And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Luke 2:52

Are you helping your children develop in the four areas Jesus grew in: wisdom, stature, spirit, and social relationships?  You wouldn’t think of sending your family on a road trip in a car with only one cylinder operating.  Let’s not send our children into the world with only one of these areas developed.  Hear some pointers on how to make sure they are operating on ‘four cylinders’ in this sermon by Dr. Billy Daws, Who’s Kidding Who (Week 2)

Train up a child in the way he should go;
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

“Train” “. . . used in the days of Solomon to describe the action of a midwife who, soon after helping deliver a child, would dip her finger into the juice of chewed or crushed dates, reach into the mouth of the infant, and massage the gums and the palate within the mouth so as to create a sensation of sucking, a sense of taste. Then she would place the child in its mother’s arms to begin feeding from the mother’s breast. . .”  You and Your Child by Charles Swindoll

“Child” in Hebrew refers to any age from infant to young adult.

“The way he should go” is found in John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

“Old” in Hebrew refers to when a boy is old enough to grow hair on his chin.

So – this verse simply stated  -   if you create a hunger in your child for Jesus when he is an infant until he is a young adult, then when he is a young adult, he will not depart from the Way.

Here’s an excellent sermon by my excellent husband on Proverbs 22:6 – Who’s Kidding Who?

Possible scenario:

Grant takes baby brother Hudson’s toy; Grant gets punished for not sharing when Hudson protests. Hudson takes Grant’s toy; Grant gets punished for not sharing when he refuses Hudson the toy.  This could cause Grant confusion and resentment of baby brother.

Thankfully these brothers have wise parents and the scenario actually goes like this:

When Hudson comes near the toys Grant has been playing with, Grant hears from a parent, “Hudson, Grant is playing with these toys. You can’t just take something that someone else is using. Let’s ask Grant nicely if he will share one of his toys.”  Then Grant chooses one toy he can let Hudson play with.  If Grant is not willing to share at least one toy, then he gets time out.  If he shares, he gets a star on a chart leading up to a treat when the chart is filled.   If Hudson continues to try to take the toys that Grant has set up to play with, Grant hears from a parent, “Hudson, Grant has already shared a toy with you; you might need a time out for a few minutes” and the parent tries to divert Hudson with something else.   Hudson gets time out if he still refuses to leave Grant’s toys.

When Grant takes a toy from Hudson, Grant is reminded that he can’t just take something that someone else is using and he must ask Hudson nicely if he will share a toy.  The parent helps Hudson find a different toy to share with Grant.  If Grant refuses the alternate toy from Hudson and makes a fuss, then he gets time out.

Grant as the older brother is encouraged to help teach sharing to Hudson.  Grant is given a cup of cheerios and Hudson is given a cup of cheerios.  Parent suggests that Grant give Hudson a cheerio and Hudson is guided to give Grant one, saying the Bible verse, ‘Be ready to share’ each time they share.

It takes zeal and perseverance to train children in the way they should go.   Don’t grow weary in well doing; you will see the fruit of your labor (Galatians 6:9)

For a one week lesson plan on sharing see http://www.trainupthechild.org/2011/01/12/sharing/

Great song to sing on Easter 10-hooray.  Words can be found here.

Ministry to Children posted an awesome 4 minute video for children that wonderfully sums up the message of Easter.

Happy Easter!!

Easter is the time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, but this usually gets pushed aside by traditional Easter activities such as the Easter Bunny, colored eggs, and new clothes.  Easter comes at springtime and some of our traditions at Easter are actually a part of the pagan springtime celebration.  But that’s ok . . .  we can use these tangible things to help children understand intangible ideas.

The bunny stays in a rabbit hole in the ground all winter.  When spring comes, the bunny comes out of  his hole.  We can relate this to Jesus being in the tomb for three days, but on Easter morning, He came out and is alive today.

Eggs remind us of new life.   Coloring them reminds us of how beautiful our world is as the earth comes back to life again with new flowers and new leaves and grass.  Relate this to Jesus coming back to life.

New chicks, bunnies, lambs, and ducks are  also reminders of new life.    Jesus gives us new life by what He did on the Cross for us.

Put Bible verses on the eggs you hide and then gather together to read them all.  Some suggested verses are:

Revelation 21:5  Jesus makes all things new.
Galatians 2:20  Jesus Christ lives.
Matthew 28:6  Jesus is risen.
Song of Solomon 2:12  The flowers appear on the earth.

Make a cross out of twigs or craft sticks and keep it in a prominent place during the Easter season.  Point out that it is empty because Jesus didn’t stay on the cross or in the tomb . . . He is alive!!

A great book to teach the real meaning of Easter is Easter Bunny, Are You For Real?

10-hooray This is a song that children really love about the empty tomb .  It is from Every Song a Bible Story from Maranatha Music.

Make Easter a family time of worshiping together and thinking about the risen Lord.  Read the Easter story together from Matthew 27-28, Mark 15 – 16, or Luke 23-24.

Go to each of these sites to read an account of what Jesus was doing each day before that first Easter morning.  Use the activity ideas for each day to make your children aware of the Greatest Story ever told!!

Begin today:

Day One - Palm Sunday

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Six

Day Seven

Resurrection Day!