Ever said these words?

“God just needs to slap me upside the head sometimes.”

I know I have, and although I don’t necessarily like it when He does, I’m always thankful. I know He will only use the “slap me upside the head” method when I have been unwilling to listen or get what He’s trying to tell me any other way. I know He does it because He loves me too much to let me keep walking in my sin.

Apparantly David understood that, too, and he also understood that God often uses someone else to do the slappin’ because in Psalm 141 verse 5 David says,

“Let a righteous man slap me–that is a kindness; let him rebuke me–that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it.”

Love, love, love that David, yeah King David, was willing to be taught and rebuked–even in some pretty drastic ways so that He wouldn’t walk in the way of the wicked. Extreme. Freaky. Courageous. Honorable. Honest. David.

David got slapped once. A prophet named Nathan had to do the slapping. But it changed David’s life, and it shows us today that following God doesn’t mean we have to be perfect, it means we have to be repentant. When I take those words to heart, it changes my life, too.

Extreme. Freaky. Courageous. Honorable. Honest. God.

www.hypersmash.com

Today’s post is short and sweet! (Well, for me anyway!)

What’s in the Bible Church Edition curriculum is straight up something to be thankful for. Catchy name–What’s in the Bible–and it sums it up pretty nicely.

Hope you like nuggets, because here’s one you’ll love. A week ago, some of the 6th graders I disciple were meeting with my hub and me when I asked them what were their highs and lows of their time in our children’s ministry. Without a doubt, each one of them said that the What’s in the Bible lessons were one of their absolutely most favorite things about church. Yeah, 6th graders. Yeah, puppet teaching. Yeah, corny songs (okay that part may make sense!) Yeah, blew my mind, too.

Their reason??? They said it was because they learned so much stuff about the Bible, what it means and how it fits together–stuff that fit together with what they were learning in public school and it helped them know for sure that the Bible is true! BOOM!

Interestingly enough, a few weeks ago son #2 and his fiance, both whom are Bible college students, were visiting and helping in class. When class was over, they remarked on how incredible it was how much our kids knew–not just the facts, but understanding what it meant to their lives. DOUBLE BOOM!

So, to the Good Lord, Phil Vischer, Buck Denver, and all those on the What’s in the Bible team: Today, Thursday, May 16, I am thankful for you, your efforts, inspiration and faithfulness to help the next generation know, love and follow Christ.

I got to hear and meet Phil Vischer this winter in St. Louis. Turns out we actually used to live in his hometown of Muscatine, IA! Go IOWA!

Some of HiSKidZ working together–(Go Unity and Cooperation!) to find out What’s in the Bible!

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I love Job. Seriously. I have been reading/studying his book for awhile now, and I just keep getting hit over the head with the revelation mallet every time I read. For example, today I read:

“As long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit.” Job 27:3

The integrity of Job’s life SHINES through his book like nobody’s business. I continually find myself writing out the words of Job as prayers for my life. But why stop there??? Why not make them the prayers for our children’s lives??

The virtues and character qualities of God are blasting out of Job’s life, and should be out of ours as well. There is no better time than today to get out the virtue pitcher and begin to pour God’s character and values into your tiny tots’ lives.

How do you do that? One day at a time.

Sure, thanks, Ms Dawn, for that great valuable piece of advice.

Okay, here are a few more practical things you can do one day at a time. Let’s use honesty as the virtue we want to center on for now–thank you Mr. Job for your inspiration! There is no doubt it is sorely lacking and highly needed in our lives.

1) Pray for your children to be honest and upright.

2) Model honesty in your life–no little white lies, either in front of them or by asking them to participate in them with you. (Tell them mommy’s not home right now and can’t come to the phone)

3) Read stories about honesty and honest people with them. The Berenstain Bears and the Truth is a classic for tiny tots!

4) Do art projects that center around verses or even the word honesty. Here’s a recent post on painting– http://wp.me/p28HzR-px Paint the word honesty and talk about what it means.

5) As part of their discipline, praise your child for their honesty and respond appropriately to their dishonesty.

6) Share Bible stories of both honest and dishonest people and the consequences of each. For example: Job 1–Job was honest and upright in all he did or Achan in Joshua 7. Ultimately God blessed Job’s life, and Achan was punished. (You might use some discernment and not get too graphic about Achin’s punishment depending on the age of your child.)

7) Memorize Scripture together about honesty. Proverbs 16:13 is a great one for tiny tots: “Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.”

8) Sing songs about being honest. You can put almost any words to the song “London Bridge.” “I will always tell the truth, tell the truth, tell the truth. I will always tell the truth. Because I’m God’s child.”

9) Offer forgiveness. Even young children often lie to avoid punishment or disapproval. Be sure your child knows that they will be forgiven when they do wrong so that they aren’t afraid to admit mistakes or wrong actions.

10) Go Back to Number 1 and repeat.

As we tell the truth, and teach our children to tell the truth, honesty transforms itself from something we do, to who we are. We tell the truth because we are honest people.

Do you have any tips for teaching kids to tell the truth? Feel free to share them; I’d love to hear from you.

HyperSmash

Out of the mouths of babes. . .

Yesterday I was teaching HiSKidZ about when the Israelites built and worshipped a golden calf because they became impatient and worried when Moses had not returned down from the mountain yet. In doing some review, I asked the kids something like, “What kind of people were the Israelites?”

Several kids shouted out the answer our lesson alluded to, “Impatient.” Although one of my little boys shouted out repeatedly, “Bad! Bad! They were bad, bad, bad!”

I had to smile, and then explain, that God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, weren’t necessarily, “bad, bad, bad.” But they were misguided, impatient and making some pretty unwise choices. Something they did from time to time. We all agreed that the golden calf was one probably one of their top ten, especially since they already understood the “no other Gods before me” and “no idols” commandments even before they were etched into stone.

We then talked about whether or not we ever put anything in place of God, and of course, we realized that we did. I thought the kids did a good job thinking through some of the things they often put in spot #1. Here were the top 3 we talked about yesterday (in no particular order).

#1 Stuff–HiSKidZ verbalized that wanting stuff, small and large, often took first place. They saw where they often gave into a temptation to keep their money for themselves because they wanted something rather than give it to God. When there is a big offering need like at camp or VBS, they would give, but day to day, it seems like Wal-Mart gets more of their heart than the Lord.

#2 Sports and Hobbies–The kids told me that this is a big struggle for them. Having to choose between sports and hobbies and time with God and church is a pretty big battle. One child admitted there are times when they would rather choose church, but parents encourage them to keep their commitment to the team. Yet, church is also a team, a family, and a body created by God–a team that is better when all players are in attendance, and a team many of them have committed to.

#3) Friends–We also discussed how HiSKidZ could easily be tempted to follow their friends rather than follow God. Whether it be skipping church to stay all night at a friend’s house or giving into temptation to treat others badly, disobey at school or break the rules set by parents. Kids felt like without good constant reminders, their friends could easily become idols in their lives.

Mama Mia! HiSKidZ had their thinking caps on, and they reminded me of a couple of very important principles.

Principle #1) Like the Israelites, they aren’t ready to be without good leadership in their lives. They need a Moses to teach them, lead them and remind them that God needs to be #1 and anything else will be 2nd best—even if it’s shiny and made of gold.

Principle #2) HiSKidZ are looking to you, moms and dads, to be that Moses and to give them that leadership. There are times when they want you to say “no” to the idol and “yes” to God for them, because they aren’t mature enough to do it for themselves yet. They need you to remind them that “when they think they can’t wait, they need to remember what is true.”

Principle #3) They need to know what God’s Word says in order to know how to follow Him. They need you to share the Word with them–and not just the “Do’s and Don’ts” but the hows and whys. They need you growing in the Word, so that they you can help them to grow in the Word.

And what is true is what God says about keeping first things first, that His ways are right even when we may not understand them, that the church is our team, God is our leader, and we can trust Him no matter what.

Mama Mia! That’s good. Good, good, good!

Hyper Smash

At first I just thought it was a bit humorous. Then, I felt like it–to a small degree–gave me license for sarcasm. But now I’m seeing there is some great truth in these little words. You’re dying to know what they are, aren’t you???

Well, here goes:
In Job 21:1-2 Job said these words to his friends.

“Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me. Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, Mock On!”

Ha! Mock on! Who knew? I have to tell you that I absolutely love that Job was so incredibly honest with his friends. “Hey, guys, just listen to me for a bit, that’s the least you can do as I sit here suffering and listening to you go on and on. Just be patient a few minutes and when I’m done, go back and mock me all you want.”

I seriously laughed when I realized Job said, “MOCK ON!”

Now, the more I’ve thought about his words, the more I realize how much I like this attitude. I mean, technically, we should expect to be mocked anyway. We shouldn’t care what others say. We should pretty much see it coming and even rejoice in it when it does. Instead, we tend to let it derail us when people oppose us–friend or foe. Yet, God has given us forewarning that this is how it will be for those who follow Him.

Matthew 5:11 says,

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven.”

And Matthew 10:34 reminds us:

“Don’t suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law–a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.”

So even from those closest to us, we can expect opposition. And because of Christ, we can say, “Mock on!” For it’s better to be mocked and be with Christ than to be find approval from others, yet be without Him.

The more I read, the more I understand how well Job knew that truth. Although Job had this paradox of understanding and lack of understanding all at the same time, he had great security in time of trouble because although he may have felt abandoned by God, he knew he wasn’t. Not only that, he knew that no matter what anyone said to him or about him, it couldn’t change one smackerel the things he knew to be true.

You may be facing some persecution today. Maybe someone is saying things that aren’t true, mocking your beliefs, or falsely accusing you of something. I hope you may take a little consolation in our friend, Job, and his now infamous, in my mind anyway, words–Mock On!

That’s the Word Up this Wednesday, May 8!

Hypersmash.com

“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3

Although I usually use this blog space and time to spotlight something handy you can do with your tiny tots, today let’s think for a second how we do what we do with them. Control over our tongues is tough, and God knows it. No doubt that’s why He has James address it when he says, “. . . no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 1:8)

I’m pretty darn tootin confident that ole King David, the writer of Psalm 141 knew all too well the danger of the tongue and what could happen if left to its own control. I also believe that David understood guards–big strong, burly guards whose very lives depended on protecting their king. Guards who didn’t let anyone in or out unless they could be trusted. So when David chose the words, “Set a guard over my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips,” he was talking about some serious levels of protection. The kind of protection we as parents need, especialy on days when we are caught “off guard” by circumstances, situations, fatigue and stress.

This is the kind of guard I want, this is the kind of guard I need. This is the Jack Nicholson in “A Few Good Men,” “You want me on that wall, you need me on that wall,” kind of protection. Because we all know how easy it is to let things not only slip in through our lips (Oreos, anyone?), but out of them as well. . .

. . . Things our tiny tots do not need to be hearing. Things like: gossip, world events, anger, bitterness, rage, impatience, criticism and bad language. And we need a guard with the power and authority of God standing at the door of our lips to keep those things from coming out. Because our tiny tots are like tiny sponges soaking up everything we do and say.

And just like we need a big burly “The Rock” kind of guard keeping things from slipping out of our mouths, we also need a “Mr. Fred the Crossing Guard” kind of guard ushering out those words of kindness and encouragement to help those little ones safely navigate the crossroads to adulthood.

We build character, security and great memories into our children lives through the things we do with them. Things like the crafts, the outings, family times, etc. But, again, we build even more, and their foundation is strengthened even more when we take caution to not get caught off guard by how we do those things.

So as you go through your day today with your tiny tots, take time to ask God to set a guard over your mouth, keeping those things in that need to stay in and also freely allowing things like praise and kindness, joy and thanksgiving out as you Dueteronomy 6 life with your family today and every day.

You can find this artwork as a free download thanks to Amanda, who offered it at
http://impressyourkids.org/a-gift-and-tool-for-you-31-days-day-10/ and her friend, Jessi, who designed it! Enjoy!

HyperSmash

Mark’s mom and dad, Gene and Kathy, mentored my husband and me in some of our younger days. His older brother Matt is the president of the college our sons attend(ed)–a gifted leader, preacher and story teller. His younger brother, Michael, works for a church camp that is doing amazing things in the lives of students–young and old–in the Midwest. Their wives and children are blessings in their own right. We are thankful to have them all as even small parts of our life journey.

Last week I received a fb message from Mark about a new album project he is working on, and asked if I would be willing to share the concept with others. I don’t think he meant through my blog–I’m not sure he even knew I had a blog. SURPRISE!!! To be honest, I had no idea what all he was really up to, until I clicked the link and watched his video yesterday.

I thought I was going to get to listen to a few excerpts of his songs or something, but instead learned about how it could be possible to be a part of this direction and opportunity in his life. He’s using something called Kickstarter which I think is a pretty cool way to gain support for a project. I’d never heard of Kickstarter, but I have to say I’m intrigued. You may be, too, now!

Here’s a link to Mark’s kickstarter
Mark Proctor’s Kickstart

All in all, the whole thing has made be thankful for Mark and for opportunity–opportunity to use our gifts and talents, opportunity to share in others gifts and talents, and opportunity to simply do things, like make an album, that just wouldn’t have been available a few years ago.

The opportunities allow us to follow where God leads, to glorify the kingdom, and to express our hearts to the One who makes our heart beat.

I’m thankful for Mark’s dreams and for his willingness to follow them. Maybe today you have a dream you want to follow. Experience tells me that opportunity usually comes knocking at the most unexpected times. So when it does, be sure to answer. I mean, look through the peephole first, but then answer!

I hope you are having a very thankful Thursday! Feel free to share what you are thankful for today. I’d love to hear!

But it’s not just furniture I’m crazy about. I’m adding painting into my church lessons, too. Last week we painted rocks, next week I’m painting my lesson, and I recently bleach painted a theme related shirt. So what is it about painting that fuels my spirit you ask?

Well, I recently saw on Pinterest (the new Wikipedia) that painting makes kids clever. And if it makes kids clever, imagine what it does for adults! Yeah, it makes us even more clever(er).

The truth is there is a little something freeing about painting and that’s what makes it such a great activity to do with your kids. Moms, admit it, sometimes we are just afraid of paint. We are afraid of the mess, the clean up, the “what do you do with this piece of ‘art’ now that it’s been painted?” And dads, well, dads, in my experience, have rarely, if ever, been spotted anywhere near the vicinity of a small child and paint at the same time. (No offense dads, it just is what it is)

So in honor of the upcoming Mother’s Day holiday, here’s a little MOM-WOW you can do with your kids. C’mon, give it a try, don’t be afraid. Trust me, you’re gonna love it. And even if you don’t, your kids will for sure!

Here it goes.
Step 1–Make some paint. Easy Breezy!
(This is a finger paint recipe, but you can use regular paint, too. I accented this project with some craft paint and cotton swabs.)
3 TB sugar
1/2 t salt
1/2 c cornstarch
2 cups water
Food coloring

Mix up those first 4 ingredients in a pan on the stove and warm it up until you are in the thick of things. Let it cool a bit, put it in some containers with lids and add the food coloring. It turned out I only had green, so I mixed mine all up in the pan–and reminded my husband not to eat it–although it wouldn’t hurt him if he did!

Step 2–Paper and Tape
Now take a piece of thick paper and some tape (like painter’s tape) and write out a message of some kind. I like MOM-WOW! for Mother’s Day. Then let your kids go at it just painting away over their entire canvas.

When things begin to dry out, you just wait a bit longer. Then when everything is dry simply remove the tape and MOM-WOW! Look what you and your tiny tots have created!

Art! Even the most artistically challenged among us can pull this one off, and your kids will be lovin it. You will start smilin, your kids will clean their rooms without being asked, and your husband will want to take you out to dinner. (Okay, you may hate it; you may still be heating up fish sticks for dinner, the kids rooms may be a mess, BUT, your they WILL LOVE that you painted with them!)

Which will give you the power of MOM-WOW! like you haven’t been in a long time.

So enjoy, get a little messy, and get painting with your tiny tots soon!

So today’s Mama Mia Monday is brought to you by a dad. It would be my prayer that your heart would hear what he has to say.

Brad says,

“Some of my best memories of being a dad have been when I have intentionally invested into my daughter. My wife would always nudge me and try to get me to take my daughter out, but I don’t think I ever really understood until I actually did it. I would always take my daughter with me to do my stuff, but she was talking about me entering her world. My first date with my daughter, Lily, was when she was 4 years old. That day, I took her shopping and found a fancy dress and a pair of shoes. She was completely into princesses at that point, so we knew what we wanted.

As we work to build these important relationships, it’s important to remember that our daughters need us to be a great dad and the most important male role model in her life. Helping her have a great relationship with you is good for both of you, and will help her be a better companion, wife and mother later in her life.”

Mama Mia! That dad is (B)rad! Thanks for not just saying these words, but living them out as well.

Brad Pesnell is the children’s pastor at Valley Real Life in Spokane Valley, WA where he lives with the two loves of his life, his wife Jayme and daughter, Lily.

It’s a Sunday. It’s re-enactment weekend. It’s not raining. These three things in and of themselves can make me pretty happy, but to have all three together in one . . . marvelous!

In the town where we live we are fortunate to host a yearly Civil War Re-enactment. People who live here know without a doubt it will rain that weekend so we are careful what we plan. But a little rain doesn’t stop us from getting out and getting together at Rand Park to watch the re-enactors, catch up with old friends and get some great food to eat.

Two of our family’s absolute favorites are kettle korn and Dr J Fogworth’s root beer. It’s quite a big deal. I don’t have a big kettle korn story today, but I do have a few thoughts on root beer.

You see, we purchase our beverage in an old fashioned looking glass bottle, and then save it from year to year so you can bring it back and buy your refills at a discounted price.

And each April weekend, people come out of nowhere carrying their empty bottles in to be filled. Yup! I was there today filling not one, not two, but three bottles. I’ll be hauling them down to Joplin, MO, in a few days so that son #2 can enjoy what may be his last opportunity for some Dr J’s before he moves out west. (Sorry son #1, I can’t send Dr J’s to Russia!)

So here’s the thing:
Today I couldn’t help but think how our lives are a bit like those root beer bottles, meant to be emptied and refilled year after year (or day after day). I love how God fills us up just to pour us out into someone else’s life. We are to be in the business of pouring out, while He is in the business of filling up.

When we do that, really do that–pour our lives into others in big and small ways, it’s a cool and refreshing thing. It makes us thankful, it makes those around us thankful, and it, I believe, honors God and makes Him smile.

Today while I was out filling my bottles, next to me in line was a boy who needed $6 to buy a new bottle. He only had five. I was spending $9, and only had a ten. Exactly, pouring out. Although my offering to the boy was small, it was huge to him. I’m still smiling as I think of how he and his buddies couldn’t believe this “lady” was doing this for him. A dollar is a pretty small thing to some people, but it was a really big thing to him. He told me thank you at least three times (I’d love to meet his mama–good job mom!) and even later as I was leaving the park, I saw him again with his bottle of root beer and another, “Hey! Thanks again, thanks!”

Pouring out made me thankful. Pouring out made him thankful and pouring out honored God, and I believe we were all smiling today.

Taste and See–the Lord is Good!

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,” Matthew 25:35

Maybe next year I’ll have a good kettle korn story!