With just 4 ingredients and a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a fun and yummy Bible treasure hunt ready for your family.

Ingredients for Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread:
1 Box Spice Cake Mix (Duncan Hines brand works best)
1 15 oz Can of Pumpkin
1/2 Cup Water
1 Bag of Chocolate Chips (any kind, but Durbins prefer Dark)
Recipe can be made without chocolate chips, buy why would anyone do that?!  😉

Prep Ahead Instructions:
Gather your 4 ingredients and print out the list of verses consolidated at the bottom (in maroon).
Cut the verses apart and hide them as follows.

• Spice Cake Mix –
  Carefully open the box, insert John 6:35, and reseal the box with glue or tape so it looks unopened.
• Can of Pumpkin –
  Carefully take off the label, tape Matthew 5:16 to the back of the label, and put the label back on the can so it looks untampered.
• 1/2 cup water –
  Fold and tape Psalm 42:1 to the bottom of the measuring cup so that the cup sits as flatly as possible.  A measuring cup that isn’t see through is preferable.
• Chocolate Chips –
  Tape Psalm 119:103 to the seam of the back side of the bag, folding it so it will show as little as possible.
• Big Mixing Bowl –
  Tape Psalm 34:8 to the bottom of the bowl so that the bowl sits as flatly as possible.

Pre-heat oven to 350.
Grease & flour 2 loaf pans. (Spray works fine.)

Teachable Moment Time!
God’s word is like a treasure hunt.  We have to make time to dig into it and explore its depths.  Doing so will bring priceless blessings.  Today we are going to remind ourselves of that by going on a Scripture treasure hunt with our recipe!  As I tell you each ingredient to put into our big bowl, you have to find the hidden verse.

Box Spice Cake Mix
Read and discuss the verse once it’s found.  Then, dump the mix in the bowl.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.   John 6:35

1 15 oz can of pumpkin
Read and discuss the verse once it’s found.  The connection here is that pumpkins are often used at jack-o-lanterns this time of year.  Then scoop the pumpkin into the bowl.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

1/2 cup of water
Read and discuss the verse once it’s found.  Then, pour the water into the bowl.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.  Psalm 42:1

NOW blend these ingredients with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer for a full two minutes.

1 Bag Chocolate Chocolate chips 
Read and discuss the verse once it’s found.  Then, pour the bag of chips into the bowl and mix by hand with a large spoon.
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  Psalm 119:103

Pour the batter evenly into the greased loaf pans.  As your child is helping pour and scrape the batter into the pans, see if he notices the verse on the bottom of the bowl.  Read the verse, discuss, and then ask him if he sees a clue in the verse as to what to do next. 
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.  Psalm 34:8
Taste the batter!

Bake both loaves at 350 for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
It’s delicious eaten warm.  We often microwave it a bit if we are eating slices later on.  It can also be made into muffins or mini-muffins.  Just adjust the cooking times.  This bread freezes well, but ours never makes it to the freezer!  We love that it makes two loaves, because often we eat one and give one away.  I watch for sales this time of year for the ingredients and stock up.  It’s not unusual for us to make as many as 15-20 batches of this between Sept – Dec each year.  We LOVE it and it’s the aroma of fall in our home.  I bet it will become a favorite of yours, too!

For further discussion –
“I hid verses in our ingredients for fun, but where does the Bible say we should hide God’s Word?  And, why?”
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11
Consider following that up with finding a verse or two in Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments to memorize and continue discussing.

Cut and paste verses from here into a printable document for use in your own hunt:
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.   John 6:35

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.   Matthew 5:16

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.   Psalm 42:1

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!   Psalm 119:103

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.  Psalm 34:8

I’m taking off from blogging this summer, but wanted to leave you with some ideas from the past to help equip you to make the most of parenting with Scripture through the summer.

If you look in my blog categories (right column on my blog page), you’ll see that I’ve categorized all the topics for easy reference.

Click on “Seasons: Summer Fun” and you will find these ideas in addition to the posts from the last three weeks.  Enjoy scrolling through and see what might be a good fit for your family’s summer.  If you’re Type A like me, you’ll even make notes on your calendar so as to be purposeful and not forget to do your favorites!  😉

• Good Deed’s Day (a day centered on others)
• Media with Scripture (think library day)
• Playing with Scripture (think whipped cream!)
• Cooking/Snacking with Scripture (think Cheez-Its!)
• Singing with Scripture (what’s your sound of the summer going to be?)
• Praying with Scripture (think mail)
• Vacationing with Scripture (what’s your vacation Scripture going to be?)
• Do you have a spiritual growth plan for your kids this summer? (maybe these ideas will get you thinking)

I’ll be popping back in a couple of times this summer to share articles that I’ve been asked to write on the topics of “Motherhood” and “Legacy” unless I decide to save them for next Mother’s Day. I’m looking forward to sharing with you how my mom and others impacted my spiritual life growing up.

And, I’ll be back to my regular Monday morning posting schedule in September (aka – when I have time to myself again!)

Happy Summer!

Oh, and don’t forget that Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments could be an easy themed idea book for your summer!

I love expanding my kids’ concept of “church” by visiting other churches when we have occasion to do so.  They see first-hand that it doesn’t matter whether the church is big or small, has a building or not, worships with different kind of music than we are used to, etc.

The beauty in this teachable moment is that the church is the  PEOPLE!  And, we’ve found that worshiping with brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter the mechanics of the church, can be a precious experience.

Did you grow up with this hand motion rhyme like I did?  If not, click here to see it in action.
Here is the church.
Here is the steeple.
Open the doors,
And there’s all the people.

Well, my fabulous youth minister turned that around and taught us teens the more Biblically accurate, though non-rhyming version.

Use the same motions, just change the words…
Here is the building. 
Here is the steeple.  
Open the doors, 
And there’s the church! 

Use both versions for a fun way to teach your kids the truth of the “church = people,” NOT the building.

The blessing of visiting other churches while on vacation –
I have wonderful memories from growing up of visiting my grandparent’s church, my aunt and uncle’s church, and even a sweet little frame church surrounded by palm trees in Hawaii on a vacation my dad won.

We’ve tried to be deliberate about taking our kids to other churches as we’ve had the opportunity.  Our kids have had the experience of
– visiting their cousins’ huge church,
– their other cousins’ very formal church,
– Florida friends’ more contemporary church,
– Aunt and Uncle’s church in Indiana (where they quickly picked up we were from Texas because of our accents!)
– And our favorite…

–  The church pictured above is made up of travelers from all over who happen to be in Keystone, Colorado on a Sunday.  We worship, not in a building made by man, but in our Creator God’s majestic mountains!

The blessing is that my kids have seen first-hand and learned that it’s our common bond in Christ that matters and not the how, when, or where. 

This summer, consider visiting another church as part of your travel or staycation plans.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:27

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12:4-5

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12

For more teachable moments, don’t forget to refer to your copy of Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.

Summer’s comin’ and whether that means a vacation, staycation, or just some scheduled family fun nights, it’s easy to incorporate Scripture!

1. Pick a verse.
   Our family likes flipping through Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments to find a verse.
2. Write the verse on a notecard.
   A child or adult can do this depending on the ability of your kid.  My daughter likes to use different colored markers as she writes the verse.  Kids can also decorate the card.
3. Post it where everyone can see it frequently.
   We usually put it on the dashboard of our car for road trips and/or display it in the main living area of where we are staying.
4. Pray the verse as a family each morning. 
5. See how God’s wonderful Word blesses your trip! 
   Each day, thank or praise God through His verse and how it is helping your vacation.  At the end of the trip, imagine what the trip would have been like without the Scripture and compare it to your experience of vacationing with Scripture.

What does Vacationing with Scripture look like in real life? 

For a mini-trip to a drive-through wildlife park, we picked this verse.  We enjoyed praising God through our verse as we marveled at His creation of such amazing animals.

For a trip when I got food poisoning and was laid up for 3 days, I recuperated in bed looking at this verse.  Well, stink!  I guess I didn’t get a picture of the verse.  So, I’ll treat you to a snapshot of the fateful lunch when I ate some bad, bad, BAD fish tacos that caused the food poisoning!  I had Tim take the picture because I wanted to remember the moment of the beautiful day, open window, feeling the breeze, so happy…..if I only knew what was coming!

For a trip when my daughter didn’t feel good for most of the week, we had this verse to encourage us.

For a recent road trip to Colorado, we were reminded of being grateful each time we got in the car.  It even challenged us to find ways to be thankful as we were dealing with a flat tire on the 14 hour drive home!  This verse was such a blessing in general that we decided to leave it in the car after the vacation.

My all time favorite vacationing with Scripture experience is detailed here.  A close second is the first time I experimented with vacationing with Scripture.

Our family is big on traditions and this has become a must any time we head out the door for a trip.  I can’t understate the beauty, blessing, encouragement, and exhortation of being mindful of a specific Scripture while we travel.

Give it a try and let me know how it goes! 

Someone recently asked my kids what they are excited about doing this summer and Jake quickly and enthusiastically replied, “Video Games!!!!”   Oh boy, here we go again with another lovely saga of parents vs. electronics!  Which reminded me…

After one of my children was grounded almost all of last summer from electronics, I realized that even our carefully thought through electronic time limits were excessive.  Without electronics as a go-to, that child became more creative, initiated playing long-forgotten games from the game closet with the sibling, finished fun “projects” that had been started but abandoned, etc.

Side note:  Why was my child grounded from electronics for months? 
Because losing them for shorter periods of time was a consequence for a certain behavioral issue.  Once they were earned back, the child immediately lost them again.  Round and round we went with longer amounts of time for the consequence so that the total ended up being about 4 months.  I’m happy to say that the persistence in discipline, discussion, and much prayer from this mommy paid off as we have yet to see a repeat of the particular issue.  Whew, that was a doozie!

Just in our little family’s microcosm of America, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of electronics.  And, I’ve been fascinated to read scientific research and anecdotal stories of the impact through Dr. Chapman and Arlene Pellicane’s book, Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen Driven World.

Summer’s comin’ fast y’all, and I like a plan.  This year we are going to try some electronic free days.

Electronic free also means:

• freedom from keeping track of electronic limits
• freedom from arguing or whining for more (or the more polite version, “May I please just finish the level?” (which in our house translates to foreeeeeever!)
• freedom from feeling the parental guilt of letting their brains turn to mush…

I’m looking forward to what these electronic free days bring!  Anyone with me?
Who knows, maybe one of the wonderful byproducts of electronic free will mean more teachable moments!  Don’t forget to use your copy of Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments as a resource!

Making your family plans for summer?  Swimming, vacation, camp…?
Consider being intentional about parenting with Scripture and incorporating a special plan during these off-school months.  Summer is a great time to shake things up and try something new with family devotionals.

These are some resources that we have had fun with through those hot months
(and other times) as my kids have grown. 

Browse through and see if any catch your interest!

Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments as a topical devotional guide –
All ages

My ABC Bible Verses has excellent verse related stories, but you can also Google or check Pinterest for something like “ABC Bible verses” and come up with free lists.  Discuss, meditate, and memorize (if you are ready for a challenge) 2-3 verses a week and you’ll cover the summer!  Or, spread it out making it a multi-year summer plan.
Preschool – Elementary

20 Bible Verses Every Child Should Know (with cd) – Looks like this one is out of print, but you can still find used copies.  This will always be the “sound of summer ’09” for us!
Preschool – Elementary

God’s Names – This is a wonderful overview of God’s names.  I’ve even learned a few things!
All ages

Walk through what Bible Study looks like with your child.  Kay Arthur has a number of Bible Studies written for kids.  We have enjoyed starting  Boy, Have I Got Problems! James  and hope to finish up this summer.
Older Elementary – Middle School

You might also find some resource ideas from my blog earlier this year about family devotions.
All ages

Or, you may enjoy sprinkling these creative ideas throughout your summer as ways of incorporating Scripture-
Scroll down through these Summer Fun Ideas.
All Ages

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
Psalm 74:17

What’s your plan? 

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. 

The Sandy Hook Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) recently announced  that Sandy Hook students will be relocating to another building to  continue school in January. To brighten the students’ first day, the PTA  is asking for handmade snowflakes from well-wishers across the country,  to hang in their new building.

“Please help these students have a ‘winter wonderland’ at their new  school! Get creative. No two snowflakes are alike,” they said.

Snowflakes can be made and sent by Jan. 12, 2013 to:
Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 13
Hamden, CT 06514

This is a tangible way to help you children cope with this tragic news and put the Parenting with Scripture topics of Compassion and Sympathy into practice.   As your children are creating snowflakes, discuss the situation in an age-appropriate way, incorporating the following verses. 

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”  Romans 12:15

“Be kind and compassionate to one another.”  Ephesians 4:32a

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”  1 Peter 3:8

Here’s a link for instructions for making snowflakes –
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Paper-Snowflake

If you are looking for an outing, your library may have books with snowflake patterns.  Our family has been enjoying experimenting with Snowflakes for All Seasons by Cindy Higham.

To lighten the mood, you might enjoy making these fun Tortialla Snowflake treats.  http://www.parentsconnect.com/parenting-your-kids/activities/crafts/Tortilla_Snowflake.html 

My kiddos often enjoy nibbling the holes rather than cutting them. 

Different forms of media offer a wealth of teachable moment for parenting with Scripture.  Be on the lookout when watching movies, reading books, listening to music, seeing billboards while driving, etc.   Here are a few media related excerpts from Parenting with Scripture to get you thinking.

Soul Surfer – From the “Take Action section under the topic Revenge.
Make “Overcome evil with good” your motto (Romans 12:21).  When people wrong you, look for ways to surprise them with kindness.  By reacting this way, you will be ministering to others when they least expect it and in a way that will certainly catch their attention.  The movie Soul Surfer offers a great example of this.  Watch how Bethany reacts to Malina’s unkindness, and see how Malina is influenced by Bethany’s response by the end of the movie.

Sound of Music – From the “Take Action” section under the topic Confidence.
Watch the classic movie The Sound of Music and discuss the song “I Have Confidence” sung by the character Maria.  It is near the beginning of the movie when Maria leaves the abbey to become a governess.

Yertle the Turtle – From the “Discussion” section under the topic Conceitedness.
Can you feel that you are special without being conceited or snobby?
*How can you find a balance between the two?
Find a copy of Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss, and read it together.
*How was Yertle conceited?  Read Romans 12:16b
*Read 2 Corinthians 12:7.  What was Yertle’s “thorn in his flesh” that kept him from becoming conceited?
How does this story related to you?
*Is there anyone you “step on” to get what you want?
*Is there anyone you have been putting down or thinking yourself better than?  See Galatians 5:26
*Have you been snobby about a particular think you do well?  Read Jeremiah 13:15
*Do you have a “thorn in your flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7)?
*Have you been a victim of someone else’s conceitedness?  Look up and read Psalm 119:21 and Psalm 119:51.

Aesop’s Fable – The Boy Who Cried Wolf – From the “Take Action” section under the topic Honesty.
Online or at the library, find a copy of Aesop’s fable “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”  Read the story and interject questions throughout the reading.  For example:  After each time the boy cries wolf, ask what your child would do if he were a townsperson.  At the end, ask if he feels sorry for the boy.  Why or why not?
(Refer to a copy of Parenting with Scripture for verses and discussion questions related to honesty.)

This awesome idea is from my sweet church friend, Mary Andrews…

Hello!  Kara has asked me to share with you a fun activity that I did last week with my three kids, ages 10, 9 and 6.  First, let me preface this with saying that I have “normal” kids.  Each summer for the last 5 years, we have put together a simple list on poster-board of summer goals that we have for the few months home from school.  Each child had several fun suggestions, and I interjected with the idea of a “Good Deeds Day” and got…silence.  We put it on the list and decided to cross that activity off our list last Thursday.

I first had to encourage them that this was actually going to be a fun activity as they weren’t too sure.  We set out to our local grocery store, and parked our car.  From there, we looked for stray grocery carts that we then gathered together and delivered into the store.  At first, especially my youngest, was crying about how ‘hard’ this was, but the manager actually came out to thank them and told them they were “hired”, which made for smiles all around.

While at the grocery store, we purchased a small bouquet of flowers and told the kids that I had someone in mind to give it to…our church secretary.  Once in the car, I took a moment to talk to them about how our pastors are so visible and yet they would agree with me that without our hard-working secretary, Carol, so much of what they do would not get done.  This was really eye-opening to them, and I could tell they were excited to give the flowers to such a deserving person.  I had my oldest son take the flowers and hand them to her, and each child said, “thank you” and told her about the Good Deeds day we were a part of.  I could tell my idea was catching on!

Some of the other activities we did were leaving a dollar bill on an ATM machine, finding a random mailbox in a struggling neighborhood and putting $5 in it (that was my 9 year old’s idea: he was most excited), and the highlight was going to the drive-thru at Chick-Fil-A to pay anonymously for the car behind us.  What was especially nice about this was that there was a time when we were the only ones in line so we were able to pray together that the right person who needed a blessing would come.  My son prayed that it wouldn’t be a school bus of hungry kids, too!  Turns out, we paid only $2.66 for a young woman’s beverage and waited to see her reaction and she simply drove away without any acknowledgment or smile!  That, too, became a lesson in gratitude and we had good conversations all the way home about how they would have reacted differently.

All in all, this was only an hour and a half activity, yet I felt like it really made an impact on them.  It was humbling when, only a few hours later, they told their dad at dinner only a little bit of our day together!  Again, normal kids, but I’m hoping a little seed was planted and that they will one day think of others in special, anonymous ways.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Hebrews 10:24