Rise & shine... and give God the glory!

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also....

Proverbs 31:28 

How I would like to be like this blessed Proverbs 31 mom, but unfortunately words like "I thought you were up by now" or "We've got to GO- NOW!" flavor more of my morning memories.... Over the years, I've adapted a breakfast/snack cookie that has given a yummy, chewy home-made touch to the inevitable grab 'n go mornings that sometimes just have to be. 

I call these beauties "Morning Glories"

Made with simple ingredients of oatmeal, dried fruit, nuts if you like. Sneak in extra-healthy touches by replacing coconut oil for canola oil and adding some flax seeds-- and no one will know the difference!

Preheat oven 350 degrees.  Can hand mix in large bowl or use a mixer (add in order listed):

1 C canola oil/ coconut oil

1 1/2 C brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

1 C white whole wheat flour (or reg. flour)

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 T flax seeds

3 C old fashioned oats

1 C chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans or a mix) - you choose

1/2 coconut flakes

1 C dried fruit (golden raisins, cranberries, apricots or a mix) - you choose

Spray cookie sheet or muffin top tin with oil. Use cookie scoop to make sure sizes are uniform.  Bake 17-20 minutes, until crispy on edges.

Once cooled, slip one or two in a small baggie and fill a large freezer Ziploc with these ready-to-go yummies. 

Can thaw in a lunch bag or warm up in seconds in the microwave.... and maybe help your "Let's-go-NOW!" morning be just a bit more glorious!

"Nothing to do?" Cure those summer grumbles with this beaded craft & lesson!

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you ... shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of Life--  Philippians 2:14-16

Have you noticed tempers rising (along with the temperature) on these last days of summer?  Complaints of "nothing to do" after all the "fun" of summer has been done?  Such attitudes, however common today, keep us all from shining like Jesus, don't they?  Complaining and arguing plague all God's children regardless of age, so gather your crew together for some heart-to-heart re-grouping!

The materials you need are simple:  10 Pony beads (glow-in-the-dark, UV, heart-shaped and/or multi-colored); and 30" lanyard lacing, string, ribbon to make each cross necklace.

The approach is simple too: Read together Philippians 2:14-16.  Have each person pick out 10 beads of their choosing -- and then share 10 things from summer and upcoming fall that they are THANKFUL for while making this 10-bead cross necklace.  Thankfulness cures grumbling, don't you know!

To turn your plain pony beads into a cross shape, center your first bead on the lacing and "stack" the second one on top, threading BOTH ends of the lacing through the opposite sides of the top bead (the red one here).

Repeat stacking and threading for the next two beads (orange and yellow).


For the arms of the cross, thread ONE lacing end through two more beads, threading BACK through the center of the first bead you did (the red one here).  Repeat this step using the OTHER lacing end for the other arm of the cross.

Lastly, thread BOTH laces together through the holes of two more beads (traditional beading here). Tighten any loose spots and knot at the top.

If you do have glow-in-the-dark beads (readily available at craft stores) or the color-changing UV beads handy, the cross' "cool-factor" increases significantly-- for who doesn't ooh and ahh for things that glow at night or change color with the sun? 

Regardless of your supplies, you're sure to find cooler heads and a bit more thankfulness in the air as you finish out this summer.  Now that's how we really shine for Him, wouldn't you say?

   

Layer Learning Beautifully!

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.  John 1:16

We all learn one layer at a time, don't we? And yet one-layer learning, especially when it comes to God and His Word, doesn't cut it if we want to teach Biblically and nurture real maturity?  So how can we help kids better grasp the full and many-layered topics of God's character, salvation, faith, grace, etc.--without overwhelming them?  

The first 18 verses in John 1 are just one of the many "deep-water" places in Scripture. Yet even here, there are clear, simple words of truth you can give young hearts and minds to grasp.  Words that lead to understanding the next thought, and the next thought. Words that can be shared at home, conveyed in prayer, and pondered on throughout the week. 

Here's a fun, simple way to present such a many-layered lesson to a child. 
You will need cardstock, (white or light-colored), plastic straws and a hole-punch that matches the diameter of the straw:
-Decide how many layers (how many key points) you want to make and label each in a flower-shaped circle on cardstock that can be copied (if teaching more than one child).   I broke down the John 1 passage into 5 key points.  Ideally you'd want at least 3 and no more than 7 layers.   I traced the flower shapes from a variety of craft foam shapes from little (1") to big (5"). Circular shapes can be traced outlining flowers and helping with cutting.

-I added a leaf layer to tag the Scripture address  (optional) 








- Have child color and embellish each flower and cut out

- Hole-punch each layer in its center

-Insert straw into leaf piece, then add flower layers from biggest to smallest onto straw.  Starbuck's green straws work great, though your hole-punch may not be big enough to fill all on easily. Mine wasn't.  A smaller hole worked well with slim stirrer straws I had. (Cheaper too).

 
Now your multi-layered lesson can be held simply in a child's hand.  Put in a vase or stuck in a pot at home.  And perhaps this pretty flower will promote some  real questions, heartfelt discussions and maybe some prayer.  A beautiful way to grow, I'd say!

Heat up some colorful fun this summer!

He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just....                                                Deuteronomy 32:4

Here's a great end-of-summer activity, (though it really can be done anytime!) It works for all ages and art abilities.  It requires materials you probably already have. And it invites discussion and great conversation.  So now you know why I love this one! 

First step: Take a treasure hunt--  hunt for ROCK "treasures"!  Kids will love this --hunt through your backyard, or maybe on your next hike or trip to the beach. Palm-sized rocks work the best-- not too heavy, not too small. A good guideline: treasure-hunters need to carry their own treasure(s) back home. Bigger is not always better!

 

Second step: Sift through that crayon container from last year's school supplies and pick out all the broken pieces (another treasure hunt of sorts). Peel off any paper. Bright colors work the best so hopefully you'll have a nice, happy-colored collection when you're done.

Third step: Heat rocks. You can use the summer sun to do the job, but heating in a 300 degree oven or on a heat tray/electric griddle  (for 20 or so minutes)  will bring guaranteed-good, hot rock results in short order.  Remove rocks with oven mitts or towels, set on a heat-safe surface and be ready with that  first crayon!

 Hold crayon tip on hot rock until it begins to feel slippery-- and" crayon-paint" a simple design (Crosses, hearts, flowers,stripes).

 Continue as long as you like--and as long as your rock stays hot!  This creative process is relaxing, fun and you'll find it amazingly easy to start up a heart-to-heart talk with your child or teen. 


This cooled, colorful rock now becomes a true treasure -- and a great reminder of a fun time together!

Craft up a simple game -- while you teach kids about not giving up!

 Whatever you do, work at it with all our heart, as working for the LORD... Colossians 3:23

Recently, I was reminded of this simple and simply-fun way of reinforcing the importance of persistence and not-giving up.  God's Word is packed-full of great verses and stories with this "keep-on-keeping-on" message. This super-cheap craft adapts easily to whatever verse or lesson you like, and its simple materials make it a winner in a classroom as well as outdoors for picnics and camps.

What you need to make one cone-catcher: 81/2 x 11" cardstock, about 12" string/yarn,  about 7x7" foil sheet, markers/crayons to color, stapler & scissors.

Decorate the cardstock with verse or message with black sharpie and make copies as needed.  The catching cone works best if top corners are trimmed off, but this is not necessary.

Knot one end of the string and staple to the bottom inside of the cone before you make it into a cone.  Roll the sides in and make the cone and staple to secure. String should be coming out the tip of the cone now.

 

Here's the really fun part: have child hold the foil sheet in their palm, lay the other end of the string in the center of the foil. Have them close their hand and make a ball.  String should be secure inside the foil ball. So cool.

Now, have them learn about persistence as they learn how to catch the foil ball with the cone. A perfect opportunity to talk about working hard, not giving up as they practice. Simple. Fun. Worthy of repeating!

"Oh so sweet" Sheep for Easter....or anytime!

I am the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep...the reason My Father loves me is that I lay down My life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. John 10:11,17-18.

I must confess. I love sheep. I love that Jesus is my Good Shepherd. I love that He knows me and calls me His sheep. I love that He laid down His life to rescue and restore me--and all who believe in Him. Both the Old and New Testaments are packed full of rich and wonderful lessons that talk about sheep (lost ones, found ones, blemished ones and perfect ones) that I am sure you, too, love sheep.

So here's a sweet--and very simple -- sheep to make together the next time you teach those little lambs in your care a sweet truth from God's Word.  (And gladly, no glue or cotton balls are needed!)

To make ONE sheep all you need is one large marshmallow, 5 small ones, 2 raisins and some "yummy glue" (white frosting, cream cheese, marshmallow fluff, or peanut butter all work great). 

Hold the large marshmallow so that a flat side faces you. Stick a small marshmallow "nose" long-ways on the flat side, with raisin ears on each side. On the underside of the large marshmallow, stick four little marshmallow "legs" and stand up for a short time-- before you pop in your mouth!

   Kids will like making their own, so just bring the bags of marshmallows and raisins, some plastic knives to spread the frosting--- and let the flock-making begin! Baa-baa, Yum-yum!
P.S. Some great sheep verses: Psalm 23; John 10; 2 Cor. 5:21; John 1:29; Isaiah 53:6-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 7:17.

Talk to your child about the Cross...one stitch at a time!

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road...tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads."  Deuteronomy 6:5-8

Make a moment this spring, this Easter season, for some sweet one-on-one time with your child. Turn off the TV.  Turn off your phone. Find a quiet corner and share your faith, impress your heart for Jesus on your child as you do this simple craft together.  Just like your grandparents or those before you did with their children. (It's amazing the conversations that can happen over threading a needle -again and again!)

 All you'll need is some buttons, a needle and thread and scraps of ribbon, felt, fabric--and even shelf liner works great!  Using embroidery floss or yarn for younger ages makes button fastening quicker with less stitching needed.
                                                

Make an Easter band with symbols - a cross, flowers, butterfly, etc-- to wear around a wrist or even as a headband. Symbols can be traced from a template or drawing. Keeping things simple is good. You'll be surprised at how much your little guy can enjoy a needle and thread too... so don't think this is for girls only.  Here's where the process is even more important than the product... but the product is pretty sweet too.

(Depending on your child, such sewing things may be "new" to them. Threading the needle. Finding a button they like (ones with four holes like a cross - or just two). Knotting the thread and sewing a button on all are good life skills to learn and to learn from you! You may just find there's someone right in your midst to take over the "to-be-mended" pile you've been collecting.)

Can prayer begin with a game?

Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.  Matthew 19:14

Kids of all ages have so much to teach us about coming to Jesus-- and little ones do it best, don't they? They are the ones eager to climb

 up into His lap. Willing to simply come.  We don't want to snuff out their joy with a bunch of rules... so let's play a game while we "sit on Jesus' lap". 

Remember making "cootie catchers" when you were a kid?  Well this is a "conversation catcher"!Once folded, you "pick a number from 1-10",  hold "pockets"with both forefingers and thumbs and open, close until you arrive at the chosen number.


To refresh your memory from childhood - fold as such.  Copy paper works best, beginning by making a 8 1/2 in square.  Once labelled, you simply make copies, as all writing is on one side.  Another joy in doing this.


  Cut copy paper square   

 Fold in half and diagonally all four-ways

 

Then fold each corner into the center,

flip over to other side and do the same thing.

 

 

This folded game - I've labelled "God You are..." lends itself perfectly to beginning prayer with four different aspects of prayer and who God is. I began with "All-powerful/Friend", "Perfect/Creator", "Generous/Good", and "Merciful/Savior" -- but many others could be used as well. 

 Under each flap is another prayer-step that leads to sharing a personal praise, concern, confession or request. Your child can draw or write personal words or thoughts that will help them with their prayer.

 The simple beauty of this game is that it teaches the child to first speak truth about who God is. It leads them to more than one kind of conversation with God.  It gives them a start that is personal and from the heart. Just the way Jesus wants all God's children to come!

Candy + Cans = a "can-do" lesson about true strength!

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13

This illustration as corny as it sounds will certainly catch your child's interest (so what's the candy about??) and hopefully spur a good faith discussion afterwards. Certainly the likes of Joshua, Samson, Paul, Peter and other faithful followers have struggled with this issue: trusting in God's strength, not our own.




You see, we all start out the same. Empty and needing help.

We find out that there is a God who loves us-- who is GOOD and FULLY ABLE to help us with whatever problem we face.
Mean kids, hard tests, unhappy homes. You name it - He CAN-DO all things!
 



So we begin to trust Him. We start to "taste" and discover all that He can do! And with each time of trusting, there's a wrapper to remind us that our success came from Him.  We begin to have a bunch of wrappers. What to do?

 

We can use them as reminders so we praise Him even more. But often we don't....

 

 

 

 

Instead, we begin collecting them in an "I Can" can.... or even worse, begin filling ourselves, our minds with them--forgetting the truth that it was all God's doing- Not ours. The candy wrappers (our accomplishments) fill us now. We think that's all we need to help us. We foolishly think "I can" -- without God's help...

We discover what Samson and Peter and others discovered: Without God  there's no true strength -- and lots of sad regret.

 

 

Fortunately, God is GOOD and is always there for us when we come to Him, empty and ready to trust in all He CAN do--once again!

 

 

 

 

 

Making Remembering Fun!

Once again I'll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things You've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at Your acts. Psalm 77:11 The Message

 We all learn best through review, don't we? Whether in a classroom setting or around the kitchen table, remembering and reviewing what's been said before, can be boring to those who already know it and frustrating to those who have long forgotten.  Games, however, are great tools for making review more fun than tedious -- and here's a NEW twist on an OLD favorite that will capture the minds and hearts of all involved (including you, the teacher).

Tic-Tac-Toe-- a game that all children (over the age of 6) know, right? No need to take time on explaining how to play it....you can get right to playing it-- how great is that?  Traditional Tic-Tac- Toe has a limited strategy, however, and once you're old enough to know the power of that center square, the challenge diminishes.  We want kids listening, thinking and being engaged throughout the whole game (so all the review points can be covered), right?


Team O is hoping there's an O underneath...

Not this time!

"This I Know- Tic-Tac-Toe" has a hidden twist:  the Xs and Os and where they are placed has already been decided by YOU. You have already placed the Xs and Os in winning spots... but just not visible to the players.

 The first person/team gets to choose the first question and when answered correctly, is either an X or an O, depending on what is underneath that question square.  The other team is assigned the other marker.... and thus the game begins.  Kids choose the question square, not knowing whether their marker is underneath. The strategy of "three in a row" still remains, but players won't know if they are helping themselves... or the other team until the question-- and the correct answer-- is said.  That uncertainty -- will keep both sides wondering, pondering and engaged up until the end.

You can make up this version with an activity board painted with chalkboard paint like the one shown -- or simply use a layer of Post-it notes on a classroom chalkboard/ white board.   Making and decorating an activity board (found in the educational section of arts & crafts stores for~$9) looks more fun,  lessens "peeking" and is well worth the time, when this becomes a "favorite".  

Expect playing (thus your review) to go quickly. Keep Post-it notes handy to help with those longer- phrased questions... and to allow for a "just-one-more-time" rematch. For no one likes losing in Tic-Tac-Toe!