April Fool's Day!

Join me today at Laced With Grace where I will be talking about the way of the wise versus the path of the foolish!

What are YOU learning?

Wow! I am getting a late start this morning! But, I wanted to continue to join Gina at Chat with an Old Lady....so "better late than never" as my mama says!

I was pondering Deuteronomy 11:18-21:

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your
hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children,
talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when
you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your
houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be
many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the
days that the heavens are above the earth."


The funny thing is...I hadn't been "studying these verses recently. But, that's what "hiding His Word in our hearts" is all about. It becomes a part of us. The Holy Spirit will put us in remembrance of verses when we need them!

Anyway, I have been thinking about these verses because I have been purposefully teaching my kids His Word, "talking about them when we sit and walk, lie down and get up." We have always talked about the Word, talked about God, watched movies like Veggie Tales, sang Christian songs....

BUT amazing things have been happening when I have taken the NEXT step- really TEACHING the Word, talking about what it means, using it in everyday situations....

It all began with Edie when she shared how she teaches her grandchildren bible verses with a reward system. My kids have TAKEN OFF with this! We have been learning a new verse almost daily. The kids even initiate learning the verse first thing in the morning ("When you get up") even if I don't remember (you see, that candy is a GREAT motivator!) But, then, all through the day, driving to school ("walking along the road"), setting the table (when you sit at home), and tucking them in at night (when you lie down). We have had wonderful conversations about the WORD!

Wednesday we learned 1John 3:18, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." We talked about how LOVE means more than saying "I love you," but how LOVE is an action. We talked about what this LOOKS like in life. They got the "obvious" things, like "reading the Bible, praying, going to church." They got the "big" things we do- sponsoring a child through Compassion International. and visiting the nursing home. But, loving in actions means the "little things" that maybe no one else may notice. We went "deeper" and discussed things like being nice to kids at school, even when they aren't nice back, using kind words, saying I'm sorry, forgiving others.....

We also did something else really fun when I tucked in the kids (when you lie down). I told them about something I like to do sometimes during my prayer/worship time when I am out walking in the mornings. I like to think about God and His names and attributes using the alphabet. I go through the alphabet and think of a word that represents God using each letter. For example, A is for AWESOME, B is for BEAUTIFUL, C is for CARING...... Well, personally, I have not usually gotten past G or H...but the boys and I went all through to Z!!!!

I am learning, as I grow as a Christian, to teach my children about God. God is part of every moment of my life! I have a RELATIONSHIP with Him and He is the most important part of me. Unless I share that with my family, they won't know. They can't "read my mind." I am beginning to open up my own personal relationship with them. It's weird- I will share all of these truths with women when I am speaking or on my blog, but sometimes I would FORGET to share these truths with my own family! Or, life would get busy and we would be running here and there..... God is always a part of everything, from Christian radio to prayer, but (and I don't know if I am explaining this very well!) I am beginning to share my very most intimate, personal aspects of my relationship with God with them. I have been making my "silent" prayers in my head OUT LOUD prayers.

AND, I have been so much more intentional about teaching them the Word daily! We discuss what it "looks like" in everyday life.

Moms, our generation has gotten into a VERY BAD habit of sitting back and letting our church or Christian school do all of the teaching. We think they are getting what they need there and we have released our position as "teacher" to them. But, God is very specific telling us it is OUR responsibility to teach our kids ALL THE TIME!

Lord, may I always tie these Words of Yours on my heart and mind! May my children seek You and Your Word. May Your Word be part of every fiber of our beings! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!

Please visit Gina to see what SHE is learning! And, I would love to hear what YOU are learning!

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for God's wisdom!

"For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in
store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He
guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-
every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul."-Proverbs 2:6-10

I have been so THANKFUL for the blessing of WISDOM.

I have been more purposeful in praying for wisdom as I parent my kids, and God has been SO faithful! He has been pouring out wisdom as I teach and discipline them and answer their questions.

How do I know it is HIS wisdom and not mine, you ask?

Because the "stuff" He has given me is so GOOD that it has to be Him and not me! I could never come up with it on my own!

Here's an example....

Last week on the way to school, the kids and I got into a wonderful conversation about being naked. I don't remember exactly how we got on this conversation, but we were talking about modesty and not looking at naked bodies of the opposite sex unless they are your husband or wife.

Then....the kids began talking about how gross it is to even look at someone naked. With a completely STRAIGHT FACE I told them that Mommy and Daddy love to look at one another naked...that we think each other's bodies are beautiful. ("Do you think Daddy is hot???")

We talked about how Adam and Eve were naked. I told them how excited Adam was when he saw Eve for the first time. We talked about how God's plan is for a HUSBAND and WIFE to love one another's bodies. But, when the "world" shows us naked bodies, we feel "icky" because this isn't God's plan for us. We're only meant to enjoy each other in marriage...

so the conversation went.....

I don't remember all of the details, but the ride was wonderful and after I dropped them off at school, I was thanking Him for His wisdom!

God has been faithfully answering my prayer for wisdom with my children and I have been SO thankful!

Another awesome blessing of wisdom came from my friend, Edie this week.

She shared how she gives a prize to her grandchildren when they learn a bible verse. Click here for the details.

We began doing this as well in our family and it has been so FUN! Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Edie.

Thank You, God that "You give wisdom to ANYONE who asks and that You give it generously without finding fault."

Please visit Lori's Reflections for more Thankfulness!