Finding Grace-Filled Confidence in the Chaos
Did you know that there are a lot of benefits to having a strong-willed child? We don’t have to view this as a negative! Here are my observations about the positive qualities of a strong-willed child that we as Christian parents should recognize and appreciate! From the moment she was born, I was certain my daughter […] Read more…
Barely were the words “go put away your clothes” out of my mouth than I heard a huge sigh from my 7 year old daughter. She slumped her shoulders and stomped off, not at all eager to listen to my request. Seems silly, right? And yet thousands of children like mine–and maybe yours too!–don’t ever seem […] Read more…
I love teaching my kids Bible verses! There are lots of ways to do this, from Bible verse puzzles to hand motions to “writing through” the Scriptures! For us, a simple way that always is effective for teaching our children the Word of God is to just have them practice saying the words with and after […] Read more…
It’s uncomfortable saying this, but for a very long time, I’ve been making excuses. Many of them, really, about a variety of things, but most specifically about ministering to others. You see, I have four small children, and my husband and I believe our kids are my main ministry. This is a worthy thing, but it […] Read more…
My childhood was filled with experiences of egg hunts on Easter morning, a church service where we would sing familiar Resurrection songs and a pretty table full of delicious food that we ate while spending time with family. They were sweet times and make for cherished memories! However, our children won’t be celebrating this holiday quite the same way I […] Read more…
These 10 Scripture verses are perfect for teaching to toddlers. It will help your little ones understand God’s Word and His love for them too! Every time our two year old goes to her Tiny Tots Sunday school class, the teacher passes around the Bible and asks the kids if they want to put their […] Read more…
“Dear Lord, ummm….” Do your children’s prayers ever begin this way? I know my seven-year-old son’s do! Several months ago, he really started struggling with praying out loud. Previously, he had prayed fairly easily so we weren’t sure what to think! Was it a discipline issue? Was he “bored” during devotions? While I don’t know […] Read more…
There’s a damaging mindset I’ve been struggling with in regards to motherhood. It’s played itself over and over in my mind at different times during the past decade….and it’s hard to make it stop. It’s a nagging thought that sneaks into my mind late at night, when I can’t sleep. Or during a difficult day, […] Read more…
When it comes to children’s Bible storybooks, we are very fussy around here. Of course we read straight from the Bible for family devotions (find tips on how to start devotions with your family in this post and also 7 ways to begin teaching the Bible in your home), but we also recognize the value of […] Read more…
When I was 9 years old, I got something I really wanted for Christmas: a fancy version of an Etch-a-Sketch. For all intents and purposes, I should have been happy. But instead, I burst into tears after opening all my presents and feeling like I didn’t have “enough”. Looking back, I obviously realize that this […] Read more…
When I was young, I had a little daily flip calendar that shared one of the Names of Jesus for each day of the year along with the corresponding Bible verse. How amazing is it that Scripture refers to Jesus in 366 different ways! I was thinking back to that calendar the other day, wishing I still had […] Read more…
I was thinking the other night that I can’t believe I’ve blogged for four years without sharing with you our favorite Scripture memory music albums for kids! I really think putting Bible verses to music is the best way to learn them and help them stay in your heart and mind. Think about how many […] Read more…
Most children are curious…..about everything! I love hearing questions from my three kids (the 1 year old just does a lot of observing at this point) and being able to answer them, but sometimes I don’t know the details of my answer or some days I need a few quiet moments where they can learn about […] Read more…
Why is it so critical to pray for our children when they start a new school year? You might think the obvious answer might be, “because of all those influences at school.” But really, there’s so much more to praying for our kids’ school year than the peer pressure they encounter. Three Important Reasons We […] Read more…
I almost didn’t write this post. In fact, I almost quite writing the Rediscovering Joy in Motherhood series altogether! It’s funny how the things we try to encourage others about, the lessons we think we’ve learned, and the situations we believe we’ve mastered are the very things that challenge us once again. My husband and […] Read more…