Years ago, my mom started an incredibly special Christmas present tradition for her grandchildren – giving handmade nativity sets from around the world!  Through her involvement in WOM (Women on Mission) at her church, she became aware of www.worldcrafts.org.   Their mission statement begins, “World Crafts develops sustainable, fair-trade businesses among impoverished people around the world. Our vision is to offer an income with dignity and the hope of everlasting life to every person on earth.”  In buying their products, we are able to help make a difference across the world! 

This link is for their beautiful selection of nativity sets – http://worldcrafts.org/shop-subcategories.asp?cat=2&subcat=20.  Prices range from 19.99 to 79.99 not including shipping.  One year, for a more budget friendly option, my mom substituted a lovely handmade card with nativity scene for each of the kids.  http://worldcrafts.org/shop-subcategories.asp?cat=2&subcat=11  These come in sets so can be divided up.   I have known some of the nativities to sell out.  Thus, the early November post.  Get ’em while you can and mark your calendars for future years for a reminder to place an early order for best selection.

When family travelled internationally and brought back surprises, we added these sets to the collection.  As my kids’ collections grew, I began to get attached to them and requested a set for me and Tim as part of our Christmas presents also.  That way, when our kids head off on their own, they can take their sets and we’ll still have ours to enjoy displaying.  For now, we just put out one of each set and keep the others stored. 

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Luke 2:16

In honor of Labor Day, have a discussion about what kind of “work” each family member does.  This may include playing nicely, chores, instrument practice, or official jobs in or out of the home.  These are the “whatever we do” of our day-to-day lives.  Talk about these “jobs” in relation to the Colossians verse and how they can be done with thankfulness in the name of Jesus. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him. 
Colossians 3:17

Since we are half way through the summer and year and not amid the holiday rush, it’s a great time to consider getting the pieces together for an Advent Tree.  

The book we use (click to link to Amazon):

This has been such a blessing to our family!  It’s something we all look forward to during December, and it’s a tradition I know our children will want to continue with their own families.  We made a set with a group a couple of years ago.  This summer, a gal at our church has coordinated another group.  I’m going to make a second set so we can alternate each year and so I’ll have a set to pass along to each of my children. 

There are a several ways to go about making a set.  If you want to do it on your own, you could simply photocopy the pictures from the book we use, have your children color them, laminate them, and turn them into ornaments by hole punching and adding a ribbon or string.  Or, if you are looking for crafty projects this summer, you could make an ornament or two each day.  Another idea is to do a group swap.  It’s a fun way to involve friends and efficiently get it done.  25 people each take a day’s theme and make 25 of the same ornament.  Then, get together and swap ornaments so everyone ends up with a full set.  It’s neat seeing other people’s creativity.

I haven’t reviewed these books to be able to recommend them, but it looks like they’ve made the ornament making a bit easier if you are wanting to make them on your own.  (Click to link to Amazon.)

 Merry Christmas in July!

This week as we are celebrating our nation’s stars and stripes, I thought it would be a good time to share how a mom used a verse about stars in her family.  MOPS Mentor Mom, Kari Roberson, shared this wonderful parenting with Scripture application with me when I spoke in Canton recently…

“When my children were little, we taught lots of Scripture and we also let them see it in action.  One particular week, the children were arguing with each other and with my husband and I, and wwwwwhhhhhhiiiiiinnnnnnniiiinnnnnggggggggg!  It was at the end of the week, I was in my quiet time and exhausted asking the Lord to help.  He is always faithful and led me to the verse below.

Phil 2:14-16  NIV
Do everything without grumbling or arguing,  so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life…

I had an inspiration to challenge the children to “shine among them like stars!”  In order to “shine” you must do all things without arguing or complaining about them.   I wrote that whole Scripture on top of a poster board and tacked it on the wall.  I challenged the kids to not only learn the verse, but when I “caught” them shining likes lights for Jesus, they were able to put a star sticker on the poster board.  For every 5 star stickers for that particular child they were able to go to the store with Mom or Dad and purchase a whole soda & a whole candy bar!  (We never let them have these things at home, so that was very special to them.)  I reminded them often as they would come and tell me “good” things they had done, that I had to catch them doing it because it showed character & integrity to do things not for show, but for Jesus.  My kids are all teenagers now, and they still remember this verse and how to shine!”

The meaning behind Memorial Day can often get overlooked in the midst of enjoying a day off, BBQing, swimming, etc.

My father-in-law sent this story to me recently and it generated wonderful conversation with my children. 

This would be a wonderful way to spend a moment thanking God for those who have proudly served our country…and “Our Father!”

**Please be aware that it is intense and, depending on the child, most appropriate for upper elementary, middle schoolers, and teens.**

http://www.nationalreview.com/node/227271 –
‘Our Father’ – Praying Like You Have Never Prayed Before by Leo Thorsness

 For teachable moments on a 101 topics, refer to your copy of the easy to use reference, Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.

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 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!