Discipleship...what will happen to our kids?

I love my church.  I am so thankful for our leadership and for the family I have there.  With every church though, there are areas that need bolstering. 

Every year our youth director puts out a plea for Sunday school teachers, helpers for the teachers and nursery workers.  Bless her heart, she's not one to beg and plead from the front of the church for people to be involved, nor should she have to. 

I think the message has been sent out to participate in where you're gifted or where your passions lay...yet, not many are feeling that passion for our youth?  Oh. My. 

Hubby and I felt quite convicted last year about our lack of involvement in this department.  Our children matter to us.  Their spiritual growth matters to us.  So why don't we participate in this portion of a Sunday morning? Finally, we've stepped up to do so.

I am going to be bold enough to say that I think hubby's involvement is even more important than mine because he's a man.  Our men have stepped out of this roll in our children's lives for several years and we so desperately need them to spiritually influence our boys and girls.  God has a great and wonderful charge for men to lead, and us women need to lovingly encourage them to do so.  

Older youth are teaching our younger youth because of the lack of involvement from adults.  If that were regular academics, we'd be furious if we found that out.   We'd wonder how the younger children would receive the proper education and instruction, yet when it comes to spiritual matters it's ok? 

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that the older youth are involved with our younger youth.   And thankfully we do have the older youth that are willing (and a handful of adults too) or we wouldn't have Sunday school. 

The question is...where are our adults?

As parents, do we expect our kids to be spiritual giants if we never tell them about God and all he's done for us?  Teach biblical principals? Train them how to live like Jesus?  Act like it ourselves? 

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  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.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. 

Get involved in your children's spiritual wellness at home and at church.  Help out in Sunday school.  It matters.  Not just for your kids, but others too. For some, Sunday morning is the only chance they get to hear about God. Talk about pleasing our Lord with investing that talent he entrusted to you (Matthew 25:14-30).

What will happen to our kids if we don't? 

Bust a move

Every once in a while I need to just let go and act ridiculous with my kids.  We had ourselves a small dance party yesterday. Despite what you may think, I am NO dancer - just and awkward assembly of 90's moves that were once cool.

One child thought I had lost my mind with my performance while 3 others totally thought I was the bomb! (secretly she was thankful for such a cool mom, I just know it!)

I'm just saying, in light of the mundane-ness of the everyday grind, sometimes it's just nice to let loose and be a clown with your kids. 



Try it.  You just might like it.

Just passing it on

I never thought too much of how pickles, beets, relish and other canned goods get from the garden to the jar.  I would eat them, enjoy them, but not think too much of the process of development.  My grandmother was a big canner.  Once my Nana stopped making them, my mom took on the task of making some of the pickled treats that we love.  She specializes in pickled beets though and Nan's mustard pickles were missing, so I decided it was time Icalled in the big guns (mom) and learned how to make them myself.

That was 2 years ago that my mom and I peeled and diced cukes till I thought I would cry.
It's taken that long for me to try it again!  HA!

The other day, my good friend, we'll call him Gardener D, stopped by with a whole basket of cucumbers and asked if I wanted to make something with them.  My mouth opened before my brain engaged and said "why, yes, of course, I'd love to!"  (Maybe canning is like childbirth....you tend to forget the pain until it is upon you once again and then it all comes back to you.)

 -

 



The kids were restless this past Saturday morning, so I set about charging each of them with a task.  Laundry for one, sweeping for another and peeling cucumbers for the other.  Quickly it became apparent that peeling was the sought after chore.  (light bulb goes off - "hey, maybe I don't have to peel one cucumber myself...I can get the kids to help!")

With 2 peelers, a seed gutter and me dicing things were going along at a decent pace.   Can't say there weren't some cucumbers that were looking mighty scalped on one side or still green in places after being attacked by the peeler, but hey, some help is better than none. 

In steps my knight in shining armor....

 

My fantastic hubby quickly was firing off orders for the job to be done correctly and some serious seed-gutting and peeling mentorship was happening here.

 



Music was blaring, seeds and peels flying everywhere yet each child was having a blast trying new steps to getting these cukes ready for transformation from plain ol' cucumbers to the illustrious "Lady Ashburnham's". 



 

These took a lot of effort, but the end result was worth it.  The kids got to see the process of making  mustard pickles.  They don't just happen.  Someone had to fuss with ingredients and show love through work for these to be created.  Well worth our time and definitely some great memories made by just passing it on. 

Just a Reminder

The Lunch Delimma

Packing a lunch for school is a really painful task in our house.  One doesn't mind sandwiches but hates soup while the other likes soup and only likes Peanut Butter and Jam sandwiches. 

The other day we sat down to discuss the lunch subject.  I asked each child what they wish I would pack for them.  I gave them a couple of stipulations:  it can't be the same everyday and it has to be somewhat healthy.  I got a list out and took notes.   We covered sandwich types, soups, etc then went on to snacks.  I was encouraged that my soup hater is now back in soup liking mode.  (so they say!)

The kids I babysit said they get a Lunchable every Tuesday - great idea.  Friday at our school is Pizza Day.  So, really, I just need lunches Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. 

I got some great tips from thelunchtaker.com. 
you can freeze sandwiches for up to two months

• If you like mayo on your sandwich, we found that Miracle Whip freezes better. It doesn’t get grainy when it thaws like mayonnaise can.
• Never freeze lettuce, pickles, tomatoes or other veggie toppings. Pack them separately just like you would for a freshly-made sandwich.
• Freezing works best for basic lunch meat and cheese sandwiches, or things like tuna salad or ham salad.
• Yes you can freeze peanut butter and jelly!
•  The tip: spread BOTH sides of the bread with peanut butter, and put the jelly in the middle.

I also checked on Pinterst for some ideas and came across all kinds of lunch ideas just by typing in "Lunchbox"

This also led to a small bit of guilt when I realized how lame in the lunchbox department I have been!  Once I started reading what other "Super-mom's" do for their kids lunch pails I was SHOCKED!  It's like there is a lunch pail war going on out there.  I do not wish to compete, however, there were some cute ideas out there I just may try. 

Here are some of my favorite lunch ideas I will try: (we'll see how the kids like them, ha!)

• Fruit, meat and cheese Kabobs
• Apple sandwiches.  (core an apple, and slice into rounds.  dip in a little lemon juice.  smear nutella or PB and oats over it and top with another apple slice!)
• Pinwheel sandwiches.
• Veggies and Humus
• Yogurt & Berries, Big Pretzel Sticks

It never hurts to do a little research on even the simplest of subjects.  We all can use a change now and then.  I'm ready to kick off the new School year with a new arsenal of lunch ideas! 

 

A Priceless Gift

I sure do love my children.  I want the best for each of them.  I want them to be smart, kind, polite and have a quality filled childhood.  Memorable in all the good ways. 

I spend time with them.  I tell them I love them, hug them, kiss them.  I tell them I'm proud of them.  I pray over them and with them.   I read God's word to them so they can hide it in their hearts. 

(insert my many imperfections because I am human of course)

Something I don't spend enough time doing is praying for their teachers.  My husband and I are just 2 influences of many in their lives. School teachers leave a lasting impression on those little minds and hearts.  They are trusted with educating our children with useful information that will hopefully stick with them their entire lives.  A good relationship with their teacher is imparitive for healthy growth. 

As I was thinking about this I decided to look around to see how I could best pray for my children's teachers.  I found a great little list to give me a good start. 

Let me share it with  you so you too can pray for your children's teachers. 

Prayers for My Teacher(s):

*For their protection:

-That God would protect our teachers from danger such as accidents and illness (Philippians 4:6)
-That the Lord would be their stronghold in the day of trouble (Nahum1:7)
-That the Lord would keep them from the evil one. (John 17:15)
-That God would give his angels charge over them to keep them in all His ways (Psalm 91:10,11)

*For their relationships at school:

-That our teachers would be gracious, full of compassion, and slow to anger, having great mercy. (Psalm 145:8)
-That they would learn that a soft word turns away wrath. (Proverbs 15:1)
-That they would be content with such things as they have knowing God will never leave them or forsake them. (Hebrews 13:5)
-That they would not be envious but respect one another. (Proverbs 14:30)

*For their relationship with God:

-That our teachers would come to know and believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father but thru Him. (John 14:6)
-May our teachers walk by faith and not by sight. (2Corinthians 5:7)
-That our teachers would ask God for wisdom which He has promised to give us liberally. (James 1:5)
-That their lives would shine out light into a dark world (2Cor. 4:6)
-That they would come to hate sin. (Psalm 97:10)
-That they would allow God to accomplish His purpose in their lives. (Philippians 2:13)

*For their teaching:

-That they would come to love and enjoy their students.
-That they would be excited about teaching.
-That they would be just or fair in their grading and testing of students.
-That they might be sensitive about how much homework to give.

Prayers for My Principal and other staff members:

-That the Principal would set a standard based on high morals and godly principles.
-That all the staff would seek God and His purposes for their lives.
-That God would give them wisdom when making decisions for the school .
-That the staff would treat students with respect and truly care about their well-being.
-That God would give the school a spirit of unity and cooperation.
-That Parents would be willing to work with the School to make it a great place to learn.
-For the Principal to have good communication skills and to be able to work well with others.
-For their physical safety and good health.

"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. Psalm 145:18s


I hope this guide encourages you to pray for those molding our little ones minds as much as it has me.   It's a priceless gift.