Bible Resources

I have had several parents ask me lately what Bible to get to read with their children. And I wish that I could say that you could just get any children's Bible to use. But, from what I have found, not all of them are biblically accurate.

So, here is a list of some that I feel would do a wonderful job teaching your children about Jesus and giving them a better look at the story of God.

The Beginner's Bible

We use this one at our house. The stories are great, the characters are fun to follow. And the story is accurate!

The Jesus Storybook Bible

I have not used this one, but have heard wonderful recommendations for it.

You can learn more about this book at: www.jesusstorybookbible.com

The ABC Bible Verse Book

Learn God's Word and the alphabet, too! This fun book presents a Bible verse for each letter of the alphabet with delightful illustrations that encourage children in their faith and learning! Recommended for ages 6 and under

Five Minute Devotions

(I know this isn't a Bible, but it is worth sharing)

Our boys love this wonderful book. Each devotion focuses on a different animal. From each of these animals your children will learn characteristics and attributes that God desires for us to have. Filled with animal facts and Bible verses, this devotional is great!

WHAT DO YOU USE AT YOUR HOUSE? Let me know!

Parenting Beyond Your Capacity Part 2

Into the second week of PBYC.

This weeks talk was about the Stock Family Syndrome. And that God isn't holding up a perfect picture; He's writing a bigger story.

The chapter starts by asking the question, Is your family the picture you had in mind?

This chapter thens describes that we have tried for so long to set our family up against the picture of the stock family. Picture Perfect. There doesn't seem to be any flaws in the stock family. They seem perfect. And we begin to measure our success, our parenting, our marriage, our everything against this stock family.

The problem is that there is not a family that can measure up against that family. Every family is broken. Every family has problems. And so when we measure up against that, we are then discouraged because we can never be that.

We even try to look to the Bible to try to find that Picture Perfect family, but as you turn pages, and look through books, you will fail to find it. The Bible is riddled with families who are far from perfect and are broken.

"God is not trying to paint a picture of an ideal family....He's writing a story." (page 43)

"It seems like God is more interested in using broken people than He is in creating a better picture...it's as if God is saying, I'm going to use churches and families both composed of broken people, as platforms to demonstrate to the world that I am a God of restoration and redemption." (page 44)

The book challenges us to not focus on our picture, but on the bigger story God desires to illustrate through you.

When we become preoccupied with the Stock family, it is easy to fall into a trap where....

- you feel like you never measure up.

- you lose credibility with other parents who recognize the difference in what you are and what you claim to be.

- you discourage other parents with a standard they can never achieve. (page 46)

The book gives us two different approaches to family.

BETTER PICTURE APPROACH: we try to conform every family to our picture of what family should be.

BIGGER STORY APPROACH: we learn to see every family as a potential platform for God to demonstrate His story of redemption and restoration.

God is more interested in using YOU as a broken person, than YOU trying to be picture perfect. God is more interested in using YOU and all of your pieces to tell His story, than He is with you trying to tell your own story through your perfection.

God has be using families for centuries and throughout history to put His glory on display.

Questions for your to ponder on:

You might not feel like your family is ideal, but what does God feel about the imperfections of your family?

Based on the way God feels about your family, how will that impact the way you view and lead your family?

How might the way you see your family change if you started to have the perspective of God's bigger story, redeeming and restoring your family for His purpose?

Keep the conversation going...what do you think about this?

Parenting Beyond Your Capacity Part 1

Calvary has started what will be an incredible journey for families and the church. We have adopted the Orange Strategy. This strategy will change the way we do church and how you parent. We have also started a study for parents on Sunday nights walking through the book Parenting Beyond Your Capacity. Each week I will update what was talked about and hit some key points, so that those who could not be a part of the study, can still parent beyond your capacity.

The first chapter discusses the Orange strategy and gives a basic overview of the rest of the book.

"Many of us discovered soon after our children were born that our parenting toolboxes were missing some of the tools we needed to be effective at the job." (page 25)

NO ONE HAS MORE POTENTIAL TO INFLUENCE YOUR CHILD THAN YOU

"For good or bad, you will influence your children." (page 27)

"If parenting isn't a little intimidating, then maybe you don't really understand how critical your role is....We need to remember that our influence has more to do with our relationship with our children than it does our skills as parents. Your PURPOSE as a parent is not to develop exceptional parenting skills.....your role is not to impress your children or anyone else with your ability to parent; your role is to impress your children with the love and nature of God." (page 28-29)

YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY INFLUENCE YOUR CHILDREN NEED

"When you learn to parent beyond your capacity, you tap into other influences that also have the potential to impact your children's future." (page 30)

"Your children one day will seek affirmation and approval from adults other than you. Either you can become intentional about enlisting other trusted adults to influence your kids, or you can depend only on your limited capacity." (page 31)

TWO COMBINED INFLUENCES WILL MAKE A GREATER IMPACT THAN JUST TWO INFLUENCES

There are two powerful influences, the family and the church, and when these influences work together they can make a greater impact than if they worked alone.

"What if we assigned the color red to represent the unconditional love of family, and what if yellow represented the light that comes from a larger community of faith? When those two influences combine efforts to influence a child, the result is transformational." (page 32)

"They both exist because God initiated them.

They both exist because God desires to use them

to demonstrate His plan of redemption and

restoration.

If they work together they can potentially

make a greater impact than if they work alone.

They need each other.

Too much is at stake for either one to fail.

Their primary task is to build God's kingdom

in the hearts of men and women, sons and daughters." (page 33)

"Both the family and the church are systems comprised of imperfect people but designed by God to tell His story to the world." (page 33)

The color Orange is just a reminder of what it means to parent beyond your capacity.

As we walk through this study we will look at Five Essential Values of Orange.

Widen the Circle,

Imagine the End,

Fight for the Heart,

Create a Rhythm,

Make It Personal

Each one of these values will help parents parent beyond their capacity! Follow along with us as we strive to go Orange and make a greater impact than if we just try to do it alone.

First Look Bible Verses

One of the things that I love to see is preschoolers writing Scripture on their heart. Over the past two years, preschoolers have been learning ONE Bible verse each month. It an effort to help you, help your child learn these and write them on their heart (and hopefully yours too), I have gone back and given you the verses for the past several months.

I hope this is a great tool in the church partnering with you, as parents, to make an incredible spiritual impact on your child. I want you to IMAGINE THE END, because the only that will matter in the end, is your child's and your relationship with Christ.

Do what you can now to develop biblical truths and Scripture in your child, so that they will have a foundation that can't be moved.

Thanks for partnering with us, we are always looking for ways to partner with you. THINK ORANGE!

May 2010: "I am wonderfully made." - Psalm 139.14

June 2010: "Be kind and loving to each other." - Ephesians 4.32

July 2010: "Learn to do what is right." - Isaiah 1.17

August 2010: "God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1.9

September 2010: "Nothing can seperate us from God's love." -Romans 8.39

October 2010: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid." - Deuteronomy 31.6

November 2010: "My God will meet all your needs." - Philippians 4.19

December 2010: "God loved the world so much that He gave His only son." - John 3.16

January 2011: "Let the little children come to me." - Luke 18.16

Sneak Peak

February 2011: "Love each other as I have loved you." - John 15.12

I look forward to learning more and more verses with you and your child!

The Joys of Christmas

Celebrating the True Meaning of Christmas!

The Christmas season has become very commercial; from the gifts to the trees, from Santa to the elves. Christmas has lost its meaning in many households throughout the country. In an attempt to bring the true meaning of Christmas back into our families and our lives, I have put together some simple ways that will allow you to celebrate Christmas by sharing and serving the community and spending time with your family. These easy activities will let our children understand that Christmas is not about the presents and the tree, but rather about Jesus Christ and giving to others. Each day of December there will be a different activity for you and your family to participate in. With some help, I think that we can bring true joy back into Christmas and let our families and the community see what Christmas is all about.

December 1: Read the Christmas story to your children, as a family, before you go to sleep tonight! It’s always fun to read the Bible together as a family! Teach them the reason we celebrate Christmas! (Luke 2.1-20)

December 2: Come up with a NEW Christmas tradition for your family to celebrate that involves serving others.

December 3: Make a homemade Christmas card and mail it to a random person in the phone book!

December 4: Make a gingerbread house together as a family. (You could do gingerbread men or graham cracker houses or buy a pre-made kit if you don’t want to make it from scratch!)

December 5: Memorize a Bible verse together as a family. (John 3.16 is our verse this month or you can come up with your own!)

December 6: Make Christmas ornaments out of things around the house. Be creative and take one to a neighbor and hang one on your tree!

December 7: After dinner, sing some Christmas songs together as a family. Parents, teach your preschooler a new song they do not know! Preschoolers LOVE to sing!

December 8: Help clean your brother or sister’s room without complaining!

December 9: Talk about the true meaning of Christmas at dinner as a family. Ask your children what Christmas means to them!

December 10: Have your children make Christmas cards for the fire station and take your children with you to deliver them!

December 11: Take some homemade cookies to a nursing home. (email Cass if you want to take them to a church member and he can get the name of someone for you!)

December 12: Bring a gently used book or toy to church to donate to a needy family! (Parents – encourage your child to choose one of their toys to give!)

December 13: Help your mom or dad empty the trash and clean the house.

December 14: Make homemade hot chocolate mix together as a family and deliver it to neighbors! (recipe included at end of list)

December 15: Go outside and look at the stars. Read Matthew 1:18-2:2 and talk about the star the wise men followed to come and see Jesus!

December 16: Help clean up after dinner by helping with the dishes.

December 17: Wear your pajamas, grab a snack, and drive around to look at Christmas lights as a family. Talk to your children about how Jesus is the Light of the World!

December 18: Snuggle with your family in your parents bed and talk about things that you love about your family. Sing a Christmas song, or two, while you snuggle!

December 19: Talk about five things, with your family, that you are thankful for.

December 20: Make a special Christmas snack and look at a Nativity set and talk about the roles of each of the characters. (ie. Shepherds, Wise Men, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the angel, etc…) as a family.

December 21: Show your Mommy and Daddy how much you love them through your actions today!

December 22: Watch a Christmas movie together before going to sleep!

December 23: Decide on a way your family can serve someone in need next month and come up with a plan on how you will make it happen! Make it fun for your children and let them help decide what your family service project will be!

December 24: Have a birthday party for Jesus with your family! Make a cake with a cake mix, decorate it, place candles on top and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

December 25: Take a moment from this day and take cookies, card, gifts, etc., to someone who has to work on Christmas day. (i.e. Policeman, Nurse, Waiter, Grocery store worker, etc.)

Parent and Child Dedication

Parent and Child Dedication is coming soon! Our next dedication will be on Sunday, October 10th, during the 11:05 worship service. If you are interested in participating in the wonderful occasion please contact Cass, or pick up a Parent and Child Dedication envelope from the main welcome desk in the Treetop!

We look forward to having you join us on this wonderful celebration of the life of you child and your commitment.

Parent and Child Dedication

We had an awesome time with Parent and Child Dedication yesterday! What a blessing! We had 8 children and 7 different families dedicated! It is always great to see the church come together and support this wonderful celebration and commitment in the lives of these families!

I am already looking forward to the dedication in the Fall! It is going to be great and we will taking parents to another level of commitment with this one and other dedications in the future. Get ready parents, I am going to be asking for a bigger commitment! We will be using a curriculum that will walk us through the process of making this commitment to the Lord and to the church!

Why, you ask! Because we have had several families come and dedicate their children here at Calvary, and then they have failed to come back to church at all! This is so sad to me! I want to see parents take this Dedication seriously and not just as something that they have checked off their "to-do" list for their child! Nothing will be hard in this process, but it will definitely take a greater commitment to the process! It will challenge the way that you parent and it will challenge your vision of parenting! It will also help you catch a glimpse of why we do things the way that we do here in the Treetop.

I look forward to partnering with parents through this process and creating a process that will help parents become what God intended for them to be!