Teaching Kids About The Bible

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." Deut 4:9

As Christian parents our greatest responsibility is to help our children get to know and love the God who created them. I love God and I love my kids and I hate to admit it, but I sometimes struggle in my quest to get the two together. 

This wasn't a problem when they were small because they were a captive audience (so to speak). I could read to them, teach Bible verses, pray with them and watch endless Veggie Tales videos. 

This year when I began homeschooling, we started each day by reading the Bible together, and it was ok. They understood it well enough and we had some good discussions, but then I heard an interview with Phil Vischer, the creator of Veggie Tales, talking about his new video series. Phil explained that with Veggie Tales, he was teaching kids how to behave like Christians, but they didn't know about Christianity or the history of our faith. 

His new series, Buck Denver Asks... What's In The Bible?, teaches the entire Old Testament in a funny and engaging way.

I'm not joking. As soon as I heard that interview, I snapped up the entire 9 DVD set, and I'm not ashamed to admit that my kids and I are learning and laughing every morning with puppets.

I've been reading the Bible every day for the past ten years and even I'm learning things I never knew.

I feel good giving them something they can relate to and I know God's getting in there and doing His work in them. 

What a relief! 

Of course, it's just a jumping off point, but it's sparking discussion and reigniting their interest in building a relationship with Him.

Thank you God for creating Phil Vischer:)

 

A Long Road

"Then they asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:32

Before we have a story that's worth telling, we sometimes have to walk a long, hard road. 

I love the story in Luke 24 about Jesus appearing to two downcast believers who were walking to Emmaus. They were filled with grief over his death and were talking when he came up beside them. They didn't realize who it was, and he joined them in their walk and explained what the Scriptures said about him.

My family and I have been walking a long hard road. For the last two months we've grieved, worried, prayed and praised God for all we've learned and experienced, and I've hardly been able to write.

I didn't know how to talk about it here, or if it was something I should share while we're still in the thick of it. But our stories shape and change us, and I've changed as a result. If I can't write about it, I might as well stop writing at all, and that's not going to happen.

One of my children has been suffering with depression and anxiety that's so severe, medical intervention was necessary. It's been extremely difficult, and I'm still praying about what to tell. I trust that since Jesus has been walking along the road with us, He'll guide me and help shape my stories. Because I want to honor my child, I won't share any personal details unless I get permission.  The stories I tell will be my own, and from the perspective of a parent.

Here is what I want you to know right now, especially for anyone who has loved ones struggling with depression or anxiety or if you are suffering yourself:

 Christ is with you.

He sees your downcast spirit and will never leave your side. You may not be able to see him right now through the difficulty and darkness, but make no mistake, He is there!

          Shout for joy, O heavens;

               rejoice, O earth;

               burst into song, O mountains!

           For the Lord comforts his people

               and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

                                        Isaiah 49:13

Death Unexpected

"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." John 11:27

In this passage of scripture, Jesus is talking to Martha, the sister of Lazarus. Earlier in the week, Lazarus got sick and died, and Jesus has come to visit the family. He and Martha are somewhere, away from the other mourners, and he's just told her, "Your brother will rise again." When she says, "Yes, I know he will rise again one day, at the resurrection," Jesus challenges her thinking. He basically says, I'm in charge of all life and death.

                   Do you really believe what I say?

Right now, I'm experiencing an unexpected death of sorts; it's the death of my eldest daughter's childhood. It seems as if this summer, she's leaving that life behind and crossing over, into adulthood. Of course, she's still a teenager and does teenaged things, but she's also making some life changing decisions and taking huge steps. Right now, she's flying home to North Carolina from Boston all by herself.

This is a child who, last month, couldn't even go into CVS without taking someone along.

Trusting God to guide my children into the next stage of life is harder than anything I've ever experienced. The expression, "It's time to cut the apron strings" comes to mind, but I don't wear aprons so I feel like I'm the one being cut.

And yet, I believe Jesus and every word He speaks into my spirit about this time of my daughter's emerging new life.

How about you? Is there something you need to trust Jesus with today?