They Must Know the Bible

V. Train your child to a knowledge of the Bible.

"You cannot make your children love the Bible, I allow. None but the Holy Ghost can give us a heart to delight in the Word. But you can make your children acquainted with the Bible; and be sure they cannot be acquainted with that blessed book too soon, or too well. . .

"See that your children read the Bible reverently...

"See that they read it regularly...

"See that the read it all...

"Tell them of sin, its guilt, its consequences, ...

"Tell them of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His work for our salvation,..

"Fill their minds with Scripture. Let the Word dwell in them richly Give them the Bible, the whole Bible, even while they are young."  ~ 

~ From The Duties of Parents, J. C. Ryle
(See our first post in this series) 

As you can see, I've given just bits and pieces out of this section. It's so rich. I do hope you'll read it all.

Unusual Ice Cream Cone

Now isn't this a good idea?

Source: rugged-life.com via Speakable Gifts on Pinterest

Standing in the Need of Prayer

This is perfect for today, especially in light of the happenings in Oklahoma.

The Busy Little Bee

How doth the little busy bee

Improve each shining hour;

And gather honey all the day,

From every opening flower!

How skillfully she builds her cell,

How neat she spreads the wax!

And labors hard to store it well

With the sweet food she makes.

In works of labor or of skill,

I would be busy too;

For Satan finds some mischief still,

For idle hands to do.

In books, or work, or healthful play,

Let my first years be passed;

That I may give for every day

Some good account at last.

~ From "Little Susy's Little Servants"

by Elizabeth Prentiss

How Will This Affect Their Souls?

"Train with this thought continually before your eyes--that the soul of your child is the first thing to be considered."

"This is the thought that should be uppermost on your mind in all you do for your children. In every step you take about them, in every plan, and scheme, and arrangement that concerns them, do not leave out that mighty question, "How will this affect their souls? . . .


". . . A true Christian must be no slave to fashion, if he would train his child for heaven. He must not be content to do things merely because they are the custom of the world; to teach them and instruct them in certain ways, merely because it is usual; to allow them to read books of a questionable sort, merely because everybody else reads them; to let them form habits of a doubtful tendency, merely because they are the habits of the day. He must train with an eye to his children's souls. He must not be ashamed to hear his training called singular and strange. What if it is? The time is short,--the fashion of this world passeth away. He that has trained his children for heaven, rather than for earth,--for God, rather than for man,--he is the parent that will be called wise at last." [Emphasis mine]

~ From The Duties of Parents, J. C. Ryle
(See our first post in this series)

KOC Crossword

I feel I've been neglecting the Kids of Courage here a bit, and certainly don't want to do that. I notice today they posted a crossword puzzle which is a worthwhile activity for your children to do. They can learn and benefit a lot from doing this puzzle and I would encourage your family to bookmark and go to the KOC site from time to time. Surely the children of this generation can't be hurt by having something to pray for outside of their own interests and needs. For this particular puzzle, why not sit down together and finish the puzzle over there ?

Blessings,
Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal-an Addendum

After my post earlier today, I ran across this picture at Pinterest (my favorite place) and feel compelled to add the pin to this blog in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, as well as in honor of spring. After pinning it onto our Creator God board, it seems others like it too, since at present it's being repinned by quite a few folks. That's because these two are so precious. Enjoy them.

Source: enchantedcookie.tumblr.com via Speakable Gifts on Pinterest

Lessons from Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal

Below is a female Northern Cardinal and I got this photo from Wikipedia.

The author’s name is Geoff Clarke.

 We’re all familiar with the brilliant red color of the male and see many pictures of him, but not so often of the female. But I think she has a beauty and loveliness of her own, though I'd say hers is a more subtle beauty. 

Most of my family and friends know how much I enjoy feeding the birds and not just feeding them, but observing them. It all started with a pair of cardinals who decided to build a nest in the bush right outside my kitchen window, giving me a “ringside seat” of the whole process. I learned a lot about birds from them, as their nest was a successful one and I got to watch the mama roosting on the eggs and all the comings and goings of both parents. And best of all, I got to watch and hear the parents calling and urging their two young ones out of the nest at the right time (now how do they know when that is?) and watch them “leading” them, walking backwards and flapping their wings, across the yard to safety in some branches in the yard in back. It was quite an amazing spectacle to to say the least.


I just wanted to take this time to say a few things about some behavior patterns that impress me about this father and mother. I like how with cardinals they both sing. A beautiful song. But I like it that he sings loudly from high in the trees, and she sings a softer lovely song from the nest. I like it that while she’s contentedly resting on her nest, he brings her food and places it in her mouth. I like it that when the eggs hatch, both parents bring food to their hungry offspring, but that she tends to stay awhile and clean things out a bit. And she keeps cover over them still, after hatching, in bad weather and during the night.  I like it that when the little fledglings come out and begin life in the world, that both parents  call them out and both parents lead them where they want them to go. When I observed it myself, I liked how they flapped and flapped their wings at the little guys, not just telling them what they needed to do by the calling and chattering, but showing them how to do it. Then, it was the dad who really caught my attention and made me become a fan of this bird. Once the “children” are out of the nest, it’s their father who so zealously and tirelessly goes about the feeding and teaching and protecting of his offspring. Usually, you see them with him, and as they grow older, they follow him about from place to place until he no longer takes heed to their noisy pleas for food.  And from what I read, their mama is usually somewhere starting a new nest while their father teaches them the ways of the world. Until fall comes, that is, and then you may see the mom join in more with getting everyone ready for the winter.


Can you see any lessons to be drawn from the way God made this one creature in His universe? I think there are some nice ones to be drawn from this beautiful and familiar bird. Maybe nice applications for children in a science lesson or during family time. Oh, and one other thing I learned about Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal. They mate for life. Need I say more about that?

Maxine a/k/a Nanna

"This Is My Father's World"

Very precious. And what I really like is that it's in China. God bless her.

Happy May Day!

Source: Uploaded by user via Snoopy on Pinterest

Much Depends Upon You

III. Train your children with an abiding persuasion on your mind that much depends upon you.

"And all this is one of God's merciful arrangements. He gives your children a mind that will receive impressions like most clay. He gives them a disposition at the starting point of life to believe what you tell them, and to take for granted what you advise them, and to trust your word rather than a stranger's. He gives you, in short, a golden opportunity of doing them good. See that the opportunity be not neglected, and thrown away. Once let slip, it is gone for ever. . .

"I know that you cannot convert your child. I know well that they who are born again are born, not of the will of man, but of God. But I know also that God says expressly, "Train up a child in the way he should go," and that He never laid a command on man which He would not give man grace to perform. And I know, too, that our duty is not to stand still and dispute, but to go forward and obey. It is just in the going forward that God will meet us. . ."

Our duty, then, is to obey our Master.

Maypole!

Two days before the first of May but it's not too late to make something special. When I was young, we played around an actual maypole in the school playground with crepe paper streamers. But those days are over. But you still can have a maypole! Make the day special with your own little party in your home. This cake is a great idea and I have NO doubt the average child will love it.

Source: studiodiy.com via Speakable Gifts on Pinterest

Walking?

What walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon, and 3 legs in the evening? 

See if you can answer. I'll have a link to the answer in a comment. But not yet. :)

Train with Love

Part II - "Train up your child with all tenderness, affection, and patience."

"Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct. Kindness, gentleness, long-suffering, forbearance, patience, sympathy, a willingness to enter into childish troubles, a readiness to take part in childish joys,--these are the cords by which a child may be led most easily,--these are the clues you must follow if you would find the way to his heart. . .

"Nothing will compensate for the absence of this tenderness and love. A minister may speak the truth as it is in Jesus, clearly, forcibly, unanswerably; but if he does not speak it in love, few souls will be won. Just so you must set before your children their duty,--command, threaten, punish, reason,--but if affection be wanting in your treatment, your labour will be all in vain.

From The Duties of Parents, J. C. Ryle
(See our first post in this series)

O How I Love Jesus

Such wonderful words for your family to learn together, especially the kids. Enjoy and turn up.