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?

First Look - March

Hey Parents! I can't even believe that it is already March. I wanted to fill you in on what your children will be learning this month as we go through the month of March.

The Basic Truth: Jesus wants to be my friend forever.

Key Question: Who will help you?

Bottom Line: Jesus will help me

Memory Verse: "He cares for you." 1 Peter 5.7

Preschoolers will be learning through their senses this month! We will be learning how Jesus healed the blind man (sight), Jesus healing the lame man who couldn't walk (touch and ability to walk), and then Jesus healing the deaf man (hearing).

(we won't be meeting on March 13th, due to Spring Break. There will be one family service at 11:05 that day)

Make sure you pick up your Small Talk cards at your child's classroom or at the main welcome desk, or they will be located on www.calvarytuscaloosa.org/ministries/preschool. This tool will help you take the stories, that your child is learning, home. You will also find some great activities to do with your child to help them begin to live out what they are learning. And it just might help you too.

Thank you for partnering with us!

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.)

Coats For Kids

We teach our preschoolers that God made us, God loves us, and God will take care of us. One of the ways He takes care of us is by giving us people to care for us, people to help us. He can also use us to help others. That’s a hard concept for preschoolers, but we want them to begin to grasp it. We want them to learn that we can help others just like God helps us. We want to make a connection between how much God loves and helps us and how He wants us to help others.

Now, the danger in having young children participate in a giving initiative is that if we are not careful, parents will go and buy what is needed and just drop it off. The preschool child never really experiences the process of giving. So, we came up with an idea that we think will help make this connection personal.

We decided to focus on a physical need to which all young children can relate. You see, every child has been cold. And, most children have had the experience of putting on a nice, warm coat and getting toasty warm again. We thought that this would be an easy connection for young children and that they could feel empathy for another child who might not have a coat to keep them warm.

SO, during the month of November, we will be collecting New or Gently Used Coats for Kids. There will be orange tubs around the church where you can place your coats and help teach your preschooler how they can take care of someone, just as God has taken care of them.

Also, during the worship services, on November 21st, parents will have a chance to bring their coats to the front of the church. We will then display all the coats at the Thanksgiving Meal that Sunday night.

Bring your coats and we look forward to sharing the caring love of God with the community!!!

October Curriculum

Every kid wants to be a Superhero. If we're honest, most adults wouldn't mind being one either. We want to be able to do amazing things! We want to wear cool costumes! We want a cape!

The truth is we can all be Superheroes. We don't need a cape. We don't need to leap buildings. We don't need to see through walls. What we need to do is be strong and courageous and trust God to help us do what needs to be done.

People around us are Superheroes every day. There is the single parent who works all day, comes home to make dinner, and spends the rest of the evening just bonding with her children. There is the older woman next door who always has cookies, a listening ear and boundless wisdom ready to share with whomever stops by. There is the dad working two or three jobs so that his children can benefit from a stay-at-home mom. All of those people are Superheroes, and there isn't a cape in sight.

We want our preschoolers to know that they can be Superheroes too. They can be strong and courageous as they trust in God. They can help those around them and do things for others. They can be Superheroes even without the cape too.

But, capes are fun and so are Superheroes, so for the month of October, we're going to be Superheroes! We are wanting the preschoolers (and you too, if you want) to wear a cape each week during the month of October. They'll be more excited than ever to get dressed for church.

Here are a couple of links to some easy to make capes. Or be creative and come up with your own!

- http://floatingworld.typepad.com/superhero.pdf

- http://www.ehow.com/how_2331501_sew-cape.html

- http://www.inhabitots.com/2008/10/22/the-six-minute-superhero-cape/

I am looking forward to a great month and seeing so many Superheroes come to church each week! We will be teaching each month how preschoolers Can Always Count on God.

Check out our Facebook page for a vision video for the month of October. And remember to pick up a Small Talk sheet and help take what your preschooler is learning at church and bring it home!

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.

First Look

This video will give you an idea into the curriculum that we are using both on Sundays and Wednesdays. Please check out other posts in the First Look tab for more information on this wonderful tool, that is helping teach basic foundational truths into preschoolers, so that they can get a closer look at Jesus.

I wanted to make you aware of the curriculum that we are using in the Treetop Ministries! It is called First Look! FL centers around giving preschoolers their First Look at their heavenly Father. There are three Basic Truths that the each child should know by the time that they leave the Treetop Ministries, and those are:

- God Loves Me

- God Made Me, and

- Jesus wants to be my friend forever!

Each month a Basic Truth is looked at and gives the direction for what is being taught that month! Each month also includes a Bottom Line (i.e. Jesus Loves Everyone (March's BL)), and a memory verse!

This curriculum really reaches to touch all of your child's senses and give them their First Look at Jesus!!!

BUT, we cannot do this alone! There are 8736 hours in each year! If you were to take the 104 hours (that's 2 hours a week) that you might be at church, and 2920 hours of sleep (average 8 a night), then you are left with just over 5700 hours that are yours.

What are you doing with those hours? Each month, the First Look curriculum, gives you what you need to re-emphasize what your child is learning at church! Each month you are given a take home sheet that gives you ideas on how to take what they are learning here, home!!

(many of you probably take that sheet and put it right in the trash!!!)

Through BathTime, PlayTime, DriveTime, and CuddleTime, you can spend the day teaching your child exactly what they are learning in the Treetop! Please take this sheet and put it somewhere that will remind you to live out Deuteronomy 6!

This is a huge partnership that everyone will benefit from! The church only has about 104 hours to make an impact on your child...you have over 5700 hours!

We want to partner with you to help give you the tools to make a spiritual impact on your child! These take home sheets are just a small way where you can help teach your child that God Loves Me, God Made Me, and Jesus wants to be my friend forever.

Parental Involvement

“There are two powerful influences on the planet – the church and the home. 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.” – excerpt from Parenting Beyond Your Capacity, by Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwhof

We, Calvary Baptist and the Preschool Ministry, have learned that we can’t do ministry alone and you can’t do parenting alone. There has to be a partnership of the two. The church, on average, gets to invest about 40-45 hours a year into the life of your child, but you as a parent get over 1500 hours a year to invest in your child. So, we want to be able to give you the resources and tools to take the truths that we are teaching your child into your home and into your lives. We are going to do our best to invest in you and we will do that through several different avenues. Check out the tabs on this page for more details and resources.

Parent Ministry

We offer several venues for mom’s and dad’s to get together.

- MomTime meets on the first and third Wednesday mornings of the month from 9:30-11:30. ChildCare is provided! The first Wednesday of the month we drop the kids off and go somewhere to fellowship. The third Wednesday we have a speaker and fellowship. If you work and can even join us for one hour on a break, please come!

- Mom’s Night Out – each month the mom’s will have a chance to get out and fellowship with each other. Please take a peak at your email and the Blog for more details on these events.

- DadTime will meet once a month and be a time for Dad’s to hang out with each other. There will be a different DadTime event each month, whether it is at a restaurant to eat or at someone’s house to watch a football game. Check your email or the Blog for more details on these events.

Parent Involvement

We believe that parents are the primary spiritual leader and teacher for their child. You will spend more hours with your child than anyone else will in any given year. We want to give you the opportunity to carry out what your child is learning on Sunday mornings and Wednesdays nights and take it home. Please take a look at the First Look tab for more resources that will allow you to spiritually lead your child as the Bible has commanded.

We ask that ALL preschool parents be involved and serve on our WorshipCare Rotation. We ask that parents serve on a every-other-month rotation, where you serve six times a year for a total of six hours a year. This helps you see firsthand what your child is learning and gives you another chance to teach your child about serving. If you would like to influence and benefit the next generation by volunteering one Sunday, every-other-month, please contact Cass Brannan for more details.

Tips for Parents

- Consistent church participation helps children develop a sense of trust and security within their overall church experience.

- Talk to you child about coming to church and create the excitement for them.

- Communicate with leaders any allergies that your child might have.

- If you child becomes upset, remind them in a kind, firm voice that you are going to church and will be back soon. If you child remains inconsolable after 15 minutes, we will come and get you.

- Help your child develop ‘church security’ by picking them up promptly after each session. A child may become anxious when other children have departed.

Resources

Please check out the following resources that will help you in your journey of parenting:

Websites:

- www.orangeparents.org

- www.visionaryparenting.com

- www.rethinkgroup.org

- www.whatisorange.org

Music:

- www.yancynotnancy.com

- www.amberskyrecords.com

- www.missgailmusic.com

Security Procedures

Security:

Treetop Ministries seeks to give all preschoolers and their families the safest environment to learn about Jesus Christ. In order to keep the ministry safe there are a few procedures that we ask all parents to follow.

THESE ARE NOT OPTIONAL

- All preschoolers need to be checked in at their age-appropriate classroom.

- Outside each classroom you will find a basket of numbers. There are two of each number (they are stuck together with Velcro): one is to be clipped to your preschooler and they other is yours. This is your Security Tag to pick up your child.

- You will also sign them in on the sign-in sheet and place a nametag on your child.

- ALL parents must use the tag to pick up their preschooler. There are NO excuses.

- NO child will be released without the matching of the parent tag with the child’s.

- No child should be allowed to pick up another child (the person picking up the child must be over 18 AND have the security tag).

- No parent may leave the campus while their child is in Calvary’s care, unless it is Parents Night Out, or if you have been given approval by the Preschool Minister. The children are too young to not have a parent close by. THIS IS NOT A BABYSITTING SERVICE – IT IS A MINISTRY.

- We ask that ALL parents stay out of the classrooms for the safety and security of ALL of the children.

- Kindly knock on your child’s door and a leader will assist you in picking up or dropping off your child.