Conversations

That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: Psalms 78:6,7

It's back to school. The kids come home and you ask, "How was school today?" 

And the answer is, "Fine."

Do you feel like your children just don't want to tell you or are they answering like we often do when someone says, "How are you?"

Here are some suggestions to get a conversation going.

• What did you do today that was fun?
• What was hard today?
• What was your best class? Why?
• Did you read any good stories?
• What are you studying in history? science?

All of these questions and more lead into conversations with your children that will help you engage with their education. Even if you're homeschooling, these can be worthwhile questions to see where your children's interest lie.

Let their answers tell you what to share about your experiences with your children. Suppose they say they had fun at recess. Next question," What did you do?" It's not likely they played jump rope or hopscotch or red rover, but maybe you did. Share those experiences. Teach them how to play those games and recite those jump rope rhymes.

If fractions were hard, pull out the measuring cups and spoons and ask them to help you make cookies or supper. Then show them how you use fractions. Money is another good way to teach fractions. Pour out the change jar and let them sort and count the money discovering what makes up the parts of a whole dollar. 

Maybe music was the best class. Ask about what they are singing and share songs you remember from childhood like Eating Goober Peas, or The Erie Canal. 

Are they reading Little House on the Prairie? Go explore a nearby antique shop or the basement if you happen to have family antiques. Subjects like reading, history, and science are always more meaningful if children can put their hands on what they are reading about. 

Are their historical parks in your area? Do they put on demonstrations? In my area, there is American Indian Days at Haygood Mill, reenactments at Cowpens Battlefield and Walnut Grove. What about your family history? Did your ancestors follow the wagon road down the mountains to settle southern Appalachia or were they already there to meet the pioneers? Did they come over on slave ships? Did they go with the wagon trains to settle the west? Were they stowaways on ships? Are they new immigrants who are fleeing harsh homelands? Let your children know and then tell them how good God has been to your family during the tough times as well as the good. 

Do your children enjoy science or need encouragement to study harder? Visit farms, orchards, festivals, planetariums, museums. The Creation Museum is close by for most of the east coast located in Kentucky. The Institute of Creation"s museum is opening in September located in Texas. 

As the holidays approach make sure your children are aware they can share the true meaning of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter at school. 

If you and the Lord are in the middle of your child's education this year it will be the best year ever because you are having those conversations that implant the Lord in your child's heart and daily life. 

Hey Kids: '

What's this school year like? 

Dig deeper into things that interest you most. Let your parents know so they can share their experiences with you. 

Did you know that everything in life is tied to every subject? 

Maybe math is your best subject but history is kind of okay. You will need to read well to learn about the best mathematician - Einstein. In the process, you will learn the history of how he struggled as a kid and why he needed to flee his homeland. Einstein was also a scientist. Look, we've already covered every subject in school just because you like math!

Maybe you liked to reading The Drinking Gourd. To really understand it you may need to talk with your grandparents, visit an antique shop, a farm or a National Park to see how harsh life was during that time period. Math and science will come in handy to know slaves navigated by the stars. Now you've already used all the subjects from school.

Don't leave your parents out of your adventures. They have lots to share as well and may the Lord lead you in this new school year. 

Blessings,

 Gail

Hope

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

John 20:27,28

Sitting out here on my porch the world just seems to go on as if nothing changed, nothing happens. A wasp is flying around looking for a place to build a nest. The breeze gently sways the maple leaves. Birds visit the feeder dropping sunflower seeds onto the ground below. Some dropped long ago have sprouted and lift their heads to follow the sun. A yellow swallow-tailed butterfly flitters through the rafters overhead. Mountains sit quietly in the distance under the blue haze. All seems quite normal but inside the lives of people, turmoil and tragedy wreak havoc.

Shootings, senseless killings, unthinkable diseases in young children, a toddler killed in a tragic accident, a newborn left motherless because of complications, and our hearts break. 

How does Creation go on seemingly oblivious to our hurt, our heartache? The answer is, it isn't oblivious. God created it to calm us, restore our memories and give us hope. 

Stand in your garden. Butterflies will kiss your cheek and land on your fingertip. Sunflowers will follow the sun with open faces and remind you to follow the Son. After terrifying storms, we look for rainbows that give us hope and a promise. A promise that God keeps His promises to reunite us with our precious loved ones after this life has passed when we look to Him in faith. He bears the scars to encourage us to "be not faithless but believing".

Hey Kids:

Have you ever lost a relative or a friend?

It hurts so bad.

God created the universe to show His love and give us hope.

What other things have you noticed that give you hope and comfort?

Here are a few hints:

Robins sing, "Cheer-up Cheerilee!"

Crickets only chirp when there is no danger around.

Blessings,

Gail

Back to School

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Corinthians 5:17 

Yes, this week it's back to the classroom - figure out the theme, fix the bulletin boards, arrange the centers, prepare lesson plans, make it all coordinate. But that's a lot of fun. We won't talk about meetings. 

At the school supply store, I noticed a lot of Very Hungry Caterpillar decor. That's cute, I thought. Then it occurred to me, That's perfect! 


There are so many ways to use this theme to help my little ones understand and grow. 

• life cycles - everything changes over time
• making good choices
• turning over a new leaf doesn't completely fix a problem
• dying to an old life
• growing up, never to be a child again (I know that's sad but true)
• beauty is on the inside

These points don't just apply to caterpillars and butterflies. What about frogs? seeds? mammals? birds? trees?

Life cycles can be applied spiritually as well. Just like a caterpillar makes bad choices and ends up sick in the story, so we can choose to sin and end up "sick". We can just turn over a new leaf. We'll feel better for a little while, but the real change comes when we die to an old way of life and become a new creature in Christ who can never go back to living a sinful lifestyle again. 

Hey Kids:

What's your favorite life cycle to observe?

How does it work?

Can you use The Very Hungry Caterpillar as a mentor text to draw/write about your favorite life cycle?

How can you use your story to explain our spiritual lifecycle to a friend?

Blessing for a new school year.

Gail

Sent Forth as Sheep

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16

I have this little figurine group of a shepherd and his flock on my desk. I don't know the actual background or reason for the figurine but to me I see the Good Shepherd going forth with His sheep. 

Jesus says He sends us forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. We know wolves are there to destroy sheep. Sheep need to be cared for, watched over and guided to fresh pasture and water. They aren't very capable without their shepherd. Neither are we. 
Wolves don't need anyone to tell them which sheep to destroy. He just takes the first convenient sheep he finds. Do you ever feel like no matter what we say or do it's in conflict with someone or something? We as Christians are not politically correct at this point in history. If you study history closely Evangelical Christians have never been politically correct, ie. the Pilgrims, persecutions of the Middle Ages, persecutions by the Romans, and even by Saul/Paul himself.  But Jesus has sent us forth among the wolves. 

We have a job to do. Just as sheep provide wool for clothing, milk, cheese, and yes even meat so we must provide the spiritual things the world needs; the preaching of the Gospel, baptizing, and teaching to observe all the things Jesus has commanded. And He, the Good Shepherd will be with us always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:19,20).

I've been praying for a vision for young people, to have an opportunity to train these young Christians to observe all the things Jesus has commanded us. Today I saw an amazing answer to those prayers. If God gives you the vision, step out, He'll go with you and answer those prayers He has laid on your heart.

Hey Kids: 

Have you had the opportunity to memorize Psalms 23?

In my first grade class (yes, in public school 1962) I was given that opportunity with a prize for reciting it in front of the class. I was shy and memorized but wouldn't do it in front of a class. But God implanted His word in my heart and now uses me in front of a class every day at school and every Sunday.

That Psalm is about how the Lord leads me along as part of His flock, giving good pasture and good water and a place to rest. 

Memorizing Psalm 23 is a great place to start learning about being a sheep. 
When you are faced with the wolves of this world you will remember whose sheep you are and where to go for help. 

Blessings,

Gail