Discipling Our Children in 2012

2012 is almost here and as we approach this next year I want to share my desire, hope and prayer with you. I would love to look back over 2012 and see it being a year when more and more families spend time together. But not just time, time learning about God together. Over the next twelve months we want to begin talking about How to Pastor our Families, How to Lead a Family Devotion, and How to Disciple our Children. To help this post is designed to provide a list of resources. I have also provided links to Amazon.com but you can find them at other online stories.

Young Children (Nursery – 5th Grade)

Jesus Story Book Bible

To receive a free copy: E-mail me your top three reasons for wanting to have a family devotion time. Send to mark@bethelbible.com or find me at church and have your child come up and say “I want my family to learn about God together.” We have 5 copies to give away.

The Big Picture Bible

To receive a free copy: E-mail me your top three reasons for wanting to have a family devotion time. Send to mark@bethelbible.com or find me at church and have your child come up and say “I want my family to learn about God together.” We have 5 copies to give away.

Gospel Story Bible

 

 

 

Long Story Short Family Devotion Book

 

 

 

Middle School Students (6th-8th Grade)

Faith conversations for families by Jim Burns

Addicted to God by Jim Burns 

If God Loves Me Why Can’t I Get My Locker Open by Lorainne Peterson

Teen People of the Bible by Daniel Darling

 

High School Students (9th-12th Grade)

Daily Grace For Teens by David C. Cook

I Believe: A Student Devotional Journal

A Young Woman after God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George

Life as a Vapor by John Piper

 

Internet Resources

Homeward.com: Daily devotions you can receive via e-mail 

Then and Now: Daily devotions for teens you can receive via e-mail

All Pro Dad: Daily Information on How to be a Better Dad

If you ever have any questions or need additional help or resources, please feel free to contact me.

I pray this will be a year that your family sees you leading them in a powerful and intentional way.

DEUTERONOMY 6:5-7

⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ 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.

3 Recommendations to Families for 2012

Over the past several years we have tried to make Family Devotions a natural part of our family time. Now with having a 9 year old, 3 year old and a 2 1/3 year old it can get a little crazy. One of the best things we have found is to use stories. Kylee (9) loves hearing stories and our two younger ones Ufayse (3) and Marcus (2 1/3) love reading books. We we have been using several Bibles to help us.

Here are three highly recommended Bibles that you could use with your family even if your ages are as diverse as ours. I have provided links to Amazon.com for you.

 

The Big Picture Bible

Simply written and beautifully illustrated, this book teaches children the     Bible’s whole story so they can begin to appreciate the fulfillment of God’s promise to his people. The Big Picture Story Bible is perfect for parents to read to their children and for older children to read on their own.

 

Amazon Link - Price $17.99

 

 

The Gospel Story Bible

It is easy to forget Jesus in the midst of frantic schedules, family squabbles, and conflicting priorities. But the truth is that he is the hero of every story, including these ordinary ones. This is why Marty Machowski puts God’s plan of salvation in Christ on continuous display inThe Gospel Story Bible. The easy-to-read storybook introduces your family to many captivating people, places, and events from the Bible’s Old and New Testaments, showing how each one ultimately points to Jesus. As you share these Bible Stories together, you and your family will meet Jesus and learn a new, life-changing way of recognizing Christ as the hero of every story.

Amazon Link - Price $29.99

 

The Jesus Story Book Bible

The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the Story is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David—every story points to him. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle—the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle. A Bible like no other, The Jesus Storybook Bible invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation—and at the center of their Story too.

Amazon Link – Price $11:55

 

 

2012 Reading List

Every year about this time I start thinking about all the books I want to read. I never know how many I will actually make it through but I thought I would share my list as of today. I typically alternate between books that are theology and books that are ministry/personal ones. I would love to hear what is on your list.

THEOLOGY

• Bloodlines by John Piper (Race, Cross, and the Christian)
• Gospel by JD Greear (Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary)
• Gospel Wakefulness by Jared Wilson
• Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian
• Still Sovereign by Thomas Schreiner and Brice Ware (Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge and Grace)
• Red Like Blood by Joe Coffey and Bob Bevington (Confrontations with Grace)
• The God Who is There by DA Carson (Finding Your Place in God’s Story)
• Introducing Covenant Theology by Michael Horton

MINISTRY, LEADERSHIP, & PERSONAL

• Gospel-Powered Parenting by William Farley (How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting)
• The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller (Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God)
• Heroes and Monsters by Josh James Riebock (An Honest Look at the Struggle Within Us All)
• The Measure of Our Success by Shawn Lovejoy (An Impassioned Plea to Pastors)
• The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler, Jr. (25 Principles for Leadership that Matter)
• Give Them Grace by Elyse Fritzpatrick (Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus)
• The Space Between by Walt Mueller (A Parent’s Guide to Teenage Development)
• It Starts at Home by Kurt Bruner and Steve Stroope (A Practical Guide to Nurturing Lifelong Faith)
• Indispensible Dad by Doug Wilson
• The Blessing by John Trent and Gary SMalley (Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance)
• Spiritual Milestones by Jim and Janet Weidmann (A Guide to Celebrating Your Children’s Spiritual Passages)
• Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis (A Father’s Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood)
• Raising a Modern Day Princess by Pam Farrel and Doreen Hanna (Inspiring Purpose, Value, and Strength in Your Daughter)

You can find all of these books at www.amazon.com

Please let me know what you are planning on reading

Christmas Ideas

 

#1 – Home-made wooden table. This table is made completely from recycled wood. The base is metal and measures 32 in. tall, 36 in. wide and 62 in. long. It would make a great piece for a patio or even a table in your home. Price is $150.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Idea #2: Big Kid Picnic Table. This would be a great gift for your kids. We have one in our playroom and the kids use it all the time. It is a wooden table that will come ready to paint, stain, or just leave natural. Measures 24 in. tall, 34 in wide, 47 in. long. It can be made from regular pine or pressure-treated wood. Prices: $85 for pressure-treated, $75 for regular pine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Idea #3: Wine/Book Shelf. These are custom made wine/book shelves. We have several in our home and several friends also have some. They work well for displaying children’s books, cook books, and wine bottles. The measure 6 in. tall, 4.5 in. wide and the length can be made to your specifications. These will come ready to paint or leave natural. Prices: $25-$40 depending on the length.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are interest at all, please give me a call or e-mail me.

Mark@bethelbible.com

903-504-3500

 

Try this for Advent

One of the most important gifts we could give our families this Christmas season is time. And not just time, but time to talk about faith, God, Christmas, Jesus, etc. Here is a great resource that my family will be using. Starting on Monday, November 28th Bethel will be publishing “One Word” Podcast. If you subscribe you will receive a daily e-mail containing the “One Word” podcast. They are simple 3-5 minute podcast around different words, ideas and traditions associated with Christmas. Your family could gather around and listen to the podcast and then spend time talking about what everyone hears.

This could be a great resource to start having Faith Talks with your family.

ONE WORD PODCAST LINK

Family Faith Talks During Advent

Starting on Nov. 28 the Bethel One Word Podcast will hit iTunes and www.bethelbible.com. Each day you will receive an email with the link to the podcast. The One Words are only about 3-5 minutes long and done by Pastors Ross, Fritz, Todd, Eric and myself. These will be a great resource to use with your families as an Advent family worship time. Your family can gather around and listen to the podcast then talk about what everyone just heard.

Stay tuned for for details.

Perspective

Perspective by definition is someone’s point of view. Most parents want their children to grow up with a perspectives that lines up with scripture. I for one do. As we approach Thanksgiving Kylee, our oldest, has already started talking about what she hopes she receives for Christmas. Now we typically get our children each three gifts – one education, one need, and one want. But I always want to make sure that we as a family maintain a perspective that promotes giving over receiving so I took an opportunity last night to talk with our family over dinner.

I said, Kylee, if I gave you $500 how could you spend that on yourself?” She responded with a long list of wants – American girl doll, Just Dance video games, and a big screen TV. I can already see that materialism is taking hold. But then I said, “How could you spend that $500 to help someone else?” Her responses were things like pay for someone’s medical bills, buy them food, pay for auto repairs, etc. We then spend a few minutes talking about the difference in the two. Kylee noticed that when she thinks of herself most things are selfish and basically wants but when we think of others they we unselfish and needs.

It was a good remind for us all and glad the Holy Spirit guided me to have that Faith Talk.

How you can help us bring our “Princess Ethi” home.

YOU CAN HELP – “BE MY VALENTINE.”

VALENTINE’S DAY is a special day for our family. On February 14, 2003, Marla and I stood in a San Antonio courthouse and pledged our love, devotion, and support for our precious little girl – Kylee. Now 8 years later we are getting close to seeing our third child, “Princess Ethi,” in person. 

Next Friday, January 28 we will begin our trip (all 4 of us and Aunt Cha) to once again appear in court. Only this time it will be in Ethiopia.

This will be the 1st of two trips we will take to be able to bring “Princess Ethi” home. We are still in need of funds and here is a great way for you to be a part of our journey.

A fellow adoptive family from Oklahoma is selling shirts for Valentine’s Day. Every shirt that they sale $10 will go towards a family that is adopting. If you purchase a shirt please tag “Kuykendall” in the order line. This will make great gifts, spread the awareness on the importance of adoption and help us bring “Princess Ethi” home.

If you have any questions, please let us know.

www.africaboundandrews.blogspot.com

3 Recommended Reads

Just passing along a few recommendations.  Have recently finished these and are all excellent.

FINALLY ALIVE by John Piper

A book dedicated to unpacking the truth of what it means to be “BORN AGAIN.”

 

 

 

 

BROKEN-DOWN HOUSE by Paul David Tripp

A book focusing on how we are called to live with peace, joy and productivity in a place that is damaged by sin.

 

 

 

 

 

THE DISCIPLINE OF GRACE by Jerry Bridges

A book that takes you to a clear and thorough explanation of the gospel and what it means to be a believer.

GIFTS THAT MATTER

This is always the week that you run into people or  browse facebook and see all the gifts that people have received.  I will admit that I am a little envious of all 16 year olds with new iphone 4s and cars and all 13 year olds with new ipads.  But putting all jealousy aside I received a gift that can top any new electronic device, article of clothing or toy.

Several weeks ago I was working in the yard and Kylee (my incredible 8 year old daughter) can running out and asked me to describe her mommy in one word.  I told her that was hard to do but I would say “BEAUTY” – meaning beautiful inside and out.

I then learned she had asked her mommy the same question of me and her mommy said “ADVENTURE.”

On her own she put together a gift for me to have in my office.  She went outside and gathered sticks to spell out the word “ADVENTURE” and used ribbon to spell “BEAUTY.”  She then asked her mommy to take a picture of her creation and to help frame it.

I truly feel loved and blessed by this gift.  I will take it over anything.

I LOVE YOU KYLEE!