father present His Story fills in our gaps. I was praying, "Lord, what about my husband? He's not present. What if there's no man to play the kingly or priestly role in a home or in worship?" Immediately the Spirit comforted my heart, "The woman continues celebrating in his place. Just as the KING of kings is not present- but away preparing a place for you- yet His Bride continues to worship and tell the story to Her children."

Aaaah! He is the I AM. He is my King and Priest in this house! And I honor my husband as living that type even without him being aware of it. Even though he is not "present" God uses him mightily to teach me about His own character.

"Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Cor.5:7-8

Who says boys can't have tea parties?

(Sorry for the blurry picture. My camera must have been on a weird setting and I didn't realize it.)

The other day after my boys had watched a Max and Ruby episode, and while I was in another room of the house, I heard the clanking of dishes and shouted, "What are you doing in there?!"



Not getting a response I made my way to the kitchen where I found that my oldest son had climbed the counters in the kitchen to get down the china tea cups and saucers that I keep on the highest shelf in our kitchen. He had the island bar all set up for a tea and said, "See mom, I'm making a tea party! You wanna come? See I got bread and peanut butter and jelly and some cereal and cheese and you can sit here mom!"



It was too cute to scold him for climbing the counters. I did find a time later to instruct him to never climb the counters like that again and promised to put some tea china in a low place so he could set up a tea party without risking his life :-)



I never would have thought my rambunctious boys would even entertain the idea of a tea party, but I was wrong! They played tea party for a good hour or more and truly enjoyed setting up the table in a orderly way and pouring tea and pretending that their grandma and Babci (Polish for grandma) were at the table with them.

Another good reason why we should put every effort into feeding our children God's word

A dear sister sent this to me in an email with admonition to gird up the loins of my mind. I don't watch any network television, so I don't know what Oprah talks about on a daily basis, but I do hear about her philosophy every once in awhile. But things like this just strengthen my resolve to plant God's word in my own heart and in my sons' heart.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. -2 Timothy 3:1-9.

Dancing, singing, screaming...real life

Just wanted to share some of the everyday here. Often I think, "Now if I only had a camera so I could share this!" Many times it's something cute or wonderful the boys are doing, but there are also times when I'm thinking, "I need to share this so other moms don't feel alone and to ask for help!!"

These pictures and video clips share just that.

This one is one of those wonderful moments when the boys were dancing around in the office where we're spending some time worshiping the Lord in song together every morning. Since this month we're reading parts of the passover story from Exodus in the Day by Day Kids Bible (forgot to mention that in my April plans post) and learning about passover and about Jesus from the passover story I thought it'd would be fun to learn some Hebrew songs about Passover, and so I found some by Jill Moskowitz that are great! You can listen to the music free here.
BTW, does anyone know of a good album for kids or site where I can download Psalms for kids. I'd like to start singing the Psalms with them to help get the word in their little hearts. Let me know if you know of anything please! This song is The Burning Bush :

Here's the "I need help!" video. The same morning that was full of joyful worship was tested hours later with this outburst of anger.

I won't expose which child, but this child is the one who, if we're talkin' soil, is the more difficult to work with soil. Most of the trouble I run into is a strong will and much of it is the fruit of my own anger and frustration- planting bad seed- or dealing with the abundant thorny weeds that keeping popping up in this little one.

On one hand, I'm assured, there's no pretending with this child- he's not trying to deceive or candy coat things for me so he can have his way- he's honest, but his bent towards violent anger is obvious. It's just the depraved heart in all of us I know, but as a mom, I get soooooooo tired of laboring in this "soil" sometimes, and that's where the danger lies- that I'll get tired and he'll win, or rather the enemy will win. I must stand my ground for this little lamb and often it's through a lot of screaming.

This also happened after I had just read "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines promptly." Proverbs 13:24 over at 5 Colorful Kiddos! and was lamenting the many times I haven't been "prompt" but lazy, and as a result have hated my own son, just as God's word says. It sounds terrible, I've hated my own son, but that's my tearful confession and now I must love him with a return to prompt discipline.

"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16. I NEED YOUR PRAYERS!

Here's some "laboring in love," our sheep craft for the Passover Seder centerpiece we'll be putting on the table that the boys made:




Here's Ryland and Connor working on our letter recognition, tracing and phonics. I use this three ring binder with laminated pages of the alphabet, they trace them with an eraser marker and shout out the name of the letter and what the letter "says" (the sound it makes). I just returned to doing this daily. One child LOVES doing it, the other would much rather go play and that was the trigger that sent us into a major tantrum, hence the bedroom screaming. But once the "foolishness" dealt with and over in the bedroom, there was peace and lots of joy at the table again when the child returned and was rewarded for his excellent tracing and annunciation of the letters VOLUNTARILY! I've also begun again following this up by simply going down the ABC's memory verse list that I got from Higher Up and Further In . I have the older child recognize the letter verbally and I follow it up with reading the verse which is behind that letter. Just more getting the Word in them:

Need a laugh?

*Thanks to my sis in the Lord, Kris, for passing this one on*

I interrupt this prayer break to say, "Happy Birthday Connor!"

Connor James, born April 1st, 5 years ago, just 20 minutes shy of April 2nd. I heard this song yesterday by Rich Mullins and it was exactly my heart for Connor. (The original song has the name Aiden in it) :

Connor you're young

But Connor you're growing fast

Me and your dad

And all the love we have

We can only take you so far

As far as we can

But you'll need something more to guide your heart

As you grow into a man

Let mercy lead

Let love be the strength in your legs

And in every footprint that you leave

There'll be a drop of grace

If we can reach

Beyond the wisdom of this age

Into the foolishness of God

That foolishness will save

Those who believe

Although their foolish hearts may break

They will find peace

And I'll meet you in that place

Where mercy leads

Connor the day Connor the day will come

You'll run the race

That takes us way beyond

All our trials and all our failures

And all the good we dream of

But you can't see yet where it is you're heading

But one day you'll see the face of love

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty." 1 Corinthians 1:27

Be a fool for Jesus Connor!

March's Garden

What we've been doing:

Our project for March with the theme, Sowing and Reaping, was building (thanks to my man for that part!), filling and planting a garden.

It all started with our seed germination project in the house at the beginning of the month. Our sweet cherry tomato seedlings, sweet baby watermelons, sugar snap peas and hollyhock flowers all sprouted nicely in the house and now are planted in our little raised bed garden. I'm really praying over these babies! I feel like they're my babies. They represent the seed of God's word- Living (Jesus) and written (the scriptures), the soil of our hearts, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and the new life we are promised in Him. So much is wrapped up in this project and probably this month more than any since God began leading me on this adventure of teaching my sons His word I have really been learning and seeing my kids enjoy learning heavenly, eternal truths.

The Spirit has worked the timing with March's theme and the celebration of Easter so beautifully and now to slide so perfectly into April with the theme being Passover. In April I'm praying, preparing and planning to have a Passover Seder with my boys and other (who I'm still praying about). Easter is the fulfillment of the Passover supper- Jesus is our Passover Lamb! I can't wait! I'm so excited.

I'm taking this week off blogging to really dive into some intercessory prayer time (where I'd usually be blogging) as I sense the Spirit's lead to do so, but I just wanted to encourage you to seek the Spirit's lead on what He would have you talking about concerning His word to your kids this month and prayerfully living out by faith before them.

Please DO send your emails or comments with your plans for April or any thoughts or resources you may have and I'll be glad to post them next week when I come back!

How's it goin' T-moms?

I don't know about you, but I'm pooped! I know we all have days when we're just spent and today I keep hearing the word of encouragement I've given to others at times, "He gently leads those who are with young...let His gentleness lead you." (from Isaiah 40:11).

My precious man has been totally wiped out with the influenza virus. Now, we've had our share this winter of yucky cold viruses that knocked each of us for a loop, but what my dh has had for the last 4 days is the kind of virus that makes you realize why so many people die from the flu each year. It was bad!

Amidst my man's sickness, the everyday needs of managing a home, and training up rowdy boys in the ways of the Lord, I have had this emotional heaviness- meditating on Christ's passion for me and all humanity and the promise of scandalous grace that comes with the truth of His resurrection. I watch my husband, I look at my boys, I listen to the Easter message, soaking it up like a dry sponge, and instantly pouring out salty tears...all I can think is, "Lord, it's so ridiculous. No one would ever naturally believe this. I'm a total fool to this world, to my own flesh! I believe in the Lamb of God! I love the Lamb of God!" I was listening through the ears of an unbeliever and a child who both look at you with looks that say, "HUH?! What?! The Lamb of God?! What are you talking about?!" Or at least they look at me that way.

So I wonder how you mommas are doing today? It is a battle. It is exhausting. And this morning as I was talking to the Lord about all this I realized, "Lord you're worth it! You're worth my exhaustion!" The laboring in love we do as moms of genuine faith in Christ is exhausting. We are being poured out on the offering of our children's lives to see Christ formed in them. There's no guarantee all will be easy or the outcome will even be what we dream, but there is the promise that God will not forget our labor of love, and that when we spend ourselves out of a heart of worship, He receives it as a sacrifice of praise...a living sacrifice!

I don't get the response I want from my husband and kids 9 times out of 10. In fact, I face a purifying, fiery resistance through them to see if I'm serving the Lord out of a worshipful heart in all I do or looking for their approval. One things for sure, the more I teach Christ through the Word to my kids, even with my precious husband in ear shot, I eliminate the possibility of doing it to please them. As Paul said, if I still sought to please men then I wouldn't be a bondservant of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:10).

I'd appreciate your prayers. I love a the Lamb of God, and I want my kids to know Him, and my husband too, and that makes me a total fool in this house... and a fool I'll gladly be for my Jesus who became a spectacle for me and wasn't ashamed!

He is Alive...and He lives in you and me!

"...for we are members of his body." (Ephesians 5:30) He is alive! We are His body! May we in unison with His Spirit open up our lives, even our wounds for others who doubt to touch and see that Salvation is alive, and by some miracle of grace He lives in us!

Hillsong United - Salvation Is Here lyrics

God above all the world in motion
God above all my hopes and fears
And I don't care what the world throws at me now
I'm gonna be alright

Hear the sounds of the generations
Making loud our freedom song
All in all that the world would know Your name
It's gonna be alright

Cause I know my God saved the day
And I know His word never fails
And I know my God made a way for me
Salvation is here

Salvation is here
Salvation is here and He lives in me
Salvation is here
Salvation that died just to set me free
Salvation is here
Salvation is here and He lives in me
Salvation is here
Cause You are alive and You live in me



Song lyrics  Salvation Is Here lyrics

Our March song

Just a little of what we've been doin'

Last week and the week before I've been blogging less and trying to figure out how to be a good steward of all God's given me with this new homemade card thing He's added to me. But so many great things have been happening along with struggles and issues that I've wanted to post about but haven't had a chance to.

Here's just a couple of things:

Our little sowing and reaping activity of planting seeds in little germination cups is going great! The seeds are actually growing and I'm being taught by the Lord more than anyone I think...although the boys are really getting it, it seems and they have been spontaneously talking about what sowing and reaping means with others.

Just yesterday, worshipping in Phoenix with our homeless friends, I was so touched by what Connor did. I've been having a hard time with him lately (truth be told it's usually him that I'm having a hard time with) when its time to read the Bible or worship together or I try to talk with Him about something in a "teachable moment" about Jesus during the day. I've been meeting a lot of resistance...weeds, hard soil, rocks...etc. Enough to make you want to say, "Ah! What's the point?!" But I haven't said that, I've just been praying for help...A LOT!

Anyway, while we were eating with the folks yesterday Connor said, "I want to tell that man in the black shirt about seeds and praying and sowing and reaping!" I was thrilled cause he brought it up on his own, out of nowhere, and so I told him to wait a second and we'd walk over there together.

The man in the black shirt he was pointing at was the pastor who preaches to the homeless every Saturday, and he was clear across this yard full of homeless folks, and honestly, I didn't want him out of my sight! But when I turned to pick up our stuff, Connor had already run over to the pastor. And when I found him in the crowd he'd gathered three or four, grown men around him, all bending at the waist with their hands to their ears, trying to hear and understand what this little boy was telling them.

When I arrived, shaking my head and smiling at the image of my boy boldly explaining, "Da seed is like God's Woowed, and da dirt is like people's heawts, and sowing is like when you stick da seed in da diwt, and reaping is like when you take a piece of fwuit of da twee," all the men looked at me puzzled for help to try and figure out what Connor was saying. I explained and they were blessed; chuckling and patting Connor on the back, telling them how thankful they were he shared that.

Immediately the Lord brought to mind the verse He gave me for Connor when Connor was just one- Psalm 119:73-74, " Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word."

His word is true! The words He puts in our hearts for others, for ourselves, are true! We can stand on them and pray them and believe them! So many times I forget, or doubt, or get tired of waiting for that seed to sprout, much less bear fruit. And it's like the Lord gives me little glimplses like yesterday to remind me to not loose heart, but to endure and finish what He's called me to do in praying, sowing and even reaping in my kids' lives. Only God can make it alive and grow. But I must plant the seed and work the soil and pull some weeds and do it daily...several times a day!

Also, I just have to share...my baby's not a baby anymore! Look! He's riding his bike with no training wheels!!!

I've been telling my husband, "It's too early. Dont' keep making him try to do it...he's just a baby." But he's insisted that Ryland is ready and so for the last couple days he's been working with him to practice riding with no training wheels and today...he got it!!! I'm thrilled for him and a bit sad too. No more training wheels, for some reason, equates with me as: I'm on my own now mom! See ya!

Go Ryland! Go Connor! Follow the Lord with all your hearts! Abandon yourselves to Him! Let Him lead you on an adventure of a life greater than riding with no training wheels!

And here's a pic of my stunt boy Connor on his bike too: