Matthew 25:40
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

At the age of nineteen, Katie Davis felt God leading her to move to Uganda to teach children.  That step of faith led her to start a nonprofit organization, and then to adopt 14 children who now call this 21 year old ‘Mama’.  She is bringing the love of Jesus to a whole village where she lives and is a shining example to us all of  how to love Jesus by sacrificial love and care for the ‘least of these’.  Read her story – Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption

Romans 11:16 (Msg)
Behind and underneath all this there is a holy, God-planted, God-tended root. If the primary root of the tree is holy, there’s bound to be some holy fruit.

What we eat affects our future children.

We are well aware that we affect our children through our DNA  in their physical characteristics such as color of hair and eyes, but did you know that the way we eat before our children are conceived will affect their health?  Dr. John Christopher in his book, Herbal Home Health Care states “The time we start preparing for an anti-disease susceptibility is many months before conception. If, however, that is too late and the child is here and sick at this time, we will have to work on the present cause, but this effort could be eliminated if we had started a few generations back.”

For more on this check out this article that points out what we do to our bodies can somehow leave an imprint on our genetic material and be passed along to the next generation.

How we live our lives affects our future children.

It’s interesting that what has been discovered in the scientific realm of how choices made nutritionally affect future generations is also what God has said in His Word concerning how we relate to Him.  Deuteronomy 5:9 You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Catherine Marshall speaks about this in her book, Something More. She writes, ” just as we can inherit either a fortune or debts, so in the spiritual realm we can inherit either spiritual blessings or those liabilities (unabashedly called ‘sins’ in scripture) that hinder our development into mature persons.”

Chuck Swindoll in his book, You and Your Child refers to this as “grandad’s bent” and points out that the bents in our lives toward particular sins must be broken for the good of the children that will come after us. Deuteronomy 5:29 “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be will with them, and with their children for ever!

Since the nutritional and spiritual choices made will directly affect the children that are yet conceived, then each choice should be carefully thought through, if not for your own good, but for the good of your future children.  Live life as a ‘God-planted, God-tended root which will result in some holy (pure, virtuous) fruit.’

Children learn best when they hear and see what is being taught.  Read the Bible story ahead of time and be ready to tell it in your own words with much enthusiasm, acting it out as much as possible.  Use visuals to illustrate the Bible story.  Then try to end with a practical application for their lives and a verse to memorize.  A song is always good to help remember the teaching as well; put the verse or something in the story to a familiar tune.

Here’s a suggestion for telling 1 Samuel 16:1-13, the story of the shepherd boy David being anointed as king.

Story:

Tell about Samuel looking for a new king as you walk around searching & looking at each child.  Before you start telling the story, give one child a stuffed lamb.  When you come to that child say that David was just a kind, young boy watching sheep when Samuel found him.

Samuel had looked at all of David’s older brothers who were much stronger, but God told Samuel that the Lord doesn’t make decisions the way people do by outward appearance; the Lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.

God helped Samuel know that David was the chosen king, not because of what he looked like on the outside, but because of what he was like on the inside.  Samuel then anointed David with oil.  Anointing with oil was a way of showing that a person was set apart to be used by God.

Visual: Ahead of time, draw David on the front of a piece of construction paper.  Then draw the crown and scenery if you like on the back (hold paper to light to make sure you draw the crown in the right place).  Tape David to a plate (don’t show the back of paper)  Anoint David with oil using a cotton ball to apply oil.  The crown magically appears when the paper is covered in oil. Say that God saw more than what Samuel saw when he looked at David; God saw that David had a good heart to be the new king.

Practical application: David was chosen and anointed to be king because he had a good heart.  Emphasis that our actions are more important than our appearance.  God has something special for each of us to do just as He had for David to do.  We must keep our hearts kind and good so we can do what God wants us to do.

Memory verse: 1 Samuel 16:7 … man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

I have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my necessary food.
Job 23:12

In Matthew 6:1-18 Jesus talked of three duties of every Christian.  He gave instructions for giving, praying, and fasting.  In each case He said ‘when’ you give, ‘when’ you pray, ‘when you fast’ indicating these were duties not options.  I must confess that I taught my children to give and to pray, but never realized fasting was not just an option.

Fasting is a vital practice for every Christian. The discipline of fasting breaks you out of the world’s routine and causes your relationship with Jesus to go deeper.  And we should teach our children that we can give up a favorite food or activity from time to time to show God our love for Him. There are many Bible stories you can tell them of people fasting.  The most familiar is the story of Jesus fasting and the devil tempting Him. Here’s a fun video illustrating the story.

The following is an excellent video that explains fasting to children.

We as parents can set the example of disciplining our bodies as recorded in 1 Corinthians 9:27.  Ezra called the parents to a fast for their littles ones in Ezra 8:21-23.  We can powerfully affect our children by praying and fasting for them.

For a thorough explanation of fasting read Fasting: Opening the door to a deeper, more intimate, more powerful relationship with God by Jentzen Franklin.

So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height,
for the people had a mind to work.
Nehemiah. 4:6

Labor Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women. It has been celebrated as a national holiday in the since 1894. You can read the history of this holiday here.

Labor day is a good time to memorize this verse and talk about having a mind to work.  Read the story of Nehemiah in your Bible and tell it in your own words – 0r – find it in a children’s Bible and read it to your children.  The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed and Nehemiah led the people to rebuild them.  They had a mind to work.

• Build a wall together out of pillows and share the story.
• Talk about having a mind to work.  Think of ways your children can ‘work’.  Find suggestions here.
• Memorize Nehemiah 4:6 “…the people had a mind to work.”
• Thank God for the work that Dad does and the work that Mom does.
• Lead your children to be thankful to those they encounter doing their work.

How we deal with our children is a signal of our fellowship with God!!  Pretty bold statement, huh?

Take a look at this video from Friends and Heroes (www.friendsandheroes.com)  They produce animated adventure stories which tell Bible stories for children. They also produce curriculum for churches, schools, and homeschool to help establish God’s Word in children.

The world is on fire – we can’t just hope our children won’t get burned – we have to rescue them – we have to train them in the Way they should go!!!!!!

(This is another lesson from Here a Little, There a Little, a compilation of Bible activities I created to use with my preschool children. It was designed to spend a week memorizing the verse and reinforcing it through Bible lessons and activities.)

Security

(Structuring my life around what is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away)
God can never be taken away from you!!

Bible Verse: Joshua 1:9 I command you be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Bible Stories:

Joshua 1 God told Joshua he was to lead his people into the land that God had promised them.  He told Joshua to be strong and not to be afraid.  He said to go where He told him to but not to be afraid because He would go with him everywhere He told him to go.  Joshua obeyed God and God kept His promise to Joshua to be with Him.

Daniel 3:12-26 The King Nebuchadnezzar told everyone to worship a statue rather than the one true God.  Three men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego loved God and said they would only worship and pray to Him.  The king put them in a fiery furnace to kill them.  But God was there; He didn’t let them burn.  The king looked in the furnace and saw 4 men instead of 3 men in the furnace.  It was Jesus in there with them!  God is with you wherever you go!! (see picture above)

Exodus 3:1-12 One day Moses was watching his sheep and he saw a bush burning.  When he went over to the bush, he heard God talking to him.  God told Moses He wanted him to go help people because they were being treated badly.  Moses was afraid to go, but God told him not to be concerned about going to talk to the mean king because He said, “Certainly, I will be with you.”

Jeremiah 1:1-10 God told Jeremiah that He had chosen him to be one of his preachers.  Jeremiah said, “But God, I can’t speak for I am a child”  But God told him, “Don’t be afraid for I will give you the words to say and I will be with you to help you out of any problem”

Matthew 1:23   Psalm 46:1 God loves us so much that He wants to help us in times of trouble.  He wants to be with us all the time.  He sent us Jesus to live with us here.  Jesus has another name.  He is called Emmanuel.  Do you know what Emmanuel means?  It means ‘God with us’!  I’m so glad that God is with us wherever we go!!!

Prayer: Help us remember that You are always with us to keep us safe.

Activities for younger preschooler:

Talk about God being with him while in the bedroom, living room, etc. as you go from room to room

Make up a song with the verse to the tune of  “Mary Had a Little Lamb”  Here’s an example – God is With You Wherever You Go

Share the verse in a dark room

Share the verse outside in the sunshine or during a rain storm

Share verse in the car as you are traveling somewhere

Activities for older preschoolers:

Go outside at night and talk about God being with you in the day time and in the night time

Illustrate the Bible story from Daniel about the Fiery Furnace – make a fire out of red, orange, and yellow construction paper.  Cut out 4 men.  Put 3 in as you tell the story, then add the 4^th at the end.

Go outside in the morning and talk about how God will always be with us just as the sun will always come up every morning.  Draw a picture of the sun.

Paste pictures of different places he goes – write Bible verse on paper. (See picture on a related post). Everything you do this
week be sure to include the thought of the presence of God – as playing say, “God, I’m glad you are here with us.”  As going to the grocery store say, “God, thank you that you are going with us to the store.”

Find pictures of children in other lands to color and talk about God is with them just as He is with
us here  – Look at globe or maps and share verse

Songs:

Three Good Men by Bill Gaither  This is from the album Especially for Children of All Ages.
I have only found it in vinyl - Especially for Children…of all ages

God is With You Wherever You Go

Books:

Find these stories in a children’s Bible.  If you don’t have one, check here or here for some good ones.
Arch Books has a book about many, many Bible stories.  Begin building your library with these colorfully illustrated paperbacks:

Journey to the Promised Land: Exodus 15:23-Joshua 4:24 for children (PassAlong Arch books)

The Fiery Furnace

Psalm 34:17
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.

Psalm 131:2
But I have stilled and quieted myself,
just as a small child is quiet with its mother.
Yes, like a small child is my soul within me.

Psalm 94:19
When I was upset and beside myself,
you calmed me down and cheered me up.

Col. 3:15-17
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.
For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise.
Use his words to teach and counsel each other.
Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus,
all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Zeph. 3:17
The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Please read these verses, take them literal, pray them, apply them to every area of your life.  Lead your children to apply them.  There is NOTHING that you face that God can’t handle!!!!!!!  Prayer and the Word is the answer to any emotional, physical, or behavioral problem.

Please watch these disturbing videos with the above scriptures in mind.  Medicine does not trump God!  No matter what you are facing in your life or with your children, let God be the first one you call on, and trust Him wholeheartedly!  Then ‘use his words to teach and counsel each other’.

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

(This is another lesson from Here a Little, There a Little, a compilation of Bible activities I created to use with my preschool children. It was designed to spend a week memorizing the verse and reinforcing it through Bible lessons and activities.)

Our Big God

God is greater than man.
Job 33:12

Bible Stories:

1. Psalm 104 David wrote about how great God is.  He knew God was greater than man.  It was God that made the heavens, water, and earth.  He puts the mountains and valleys in place..  God walks on the wind, causes the thunder, gives water to all the animals, and causes the grass to grow.  It is God who has made darkness, feeds the animals, causes the sun to rise and set, gives the animals homes, makes the moon to rise and set.  Man could work from morning to night and not be able to do all God does and has done and will do!!  Truly God is greater than man.
2. Exodus 2:11-14; 3:1-22; 14:15-31 Moses saw one of his people being beaten by an Egyptian.  This made Moses angry and he wanted to help his friend.  Moses killed the Egyptian and buried him in order to help his friend.  The next day someone found the Egyptian that Moses had buried and knew that Moses had done it.  Moses ran away.  God followed Moses and told him that he saw how bad his people were being treated and he was going to use Moses to help them.  God lead Moses to gather the people and lead them out of Egypt.  The Egyptian army followed them.  When they got to the sea, God parted the water and let them pass to the other side.  Just when the army started to pass, God caused all the army to be buried under the water.  God showed Moses that He is greater than man.  When Moses tried to help his people, he only helped one, only destroyed one Egyptian, and then didn’t bury him very well because someone found him.  When God helped His people, He helped them all, destroyed the entire Egyptian army, and completely buried them in the sea.  God IS greater than man!
3. Isaiah 55:8-9:25-31 God is greater than man.  God said that His ways are higher than our ways.  The things God thinks and plans are greater and wiser than the things we think and plan.  That is why we should always ask God what He wants us to do because He knows what is best for us.  God is greater than we are and knows more than we know.  Always ask God to show you what to do because He is greater than you.
4. Matthew 14:25-31 Jesus’ disciples were in a boat one night and Jesus came to them walking on the water.  Peter then wanted to come to Jesus and walk on the water, but he began to sink in the water because he was afraid.  Jesus was greater than Peter.  Jesus could walk on the water but Peter couldn’t.  God is greater than man and can do things greater than men can do.
5. Philippians 2:9-11 Jesus is greater than man.  God has even given Him a name that is greater than any man’s name. God says that at the name of Jesus everyone and everything shall bow down.  Jesus’ name has power and we can use His name to help us with any problem.  When we use Jesus’ name everything and every person will have to respect His name.  God is greater than man.  Jesus is greater than man and His name is greater than man.
6. Mark 4:36-39 Jesus and His disciples were in a boat.  Jesus was taking a nap.  All of  sudden a big storm came up with strong wind that was tossing the boat back and forth.  The disciples were afraid.  When they woke Jesus, He spoke to the wind and said “Peace, be still”.  Immediately the wind stopped.  Only Jesus can stop the wind!!

Prayer: Help us to always be aware that You are greater than us and we should depend on You to handle our problems

Activities for younger preschooler:

1. Go outside and point out all God made and share the verse
2. While in the tub, tell the story of God parting the water
3. Let him look in the mirror and talk about only God can make a cute little baby like him.
4. While in the tub, tell the story of Jesus walking on water
5. Sing ‘Jesus, Jesus, There’s Something About That Name’ from Bill Gaither’s Especially for Children
6. Let him feel the wind and talk about how Jesus stopped the wind

Activities for older preschoolers:

1. Put the verse on the refrigerator.
2. Play in the pool or bath and tell the story about God parting the waters
3. Show a rock, sand, water, etc.  Tell him to try and make a rock.  Share the verse.
4. In the tub or pool, tell the story of Jesus walking on water.  Try to walk on water.
5. Print the name of Jesus in block letters and let your child color it while you sing ‘Jesus, Jesus, There’s Something About That Name’ from Bill Gaither’s Especially for Children
6. Stand in front of a fan and try to stop the wind

Songs:

“Jesus, Jesus, There’s Something About That Name“
Listen to it here
Purchase it here

“My God Is So Big”

Books:

Check your children’s Bibles for the stories mentioned above.  If you don’t have any, there are several recommended on the Train Up The Child aStore

Children learn —

10% of what they read

20% of what they hear

30% of  what they see

50% of what they see and hear

70% of what they say in their own words

90% of what they say while they do something

With this in mind, we should provide learning opportunities which incorporate seeing, hearing, saying, and doing.  The Here A Little, There A Little lessons on this blog are designed to teach a Bible verse using as many senses as possible.

Some interesting statistics:

Children can recall 3 hours later 70% of what we tell them, and only 10% of it 3 days later.
They can recall 3 hours later 72% of what we show them, and only 20% of it 3 days later.
Children can recall 3 hours later 85% of what we tell and show them , and 65% of it 3 days later.