In Praise of God

As this 2008-2009 year of Bible study comes to an end, my prayers are taking on a familiar theme: that of thanking my God for you all!  What grace God has bestowed in giving us the opportunity of sharing with each other in life and ministry!

Each one of you is so dear to my heart;  though I often do not have the chance to tell you personally, I hope you know I love you, I pray for your families (especially your children and grandchildren), and I give ongoing praise to God for your faithfulness to His Word and your willingness to share your lives with me and each other. May we never grow weary in doing good and living for Him!

Looking forward to our next semester of study…and coveting your prayers as I prepare for it!

Kristie

On a different reading note, our family has struggled to find a good “children’s Bible” that keeps the attention of toddlers and preschoolers once they are moving around.  We long for our children to grow to love the Bible, so are careful to expose them to it heartily and with great joy ourselves, but also with variety and at their level of understanding, in the hope that we do not overwhelm them, or give them so much repetition that they become numb to it.

We read aloud scripture in our home at various times (babies especially LOVE to have the Psalms and other poetry books of the Bible read aloud to them, I have found) and talking about it as we go along with every day life, but are concerned about getting them into the regular habit of meditating on the Bible so that it is second nature to them as they grow up.   Some families call this “family devotions” or “family worship” or “family Bible time” or “family meditation,” whatever the name, we have not found any one thing that seems to sink into their hearts effectively 100% of the time. . .but here are two that we have found engage them and teach the gospel in the stories.

We have read through each of these multiple times  (a little bit each night before bed, working through the book from beginning to end) over the last few years and recommend them for families with children age birth to 4 years old.  Of course, these books are not used in a vacuum - natural discussion and teachable moments should be pounced on by mom and dad!

The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes (1971 or 1975 versions)

The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm and Gail Schoonmaker

As I close out this Resurrection Day, the words of Isaac Watts (one of my favorite hymn writers) are a fitting devotion:

Let all on earth their voices raise, to sing the great Jehovah’s praise, and bless His holy name:

His glory let the people know, His wonders to the nations show,

His saving grace proclaim,

His saving grace proclaim.

He framed the globe; He built the sky; He made the shining worlds on high, And reigns in glory there:

His beams are majesty and light; His beauties, how divinely bright!

His dwelling place, how fair!

His dwelling place how fair!

Come the great day, the glorious hour, when earth shall feel His saving power, all nations fear His name;

Then shall the race of men confess the beauty of His holiness,

His saving grace proclaim,

His saving grace proclaim.

Reading is a major hobby in our house.  We feel it is vitally important for our children as they grow - we want them to love reading, especially God’s Word.  As I was reviewing my school goals for the children, I thought I’d check on how we were really doing on one goal, “become familiar with at least 30 different children’s stories” (repeated readings assumed).  So. . . here is my list - and it leaves out SO many great books - perhaps I will add to it as the year progresses.  I tried to order them from birth to what Elijah (almost four years old) is now enjoying, but all of these are also soaked up by Merry, who is just two years old.

Faces by First Focus Publishing

Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

All the I Spy books by by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Dogs Go. . . by Annie Horwood

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss

Chicka Chicka ABC by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Jamberry by Bruce Degan

One is 1 by Tasha Tudor

Olivia Counts by Ian Falconer

Go Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman

ABC A Child’s First Alphabet Book by Alison Jay

It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw

I Like it When by Mary Murphy

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss and Crockett Johnson

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

Harry the Dirty Dog Treasury by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram

You Are All My Favorites by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram

Is Your Mama A Llama? by Deborah Guarino, illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Schnitzel vonKrumm Forget-Me-Not by Lynley Dodd

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd

What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry

Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry

Strawberry Shortcake Treasury by various authors

I ran across this old photo today. I took it after a moderately big Nebraska snow. As the snow on the roof had begun to melt, the packed snow slid down…down…down the roof until it stopped in this unusual, precarious position. As I recall, I moved fairly quickly to pull out my camera to document the interesting effect of snow both on the top AND bottom of the winter scene…because I knew it wouldn’t last long!

I never doubted that the ultimate demise of my snow-awning would come. All evidence pointed one way (in this case, down!). And I was right.  It actually stayed up there for longer than I had originally anticipated, but before the day was done…the snow-awning was gone.

The coming of our Lord, our entrance into rest, the end of trials - all of these are near. The evidence points only one way (up!).  It may seem slow, but it will not be long. God is faithful in orchestrating the end, and we must be faithful as we eagerly await His Day.

My husband’s birthday was this week and I made him a special chocolate cake.  I looked up a recipe in a cookbook, and even made the frosting from scratch!  I enjoyed this task because I knew he would like it and feel loved.

God gave me a wonderful husband who loves me and provides for me.  I try to let him know from time to time how much I appreciate him, but I’m sure that I don’t express my true feelings often enough.  He enjoyed the cake. (We all did.  The frosting was very yummy!)  It’s good to let those you love know that you love and appreciate them.  A great chocolate cake isn’t a bad way to start.