Learning to pray? Use God's own words!!!

The child learns to speak because his father speaks to him. He learns the speech of his father. So we learn to speak to God because God has spoken to us and speaks to us....Repeating God's own words after Him, we begin to pray to Him...The words which come from God become, then, the steps on which we find our way to God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible.

When I first read this wonderful little Bonhoeffer book, his clear words brought an "a-ha" moment to me.... not only for my own prayers, but also in helping children how to pray. Don't we all want to teach others those "steps" to finding God personally?  Don't we all need clearer direction in confidently praying ourselves?

Starting to pray seems to be the biggest stumbling block to praying. How do I begin? What do I say? Bonhoeffer reminds all of us to simply speak the words of God back to Him when we pray!  Jesus spoke His Father's words all of the time, didn't He?  Instead of using some memorized childhood prayer,  teach your child how to confidently speak to His heavenly Father using the God's very own words of truth, promise and worship found in Scripture. Show your child where these words are in the Bible. Start simply-no fancy words oh, and repeat daily.

Here's a fun, simple way to get started in praying with God's Word with your child:  You'll need an egg carton with a closed lid (no holes). Paint the outside and decorate the lid to make it more durable, more appealing -- and more personal for your child or your classroom setting. 

Inside each egg cup, you will have a different Scripture verse or attribute of God and one button or bead "marker" in the carton. Label colored stickers or paper ovals with verses and stick in bottom of each egg cup.  The child "selects" the verse or attribute by shaking the closed carton and seeing where the button lands. Your prayer- his prayer--begins with that thought.  Your prayer with your child begins with truth. "Thank you God for being faithful to me. Thank you God for your patience when I am frustrated." Prayer -clear and simple--and yes, joyful! 

Psalms are a wonderful place to find words of worship and praise to God. Use "divide and conquer" technique to show your older child that this wonderful book is found right in the center of their Bible. Have fun opening a closed Bible and seeing how close you get to Psalms. Help him find the Psalm chapter and verse. Help her read it aloud before you pray.

Verses and attributes can easily be changed as you pray together. You can begin with these if you like:  Attributes CREATOR -Jeremiah 32:17, ETERNAL Rev. 4:8, FAITHFUL Heb. 10:23, HOLY Deut. 32:4, GOOD Ps. 107:9, GRACIOUS 2 Cor. 4:15, UNCHANGING James 1:17, SAVIOR 2 Tim.1:9, JUST 1 John 1:9, PATIENT Num. 14:18, LOVE Deut. 33:12, MERCIFUL Heb.8:12.  The Psalms are unending but you could begin with these: Psalm 19:1, 121:2, 90:2, 107:9, 68:19, 33:5, 23:2-3, 32:8, 33:4-5, 33:11, 86:15 and 139:2-5. 

  

Amazing Love! Amazing Grace! God's Amazing Word!

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.  Psalm 119:18

Before little eyes can be opened to the wonders of God's Word-- they have to first be "captured" - don't they? Here's a new way to "plant" Scripture that captures their attention with old-fashioned simplicity.  I think of it as Scripture "eye-candy"  and something that your child--or your class--will want to play and go back to again and again.

 

 It's inexpensive to make and can be adapted to any number of amazing verses--all found in the Bible, of course. I chose 1 John 3:1, 1 John 4 :19, John 3:16 or Ephesians 2:8-9 and labelled the mazes accordingly. These maze boards can be used as a welcoming activity in the classroom, a team challenge when teaching, or a quiet time game at home. The maze course is easily changed by rearranging the rubber bands. You might even be amazed at how it brings out the kid in you!  Oh--and that verse you want learned and remembered will be right in front of them whenever they pick it up to play!

All that is needed is some scrap lumber, a variety of paint shades (I used acrylic), a bunch of nails, rubber bands and some marbles.  Boards can vary in size: small enough to be held be a child, yet large enough to make a maze grid that challenges. (No bigger than 2 feet or smaller than 6 inches in length or width.) Leaving a border of at least 1/2 inch around the edge of the board, mark 1 - 1 1/2 inch squares with pencil.

Paint grid squares with colors that catch your eye -- and decorate the boarder with Scripture using paint pens or Sharpie markers.  Be sure to mark the starting and ending grid space. Hammer sturdy nails (1-1/4" roofing nails work well) at each corner using a spacer to keep them all uniform in height. (Yes, this part is a bit tedious-and noisy- but you're almost done!)

 Finally, stretch assorted rubber bands on the nails to make your maze, call your kids....and let the games begin!  Oh, and the learning too!

Make a Valentine to God- while you teach about His love!

We love because He first loved us!  I John 4:19

Make a double-sided Valentine to hang this month as a reminder of God's love for us -- and our love for Him!

Valentine's Day gives us a great "hook" that captures kids' hearts and minds for Jesus.  Kids of all ages love to make Valentines, right? So while you have those doilies, ribbons and scraps of red and pink paper handy, add this one to craft with them-- and reach their hearts with words of truth that last far beyond February 14th.  This is one Valentine you'll want to keep and not send!

God is love. God loved us first. He calls us His own. He knows us by name. It's hard to stop once you begin thinking about God's great love, isn't it?  Isaiah 51:16,  Psalm 139:1, 1 John 3:1, Romans 5:8, John 3:16 -- but choose one or two that speaks of God's love in a way your child will best grasp. Print or write the verse you choose out so they can put it on one side of the Valentine heart. A 5 inch heart size works well for decorating but sizes can vary.

Then, on another similarly sized heart (another color is nice), have your child doodle and decorate it with markers, stickers and such with colors and things that express who they are-- what they like, etc. Then, on another piece of paper (contrasting color) trace their hand with fingers separated and help them cut handprint out.  Now, here's the fun part: fold and glue down the two center fingers like your hand is signing "I love you" in American Sign Language.  Have your child write "I love God with" on the palm and "all my heart", "all my soul", "all my mind" on the thumb, pointer and pinky fingers.  Teach your child that is how God wants us to love Him back! Glue the hand on top of the decorated heart, and insert a ribbon between the two hearts so it's ready to hang.

To make this activity even sweeter - do with all ages!  The beauty of God's love and the personalities of "all His children" will make you smile!