You know those people with soft voices and matchy, clean clothes?
Yea, we don’t make those people here.
Ours look more like this
and this
and this
Which is cool, because the less clothing they wear, the less laundry there is to do, right?
And though we may differ in our children’s’ clothing style, cleanliness or definitions of cool, most of us would agree we want things to be well with their soul.
Another concept we would most likely agree upon is sharing. Because sharing is nice. And I’m sharing because I believe modeling appropriate behaviors for our children, is critical.
But mostly I’m sharing today because…. my boys have been at camp (WOOHOO) this week and I’ve been able to use this time to remember my name, clean our skanky house, buy food for our pantry, balance store accounts and WRITE!
I thought I would share:
4 suggested TOOLS to use when teaching LOUD BOYS the importance of a QUIET TIME:
#1 One Year Book of FUN & ACTIVE Devotions for Kids by Betsy Elliot
Did you catch the key word in that title? ACTIVE. Particularly, if you have boys-activity is essential. We joke about adopting the Dog Whisperer, Ceasar Millan’s philosophy:
EXERCISE, DISCIPLE, AFFECTION
It works. Truly. Boys MUST be able to MOVE! Then you can discipline, next love, and finally teach them what it is you hope to teach them.
No lie, when we are doing school work or even at night just before devotion we have been known to have the boys go outside and run a lap or two around the house or better yet, the pond!
Each day there is a thought-provoking question, scripture reference, short, easy-to-read devotional and activity.
This has been our family fav for quite sometime. Our loud boys, love this book.
#2 In This House We Will Giggle by Courtney DeFeo
This is simply a MUST HAVE if you are a parent and/or childcare worker of any fashion.
It is JAM-PACKED with “inventive ways to help turn your kids’ hearts toward God.”
My friend Courtney, (who by-the-way inspired this place. I would not have started this blog had she not pushed me to do so.) reminds us of the importance of laughter and the countless, Godly truths learned through good-ol’-fashion-fun!
She takes twelve virtues (one each month): joy, love, forgiveness, faith, patience, perseverance, respect, responsibility, service, humility, gratitude and generosity and provides fun activities to reinforce the virtue. She also includes questions to encourage discussion, Scripture memory verses and challenges you to dig in and find what works for your family!
It’s a great book, easy to use, a phenomenal resource.
#3 Our Daily Bread for Kids Meaningful Moments with God by Crystal Bowman & Teri McKinley
This is our newest family resource but we already LOVE it! Like many of you, I have read Our Daily Bread devotionals off and on my whole life. God had used it many times to speak truth into my life. This is the kid version and it does not disappoint. We received the 60-day sample edition FREE in the mail.
The illustrations are captivating and my boys love the FUN FACT included on each page. The devotional are very easy to understand as well as the one-liner taglines provided for each day.
and finally,
#4 The MacArthur Study Bible by John MacArthur
Save always the best for last. This study Bible is hands-down our family favorite. The footnotes, summaries, chapter introductions are the icing on the cake to God’s Holy Word. It is written in the New King James Version.
The Bible as a part of our evening routine is essential because it ultimately trumps any outside resource. It is our hand book for how we are to live this life.
Several months ago I wrote an article about Jake and the rain. The central theme of the story is fear. Truth is Satan wears Jake out with fear. It’s the thing he uses most often to tempt his young soul. God has reminded me through Jake’s fear of our desperate need for Christ alone. I saw early on that fear was something bigger than me. Fear is something in and of ourselves that we cannot beat. Fear is something we have to surrender to the Holy God of heaven and realize that he is the only one who can speak fears and make them flee. In that article, I wrote,
“My children need Jesus, more than my children need me.”
That was true then and it is true now.
As parents, we are not superheroes. We may play that role in our houses and online but the truth is we cannot sustain them.
With all of my heart, I believe the absolute very best thing we can do for our children is to teach them to fix their eyes on Jesus.
Jesus the only one that will never leave nor for sake them.
Jesus is the only one with the power to save, to heal, to deliver.
I hope you’ll find this post helpful but even more than helpful I hope you’ll try using these tools as a family. I pray you will make having a quiet time a priority: personally and together with your tribe.
Be consistent.
Start small, grow BIG.
One final note, as we close out our nightly session we also do a quick prayer or praise. Just a real quick round Robin-go around allowing each person to share a prayer & praise about something good that happened that day.
It’s a nice way to finish up focused on the good things instead of:
How you wished your brother hadn’t pushed you off the bed or how you wished your mother wouldn’t pinch you while you’re trying to pray as a family while the mother is wishing you would pay attention while the daddy is just wanting everybody to GO TO SLEEEP.
Yea, I get it. The hassle.
But do it anyways.
You are loved dear ones. I’m cheering you on from the other side of the screen as you lead your people to grow in the love of our Savior.
much love,
Margaret Thacker says
Karen, how I wish you could have been in my life 40-45 years ago when my son was your boys age and the again about 20 years ago for my grandson. I tried to instill in both of them the love that Jesus has for them but you go soooo much further and I dearly love all your messages, whatever they be….