Teaching Children About God

Just a few weekends ago, I was talking with some mothers, and somehow, we got around to talking about school since exam week just passed by.  We were initially discussing about how our kids found Filipino as a tough subject, and then one mom pointed out that Christian Living was also a struggle for her son; dumbfounded as she was when her son asked her "Who is God?"

That night, I couldn't help but ask myself if I had taken every opportunity to teach my own kids about God.  I mean, sure, we go to church on Sundays, we say our night-time prayers daily; but does my kids know the Lord in a personal way?

It's just perfect timing that I stumbled upon this blog post today where it gives 10 tips for teaching children about God.  I am re-posting it in full right here:

10 Tips For Teaching Children About God:

by Stephanie Carmichael

Teach all the time: Young children live in the moment. Help them to learn in the moment by making the most of opportunities as they arise. Talk about God in the day-to-day things you are doing.

Teach at a special time: Try to set aside a special time to read about God. Prepare for this time. If you are going to read the Bible, think about what you will read and how to simplify and explain it.

Questions and answers: Listen to your children's questions, and give quality time to answering them. But also ask them questions about what you've been trying to teach to check they have understood.

Teach through your life: You are a living example (or visual aid) of someone who loves God. Set a faithful example of dependence on God and let them see you reading the Bible for yourself.

Be prayerful: Like adults, children need God's help to grow in Christ and they can learn to pray. So pray for them and pray simple prayers with them (e.g. "sorry God that we...", "thank you God for...", "God, please help...").

Be simple: Young children are not abstract thinkers so be literal and concrete. Use real examples where possible (eg. God made this flower). Use simple vocabulary that they can understand. Avoid jargon.

Be specific: Move from the specific (God loves Ben) to the general (God loves everyone). Use lots of familiar examples so that they can understand.

Repeat and repeat again: You might get tired of saying it, but remember young children thrive on repetition.

Be thankful: Approach God with thankfulness. Model to your children how we can thank God in various situations and what we can thank God for.

Be visual: Young children learn through their eyes as well as their ears. Use pictures, visual aids, picture books etc.

The author of the tips , Stephanie Carmichael, is also a published author.  Her books offer many examples of these tips in action...

Some days everything seems to go wrong and everyone feels grumpy. And sometimes, not even a hug from Mum can fix things up. This beautiful story contains a wonderfully clear message about the disappointments of life and the goodness of God.  You can enjoy the FREE e-book right here.

It's Ben's birthday, but when he falls out of his new wagon and hurts himself, Emily has to think of a way to make the day special again. This lovely story is about families and looking after one another, and about the God who loves us all.  You can enjoy the FREE e-book right here.

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Christ-Centered Family Devotions

Our family devotion time is a wonderful eye-opener for me as I learn so much about my kids as they open up and share during this time.  My heart is filled with comfort and gladness, and I give a quiet prayer of thanks knowing that my kids are aware that their God is living, loving and present in their daily lives.  

We are consistent with our daily night time prayers; however, we struggle to maintain and set-aside Friday as our Family Devotion Night.  It used to be that C would just pick a verse or chapter from the Bible and talk about it with the kids.  Admittedly, we are guilty of sometimes tailoring the discussion to suit our needs.  We usually try to limit it to 20-30 minutes, but more often than not, C finds himself overwhelmed with so many questions and personal stories from the kids.  

Just recently, our pastor introduced the "Christ-Centered Family Devotions".  It is a a devotional guidebook for Christian families.  It contains a How-to-use guide for parents who are new at leading devotions and also features tips on how to make the devotion time exciting for the kids.  If used weekly, as recommend it should be, this devotional booklet has enough materials to last for a quarter of a year.

If you are interested to bond with your family and at the same time get closer to God, I am happy to share with you that the booklet is being sold at the CCF bookstore for only P20.00 or you can also download the PDF copy for FREE right here.

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Discipline and the Bible

HONOR your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Deut. 5:16

The page on the bible where this verse is located is often paid a quick visit during our night time prayer session, most especially if I feel that the kids have been difficult far too often than usual.   C, who always leads the session, usually starts with a Bible story and ends with any of the parenting verses from the Bible; and I, just for good measure, always emphasize on the promised benefit … so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

For parents who wish to raise their kids with obedient hearts, this above mentioned Deuteronomy verse can be the center force of their discipline routine.  In my case, I make it a point to stress that this is the only one among God’s Ten Commandments with a promise - the only one. The verse says, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.  (Go ahead, get your bible and look it up.) 

While this verse surely tow-in my kids in for a few days, I certainly hear grumbling in the next few days that follow about how it is unfair that he/she is the only one who is obeying.

I constantly remind them that each one of them is accountable to God and to a lesser degree - me.  I tirelessly remind each one that God will bless their obedience.  And true enough, God convicted their hearts; coming out of the Sunday service a few Sundays ago, B blurted out that they discussed the verse: “So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the right time.”  (Galatians 6:9)

The Bible also says, "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him," and plenty of Christians interpret the passage literally.  Our senior pastor at CCF believes that spanking is OK when it's done right.  

Yes, I believe in spanking.  In my household, disciplinary spanking was effective and beneficial when my kids were younger, around ages two to five.  A quick smack on the buttocks was given after a short discussion with the offending kid.  We always assured them that the reason we are spanking them is to discipline them because we are motivated by love to keep them from future harm.   We use a flat wooden stick that we called “spanking rod” which we bought at a Christian bookstore. 

There are numerous opposing views about corporal punishment.  One of them being that spanking promotes aggressive behavior in kids.  I believe this only happens when the spanking is done as an overly severe punishment by a parent who is angrily out of control.  As opposed to appropriate spanking wherein the parent only takes one or a couple of controlled taps on the buttocks, and never done in anger.  It is important that disciplinary spanking is used in the context of a nurturing parent-child relationship.  We discipline them because we love them.

Nowadays, we have kept the rod out of sight; mostly because the kids are already of the age where reasoning with them is better than corporal punishment, but also because there is less need for it.  A quick look from me is all they usually need to behave themselves.  Still, they are not perfect.  During times when they do need to be disciplined, punishment comes in the form of with-holding privileges, like the use of the DS or Ipad/Iphone.  And for the tech-savvy kids of today, that is the worst punishment of all.

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Psalm 37

I just thought that I should share this with you, just in case anyone’s spirit needs some words of upliftment. Psalm 37 is one of the best-loved of David’s Psalms. I find myself reading it whenever I feel the need to re-discover the purpose in living a righteous life amid the wickedness that life unfortunately sometimes brings. 

This is a good verse to visit to remind us that when we trust in the Lord and continue to do good, He promises to give us the desires of our heart.

I have taken the liberty to give you excerpts of the verses which I find most meaningful, but should you want to read the whole chapter, you may do so here.

PSALM 37

1 Do not be provoked by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.

2 Like grass they wither quickly; like green plants they wilt away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good that you may dwell in the land and live secure.

4 Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart's desire.

5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust that God will act

6 And make your integrity shine like the dawn, your vindication like noonday.

7 Be still before the LORD; wait for God. Do not be provoked by the prosperous, nor by malicious schemers.

8 Give up your anger, abandon your wrath; do not be provoked; it brings only harm.

9 Those who do evil will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD will possess the land.

23 Those whose steps are guided by the LORD; whose way God approves,

24 May stumble, but they will never fall, for the LORD holds their hand.

25 Neither in my youth, nor now in old age have I ever seen the just abandoned or their children begging bread.

26 The just always lend generously, and their children become a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good, that you may inhabit the land forever.

34 Wait eagerly for the LORD, and keep to the way; God will raise you to possess the land; you will gloat when the wicked are cut off.

35 I have seen ruthless scoundrels, strong as flourishing cedars.

36 When I passed by again, they were gone; though I searched, they could not be found.

37 Observe the honest, mark the upright; those at peace with God have a future.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

39 The salvation of the just is from the LORD, their refuge in time of distress.

40 The LORD helps and rescues them, rescues and saves them from the wicked, because in God they take refuge.

The Psalm contains advice on how to achieve tranquility and peace of mind under difficult conditions.  Sharing the Bible Commentary below for a deeper understanding. 

1.  The first guidance begins in verses one and two:  Do not be provoked by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.  Like grass they wither quickly; like green plants they wilt away.

Because the wicked seem to prosper in this world, the natural reaction from the righteous is to become incensed, or to become envious of their success. But the righteous are reminded that success by the wicked is short-lived, and they will come to a distressful end.

2.  The second counsel is found in verse three: Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

This means the righteous are assured security and sustenance. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name . . . ” (Hebrew 6:10).

3.  We find the third counsel in verse five: Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

God should be relied upon for whatever one undertakes in life. He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. (Ps. 37:6).

4.  The fourth admonition is recorded in verse seven: Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

The admonition in this verse is to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.  Patience is a godly virtue. Clearly, a manifestation of patience is the art of learning to keep silent even when provoked into an argument.

5.  The fifth admonition gives us: Stop your anger! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others-- it only leads to harm.

And indeed it does. How often do people react to situations emotionally and then later regret the damage that has been done? We need not take matters regarding evil into our own hands. God promises to provide justice for the iniquity that is done under the sun.

For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land. (Ps. 37:9-11).

The wicked plot against the just and grind their teeth at them;   But the LORD laughs at them, knowing their day is coming.  The wicked draw their swords; they string their bows To fell the poor and oppressed, to slaughter those whose way is honest.  Their swords will pierce their own hearts; their bows will be broken.   (Ps. 37:12-15).

The righteous should be patient and trust in the Lord.  Better the poverty of the just than the great wealth of the wicked.  (vv. 16-17).

Notice the contrast between the reward of the righteous and of the wicked.

The LORD watches over the days of the blameless; their heritage lasts forever.

They will not be disgraced when times are hard; in days of famine they will have plenty.

The wicked perish, the enemies of the LORD; Like the beauty of meadows they vanish; like smoke they disappear.

The wicked borrow but do not repay; the just are generous in giving.

For those blessed by the Lord will possess the land, but those accursed will be cut off.  (Ps. 37:18-22)

God promises over and over to help the righteous. Those whose steps are guided by the LORD; whose way God approves, may stumble, but they will never fall, for the LORD holds their hand.

Neither in my youth, nor now in old age have I ever seen the just abandoned or their children begging bread.  The just always lend generously, and their children become a blessing.   (Ps. 37:23-26).

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B and the Bible

You never know what to expect with kids these days.  B for instance has left me laughing and worrying at the same time.  

Last Sunday, after church, as we were in the car driving towards the restaurant to have lunch with my in-laws, B suddenly announces that she has learned a new memory verse about obedience.  Prodded on to say what it is, she suddenly changes gears and says she cannot remember.  

“All I remember is that it starts with a letter C”, she declares.  

Her dad asks her, “Is it Collosians?  Or  Corinthians, maybe?” 

“It’s Selonians!” she proclaims.

We both correct her, “There’s no book in the Bible called selonians.  Perhaps you misheard your teacher.  It is Thessalonians.”

She shakes her head, “No, it really is Selonians!”  she insists adamantly.

“There’s no such book.”  C goes on to enumerate the books in the Bible, “Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, Corinthians…”

Her eyes light up and her voice is suddenly giddy with unrestrained excitement , “Dad! Romance? That's so cool!  The bible has Romance 101?  I want to read that!”

Ayayay!

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When The Darkness Closes In

I am in a very sad place right now.   Someone very close to my family suffered a horrible, heart-breaking, senseless tragedy.  This experience cries so clearly for divine intervention, for healing, for recovery from emotional and physical pain, not only for the individual concerned but for everyone involved in it. My dialogue with God this week has mostly been pleading for Him to intervene miraculously, and asking a lot of questions on how to make sense of this.  There are numerous what-ifs playing in my head, as copious as the prayers I offer.  But in the end, C always reminds me that bad things happen as a consequence of the freedom that comes with the gift of life.  Yet, it is hard for me to understand that concept at a time such as this. 

Blessed Be Your Name has always been one of my favorite worship songs.   There have been plentiful times in the past where I have been so touched by this inspiring song; brought to tears simply by just listening to it.  It helps me to listen to this song because it ministers to me that God needs to be praised when the blessing overflow as well as when we are in the road full of suffering.   Painful circumstances can either bring us closer to God or break us away from our faith.  My favorite verse from the song:   Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise, When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say:  Blessed be the name of the Lord.  

Listen to the song with me...

Blessed Be Your Name

In the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow

Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the world's 'all as it should be'

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be Your name

From the events of the last 24 hours, it would seem that the miracle that everyone is praying for would not happen.   Nothing is final until God says it is, but it would seem that the "miraculous intervention" that God is agreeable to give is not the same divine intercession we are asking for.    It appears that God’s “intervention” in this horrible event is to be "by our side," to understand, to comfort, to "lead beside still waters and restore our soul" (taken from Psalm 23).  I have grown certain after listening to the song that God's task is to help everyone collect the pieces broken by this incident. 

When everyone involved in this experience prayed at the beginning of this week, we asked God to heal and give her back "whole." I still remember the conversation I had with JP just two days ago, as I called him up for an update.  He told me to not visit that day anymore and instead help him pray that "ibalik siya ng buo."   JP, I just want to tell you that God listened to all of our prayers and scooped her up in His loving and comforting embrace – He did not let go and He made her whole again; whole as she was created to be from the beginning by this loving God.  Only now she is going to a more beautiful and perfect place…

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Blessed New Year

The start of the new year would be the perfect time to pause and acknowledge that everything that happens to us, happens for a reason. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

As I reminisce on the the year that has passed and think of the things in store for me this 2009, a song popped in my head, "... I know who holds the future, and I know He holds my hands. With God things don't just happen, everything by Him is planned. As I face the future, with its problems big and small, I trust the God of miracles, to Him I give my all."

Wherever we are in life right now, we must give thanks for we know that all things are in His good and gracious hands.

A blessed 2009 to us all!

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Good Night and Sweet Dreams

My family usually call it a day when most people are just starting their evenings. I would really hate to be in the shoes of the mommy whose kids are up and about, jumping and bouncing, talking and shrieking at the ungawdly hour of 10pm. For C and me, the hours after 830 during weeknights are very precious. We use it to connect with each other as a couple. It's our time! And yes, we are very possessive about it.
A usual weekday bedtime routine for my family would have C reading the NightLight Devotional Book with the kids, followed by our night prayer, and then hugs and kisses for each other. We try to take turns to be prayer leaders, to encourage the kids to be an active participant in the process. But after reading this post, I am sure you will agree that prayer time would look a lot less like squabbling and more like praying if C just leads.
Our prayer session tonight went something like this:
B: Family, are you ready to pray? (And she waits for all of us to answer, "Yes, we are"). Everybody put your hands together... I said please put your hands together.... that includes you, mom. Dear God, we thank you for our wonderful parents. We thank you for our food, our wonderful house, for achi and syoti, for ah-ma, for angkong, for uncle tony, akoh sherry, baby sasha, for cathy, henny, sage, maya, clauie, wowo, wowa, charmaine, uncle jay, for uncle tony (again!). We also thank you for our study table, our toys, our bed, our aircon ( she looks around the room, like taking an inventory of everything, and give thanks - for practically everything.)
By this time, R starts to get antsy or bored and opts to start his own prayer. And C is the third voice that joins in asking for an atmosphere of reverence. So at this point in our prayer time, it is like listening to a radio that's on the wrong frequency. You hear different voices making everything incomprehensible, not unlike the annoying radio static.
Undeterred, B continues her non stop talking, oops, praying, till R realizes that it's no point competing with someone who is the resident chatter queen, and finally gives up).
B: We pray that you help us to be kind, wonderful (apparently, wonderful is her favorite adjective for the moment), and let us have good manners. For syoti, we pray that he stops being makulit, and please don't let him be funny, and teach him to have good manners, (and again, for emphasis, just in case Lord didn't hear her the first time) please don't let him be funny and stop him from being makulit. For achi, we pray that her feet stops growing too fast. (Ok, now we really know that this is a major concern). Please help me to be wonderful. Please protect our family from bad persons, bad classmates, bad teachers. Protect us from fire, earthquake, and accidents..... (Long pause as she thinks of more things to pray for.)
J: B, say Amen. If you can't think of anything else to say, please end your prayer and say Amen! Stop pausing already! You're taking too long!!!
B: I'm not yet done. I'm just resting. Can you please wait? 
This is where we step in to tell J to give B time to finish her prayer.
B: Lord please give us good dreams and to wake up tomorrow feeling refreshed. We ask you to please heal wowo Mon in Singapore; please heal ah-ma's ears, please take away the ouchie in her ears; please help mommy's throat to get better because if she has sore throat she is cranky to everybody.Long pause again... till finally she decides to conclude her prayer and proceeds to say amen - to everyone's relief!
As soon as she says Amen, J start her lecture once again, "Next time if you don't know what to say, you can just end it and say, Amen. That's what I do when I don't know what to say next."
B, still adamant, "but I am not done yet, I was just resting."
J ends the conversation by rolling her eyes, "Hainaku! I am going to go crazy!"
And if it is J's turn to be in charge, like it was yesterday, the opposite of the above discussion happens:
J: Dear God, we thank you for daddy, mommy, B and R. We thank you for giving us our family. We pray that you always keep us safe from harm, accidents, and bad people. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
B: Why is it so short? You forgot to thank God about.......
But we should really just let C do it most of the time, and just take their prayer requests. Because, really, sometimes B makes night-time prayer seem like an hour long service. :)

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