Or maybe I should say, “I believe in St. Nicholas.”
Last night my children and I watched the Veggie Tales movie “Saint Nicholas”, the story of the patron saint of sailors who is credited as the inspiration for the Western tradition of Santa Claus. In the show they gave an account of his life and his belief in giving in secret. It was interesting to watch my kids trying to process what they were watching with what they believe about Santa. I could see their minds going. My oldest asked me “But Santa is real, right?” and I answered him by saying that St. Nicholas was a real man who lived a long time ago, but after Christ. And left it at that.
I love to give. I love to especially give gifts that are thought out and unexpected and that fill a need. No, not all the gifts I give are necessarily “practical”. At some point during the Veggie Tales show I said, “it sure looks like fun to give in secret”. Hum, another thing for my three to think about!
God has made me with a servant’s heart and a big part of that is gifting others with the time and talents that I was born with. I think that may be why I identify with Santa so much. I want to live my life showing God’s love for others through giving and gifting what I can, but I don’t want any recognition for it, I’d love to have a sleigh and 8 magical reindeer to take be from house to house each night of the year to deliver food, clothing, money, toys, notes of encouragement, water purifiers, compliments, oh, and chocolate!
But since I have not found those reindeer, I will just do what I can where I am. And I try to be open about giving with my kids. Sometimes by very carefully explaining to them what I am doing or more often than not, taking them with me and not saying anything until a question is asked like, “I’m hungry mom, why are we taking them dinner?” My kids are learning and observing everything. One day they will understand that there really is not a man living at the North Pole, but hopefully by then, they will understand more the joy of giving as demonstrated by their heavenly father so many Christmases ago.
May you all bring a little St. Nick to those in need of love. I pray for a warm and healthy Christmas for you all! Merry Christmas!
Advent. According to Merriam-Webster ‘Advent is the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer’. To me Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth.
I have always loved Advent ever since I was a small child and my father introduced my brother and I to the Advent calendar. My Dad always had one for us (ok, probably my Mom was the one to bring it home from the store) and it always had the biblical verses on the inside of those tiny little doors. I remember the excitement and anticipation I always felt running into the kitchen each morning hoping it was my turn to open the day’s door. For anyone who may not be familure with what an Advent calendar is, the easiest definition is a count-down calendar to Christmas. With fun doors to open each day. According to Ace Collins in his book, “Stories Behind The Great Traditions of Christmas”, Germans are to be credited with starting the idea of the Advent calendar. Collins writes in his book that over 2 centuries ago one could find in many German homes and Advent wreath, or a simple wreath made of pine boughs, and from it would be 24 little bags with some sort of sweet in it. One to open and eat each day until Christmas. This evolved and by 1908 a man named Gerhard Lang, who happened to be a partner in a printing firm, started to print calendars with little windows or doors to be opened each day until Christmas. This was an expanded version of a calendar his mother had made where she prenumbered a board and hung a piece of candy for each day. Mothers have some great ideas, don’t we?
Today you can find them with almost anything behind the door, from winter pictures to chocolates, Legos to My Little Ponies. But each year I try to check in with my Dad to make sure that he has one with the bible verses. I try to make sure he has it in time for December first to roll around. This year I have been making Advent calendars for family members and friends. And yes, the one for my Dad has the bible verses *and some surprise chocolate*. The calendar is not hard to make. If you are interested in making one for your family just respond to this post and I’ll get you some directions! I hope you’ll consider making this a holiday tradition for your family.
This week as I have been thinking of all the things I am thankful for, among them I am very thankful that my parents started this tradition in our family. Thanks Mom & Dad!
There has been a spirit of fear in our house. Our kids have not been able to explain to us what they are fearful of but neither of our older children ever want to go down to our lower level by themselves. My husband and I believe that this developed after our lower level flooded. Twice. In 11 months. The stress of this time and the uncertainty of weather or not it will happen again may have something to do with the timidity they both have about being alone down there. We have had several conversations about it being ok to be down there alone, they know where the light switches are and they are not alone because there are other people in the house. I don’t like knowing my kids harbor this fear. And with another incident calling out this fear this evening I decided I’d had enough and we needed to equip our kids with the knowledge that they don’t need to fear.
So I turned to 2 Timothy 1:7 “ For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self‑discipline. ” The boys and I repeated this verse a few times and discussed what it meant and how each of us can carry this verse to help us when we are fearful. I wrote out the verse on index cards for each boy and one for my husband and I to have hanging in the kitchen. Tomorrow we are going to have each boy write on the back what the verse means to them and start a book of the verses that they are memorizing for Life Kids and ones that I have been assigning them to help us through life events.
As I think about this verse I can imagine it coming up again at other times when my family may hold fear closer than the spirit of power and self-discipline that God has given us. In fact, I am sure I will need to repeat it a lot during their teen years!
Well, all week I have had the best intentions of working on the memory verses with my kids. It started great, right after church I asked the boys if they remembered theirs and my 6 yr old was able to repeat it right away and then the 8 yr old chimed in too! BINGO… this week is going to be great, they already knew the verse, now all I needed to do was work with the 3 yr old and I’d be a rock start mom. HA! It is now Friday morning. I woke up at 6am when the 3 yr old climbed into bed next to me and I decided to let her have my place in bed. So I got up and went to sit, think and pray on the couch. “Make good on your good intentions” I felt as if God were whispering into my ear. As I was thinking about what that meant my 3 yr old sleepily came from the bedroom and I realized I needed to make good on my intentions, to be intentional in breathing God’s word into my children’s lives. So after she turned on the Halloween lights I had her climb up into my lap, get cozy and we reviewed the memory verse for preschoolers. It took a few tries but she got into making the hand motions. And even if she didn’t repeat the verse word for word, I know that by practicing it I have helped her hide God’s word in her heart.
For the word of the Lord is right and true - Psalm 33:4
Hand motions- Word = make a book with hands
Lord = point up to the sky
Right = point right
True = hand over heart
Good luck in being intentional with your children this weekend and see you on Sunday for Don’t go to church, be the church!
Family Life is a new blog for communicating with parents by a parent. My goal is to present fun ideas to incorporate what our children are studying about in Grace Place and Life Kids into daily family life. And along the way you’ll probably read some silly stories about ways that my family brings God into everyday activities!
My name is Ann and I am a stay at home mom of three kids. An 8 year old boy, a 6 year old boy and a 3 year old girl. Each day I strive to keep up with them: feeding them, making sure they are dressed and ready to take on the day, finding time to get homework done and keeping the toys under control! The number one priority in my day is to be God’s hands and feet in my children’s lives and to teach them how to have a relationship with Him.
This coming Sunday, October 3rd, the kids will start a new unit : The Bible is True
The memory verse for this unit is : Psalm 33:4 NIVFor the word of the Lord is right and true…
I want to encourage you to find time this next week to read the memory verse with your children and together start to memorize it. I know this will be a challenge for our family, but I’ll let you know how we are doing as the week progresses!
We received a good reminder this week of how much of a difference it makes in the world when someone takes the time to encourage and believe in someone else. As I look back on my life, I remember the coaches, teachers, scoutmasters, and my mom and dad who gave me so much encouragement and support that helped me to achieve great successes in life. There’s no doubt that as I left home to start college and even as I left college to continue my career, that the continued encouragement and support I receive from so many has given me the courage to trust in God, step out, and live life.
While I am so grateful for those who encouraged me I’m also reminded that there are others now, young and old, who may not have those people in their life and who God has placed in my life so that I can believe in them. Whether it’s a one time kind word or helping hand, or a more invested relationship we can change the world by taking the time to let someone know that you believe he or she has what it takes to do great things in life.
Two key announcements were made by the Grace Community Board yesterday morning at our Sunday service. We want to make sure everyone at Grace is aware of both of these updates. This post details this information in 3 parts:
The Grace Board would like to invite you to an open meeting on Sunday, December 9th. Teresa King has resigned effective December 23. As a result of this, the board is taking a fresh look at family ministry to equip it to be as effective as possible. Our purpose is to listen to your ideas, comments, and desires for our Family Ministry, and to share our vision to continue the mission of serving children and parents by providing them an excellent experience each weekend.
Mike Frogley will facilitate the discussion, and childcare will be provided.
Update: This meeting will be from 11:15a-12:45p on December 9. Childcare for children through 5th grade will be available.
Wow, kids get out of school this week. Parents get ready to keep your kids from getting the “I’m bored” syndrome. This Thursday, June 7th and next Thursday, June 14th I will be at Sholem Adquatic Center to give you parents some summer relief. You can drop off your kids (ages 5+) from 12:30 - 4:30 pm for some swimming fun. I will be there to watch your kids and build relationships with them. What better way than swimming? Your child will need a Permission Form which you can pick up at the UpStreet sign in table or see me at the pool. Please note that if it is raining/storming I will not be there. If you have any questions please email me at teresa@findinggrace.com
Hope to see your kids this Thursday! Ms. Teresa
Do you have any questions about Grace’s new Family Ministry service that will be starting this fall? Post a question here and we’ll answer it as best we can.
