Teaching Children About the Library

Today, I was reminded of the harsh reality that many people have no clue about the library. There were two moms who were talking to each other while their little boys were running around, practically yelling and making forts with the chair cushions. The librarian talked to them several times, and their moms did nothing. About 5 minutes after they left some parents came in for a book for their daughter. Those two had no idea how books were organized, shelved, categorized or anything. Seriously. Annoying. They tied up the poor librarian who was trying to shelve the returned books with how to find the book they wanted, which they sort of knew the title but nothing else. Then when they figured out where it was they asked if they looked for it by the title. By that time I almost yelled at them that it’s by author but I was good and bit my tongue.

The library is one of our favorite places to go and hang out. When I was a kid, I practically lived in the library. I made a point of my kids understanding the way the library works from a very young age. When they were very young, they learned that in a library you use a library voice. And that you always walk quietly to where you need to go without fooling around. They also learned to respect the books and if they take a book off the shelf and decided they don’t want it, you put it back exactly where you found it and if you can’t find the spot, leave it on the table for the librarian to reshelf. Also, we taught them to always say thank you to the librarians who help check out our books each time. As they got older, we taught them the difference between fiction and non-fiction and how the books are divided into those two categories in the library, and about how the books are shelved by author. When Princess K wanted an Eric Carl book (her favorite author/illustrator) she knew to go to the picture book shelves and look on the shelves with a C. Now, all of them spend most of their time in the non-fiction section and they have learned what numbers their favorite subjects are under.

Recently, we dived deeper into the Dewey Decimal System and they learned about those numbers on the book spine in greater detail than just that it is the book’s address on the shelve. We printed out a chart I found online that had the categories and sub categories and also found some websites about Melvil Dewey and learned about his life. They got so into this lesson they decided it would be fun to organize all of our books like the library. So all the books were taken off the shelves and put into piles.


Lots and lots of piles.

 We taped up the list so that it would be easier to categorize the books and then after they were all sorted we put them all back on the shelves.

This happened a month ago and our books are still shelved accordingly. I am really impressed with how careful they are to put the books back where they belong now. Before this was not always the case.

Our next trip to the library we did a scavenger hunt. I gave each child a 3x5 card with 3 different books and their locations. Each one of them had a different list of books. Their job was to find the book and show me the book on the shelf. They loved doing that and asked if we could have another library scavenger hunt with more books to find.

We love the library. It is so sad there are many who don’t and have no idea how to find a book if they needed to.

Mommy Lesson 30 - Obedience with Reckless Abandon

Obedience is a big deal in our house and most of the time my kids are really good at obeying us. Daddy Reg and I believe that if we train them how to obey then they will know how when they need to. Just like if you train for what to do during a fire, then if you are in a fire you know what to do. And if they can obey us, then it will be easier for them to obey other authority figures in life. One thing we do to train them is periodically tell them to do random tasks that do not have anything to do with what is going on at the moment. Their job is to do what was asked no matter how irrelevant without question.
As I have trained my kids throughout the years, God has been faithful to show me how He trains me in the same way. He wants me to obey with reckless abandon even the craziest of commands. There are so many examples in the Bible about obedience with reckless abandon just like God wants us to obey.
God told the Israelites to not worry about food while in the dessert because He would rain food from heaven. Think about that one from their perspective. Really, food falling out of the sky? Those who did as they were told, did not go hungry, but it really is a crazy thought
Noah was told to build a giant boat that was bigger than anything anyone had ever built and he built it. I am sure Noah was a tad confused about the boat’s purpose as it took him forever to build but he still built it in the midst of all the mockery.
Abraham was told to take his son up a mountain and sacrifice him. Abraham’s reckless abandon to God is not lost on me. God’s command seems so crazy insane and yet Abraham did it without question knowing that God knew what he was doing. Abraham was blessed beyond measure out of his obedience.
Joshua was told to walk in circles around a city and then blow trumpets and the walls would fall down and they would conquer the city. Joshua obeyed with reckless abandon and the walls came falling down and they took the city.
One of my favorite examples is when Jesus spit in some dirt, put the mud he made in the blind guy’s eyes and told him to go wash it off at a certain pool. The guy went to the pool Jesus told him to go to and washed it out there. He didn’t immediately wipe his face like most people would. He obeyed without question and because of his obedience, he got his sight.
Obedience with reckless abandon, no questions asked, is a big deal in the Bible. God wants us to have that kind of reckless abandon. God is constantly showing me how to obey just by trusting Him. Obedience takes trust, it really does. It also takes faith, which is very similar to trust - but not the same thing. Obedience is not on the condition of knowing why, it is to be on the condition of trusting that God (or the person in authority) knows what He is doing.

I am learning a lesson in obedience. I know I have just scratched the very top layer of the surface on obedience. The Bible is so full of examples. The greatest example of all, Christ was obedient to the cross. If he didn't obey, I would be facing certain eternal death and so would every person who has ever walked the face of this earth.

Disclaimer: This post is inspired by a post I wrote in 2007 but is really relevant to me today too.

Mommy Lesson 29 - God's Plans are Better

When you first hold your little one in your arms you have so many thoughts and your dreams for him (or her) come flooding in. As moms, we have great ideas and plans for who our kids are going to be, what they are going to be like and how they will behave. Great intentions and wonderful plans carefully thought out, by us. And then a few moments later, reality sets in. Those wonderful ideas are most likely not God’s plans.
In Proverbs it says if you bring up your child in the way he should go he will not depart from it. Many parents will quote that verse as they are laying out their blueprint for their little one’s life. But the truth is that before that precious blessing was even conceived, plans greater than ours were already set into motion. And that verse is not about training them in the way we think they should go, but according to God’s plan.

God has given each of my little one's specific personalities with likes and dislikes unique to them. Things that they enjoy for fun and other things they really have no desire to do. My job as a mom is to encourage them in their passions and equip them in ways that will help them be successful as they grow into adulthood. If I lay down my desires for them and take up God desires for them and teach them the way they should go according to God's will, then they will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 (HCSB) Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Psalm 139:13-16 (HCSB) For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise You, because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.

Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB) For I know the plans I have for you" - this is the LORD's declaration -"plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Mommy Lesson 26 - Love and Obedience

When I was a little girl there was a song on my favorite album The Music Machine called Love. Part of the lyrics say, "Love makes people do the things they know they ought to do. Love is doing things for you and me" I was thinking about that song this week. When I need the kids to be obedient even though they would rather do something different, I still expect obedience. But I want them to obey out of love not out of fear of getting in trouble.

When you look at the heroes in the Bible, you see great obedience. What I notice is that all of them obey out of their love for God and their knowledge of how much God loves them more than out of fear. Sure they all knew that God is great and can send lightening bolts out of the sky or cause a whale to swallow you, but it is evident that they obeyed out of love. That's what I pray for my kids, that they are obedient out of love not out of fear.

I know that the more I cultivate that relationship with them and strengthen those bonds the more chances I have that they will be obedient out of love. I'm not saying they will be perfect or always be obedient and make the wise choices but I do believe that they will more likely make the smart choices because that is a way to show love.

Mommy Lesson 11 - He's Still Working on Me

You know that song, “He’s Still Working on Me”? It’s a song of my childhood that I often sang in Sunday School. When I was little I didn’t completely understand how long it would take for Him to be done working on me. Let me tell you, He is still working on me and He has a long, long, long way to go. Every day as I watch my munchkins I see myself in their behavior/character/attitude and I think, wow I really need to work on that so that I can have them work on that.

He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be, ‘cause He's still working on me.

There really ought to be a sign upon the heart,
Don't judge her yet, there's an unfinished part.
But I'll be perfect just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands.


In the mirror of His Word reflections that I see
Make me wonder why He never gave up on me.
He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He's the Potter, I'm the clay.

Something I continually learn over and over is that I have so much to work on. So many days, I see my ugliness but then I remember that the Potter hasn’t finished me yet. I have to stay moldable so that He can finish and someday He’ll be done and I will be all He is making me to be. Until then, I’ll just remember that He loves just as I am right now. He loves me like I love my kiddos, so unconditionally without reservation no matter what. Because He is still working on me and He hasn’t been working on them nearly as long.

Isaiah 64:8 (HCSB) Yet LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands.

Philippians 1:6 (HCSB) I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10 (HCSB) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Mommy Lesson 6 - Be Flexible

Flexibility is a major key to sanity. It seems I am continually learning how to be more flexible. I am a mom with a plan. I plan our day, our week, our school, our meals, our chores, and our fun. I love having a schedule and everything falling in place like a puzzle coming together. However I have landed on my face many times as my carefully coordinate schedule gets pulled out from under me.
The other day the kids’ behavior was responding to the weather change. They were all on edge and really not being themselves. It was so evident to me that if I attempted to do any structured school work, I would just have to reteach the material the next day. They were in no mental capacity to sit still and absorb new information or complete their school assignments. How did I know this? From past experience. I cannot tell you how many times I had them sit down to “do school” on days like that only to have them not remember any what they learned the very next day. And the tears and stress and arguments that ensue on those days is really not pleasant or worth it. So… I realized I needed to change the course of the day right then. (Hey, maybe I’m actually learning this lesson.) I told them that as long as they could get along nicely then they could just play and hang out instead of do school work. They were more than happy to oblige to that request and really tried hard to get along for the rest of the day. Had I forced them to sit and do school, we would have had much conflict and no real learning. Instead I was able to focus my attention on reminding them how to treat each other. (Seriously they really were just irritable.) This is also a very important lesson they need to be reminded of. Other days, I redirect our day in the opposite way in which we were going.

For the longest time, I would fight to keep to my plan every day no matter what the circumstance. Now I am much more able to remember the bigger picture and that in order to stay sane, I need to not stress when the day does not go according to plan.

Proverbs 16:2-4 (HCSB) All a man's ways seem right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives. Commit your activities to the LORD and your plans will be achieved. The LORD has prepared everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.

Proverbs 16:9 (HCSB) A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 19:21 (HCSB) Many plans are in a man's heart, but the LORD's decree will prevail.

Mommy Lesson 5 - Watch Your Words

Did you know our kids are like little tape recorders? I see it a lot when Little G mimics what I say. I will hear phrases I often say come out of her lips in the cutest fashion. Sometimes what comes out isn’t really what I want to hear. Usually I think through the shows or movies I have let her watch, and then I realize it was me who taught her that and I now have to undo what I didn’t mean to do in the first place. Other times she says the cutest things as she is trying to imitate me but how it sounds is absolutely not what she was saying. Like when she says the word, “ridiculous.” Wow, if I didn’t know already what she was saying I could really be wondering where she was picking up her language. Most of the time what I hear from my kids is what I want to hear, and it makes me smile.

But occasionally I hear something out of one of my kids’ mouths I really don’t want them saying I cringe and then think to when I could have possibly said whatever they said. You see, being completely honest, my mouth can really be hard to tame sometimes. There are moments when what comes out is not what should be said. The scary thing about words, once you say them they are out there and can never be taken back. One must really guard their tongue to not say what should not be said. I can tell you right now that I have learned a lot about taming my tongue from my kids.

Psalm 19:14 (HCSB) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

James 3:7-9 (HCSB) For every creature—animal or bird, reptile or fish—is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness.

Why we Keep Our Children in the Church Service

***The purpose of this post is not to condemn those who put their children in Sunday School or Children’s Church. My intent is to encourage those who are thinking about keeping their children in service with them and to help the curious understand the reason behind our decision.***

I love the sound of little ones worshiping the Lord during church service. I love seeing all the little faces sitting next to their parents as they listen and observe what is going on around them. Recently, our church has been blessed with some new families visiting our church and that just makes me giddy inside. Because watching families come together and worship together is an awesome sight to see. God designed families to be together and during church services, it is important that families worship the Lord together.

When we decided to keep our kids in service with us we knew that it was what God wanted us to do. We also knew that there was a bigger reason but we weren’t able to identify it at that time. Since then, our reasons for keeping our children in service have grown enormously and every Sunday, it seems we add another reason to the list. When you make the decision to worship together as a family, it is imperative that you know why you have made that choice. It is not easy to keep young toddlers quiet and still in service, it is hard work to train them. Remembering the reason you have chosen to keep your children with you in service will help you stay the course when the going gets rough. The reward for your hard work is eternal and not always immediate.

The first reason we had for keeping our children with us in service was simple, the toddler class teacher could not keep our Little Man in the room. The second reason was because while the kids were in the toddler room, we did not see any actual teaching going on. The kids were not made to sit for a story or for songs, there was just free play. This saddened me so much. Two year olds can sit for stories and they love songs. However as time went on we developed many more important reasons for keeping our kids in service with us. The first reason is because we deeply believe it is the parents’ responsibility to teach and train our children in the ways of the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 speaks directly to parents about training children. If our children are sitting next to us, watching us as we praise and worship the Lord, give our tithes and offerings, and attentively listen to the message, they will follow our example. Children are little mirrors, if you watch them; you will see yourself in their attitudes and actions. Children will also mirror each other if you let them. Proverbs 22:15 says folly is bound in the heart of a child. When children are together often, acts of foolishness will be the outcome. Even the most attentive Sunday School teacher cannot be aware of everything that happens amongst the children. As parents we have decided to not allow our children to sit near other children in service. (We actually sit in front row center for all to see. My kids are rarely if ever a distraction.) We want as few distractions as possible during service helping them be more successful in sitting still and paying attention. What we do goes right along with how we train our children all the time. We keep our children close to us, training them and pruning them as needed. Some have likened this Tomato Staking, if you let a tomato plant to grow on its own, it will grow out of control and the fruit you reap will not be good. If you stake a tomato plant causing it only to grow up and pruning it as needed, watering it and making sure it has plenty of sun, the fruit you reap will be very good. (If you have ever tasted a fresh tomato straight off a well trained vine, you know what I mean.) You can apply the very same concept to training a child.

Children are called to worship with the men, women and elders throughout the Bible. I went over Old Testament verses, and New Testament verses a while ago. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 the Lord is very clear about our responsibility as parents to teach our children in the ways of the Lord. We have chosen not to take that responsibility lightly and are very determined to do as the Lord instructed. I am not saying that Sunday School is wrong; I know that there are a lot of children’s ministries out there that reach children who would otherwise not get to hear God’s Word. I am just saying that Sunday School isn’t the best choice or God’s design for parents raising their children to walk in the ways of the Lord.

Pondering What Did Mary Know?

I have been dwelling on a verse the past week or so. It is really getting me thinking and wondering.

Luke 2:19
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

This verse reveals her mother's heart for her son. She knew she had been entrusted with the greatest gift to the world. She knew her son wasn't any ordinary son. She knew she was responsible for training him and molding him and preparing him for what God had planned for him. But, how much did God reveal to Mary about Jesus? It is like that song Mary Did You Know?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

I have been entrusted with 4 beautiful little ones. It is my responsibility to prepare them for what the Lord has for them. Just like Mary had to prepare Jesus, though they aren't going to pay the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. I know that God has great plans for each of them to advance His kingdom, I don't know what those plans are exactly. Only with God's wisdom can I do what I need to, in order to prepare them.
Just what I am thinking about.

Prayer and Children

Mama Archer is pondering prayer and children today.

How do you teach your children to pray?
What do you teach them about the practice, meaning, and importance of prayer?
What do you pray for children?

When the kids are really young, we teach them to pray simply by example. I have been watching Baby G lately as she is transforming into a little girl. When we say it is time to pray, she bows her head and waits for someone to start praying. She does not really understand who we are praying to or why but she knows it is something we do. As she gets older, her understanding will grow and she will have the habit of praying instilled in her.

The older ones, they know, we have them pray every morning during their Daily 5. Having them pray in the morning every morning is showing them the importance of putting God in the forefront of their minds and recognizing the He is the orchestrator of their day. They are learning how to set time apart in the morning for the Lord at a very early age. When they need an attitude adjustment, we sit down and open the Word. We read what God has to say about their attitude or behavior and then we pray. When I started doing this with them, I would have them repeat after me as I prayed. Now, they can go pray on their own. When I send them to pray, I am also praying. I am praying that God will capture their heart in the area that needs work. I pray that God searches my heart in that area so I will not be an example of that behavior or attitude that I am recognizing needs to change in them. I pray that God will give me the wisdom in parenting them regarding the issue at hand.

Not only do we pray first thing in the morning, but we also pray at the start of our school day, at mealtime, and at bedtime. With prayer, I want the kids to learn to be thankful in all things, put the Lord in charge of all things, ask the Lord for protection, wisdom, guidance. We also pray for others. When someone has a need, we pray together during our morning school time. I want them to learn how to intercede for others and as they are older how to be prayer warriors.

My prayer is that they will be able to stand in the midst of strife and that they will be a living testimony of the glory and power of God. As a mom, I think I am in constant prayer. I pray for myself, that I may be able to survive my day, hold my tongue, and have supernatural amounts of patience, energy instead of exhaustion and a clear mind to handle all that is thrown my way.

Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Ephesians 6:18
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Philippians 4:6
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Colossians 4:2
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Exhausted Mommy - Determined Baby

I write tonight a very exhausted mommy. One day at Grandma's house and Baby G thinks she has full reign of the house. It was a not so great day for her. She tried to have things her way all day. Now mind you, my mother in law does not spoil the kids or let them get away with anything. So, why Baby G thinks she can come home and get her own way is beyond me. Now, as I sit with the dishwasher running, I do not want to clean up the rest of the mess. My living room looks like G force winds came roaring through - oh wait they did, lol. I have a mess of lunch still needing to be swept up from when she decided that she was not going to eat while sitting at the table and she needed to empty her mouth of her food before she could cry about me telling her otherwise. It was a frustrating and trying day. Filled with the words, "No," and "Obey Mommy," and "Seriously?!?" I could not keep up. She was like a tidal wave leaving destruction in her wake. She even found a pencil so she could draw in a library book - the first time she ever drew in a book. I write this to keep it real. I do not want anyone to think that my kids are perfect or that I have this mommying thing down to a science. I do not have it figured out. I know that today, I could have reacted differently at times, with less exasperation. (Okay, so I was really exasperated and I was biting my tongue a lot today.) I am sure I put an explanation point at the end of her name more than once. I have to remember that her strong and determined personality was instilled in her by the Father in heaven. He created her for great works and the personality she has is needed for what He has planned for her. It isn’t about me having an easy time training her. I need to remember on days like today to just lean into the Lord more and seek His wisdom in training her to put that determination and energy to use in ways that are more constructive.

I do take great delight in her personality most days. She usually makes me smile and even today, as she was in the tub, she made me laugh. I was having her show me where her nose, eyes, ears, teeth, hair... are, and she was being very cute showing me. So, yes even the best of us has long days. Nevertheless, the joy in them can still be found. Here is a picture I took of her the other day. She wanted a book to read in the car and she chose Vegetable Gardening for Dummies. lol - It was so cute as she lugged this large book to the car with her. Then, she started reading it as we were on our way, I looked back at her, and she had the cutest furrow of disappointment as she realized the book had no pictures. Then I turned to the middle where there are a couple pictures and showed her the tomatoes, then she was happy again.

Look at that smile - She is so proud of herself.

Psalm 139:13-15 (English Standard Version)

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Matthew 11:25-30 (English Standard Version)

At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and) learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

A Peaceful Morning

You know how some of the simplest ideas are the best ideas? Okay most of the simplest ideas are the best. Anyway, one of the many wonderful workshops Daddy Reg and I went to at the homeschool conference this weekend was with Kendra Fletcher of Preschoolers and Peace. Her workshop was called Preschoolers, Preparation, and Peace. Both of us were so encouraged when we left. I was reminded of some things that I had done in the past that I should try again. I also learned new things that I can do to make life more peaceful.

When we started homeschooling Little Man was 4, Princess K was 3, and Miss H was 14 months old. I had learned through trial and error how to school with little ones underfoot but that was before Baby G (She has made me rethink everything I thought I knew about training little ones.). By the end of this year, I felt defeated. I was sure we did not progress as much as we should have through the year and I was wiped out. I know now what I am going to do differently.

Okay now the simple yet absolutely genius idea was this. Have 5 daily tasks that are done every morning. There are tasks we do every morning without order or consistency. There were mornings that the kids would not be dressed until almost lunch. Kendra talked about having 5 things (5 fingers/5 things) to do every morning. It just clicked that we needed to do that. Then hopefully mornings would become a little less crazy and not as drawn out as they have become.

This morning, Daddy Reg sat down with the kids and told them the plan. Then he put the list on paper so we could put them on the wall for a reminder. After we consoled Little Man, who had a melt down, (Change is not something he handles at all.) we put the plan to work. It was amazing to watch Little Man follow through with what we asked. He read the list, did the task, and went back to the list. He did not goof around or get distracted. He just focused on the list. Princess K is very scattered brained and is constantly forgetting what needs to be done. This helped her so much in knowing what needed to be done next. I love this idea and I know that next month, this will be such a habit because we are going to be consistently doing it every day. Thank you so much Kendra for imparting your practical tips to make life run more smoothly and peacefully.

Here is our list.

Daily Five

1. Eat Breakfast/Drink Coffee
2. Tidy Room - (bed, books, cups, clothes)
3. Get dressed for the day
4. Bathroom time - Brush teeth and hair.
5. Pray for the day

Teaching a Child How to Sit

A while back, I started this discussion about what the Bible says regarding children being with the adults during worship, prayer, and services. I want to give you some practical tools in helping you train your kids to stay seated and quiet in service.

When you first want to get your kids to sit for service you need to know that it is not as easy as it sounds. Just tell them it is time to sit and listen, right? No. It is not that easy. What you need to so first is to set up training sessions at home. Sit them on the couch. Tell them it is time to sit and listen. Read something to them. A perfect choice would be a Psalm straight from your Bible. Nothing with pictures. Start with 5 minutes and slowly increase it. Then at church, tell time it is time to sit and listen. When they start to act up, take them to the back of the church. Remind them that it is time to sit and listen. Do not put them down or let them run. Make sure that the outcome of them not sitting is not fun for them. At church, let them have a Bible, a notebook, and a pencil. Teach them to “take notes” by drawing pictures. I let the kids draw pictures of Bible things. As they become able, they can write down the verses that are being preached on. And eventually they will be taking real notes. Many kids actually can pay attention better when they are doing something to keep their bodies busy. Think about how many people doodle while talking on the phone. It is the same concept. I do not let them play with toys. I do give them a little snack and a sippy of water when they are young. Service is always during their snack time and we go early so eating breakfast is earlier than they are used to. You cannot expect a little one to sit quietly if they are hungry. So a little bag of Cheerios and a sippy of water or milk are important.

We are training Baby G to sit and listen. We started her straight from birth. Even before she was able to understand, I would tell her to sit and listen so she could recognize that cue. She is still learning and isn’t as cooperative when she is tired or hungry so I do make sure that I watch her cues to know what she is feeling. When she decides she wants to play instead of sit, I take her to the back of the room. I do not let her get down, or make noise. I hold her quietly and remind her it is time to sit and listen. When she is compliant, I take her back to my seat. (I sit in the front row.) She is not rewarded for inappropriate behavior. She is learning and for her, she is doing great. Some kids are easier to train than others are. She is just 20 months old. She can sit for most of the service without incident. She has a picture Bible, a composition notebook, a couple of crayons, a baggie of cheerios, and her sippy. We sit on metal folding chairs so I put her on a little blanket for a while, because it was unsafe for her to sit in a folding chair by herself. Now, she is bigger and able to sit on the chair, so I do not put her on the blanket anymore.

Here are the posts about why we do not let our kids go to Sunday School.

    Teaching Children to Worship 

    Teaching Children to Worship pt 2

My goal here is not to shame you into putting your kids with you. My heart’s desire is to encourage you to evaluate why you do things the way you do. What is your motivation? Do you do it this way because it is how it has always been done, or because it is how your church works? Do you do what you do because you have found it to be the best for your family? Or, (being absolutely honest here) do you put your kids in children’s service because it is easier and you would love a quick break? Keeping your kids with you is not always an easy task. It does take work and there will be some days that you will question your sanity. Just like any other thing you want to train your kids. I do know that in the end all the hard work will pay off and be worth it.

Church Time is Family Time

Church is family time for my family, and for my church for that matter. We do not put our kids in Sunday school for someone else to teach them while we go in the adult service. We do not believe that children need the Bible dumbed down so they can understand it. I am not saying that all Sunday school lessons do this but I have seen a trend in the lesson books doing this. A benefit of my kids sitting with me in service is that I know what they are being taught and I know if they understand the teaching or not. This week, my kids learned about who they are in Christ with no fluff and stuff. The were listening very intently the whole service.

They also got an assignment of finding 3 verses about who they are in Christ and learning what they mean, to share next week. The entire congregation got the same homework for next week. Everyone is going to share one of the verses they found and talk about what it means to them. I am excited for them to learn something so amazing at such a young age. Instead of getting just a Bible story, they are getting the nuts and bolts of what it means to be a child of the Most High God.

Related Posts :

    Teaching Children to Worship 

    Teaching Children to Worship pt 2

 

Trust in the Lord

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord. This is a very common thing to say when encouraging someone who is going through a tough time. It is easy to say to yourself, "I don't understand what God is doing but I will trust in Him during this time of trouble." But how about when you are sailing through life? Do you still trust in the Lord? Or, do you trust in your own ability? When you go to work, do you trust in your own experience and ability to do the job? Or, do you every day set aside your own understanding and trust God to guide you through the day. At home with your kids, do you wake up ready to handle every situation that arises with your own knowledge and understanding or do you lay that aside and trust God?

Baby G is blessing number 4 in our house. I thought that I had the whole parenting, child-training thing down. When she was born, I was trusting in my abilities and my own understanding not in the Lord for wisdom. I thought I already had all the wisdom I needed to train up Baby G. After all, I had experience with the three older ones, how could I possible not know what I was doing? God has given me a blessing who constantly challenges me to trust not in my experience as a mom but in Him to give me the wisdom I need to train her. It seems that whatever the issue, anything I did with the others does not work. I have to constantly go to the Lord and ask him to give me the wisdom needed to mother her. The wisdom and understanding I already have is useless, I need new wisdom. I really believe that God gave me this blessing to teach me to not lean on my own understanding even during the good times. I am prone to being a know it all. Really, I am. I love information and knowledge. I read all the time to glean more information and knowledge. However, I need to make sure that I am leaning on God and trusting him to direct my paths instead of trusting in my own understanding of how I think the situation should be handled.

Teaching Your Child to Worship (pt 2)

I wanted to finish writing my thoughts about keeping my kids in the church service and not sending them to Sunday school. (Read the first post here.) I wanted to explore the New Testament about why we need to keep them with us so that we could teach them about worshiping the Lord. I discovered something I did not really expect. In the New Testament, we are to take our example from our children! Jesus uses children as the example of how we are to worship. It is awesome to me how he designs life. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. As adults, we think we know everything when in reality God reveals himself to our children in order for us to learn from them. How awesome is that?

Matthew 21:12 - 16

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?"

The adults had turned the temple in Jerusalem into a market place. The priests saw Jesus overturn the tables and perform healings to the sick and they were upset but the children praised Jesus when they saw him. God has perfected the praise of our children. I want to be with my children so that I can learn from them as they worship. Yes, it is my responsibility to teach them how to worship but we can also learn from them. I believe God designed it that way, to him children are just as important as adults are. He never looks at age, stature, or position; he looks at the heart.

We can learn something from our children’s prayers. Children pray with such innocence and get straight to the point. Have you ever gone to a prayer meeting where someone is long-winded while praying? I have, and I have even been guilty of uttering those long-winded prayers. We, as adults, could take a lesson from the children. I believe God wants us to. That is why he perfected the praise out of their mouths. They are not praising to impress others. They are praising out of their sincerity to the Lord. If they don’t feel like it, they wont’ praise. I watch my little ones during worship and can tell when they do not want to sing, because they do not they will not sing just to impress someone. They only sing if they mean it. Now, as a parent, it is my responsibility to teach them to worship out of obedience and allow God to change their desire to worship. I have had to tell my kids to worship even though they do not feel like it. They will sing at first only to obey but you can watch the transformation as God works in their heart and draws them unto him. You can see the transformation come over them. I have watched many people worship, some will worship like crazy with their hands up, and clapping, however, I have to wonder if they are really worshiping that intensely or if it is just a show to impress others. As adults, we are very capable of pretending to worship to impress. We care what those around us think; we will tame our worship if we are self-conscience at a new church that does not worship they way we are used to. In order not to look like we are out of place, we will become more or less animated in our worship. Children are not like that. I watch my kids and know when they are excited or when they are just worshiping out of obedience.

Mark 9:36&37

Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."

Jesus spoke these words immediately after telling them that to be first you must be last and a servant of all. Often times the children get pushed back as being the least among us. “Oh don’t listen to them they’re just children.” Jesus put a child in the middle of the group, in a place of honor. We need to follow this example and receive our children with honor. I am not just saying our own, but all children. When we put the children in their own little service, are we putting them in a place of honor? Or, are we sending them off to do their thing while we do the important stuff?

Mark 10:13 - 16

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

What do you think the disciples were thinking when they sent the children away? Do you think that maybe they thought the children were too young to understand who Jesus is? Or, maybe they thought that Jesus was too busy to deal with the children. However, Jesus says we are to learn from the children. He says that we need to receive the kingdom of God as a child does. Children believe what we say without question. Have you ever seen their faith? They have great confidence in their parents to provide for every need they have and completely take care of them. Many kids believe in the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and Santa Claus without any doubt. Why? Because their parents said, they were real and that was all they needed. So, if God says to us not to worry about loosing your job because he already has it taken care of, then do not worry. A child would not, so we should not. Amazing faith.

When our son was two years old, we decided that it would be in our kids’ best interest to have them stay in service with us. This was not an easy decision to make. We were going to a church that had a full-scale children’s ministry and a full-scale youth ministry. We had some friends who kept their kids in service and they were our inspiration but we struggled with the decision. The turning point was when our son escaped from the toddler room two weeks in a row! That was the decisive factor for me, knowing that they could not keep track of my overly active energetic son. So, into service he went. I am not saying it was easy to keep him still for the whole service at first; it was hard. And we caught so much flack from everyone else but we held our ground. It seemed so right, not because I knew that he would not escape me but because it was all of us in service as a family together. The kids love worship and as they grow they are really enjoying what they are learning. We are blessed that our church believes that children belong in service too. Next time, how I keep an active two-year-old quiet and still for an entire church service.

Teaching Children to Worship

Our kids do not go to Sunday School. We feel very strongly about having the kids in the church service with us. Church is family time. The kids are learning by our example of what it means to worship the Lord in church. It is the biblical way to do church. I did a little research through the Word and was thrilled at how many verses I found that had the kids in the assembly with the elders, men, and women.

I am only going to touch on a few of the verses here and I am breaking it up into a few different postings. It took me a few typing sessions to finish the first part and I know that if you are a mom getting more than 15 minutes to do anything is a great accomplishment in itself. The goal of these postings is to encourage moms in how to teach their children to worship. I, by no means have all the answers, but I know it can be done. I have trained all my older kids to sit and listen in church. I am training my 14 month old right now. I will touch on how to train your child to stay in the service at the end of this series of postings.

Deuteronomy 31:10 - 13

And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

In Deuteronomy, Moses was passing the torch to Joshua. He instructed Joshua to gather everyone including women and children to assemble at the end of every seven years. He instructed them to do this so that they may hear from the Lord, learn to fear the Lord, and observe all the word of the law. They were to be together, everyone in the same place, not assembled separately. The children were to hear the law with the adults because the children needed to learn the law so they would not depart from it when they were adults. Learning to fear the Lord is easier the younger you are. Therefore, it only makes sense that they were there.

Joshua 8:33 - 35

And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

In Joshua, we see that he did what Moses told him to do. Everyone was assembled together so that everyone could hear the law as Moses commanded. God saw it important enough to include the children in the assembly of hearing all that was written in the Book of the Law. If it was important then, it is absolutely important now.

2 Chronicles 20:3 - 5

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,

2 Chronicles 20:13 - 15

And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's.

King Jehoshaphat sought the Lord in the midst of war being declared on him. He called everyone to seek the Lord, including the children. The Lord heard their prayers and comforted them in the midst of turmoil. He told them that the battle did not belong to them but to the Lord. Jehoshaphat knew the importance of the prayers of the children. God hears the prayers of our children. If our children see our example of prayer, then our children will know how to pray. It will become natural for them to seek the Lord because we as parents demonstrated it to them. Children are great observers of our behavior and mimic it all the time.

Ezra 10:1

Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.

In Ezra, we see something a little different. The people we not called to assemble before the Lord, they came on their own. Everyone including the children came around Ezra as he was repenting before the Lord. The people of Israel had not kept themselves separate from neighboring lands as God had told them. They were taking the women from these lands for themselves against what God had told them to do. Ezra falls before the Lord weeping and repenting for the sins of Israel and the people come to Ezra recognizing that they needed to repent themselves; even the children. Exodus 34:7 says that God deals with sin to the third and fourth generation. It was very important here that the children also repent for their parents’ sin. Sin is also passed on from generation to generation; it is called generational sin. Confessing the sins of our father’s, and asking God to forgive, that is part of breaking the generational sin.

Joel 2:15 - 18

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where [is] their God? Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

In Joel, everyone, including the babies, is called for a solemn assembly. The people were called to fast. I find interesting that a fast was called here. I am not sure if the children were included in the actual fasting but I am sure the children were very aware of the fasting, and how to fast. As adults, God sometimes calls us to fast. When we do, we are teaching our children how to deny their flesh for a period of time for the Lord. If God calls you to fast, you should be teaching your child what it means to fast and why we fast.

To sum up, in the Old Testament, children and babies were called to gather with the elders, men, and women. In every instance, that we looked at there was a different reason for the gathering. Children were involved in hearing, learning and fearing the Law of the Lord, seeking the Lord in times of trouble, and in repentance.

Children learn by example, if we do not have them in service with us, how can we be the example of how to worship the Lord? In Sunday school, they learn from the example of their peers. Where do their peers learn how to worship? God esteems children as being as important as adults, so why would we put them at the “kiddy table” so to speak? I will be looking at examples in the New Testament next time.

Boxes, Boxes, and More Boxes

I am drowning in an ocean of boxes right now. We are moving in 2 days. I have been packing and weeding out items I don't want to move for 3 weeks now and seriously, I should be done. I am more than half way there but I feel like I am no where close. Of course you then look at all the boxes everywhere in the house and it is obvious that I have to be close. I started by lining the walls with boxes, now every wall is lined as is the upstairs banister. I have boxes in the middle of rooms with no place to go. At this point the sorting and weeding is over and I am just throwing stuff into a box so it can be packed in a box.
The kids have been really great with helping pack all of their stuff. Kids like to help, they really enjoy being a part of life around them in a meaningful way and not just watch it pass them by. Even Baby G (she is 12 months now) gets involved in helping. Today, she got excited when it was time to unload the dryer. She was right there in the middle of it. Then she loaded the dryer every time she put something into the dryer I praised her she was having so much fun being with mommy. Then halfway through, she decided to start pulling things back out. She got so mad that I was putting them back in. But then she helped me start the dryer and was happy again.
I love having my kids help in whatever task is at hand. They love being useful and spending time with me in the process. I love training them to do things that are necessary for survival.
So back into the ocean of boxes I go.

Packing Adventures

I have been busy packing the house for moving this week. I now have 16 days if the current timetable stays the same to have everything boxed up and ready to transport. The crazy thing is I am trying to pack with the most obstinate little one year old I have ever seen. I do not like using the playpen but have found that if I do not, I will never get packed.

We have been planning to move since June but God has closed every door that has opened for us to move until now. I praise God he did though. Where we are moving is in a better part of town, and less expensive than where we are now. In June, we lost a significant amount of income as the complex we were managing was sold to a new investment firm that had their own management team. I have been watching everyday as they undo everything I did as I poured my blood, sweat and tears into this place for five long years. This new company is giving the place a face-lift and shedding it of anything that would resemble its old image. It has been emotional and I am glad that in 2 ½ weeks I no longer have to watch and wonder what they will do next.

Baby G has proven to be a little one who is testing my patience to no end. With boxes everywhere, I have had to corral her into a safe zone of the living room. Everywhere else has boxes and stuff to pack lying around. She does not like that I have basically imprisoned her into one room. She has figured out how to overcome every obstacle in her way to venture into the other rooms that she used to be able to be in when someone was watching her of course. So I am finding myself constantly picking her up, telling her no, and putting her back where she is to stay. This has proved to make packing even one box a tedious task. It also goes to show that mommy cannot take a day off from training.

Okay, my coffee is gone and it is time to get back to work before Baby G wakes up from her nap.

Baby Cuteness

This morning I was rewarded for all the hours of training Baby G I have put in so far. I am nowhere close to being done training her but this morning I saw wonderful progress. Babies are so good at finding little things that we seem to not realize are there. This morning was no exception. She found a little something - I still do not know what it was - hard on the coffee table. That I of course did not notice even though it was the only thing on the coffee table. As expected the first thing she was going to do was put it in her mouth. She looked at me, I gave her a firm look while shaking my head no, and she put it down. YEAH! She is learning what I have been teaching her! I was starting to get discouraged with training her and then she surprised me with obedience.

A few other cute things she did today.

Tried to wipe my nose after I wiped hers.

Tried to feed me her French toast.

Picked up a piece of fuzz off the floor and gave it right to me.

Smiled sweetly.