The Good Samaritan - and how my kids can be good neighbors

Wow!  What a week - I can't believe it's already Thursday.  I've been thinking of this blog since hearing the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) Sunday at church and can't help but think that God had his special timing in place for this lesson.  School started on Tuesday for my kiddos.  Junior & Freshman in High School along with two tiny Kindergartners.  Such a big transition for me.  

My two youngest kids have stayed home with me for the last 5 years.  I've been planting these little seeds of academia into their brains of course; but my big focus, my major focus, has been equipping them to be good neighbors.  Fortunately they have had a lot of practice since they've been together from the beginning.  I've constantly reminded them to be kind, loving, compassionate, trustworthy, and genuine.  We've read books on 'no biting', 'all people are different', 'God loves everyone' and with that my hope and desire for them when they encounter that big world of school is that they remember it all.  Oh sure, there will be set-backs - fights and disagreements - just like there were they last few years at home together.  But my hope is that they will remember our 'lessons' and act according to godly ways, thoughts and actions.  Just as the Samaritan did on that path long ago.  He didn't look away and cross the street, he faced the pain and discomfort head on.  He payed for medical treatment and he washed the wounds of the man himself.  I hope my kids will be that Samaritan.  They will not only act like him but they will be him if they see a friend or neighbor in need.  So, yes, I want them to learn to read, write and add; but my most important focus for them is to be of godly character - always.

I love putting notes into my kids lunch boxes (even though they aren't fluent readers yet).  I was so excited to find biblical focused lunch notes.  Click here to print them and stick them in your child's lunch!

 Teaching Prayer....

Is hard for some parents to do.  It requires knowing how to do it for ourselves before confidently passing on prayer to our children.  I have had times in my life when prayer was difficult for me.  I had very specific prayers that I wanted answers to (and didn't get).  So, my outlook on prayer has changed dramatically.

Our scripture from Sunday was from the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8).  In the parable the widow is persistent in bothering the judge.  She won't take 'no' as an answer.  Jesus used this parable to remind us that prayer and petition are essential in our relationship with Him.  We must constantly pray and talk with God during our day-to-day journey's so we can become closer to Him and confident in his love for us.  

One thing I try and remember when praying is to thank God.  Sounds simple, right?  Most of the people I speak to pray only when they are in turmoil or have a need.  They forget they must be in constant prayer and give glory and thanks to God for the small things they have.  It's like a Pollyanna approach to the "good game."  Remember she always found a "good" thing out of the bad?  It's hard to do.  I remember praying to God for a child.  I cried, yelled, bargained and still it didn't come.  I went through three years of extreme emotional turmoil and constantly struggled with finding the good.  I'm not saying once my attitude changed to positive I became pregnant (because it didn't) but a wise friend told me when I changed my prayers to thanksgiving for the things I did have my outward attitude would change for the better and my inward struggle would become peaceful... And, they were right.  For me, this journey of learning to pray with a thankful heart was a God journey.  I learned that through Him my desires would be provided.  

The other important thing to think about when praying is that the plan has already been written.  God knows what will be and what will come.  He wrote our script and we must do our part.  So, when I pray now I acknowledge that the plan is written and I ask God to help me see it.  I still occasionally ask for a specific petition but mostly I ask for patience and understanding of His plan.

My plan in teaching my children to pray is simple.  Talk with God.  Tell Him about your day.  Praise Him for all the beautiful things around us.  Thank Him for providing.  Ask Him for forgiveness.  Pray for those around us that are sick or hurting.  Ask Him to guide us and hold us and love us.  Simple and straightforward.  If your family sings you may use praise and worship songs to pray.  Pray as a family.  Model your simple prayers with your children.  You will be astounded at what your child will create.  And the big question... what if your child prays for something specific and doesn't get it?  A hard lesson for our little people.  We must embrace the belief that God has the plan.  It may not be what we want right this moment but we must have faith that he will provide for us.  We are all living proof of that!

Reaching for Heaven

The parable we studied at our 9:30 worship service and during St. Phil's Kids this Sunday was "The Parable of the Feast the Invited Guests Didn't Attend." The main focus of this parable is God wants us in heaven with Him.

First I would encourage you to ask your child(ren) what they think heaven is like; ask them to draw a picture or write a story of what they imagine.  Ask them why they think heaven is like this.  Ask them who they think they will meet in heaven.  Ask them how they get to heaven.  Death is a scary thing for most people.  It's uncomfortable to talk about; mostly because of the unknown.  Remember, your child will take their cue from you!  We don't know what heaven is like.  Everything we're talking about is speculation.  We know God wants us in heaven with Him.  After you're child has given/shown you an idea of what they think heaven is like and after they've answer the question of how we get there our dialogue can begin.

Here is the truth: "This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent." John 17:3

We must teach our children the way to heaven is through Jesus Christ.  As adults, we know the only way to heaven is by believing in Jesus Christ as our savior.  We know there is only one thing that can bring us everlasting life.  Society tries to blur this with "doing good deeds", "loving our neighbors", "going to church", or "being trustworthy".  These traits are important, they will make us better humans and better ambassadors of love, but the true way to get to heaven is by believing in Jesus Christ.

By continuing your spiritual walk in front of your children you will give them the courage to become believers and be in heaven with Him.

Have a great week!

Teaching Our Children the Cost of Discipleship

Our scripture focus this week comes from Luke 14:25 - 35.  It begins with Jesus outlining the demands of following him.  He states in vs. 25 - 26 "Whoever comes to me and doesn't hate father and mother, spouse and children, and brothers and sisters - yes, even one's own life - cannot be my disciple.  Whoever doesn't carry their own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."  Wow.  Pretty powerful words.  We must pick Jesus over all others.  I must love Jesus more than my husband, my children, my parents... In order to follow Him my heart must put Him first.  This can be a hard verse for our children to hear as well; they use the word hate in a different context (we all do, really).  After researching the Greek word for hate it does not always mean what's written in our dictionary of modern culture.  In fact, within the context of the biblical time the word hate simply means to love less.  So, when we discuss this verse I often intermingle the word hate with love less.

When we begin reading the parable (vs. 28) "If one of you wanted to build a tower, wouldn't you first sit down and calculate the cost, to determine whether you have enough money to complete it?"  My short answer: YES!  Whenever a project comes up I make the necessary lists and confer with my spouse regarding finances to make sure once we begin it can be completed.  I try and make sure when I'm making medical decisions for my children that I've thought through all the complex scenarios that come with it.  I am a planner; therefore this verse comes easy to me.  For others who read this verse they may not need to think things through as much as I do; they are more a jump in and see kind of people.  Jesus asks again in vs. 31 "Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down to consider whether his ten thousand soldiers could go up against the twenty thousand coming against him?"  Jesus is laying out what the discipleship expectation is for us.  He wants us to be sure we will love Him the most.

Let's talk about applying this to teaching our children.  You may discuss what kinds of things you and your child prepare for.  I know school's coming up for us and we often talk about what we need to do to prepare ourselves for that transition.  Your child may play sports - what do you have to do in order to be ready to play?  Or, an instrument, making dinner, planting a garden.  The list is endless.  Let your child come up with a few ideas and talk about how you must prepare in order to be successful at what you want to do.  Next, talk about how much YOU love God.  Explain that your love for God comes before your love for them.  You may be surprised that your child will accept this and support this.  A hands on activity is a fun way to bring it home and make it clearer as well.  Draw a few circles on a blank piece of paper.  Have your child write or draw a picture of their favorite things.  You may want to guide them with a list of people, pets, places, etc.  After they've filled all the circles you've provided have them cover each circle with a piece of foil you've cut to match.  Explain that the 'coin' is a way you count the cost of being a disciple of Christ.

Here's a sample of what we did in Sunday School.

Remember to close the lesson with a prayer and remind your child of your love for them with a hug and kiss!

Have a great week!