“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 “Chunk learning” is a term that simply means to learn a chunk at a time. In our eagerness to make sure that children learn what they need, it is often an impulse to expect too much of children. An education professor once remarked to a graduating class of future teachers, “Don’t try to teach them all you know the first day of school”! What happens when … [Read more...]
Instilling patriotism in children
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. “ Romans 13:1 What a challenge we have as parents and teachers to help our children learn to love our country and respect our leaders! It is tempting to think that the current environment in our country makes such a task impossible. However, a study of Old Testament kings and leaders reminds us that in Bible … [Read more...]
Making the most of the moment
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” – Ephesians 5:15,16 When children get out of school in the spring, they feel that they have a long time before it starts again in the fall. Parents and teachers know better. The summer will fly by very fast. We can either wait for it to be over, or we can take advantage of the extra time children have to teach as much as possible to help them with their lives. Yes, children … [Read more...]
Children should earn trust
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.” – Luke 16:10 Many times parents hear the outcry of teens as they accusingly yell, “You don’t trust me!” Often, unfortunately, parents respond by putting on a mantle of guilt and stumble for words to answer to assure the son or daughter that, indeed, they are trusted. Perhaps the response should be, “Of course, I don’t trust you. You haven’t proven to me that I … [Read more...]
How to handle ‘bossy’ kids
“Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.” Acts 3:17 Some kids are just bossy! They seem to be always barking out orders to those around them. It can be annoying! What is behind this behavior? What are they trying to accomplish? What should we do about it? At one time education students were taught that children were born like a blank page, and what they became depended on their environment. Thankfully, now we know better. Children are born … [Read more...]
Power struggles stir trouble
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; ….does not seek its own, is not provoked,” I Corinthians 13:4,5 One need only listen to the news for a short time to find many examples of power struggles in Washington, D.C. Not only do we see them in Washington, we also see them in churches, schools, places of employment, and, yes, even our homes! What causes power struggles? What is the result of those struggles and what can we do to prevent them? Power struggles occur when we … [Read more...]
Whose children are they?
“For there is no partiality with God.” – Romans 2:11 The Bible tells us that children are a gift from God. How proud and happy we are when we look down in a baby’s face and see the miracle God has made! We become so attached to the little ones He has placed in our care! It becomes easy to think of them as only “our” children when they are loved by God as His own. Our desire should be to make sure they become His children through acceptance of Jesus as their personal Savior. God has … [Read more...]
Homebound 89-year-old still invests in ministry
KIMBERLING CITY – Wanda Howard, age 89, has found a way she can serve the Lord in spite of being homebound. It all started when her life support class was asked if they would like to decorate sacks to contain food for the homeless in Branson. The class met and glued pictures of animals, birds, etc., along with Scripture verses on the sacks. The class lost interest, but Wanda decided that was something she could do by herself. Wanda is a member of FBC in Kimberling City and has neighbors … [Read more...]
A child’s anchor in a stormy world
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8 NIV Have you ever wondered how you would have turned out if you had been raised in today’s world instead of the way the world was when you were a child? We are often reminded of how things have changed so quickly in our society. Our children today are facing a very confusing and complicated world. How wonderful it is, however, that there are some things that never change. God will never change. He is the anchor … [Read more...]
Children, pets, priorities
“… and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator …” – Romans 1:25 It can be a good thing for children to have pets. They can learn responsibility in caring for them. They can learn compassion as they think about the pet being hungry, thirsty, or in the cold. However, when a pet becomes more important than children or others, aren’t we bordering on worshiping an idol? It isn’t carved in wood or stone, but nevertheless is perhaps taking our time, money, and attention to the … [Read more...]
We need more than soap!
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” – Matthew 12:36 There was a time when people joked about getting the mouth washed out with soap for saying bad words. I’m afraid there isn’t enough soap in the world to stop all the bad language we are hearing in society today! Perhaps using the mouth-washing technique worked for some, but we have more of a heart problem today. What a challenge we have to teach our children … [Read more...]
How do we explain wars to children?
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” – Matthew 24:6 It is somewhat of a dilemma to explain wars to children. We don’t want to make them worry or be frightened. There is a tendency to just ignore the subject, but sooner or later children will ask questions and they need answers. One of the problems is that adults, themselves, don’t always understand the reason for war. We can’t … [Read more...]