The Baby Left Behind Part 2

Day 2: Our Journey Continues to Elizabeth’s Home

*Read Luke 1:39-45 Mary Visits Elizabeth

This part of the story gets me every time….When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby inside her jumped. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she called out, “God has blessed you more than other women. And blessed is the child you will have!… As soon as I heard the sound of your voice, the baby inside me jumped for joy. You are a woman God has blessed. You have believed that what the Lord has said to you will be done!”

A Little about Zechariah and Elizabeth: Elizabeth came from Mary’s family. Elizabeth was married to a priest. His name was Zechariah. They were both very old. They did not have any children. An angel told them that they would have a baby boy. The angel said to name the baby John. When baby John grew up, he was known as John the Baptist.

*Read Luke 1:46-56 Mary’s Song

*What is Mary’s song? This is the song Mary sang when she saw Elizabeth. Mary praised God for choosing her to be the mother of Jesus. She knew Jesus would be the Savior. Mary was a great young woman. She had great faith in God. (Adventure Bible for Early Readers)

 

*After reading Mary’s song out loud, take some time to let your little ones create their own song about baby Jesus or Mary and Elizabeth’s story. My oldest one is the artist so she decided to draw a picture of Mary singing to Elizabeth. The picture below is of my worship singer Victoria, she is singing a beautiful song about Mary and baby Jesus.

Sing

 

The Baby Left Behind

 

Shopping, baking, wrapping, singing, decorating, more shopping, and more wrapping, Christmas is here! But what is Christmas? Yes, if someone asks us we might say it’s about Jesus’ birth and about spending time with family, but do we really mean it? For that we can look at facebook to see what everyone is posting or tweeting. We will quickly learn the baby has been left behind! He has been replaced by a fat man in a red suit, by Christmas lists, sales ads, garland, cookies and Christmas lights galore. I personally have nothing against any of those things, especially the man in the red suit, he comes to our house every year, but let us not forget the BABY.

 

I have decided to take this first week of December, the 3rd through the 7th, to breakdown The Christmas Story to the kids. We will not be making wreaths or paper candy canes this first week…we are setting the first week of this month to focus on finding this precious baby boy who has been left behind. I hope you will join us on our journey.

Day 1: The Annunciation

*Read Luke 1:26-38 out loud to your children. (For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:37 Awesome Scripture!)

*You could have them close their eyes and picture what you are reading.

*Now have them draw what they imagined the angel Gabriel looked like when he was speaking to Mary. If your child is too young to draw, google a color sheet about the Annunciation, many will pop up. 

*Discussion Time: Mary is a great person to follow as an example. An angel gave her some very surprising news. She was to be the mother of God’s son. What would people think of her? Was Mary willing to be what God wanted her to be? Sometimes we’re afraid to do what we know God wants. People might laugh or be mad at us. Talk to a parent about how you would feel if that happened. Try to choose what God wants. Then you will be following Mary’s example. (Live-It: from the Adventure Bible for Early Readers)

The Annunciation

Just a Little Prayer…

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

It’s that time of year again, crazy shopping, crazy sales, crazy people! Last week I took part in some of that. I wrote my list and checked it twice. The main mission for the errand run was to find a slim tree for our family room. Like always, I had my four little blessings with me, or on this day my four little elves. As we pulled into the parking lot I told them let’s say a prayer. We asked God to help us find just the right tree, not to small, not to big, one that was slim and was a good price. Some might laugh at the thought of praying for a tree or they might think it is ridiculous and selfish but I believe we should pray about everything.

Picture with me your child running to the kitchen, they have imagined a great master piece in their head that they must draw, so they ask for a white piece of paper. Yes, it’s a simple request for you but a request that means a lot to your child, so of course you would want to give them this paper. In the same way a parent cares about every aspect of their child’s life even more does our Heavenly Father cares even more for us.

When we invite our children to be a part of the simple daily prayers they will have the joy of experiencing God’s realness as He answers them and they will also see the heart of our Heavenly Father and his amazing love for us.

Setting the Tone

Tense, peaceful, sad, joyful, whatever mood we display in our home sets the tone for our children and family.

The morning after the election I read about people being angry, upset, worried and just down right distraught. Although the election did not turn out the way we had hoped as a family our hope isn’t in our president, it’s in our Lord Jesus Christ so, Wednesday morning rather than waking up all depressed, I woke up with a song in my heart. I took out our school laptop and started playing a song by Hillsong, “All of my life, In every season, You are still God, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship.” After the third time playing it, two of my girls, Alayna and Victoria, started walking around the house singing the words.

If we truly listen to and obey the scripture that states in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We can help set a sweet aroma throughout our house and there is nothing sweeter than hearing the voices of our children singing praises to our Heavenly Father.

Lord help me to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and to be constant in prayer, so that I may set a tone of love, joy, and peace in our home.

Servanthood

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

At what age should we teach our children about serving others? I think we can start teaching our children about servanthood as soon as they are able to talk and walk. We as the parents set the bar for our children. It is known that our actions speak louder than our words.

When we have family or guest over, my husband and I always ask them if they would like something to drink or eat. Now that the girls are of an age that I feel they are able to serve our guest without spilling it all over them, the torch has been passed on. sometimes I have to remind them but when they do remember they are all smiles.

Serving comes from the heart. When we serve, we are putting others before ourselves, we are saying with our actions your needs comes before our own.

Jesus set the bar high in servanthood. Where is our bar set for our children? Is our hearts and hands lining up?

My prayer is as I follow after Jesus’ example in servanthood, my children will follow after me and together we will be GOD HANDS, bringing glory to his kingdom.

Yes, they are all mine.

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates. 

Psalm 127:3-5 

Are they all yours? This is the most common question I hear when I am out and about. I always smile big and say, “Yes they are!” The next thing that comes out of their mouth is, “I don’t know how you do it?” I only have four kids, is that a lot? If I didn’t have c-sections I might have had six or seven, then people would really think I was crazy.

There is no greater thing (material item), blessing or gift, than a child. My prayer is that the fathers and mothers of today would realize the amazingly beautiful little or even big person they have in front of them and to treat them as such. Our children are not collectibles, burdens, annoyances, or something we take out every now and then to play with, they are our pride and joy.

Lord help us to keep our children close, let us be ready at any hour to listen to their hearts, may we be the fuel to their fire when they set off to conquer their dreams and may we never treat them as a hindrance, for they are a gift from God.

God Broke the Mold

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:13-14

Presenting Alayna Boy, now presenting Victoria Boy, and last but not least presenting Kayla Boy. Each princess dressed up in a lovely princess dress and walked down the stairs to the living room to show off their beautiful attire. They twirled and danced around, smiling from ear to ear, each one in their own way saying, look at me mama, look at me daddy, don’t I look beautiful?

Most women deal with some kind of self esteem issue at some time in their life. Why is that? Well, I think first of all we as women believe the lies in our heads that tell us we are too fat, too skinny, not tall enough, or too short.  Second, I think we put too much pressure on ourselves when we see all the junk (let’s call it what it is) Hollywood puts in magazines, on billboards and media. In 2 Corinthians 10:12, it says, “…When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”

Raising three little women and one little man, challenges me to encourage them everyday. I want them to know that society will always have a certain image out there for everyone to follow, but as for our house we will follow the image God sets before us. What a relief for them to know they are fearfully and wonderfully made, period! They are unique, they are special, God broke the mold after he made them. What a relief to know they don’t need to look like anyone else or try to be like anyone else, but part of them knowing this truth, requires us as their parents to tell them weekly or sometimes daily. While we brush their hair in the morning, look into their eyes and quote Psalm 139:13-14 over them. When they are helping us around the house, remind them of what Ephesians 2:10 says, “I am God’s  workmanship.” As they are growing into the teenage stage, make sure they know a boy or girl will never complete them, for we are complete in Christ, Colossians 2:9-10 and when times get tough, Philippians 4:13, is there to encourage them, they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.

My prayer is to consistently speak encouragement and life into their heart, so that when society screams at them and the devil whispers lies, it will be like a ball bouncing off a wall, it will have no affect because they will be full of God’s words and promises.

Special Delivery

Do everything without grumbling or arguing…

Philippians 2:14

Special delivery! When the kids were younger we would play UPS with our laundry. Each of my daughters would have a baby stroller or basket or kid grocery cart, to pick up their “special deliveries” (a.k.a. their laundry). One by one they would pick up a delivery and take it to their room. This would go on for twenty minutes or so, until all the laundry was put away. They loved playing this deliver game and I enjoyed the help with the laundry. I think teaching our kids about responsibility and chores at an early age is important but I also think it can be fun. It’s hard to grumble and complain when you are enjoying what you are doing 🙂

Now they have foldable totes with their name and pic that describes them. Even though there is only one delivery, they still enjoy picking up their special package.

On a side note, these totes also make it easier for Mama to organize the laundry as each load is done drying. I see a blue tote in the near future for our prince, Josiah.

Seeing The Opportunity

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:3-4

“Happy Chompo to me. Is how it ought to be. Happy Chompo to Frances, Happy Chompo to me,” read Alayna, from her book titled, A Birthday For Frances by Russell Hoban. The little sister, Gloria, was having a birthday. Her big sister, Frances, was not to pleased because Gloria had hidden, Frances’s sand pail and shovel last year. Wow, last year and she’s still upset. Frances, also wanted to eat the Chompo Bar that she bought for Gloria’s birthday present because she didn’t think Gloria deserved to eat it.

This book gave me an opportunity to share a couple of simple lessons. I asked the girls, “should we be upset about something that happen a year a go? Should we hold grudges?” Of course the answer was, no. But it was a great reminder that we should be quick to forgive. Toys will come and go, bend and break, but sisters are forever!

We also talked about selfish desires. Gloria wanted the Chompo Bar all for herself. It’s easy to hear the voice that shouts SELF! SELF! SELF! But it’s another to listen closer to the whispers that says give the whole thing, not just a piece, give your best, not just left overs, and share your things even when you want to play with them all by yourself. If you listen, even closer, you will hear God speak, don’t worry about your self, I will take care of you. Awww…I love God’s gentle whisper to my heart.

Leviticus 19:18

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge again anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Matthew 10:29-31

 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

What is your Heart Speaking…

 

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 

“MAMA, Kayla took my toy,” screamed Alayna. Then she proclaimed, ” I had it first!” Kayla then shouted in her defense, “No, I had it first!” Most parents would ask, “Well, who had it first?” and this is how the problem would get solved, but I wonder if this is the right question to ask.

 

A couple of years back I went to a homeschool conference where speakers from all over came to share their wisdom and tidbits. One lecture stuck out more than the rest…the speaker spoke about the heart and taking time to examine it after the action.

 

We, as parents, are quick sometimes to correct the behavior and to get our children to behave the way we thing they should. But that doesn’t mean their heart is in agreement with the corrected behavior. This is proven when children keep showing the same wrong behavior over again. We need to dig deeper as parents to the root of the problem, the heart.

 

Maybe next time, instead of asking, “who had it first?” ask, “what is your heart saying?” Is it speaking selfishly or with bitterness. Yes, they are kids and kids are born selfish, but that does not mean they need to stay that way. We, as parents, need to make them aware of what their heart is speaking, when they display their wrong behavior. With this awareness and God’s help, I believe we will see a change in our children’s behavior, stemming from the change in their heart.