We live in a manufactured home — the kind that comes with built-in wallpaper — ugly wallpaper. We’ve lived in this house for 17 years now, and it was the day before Thanksgiving (What a day to decide to paint the kitchen! What was I thinking?) four years ago before I finally got brave enough to paint over that ugly wallpaper. I had visions of the paint sliding right off the […]
Read More →Category: Object lessons
The Dog Who Returns to His Vomit. Yuck.
Our elderly cat recently gave me another opportunity to contemplate life. This time I was encamped on the sofa, snuggled under a blanket, enjoying a phone call from our oldest daughter. I heard it — the dreaded retching sound that always precedes the deposit of a yucky pile of half-digested food in a most-likely-to-be-stepped-in part of the house. The retching concluded with an unpleasant liquidy sound, and the cat soon […]
Read More →Two Choices — Lady Wisdom or Dame Folly
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” (Proverbs 9:4, ESV) Learning the truths of Scripture can be a lot of fun! Host a feast to help your children remember and understand the contrast between pursuing wisdom and pursuing foolishness. Proverbs 9 paints a vivid picture of wisdom and folly, personified as two women. One woman, Wisdom, has prepared tasty meat and mixed wine. She sends out her young women to call […]
Read More →Family Activities for the Week of Easter
Next week, we’ll celebrate Easter, remembering Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. Here are some ideas for focusing your week on Christ and making it fun and meaningful for your family. Act out the crucifixion and resurrection story, or stage a play with toys, felt figures, or stuffed animals. Make your own grace garden or resurrection garden. Try these “Get a Sense of the Resurrection” object lessons. Make your own […]
Read More →Clearing Our View
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8) I’ve been studying the Sermon on the Mount with the aid of Kay Arthur’s study, Lord, Only You Can Change Me, and Sinclair Ferguson’s book, The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World. These words from Mr. Ferguson on Matthew 5: 8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Emphases […]
Read More →Good News!
You’ve seen it… Two children are playing. Child No. 1 sets down his toy to pick up a new one, and suddenly Child No. 2 is discontent. He no longer wants what he already has. He wants what the other child has. He reaches out for the toy and yells when he can’t have it. He fusses and cries, and seeks to get his way. He’s coveting. Next time you’re […]
Read More →Dealing with Quarrels
“He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat” (Proverbs 28:25). Read this verse to your children and you may get some snickers! Who wants to be made fat? The answer to that question: a person who is hungry. The man who puts his confidence in God won’t be hungry anymore. He will be satisfied. Other translations of this […]
Read More →What Do You See in the Mirror?
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22, ESV) Many children know the song, “The Wise Man Built His House upon the Rock.” I certainly remember enjoying the motions when we sang it – especially when it was time for the foolish man’s house to go SMASH! Jesus said that those who hear His words and do them are like a wise man who […]
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