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Sunday, December 22, 2019

Christmas Children's Sermon


I just gave this Children's Sermon during our Sunday Worship Service. It can used at home for a Family Christmas Devotional.  In my experience the keys to an effective Children's Lesson are:
  • Keep is developmentally appropriate in content
Children are NOT abstract learners.  Teach in concrete ways, telling stories that relate-able and tangible which is the same way Jesus taught.  Have Props whenever possible.  Children need to touch SOMETHING to learn.  They need to move and connect to the content through their bodies.
  • Keep it developmentally appropriate in time 
Teach to the attention level of the youngest person in the group.  If you have a mixed age group of children, your sermon should be no longer than 5 minutes. If the youngest starts to squirm, you loose the rest of the group.  It is not being "theologically shallow" to teach the basic, yet powerful, principles of our faith to children. 
  • Keep the kids engaged through motions and participation. 
Kids do not do lectures, EVER.  No matter the context or content, children must be actively engaging in the lesson through answering questions or moving their body.  You will see in the sermon below that the kids are asked to answer OPEN ENDED questions.  Ask questions that have many answers, and many children will feel like they can participate.  Each ribbon also has an accompanying motion, because kids through DOING and MOVING. 


Christmas Children's Sermon
Materials Needed:
 • White gift box filled with fruit snacks
 • Black ribbon
 • Red ribbon
 • White ribbon
 • Gold ribbon


 Whose birthday is on Christmas?

JESUS!

We get presents on our birthday, and the cool thing about Jesus' birthday is that YOU get presents for HIS birthday. His birthday is so special because Jesus was God's Son! Do you get presents on your birthday?

Allow for response.

 A lot of gifts have pretty ribbons. I have some pretty ribbons here. I am going to tell you a story using only ribbons

 BLACK RIBBON
Here is some black ribbon. What are some things that are the color black? 

Allow responses.

 Something that is also black is darkness. Have you ever been a room when the lights are turned off.

 Cover your eyes!

Wait for them cover their eyes.

No peeking! You can't see anything! Black darkness makes it so that we can't see anything!

 That is why we will have the black ribbon for sin, because sin makes us not be able to see God. Sin are choices that hurt or other people. Sin makes it so that we can't see God.

Sin covers our eyes with darkness and we can't see all the good that God wants for us, or the good choices God wants us to make. 

RED RIBBON
Now let's go to the red ribbon. What are things that are red?

 Allow responses.

 Have you ever seen a red picture of a heart? Did you know we have a red heart in our bodies? Do you know where your heart is?

Put your hand over it and make a heart.

 Our hearts are red, and our hearts push all the blood in our bodies to keep us healthy. Put your hand over your heart and pretend to beat it and push all the blood around your bodies.

 Baboom baboom

 The reason I have a red ribbon is when Jesus grew up be a man, his red blood saved us! How did he do that? He died on a cross where his blood was shed. His saving blood.

WHITE RIBBON
That red ribbon leads to the next ribbon. What are things that are white?

 Allow responses

Snow is white! Ever see snow before ANYONE TOUCHES IT? It is so clean and white and BRIGHT! Have you ever seen bright light on a fresh snow?

White is bright and light! It helps us see!! Jesus is called the Light of the world!

We can see Him here on Earth because his blood washed away that black dark sin covering our sins. We can see God when we know Jesus died for our sins! His red blood helps us see! We see what God wants for us and the choices He wants us to make.

Cover your eyes like the dark black ribbons.

Now pump your heart for the red blood of Jesus.

Now take your hands off your eyes to see the light of Jesus!

GOLD RIBBON
My last ribbon is a gold ribbon. Gold is shiny and costs a lot of money! Gold is super fancy!

Has anyone walked on a gold sidewalk before?

The Bible says that the sidewalks and streets in Heaven are paved with Gold!

When we believe that Jesus' blood saves and uncover the blackness from our eyes, then when when we die we will get see God in Heaven too, and walk on streets of gold!

 You are all going to get Christmas presents this week. If you see a Black, Red, White, or Gold Ribbon, make sure to tell your family what it means!

 Now that I've taken off all my ribbon, let's look inside for our present!

Open present with Fruit Snacks inside

 Everyone can take a fruit snack and go back to sit with your family.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

When You Realize You're Meg March, not Jo

Growing up I always thought I was Jo March. I think all women think they're Jo at first. Books and adventure away from home was my goal.

Maybe all girls identify with Jo at some point because we are all trying understand this elusive idea of womanhood. If we don't like fancy dresses, are we still feminine?  It isn't either tomboy or girlie girl, there is an endless amount of women in between.

There came a point where I had to admit that while I can see myself in Jo, I am Meg in my motivation for life. I am not as feminine as her and adventures and books are treasures to me, but my deepest desire is first for the strong and steady love that creates a lasting healthy family.

Thankfully I married my John Brooke, his name is Jon Joyner. I have my twins, two boys instead of a boy and girl. This steady love carries me into a place that allows for books and adventures. Steady love takes strength, courage, and perseverance, all the makings of an amazing adventure.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How to Protect Your Children from Sexual Abuse


I was telling acquaintance that I was working on this video, “It makes me sad that we even have to have these conversations. I don’t want to talk about it, and I don’t want to think about it."

She is right, it is sad.  I don’t want to think about it.  I spent a lot of years NOT thinking about it, but this a topic that GETS WORSE WHEN WE DON’T TALK ABOUT IT.

We must talk about it. When we talk about childhood sexual abuse:

1. Survivors begin to heal because they know that they’re not alone
2. We prevent it from happening to other children.

Please watch and share the video and Subscribe to my channel to help me get this important information our there! 


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Books to talk about sex with your kids

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Children's Sermons- Christmas and Advent


We have a family services on big holidays, this allows families to worship together, including all our volunteers.  We provide each child a clipboard with two coloring pages and a ziploc bag of crayons. There is also a short Children's Sermon, a time we invite children to the stage and make them feel a part of the service.

Below are two Children's Sermons, one for beginning of Advent and one for Christmas Morning!

Note for on Stage Children's Sermons: KEEP IT SHORT. Please don't be tempted to make this 10 minutes. For preschool and elementary, you have 3 to 5 minutes MAX undivided attention for quality learning. Three to five minutes will feel too short to you as an adult, but it is developmentally appropriate, trust me.


CHRISTMAS CHILDREN'S SERMON:Advent

Waiting is hard/ADVENT

MATERIALS NEEDED:

  • bowl of candy (sugar free candy like fruit snack or something to keep parents happy) 
  • OR a bowl of simple toys


Look at this big bowl of fruit snacks! Who likes fruit snacks? You can all have one BUT you have to wait until end of the story to have one.

Waiting is hard isn't it?!?!?!

What are things we have to wait for?

Take 2 to 3 responses. (Birthdays and Christmas, Lines, etc.)

We are starting Advent , can you say Advent with me? ADVENT. Isn't that a funny word?
That is a big fancy church word for...."Waiting for Christmas!"

Who likes Christmas? What do you like about Christmas?

Take 2 to 3 responses.

Christmas is when lots of good things happen, like presents and time with family. People in the Bible had to wait A LONG LONG LONG LOOOOOONG time for the first Christmas!!!! Hundreds of years!!!

They waited....and waited.... and waited for the Messiah. Can you say Messiah with me? MESSIAH. That is a big church word for a person who saves us! A Messiah saves people.

So they waited....and waited......and waited for the Messiah. That Messiah was born on first Christmas!

Who was born on the first Christmas?

(JESUS!) Let them answer loudly.

Waiting for Jesus was HARD, even harder than your wait for Christmas, or your wait for this toy/candy.

But all that waiting led to something great!
We have to wait for a few more weeks for Christmas, and that is hard, but there will be great things when we get there!

Thank you for waiting. Waiting is hard, but it is good!!!

You can come pick a a pack of fruit snacks then go sit with your parents!

CHRISTMAS CHILDREN'S SERMON: Christmas

Materials Needed:
 • White gift box filled with fruit snacks
 • Black ribbon
 • Red ribbon
 • White ribbon
 • Gold ribbon


 Whose birthday is on Christmas?

JESUS!

We get presents on our birthday, and the cool thing about Jesus' birthday is that YOU get presents for HIS birthday. His birthday is so special because Jesus was God's Son! Do you get presents on your birthday?

Allow for response.

 A lot of gifts have pretty ribbons. I have some pretty ribbons here. I am going to tell you a story using only ribbons

 BLACK RIBBON
Here is some black ribbon. What are some things that are the color black? 

Allow responses.

 Something that is also black is darkness. Have you ever been a room when the lights are turned off.

 Cover your eyes!

Wait for them cover their eyes.

No peeking! You can't see anything! Black darkness makes it so that we can't see anything!

 That is why we will have the black ribbon for sin, because sin makes us not be able to see God. Sin are choices that hurt or other people. Sin makes it so that we can't see God.

Sin covers our eyes with darkness and we can't see all the good that God wants for us, or the good choices God wants us to make. 

RED RIBBON
Now let's go to the red ribbon. What are things that are red?

 Allow responses.

 Have you ever seen a red picture of a heart? Did you know we have a red heart in our bodies? Do you know where your heart is?

Put your hand over it and make a heart.

 Our hearts are red, and our hearts push all the blood in our bodies to keep us healthy. Put your hand over your heart and pretend to beat it and push all the blood around your bodies.

 Baboom baboom

 The reason I have a red ribbon is when Jesus grew up be a man, his red blood saved us! How did he do that? He died on a cross where his blood was shed. His saving blood.

WHITE RIBBON
That red ribbon leads to the next ribbon. What are things that are white?

 Allow responses

Snow is white! Ever see snow before ANYONE TOUCHES IT? It is so clean and white and BRIGHT! Have you ever seen bright light on a fresh snow?

White is bright and light! It helps us see!! Jesus is called the Light of the world!

We can see Him here on Earth because his blood washed away that black dark sin covering our sins. We can see God when we know Jesus died for our sins! His red blood helps us see! We see what God wants for us and the choices He wants us to make.

Cover your eyes like the dark black ribbons.

Now pump your heart for the red blood of Jesus.

Now take your hands off your eyes to see the light of Jesus!

GOLD RIBBON
My last ribbon is a gold ribbon. Gold is shiny and costs a lot of money! Gold is super fancy!

Has anyone walked on a gold sidewalk before?

The Bible says that the sidewalks and streets in Heaven are paved with Gold!

When we believe that Jesus' blood saves and uncover the blackness from our eyes, then when when we die we will get see God in Heaven too, and walk on streets of gold!

 You are all going to get Christmas presents this week. If you see a Black, RedWhiteor Gold Ribbon, make sure to tell your family what it means!

 Now that I've taken off all my ribbon, let's look inside for our present!

Open present with Fruit Snacks inside

 Everyone can take a fruit snack and go back to sit with your family.




Friday, November 15, 2019

You are not the perfect mother for your kids



I am about to make a lot of people mad.

I can't stand the "God made you the perfect Mommy for your kids, so stop guilting yourself" mentality.

Let me start off saying that I get this is a reaction to the world of MOMMY GUILT (which I also hate). If you are drowning in Mommy guilt, please don't let that paralyze you, but there is a difference between condemnation and conviction.

Condemnation is shame and should be rejected. Condemnation is "mommy wars" of who is better at breast feeding, or how to sleep train. It leads to paralyzing shame and unnecessary hurt. Condemnation is the voice of the world saying you are NEVER going to be good enough. Condemnation is comparison that drains your soul. It is nit-picky and seeks to make you feel wrong; your clothes are not right, your kids are too loud/too quiet, your school choice is wrong.

Conviction on the other hand is a gift, inviting you to do better. Conviction isn't necessarily pleasant, yet somehow fills and feeds your soul. What a beauty to be given the opportunity to repent and do better for your kids. Conviction is inspiring.

Conviction needs to be embraced, not thrown out with shame of condemnation.
Do you feel convicted about your yelling, or your day drinking? Do you feel convicted about your language around your children. Do you need to seek counseling for mental health that is hindering your parenting? Do you feel convicted about your attitude with the father of your children? Embrace it! Do better for your kids. There is help! 

I was raised by a mother with a personality disorder (BPD). She did not embrace conviction.

When a child of an abusive mother hears, "God gives every child the perfect mommy for their needs", it hurts. We ask ourselves, does that mean I deserved what I got in my mom? Did I need the screaming and belittling? Did I need the unpredictable rage alternating with manic moods that could be fun & productive or very scary, depending on the day. Did I need to be in an environment of trying to always be the good girl so that I could make her feel loved? Did I need to never get unconditional love from the person designed to give it to me?

She felt conviction, I assure you, but pushed it away as "people judging her". She would project the conviction onto me, saying I never loved her enough as a mother, meaning she expected unconditional acceptance just because she was my mother.

If you want to get into the theology of it, I do believe that God worked it all for His Glory to become the woman I am today. I was in a house that would make me have to FIGHT for healing. I was given the opportunity to see a marriage of constant strife so that I could deeply appreciate, to my bones, the servant leadership of a GOOD AND GODLY husband.

BUT that doesn't mean she was the "perfect mother for me" and didn't need to grow. Who knows what would have happened if she had embraced conviction, and tried to change. What glory that would have brought to God, and healing in my heart if she has tried to discern condemnation from conviction. Maybe I wouldn't have been almost 30, with two kids, before I truly TRUSTED unconditional love (my poor husband had a lot of years with a deeply insecure woman). Some of the scars she inflicted on my heart may be there until I go home to Heaven. I fight every day to be the mother I want to be.

The next time you see "stop feeling guilty because God made you the perfect mom for your kids", stop and think, is the guilt condemnation or conviction?

You have the POTENTIAL to be exactly who your kids need to be, but no one has arrived.

Are you drowning condemnation of mommy guilt world? REJECT IT.

Is it the conviction that leads to a new and better life? EMBRACE IT. Seek healing, seek a counselor, seek repentance.

You are not the perfect mom for your kid, but you do have the perfect God.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Learning Cursive with Proverbs

Learning Cursive with Proverbs

Bible Based Cursive Workbook


You asked and we listened!

 After publishing Learning Cursive with Narnia and Learning Cursive with The Hobbit, I had several people ask for a Bible Based Cursive Workbook. Prayer and discussion led us to the choosing the book of Proverbs as an appropriate copy work. We chose proverbs we felt children could understand on their level, and apply to their own lives.

The translation we chose  for the quote copywork (Part Three of the workbook) is 
New International Reader's Version (NIrV) Early Reader's Bible because it written on a third grade reading level, making it a perfect fit since many children begin cursive in third grade. 


Proverbs Cursive workbook is designed to give meaningful handwriting practice for elementary and middle school students. It can be used as a first introduction to cursive or penmanship practice for older students!

Includes:
  • Cursive Alphabet Reference Chart
  • upper and lower case practice
  •  Proverb related word practice
  • Proverb quotes for copywork from NIrV (New International Reader's Version).
Skills learned:
  • letter formation
  • letter placement
  • linking letters
  • word spacing



LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK

Part One: Letter Practice
Part Two: Word Practice
Meaningful word practice from Proverbs







Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Books about Puberty and Sex Education for Christian Families



Talking to my kids about big subjects is easier when the author of a good book starts the conversation for me. There are A LOT of great books on this subject, but I have not read them all.  Below are the books I have used myself , or were recommended personally to me by trusted friends. If you have any others, please comment and share!

WHY YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT SEX OFTEN AND EARLY
Sex education with your children should NEVER be just one conversation that begins at puberty, many call it "the talk".

 Kids start learning about reproduction as they see animals  at the zoo mating, start with those conversations. Don't shy away, keep it simple with "That is how babies are made".

 Age appropriate organic conversations build on themselves so that when they are ready for the mechanics and emotions of sex, close to puberty and beyond, they have a foundation of communication and trust with you. Sex is a wonderful and beautiful creation from God.

You should be talking to your kids about sex early and often because:
  • It helps your children to prepare and be on guard against the fight of pornography by equipping   your children to know what true love and sex are meant for, instead of the world's view. As preteens and teens you need to discuss little more because in a world of Porn in your pocket smartphones, children need to know when to say no to the new drug. See Fight the New Drug for more information.
  • It helps their future marriage by taking away shame and fear. Sex is a made by God and is a wonderful thing to be enjoyed. See my post on how to talk about Song of Solomon with your kids



PRESCHOOLERS 


God Made All of Me: Helping Children Protect Their Bodies 
(A MUST READ FOR ALL)
Read it with children as young as 2 or 3 years old, up to late elementary and junior high. This book is NOT about mechanics of  sex, but about private parts and how children can protect their bodies, which is an essential part of the sex education. This amazing book not graphic, but teaches children that no part of them is shameful.

Learning healthy and appropriate boundaries for the private parts is your first step in sex education.  I honestly am not sure there is even an age limit on this book because I read it with my TWELVE YEAR OLDS and they learned something new. The information for parents in the back of the book is priceless.



The Story of Me
With age-appropriate language and illustrations, this book explains to young children the marvelous body God gave them.



For Boys Ages 3-5 -Why Boys and Girls are Different: 
The first in the newly revised Learning About Sex Series for boys, will guide you in the often difficult task of introducing and explaining human sexuality. Through simple, age-appropriate text and pictures, boys ages 3 to 5 discover that the similarities and differences between boys and girls are created by God for specific reasons."

 


LOWER ELEMENTARY 
(Ages 6-8 years old)


For Boys Ages 6-8   Where Do Babies Come From? 
The second in the newly revised Learning About Sex Series series for boys. This book, the second in the newly revised Learning About Sex series for boys, will guide you in the often difficult task of introducing and explaining human sexuality. Through simple, age-appropriate text and pictures, boys ages 6 to 8 will better understand how a baby develops and discover that each person is special and important!




For Girls Ages 6-8Where Do Babies Come From? 
The second in the newly revised Learning About Sex Series series for girls.



The Wonderful Way Babies Are Made 
I was thankful for this books gentle approach to a very difficult subject of the mechanics of sex. I would not recommend just giving it to your child, but really take the time to read it one on one with each child.
It has alternating pages, one for a young reader and then for older children or the adult. Have your child read the young words and you read the older reading level.  It is starts the best conversations.
My favorite part of this book is that it doesn't just end with an awkward note of reproduction, but on the redeeming note of adoption.  It really was a wonderful and essential resource for every family.





UPPER ELEMENTARY
(9 to 12 years old)

Conversations about Sex and Puberty MUST BEGIN BEFORE PUBERTY BEGINS. Conversations about puberty need to be preparatory, not reactionary.   Build trust and open communication with them before their brains and bodies fill with confusing hormones.

For Boys 9-11- How You Are Changing
How You are Changing is the third book in the Learning About Sex Series series for boys. The book explains to 9- to 11-year-olds that these changes are normal and are a part of God's perfect, unfolding plan for their growth and development. God knows His children and is with them every step of the way!



 For Girls 9-11- How You Are Changing
How You are Changing is the third book in the Learning About Sex Series series for girls.




Guy Stuff- Body Book for Boys
This is not a Christian book, but it is very very well done.  We bought it when my boys were in 6th grade, and they read it often. Every issue your boy will encounter in puberty is covered, from late bloomers to shaving, to pimples.
There is no morality issues or mechanics of sex discussed, but deals mainly with the  physical changes that accompany puberty. It deals gently with sensitive topics, like public hair and how to clean up after a nocturnal emissions.
The book also has great emotional help, like how to control your temper as your hormones surge.   See more and pictures inside the book with the review I already wrote on this great resource.



The Care and Keeping of You for Girls
This the girl version of GUY STUFF, by the same authors. I have friends who have read this book with their daughters and highly recommend it. 







JUNIOR/ SENIOR HIGH
(13/14 years old)


For Boys: Ages 14 and up Sex and the New You
MY HUSBAND IS READING THIS ALONGSIDE MY SONS, so they can have good conversations and discuss questions. This book, the fifth in the newly revised Learning About Sex series for boys, will help young men ages 14 and up learn to respect their sexuality and honor God. Love, Sex & God addresses issues such as pornography, dating, and premarital sex, answering young men s questions in a simple and accurate way and always reminding them of God s never-ending love.



For Girls: Ages 12 to 14 Sex and the New You 
This book, the fourth in the newly revised Learning About Sex series for girls, helps young women ages 12 to 14 build confidence as they continue to mature not only physically but also emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Sex & the New You will answer young women s questions in a simple and accurate way, reminding them that they can trust in God s perfect plans for their lives.





FOR PARENTS TO READ

How to Confidently Talk to Your Children about Sex
How to Talk Confidently with Your Child about Sex can help you teach your child a Christ-centered understanding of God s precious gift of sexuality. This parent guide also addresses challenging issues that older children and teens will likely confront, such as pornography, dating, and premarital sex, discussing relevant topics candidly and with a biblical worldview.





READ MORE ABOUT HOW TO SHARE SONG OF SOLOMON WITH YOUR KIDS