Howdy, folks!  Looks like I’m back in business, now that my website has been re-created after the crash.  The most significant thing that was lost was the majority of the e-mail distribution list for my blog.  If any of you had friends who were on it that aren’t getting it, please let them know to go sign up again.  And, if you FB/Twitter folks were also on this, please go sign up again.    Thanks for your help with this.  The weekly ideas for parenting with Scripture will resume either this Monday or next.  Another thing I’m going to be working on is categorizing past blogs.  That way, when you want to find something quickly on a topic, you’ll be able to!  I’ll be sure to let you know when that’s done. 

PLEASE PARDON OUR PROGRESS. We are currently working on restoring our website after a hosting server crash. While some pages are working, others are still in progress. Please check back soon.

This momma friend of mine thought to head to God’s Word when faced helping her 5 year old son break his habit of thumb sucking at bed time. 

William stopped sucking his thumb a couple months ago cold turkey and recently started again. I have let it slide, but tonight we had a long talk about it. I asked, “Why do you need to suck your thumb?”  He said, “I always do.  I need to when I hold my lovey.”  I said, “Well, let’s put lovey away.”  He said, “No way.”  So I got his children’s Bible out his god parents got him and read a few passages on frustration, temptation, and doing the right thing even when you don’t want to.  And guess what?!   He is sound asleep with no thumb.

PS – I have already received a question about why I don’t agree with thumb sucking.  So, let me be clear.  I personally have no opinion on thumb sucking.  The point of this blog was not about the thumb sucking, but about going to God’s Word for whatever your situation might be.

There are two types of teachable moments…when you create them and when you capture them.  
This example encompasses both, so I thought I would share to help explain the different ways of parenting with Scripture through teachable moments. 

We were on our way to Life Group a few months ago and I thought to grab a copy of my book on the way out the door so we could focus on a topic as our family devotional in the car.  We often have “devotions on wheels” if we are going somewhere as a family in the evening and know we’ll be rushed when we get home.  The travel time allows for a more relaxed, leisurely discussion.  Spending time on a topic is a way of creating a teachable moment.  We are going through Parenting with Scripture alphabetically (one topic every week or two) and had come to the topic of Discernment.  We chatted through the definition, discussion questions, and action ideas as we drove along.  Creating teachable moments is wonderful because it allows for a positive and pro-active approach to God’s Word! 

At Life Group, my daughter asked if she and a friend could go play outside.  Noticing she had a cookie in her hand and thinking that I had seen her with one earlier, the following discussion ensued.
Me:  “That’s fine, but no more cookies, please.”
Daughter:  “Oh, this is my first cookie.”
Daughter’s friend:  “No, that’s your second cookie.”
Daughter (blushing)…says her friend’s name in an embarrassed tone. 

Ding, ding, ding, ding….a Teachable Moment to capture!!!  I raised my eyebrows at her but decided that was not the appropriate time or place to have the discussion and made a mental note to follow up later.  I’m so thankful that God gave us His Word on Discernment earlier that afternoon because I probably wouldn’t have thought to take that angle otherwise.  As we pulled into the driveway that evening, I told my daughter to head up to her room and that she was in time out until I came up to visit with her.  The time-out gave me a chance to write some Bible references from the topic Discernment and Honesty.  In discussing the situation, she said that she was just kidding about only having had one cookie and that lots of kids joke about things like that.  Hmmmmm….I wasn’t so sure if that was true or if she was adding another lie to keep from getting in trouble.  Either way, because we had created the teachable moment with Discernment earlier, it was a natural fit to carry that discussion on into this specific situation.  We discussed how Discerning means to “see clearly” the situation and make an appropriate choice.  Was her choice to lie or tease about the cookie a good choice?  No, that was not showing good discernment and we discussed why.   I then gave her the list of four verse references and asked her to look them all up and then write her favorite one on a note-card to think and pray about and memorize if she wished.  I was also clear to distinguish that the Bible verses were NOT her punishment.  Her consequence was to lose her ipod for a period of time.  I don’t ever want my children to look upon God’s Word negatively.  Therefore, whenever we use Scripture reactively, as in this case of capturing a teachable moment (rather than proactively when we have created  a teachable moment), we talk about how God’s Word is a blessing and a “lamp unto our feet.”  Instead of beating them over the head with it regarding the issue at hand, we try to look at in light of how it will help us in future situations. 

Be on the lookout for creating and capturing teachable moments in your own family!  As Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, we can parent with Scripture any time and any place!  “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

President’s Day is a good time to stop and remember that our nation’s leaders need our prayers.  Here are a few resources that may be helpful to your family, both today and in the future.   

Family:
To be honest, our family is not great about remember to pray for our leaders.  In an effort to help give us a creative and tangible way to do this for the future, we are going to make these prayer cards.
Leaders & President Prayer Cards and Game:  Take some spare change and tape the coins individually to index cards.  You can make as many as you wish.  On the other side of the index cards, write ways to pray for our leaders.  Brainstorm as a family to think of ideas such as health, wisdom, growing walk with the Lord, wise counsel, safety, strong family, etc.  For younger children, hide them and pray for each item as the child finds them.  If your family has older children or teens, they may prefer to pass around the cards as the items are lifted up in prayer.   When finished, put the cards in a safe place so you can pull them out for ideas whenever you wish to pray for the leaders of our country. 

Older children, teens, and adults:  Visit http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/and browse to see the many prayer resources included on this site.  You may wish to join the prayer team to receive e-mails as reminders and with specific ideas for how to pray.

Children:  This article has fun, active, and hands-on ideas written for 6-9 year olds.  I think it will also work well for younger and older kiddos. http://childrensministry.com/articles/presidential-prayers

A fun family devotional time or dinner table discussion for Valentine’s Day:
(Take Action ideas for young and old included.)

See how many verses you can think of that have to do with love.  
Tip:  If your children are little or your family is not familiar enough with God’s Word to think of these verses from memory, write the verses below on paper hearts.  Put them in a bag, pass the bag around, and let each family member pick a heart and share the verse as the bag goes around the table. 

A few that might come to mind are…

God is love.  1 John 4:16b

We love because he first loved us.  1 John 4:19

The entire law is summed up in a single command:  Love your neighbor as yourself.  Galatians 5:14

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.  1 John 4:19

The Love Chapter – 1 Corinthians 13

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Is love a noun or a verb?
Hint: Consider 1 John 4:19 and John 3:16. 

What are some ways you can show love?
Infinite ways.  If your child(ren) needs prompting for ideas, ask him to think about ways at home, ways with friends, etc.
Parents, be share ways applicable to your lives too and remind your child(ren) that God’s word is for ALL ages…we never outgrow it!

Can you think of any Bible stories that have to do with showing love?
Good Samaritan, God sending Jesus, the Miracles of Jesus, etc…

Take Action Ideas: 
– Each family member could pick a way to show love the next day and then share it at dinner that day.
– Child could add a favorite “Love” Scripture to a Valentine’s craft to give to someone he loves.
– Child could add a favorite verse to Valentine cards for friends. 
– Family or child could memorize a “Love” Scripture together for Valentine’s week.  Child could write and/or decorate the verse to hang on the fridge as a reminder.

*More verses, discussion questions, and Take Action ideas under the topic of Love in Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.

I’m a sucker for themed crafts and activities.  These are some of our favorite wintry fun ideas that our family has enjoyed from they time the kids were itty bitty through elementary school. 

Crafts
Jesus Loves Me “Snow” Much!
Use a paintbrush to paint the child’s foot white with non-toxic washable paint.  Then, help the child make the footprint on blue paper.  Once dry, decorate the snowman and write, “Jesus Loves Me ”Snow” Much!”   Don’t forget to add the year, as this will be a keepsake to pull out every winter.  You might want to make extras to mail to grandparents or other loved ones, changing it to “Jesus Loves You ”Snow” Much!”  

Make icicles!  Draw a jagged lines across the middle a white piece of paper.  Cut out multiples of these and use both halves.  Tape them so that they hang along shelves and window frames to look like icicles have formed inside.

Snow Scene with Frosty: Cut out an outline of a snowman on white paper.  Let the child glue the snowman to a dark blue or black piece of paper and color the snowman and paper.  Then, rub the side of white chalk back and forth across the paper to create snow.

Bake
Iceberg Cookies
2 egg whites
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup granulated sugar
brown paper lunch bags

Beat egg whites, salt, cream of tartar, and vanilla to form soft peaks (don’t overbeat…it will still be foamy).
Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Scrape sides of bowl frequently.  Place several paper bags on a baking sheet.  Drop spoonfuls of the mixture on the brown paper.  Bake in 250 oven for 25 minutes.  Cool completely before serving. 

Snowflake Tortillas
Fold a tortilla into fourths and let your child take several bites out of the edges.  Unfold, spread butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, and bake for 8-10 minutes on 350. 

Act
Action Rhyme:  BRRRR  w/motions
Brrrr…. It’s cold outside.  (Hug yourself and shiver)
Brrrr…..It’s cold outside.  (Hug yourself and shiver)
Put on your mittens and your nice warm hat (Pretend to put on mittens and hat)
‘Cause, Brrrr…It’s cold outside.  (Hug yourself and shiver)

Play
Pin the nose on the snowman:  Make a snowman face on a white paper plate or circle of white paper.  Draw a snowman face without the nose.  Cut out some orange triangles (carrots), and see who can stick the nose the closest to where it belongs… blind folded, of course!  

Have a snowball fight!  Toss balled up socks at each other.  Or, be more civilized and toss them into laundry baskets at varying lengths from you. 

I did not grow up in a denomination that observed Lent and it is still not a focus in the denomination we attend today.  However, because I could see the value in observing it as a way to prepare for Easter, I decided to find ways into incorporate Lenten traditions into our parenting.  These are the ideas and resources that have been helpful and become special to our family.   This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, February 13th.  Since that’s coming quickly, I wanted to go ahead and post this blog in case you want to have the materials ready for your family. 

Lenten Coloring Calendar – Particularly when my children were younger, this calendar was useful and fun in helping them understand the time frame for Lent.  See the website listed and click on the link above the same picture on that blog to download a printable.

http://catholicicing.com/2011/02/printable-lenten-calendar-for-kids/

Lenten
Tree – Our favorite tradition is the Lenten Tree.  It works well with young children because of the tactile/visual aspect and has continued to be a blessing to our entire family as the children have grown.   The main resource needed for this is the book, The Lenten Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for Christ’s Death and His Resurrection, by Dean Lambert Smith.  There are separate devotions for adults and children for the 40 days, and each devotion theme has a corresponding ornament option .

Simple Ornaments Idea – This book can be used simply as a devotion, but to make it more interactive for the kids, there are ornaments to represent the Bible theme for each day.  A simple way to create the ornaments is to photocopy the graphic on the title page for each day’s devotional (see picture below).  Cut them out and let your children color them.  Then punch a holes in them and hang with ribbons or yarn.  If you want to keep these, consider laminating them.

Ornament Swap Idea – A more elaborate version of ornaments for the tree involves an ornament swap with friends to collect the 40 different ornaments needed (such as the wooden key chain fish in the picture above).  For more information on the swap, see my post from last year.  http://www.parentingwithscripture.com/lenten-tree-2/

Tree Ideas – Natural branches from outside and secured in a large vase would be lovely.  Or, you might have a small version of an artificial tree from Christmas that you could use.  If not, this wooden tree that we purchased is inexpensive and does the trick!
http://www.adoremusbooks.com/woodenornamenttreekit.aspx?zmam=46742494&zmas=1&zmac=2&zmap=21195

I love it when people share their ideas for parenting with Scripture!  I think it’s helpful for all of us to see how the Lord leads different families to incorporate His truth into our daily lives in unique ways.  This post has ideas from church friend, Donna VanEerden, and how she’s incorporating parenting with Scripture into Martin Luther King Day.  Donna has children ranging from preschool through upper elementary. 

*Listen/watch Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous ”I Have a Dream” speech.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFcbpGK9_aw

*Read God Made Us One by One by Christine Adams
(I’m putting this in my Amazon cart so I’ll have it for next year!)

*Discuss the topic ”Prejudice” using Parenting with Scripture:  A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments by Kara Durbin (My book!)

*Color a picture of something that you have learned from someone who is different.  Write “Love one another.  John 13:34″ on the page.

I’m excited about using Donna’s ideas for our family devotional time this evening and hope you are too!  I’d love to hear your ideas for Parenting with Scripture, either through planned activities like this, or teachable moments that pop up unexpectedly.  Please share! 
kara@parentingwithscripture.com

New Year’s week, I blogged about taking time for looking back over the past year and looking forward to the new year in terms of intentional parenting.  Our pastors encourage our church family to do a PLD (Personal Life Development) every year.  This entails reflecting upon and answering the following questions specifically.
*What I’ve learned about God this year:
*Ways in which God has grown me this past year:
*Ways I need to grow as His disciple (consider all areas…spiritual growth, marriage, parenting, health, etc):
*My action plan to grow this year :

However, I had never considered involving my children in this process until a friend leading a group of girls from our church, challenged the girls to give it a try.  I knew I would be met with silence if I asked my daughter the questions she suggested (see below).  So I asked if the friend had suggestions of how to overcome that.  She said that the girls could have their moms e-mail her their answers as a way of accountability for the process.  Bingo!  Always helps to have someone else asking your child to stretch.  When we got in the car leaving that meeting, I asked my daughter the questions.  Yep…complete silence.  And no wonder!  I remember that my first PLD was a bit daunting and it tremendously helped for me to hear examples as we shared them with our small group.   I encouraged my daughter to be thinking about the questions and that we would discuss them more during our family devotional times that evening and the next.  We started that night’s family devotional with me sharing some of my answers to my PLD.  The we all brainstormed some of the good and hard things that happened with our family throughout 2012.  I prepared them that the following night the kids needed to be ready answer questions on their own.  When that time came, I had prepared clipboards for my 2nd and 4th grader with the questions below, including space for them to write.  My husband and I continued to work on our PLDs on our laptops.  We allowed fifteen minutes and told the kids that if they finished early, they could talk to God about the list.  (Speaking of, we did start out our time with asking God to touch our hearts with what He wanted us to reflect upon for the past and future.)  The kids did have a few questions as they worked, but for the most part we tried to keep the time quiet so everyone could truly think.

PLD (Personal Life Development) Kid Style – January 2013
Best of 2012:

Hardest part of 2012:

What I learned about God last year:

How I would like to grow in God this year: 

After the time was up, we all went around and shared what we had written.  We encouraged positive feedback or follow-up questions as each of us read our PLDs out loud.  While the kids’ answers were short and sweet, they generated some fabulous discussions and insights.  I wrote these down below the kids’ answers so they could be documented and saved for revisiting next year.

For example, my son said the best part of 2012 was being surprised with an amazingly generous Lego set from his grandparents for Christmas.  To dig deeper, I followed that with “What does God want you to think about that?”  He sweetly answered, “God wants me to be thankful that I have loving grandparents who spent that much money.” 

For the hardest part of 2012 he mentioned breaking his arm.  Our follow up question was, “What did you learn from that?”  He wasn’t sure, so we all reminded him how he persevered and tried to do everything on his own.  He didn’t ever use his broken arm as an excuse.  And, he had a good attitude even though it caused him to miss out on some fun activities.  What a precious time for our family to pour those affirming words over that little boy we love so much!

My daughter mentioned that she would like to spend more time with God as her way she’d like to grow in God this year.  We encouraged her that the answer was a wonderful thing, but asked her how she specifically planned to do that.  This brought on a great discussion about how we all often have good intentions.  But, if we don’t have an action plan, we rarely follow through.  As we talked, she remembered a devotional guide she wanted to finish and decided that would be her plan. 

I hope these examples will help you and your family, just as the challenge and accountability from my mom friend helped me.  And, don’t forget to hang on to these for next year.  Our family plans to continue it as an annual tradition…WITH the kids!  My favorite part of my PLD process each year is reading through my PLDs of past years.  I know it will be special for our kiddos to have these yearly records of their growth and God’s goodness as well!