Trials test our faith. Our response to them shows whether we actually believe and trust God, or if we only say that we do. They help us see what we really believe. But God is not like one of those teachers who makes a test as difficult as possible to see how many people will fail it. He’s not giving us a test to see if we pass or fail. […]
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Thirty Days in John 15, Day 8: Unfruitful Branches
We’ve seen that the vinedresser had much more to do than just prune the vine, although the pruning is probably the most important factor in its fruitfulness. The vineyard of the sluggard in Proverbs 24 reminds us that vines need constant attention and upkeep. Walls needed to be kept in repair, and weeds needed to be removed. The fruit needed protection from hungry and destructive animals. If the vines failed […]
Read More →Thirty Days in John 15, Day 4: You
We’ve made some initial observations about God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We’ll spend much more time with those markings and observations in future lessons. Today we’re going to continue marking, this time looking to see what Jesus says to His disciples and us, His present-day disciples. Assignment: Jesus tells us in verse 26 of our chapter, that the Holy Spirit teaches us about Him. If we fail to […]
Read More →Thirty Days in John 15, Day 1 Preview: Context
Surprise! I’ve decided to post Day 1 of our study a day early, since July 1 falls on a Saturday. I know, for some, study time may be a bit more difficult to manage on Saturdays. So here’s Day 1. You have today and tomorrow for this assignment, plus Sundays are always our catch-up days during studies. So we should be able to manage this assignment in that time period. […]
Read More →Anticipating Good Friday
As we remember our Savior’s sufferings, death. and resurrection over the next few days, I would like to share again this collection of ideas for Good Friday, the day we remember Christ’s death on the cross. Here is another opportunity to remind your children of the gospel, and a chance to build anticipation as we approach Resurrection Day! Spend part of the day reading aloud the account of Jesus’s betrayal, […]
Read More →He Died for My Sin
To help your children understand that Jesus died for their sins, try this simple activity: Nail two scraps of wood together to form a cross about two feet tall. Hang this cross on a wall or lay it flat on a counter or table. In a basket nearby, place pieces of paper, a pen or pencil, a bag of small nails, and a hammer. When the need for discipline arises during […]
Read More →Thirty Days in Psalm 91 for Busy Mamas, Day 22: Really?
We’ve come to the hard parts of Psalm 91. What do we do with verses like this one? “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” And what about verse 10? “No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.” They are wonderful words, but how do we reconcile them with the reality […]
Read More →Thirty Days in Psalm 91 for Busy Mamas, Day 11: Psalms Are for Singing
While we’re busy marking words, making lists, and looking for parallelism and imagery, we don’t want to forget that Psalm 91 was written to be sung, not just read and studied. As we sing the Psalms, we are singing God’s words back to Him. We’re praying, building each other up, expressing our joys and our sorrows, and reminding ourselves of God’s faithfulness. Here are a few musical versions of Psalm 91 to […]
Read More →Thirty Days in Psalm 91 for Busy Mamas, Day 8: Memorize
Psalm 91 is a psalm we need to have stamped on our hearts. We’re going to aim at memorizing the entire psalm, starting today. Don’t let the thought of memorizing sixteen verses intimidate you. Think of memorizing as just another level of studying the psalm. The Psalms, because they are poetry, are easier to memorize than some portions of Scripture. I think you’ll be surprised, too, at how easily you’ll memorize the […]
Read More →Thirty Days in Psalm 91 for Busy Mamas, Day 2: God
Today we’re going to start observing. We’ll notice all kinds of new things over the next few days as we slow down to take a closer look at what is actually in the text. What can we learn about God? To what is He compared? What does God say He will do? What are we told to do? What words and ideas are repeated? These are the kinds of questions we will […]
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