Since we want to teach out children how to model what Christ did, share the following with your child to begin a discussion about how one can show kindness to others.
Jesus! What an awesome man (and God)! There were some really great things about the way Jesus acted while He was on earth. One of those things is how kind He was to others. Kindness poured out of Jesus. You could even say Jesus is the definition of kindness.
Like Jesus, you can show kindness in lots of different ways. You can be helpful, show compassion, have good manners, be tender, say polite words, or show concern for the elderly, handicapped, or sick. Jesus showed kindness in many ways. He ate dinner with a mean guy named Zachaeus who had no friends. He fed 5,000 hungry people on a hillside. Jesus prayed with His disciples, raised men from the dead, and forgave the “very sinful woman.”
In Ephesians 4:32 it says, “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (NKJV). You are commanded to be kind to others, just like Jesus was.
You see people everyday who need someone to show them kindness. You see neighbors, friends, family, teachers, and many others you don’t know. Ask God to help you think of ways to be kind to everyone you see.
Kindness is giving yourself! It’s not being selfish, but it’s seeing how much you can give of your time to others. Be kind today! Give of yourself ~ even if you just give someone a smile.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Ways to Introduce Your Child to God
Kathie Reimer, in her book “1001 Ways to Introduce Your Child to God,” has some great ideas for raising an obedient and loving child!
“1001 Ways to Introduce Your Child to God” by Kathie Reimer
- Let genuine praise abound!
- As often as possible take the positive approach.
- Be careful not to humiliate your child in public.
- Let your words convince your child that they are an obedient and pleasing individual.
- Make sure your child understand their limits and the meaning of your instructions.
“1001 Ways to Introduce Your Child to God” by Kathie Reimer
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Moses is Called By God - Exodus 2: 15-3:18
In the story below, your children can learn that the God that appeared to Moses and instructed Moses about who He is, is the same God who can live in us today. God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We love Him because we can trust in Him.
One day Moses was in the desert, tending sheep that belonged to his father-in-law. He led the flock to the back of the desert and came to the mountain of God, called Horeb. Suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire from the middle of a bush. Moses looked and saw that the bush burned with fire but it was not destroyed.
When the Lord saw Moses turn aside to look closer at the bush, God called to him from the middle of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Do not come near. Take your shoes off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” God continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God.”
God spoke again, “I have seen the misery of my people who are in Egypt and I have heard their
cries because of these taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a land of good and large, into a land flowing with milk and honey.” God was going to take them to the land of Canaan, which He had promised their forefathers.
God said to Moses, “Come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh so you may lead my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to the Lord, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” God said, “I will certainly be with
you, and this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Then Moses said to the Lord: “When I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you’ and they say to me, ‘ What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said, “This you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘I AM WHO I AM. This you must say to the children of Israel. I AM has sent me to you.’” Moses was to tell the people that “I AM” had sent him. This was the name by which God chose to reveal himself to Israel. The
name was to become a memorial throughout their generations.
Do you ever think you don’t have the strength, courage or wisdom to do what God asks of you? The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” This means that by ourselves we are not powerful, but the all-powerful God is and He can do anything. The key is to trust in Him. God desired that Moses would know He is the all-powerful God who would help him deliver the children of Israel out of bondage. God wanted Moses to trust Him. God wants you to trust Him as well.
God wants you to know who He is too. He is your strength, courage and wisdom. God’s Word says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). His name is “I AM” and He is here to give you all the strength and courage you could ever need.
Go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you trust in His power.
One day Moses was in the desert, tending sheep that belonged to his father-in-law. He led the flock to the back of the desert and came to the mountain of God, called Horeb. Suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire from the middle of a bush. Moses looked and saw that the bush burned with fire but it was not destroyed.
When the Lord saw Moses turn aside to look closer at the bush, God called to him from the middle of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Do not come near. Take your shoes off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” God continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God.”
God spoke again, “I have seen the misery of my people who are in Egypt and I have heard their
cries because of these taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a land of good and large, into a land flowing with milk and honey.” God was going to take them to the land of Canaan, which He had promised their forefathers.
God said to Moses, “Come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh so you may lead my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to the Lord, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?” God said, “I will certainly be with
you, and this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Then Moses said to the Lord: “When I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you’ and they say to me, ‘ What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said, “This you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘I AM WHO I AM. This you must say to the children of Israel. I AM has sent me to you.’” Moses was to tell the people that “I AM” had sent him. This was the name by which God chose to reveal himself to Israel. The
name was to become a memorial throughout their generations.
Do you ever think you don’t have the strength, courage or wisdom to do what God asks of you? The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” This means that by ourselves we are not powerful, but the all-powerful God is and He can do anything. The key is to trust in Him. God desired that Moses would know He is the all-powerful God who would help him deliver the children of Israel out of bondage. God wanted Moses to trust Him. God wants you to trust Him as well.
God wants you to know who He is too. He is your strength, courage and wisdom. God’s Word says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). His name is “I AM” and He is here to give you all the strength and courage you could ever need.
Go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you trust in His power.
Do You Know Who God Is?
The most fundamental need facing each of us as a parent today is to recognize the existence of God, understand His character and personality and pass this on to our children. Teaching our children about God begins by involving them in our religion and by example.
The scripture to begin teaching about God is Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” In our world today, knowledge abounds but true wisdom is scarce. The first step to teach your children is that wisdom is not just about knowing a lot, but rather one’s attitude will affect everything in one’s life.
Teach your children to have the attitude of fear for the Lord because this attitude is the beginning of wisdom. To fear God means to honor, respect, trust and be in awe of His power.
Next, involve your children in your religion.
Teaching them to pray, read and memorize scripture, sing hymns and attend church does this. God and Jesus Christ need to be a part of your family’s everyday life. God should not be reserved only for meal and bedtime prayers. Your faith should be a part of your everyday life. This can be done through your conversations and your thankfulness for all God has provided you and your family.
The existence of God has been a debate for mankind throughout the millennial. No one can make
another person believe in God. However, God’s existence is powerfully demonstrated by His creation. The reality of the material universe, the existence of life and the interdependence and sustenance of the laws governing His creation require a Creator, a Life-Giver and a Sustainer.
David said, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). Paul records in Romans 1:19, 20 “That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them. For the invisible things of him [God] from [looking up at] the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse.” So there is no excuse for not believing in God. God can be known because of the creation all around us.
Teach your children the nature of God
The scripture to begin teaching about God is Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” In our world today, knowledge abounds but true wisdom is scarce. The first step to teach your children is that wisdom is not just about knowing a lot, but rather one’s attitude will affect everything in one’s life.
Teach your children to have the attitude of fear for the Lord because this attitude is the beginning of wisdom. To fear God means to honor, respect, trust and be in awe of His power.
Next, involve your children in your religion.
Teaching them to pray, read and memorize scripture, sing hymns and attend church does this. God and Jesus Christ need to be a part of your family’s everyday life. God should not be reserved only for meal and bedtime prayers. Your faith should be a part of your everyday life. This can be done through your conversations and your thankfulness for all God has provided you and your family.
The existence of God has been a debate for mankind throughout the millennial. No one can make
another person believe in God. However, God’s existence is powerfully demonstrated by His creation. The reality of the material universe, the existence of life and the interdependence and sustenance of the laws governing His creation require a Creator, a Life-Giver and a Sustainer.
David said, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). Paul records in Romans 1:19, 20 “That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them. For the invisible things of him [God] from [looking up at] the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse.” So there is no excuse for not believing in God. God can be known because of the creation all around us.
Teach your children the nature of God
- God is Spirit (John 4:24).
- God is invisible (Colossians 1:15).
- God is a person who hears, sees, feels, blesses and shows emotion through wrath and love(Nahum 1:2; John 3:16).
- God is the one and only God (Deut. 6:4, 5).
- God is love. This one quality is so much a part of God’s makeup that He is it (I John 4:8).
- God is eternal. He has always been (Genesis 21:33).
- God is omniscient. God knows everything past, present and future and He knows all about you (Job 37:16; Ps. 139:1-4).
- God is omnipotent. God can do anything He wants to do (Job 42:2;Rev. 19:6).
- God is omnipresent.
- God is everywhere. He sees and hears all that we do and say (Ps 139:7-12).
- God is holy (Isa. 43:15).
- God is truth. You never need to doubt God (Ps. 117:2; Titus 1:2).
- God is just (Deut. 32:4).
- God is majestic (Ps 29:2).
- God is good (Ps 34:8).
- God is faithful. You can trust His Word (I Cor. 10:13; I Thess. 5:24).
- God is sovereign. God is Ruler over all (Ps. 22:28; 47:2; Is. 44:6, Daniel 4:34, 35).
I AM’S of God
Teach your children the "I AMS of God
1. I AM
2. I AM THAT I AM
3. I am the Lord
4. I am Almighty God
5. I am the God of Abraham
6. I am the Lord God of Abraham
7. I am God, the God of thy father
8. I am the God of Bethel
9. I am the God of thy father
10. I am the Lord your God
11. I the Lord your God am holy
12. I the Lord am holy
13. I the Lord thy God am a jealous God
14. I am He
15. I am God
16. I am the Lord thy God
17. I am the God of Israel
18. I am thy God
19. I am the first
20. I am the last
21. I am thy part of thine inheritance
22. I am the Lord thy Savior
23. I am the Lord, the God of all flesh
24. I am a witness
25. I am a father to Israel
26. I am the Lord God
27. I am the Lord their God
28. I am your God
29. I am a great King
30. I am the God of thy fathers
From The Dake Annotated
Reference Bible, Page 71
1. I AM
2. I AM THAT I AM
3. I am the Lord
4. I am Almighty God
5. I am the God of Abraham
6. I am the Lord God of Abraham
7. I am God, the God of thy father
8. I am the God of Bethel
9. I am the God of thy father
10. I am the Lord your God
11. I the Lord your God am holy
12. I the Lord am holy
13. I the Lord thy God am a jealous God
14. I am He
15. I am God
16. I am the Lord thy God
17. I am the God of Israel
18. I am thy God
19. I am the first
20. I am the last
21. I am thy part of thine inheritance
22. I am the Lord thy Savior
23. I am the Lord, the God of all flesh
24. I am a witness
25. I am a father to Israel
26. I am the Lord God
27. I am the Lord their God
28. I am your God
29. I am a great King
30. I am the God of thy fathers
From The Dake Annotated
Reference Bible, Page 71
Jesus Name
To begin a discussion, with your child, about the power in Jesus' name, you may want to read or share the following information.
How many times have you finished a prayer with the words, “in Jesus’ name, amen?” The Bible
says that one day every knee will bow to the ground at the mention of the name Jesus. What is it about that name? Certainly there is no other name so powerful.
When the name of Jesus is mentioned it can heal, chase away evil and bring incredible peace and happiness. Is the name of Jesus just a magic word like hocus-pocus? Absolutely not! It’s a name that speaks of the King of Kings, the ruler of the universe and the Prince of Peace. Wherever
the name of Jesus is spoken for good, you can be sure Jesus is right there, waiting to do something wonderful.
Think about how awesome that is. Wherever you are, you can call on the name of Jesus to help
make something good happen. You don’t have to be an adult, a minister, or anybody special. Anyone who is a child of God can call out the name of Jesus and He will be there instantly. Now you have to remember that He is God, and that makes Him smarter than everyone else. So
sometimes He may answer your prayers a little differently than you thought He should. However, God will always answer in a way that will bring glory to Him.
So when you are around others, don’t be afraid to speak out the name of Jesus, and ask Him to help your family, friends, teachers, neighbors, and anyone else that has blood pumping through their body. It’s a powerful name, so don’t leave home without it!
How many times have you finished a prayer with the words, “in Jesus’ name, amen?” The Bible
says that one day every knee will bow to the ground at the mention of the name Jesus. What is it about that name? Certainly there is no other name so powerful.
When the name of Jesus is mentioned it can heal, chase away evil and bring incredible peace and happiness. Is the name of Jesus just a magic word like hocus-pocus? Absolutely not! It’s a name that speaks of the King of Kings, the ruler of the universe and the Prince of Peace. Wherever
the name of Jesus is spoken for good, you can be sure Jesus is right there, waiting to do something wonderful.
Think about how awesome that is. Wherever you are, you can call on the name of Jesus to help
make something good happen. You don’t have to be an adult, a minister, or anybody special. Anyone who is a child of God can call out the name of Jesus and He will be there instantly. Now you have to remember that He is God, and that makes Him smarter than everyone else. So
sometimes He may answer your prayers a little differently than you thought He should. However, God will always answer in a way that will bring glory to Him.
So when you are around others, don’t be afraid to speak out the name of Jesus, and ask Him to help your family, friends, teachers, neighbors, and anyone else that has blood pumping through their body. It’s a powerful name, so don’t leave home without it!
Do Your Children Worry?
Kids today spend a lot of time worrying. The Bible makes it very clear that God does not want us worrying, but instead, trusting in Him. Here is a simple, but very meaningful activity that can help your children learn to cast their worries on Jesus.
Find a fair size jar and label it “The Worry Jar.” When you or one of your children have a worry, write it down and put it in the jar. That night, before you go to sleep, pray with your child about the concern. Ask God for peace and for help. After a couple of months, empty the jar together and see how many prayers God answered. Don’t forget to give thanks and praise! As your child grows older, he/she will really be able to trust in God and not worry, but be happy! Hmm! That sounds like a good song!
Find a fair size jar and label it “The Worry Jar.” When you or one of your children have a worry, write it down and put it in the jar. That night, before you go to sleep, pray with your child about the concern. Ask God for peace and for help. After a couple of months, empty the jar together and see how many prayers God answered. Don’t forget to give thanks and praise! As your child grows older, he/she will really be able to trust in God and not worry, but be happy! Hmm! That sounds like a good song!
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