Summer is the perfect time for catching up on reading....of course, I believe that summer is the perfect time for anything! This is my favorite season. I want to share with you some great reading picks for these wonderful sunny days. Most of these selections I have referenced in our study time together throughout the year:
1) Crazy Love by Francis Chan
2) The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Sterns
3) The Renegade to God by David Foster
4) The Nazirite DNA by Lou Engle
5) In His Face by Bob Sorge
6) Radical by David Platt
7) The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
8) 7 Commitments of a Forerunner by Mike Bickle
9) Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo (This is the true account of Todd's 4 year old experiencing heaven FOR REAL! A great book for the entire family)
10) The Chronicles of Brothers (part 1): The Fall of Lucifer
by Wendy Alec (part 2): The First Judgment
(part 3): Son of Perdition
This trilogy takes you behind the scenes into the heavenlies and the depths of hell (perdition) itself; using a supernatural imagination, Wendy Alec shares glimpses into the way it might be in the invisible world. For more info on this series: www.chroniclesofbrothers.com
These are some great resources to challenge you in your walk with the Lord. Happy Reading!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Summer is coming and the kids will be out of school. This is my favorite season of all! Having my kids home was a highlight for me...no schedules...no homework...lazy days of summer. But it can be a difficult time adjusting from early mornings and much activity to quiet, long days. I want to share a few tips for making summer the most enjoyable time with your children, instead of counting down the days when school starts again!
1) Plan several field trips throughout the summer. What "hot spots" could you visit this summer in your area? Any places that you've wanted to go to, but during the school year there isn't the time? What's within an hour radius of your home~a capital city, zoo, museum, camp, historical site, waterpark, lake, etc. Plan 3 or 4 throughout the summer with a couple friends, because friends make everything more fun!
2) Movie days. Many theaters have inexpensive kids movie specials during the week. The movie times are in the morning, so little ones won't miss nap schedules. Marcus Theaters has a movie weekly & popcorn comes with the price of admission. Meet a couple families at the theater for a cheap movie date. And since the movies are geared to children, noise in the theater is expected! :)
3) Crafts. I know that word ieea is not for everyone! I am not a fan of crafts...but I will say that my kids loved to make things with me. We would gather all sorts of odds & ends, place them in a tub (kept in the basement) and on rainy days or days when friends couldn't play, we'd get out the craft tub and make something. Store everything that you would need in the tub, so it's an easy activity to plan. Here are some items to get you started: glue, cotton balls, paper, tape, craft paint, straws, paper plates, paintbrushes, stickers, rubberbands, scrapbook paper, scissors, clay, etc).
4) Reading time. Be wise about the time you have them home. Get a book (age-appropriate) and read through it together or read to them. My 13 year old still likes to listen to me read to him. It creates a shared experience. We have conversations about what we are reading throughtout the day. This could be a devotional book too, so "Jesus" time can be built into the day.
5) Bored box. Unbelievably to us adults, our kids will have days when they use the words, "I'm bored." I had a box ready for my kids when I heard those words....and amazingly, I didn't hear the words too often. I had practice worksheets to review reading, english, math concepts in the bored box. I also had index cards with "chores" written on them, so they could pick out a card to do when they were bored. Extra books were kept in the bored box too. There is always something to do!
6) Conversation time. Use these summer months to converse with your children. These days of parenting are precious. Spend time getting to know your kids. What do they dream about? Who are their friends? What do they want to be when they grow up? What's their favorite hobby? Favorite subject? Favorite sport? Favorite book? Who is their hero? Be intentional about this time you have them home.
7) Travel journal. Every place you travel....even if it's going to grandma's house is an experience. Purchase a journal or notebook and have your child design the cover of the journal with stickers, drawing, writing. Take it with you when you are overnight: camping, vacation, grandma's, cousin's, wherever you go this summer. Each night you are away, have your child write something about the day so he/she will remember the vacation. Paste a postcard or a picture or brochure of your trip in the journal too for memories. Your child may use this journal for years. It is fun to look back & revisit the places you have traveled and all the memories attached to it~ and all in his/her own handwriting.
8) Make a chain. For all the days of summer or for the last 30 days of summer, make a paper chain. On each link, write something to do. As a countdown,have your child(ren) tear off a link per day and then the family or individual does that activity. Ideas: ride bike around neighborhood together as a family, read a Psalm together and have each person in the family share what it means to him/her, rent a movie & watch it tonight, play a boardgame, go for ice-cream cones today, invite a friend over, etc. The activities can be family oriented, friend oriented, individually oriented. Be creative. Mix it up!
9) Pool party. If you have a pool invite friends over for a pool party. Otherwise, you can have a water balloon party or a slip & slide party or a sprinkler party. Have snacks and drinks all with summer or water names. Have fun with it!
These are just some ideas of how to make summer the best time EVER with your kids.
1) Plan several field trips throughout the summer. What "hot spots" could you visit this summer in your area? Any places that you've wanted to go to, but during the school year there isn't the time? What's within an hour radius of your home~a capital city, zoo, museum, camp, historical site, waterpark, lake, etc. Plan 3 or 4 throughout the summer with a couple friends, because friends make everything more fun!
2) Movie days. Many theaters have inexpensive kids movie specials during the week. The movie times are in the morning, so little ones won't miss nap schedules. Marcus Theaters has a movie weekly & popcorn comes with the price of admission. Meet a couple families at the theater for a cheap movie date. And since the movies are geared to children, noise in the theater is expected! :)
3) Crafts. I know that word ieea is not for everyone! I am not a fan of crafts...but I will say that my kids loved to make things with me. We would gather all sorts of odds & ends, place them in a tub (kept in the basement) and on rainy days or days when friends couldn't play, we'd get out the craft tub and make something. Store everything that you would need in the tub, so it's an easy activity to plan. Here are some items to get you started: glue, cotton balls, paper, tape, craft paint, straws, paper plates, paintbrushes, stickers, rubberbands, scrapbook paper, scissors, clay, etc).
4) Reading time. Be wise about the time you have them home. Get a book (age-appropriate) and read through it together or read to them. My 13 year old still likes to listen to me read to him. It creates a shared experience. We have conversations about what we are reading throughtout the day. This could be a devotional book too, so "Jesus" time can be built into the day.
5) Bored box. Unbelievably to us adults, our kids will have days when they use the words, "I'm bored." I had a box ready for my kids when I heard those words....and amazingly, I didn't hear the words too often. I had practice worksheets to review reading, english, math concepts in the bored box. I also had index cards with "chores" written on them, so they could pick out a card to do when they were bored. Extra books were kept in the bored box too. There is always something to do!
6) Conversation time. Use these summer months to converse with your children. These days of parenting are precious. Spend time getting to know your kids. What do they dream about? Who are their friends? What do they want to be when they grow up? What's their favorite hobby? Favorite subject? Favorite sport? Favorite book? Who is their hero? Be intentional about this time you have them home.
7) Travel journal. Every place you travel....even if it's going to grandma's house is an experience. Purchase a journal or notebook and have your child design the cover of the journal with stickers, drawing, writing. Take it with you when you are overnight: camping, vacation, grandma's, cousin's, wherever you go this summer. Each night you are away, have your child write something about the day so he/she will remember the vacation. Paste a postcard or a picture or brochure of your trip in the journal too for memories. Your child may use this journal for years. It is fun to look back & revisit the places you have traveled and all the memories attached to it~ and all in his/her own handwriting.
8) Make a chain. For all the days of summer or for the last 30 days of summer, make a paper chain. On each link, write something to do. As a countdown,have your child(ren) tear off a link per day and then the family or individual does that activity. Ideas: ride bike around neighborhood together as a family, read a Psalm together and have each person in the family share what it means to him/her, rent a movie & watch it tonight, play a boardgame, go for ice-cream cones today, invite a friend over, etc. The activities can be family oriented, friend oriented, individually oriented. Be creative. Mix it up!
9) Pool party. If you have a pool invite friends over for a pool party. Otherwise, you can have a water balloon party or a slip & slide party or a sprinkler party. Have snacks and drinks all with summer or water names. Have fun with it!
These are just some ideas of how to make summer the best time EVER with your kids.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Being Movie-Wise
With the summer season upon us, there are movie opportunities galore. I am an avid movie theater participant....enjoying all the theater has to offer...which includes popcorn, large diet coke & sometimes candy. I pay a high price for my movie experience! I want to share with you some "movie-wise" tips before heading into the theater this summer.
- Pray~ I have a prayer from Windows of the Soul (written by Ken Gire) that I pray before I go to the theater. "Help me, O God. Whenever I go to a movie, not to go just for entertainment but also for enlightenment. Meet me there, I pray, and speak to me. Tell me something I need to know so I may live my life more graciously, more compassionately. Give me moments of transcendence so I can leave the theater in some way changed, even if it is a very small way. Speak to me through a character, a scene, a line of dialogue, a musical score. Thank you for those moments at the movies that have touched my heart. And for the fact that there is no place on earth that some echo of Your voice cannot be heard for the one who is listening..."
- Main Character(s)~ What is he/she like? What are the qualities of the main character? Does he/she change throughout the movie? What helps to make the changes happen through the movie (a circumstance, another character, etc.)? Can you relate to any of the characters? Who would you say you are like? Have you struggled with any of the same issues that the main character struggled with in the movie?
- Theme~ Is there a theme to the movie? Courage, honesty, boldness, love, growth, perseverance, integrity, friendship, gentleness~ anything you can relate to your relationship with the Lord (fruit of the Spirit, spiritual battle, God's redeeming love, etc) or with others (faithfulness & loyalty to another, commitment)?
- Signs~ Are there repeating signs throughout the movie that give you clues to the theme? Ex. In "Prince Caspian" there are lions everywhere! Can you see a recurring object or line spoken?
- Quotes~ Do any of the characters say something that jumps out at you? Does the Lord use any of the dialogue to speak to your heart?
These are 5 keys that unlock the doors of understanding when I attend a movie. God knows the language of your heart and He is always speaking. Let the imagination of the big screen, with all the images and storylines connect you to God the Father, the Son Jesus or the Holy Spirit. I always carry index cards with me, so if a theme or a quote or character really tugs at my heart, I can write it down quickly (with the light of my cell phone).
This Friday, Pirates of the Caribbean 4 opens and I will be at the first showing in the afternoon, armed with index cards and a heart open to receive all that God wants to show me. The next time you head out to the theater, be "movie-wise".
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day
Momisms
My mom taught me to APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
My mom taught me FAITH.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
My mom taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week."
My mom taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."
My mom taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of the swing and break your neck, you're not going with me to the store."
My mom taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear in case your in an accident."
My mom taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying and Ill give you something to cry about."
My mom taught me about OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
My mom taught me about STAMINA.
"You sit there until all that spinach is gone."
My mom taught me about the WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks like a tornado went through it."
My mom taught me about the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out!"
My mom taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just want until we get home."
My mom taught me about MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze like that."
My mom taught me about GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."
My mom taught me about my HERITAGE.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
But most of all, my mom taught me LOVE.
"You know whatever you do or whatever happens, I'll stand behind you because I love you!"
~Unknown Author
Happy Mother's Day! The best job and the hardest job in all the world!!!!!!!
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