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Alicethroughthe lookingglass by SamiDavisDog.flickr.com_4243505603_c52b2c9890_CC BY ND 2.0
I break the rules in movie theaters quite often. Like, I tuck my own healthy snacks inside my purse in order to avoid my weight gain inducing, pop-corn, cheesy tortilla and soft drink cravings. But mostly, you’ll find that I’ll pull our my iPhone and jot down life-changing tidbits hidden within a movie’s dialogue on my Notes app that strike a chord.
That said, here’s the 6 things Alice Through the Looking Glass taught me about life and family:
“Very important thing, a family. You only get one,” said the Mad Hatter. Living within our families isn’t always easy. I know growing up in mine wasn’t easy. One day we were the perfect, twice-on Sunday and once on Wednesday church-going family. The next day, we were the newest broken, absent-father, lock-key-kid, mother-working divorced and church-shunned family in the pews. No matter how I wished my family were whole again, or wished I could live in a different family, I soon realized you only get one. You only get one family and I wanted my whole one back. While my prayers were eventually answered, (unique among divorced families), we weren’t the same. We were still a broken family striving to erase the mistakes of my father’s indiscretions. But, living through those broken and mending years reinforced in me was that we only do get one family and I wanted mine to work. I wanted a Godly husband and family characterized by God-centeredness, unconditional love, loyalty, fidelity, honesty, transparency, and forgiveness toward one another and our “neighbors.”
“If you don’t go back and reconcile, you’ll be sorry…You’re family will be lost and you won’t be able to do anything about it, ” said Alice to the Mad Hatter.While my parents’ reconciliation was my heart’s greatest desire, it took me thirty years to work through the heartache and pain of an absent father. Unforgiveness became my secret defense weapon—holding him at arm’s length protected me from further pain. Unfortunately, I carried every relationship I had at arm’s length, hoping to protect myself from their possible rejection and abandonment as well.
“Forgive me?” asked the White Queen. “That’s all I ever wanted,” replied her sister, the Queen of Hearts.In the movie, Alice Through the Looking Glass, we learn the back story of why the Queen of Hearts harbors so much anger. You see, everyone has a back story which doesn’t dismiss their misbehavior, but it sure explains a lot. Once I learned my father’s back story and God helped me see my father through His eyes, (how God created him, how nothing could stop God from loving and forgiving him) then all my excuses to withhold forgiveness fell away. How could I not offer my father what Jesus so freely offered me? Freely offers the world?
“You cannot change the past but I dare say, you might learn from it,” explained Time.No, we cannot change the past, even when we offer forgiveness. We don’t own a chronosphere to travel back in time to make things right, like Alice did. But, we can move forward, learning the lessons from our past and with God’s help, (always with God’s help) we can forge a better future.
“To do the impossible, you must believe it is possible,” declared Alice. Forgiving someone who has wronged you and hurt you deeply, may seem incredibly impossible to you right now. I get that. Although God confronted me about my unforgiveness, it took me seven months of working through my woundedness before I finally asked God for the impossible—the courage to face my father and offer him forgiveness and ask forgiveness of him.
“Everyone parts with everything, eventually,” explained Time. While God created all things for his pleasure, including and especially family, sin entered the world through the first family of creation, and therefore, we all pass away…eventually. My father suffered a long good-bye. In some ways, I’d never want to relive that again and yet, it was the sweetest good-bye I’ve ever experienced. During his last months of life, God reconciled all the stolen years. We talked about the past and said all those important, unregrettable last words to one another. Best of all, God taught me how to be a good daughter to him; how to love and care for him unconditionally, until his very last breath.
Are any of these statements challenging you today? What life lessons have you gleaned from a favorite story book or movie? How do you apply them to your life story?
On July 18, Ava Pennington posted a wonderful blog about teachable moments with children—how they are often spontaneous and can occur as a response to something a child sees. I recently had a teachable moment while playing a new game with my granddaughter.
Teri McKinley and I have had the privilege of writing for Discovery House Publishers’ new line of books for children, Our Daily Bread for Kids and Our Daily Bread for Preschoolers. The publisher has created some “spin off” products such as coloring books, activity books, and music CDs. A brand new product in this line is Our Daily Bread for Kids Matching Game. The sturdy square pieces feature the characters from the first two published devotional books. From Moses at the burning bush and Jonah and the whale, to Jesus, Joseph, Mary and the apostle Paul, the colorful pictures are flipped over in order to find a matching piece.
One of the square pieces features the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples. When my granddaughter found the match she asked what the Holy Spirit was. We paused for a moment as I explained how God sent the Holy Spirit to be a helper to His people after Jesus went to heaven. I told her that everyone who has Jesus as their Savior has the Holy Spirit. I asked her if she understood and she said, “It’s God is inside of us.”
It’s wonderful to read Bible storybooks and picture books that help children learn more about God, but it’s also fun to learn more about God while searching for matching pieces.
To order Our Daily Bread for Kids Matching Game, visit your local Christian bookstore or go online to: http://www.christianbook.com/daily-bread-for-kids-matching-game/9781627074964/pd/074964?event=ESRCG
Here’s to finding Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, and big whales.
A hypocrite is someone whose character is inconsistent with his words and deeds. How fitting that the English word, hypocrite, comes from the Greek word for actor. After all, an actor is pretending to be someone he is not.
Hypocrisy is not a new condition. Jesus addressed the same problem centuries ago when He rebuked the Pharisees:
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach” (Matthew 23:2-3 NIV)
Today, our society employs a cliché to describe the philosophy of this type of person: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
We want to share the Gospel with young people, but there may be occasions when we try to force the issue when we have not earned the right to share. Many young people are turned off by family and church members who say one thing about Jesus on Sunday, but live far from Him Monday through Saturday.
Jesus did say, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17 NIV). But let’s not use His words as an excuse for failing to live without hypocrisy.
It may be time for some self-examination. Do we trust the Lord the way we want our children to trust Him? Do we obey God the way we want our children to obey Him? Ask God to show you where you need His righteousness to live transparently. Then share the Gospel with young people who need His righteousness, too.
May we be able to say to our children along with the apostle Paul, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV).
Do your children have a favorite book they ask you to read every night, every day, over and over? I know mine sure do. They want to hear Little Red Riding Hood, then act it out with all the props we can make up. They love Sunshine on My Shoulders and Grandma’s Feather Bed as long as I sing while I read. They also love Eric Carle stories because they get to chime in, or correct me if I miss a word. Though none of these fall into the category of Christian Children’s Books, they can still be used to teach children to look at the world with Biblical eyes.
Let’s take Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Think about questions and comments you might use before, during, and/or after the reading. Here’s a few suggestions.
Read the Title –
What’s a caterpillar?
Have you ever seen a caterpillar?
Where do caterpillars come from?Beginning –
Beginning –
Awww, Look how little and cute.
What’s the little caterpillar doing?
Why?
Middle –
Is there a problem? (Yes, he ate too much. Yes, he did the wrong thing.)
What happened? (He got a stomach ache.)
Have you ever eaten too much and gotten a stomach ache?
Have you ever done the wrong thing and gotten a stomach ache?
How are these two kinds of stomach aches different?
How did you try to fix your stomach aches?
How do you think the caterpillar will try to fix his?
Ending –
How does the caterpillar try to fix the problem? (Eats good food. “Turns over a new leaf.”)
What day of the week is it?
How is the problem fixed?
How does the cocoon look?(dead)
What happened in the end? (became a butterfly)
Can a butterfly ever go back to being a caterpillar?
Would he want to be a caterpillar again?
These types of questions can be used during the reading if the child is familiar with the story, or after the initial reading, you can go back and talk about the story.
It is very easy to plant the gospel seed in a young child with this story. An older child may even be able to understand sin, conviction (stomach ache), repentance(dying to self), and salvation (butterfly, becoming a new creature).
If you would like to show your children the butterfly life cycle, catch a butterfly and place it in a terrarium (Our moth took almost 6 months to change. We almost tossed him out.) You can also order caterpillars which will change in a few weeks. caterpillars. Be sure to have a celebration to release the butterflies or moths. A changed life always deserves a celebration!
Drink a tall glass of cold water and talk about how water helps your body. It helps protect your joints, spinal cord; helps your stomach digest food; helps keep your body temperature at the right level; makes your skin glow; helps blood flow better; prevents headaches; and even helps you be less cranky.
Chat about signs of dehydration (lack of water in your body). These include feeling dizzy, headaches, dry mouth, cracked or chapped lips, and thirst.
Talk about fun walks in the light rain with no lightning and splashing in puddles after the rain.
Chat about how we need rain to see a rainbow.
Make a splash with a water balloon toss.
Going without rain causes a drought, That’s hard on people.
In the Bible the people of Israel had a three year drought that caused people and animals to starve because plants couldn’t grow and they didn’t have enough water to drink. Read about it in 1 Kings 17, 18:1, 41-46.
When I was a new mother, I felt woefully inadequate. Though I loved being a mom, I also felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. Why did it seem everyone else was so much more confident than I was?
I knew I needed to become more assertive and confident the day I was at my mom’s with my newborn daughter. Mom had rocked Jessica to sleep and asked, “Where do you want me to lay her?”
“It doesn’t matter. Wherever you think best,” I replied.
Mom looked at me, and as usual, knew what was going on inside me. “Linda,” she said. “This is your baby. You decide what’s best for her.”
That was my wake-up call to being an assertive, confident mother.
Later, I read an article that helped me gain the confidence I lacked as a mom. I don’t remember what magazine it was. I don’t know who the author was. But I know that what it said stayed with me all these 30-plus years later.
In a nutshell it said, “You’re this child’s mother. No one knows her better than you do.” I know that sounds simple, but it came back to me time and time again when I had no clue what I was doing as a mother. When my baby cried, she wanted ME, not someone else, and certainly not because I was so well-qualified, but simply because I was her mom. I was the one she trusted to care for her, with all my inadequacy, foibles, mistakes, and lack of confidence. Me!
You may not have all the answers either, but you do know how your baby likes to be held, what things most often make her cry, or stop crying. You know what her favorite toy is and that she needs her blankie to rub as she drifts off to sleep. You know her tickle spots and the way her eyes crinkle before she breaks into a smile. You know the way she likes to sway and which songs are her favorite. You know what sounds scare her and what makes her squeal with joy. You know far more about that little person God gifted into your care than you think you do.
And even if you don’t know those things yet, it doesn’t matter. She knows your heartbeat and your gentle touch. She hears your voice, feels your steady breathing, and the way you stroke her downy-soft hair and she’s calmed. Why? Because you’re her precious mama.
So rest easy. Ignore all the unwanted advice you receive and trust your gut. Ask God for help. Reach out to mothers you respect when you really need another opinion. But be confident that you’re enough, because you are. Because God has and will continue to equip you, you’ll learn this mothering thing backward and forward, inside and out.
And it will be the most glorious, excruciating, wonder-filled adventure you ever set out on.
In England school is now out ~ and in other places school has been finished a while. Family holidays, church camps, holiday clubs, beach missions are now taking place and will fill 2 or 3 weeks of our time. But what do we do with the rest of the time?
Regular followers of our blog will be aware that I enjoy using pinterest, and so today I’m going to share an idea that I’ve seen shared in differing ways but the general theme is the same, creating a fun schedule for the week of ideas you can choose from.
Making Monday.
Make pavement paint and have fun painting outside. Or just make a great picture with paints, crayons or glue and different coloured paper/material.
Make a junk model.
Cooking ~ Ask the children what they would like to make, then find a new recipe online.
Build something with building blocks/Lego ~ maybe look online for an idea of what to build and try to follow the picture.
Set up a mud kitchen. All the children need are some old pots, pans, baking trays, wooden spoons…oh and some old clothes because sometimes they can get really muddy! Also for added fun, have a bucket of water nearby that they can use to fill up bottles or jugs so they can add water to the mixture they are making. Be clear about which part of the garden they can use to dig in, and which plants, if any they can pick. Our rule at home is they can pick grass and daisies but not anything else. However, most of the time they are just content with mixing mud and water.
Sew, cross stitch, embroider, knit, crochet something. Summer is a good time to start learning that skill; then they have a skill to enjoy during the winter months.
Enjoy woodwork, learning how to use the tools safely and making something interesting.
Take a Trip Tuesday
Go to the park, beach, woods.
Go to a National Trust (UK) location or National Park. In the holidays a lot of National Trust areas have activities designed for children ~ like scavenger hunts on nature trails.
Go to a zoo, animal park, wildlife centre, sealife centre, petting zoo, safari park.
Visit a museum, model village, model railway.
Go to the circus, visit a state or county fair.
Go to cinema, theatre.
Go cycling round your neighbourhood, in the hills, around the lake, along the seafront, through the park ~ check out places near you that would be great to take your bikes.
Wet Wednesday.
Go swimming.
Get out the paddling pool.
Go to a water park.
Go fishing, crabbing.
Blowing bubbles. Go online to find lots of different activities you can do with bubbles.
Go boating ~ rowing, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, hire a boat for either a day trip or a couple of hours on the water or travel on a tourist boat exploring the waterways of the area.
Get out paintbrushes and buckets of water and paint outside using water.
Have fun with water balloons, water guns and sprinklers.
Set up a marble run and use water beads instead of marbles.
Have a large plastic bowl/container with water on the ground/floor and add toy fish, boats, people, nets (collect netting from around fruit) and an imaginative world is created. If using indoors, I advise using on a tiled or lino floor (we use the bathroom) and put a towel under the bowl/container to soak up the spillages. The area will probably still need drying after, but the towel does soak up the worst so you don’t have such a flood or such a sliding hazard!
Have fun with puddles and the rain! Rainy Day: 25 activities listed here, but 2, 4, 7, 13, 15, and 17 are the ones I really like.
Thinking Thursday
Go to the library. You might want to choose a theme for the week to base your activities around, or just choose something that day that they want to find out about.
Science experiments. Again there are a lot of activities online for different ages that you could try. Our nursery children particularly loved it when we made volcanoes, then watched in fascination when their one erupted.
Make a Lego water wheel. A great engineering activity! A Lego marble run, getting the brain thinking as they create a maze, is another great idea. You can find lots more Lego activities online.
Set up a tent/make a den (inside or out) and fill it with beanbags and cushions. Curl up with favourite books, read magazines, have puzzle books out ~ or make your own puzzles online and print out for them. Have jigsaws available.
(If the last few days in particular have been packed, then children often need either a day or a morning/afternoon to just chill out to recharge so they don’t get over tired or over excited so just having a quiet day reading and doing puzzles will be a welcome relief…for you as well as the children! Actually, I usually take books out with me on trips so the children can have a little time to chill out and relax when they are out and about)
Have a picnic in the tent, or definitely some sort of snack too. They can think about what they want and can help make up their own picnic lunch. If you need to do some shopping then let them create their own lists of what they need, writing or drawing the items.
Family Fun Friday!
Time for games! You can get board games out which can be played inside or outside, morning or evening.
Do a Scavenger Hunt. There are several different ones online. If you change your location, you can keep the same hunt, just looking for the items in a different area will keep the game fresh. I also have a post about a Bible themed one you could do: Bible Scavenger Hunt
Boules! We have the coloured set and it’s a favourite game to play. It does work better on grass, but we play it on the sand too!
Crazy Golf/Pitch & Putt ~ you can go to a place to play this or set up your own in your back garden. Here’s a homemade golf target I found for young children.
Twister. You may have the game to play inside, but it’s great to bring outside. Or you can paint your own spots on the grass to make it more interesting.
Skittles. Save your plastic drinks bottles and fill them with water. You can add food colouring to make it look more appealing. At night time you can add glow sticks so you can still play the game when it grows dark.
Play football, basketball, netball, tennis, badminton, volleyball, cricket, rounders/baseball. You can play small games with your family, or if you want a bigger game then meet up with extended family and/or friends. You can play these in your own gardens, or go to the park, beach or a facility that provides these sports.
Go roller skating/blading, skateboarding, go-karting.
Friday is also a good day for Family Fun Night ~ staying up later! Have a barbecue, evening picnic (either at home or out somewhere like park or beach) takeaway…or go out to a restaurant.
Watch a film.
Go outside to watch the stars. For added comfort have a dry paddling pool and fill it with cushions and blankets so you can be cosy while you lay back and watch the night sky.
Have story time and evening devotions under the stars.
Check out lots more family fun night activities online!
Give your child a piece of paper and ask him or her if they could step through it. They will probably say something like “No way!” or “That’s impossible!” Next take a pair of scissors and make a cut through the middle. Ask if this will make it easier? (Of course not)
Then use the scissors again making several cuts from the center going out but not cutting all the way to the edge. Then cut from the outside going in toward the center between the first cuts being careful not to cut all the way up to the opposite edge.
Study this picture: I drew lines on the lower right corner to make it easier to see how to cut the card. The left corner has already been cut. I find it is easier to cut the center from near the top to near the bottom, and again near the right side to near the left side first.
Then work around the card in four sections. Be sure none of the cuts go all the way from the inside to the outside or you will break the loop and have to start over. On the right is a picture showing three of the sections cut.
Now you can pull on the paper to spread it out. By the time the fourth section has been cut the paper card can be stretched far enough to pull it down over your head and slide it all the way down your body and step out of it.
I made the pictures above with a 3×5 card which requires a lot of very close cuts. If you are doing this activity with young children try a thin paper plate. You won’t need to make as many cuts and the plate is thick enough to hold up to some tougher tugging.
Even though a 3X5 card is pretty small, with enough cuts placed just right it can stretch around a person. This card wasn’t cut as closely as it could have been or it would have stretched even bigger.
Is there anything too hard for God? Remind your child that sometimes we worry about problems as if nobody could make everything right again. Getting through those problems might feel like walking through a locked door. But God in his unlimited wisdom and power can handle those problems as easily as cutting the paper or plate so we could go through them.
Jeremiah 32:17 says it was God’s own power and strength that made the earth and all of creation. There is nothing that is too hard for God.
I first posted this article on Christian Children’s Authors on It receives so many hits, apparently from people doing Google searches, that I felt it was appropriate to re-post it for our many new readers.
It’s time to prepare for a new school year! Teachers are organizing classrooms. Families are shopping for clothes and school supplies. Emotions are running high and low like the most unpredictable roller coaster of the summer.
It is exciting to see friends and have fresh challenges in learning, but a new school year can also bring worries, concerns, and questions.
Recently Penny Reeve wrote about praying for our kids at school. Why not take time to write a back-to-school prayer with your child or teen?
What You Will Need
fun paper or stationery
a colorful envelope
a pen or pencil
a picture of you with your child
the Bible
Writing the Prayer
Begin my exploring God’s Word about worry and concern.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Read about prayer in Matthew 6:5-13.
Read about worry in Matthew 6:25-34
Talk about what is exciting about the upcoming year and what is cause for worry or concern.
Help your child write his or her prayer to God. Encourage him to begin with praise and thanksgiving, express his concerns, and close with turning the year over to God’s care and guidance.
Write your own prayer for the school year.
Place both prayers and a picture of you with your child in an envelope.
Seal the envelope and put in a place of reminder – on a bulletin board or on the side of the frig.
When praises, answered pray, and worries pop up, be sure to remind the child of the prayer of dedication for the year and pray again.
Fast Forward to the End of the Year
Even though it doesn’t seem like it now, the school year will go quickly. On the last day of school, plan a special time to open the prayer letters with your child. Thank God for His guidance and provision throughout the year.
As an author, publisher and adjunct professor, I can sometimes end up working on my computer for up to eight hours a day. I spend my time writing lesson plans, paying bills, checking email (work and personal), writing posts on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites, and most importantly, researching a wide variety of subjects online. I love to learn new things, and modern technology has made a treasure trove of knowledge readily available to us as never before.
In one of my online searches, though, I recently came across an article written by Peggy DeKay, who is a speaker, author and book coach. Her article discussed a new software application called the Quill. Among its many functions, the program boasts, “What takes a team of researchers or writers weeks of man-hours to assemble, correlate, and compose – Quill can do in seconds!” Come again? Hours of research completed in seconds! At your command, the program can even put a positive or negative spin on the data it interprets. “Quill analyzes the numbers, scans the internet for supporting data, adds the word-frame around the data… Quill can spit out a nifty ten-to-fifteen page article.” Apparently, there are already two other programs called Hemingway and AutoCrit that will do the same thing. What’s to come next?
I enjoy researching. That’s how I learn about interesting things like the Quill. But I’m also convinced that, although the trend is to rely increasingly on artificial intelligence programs, nothing is a true substitute for personal inquiry and research. Encourage your children to engage in research and to expand on their current areas of research. Urge them to go down some “bunny trails.” Some facts are important to learn; others are just interesting. Did you know that Google’s original name was BackRub? Imagine saying the phrase, “Let’s BackRub it.” Thank goodness we ended up with the moniker, “Let’s Google it.” It sounds so much better!
Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; but the glory of kings is to search things out.” Proverbs 1:5 tells us, “A wise man will hear and will increase learning….” Help your children learn to become life-long researchers and writers.
In this fast-paced, artificial-intelligence-minded world, we are losing the human touch and the “feel” of things. Remember when people wrote letters, ones composed in cursive handwriting? The shape of the cursive letters could almost let us see into the soul of the person holding the pen. A smooth, flowing letter might indicate a personality that was meek and mild. Maybe the cursive letters were a bit jagged, suggesting a person hurriedly rushing to pen their letter.
It saddens me that this art form is losing its battle and becoming extinct. CBS recently published a news article that is essentially an obituary to cursive handwriting: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-cursive-writing-dead/ I can still hardly believe it. Will my grandchildren even be able to read the letters I wrote them every year about their parents’ lives from 1 to 21 years of age?
Writing is proven to help brain function. It also helps children retain what they learn faster and easier. If you have time, take a look at this article on the benefits of writing by hand: http://mentalfloss.com/article/33508/4-benefits-writing-hand
Computers are researching, writing and thinking for us. What’s next? I’m afraid to ask.
Parenting, in all its complexity, can often feel like floundering in the dark. We read the ‘How to’ books, attend parenting courses, share our experiences with others but still it can be a somewhat daunting task. Then, along comes school. Our children are dropped off for their most active hours to be taught, trained and encouraged to grow by people other than ourselves. School, along with its benefits socially and educationally, brings with it a variety of challenges. Parenting doesn’t stop when our kids enter the school yard, neither does our responsibility to spiritually cover them. And that’s where prayer comes in, not as a luxury, but a necessity.
The first school prayer group I was a part of met in a lounge room. Every Tuesday morning after we’d dropped our little darlings off at the local government school, the four of us would meet around a coffee table. My friend’s child was struggling with playground friendships. Another mother had a child with yet to be diagnosed health issues that were impacting his work in the classroom. My own son struggled with a strict teacher and we all faced a change of headmaster. So we prayed. We prayed for our school, for the teaching staff, our community and for our children.
Since then my family has moved towns and, as a result, schools. My kids now attend a Christian school, but I am still part of a parent prayer group. The concerns and issues are slightly different in a Christian school context, but the importance of covering our children in prayer and lifting up the teaching staff remain crucial.
For me, being part of a prayer group for my children’s school is a deliberate act of faith. It’s acknowledging that I cannot control the world my children are a part of. It’s acknowledging the Lordship of Christ over my children’s lives. I cannot protect them from everything. I cannot sort out the school yard dramas, the potentially challenging curriculum, the issues they will face if they choose to live in the way of Jesus among peers who would prefer not to. But I can approach the throne of God confidently. I can cast my cares and concerns at His feet and in doing so I lay aside worry and step into expectation.
In my next couple of posts I’ll be sharing some ideas and suggestions for being part of a prayer group for your local school. Until then, I’d love to hear if you’ve ever been part of a group like this and what your experience of it was…
“…brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” Ezekiel 1: 27b-28a
“When you look at me,” Molly Mahoney asks, “What do you see? Do you see a sparkle…like something reflective of something bigger that’s trying to get out?”
This is one of the best lines in one of my favorite family movies, “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” (2008). It’s one the most significant questions we can ask ourselves as followers of Christ. Even as parents and grandchildren, do we seek, encourage and call out their sparkle?
In the movie, Mahoney is the loyal manager of Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, a magical toy store where everything comes to life. Most alive and happy when she’s working, Mahoney relishes in Mr. Magorium’s child-like faith. Mr. Magorium recognizes her “sparkle” and upon his retirement, transfers ownership of the toy store to Mahoney. But she feels completely inadequate, noting her lack of magic (the sparkle) that makes the Wonder Emporium…well, magical. Mahoney further reasons that she just can’t be a kid anymore and therefore, opts to sell the store even if it means her unhappiness and that of all the children.
Isn’t that how we act too? I mean here we stand, created in God’s image, meant to reflect everything about Him including His glory and yet, we feel so inadequate most of the time. We don’t see the sparkle, the reflection of His greatness in us. And as parents or grandparents, do we look for that sparkle in our children/grandchildren and encourage it’s appearance?
God placed a desire in each of us to do something that seems, in any normal circumstance, natural. But, when asked to step out in faith, using that desire or gift for His kingdom, we suddenly retreat. We may even opt to “sell the store” of possibilities to someone else; someone more deserving or more talented, because for us, accepting the task would be simply impossible, even childish.
And what happens when our children are maturing? Do we acknowledge their talents, applaud their God-given desires and encourage them to seek out opportunities to grow those desires or test them?
Sometimes we miss God’s reflection in ourselves and our children. We cheat those around us of the same when we sit frozen to our chairs of impossibilities. So, what does it take to get us to see God’s “sparkle” in ourselves or others?
I believe that something, event or moment when time stands still and we say, “Aha!” is different for everyone. But, common to all God followers? Abiding – spending alone time with God through His son, Jesus. We reflect the heart and glory of God himself when we abide in Him. Then, when we recognize God’s movement in our lives or the lives of our children, faith grows. That’s when we realize that with God nothing is impossible.
Thankful hearts brim and respond in obedience to God. It’s here where we find our true selves – through obedience – what make us, us.
Do you see a sparkle? Do you have that reflection of something bigger that’s trying to get out? Will you let it out? Will you spend time with your Creator so that He might shine through you?
What about your children or grandchildren? Do you encourage their sparkle? Do you recognize God’s reflection through their personalities and do you give them opportunities for God to appear?
“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:1
When Mike Berenstain, son of Stan and Jan Berenstain, brought the Berenstain Bears into the Christian market under the Living Lights brand, I didn’t pay much attention to them because my kids were too old. My kids loved the Berenstain Bears books, which incorporated many good, moral themes, but the Living Lights brand never made it to our bookshelves.
Now that I have grandchildren, I have taken an interest in this series and love the books! Mike’s stories and characters in the Living Lights series have stayed true to the original Berenstain Bear books. The same humor and similar storylines are there, but he weaves in more than a moral message. Mike (who is a Christian) incorporates and applies biblical lessons to whatever dilemma the Bears are facing. From loving your neighbor and being kind to your siblings, to going to church and obeying your parents, the stories in the Living Lights series teach children how Christian principles apply to everyday life.
What I also love about the books is that Mike doesn’t wrap up every story with a perfect ending. The endings are satisfying to the reader and the problem is resolved, but there are no unrealistic happily-ever-after endings that are unrelatable.
Mike Berenstain and Brother and Sister made an appearance at Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, MI last week. Since I happen to be there for the summer, I had the joy of introducing three of my grandkids to Mike and his lovable Bears. And there’s no way we could leave the store without looking at the stacks of Berenstain Bears books that were on display. We now have three new books from the Living Lights series begging to be read!
My four-year-old friend and I walked hand in hand. During our walk, he was equally riveted by an active ant hill and a hawk gliding above us. We could have focused on the hardworking ants or the free-flying hawk. Instead, we turned our conversation to God—the One who created a sky big enough for the hawk, and who also cares about members of His creation as tiny as ants.
It was a teachable moment. But it didn’t occur in a Sunday school class or during bedtime prayers. In fact, occasions to teach about God and the salvation He offers through Jesus Christ are not limited at all to any one time or place. The opportunities are as numerous as the moments in our day.
Moses understood the importance of this when he instructed God’s people to be alert to those occasions, morning or evening, in the home or outside. He wrote:
“These commandments that I give you today…Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up”
(Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV).
We don’t need to force the conversation. The opportunities will occur naturally. The only real obstacle is our failure to identify such times when they do arise. So let’s put down our phones, tablets, and other devices when we’re with the children God has placed in our life. We don’t want to miss those teachable moments!
Will you choose today to look for the Lord in ordinary moments? As He teaches you about Himself, you’ll be able to recognize teachable moments with your children.
Last week, I saw them stocking the back-to-school aisles at a local store. Families are counting down the last few days of summer. Here are ten free or almost free family fun ideas to celebrate God’s world and learning about Him.
Visit a zoo. Have each family member tell about their favorite animal in God’s creation. Be sure to visit that animal at the zoo.
Have a picnic with only foods that God created, nothing processed. Consider whole foods such as fresh fruits, veggies, milk, juice, and water.
Invite the family to a Bible memory verse challenge. Divide the family into two teams. Plan a daily time for reciting memory verses. Keep a tally of the verses memorized by each team.
Enjoy a day in the water. Whether it is at the beach or in a pool, thank God for His provision of such a relaxing form of entertainment.
Attend a family Vacation Bible School program.
Plan a summer treat after church. Snow cones and ice cream are great during the summer and lend themselves to wonderful family memories.
Begin a new devotional routine.
Make a paper chain for the number of days left before school starts. Write a Bible verse that affirms the child’s place in God’s kingdom on each loop. Every day remove one of the loops and ask a child to read the verse aloud.
Print copies of some family fun times from the summer. Write a short note to the child, reminding her of your love for her. Save the picture-notes for lunch boxes in the fall.
Have a PJs day. Plan board games, read, eat special snacks, and enjoy your time together. No one says that all the fun is limited to snow days.
What would you add to the almost free summer fun list? How will your family celebrate the end of summer, God’s wonderful world, and your love for each other?
In this beautifully illustrated picture book, young readers learn about the importance of faith.
Danny wants a dog, but his brother and friends tell him his parents will never allow it. Danny’s mother has taught him about faith for as long as he can remember, so he prays and believes God will answer his prayers.
I Have Faith by Davin Whitehurst is a moving story of how one boy develops faith. Danny starts off by introducing himself to the reader and telling them not only does he have faith, they have it too. He shares how his faith began and then puts it into action.
This is a touching story with an excellent message. An editor would swiftly be able to correct the few typographical and grammatical errors to strengthen this story. I Have Faith has child/parent discussion questions, several Bible verses, and an excellent parent guide, making this book a helpful resource.
I received a free paperback copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.
When my daughter, Ashley, was 12, we went to a guinea pig rescue to get her a new pet. Who knew such a place even existed? Apparently lots of people change their minds about having small pets and they need a place to take them, which is where the rescue steps in.
Lisa, the owner, ran the rescue from her home and had wall-to-wall cages in her living room. Ashley was awestruck. Lisa asked her if she’d like to hold a few guinea pigs before she left. Yes! Then Lisa mentioned she could always use an extra hand to hold and help bathe guinea pigs or clean their cages. She told Ashley if she ever wanted to come over as a volunteer she’d love to have her.
That short visit was the catalyst for almost six years of Ashley being a volunteer. From the guinea pig rescue, she moved on to a different small animal rescue called This Little Piggy. It was a perfect opportunity for her animal-loving heart. She could put in volunteer hours around her own schedule and it fulfilled her desire to be with animals without bringing more into our home, which made me happy! She learned a lot about how to care for animals and earned credentials and references she can use on her resume.
Might your child be interested in volunteering?
If so, here are five tips to consider. You never know what doors it may open for him or her.
Figure out what your child is passionate about. Music? Art? Animals? Sports? Organizing? Nature? Science? The possibilities are practically endless.
Look for organizations specializing in that area of interest.
Visit the organization’s website to see if they use volunteers. If so, what are the age limits? Do they require a certain number of hours per week or month? We found that many of the animal-related places accept volunteers only if they are over the age of 18.
Visit the volunteer site and meet the people your child will volunteer with. If you’re uncomfortable with them in any way, they’re not the right fit for you and your child.
Be willing to volunteer with your child if he’s nervous doing it alone the first few times.
Volunteer work teaches responsibility, work ethic, gives your child a purpose beyond himself, and educates in an area in which he’s already interested. It also lets him try out a job to see if he likes it.
Has your child volunteered? What did he do? What were the benefits? Were there any negatives about the experience? Looking forward to hearing from you!
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Have you ever thought it was too late?
Maybe you haven’t left the faith. You know that God has forgiven you. But…something still hangs over you. That one mistake, maybe? That missed opportunity? That moment when you feel you let God down?
Or, have you heard people say “I’ve messed up too much for God to want someone like me.”
The Bible is full of people who messed up, and yet God still was able to use them and turn their lives around in a huge way.
5 of those are specifically named in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith!
In his book It’s Not Too Late Tony Evans takes us through those people’s lives in the Bible, and shows us how their lives were turned around, and if it wasn’t too late for them, then it’s not too late for us!
I first came across this series It’s Not Too Late on YouTube and have been really enjoying them over the past few weeks. So much so, that I ordered the book so that I can go back and read the accounts, picking out the parts I need to particularly remember, and also so that I can share them with others.
Out of all of them, Sarah was the one I related to the most, and hers will be the one I turn to first in the book. However, I was surprised to find that even with the others, something still resonated with me and challenged me. (If you click on the names I mentioned above, they will take you to their message by Tony Evans on YouTube. I really like his passion throughout as he tells us it’s not too late. I also enjoyed his humour and the way he simply applies things to everyday life. His talks are certainly not dull and quite often I was chuckling at something he said…and sometimes smiling ruefully too as he made his point!)
The book arrived this morning just before I was to write this post and as I flicked through it I noticed the questions at the back for each chapter for you to use as a group discussion or just for your own personal reflection which I think is nice and gives some direction to yourself as you apply the message to your life.
I believe this series is very valuable for today. Maybe something I have said in this post will encourage you to have hope that it’s not too late and you will check out the book or online sermons for yourself. Maybe you have a friend or even a child that you want to share this with.
I do think this series would be great to use if you are involved in youth ministry. So many times when people mention that it’s too late, that something happened, that something they did has held them back, it happened when they were in their teens or early twenties. Not always, I know. Sometimes it happens in childhood, sometimes a lot further into adulthood, but a large percentage seems to happen in the teen/early twenty seasons. If we are teaching them at this time about the people who messed up and yet God still used then maybe they can start turning things around early on in their lives rather than going through life thinking “If only…”
The writers of Christian Children’s Authors are working on finding ways to serve our current readers and potential readers more effectively. We would love to hear from you to learn what is working and what we might add or change to meet the needs of our readers.
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Have you ever noticed how excited young children are when they learn about the Bible? Some time, often as they reach the 9 – 10 year old range, peer pressure starts to kick in. Many begin to drift away from the things of their faith.
The lazy days of summer are ripe for family activities. Let’s talk about a time capsule for kids, something that he can use to share their faith with his own children. It even may end up being something that witnesses to his older self.
Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18
What You Will Need
a large plastic jar with a lid or a sturdy shoe box
a favorite Bible verse written on special paper
a family photo taken at church
a Sunday school take home page
a copy of a favorite magazine or book
a letter from the child to his future self
a letter from siblings, parents, and/or grandparents
a letter from the child’s Sunday school teacher
an art or craft item made at VBS
a children’s activity page from church
a few small trinkets that reflect the child’s interests
wide tape
a pen
a marker
How to Make the Time Capsule
Gather the needed items.
Ask others to write their letters of memories and encouragement for the future. Have them include a picture of themselves and a Bible verse of encouragement that reminds them of the child.
Place all the items in the jar or box.
Add a “seal” of tape with the reminder to keep it closed for 8 – 10 years.
Place the time capsule in a safe place.
What items would you have a child add to the capsule?
I remember a cartoon I once saw in the newspaper—for those of you who still read cartoons in the newspaper—from Family Circle. This particular cartoon consisted of a circle sliced in two sections. On one side of the circle, a mother was complaining about the mess her children had made in the house. On the other side, the mother had a tear running down her cheek as she peeked into her attic and saw those same toys neatly placed in a corner collecting dust.
In this day and age, it can be hard for mothers to spend quality time with their children. Some mothers work full time, others have to take care of their elderly parents, and still others have so many children that they face the special challenge of only having so much individual mommy time for each child.
No matter your circumstance, it’s important to remember that it’s not so much the quantity of time spent with your children that makes a difference as it is the quality of the time spent with them. In our very hectic world, which seems more frenzied than ever these days, we need to make sure that we take advantage of every precious moment we have with our children. We need to learn to see our time with them as divine opportunities and appointments. After all, the window of time we have to engage with our children at such a young age is as small our little ones. Before I knew it, my son and daughter no longer needed me as much as they needed playtime with their friends. In what seemed like no time at all, they were independent enough to play outside and ride their bikes to their friends’ houses in the neighborhood without my hovering over them like a helicopter.
Mothers are busy, and we have to wear many hats. But we can still adjust some things in our lives to make sure we have a little bit more time to share and engage with our precious, little darlings. Can’t we make that cell phone call a little shorter? How about spending a little less time on social websites? What about skipping a television show or two? Instead of being in a hurry to get done with the dishes, prioritize making more time for family dinner at the table. Don’t forget that bedtime can be the best part of the day. Read your children an extra story; kids love that. Take time to plan the family trip that you have been putting off. Schedule a date with your child just like you would with your husband, and use that time to really engage. Ask them open-ended questions or share personal stories from your childhood with them. Most importantly, tell them that you love them and that God loves them! Isaiah 54:13 states, “All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.” When they get a little bit older, paste a Bible verse to their mirror so they can read it as they brush their teeth. Even if you only take a few extra minutes here and there, remember the key is to make the most of the time you have to invest with your kids.
If you are a single parent, don’t shy away from asking others for help so that you can free up time to plan extra activities with your children. Make a deal with another mother — while she spends alone time with one of her children, offer to watch the child’s siblings for her — then plan for her to return the favor. Don’t ever feel guilty for having a hectic schedule! Guilt is an evil spirit that consumes and destroys. Pray for God to give you wisdom and guidance. Remember, our children are only children for a short time.
My niece once told me that many of her friends were working mothers and she felt inferior for not having a career and raising a family. I took her over to a picture of my children when they were ages six and eight. I asked her if she knew where these children had gone because I hadn’t seen them in so many years and I missed them terribly! Her emotions overcame her ability to speak, and I knew from her facial expression that she understood.
So don’t worry about that messy house, TV show, or social website—not if it means spending less time with your babies! Those things will always be there, but your little ones will not!
Take off your masks leave them at the door, with your shoes for this is holy ground.
We have been called not to act, as if our heart wasn’t broken and our soul not bruised. But we’ve been called to worship. In spirit and in truth.
So stop lying with the ease of wearing a summer jacket, about how things really are. Admit the failing the bumbling disaster of trying to do everything in your own strength. And tell the truth. That life, this side of heaven, can be hard hard work.
But isn’t that why we’re here anyway? In this place? This place where as a family we proclaim Jesus as Lord? Because he held our pain, felt our sorrow, and then secured the victory. And he invites us to share in everything he has accomplished. Not because we were ever brilliant or capable or worthy or wonderful – but because he loved us.
And for that we need no mask. In that we are called beautiful. For we have been given grace to wear. And grace is enough, for broken hearts, bruised souls and the very truth of who we are on this morning and every other one too.
So, put aside your mask. I’ll put aside mine. And together, let’s go in to holy ground.
Have you ever been so desperate for Jesus that when he shows up you don’t recognize him at all? But the funny thing is, children recognize him right away.
That’s what my story, A Visit From the Healer, (and many others’ stories) compiled in James Stuart Bell’s book, Jesus Talked to Me Today: True Stories of Children’s Encounters with Angels, Miracles and God, (Bethany House, 2016) is all about.
Compiled by James Stuart Bell Published by Bethany House, July 2016
Our family faced tough times with prolonged unemployment in a tough economy. The last thing we needed was for sickness to strike. But, it did. Longing for relief for both my daughter and our entire situation I shot a quick prayer into the darkness. And, well…you’ll have to read the rest on pages 135-139 to find out how miraculously Jesus showed up.
This book is filled with hope and children’s true encounters with the Living God. Children whose eyes could see and whose ears could hear. Is it not surprising then, that Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3 NIV)?
This would make a great family devotion resource as each story runs between 1000-2500 words. What a great way to spend summer evenings with your children, reading other children’s stories and passing on the works of our great God.
For an author, holding a newly published hot-off-the-press book is always an exciting moment. It’s a moment of satisfaction and a feeling of reward. After many months (or years) of writing, revising, rewriting, and revising again, the words you sometimes agonized over are now on the printed page.
For children’s authors, a new book is a product of team work. The author may create the stories, but the illustrator has to creatively capture the messages and bring the words to life. Then there are editors, art directors, design and layout people, and the much-needed marketing staff.
I have been blessed over the past two decades to work with the finest people in children’s publishing to produce top quality books. My newest release (literally hot-off-the-press) is Our Daily Bread for Preschoolers–90 Big Moments with God. This is the second children’s book for Our Daily Bread, which follows Our Daily Bread for Kids–365 Meaningful Moments with God. While the first book is geared toward children 6-10, the second one targets a younger audience.
Our Daily Bread for Preschoolers offers a fun way to introduce children to God. The stories highlight God’s actions, character, and promises. Some of the daily readings refer to stories from the Bible, while others help children apply biblical truths to everyday life.
Each reading also features a Bible verse, a kid-friendly question, and a short rhyming prayer to help children talk to God. Whether you’re cuddled up one-on-one at bedtime, or reading to a small group at story time, you can help the little ones in your life have big moments with a loving God.
The fireworks began a few days ago in my neighborhood. But I suspect the revelers were more interested in making lots of noise than in celebrating today’s anniversary of our nation’s independence.
Independence. It’s in our country’s DNA. As American citizens, it’s also in our individual DNA. We don’t bow to anyone or anything. We’re proud of our nation and we’re proud of ourselves.
Problem is, independence is the antithesis of the Christian life. We are created to be dependent on the Lord and on each other. Unfortunately, in our culture, dependent people are often viewed as weak and needy. We don’t mind offering help, but we dislike asking for it.
Oops, let me re-phrase that: I don’t mind offering help, but I dislike asking for it. There, I admit it.
But then I’m convicted by verses such as these:
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength’” (Isaiah 30:15 ESV).
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 ESV).
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5 ESV).
“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25 NLT).
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (I Peter 4:10 ESV).
We need the salvation God provides through Christ. We need the grace and power He provides through His Holy Spirit. And we need each other to be His hands and feet to encourage each other in difficult times and rejoice together in victorious times.
One more thing about dependence. It’s not just for individuals. It’s also for us as a nation:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
(II Chronicles 7:14 NIV).
What about you? Are you more comfortable giving or receiving help?
The first school prayer group I was a part of met in a lounge room. Every Tuesday morning after we’d dropped our little darlings off at the local government school, the four of us would meet around a coffee table. My friend’s child was struggling with playground friendships. Another mother had a child with yet to be diagnosed health issues that were impacting his work in the classroom. My own son struggled with a strict teacher and we all faced a change of headmaster. So we prayed. We prayed for our school, for the teaching staff, our community and for our children.
Take off your masks
