Monday, August 3, 2009

Pick a Commandment Between 1 and 10 (a blog by Angela)

Travis came home from Deeper Still today. We uploaded a week’s worth of pictures onto his computer. There were pics of Levi’s last baseball game, Jack’s football scrimmage, Mamaw’s 88th birthday party, and this:




Can you guess the bible story?

Even though my kids are 12, almost 9, and 6, they pretty much require having something in their hands while we have our devotions. Paper, glue, clay, even popcorn keeps them focused. Otherwise, they are shooting rubber bands, poking their neighbor, or suckng the blood to the surface of their forearm. (I won’t tell you who does what.) Here’s a lesson learned when I taught 2-year-olds in Sunday School during my very early 20’s: Play-Dough with story time is like peanut butter with jelly—a formula not to be tampered with. So in a moment of devotional chaos this week, I called for the tactile learner’s best friend—Legos—and asked the kiddos to build the story. What fun! I’m glad that Levi snapped some pictures of it cause it made Trav and me laugh our heads off. I think God laughed His head off, too.

Nice golden calf. And I never imagined Moses wearing a black cape. But I guess the force was with him. ;-)

Here are some other pictures that Levi took that have nothing to do with Moses.






Maybe I can incorporate these into the Beatitudes teachings…you know, when Jesus says, “You’ve heard it said, ‘an eye for an eye’…”

Is there a bible verse about the nose? Because there was a REALLY nice picture of me one morning smelling the turkey bacon to see if it was still good. I deleted it. I do not share photographs of my nose taken from the vantage point of a 6-year-old. They just aren’t flattering.

Anyway, here’s what I want to know. Do any of you do crazy things to engage your kids in bible study? Or I am I the only weirdo? :o) I’d love to hear your ideas, and the ages of your children.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says,
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Tomorrow I’m having the children tattoo the 9th commandment between their eyes as frontlets. If you have kids, I’ll bet you can relate!

Love,
Angela

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

For the record...this post is proof positive that my friend Angela needs to start a blog!!!

I've forgotten over the years, somehow, that our children learn completely differently.

Taylor must be building or drawing with his hands and even at 13 I think he would be all over building the story with legos!

Lindsey needs pictures, she loves to read along and she needs to be involved.

Love it, girl and love you dearly.

Blessings,
Dori

connorcolesmom said...

What a fun Lego creation!
Yes my boys (9&5) need to move when doing our devotion
We often act out the devotional story and it can be quite funny to see what the kids interpret from it

I have never thought about play-doh that is a neat idea although I am afraid it would "become" a ball and get thrown - hmmm....

Love the pics and those blue eyes are BEAUTIFUL!!!
Many blessings
Kim

Sandy said...

If Angela does create her own blog, be sure to announce it on here, because I don't want to miss it. I am sure it would be fine for you to keep on posting here. This was really good.
It was a great reminder for moms to use multisensory learning at home, and to always be teaching God's word at home. That scripture has been one of my very favorites this summer, even though our youngest is 16!
Legos are great, too. Wish I still had some of those somewhere to take to my new classroom.

AMENMom said...

My kids are 6 and 3, and for the 6 year old's memory verse every week, we sing it to the tune of a familiar song like Mary Had a Little Lamb. You know, "I can do all things through Christ, things through Christ, things through Christ..."

Tiffani said...

Dear Jesus,

Thank you so much that a kid other than my own sucks blood up to his arm for me to explain to friends and neighbors later...in Your Name. Amen.

Ok, first things first right? I'll have to be careful not to turn in to "WordGirl" in this comment but Legos are very near and dear to my heart...I'm a homeschooling mama/former elem. school teacher and I'm almost ashamed to say "I've never thought to ask my kids to use Legos to build the story!" HOW WONDERFUL!!

A ding dang dinosaur/golden calf?!..genious.

I do love for them to draw/illustrate while we're having our devotion. Our kids are 5 and almost 9. I've also made puppets w/ popsicle sticks to let them act our Bible Story.

I can't wait to hear other comments I lurve sharing ideas and getting some new ones too!

Great post, Angela...I think you should do it at least weekly! ;)

Amanda said...

Yeah, Angela! Loved this!

Andrea said...

I'm a homeschool mom to 3 boys - ages 11, 9 and 4. I can sure relate to the Legos. They are hugely popular around here!

I usually do Bible time during breakfast while they are occupied with eating. I read from The Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos, although we're on our 2nd time through so I'm thinking about switching to the Day by Day Kids Bible by Karyn Henley for a while.

I've also gotten them their own index card spiral for their memory verses just like we Bible Memory Siestas use.

Enjoyed your post!
Andrea Jones

Leah Adams said...

I'm thinking about doing crazy things to engage my husband in Bible study since I don't have kids. For my hubby it would have to involve guns and hunting and dead heads hanging on the wall!!

Leah

likebrandnew said...

Love the lego idea. My 9 year old son was so impressed! I appreciate your blog entry, sometimes I just want to give up because the kids don't seem to be listening. Good reminder that because scripture instructs me to train them in the Word , I need to be faithful to do it!

Mary said...

What a great post!

When my kids and I miss church, like we did yesterday, we have "Home Church." The kids get to put on the entire service. Yesterday my 9 yr old boy did worship ("I wanna Be a Rock Star" by Third Day) and his 11 yr old brother gave the "sermon." It was hilarious. He made a scoreboard with God vs. idols and retold several OT stories using Magnetix as the idols. After he finished, we talked about their own idols like DS games, TV, Wii, etc. Even their 13 and 14 yr old sisters chimed in. It was really cool to see God connect with them all. We decided to have an electronics-free day so we could give God another point. Total Score!

AnnieBlogs said...

I have no tips, but I do have this to say: I love your three little people. :)

jennyhope said...

I need to start doing something like that! I just read to her, dance, and sing bible verses so she will get them. Sometimes I use visuals.
I am sorry I am laughing out loud at the two bowing down to the golden dinosaur. It wasn't funny in the bible you know...but it is hysterical to me right now. They are good!!

gillian said...

that is a great idea! i'll have to try it with my 5 year old, although i'm afraid he'd keep interupting me to help him build!

Kelly S. said...

GREAT IDEA! I must confess that we don't have Legos??! I have 2 girls ages 10 and 8, and a son just turned 4. My girls have never asked for Lego's and I am now shocked with myself (LOL). I loved them growing up. My son has Down's and has not been ready for them, but we'll try Lego's soon:)

I have tried play-doh, but all I got was an elephant and designer cakes. Your crew is very creative. My girls and I are doing a Discover 4 Yourself (by Kay Arthur). Very challenging but well worth it!
thanks Angela!

Anonymous said...

Scavenger hunts work for everything...Bible study, birthday parties, ordinary day fun!!

May your lives enjoy heaps of blessings! Denise in NC