Love My Squeegee

A squeegee and a dustpan work great for cleaning up messy wet spills like a spilled bowl of cereal… a second spilled bowl of cereal… and a third.

 

A Bible and prayer is great for cleaning up a round of bad attitudes… a second round of bad attitudes… and a third.

 

Matthew 18:22

 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

 

 

Play in the Rain

The Lord is like an umbrella, protecting us and covering us with his with His love.

Grab an umbrella and play with your child in the rain today.

 Experience what it means to be “covered.”

Books of the Bible Song

I found a great Books of the Bible Song on Utube.  My boys love it.

 

Shine for Jesus Pumpkin

 

Here is a great pumpkin carving activity for teaching children about Jesus.

Encourage your children to shine for Jesus Christ.

 

 

Philipians 2:15-16

“you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life”

Tickle!!

“Nanny Nanny Boo Boo, You can’t catch me!”  Squeals shriek through the hallway.  Laughter echoes throughout the kitchen.  Around the island, past the coffee table, and back down the hallway we run in our game of “Tickle”.  My boys take off in every direction and the game is on.

My two year old is always the easiest prey.  Like a duckling running from a fox, his bottom waddles from side to side as his little legs go in every direction.  It is one of my favorite things to watch.  I can’t help but laugh as I take him down.  I tickle him relentlessly until he is out of breath then I am on to my next victim.

My three year old is quicker, but horribly clumsy.  He trips over air frequently and is constantly attacked by stationary structures like walls.  He tries to escape but his feet fail him.  He slams into the floor in a manner that looks some what painful but laughs none the less.  My second victim has been taken down, to be tickle tortured until he squirms away.

Then its time to get my six year old.  He is fast and quick and if it weren’t for the fact that he wants to be caught I am not sure that I would ever actually catch him.  When I finally get a hold of him he quickly begs for mercy, because he doesn’t actually like the tickling part… it is the chase that he is seeking.  The sooner I let go the chase can resume so I release him only to pursue him again.

But now the game always takes a new level.  I charge after them, they run in panic.  Screaming and not looking back.  I duck behind a bedroom door, or jump in the shower and hide behind the curtain.  I remain quite and listen.

They notice I am not behind them.  They call out, “Mom?…Mom?”  I laugh to myself.  I hear their footsteps.  They get closer and closer.  I make no sounds whatsoever.  I wait like a lioness in the thicket ready to prance and catch my prey.  They get close.  They step in and “Aaaahaaaa!!”

They scream.  They flee.  They laugh.  And the game starts all over from the beginning usually not ending without at least five pleas for “More…more.  Again….again.”  The game never gets old.

 

Play Tickle with your little one today.

Called to Praise

Read Isaiah 44:23 to your children.

Isaiah 44:23

Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;
shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
and will be glorified in Israel.

Reflect Together on the Scripture:

Think of the heavens, the deep-sea, the mountains and the forests. How is the body of Christ like these things? Is heaven in you? Are you like a rock on a mountain?  Are you like a drop of water in a great big sea? Are you like a tree in the forest? How are you like Jacob?  Are you redeemed? How is the body of Christ like Israel? Does the body of Christ glorify the Lord?  According to this scripture what is the heavens, the depths, the mountains, the forest and every tree called to do?

Read and act out this poem with your kids: The Praising Tree

The Praising Tree

 

Notice how the coconut trees are able to lift their fruit higher than the trees below. How can you lift up your praise to God?

 

This is a poem written to help children understand different ways they can communicate their praise to God.

Read the Poem and Act Out the Motions in Italics.

-

The Praising Tree

 

-

He lifts me high like the heavens,

(Pretend to soar in the heavens)

and give understanding deep as the sea.

(Pretend to dive deep in the sea)

He makes me strong like a mountain,

(Stand firm like a mountain with arms raised making a summit)

and waters me like a tree.

(Lift your arms to feel the rain falling as does a tree)

-

-

So I will raise my voice to praise him,

(Shout out a praise to God)

and search the depths of his truth.

(Pretend to open and search through the pages)

I will stand firm in love and devotion,

(Stand still placing hand together like a mountain- appearing like praying hands)

raising my branches and bearing his fruit.

(Pretend to be a tree in the wind: Raise your arms and allow God’s Spirit to move you to Smile, Laugh and Sing Praises to God)

-

By Charity A. Gutierrez

-

-

For a reinforcement to the theme in this poem read Isaiah 44:23 with your kids.

.

.

.

A Note About “Possible Related Posts”:WordPress has attached “Related Posts” at the bottom of this post.  These are posts from various bloggers on various subjects which WordPress selects based on possible related content.  I DO NOT endorse any of the content you may read from these related articles nor the people who write them.  I would hope related articles and the writers who write them would mirror messages of hope and be consistent in moral integrity as clearly defined in the bible.

Teaching Forgiveness

You will need:

- a glass bowl filled with water and bleach

- an old white rag

- food coloring

 

Let your kids use food coloring to dye a white rag.  As they drop dye on the rag explain to them that bad attitudes, thoughts and behaviors can leave stains on their pure heart and mind.  Tell them the only way to remove the stains left by attitudes, thoughts and behaviors is by asking for forgiveness.  Have them ask you to accept their rag.  Teach them that when their apology is accepted it is like the stain is taken away (put the rag in a bowl with bleach water and watch them stand amazed). Repeat activity.  This time show them how bleach must be added to the water.  Teach them that the one who forgives has the power (just like you hold the bleach in your hand). And that they should forgive others as they would want to be forgiven.

Clean Hands? Let me smell them.

Quick Tip:

Next time your kids come to eat at the table, check to see if their hands are clean by SMELLING them.

Bible Lesson

“Believe it or not your heavenly Father is very concerned about how clean your hands are.  He will check and he will reward those whose hands are clean. He is checking for dirt in our heart and soul. You clean your hands by washing with soap and water. How can we clean our heart?

We clean our hands not by saying, ‘My hands are clean!’ or by arguing ‘I am innocent’.  That will not do with God just as it will not do with mom at the dinner table.  We clean our hearts by confessing our sin to God and asking for forgiveness. The dirt must be removed and their must be a certain aroma. Just like the smell of a certain soap I must smell before I satisfiy your hunger, there is a certain smell God is looking for. Do you know what smell it is?

It is the smell of Jesus Christ.  Christ’s crucifixion is still sufficient for the removal of ALL of our sins.  We take our sins to the cross-’our sink’ and apply the word of God-’our soap’.. and lather up in the grace of God- ‘our water’ and watch as our wrong actions and attitudes and thinking gets washed away.  We thank Jesus.. just as we do before receiving a meal.. we thank him for washing our hands and for giving us the aroma of his innocence before our heavenly Father. We clean our hands through him and are blessed because of it. Is your heart clean? Perhaps we should pray to be sure.”

Lead them in prayer to clean their hearts before receiving the blessings of God at the dinner table.

Scriptures:

2 Samuel 22:21
“The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness;according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

Job 17:9
Yet the righteous holds to his way,and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.

Job 22:30
He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”

Psalm 24:4
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

James 4:8

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Ezekiel 20:41
As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.

2 Corinthians 2:15
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

No More Messy Magnets

Here is a simple solution for getting YOUR KIDS to organize the messy magnets all over your fridge.  Simply use your home scanner to make a copy of the order you want your kids to place the magnets in after they are done playing.

This is great for Alphabet matching and Number matching too!