Tonight we begin OUR 24 FAMILY WAYS by Clay Clarkson. I am so excited about this that I can barely wait 'til Supper because this is when our devotion will take place each night. My goal is five out of seven nights per week we do this. After Jeremy and I sat down last night and talked through it, we both think it's doable. I ran by Daddy's office today so I could make copies of the coloring sheets for all three kids. I used a three hole punch and I am using folders that have pockets and three tabs to fit the hole punched papers through. Jeremy and I went over the first week together and decided that I would write the starter questions on the dry erase board (since our dining area is also our homeschool room, we have a huge dry erase board). That way when Jeremy sits at the head of the table during dinner, he will see the questions and get it going. The format is great!
I did not want to push this on Jeremy and make him feel like he had to lead this, even though this is how it SHOULD be, but he was all over it. When I shared the different topics and Character qualities that we would focus on, he got very interested. It's very exciting to have found something Jeremy feels comfortable leading and truly wants to do.
For those of you not familiar with this Family Devotion, let me fill you in on how the first week and day will go. The book has a great method for the devotions to flow. It's called ARTS. A- Ask a question, R- Read the Bible, T- Talk about it, S- Speak to God. You spend five days focusing on one FAMILY WAY. Obviously we have a baby due in a few months and our nights may get a little harry but I am praying we can keep this up. Since we always have to eat and we always eat together as a family, this should not be hard. Sally and Clay did this with their family at breakfast. My husband is gone before 6am every morning so supper time is what works best for us.
OUR FAMILY WAY 1 (there are 24)
Concerning AUTHORITIES in our family
CHARACTER: Godliness
Day 1
Ask a question: (questions provided that my five and seven year old will have no issue answering)
Read the Bible: (passage provided)
Talk about it: (Talk about what you read in scripture. They have also provided questions here too.)
Speak to God: (Prayer. They even have a prayer if you need help with praying.)
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
I've spent lots of time praying today for a peaceful dinner. With a three year old in the mix, anything could happen but I truly believe that training all of our children each night at the supper table and focusing on Jesus will be life changing for our family. Consistency and discipline displayed by us as parents will be what trains them and teaches them about being a disciple of Jesus Christ. And as I have looked ahead at all 24 Family Ways, I KNOW Jeremy and I are going to get just as much out of this as the kids.
Whether you go to church or not, the home is where our children should be taught and trained the WORD of God FIRST. We should never leave it up to the church. It is our job to disciple our children. If you are a single Mom or married to an unbeliever, you can be the one to lead your children. There are so many devotions out there to help us. If you need any ideas, I have some. Another great one is LEADING LITTLE ONES TO GOD. I will be using it during our Homeschool Bible time for Ava Beth. Josiah has actual Bible Curriculum but I am sure it will kind of all run together during our Homeschool hours.
The point is, this is something every parent should be doing on a regular basis with their children. If you do not Homeschool, try to find something that works around the School hours. Maybe incorporate it during supper time. Don't assume your children are getting enough of God's Word on Sunday mornings. They need it daily just like us! If your children attend a private Christian School, they still need to be taught the WORD by YOU. We are the ones God has called to disciple our children, no one else. The Bible tells us to teach them!!
Sorry, did not mean to go into "Commander" mode. Please know I am just now learning this and putting this into practice. I don't want to sound like I have this mastered. This is why we are starting this and why I am so excited about it. So pardon my excitement! :)
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. [a] 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Whether you go to church or not, the home is where our children should be taught and trained the WORD of God FIRST. We should never leave it up to the church. It is our job to disciple our children. If you are a single Mom or married to an unbeliever, you can be the one to lead your children. There are so many devotions out there to help us. If you need any ideas, I have some. Another great one is LEADING LITTLE ONES TO GOD. I will be using it during our Homeschool Bible time for Ava Beth. Josiah has actual Bible Curriculum but I am sure it will kind of all run together during our Homeschool hours.
The point is, this is something every parent should be doing on a regular basis with their children. If you do not Homeschool, try to find something that works around the School hours. Maybe incorporate it during supper time. Don't assume your children are getting enough of God's Word on Sunday mornings. They need it daily just like us! If your children attend a private Christian School, they still need to be taught the WORD by YOU. We are the ones God has called to disciple our children, no one else. The Bible tells us to teach them!!
Sorry, did not mean to go into "Commander" mode. Please know I am just now learning this and putting this into practice. I don't want to sound like I have this mastered. This is why we are starting this and why I am so excited about it. So pardon my excitement! :)
Deuteronomy 6
Love the LORD Your God
1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. [a] 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
3 comments:
Was wondering....which Bible Curriculum did you get for Josiah? Been looking around and nothing has grabbed me yet. I want something with depth and can't seem to find anything. I did purchase A Child's Story Bible by Caterine Vos - haven't started it yet but it looks great. Sally recommends it so of course it's good. :-)
I will be praying for you and your devotional time tonight.
Can I ask for prayer? My own bible reading has really been in the gutter lately. I NEED this time with the Lord so badly but I haven't gotten there MYSELF lately. Reading with the kids is great but I still need my own time.
Thanks Amanda!!!!! :-)
Of course I will pray!! The kids and I r outside swimming and I got out to check the time and saw your comment on my blackberry. I will pray NOW!
Josiah's curriculum for Science, History, Art, Music and Bible is Adventures in My Father's World but if u need just Bible, I think Rod and Staff has something. Actually our English and Spelling is rod and staff and it seems like they teach Bible even when learning to dissect a sentence! :)
I understand how u r feeling. I think Summers r kind of hard on the Homeschooling Mom. As much as we crave the break, I know for me that I function better with order!
I am so excited that you are doing this- you are inspiring me! I ordered this book a year ago, and it has been sitting in my Bible study basket... it looks so wonderful but I just haven't jumped into it.
You are SO right, it is our duty and honor to train our children in God's Word, and what they learn in church or Christian school doesn't get into their hearts like what we teach them does. Oh Amanda, it is so thrilling to see your commitment to training your kids up in God's ways. In fact, I was just telling my husband (who is a high school principal) about your enthusiasm for teaching your kids, and comparing it to the typical classroom. He agreed wholeheartedly that noone will care as much as a mother... what agift you are giving your family:-)
Now I wish he would desire the same thing for our girls... I am still praying that he will want me to homeschool at some point. Please keep praying for us.
Hugs!
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