Temptation Devotion for pre-teens/teens

We used the example of Jesus overcoming Satan by APPLYING God's word to help show the need to understand scripture in an emotional/physical/spiritual battle.  The drawings had to do with being connected to the vine (life source). Below were some scenerios we felt our pre-teens/teens may come up against.

You’ve been introduced to a song by a friend that has an upbeat rhythm and you love the way it sounds.  As you listen to the words, you notice the theme has to do with drinking and partying.  When it comes on again, you remembered liking the song but know the words aren’t a good message.  What verse would help you keep from listening to the song again? 

Your parents told you that you couldn’t play any technology until your homework was done and your room was clean. After the room was cleaned, you get tired of working. But you still need to prepare for school.  What verses will help you complete what you need to do? 

There’s a student you know who is not popular, and most people think he/she is kind of annoying.  

One day, while you were eating, this student walks by you and your friend. Your friend says, “Quick put your book on that empty seat so he/she won’t sit here.”  What verse will help you respond to the temptation to follow this bad advice? 

Your sibling comes home from school and is excited about something.  You were listening to music and relaxing.  What verse will help you turn your attention to your sibling until their done talking to you instead of your own interests? 

You have been assigned a very long task to help one of your teachers over the summer.  After a few days on the computer, you’re bored and it’s taking longer to do the work you’ve arranged to do.  What verses would help you to focus on completing the  job and keep working or make arrangements to have the project take a longer amount of time than you originally arranged for? 

Your friend wants to get together Friday.  You were just together the past weekend and you know it’s a busy time for your family, yet you are also nervous that your friend is getting more and more involved with other people besides you.  What verses will help you not to be nervous that your friend won’t care about you anymore if you can’t be with him/her again? 

Your family made plans to go to a restaurant that you love.  The day before it’s time to go they tell you that instead of eating out, you’re going to need to eat at home.  What verses will help you to not be angry over this change of plans? 

Two friends are arguing and you can see both sides of the disagreement.  One of them is complaining about the other person to you.  What could you say that would be honest and help them not fall into the temptation of being critical of others? 

A family member makes fun of you and you feel very insulted.  They’ve said they’re sorry, but the words they said are still coming to your mind.  What verses will silence this negativity going on in your soul? 

Know where you’re vulnerable. Others may be able to handle situations where you will fall. Don’t go with them if it is a source of temptation for you. Develop a deep distrust in yourself that drives you to a desperate clinging to the Lord. 

Shepherding...Or So it Seems

"Have a Happy Family by Friday" and "The Storm Inside" were two books I read this week.  Nice and easy beings that one was from my mother-in-law and the other from the library.  "The Storm Inside" by Sheila Walsh tackles some interesting concepts like shame. I latched onto a new verse and learned about galbanum.

It reads in Exodus 30, ³⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, ³⁵ and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. ³⁶ Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. ³⁷ Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord. ³⁸ Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people.”

Galbanum (Ferula gummosa) has an earthy aroma. It was used in ancient temple ritual incense anointings associated with springtime. Galbanum supports the immune, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and other body systems. It is also useful as an aid for troubled or mature skin. Galbanum has an approximate ORAC of 261,826 (TE/L).

Galbanum has an intense green fragrance with woody and balsamic elements. Often described as earthy or forest-like, this fragrance compound is valued for its ability to impart a rich, spicy green scent. Perfumers use galbanum both as a strong top note in "green" fragrances and as a base note in combination with musk and/or chypre elements such as oakmoss and pine.

Fragrances for women that feature the perfume ingredient galbanum include Chanel No. 19, Guerlain Vol De Nuit, Cartier Must, Balmain Vent Vert, Fresh Galbanum Patchouli and Azzaro Couture.

"Have a Happy Family by Friday" by Kevin Leman brought be back to my children and their strengths and weaknesses.  I'm excited that it's spurred on a family devotion that I'm preparing for this weekend. 

My favorite part was when Leman referenced some research he'd done for "Shepherd."  He said a group of psychologists recorded a shepherd's voice and dressed another person like him to imitate his persona among the sheep.  Fortunately, the sheep know their shepherd's voice so closely that a recorded version doesn't quite do the trick.  The next book I need to find is one Sara Grove's recommended.  "Long Obedience in the Same Direction" by Eugene Peterson-who's read it?

Relationships Workbook by Dr. Les & Leslie Parrott

The Relationships Workbook by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott was published in 1998 and then again in 2002.  It's a great resource for looking at the needs of friendships and marriages.  I'm currently looking at it again because of having a teenage daughter.  There are chapters for further study that include "Falling in Love Without Losing Your Mind" and "The Bonds That Bind/Drawing the Line."
also include several other references to boks of interest on these topics.



For review, I plan to read again the following passages:

Genesis 29:18 tells the story of Jacob falling in love with Rachel.

Judges 16 shows the serious consequences of Samson losing his mind as he falls for Delilah.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 talks about the powerful experience of being in love.

For teens, the time considering their emotional bonding in their relationships in conjuction with the physical bonding is essential.  Think of the "side hug" as a close bond with someone, being careful to make a commitment to another person before allowing oneself to express physical care.  Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott site the following progression:

1.  Eye to body
2.  Eye to eye
3.  Voice to voice
4.  Hand to hand
5.  Hand to shoulder
6.  Hand to waist
7.  Face to face

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott are co-directors of the Center for Relationship Development at Seattle Pacific University, a groundbreaking program dedicated to teaching the basics of a good relationship. Les Parrott is a professor of clinical psychology, and Leslie is a marriage and family therapist, both at SPU. The Parrotts are authors of Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts, The Marriage Mentor Manual, Mentoring Engaged and Newlywed Couples (video Groupware kit), Questions Couples Ask, Like a Kiss on the Lips, Getting Ready for the Wedding, and Relationships. They are frequent guest speakers and have written for a variety of magazines. Their relationship work has been featured in USA Today and the New York Times as well as on CNN, Good Morning America, and Oprah.    

 

Disappointment with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Worldviews clash, and it's not a surprise anymore. With the increase in special interest groups lobbying in education reform, I feel a responsibility to examine literature presented to my children.  There's always an underlying message to any story, and if we're not watchful to look for these messages, we may start to infer mistruths that can misdirect thoughts and actions. 

 

I'm writing this summary for the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company as well as for Gary Soto the author, to review my opinion over what they've published and expect teachers to use. It's disappointing to me, and I hope you will see what I regard as forward and disrespectful in your textbook for 7th graders.  Fortunately, most of the images you see when you search Google for 7th graders are sports teams and girls with their friends.  This is how it should be -- not like how your exemplifying in one of the first inclusions included in the McDougal Littell Literature textbook. 

 

From a Christian's standpoint, if you look at 1 Timothy 5:2 it asks that people look at young women as sisters. From this standpoint, a female friend (especially a 7th grader) should be someone fun to be around and talk to, but should not be looked at as future marriage material.  We need to encourage our kids to be kids -- not to be looking for love before their time.  Although the emotions surrounding new love and relationships are good, if we elevate those we do not present the full reality that the purpose of the fire of new love is to have that to hang onto and reignite those feelings in the thickets of marriage, we are doing them a huge injustice.  I want my children to know that as much as it's great to meet someone and love them, to sustain that relationship takes much perseverance and grace.  Perhaps our publishers should try to find a story that hits this point home. Just like it's much easier to make a Dora Explorer video where there's stealing from Swiper and bad behavior than a Barney video that's showing polite actions and conversations, the ease in which external features and actions like good looks and lust get into textbooks needs to be examined. 

 

Read the highlights from Gary Soto's story...these are my three top complaints about the ways the 7th grade readers are guided.

1.  Boys are encouraged to take note of physical attributes to the point of lust.

2.  The adult teacher in the story affirms the boys forward actions and supports presenting mistruths to impress people. He is a connection point to discuss dating relationships.

3.  Just in case you missed these inferences, the literary analysis hones in on the adult-like behaviors.  Our children should not be reading things that increase curiosity about dating relationships, as they still have high school and college to get through (and it's much easier without changing diapers, midnight feedings and making sure they're sleeping early or late so you can study). Ultimately, everyone makes their own choices and there are college students who are great parents and happy to be so, but really what does this push our children towards?  Please think about it...  I know I do!

 

 

  

A bigger pearl?

We started a new record of what we're thankful for as a family.  The notebook says "Wow" on the cover and it's sitting in the center of our dining room table.
It was a catalyst for our devotional time yesterday.

Chad read through a commentary that likened our struggles and their harvest to that of an irritant in a pearl -- the bigger the irritant, the more we will grow from it, and as the pearl grows larger from bigger rocks and intruders, so does our experience of God and His opportunity to shape us.

As we talked about the sifting in our lives to move us to the west side, we were grateful.  We filled a whole notebook page and at the end of it, I really wanted to add being thankful for meeting Sandy, which led me to my former and current job, as well as praying weekly with Amy, Sharon and Laura, which has blessed our children and family immensly.

Summer 2013 Project

This summer the kids are going to study a different country every week.  I appreciated "Multicultural Games" by Lorraine Babarash to incorporate some games as well.  Below are a few ideas from a research standpoint for them to get started, although I'm limiting the research to "books" only.  Aren't I mean?

Compare and contrast your country to the US:

 
Where are areas of the US population similar?
 
What monuments or landforms could you visit?
 
What foods might be served at a meal?
 
Use the Greek alphabet to write a message to a friend.
 
Write a story with a landmark as part of the setting.
 
What is the unit of money?
 
What are the free time activities?
Triangle Game - From Russia, Draw a triangle and divide it into three sections.  Make the top one #3, middle 2, bottom 1.  Children get three colored stones and stand back 10 ft. and throw in their three.  They add the points.  When someone gets to 50, the game is over.  If stones are knocked out, they don't count.  Take turns going first, second, third.
 
Colombia - 2 people are it.  One of them leaves the room.  The rest of the kids figure out what colored ribbon they keep.  When they get it done, they say, "Angel, what colors do you wish?"  They respond, "I wish many colored ribbons."  They guess and go until they "miss."  They count the number they got right.  The other Angel comes in and does the same thing.  The Angel with the most stays, the lower number picks someone new to come in until all children have been the angel.
 
Nigeria - Pair individuals up and have them join at the shoulders.  The front person puts a cloth scrap or handkerchief in their pants or pocket.  At go, teams try to grab each others cloths.  If you get yours pulled, your team is out.  People should change front to back and get new partners.  You can do two colors for teams.
 
England - Round hopscotch.  Draw a shell like swirl and put "rest" in the middle of it.  One person hops on one foot to get to the center resting point.  If they do so, they pick a division and put their initials on it.  Then the next person goes.  If you step in a claimed box, you're out.  Go until there's a winner.
 
Russia - Use two ropes and duct tape them in the middle.  Tie knots at the ends.  They will form an X.  Divide people into 4 teams and have a cone about 2-3 yards from the bases of the rope ends.  Teams try to tug to grab the cone first.
 
 Crafts....

Batik with oil crayons-  Indonesia       Toothpick dolls – Brazil           Paper Sea horse – Greece           

Gift Rolls – Russia                             Cheez It Tic Tac Toe Board – Italy   Art Easel – France      

Foil Form – Spain (stars, fans)            Dancing Form – Zimbabwe

The Kids' World

Jumping into Dr. Seuss books, I found a recipe collection inspired by his stories.  I'll likely make this cheesy, spicy popcorn concoction for the fam.  Andrew has been laughing at home with his own silly behaviors (see below), and Sierra was wanting to show off her ice cream swirling talents.  She says she got them from me!  Oh for cute.

8-yr-old son is a fan!

"Little Dog Lost" is my 8-yr-old son's new favorite non-fiction title.  It's a rescue story - so it provides rising action, conflict and resolution all in real life events.  We love it at my house when that happens!

On a cold winter day, a curious dog wandered onto a frozen river, and before he knew it he was traveling fast on a sheet of ice. Many people tried to help, but the dog could not be reached. Finally, after two nights and seventy-five miles, the little dog was saved by a ship out in the Baltic Sea.

The gallant rescue of the little dog nicknamed Baltic made international news. Mônica Carnesi's simple text and charming watercolor illustrations convey all the drama of Baltic's journey. His story, with its happy ending, will warm readers' hearts. An author's note includes more of the actual account, including the sentence, "Using a grappling iron, he was able to get close enough to the ice floe to pull the dog to safety."  We didn't know what a grappling iron was, but thankfully, an internet search engine could pull it up for us in less than 5 seconds!

What We've Been Up To...

I turned around to take a quick snapshot of Sierra while traveling to the last cheer competition in Minneapolis.  She was her normal self.  We enjoyed seeing Jim, Lisa & CJ as much as watching the girls cheer.

This is week 3 of Chad forgetting to take out the trash.  I'd done the previous two deliveries, so I had Olana run it out while I shot a photo to text to Chad.  I also added a Friday morning reminder on the ICloud so that he'll think of me (and the garbage!)

Our friend Joyce celebrated her 85th birthday.  She's changed her hairstyle since the last post about her lovely self! 

A Sioux Falls Service Project

We're building a Can Art sculpture to be displayed at the Washington Pavilion from February 16- Feb. 24th.  Food benefits Feeding South Dakota.  Theme:   “Each Piece Fights Hunger”

For Construction:186 Great Value vegetable cans (diced tomatoes, beets, corn, mixed vegetables, green beans – for the cake)

89 Great Value mandarin orange cans – available at Wal-mart (for the plate)

237 Wolf Chili cans - available at Wal-mart (for the frosting)

Watch for the countdown to begin!  If you can help dwindle these numbers, we'd appreciate any contributions this week!  For more info on the event... http://www.easyreadingpicks.blogspot.com/2013/01/fun-can-art-event-in-sioux-falls.html

"To Heaven and Back" Story

Dr. Mary Neal was a devoted wife and mother of four children, a talented and successful orthopedic surgeon, and an experienced outdoor enthusiast, when the unthinkable happened on a vacation in 1999. Mary and friends were kayaking on the Fuy River in Chile, when her kayak became trapped under a waterfall. Despite her and her companions efforts to dislodge the boat, Mary lost consciousness and drowned before they could pull her body to shore. 

This interview and video has a great depiction of the details she wrote about...
http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/RH64v3_WS

During the time she lost consciousness and died, Mary experienced a taste of heaven that few in this world have known. She was led by heavenly beings and saints who had gone before. She saw and felt beauty and peace like she had never known, and approached the entrance to eternity. However, it was not time for her to enter, and she was sent back to the world. 

To Heaven and Back is the story of Dr. Neal's spiritual journey, including the extraordinary account of that fateful day in Chile. She also chronicles her physical recovery, and the many miraculous events that accompanied her return to health. Her remarkable story is an inspiration and comfort to those needing reassurance of the presence and love of our incomparable God.

The takeaways from the video pretty much capture the essence of the book, with the exclusion of the details of her healing and connection to her son's death.  Here were a few highlights from my vantage point...

1.  I appreciated how she detached from her body and the pain as she was escorted into heaven.  

2.  It seems Mary C. Neal is growing in her knowledge of scripture and of the love of God.  The patchwork of her coming to accept Christ's love and live it out is an account like many of us have - scattered (a little faith here, a little faith there), but it is growing within the providence of God's hand.

3.  After losing their son Willie..."It then suddenly occurred to me that my sense of failure was self-inflicted and egocentric.  I had stopped looking to God for help, believing that I was expected to do it all on my own.  Believing that I could do it on my own.  In the process, I had let doubts, fear, and guilt silently creep in and take over my thoughts.  I was still in the valley of the shadow of death, and the door of my heart was propped wide open.  Right then and there, I asked God for help and immediately felt forgiven and free, knowing that God was in control."  Mary C. Neal, MD