Thank You For Being a Friend...

This past week we learned about friendship in Mom Time. In case you missed, or just need a refresher, here is the acronym we came up with:
F: Be First-reach out to others first
R: Be Readily Available-make time for your friends
I: Be Inclusive-lose the clique!
E: Expect Trouble-be ready for frustration occasionally and assume the best
about your friends.
N: Know Me-be real and transparent
D: Diversify! All of your friends don't need to be the same.
S: Be Second-Be more concerned with your friend's needs than your own.

We should all have a few categories of friends:

• Friends who sharpen: Those friends will always encourage us to be better, and challenge us when we need it.
• Friends who mentor: Titus 2:2-4 is all about older women leading younger women in the art of marriage, childrearing, and Christian living. "Older" may not necessarily be in age, but in wisdom.
• Friends who need friends: Be on the look out for the new person to the group, or perhaps someone with a need that you can meet.
• Friends who need salvation: It is easy after attending the same church, school, and recreational activities for a number of years to get caught in the holy huddle. While there is nothing more fun to me than hanging out with my girlfriends telling awesome God stories, evangelizing to each other does little to further the Kingdom. If we are all pointing our lights inward, there is a great darkness left untouched. Shine your light outward, and look for friends who don't know Jesus. Yet.
• Friends we need to leave: Occasionally we have a friend who brings out all of the worst in us, who doesn't see life the same way, and isn't interested in "getting it." After prayerful consideration, that might be a friend to not hang out with for a while. I would challenge you that the example you set might go further than standing in the pit with them.

I read a blog by a friend about what Proverbs has to say about friendship. You can check that out here. I pray that as you pursue friendships in life, you are blessed with some girlfriends who just "get you." There is a richness and bond in the sisterhood of Christian friendship that just fills me up to overflowing. Knowing that I have friends I can pray with, who will stand with me in prayer, holding my arms up when I get tired, is a comfort and a joy to me. I pray that you will find that too.

“Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you; love him with all you've got!  Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.”                           Deuteronomy 6:5-9 MSG

At Mom Time this week, guest speaker Shelley Gallamore talked about discipline of our children. Biblical Discipline is a 2 part process that must both train the child to be obedient and address the heart issues that cause disobedience.  The above verse from Deuteronomy talks about the best way to achieve this process with our kids – by living out our beliefs alongside and with our kids. We cannot make discipline something that happens for a specific moment of the day, we must make it a part of all we do throughout the day.

Teaching your kids within the context of their life gives you the opportunity to help your child translate the facts you are giving him from his mind to his mouth and hands. It places the knowledge in context and shows a child how it can be applied. As your children see you learning, growing and living as a follower of Christ, they will better understand how to live as a follower of Christ.

But, how do you teach a young child about the bible? Taken from the book Teach Them Diligently by Lou Priolo, here is some practical advice.

• 1.       Extend teaching opportunities beyond the moment of incidence. If your child asks a question or has an experience which you are not immediately able to relate to scripture, do a little research and bring it back later that day or the next.
• 2.       Be sure to use vocabulary your child will understand. Break down complex and abstract theological terminology into more age appropriate, easily understood concepts.
• 3.       Keep conversations relatively short depending on your child’s attention span. If more time is needed, try for several short conversations at a pace the child is comfortable with.
• 4.       Use role-play to apply what you are talking about with your child. Especially when you are talking about what could have been done differently or what should be done in an upcoming event; this allows you to test their understanding and makes the lesson much more practical.
• 5.       Encourage questions.  Many parents get all shook up when their kids ask questions because they are unsure of the answers. Don’t be afraid to learn alongside your children by looking up and thinking through their questions.
• 6.       Teach in the context of a loving relationship. A good teacher is personally involved with the student. Your relationship with your child should include plenty of one-on-one communication time and assurances of love. This type of environment is essential to create an atmosphere of trust.
• 7.       Use child- oriented videos, CD’s, DVD’s and books to help teach biblical concepts. There are so many great materials available now that will help fill your child’s mind with scripture. These resources can be very effective in helping your child internalize God’s word and will make learning much more enjoyable.