As4Me

Sharing My Efforts to Apply God's Word to My Life as Mom. Wisdom Is the Principal Thing.

Archives for June 2015

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On Looking for Impulsive Role Models

To the mother of that impulsive, energetic, and sometimes naughty boy. To my friends who have been forced to hear multiple anecdotes about Winston Churchill the last few weeks.

I love that God has entrusted you with the responsibility of teaching your boy to love God, and to show him God’s mighty power, his praises, and the wonderful work he has done.

I love that God has given you this confusing personality in our culture that seems bewildered by the energy of an enthusiastic nonconformist.

I’ve been listening to the lengthy biography of Winston Churchill. It’s a LONG biography, so I’m getting lots of detail. What has struck me repeatedly as I listen is that Winston Churchill was impulsive and restless, just like a few boys I know and love. He was tenderhearted, loved animals and hated to see them suffering. He was intensely curious (for example, once reveling in the experience of assisting friends at a fire that destroyed their house). People misunderstood him. He was brilliant, and was often impatient when he was certain he could do a better job than the people around him could do.  (but he struggled in school, and barely passed. His teachers could not figure him out.)

And instead of taking away his impulsiveness, God used it. While others were still analyzing and calculating risks, Winston Churchill took action.

 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! Psalm 139:14-17

P.S. It’s a LONG book, but here it is if you would like to read or listen to it.

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Book Review: Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing

If you have read the Jesus Storybook Bible, then you know the author and artist of Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing.

In all the reviews I’ve seen of this book, few people mention poetry. Even though nothing rhymes in this book, and the lines aren’t shortened for the most part, the words chosen are truly beautiful and poetic and true.

Lloyd-Jones is a gifted communicator to children.

This paragraph from pastor Tim Keller’s forward is crucial for understanding the value of this book: “Somehow, however, the experiential side of a relationship with God is often neglected, so that by the time children are teens, they are woefully lopsided– long on information, but short on experience of God’s presence.”

The affective side of Christianity is often neglected by people who are passionate about theology, not just by teachers of children, but by the adults themselves.

Sally Lloyd-Jones provides a remedy in poetic prose. She has a poet’s soul, and her words beautifully express the emotional, happy experience of a child learning to love his or her God, and biblical truth that delights and reassures us of God’s loving care. Her words are understandable by children, and so this is not just a children’s book that parents purchase because they want their children to learn the contents. It is designed to be used and enjoyed by children.

I love that Lloyd-Jones draws from Bible stories, stories from history and classic fiction, and memorable (and accessible) quotes from Christian giants of faith.

Although many people love artist Jago’s illustrations in the Jesus Storybook Bible, he has more room for creativity and interpretation in this book. The illustrations are warm and happy, and appreciated by my children.

I’ve been reading it aloud to my children. All of them love it. After I finish, they will enjoy it on their own. I’ve learned that children don’t tend to read devotional books on their own, but that they will reread what they have heard already and appreciated. Thankfully, there’s also an audiobook version for my children who would rather listen than read.

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Pictures and Bible Verses

A few nights ago, my youngest came to talk with me after bedtime and told me she was having a hard time going to sleep. She said she was afraid, and she didn’t know how not to be afraid.

We talked a little bit about God’s plan for us that we would fill our mind with good and beautiful thoughts, and how that helps us go to sleep at night. I challenged Laurel to make a picture in her mind of something beautiful to think about as she was going to sleep.

HappyThoughts0531052015She said, “I could draw a picture!” Great idea. I gave her a clipboard and paper, and she got her colored pencils and went happily to bed. In the morning, she brought her picture and asked if we could put some Bible verses with the pictures. She’s been using her copy of Bible Topics for Kids to find good verses for her pictures.

Each night she’s been drawing pictures, and telling me the verses she has in mind for the pictures. I told her when she got thirty pictures I’d make them into a book for her. (I have been scanning the pictures as she colors them.)

I am super excited about the results, and I really think she’s going to have that book soon! All the work has been her own, except a couple times when I have made some suggestions for topics (She drew a picture of two girls trading gifts, and I suggested she look up “Kindness” verses.)

 

 

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Bible Topics for Kids Coming Soon

I’m super excited about a project I’ve been working on the last few years. It’s getting close to completion, and I’ll be spending some time in the next few months telling you about it.

The project stems from my desire to share the love of God and the love of his word with my children. I started organizing by topic the Scriptures I found myself sharing with my children from time to time.

I have been using these lists of verses in a number of different ways, but I’ve been deliberately avoiding using them as punishment. (e.g., “Copy out these verses on respecting your parents.”) That’s because my goal is not to instruct, but to delight. There have been several times where we’ve referenced the book together when the children have struggled with one problem or another, but that’s not the main way I’ve been using it.

Here is the link to more on the upcoming book, and some ways we’ve used the material.

Here is the link to the Bible Topics for Kids facebook page if you want updates on the project. You must like the page to receive updates.

Tomorrow I’ll talk about how my youngest and I are using the verses to help her get to sleep at night.

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