Tag Archive - Children

The Way Back To School

August 23, 2011 in Peace Love & Unity with 2 Comments

just another little bright idea...

Back to school can be a very exciting and yet difficult time for kids. One of the most difficult times for our growing youth is the fall in middle school, as they find themselves in a new environment, new classes, friends… and the inevitable “frenemie.”

Our youth and children today need to know and feel God’s love for them… this may be more important at back to school time than any other time of the year.

I wanted to share with you this morning something really cool I found in the Bible…

You may already know this verse, the Greatest Commandment…

Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hand on these two commandments.”

It’s from Matthew Chapter 22, Verses 37 through 40.

or is it?

Let me take you back to the Old Testament and Deuteronomy Chapter 6, where in Verses 5 through 9 Moses says…

“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.”

but wait… it then goes on to say… these commandments… we should…

“Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”

That’s pretty explicit about…

the importance of Love…

how I need to show Love from the heart…

the importance of teaching Love to my children…

how I teach them… by example and living a life of Love… everyday… every step of the way… throughout the day… literally everywhere I am… the ultimate lead by example.

If we really want to show anyone anything today… we can show our children and everyone else The Way Back To School…

They’ll love us for it (and He will too :) ) !!

What ideas can you come up with to help our children as they head back to school this fall?

A Luminary For Life

August 8, 2011 in Soul Food with 3 Comments

My daughter Allie had a baby just over a week ago.

Sweet little Emma is a tremendous blessing to our family and a luminary for life.

The very first thing Emma learned was to breathe deeply.

Next up was a new way of eating.

There will be many more baby steps to her journey.

I am inspired by children in a special way. I absolutely adore little ones. I’ve written about kids plenty here at I’m Just Thinkin’.

Today Little Emma has me thinking about how we learn and grow every day…

she’s a beacon or luminary for life…

she’s already learned and grown so much in just one short week…

it makes life seem so brief in comparison to eternity.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 14-16

Nolan, Emma and Jesus are a light to me… they inspire me.

That’s something to get really, awesomesauce excited about!!

It puts a smile on my face and a pep in my step!!!

It’s the excitement of new life beaming with God’s glory every moment of the day.

What’s happening in your world today that inspires you in a positive way?

Getting to know the people in your life

July 6, 2011 in Breathing Deep with 2 Comments

Allie at the St. Augustine Lighthouse a few years ago

My younger daughter Allie is growing up… way to quickly in my opinion… but, just the same, she is quickly maturing into a beautiful woman right before my very eyes.

Her life and our relationship over the past several years have been turbulent to say the least. Sparing you the zany details… we have grown to become very close through some trying experiences. I admire Allie’s strength and resilience… and, of course her loving spirit.

Through many changes and barriers I’ve struggled at times trying to understand my teenage daughter… the first challenge, obviously, is that she is a female and I’m a male… she’s also a pretty smart cookie but has done some incredibly silly things (does this person sound familiar?)… and she’s very… ummmm…. independent (yep, that would be the nice way of putting it!).

So along the way I’ve found out a few more interesting factoids about Allie…

I’ve always thought we were sort of alike… but only recently realized how much so… we’re scary similar! I asked her to take the Myers Briggs Personality Test and we came up with EXACTLY the same type. Then I had her take the love languages test and… you guessed it… we came up the same again. Just knowing this information for the people in your life can help you relate to and understand them better, be it your spouse, family, friends or co-workers.

She’s always busy taking care of other people and rarely asks for anything for herself. This is frustrating for me, a giving and loving type as I want to express my love for her but she will not open up on what her needs are.

fyi… we are not both morning people… she thinks I’m fairly obnoxious in the early morning. She hasn’t said so (lately) but I can hear it in her voice whenever I try to wish her a cheery Good Morning, or when she hears the coffee bean grinder at 4:38 a.m. That bean grinder brings back haunting memories for Allie. I think she’s permanently scarred from it!

Do you know your personality type and those of the other people in your life?

What advice could you share to help with better understanding your children?

Daily Devotionals for Kids

August 7, 2010 in Soul Food with 0 Comments

Daily devotionals are an excellent way to learn about God, Faith and Life. Our children also eat this stuff up! CBH Ministeries is one of my favorites for little ones, they’re just for kids and include relevant lessons, thought-provoking questions and Bible verses.

so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Psalm 78:6

Do you know of any other good devotionals for kids?

Geology LITE: Teaching Kids About the Earth

April 29, 2010 in Geology with 4 Comments

Little kids are amazing! Their brains are like sponges, soaking up knowledge, especially when it’s something interesting to them… mention silly bandz or dragons and their eyes light up.

I’ve had the joy of going into the classroom to help teach 1st graders about geology on several occasions now. You would think that a fireman or the President of the US had just showed up… well, maybe not Obama. They are eagerly awaiting “the geologist,” and on their best behavior, other than attempting to gain entry into the coveted front row. I bring a box of rocks and minerals with me, and the discussion ensues about how the mountains are formed, how sand gets to the beach, the hydrologic cycle, what I do for a living, and, of course, the different kinds of rocks. The young lad who declared that God made the mountains when asked how they got there won my heart!! Whenever we discuss the rocks, nearly every child there is digging in their pocket to pull out their precious rock collection. They all want to know what kind of rock they have (some of them are actually cement, but I just call these conglomerates ☺). I always ask the teacher how much time to prepare for and do my best to stick to it, but we have always gone over the limit.

If you’re a teacher in the Jacksonville, Florida area and ever want a geologist to come and teach about the earth, please look me up, the pleasure would be mine.

Happy rock hunting!!