Morning Glories

I have begun to teach Malachi some Scripture verses, catechism questions, and songs using a great tool called the Truth and Grace Memory books. I didn't really think he'd be ready this soon, even though the book begins with ages 2 and 3. However, when he began to quote lines from the books we read him (over and over), I realized that he really enjoys learning to quote things he hears.

So, I've embarked on this journey of training my children in the Word of God - and it is a lot of fun!

So the first thing, of course, was Genesis 1:1
Malachi's version: "In the beginning, God created, the heavens and the eluf!"

Then John 1:1 and John 3:16. I simply quote the verses to him throughout the day - and he usually loves it (except when he's in a bad mood and nothing pleases him!). He usually says "Gi-en" (again) at the end so I end up saying the same one over and over. The verses are very helpful in getting him into a better mood and taking his mind off of whatever is bothering him.

Not only are we learning verses, but we are also learning a question and answer style instruction called "catechism". Commonly associated with Catholocism, catechism was used in the early church, went on the way-side during the middle ages, and was revived by Martin Luther in the Reformation.

Here are the questions we've been working on.

#1
Mom: "Malachi, who made you?"
Malachi: "God made Dylan! [his favorite answer]... God made Daniel.... God made Norah... etc., etc..."
(Proper answer: "God made me." He just now is beginning to say, "God made Malachi!" We're getting there!)

#2
Mom: "What else did God make?"
Malachi: "God made all things!"
(He got this one very quickly!)

#3
Mom: "Why did God make you and all things?"
Malachi: "For his morning glories!"
(Proper answer: "For his own glory." Malachi got a bit confused on this one because one of his new favorite books talks about morning glories. I love my job as a mommy!)

Christmas Day at Our House

We had a bunch of family over for Christmas Day. Granny, Poppy, Dylan, Papa John, Grammy, Darrell, Trent, Grandma Pat and Grandpa Ray.

I don't know what he's doing, but he's cute!
Very happy about my Norah Jones CD; Morgan doing what he does best...

Notice Annie trying to see what sort of goodies she can get

Malachi in his new Spongebob PJ's, with matching blanket and pillow. He doesn't really know who Spongebob is, but he likes his new stuff!

Brothers! We have a bit of a routine. In the morning, I bring Morgan in and change him, get him dressed, give him a little sponge bath, and then set him in the crib where Malachi is. Malachi likes to sit in there for a while and kiss on his brother, and poke at him, and pull on him, and pet him. It is so cute.

Kisses

Not sure what they are doing

A Poppy using a Boppy

Granny worked on potty training

I love this picture. He looks cross-eyed because he's looking at the fuz on his hat :)

Sweet

Conked out after a long day!

Christmas Eve at Our House

We have so much family, it's a challenge to get to spend time with everyone during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. This Christmas Eve, we decided to have the Adams side of the family (Betsy's dad's side) over for dinner and then go to the candelight Christmas Eve service at our church together.Malachi playing with his Spongebob blanket and pillow from Papaw Steve and Grandma Shelley. Grandma Adams and Darrell got their heads cut out of the picture. Oops!
Morgan got a VERY soft blanket from Papaw Steve and family. I love it!

Betsy, Darrell, Malachi, and Morgan (doing what he likes best!)

Thatcher, Shelley, Dad, and Michal

Malachi loves hats and he loves to put socks on his hands, so the beanie and mittens were perfect! Thanks Grandma!

Don't Make Me Count to Three! - A Book Review

I found this book extrememly helpful and easy to read. It is based on the philosophy laid out by Tedd Tripp in Shepherding a Child's Heart but is much easier to read and better written over all.

The basic jist is that focusing on a child's outward behavior will not solve the deeper issue of sin in their hearts. It is very possible for a child to behave correctly and inwardly be in rebellion. Christ taught that God is not merely concerned with actions, but with the heart.

For example, in the Sermon on the Mount, He speaks of the well-known command "Do not murder". But He takes it a step further and tells us not only are murderers deserving of judgment, but also those who angry with someone else. Again, He addresses the command "Do not commit adultry", and He raises the bar, saying we are not only to avoid physical unfaithfulness, but also unfaithfulness in the heart in the form of lust (Matt. 5:21 ff).

So with our children, it is not enough to have mere outward obedience. Children are told not only to obey but to honor their parents in Ephesians 6. This entails both the outward action and the inward attitude.

Ginger Plowman gives excellent advice on how to teach our children to examine their hearts and see why they are acting inappropriately. For example, let's look at tattle-taling.

Johnnie tattles on Susie who just took a cookie without asking. Both kids are sinning. So Mom asks Johnnie, "Why are you telling on your sister? Do you want to see her get into trouble? Is that how we treat others?" Johnnie then can see that, yes, he was being hateful, and the issue can be resolved from the heart of the matter.
Otherwise, Mom might just say, "Johnnie, don't be a tattle-tale," and by some miracle, he may not tattle again, but he will never be taught to face his hateful selfishness. Certainly he will want to tattle again, but he was never taught that it is wrong to have this attitude.

Susie's issue is more along the lines of greed and disobedience (assuming she's been told not to get into the cookie jar), and so her problem would be addressed not simply from the fact that she took a cookie, but that it was disobedient and greedy for her to do so.

Correcting children in this way gives opportunity to show them their need for Christ. A child may go through life thinking they are pretty good and not realizing that God's standard is extremely high - higher than they could ever reach. When a child learns that God is displeased with wrong thoughts as much as He is displeased with wrong actions, they will realize how impossible it is for them to live in a way that is totally pleasing to Him. They will see their need for a Mediator, for a Savior. They will see the preciousness of what Christ did for them in providing a way for their sin to be wiped away and for Christ's perfect life to be presented before God on their own behalf.

The author of the book does a much better job at explaining all of this. The book is very well thought out and practical. She emphasises the importance of acknowledging that you are requiring obedience and right attitudes not just because it's convenient (it really takes a lot of work to teach and train kids consistently!) or it's your preference, but because God requires parents to teach their children this way (Eph. 6:4; Prov. 22:6, 15).

Other books and resources on child training I have found helpful:

• Shepherding a Child's Heart, Tedd Tripp
• Withhold Not Correction, Bruce A. Ray
• Under Loving Command: Children-Fun or Frenzy, Pat Fabrizio (a booklet, for a copy contact: books@dime.org)
• Train Up A Child, Michael Pearl
• Raising Teens in the Media Culture: Parts 1, 2, and 3, audio by Albert Mohler (http://www.albertmohler.com/audio_archive.php, listed by date: 1-08-2006, 1-15-2006 and 1-22-2006)
• Child Training, audio by Voddie Baucham (http://defendingcontending.com/2009/02/11/sermon-of-the-week-child-training-by-voddie-baucham/)

Easter at Aunt Kathy's

What is Easter all about? Is it about the eggs and the chocolate bunnies and the family gatherings? All these things are a fun part of this yearly celebration, but they are not the point.

Easter is the celebration of the magnificent fact of the resurrection of Christ. He lived a perfectly sinless life and then He was crucified, separated from the Father in order to pay for our sins, His blood shed for our forgiveness.

His death was necessary, but the grave could not hold Him. It was defeated.

"Death is swallowed up in victory.

O Death, where is your sting?

O Hell, where is your victory?

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law,

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

-The Apostle Paul, I Corinthians 15

Christ came to fulfill the law of God and to provide forgiveness of sin, thereby freeing those who will believe from their bondage to sin. Where sin loses its grip, death loses its hold as well. Those who trust in Christ will also be raised to abide with God forever.

No more sin, no more death, no more sickness, no more pain. Forever able to enjoy the greatness of God without the limitations that are imposed on us by our mortality!

Praise God for His mercy is great, indeed!