“Why would anyone pay that much for such an UGLY car!” I commented to the kids as we drove along and saw notoriously expensive type of car.

Nephew Daniel quickly responded, “It’s probably luxury on the inside.  Aunt Kara, don’t know you that it’s the inside that counts?!”

Then my daughter playfully chimed in, “Yeah, Mom!  It’s like…Don’t judge a book by its cover!”

Alrighty, if they were going to get all deep with the conversation then I thought would too and claim it as a teachable moment!

“What does the Bible say about our insides versus outsides?” I asked, remembering the topic of “Beauty” in Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 
1 Samuel 16:7b

It turned into a great discussion!

Love making use of those “and when you walk (drive) along the road”  moments as Deuteronomy 6:6-7 exhorts parents to use in the spiritual training of their children!

Keep your eyes open teachable moments during drive time!

Remember, even if you didn’t know a verse off hand,
you can follow up on a teachable moment later at dinner or bedtime
once you’ve had a chance to look it up in Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.

Here’s a link and pic from a Forbes article on “10 Most Expensive Cars in 2014.”
This is the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse which starts at a cool 2.5 million.
Seriously?!

Last year, I decided we would make the most of our drive time on the way to school on the days I take my two plus three other kiddos.  TIP:  This idea can be applied whatever time of the week works best for you…not just carpool drive time.  

We used the Seeds of Courage music to learn a verse a month.  Each song is Scripture set to music.  The Seeds collection is perfect for school age kids…preschoolers and even middle schoolers enjoy them.  However, if you only have preschoolers, I recommend Steve Green’s Hide ‘Em in Your Heart  Volumes 1 and 2.

Month after month through the school year, we had great discussions about God’s Word and added verses to our list of memorized Scripture!   

During the fall, our September theme verse, Jeremiah 33:3, spoke to my family –
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

My husband and I were struggling with if/when to have our kids’ tonsils removed.  Between the two of them, they had strep 20 times in 2 1/2 years!   I shared with the carpool kids how our family was seeking God’s wisdom as in the verse because we weren’t sure what to do.  Through a series of events, God made it clear that we needed to go ahead and have the surgeries.  God helped us figure out the things we didn’t know!

In January, God surprised a mom by her daughter blessing her with that month’s theme verse.  I was shopping at Sam’s when I got this text from Shauna about her 6th grade daughter who is in our carpool – “Ok, so you are going to smile at this:  I was in the car tonight on our way to basketball practice and I said to my daughter that I am really anxious today.  All of sudden she busts out Philippians 4:6-7…in song!”

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Want to help your child know what God has to say about different topics?
It’s as easy as picking up your copy of
Parenting with Scripture:  A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments!

Anyone know of straight Scripture set to music that appeals to teens?
Please share in the comment section!

I’ve been kicking myself.  Why didn’t I act on my thoughts? 

The kids and I were in our Walmart Neighborhood Marketplace.  I started to get frustrated at how long it was taking the lady in front of me to check out.  That’s when I stopped to actually notice what was happening.  She had coupons for everything (all necessities, nothing frivolous) and was carefully keeping track of the total as things were rung up.  When the total went over $100, she strategically handed things back until the amount was back within her budget.
Honorable.

What happened next made me see that it wasn’t just about sticking to a set grocery amount.  She had a separate pile on the conveyor belt that she was paying for with WIC.  When the cashier rang up those items, he stated her three bottles of juice were not covered.  I could see the woman fretting as she hesitantly handed them back.

My brain was screaming at me, “Step up and kindly/quietly pay for that juice to help this worried woman!”

“No,” I mentally fought back, “I’ll just embarrass her.”  Sadly, this side won.

On the way home, I shared with the kids about what I had seen (they had been oblivious…oh, to be a worry free kid!) and the battle that had raged in my head.  We are all tempted to be embarrassed when generosity is given or received.  There is usually an excuse (or two, or three) not to give, but sometimes we need to overcome that.  On the flip side, there is often difficulty with our pride when we receive generosity, but it shouldn’t stop of us from saying, “Thank you!”

I couldn’t help but think of this verse and vowed to be more mentally prepared to act the next time such an opportunity arises.  And, I pray that my children will have generous hearts, eyes to see need, and the will to gracefully act on it. 

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.
Proverbs 3:27

For more verses, discussion questions, and take action ideas
on the topic of Giving, see your copy of
Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments

 How do you teach your kids to give more freely and spontaneously?  
I’d love to see your ideas in the comment section!

Preschool Kalli was not being inattentive (as I had assumed) when she went running off while I was reading the story of “God Gives His People Bread to Eat”  (Exodus 16:1-18, 31; Numbers 11:7-8) from Read-Aloud Bible Stories Volume 3.

She was on a mission.

She came back with a basket and white paper and asked if we could make manna!  I tore the white paper into strips and she and little Jake had a blast using safety scissors to cut bits of white paper into bite-sized manna.

Then, we re-read the story and acted it out using our props!  Quite a lot of time that week was spent with me strewing manna around the room for them to collect it in their baskets.

That’s one thing I love about preschoolers…
They help us adults think beyond the ink on the paper and make the Bible stories come alive! 

Manna was once again brought to life for me at our fall women’s retreat –
A wise, godly women in our small group shared,

“We like to get our manna a month supply at a time.
But it spoils. 
God designed it that way. 
We need to get fresh food from the Holy Spirit every day.”  

Wow!  What a great reminder of why it’s important to spend time with God and His Word every day. 

This is wonderful wisdom to share with older kids and teens when helping them understand the importance of growing their own personal daily walk with the Lord!

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. T
he people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.”   Exodus 16:4a

Recommended Preschool Resource:
Our favorite Bible story books when my kids were preschoolers were the Read-Aloud Bible Stories, Volumes 1-4. (Link is for Volume 3, but will show the other volumes in the “Frequently bought together” section further down.)  Something about the pictures and way the stories are  written and simply enchanting to preschoolers.  And, it’s not just my kiddos that love them.  They’ve been a hit through the years as we’ve used them teaching our 2 and 3 year old Sunday School classes.

I so wish I could share the picture from my mind’s eye of my little ones
in action with their “manna.”
Instead, this will have to do.  Personally, I think this is hilarious. Hope it doesn’t offend anyone.
This is from www.inheritthemirth.com.
They have lots of similar greeting cards, playing cards, posters, etc.
if you enjoy their “where faith meets funny” themes.

Have you and your kids had your “manna” for the day?

Don’t forget to keep your copy of
Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments
handy for when teachable moments pop up!

PS – I’m not if the company that makes these cartoons is still in business.  The website seems to not be allowing for orders and the last FB post is from ’13.