Learning About the Bible

I have been SO BAD lately about doing a devo with the kids.  I love doing it, but one is tired, one needs a bath, and on and on it goes.  So, yesterday we did it earlier and it worked out great.  Rachel paid more attention too because she wasn't about to fall asleep!

Zane likes selecting a lot of what we are going to do.  We've started doing "This is the World that God Made" a felt little rhyme or story, I don't actually know which, and Rachel really is drawn in and pays attention.

I decided to see if Zane could sing the books of the New Testament by himself and he pretty much can-one correction, but he did good.  Of course he doesn't understand what the books mean or anything, but understanding will come.

I got my Bible, Mom!  :)  Actually I think she tries to say Bible sometimes, but it comes out BaBa.

Zane's Memory Verses

Psalm 44:4
You are my King and my God.

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength.

Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in You.

Psalm 12:7
Lord, You will keep us safe, and protect us.

As you can see from the video, I need to review these!  I said the wrong verse location of one, but looked it up and corrected myself.

Mean Giant, Please!

Zane is into reading his Bible's lately.  One I brought home from the church building so I could look into getting my Bible class lessons ready, but the other three are his.  His favorite story is the "Mean Giant" also known as David and Goliath.  I think we've read it about 10 times a day lately.  And then since we're reading, we just have to finish up the whole Bible!

Reading in one Bible...

And another one!

Cute feet!

Got his Bibles all lined up!

This is what our morning looked like.  Zane wanted Dada's mimi in the chair while I made waffles.  :)  And Jeff was off of work today because he has to work tomorrow, so he was busy calculating how much paint he needs for the house!  

And to a peek into our normal breakfast singing and conversation:

Learning Psalm 23

Zane is learning Psalm 23 and tonight I was able to get most of it on video during his devo.  It is amazing what he can learn at this age and it is exciting to know he's learning God's Word.  We pray that he will grow up to be one of God's little children.

The World That God Made

This is a something that I made quite a long time ago I think when I lived in Midland.  My mom had made one for her Bible class and I thought it was so neat, so I made one for myself and I think I used it a couple times too when teaching.  I used it during our devo months ago and put it away, but got it out again recently and Zane really seemed to like it.  He even participated by saying "bird" when it was time for that part.

You add the pieces one at a time, starting with the world, and repeat it all again and again as you add each part.  It seems to be taken off the nursery rhyme, "This is the House that Jack Built." 

It's easy enough to make your own...my mom had hers out of paper with contact paper over it and a magnet on the back.  I made mine out of felt so it sticks to a blanket, couch, or carpet.

:)  The World That God Made

Scripture Book

I made Zane his first scripture book today!  I would have liked it to look more professional, but I think it will work just fine for what I want to use it for.  I chose the verses out of a list that I made here.

Zane's first scripture book.  About 5"x5".

Victorious!

Jesus is victorious over death!  In our daily bible reading recently, I read Luke 24 and I have to say I think it might be one of my new favorites!  I don't know how many times I've read it before, but this time, I just loved reading it.  It was so hard to read about the crucifixion and Jesus being made fun of and tortured and then to read about him rising again was so hopeful!  All of the disciples were so joyous and it was so neat how he appeared to the two men on the road.  Everyone around Jerusalem must have been talking about the crucifixion and then about the tomb being empty.  The two men walking to Emmaus were talking about it.  And when Jesus appeared to them, they weren't able to recognize him until he broke bread with them and blessed it.  Then their eyes were opened! 

Those two men walked the 7 miles back to Jerusalem because they were so excited that they had to tell the others and then to have Jesus appear to them and the others again must have just been so awesome!  This is also just a side note, but I loved how Jesus asked for food and they gave him broiled fish!  He was still in the body this time and he needed to get some nourishment. 

I bet they were all hanging on to His every word, just as we should be.   And to see him be carried up into heaven!  How fulfilling!  I am so happy that he is in heaven waiting for us! 

I found Luke 24 to be so encouraging because Jesus conquered death.  People may have hurt him, mocked him, tormented him, but he overcame that.  Praise the Lord!  We, too, can be victorious if we are in Christ! 

Train Up a Child

 
It's been on my mind lately about the responsibility of raising our boy.  How does a parent go about teaching their child God's Word?  It is not enough to take him to services and bible class.  It is beneficial, don't get me wrong, but the responsibility lies on the parents to teach-not rely on someone else to do the job.  I would like to take advantage of our boy's ability to soak up everything when he's young.  I have thought about making a little memory Bible book, either out of paper or fabric.  I'm thinking when he is really little, a fabric book might be the way to go and just use fabric markers to write the verse with.  Every night or several times a day, I could read him a verse and when he can talk, he can start saying them with us.

So, before I put together the Memory Bible book, I need some verses!  What do I want him to know?  I want to use an easy-to-read version that compares with how we talk today.  I looked online and found some other people that have the same ideas.  Here's one that lists easy scriptures for preschoolers to memorize.  This blog also gives tips on how to go about helping children memorize as well as some reason why it is important.  I have added those verses to the ones I listed.

I am open to ideas and hoping that someone who has experience teaching their children scripture memorization will comment and tell me how they do it!  I'd really appreciate it!

This is a long list and obviously won't be all in one book.  This will be a work in progress and after he learns one book (maybe 8 or 10 verses), we can start working on another set, but always review previous sets. 


Genesis 1:1  God created the sky and the earth.
Matthew 19:14  But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these children.”
I John 3:1  The Father has loved us so much! This shows how much he loved us: We are called children of God. And we really are his children. But the people in the world don’t understand that we are God’s children, because they have not known him.
Philippians 4:4  Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.
Philippians 4:13  Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.
Ephesians 6:1  Children, obey your parents the way the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do.
Ephesians 6:11  Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks.
Ephesians 4: 4-6  There is one body and one Spirit, and God chose you to have one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.  There is one God and Father of us all, who rules over everyone. He works through all of us and in all of us.
Proverbs 14:5  A good witness is one who does not lie. A bad witness is a liar who cannot be trusted.
Numbers 6:24  May the LORD bless you and keep you.
Colossians 3:2  Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth.
Colossians 3:16  Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
I John 5:3  Loving God means obeying his commands.
Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Psalm 150:6  Everything that breathes, praise the LORD!   Praise the LORD!
Proverbs 3:5  Trust the LORD completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge.
Romans 3:23  All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness.
Matthew 5:14  “You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden.
Colossians 3:20  Children, obey your parents in everything. This pleases the Lord.
James 1:17  Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him.
Matthew 28:20  I will continue with you until the end of time.
Ephesians 4:32  Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.
I John 3:23  This is what God commands: that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love each other as he commanded.
Psalm 56:3  When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalm 118:24  This is the day the LORD has made.  Let us rejoice and be happy today!
Psalm 119:105  Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.
Luke 6:31  Do for others what you want them to do for you.
Psalm 136:1  Praise the LORD because he is good. His faithful love will last forever.
Psalm 138:1  LORD, I praise you with all my heart.
John 10:11  I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
Psalm 23-long, but over time he should be able to learn it!