(in light of the previous post) Today, several times we talked about God seeing everything. When I prayed for breakfast, I told God thank you that he could see us eating breakfast. Later, as we were driving home from the grocery store, I asked David if God could see us in our van, and he [...]

Filed under: Discipleship, Introspection, Prayer

I think the next spiritual truth we’re going to teach David is the omniscience of God. Today,he was being quite unkind to his sister, and I was asking him questions about his actions. He wouldn’t admit that he was being unkind. Maybe I should have asked, “Was God pleased with how you talked to your [...]

Filed under: Discipleship, Getting Along, Using Questions

Yesterday, David wasn’t happy when I told him his favorite shorts were too small. He didn’t want to wear them; he just wanted to put them in his drawer. (If I had known beforehand it was a big deal, I would have let him put them away, and taken them out later) Anyway, he says, [...]

Filed under: Introspection, Mom Time

Bethel is at an age where she can be like a tornado: pull a few toys out, play with one for less than a minute, and go on to the next toy. Give her five or ten minutes alone, and she’s capable of mass destruction (so discouraging when mommy has been diligent in keeping things [...]

Filed under: Chores

It was a wonderful day a week or so ago when Bethel learned to say “No.” David asked her a question at the dinner table, and she answered “no.” David’s response showed her that she had indeed communicated exactly what she wanted, and her instant delight was apparent. It’s a communication milestone. Now I can [...]

Filed under: Discipleship

Growing up, we were always talking. Whatever we were doing, we were talking about it. Whenever we drove places, we were always talking (or singing). In fact, my brother and I were quite surprised one day when we rode in a car with a mom who imposed silence on any trip. (she didn’t like the [...]

Filed under: Discipleship, Mom Time

I love this passage. The imagery of parents passing to their children a knowledge of God’s greatness and goodness is powerful. The problem is, it assumes that I am right with God, that I have a knowledge of God, that I am remembering God’s goodness and greatness in my life. For this reason, I believe [...]

Filed under: Mom Time

I’ve always congratulated myself on not having unrealistic expectations, of not putting people in a box that limits who they are and what they will become. For some reason, though, God uses my own children to show me that I probably do this more than I should. Take for example, my dear three year old [...]

Filed under: Discipleship, Introspection, Mom Time

After watching F-15s and F-117s flying overhead for awhile, David, Bethel, and I drove home. We told God thank you for sending us to New Mexico where we could see fighter jets every time we go grocery shopping (and often from our backyard). Then I remembered Psalm 78– how parents are to tell their children [...]

Filed under: Discipleship, Prayer

We have family devotions at night right before bed. Several weeks ago, I noted that Bethel had begun showing an interest in what we were doing (we required her to be in the room, and play quietly, but she didn’t have to sit down with us). So Lee started pulling her up in his lap [...]

Filed under: Family Devotions