Bible & Devotions
Family Bible (Torah) Study (Fall 2008-09)
This year our family has been enjoying reading the weekly Torah portions aloud together on each Sabbath, from our Complete Jewish Bible, often times along with some commentary from TorahPortions.org or the Door Post (with the kiddos). I also like to read some more in depth weekly-parashah studies/commentary from Ariel ben-Lyman HaNaviy that I have delivered to my email inbox. I've been receiving his teachings for a few years now, and have been so blessed along the way! You can also listen to audios of his teachings and even subscribe to his weekly Messianic Bible Study (Torah) podcasts (click here). Something else we've recently found and really enjoy are these animated Torah portions (click to see).
de.vote \di-vot\ vt [L devotus, pp. of devovere, fr. de- + vovere to vow] 1: to dedicate to a solemn act 2 a: to give up wholly or puposefully b: to center the attention or activities of (oneself) - de.vote.ment n
de.vot.ed adj 1: ARDENT, DEVOUT 2: AFFECTIONATE
de.vo.tion n 1 a: religious fervor: PIETY b: an act of prayer or supplication - usu. used in pl. c: a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation. syn see FIDELITY
~ from Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary
"A Father's Heritage", painting by C. Michael Dudash
"Any of it [teaching] that is good is in the Word of God, and any that is not in the Word of God is not good. I am a Bible Christian and if an archangel with a wingspread as broad as a constellation shining like the sun were to come and offer me some new truth, I'd ask him for a reference. If he could not show me where it is found in the Bible, I would bow him out and say, 'I'm awfully sorry, you don't bring any references with you.'"
~Counterfeit Revival, p. 67 A.W. Tozer
More Devotions in our home...
Over the years and through the varying seasons of our lives together, our devotion times with our children have been at varying times, alternating between consistent and sporadic, ever full of many impromptu discussions and thoughtful questions, as well as inspired prayers. These times have been among our most precious, as we've planted tiny seeds together in the soft soil of open hearts, and tended soft, new shoots of growing faith in our Creator, the Messiah, and His plan for all of Creation, and for ourselves, together. We've gleaned wisdom from many different sources over the years, some mentioned here, all based on the truth as found in the Word of our Lord and Savior, the Bible.
This time together has also become one of Chris's most special times with our kids, a priority of his which they just love every minute of. Oftentimes I will participate in the reading and especially the prayer time afterwards, but oftentimes when I hear Chris tucking the kids into bed with a devotional, just he and them, I'll purposely stay out, so as to allow him this special one-on-one time with our children... which more times than not includes reading together, playing number games, wrestling, praying, and then Chris's singing spiritual songs over them... what a lovely sound it is, his strong voice fortifying our hearts and home.
Devotion times and lullabies have taken on a very natural feel in our days, a comforting familiarity. We don't always get around to them, but if they're missed, they're missed by all, and thus not for long. Also, when we've got our act together, the kids and I usually have a separate Bible reading/study/journal and memorization time during the day while Chris is at work. If Chris is here during the days, or on weekends, he will join us then as well. 
It has become such a special time for us, lending us an eternal treasure trove of memories and truths, ever since Chris/Dad started those few years ago... just simply reading the Bible stories aloud to them, regularly.
Here I'll list some of what he's read from in the past (it will be a work in progress as I'll add as I *remember*), and will end with the top being most recently, ie; what we're reading and discussing now. We still find ourselves going back to some of our old favorites though as well, often mixing it up a bit. Chris and I will also simply read aloud Scripture portions from our own Bibles, as the Spirit leads us. May we always bear in mind the following truth~
The most important part of education is religious training, and our mission is to give children the knowledge of God. We won't go into the area of intuitive knowledge, we'll stick to the knowledge that is attainable because it's what God expressed for us. That knowledge comes from the Bible. The worst indignity we can commit on children is giving them our own rendering of scripture or a well-intentioned re-telling of the clear, beautiful language and poetic phrasing of the Bible itself.
~excerpted from The Knowledge of God, Vol. 6, ch.10, p.160 of the CM Series~ Towards a Philosophy of Education
Summer 2008: This summer, I thought that it was high-time that N and T establish the habit of setting aside time for their own personal Bible devotions, first thing each morning, after necessary chores (tending to the critters that depend upon them). I printed out a list of readings from the Gospels, which I'd excerpted from Penny Gardner's list of New Testament Bible readings arranged in chronological order, and pasted into its own word document. I gave N and T both a separate copy of this list of Scripture passages, directing them to keep it folded, in the backs of their Bibles for reference. Each morning, it has been their own responsibility to look up the next Scripture off the list (highlighting each one as they go through them), read it, and then to thoughtfully write about it in their own words (a written narration), in their Bible journals. This has worked out quite well, they both have really enjoyed the independence and "quiet-time". They just glow as they read to me their Bible journal entries for each day. They've also asked to read from the Psalms and Proverbs during this time, for variety, to which I- naturally- have obliged. We'll be adding in our group Bible study time in the Fall.
2007-08:
Chris read aloud The Millers Series to N and T again this year, per their request. It was their first time reading Missionary Stories with the Millers. The kids have asked me a couple times if there are any more "Millers books". They love these. Chris has also been reading to them from the Tiger and Tom and Other Stories for Boys, as well as from The King's Daughter and Other Stories for Girls.
Chris and I take turns reading aloud to the kids from The Narrated Bible (click to read a wonderfully informative review of this Bible) which is the NIV Scriptures arranged in chronological order, both the Scriptures and contextual commentaries by F. Lagard Smith. We are following up our readings with the kids giving narrations as prompted by the corresponding questions and discussions found in our Greenleaf Guide to Old Testament History. These two resources work wonderfully together (while we're in the OT anyways), since they're both arranged chronologically.
Chris read aloud through Life in the Great Ice Age as a bed-time story with the kids.
Also new this year, Chris and I have recently begun going through Life Lessons from the Squire & the Scroll with 11yo N, and I am going through Life Lessons with the Princess & the Kiss with 8yo T. I must say that I have been just as impressed with these beautifully laid out and illustrated devotionals as I am with the books that they're companions to. The Squire & and the Scroll and The Princess & the Kiss have been favorite picture books of ours for years now! Our kids have read and re-read them, and often still choose them as bed-time read-alouds... beautifully simple, yet poignant tales of the value of purity and true valor.
Eventually...
How to Study your Bible for Kids, by Kay Arthur & Janna Arndt
I'm excited about this! It's something that the kids and I'll actually be doing during the daytime hours, for Bible-study time, rather than devotion time (in the evenings with Dad). It looks really good, very meaty, and I'm excited to start it! It's set up like a workbook, but I only ordered one. I'd planned to use it last year, but decided to wait since I thought that the kids would get more out of it later. I'm just planning on having the kids do the writing work on separate notebook paper, and making copies of the activity sheets, which they'll keep all together in their Bible notebooks. It uses the NASB version of Scripture, which we have a copy of in Chris's Parallel Bible. This will make it easy for us to compare the Scripture portions to three other Bible versions as well, simultaneously, KJV, NIV and NLT, which will be interesting too.
"Resurrection" by 7yo T, February 2006
2006-07: As a family, we are currently reading through the Book of John together in the mornings, before Chris goes to work. Chris has been leading the kids in the following IBLP studies in the evenings as well:
How to Develop Attentiveness, Character Booklet 1 by Institute in Basic Life Principles
How to Develop Obedience, Character Booklet 2 by Institute in Basic Life Principles
How to Develop Gratefulness, Character Booklet 3 by Institute in Basic Life Principles
These colorful booklets teach the character qualities of the Bible from lessons in nature, as well as from lessons in Scripture.
They are written for a wide range of ages and can be used in a variety of ways from personal study to teaching your children or in a classroom setting. A certificate of achievement to be awarded upon completion is included.
The Narrated Bible: LOVE it!! We're just taking our time, reading through it. Chris and I alternate on reading aloud directly from our Bible texts, and having the kids take turns reading passages aloud.
Beautiful Bible Stories: This lovely book has 482 pages of large print. The stories have discussion questions at the end. There are black and white pictures throughout, as well as spectacular Masterpiece color prints on glossy pages. Our kids love this one! They listen very closely, as they especially like taking turns answering the discussion questions included at the end of each reading. Chris already took them through the Old Testament with it, and now he's starting the New Testament readings. Publisher is The Southwestern Company, Nashville, Tennessee.
The Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos: This one's a classic. I especially like the way it's written, with beautifully informative, yet simple for little ears to understand commentary woven into the text. Known for being very Biblically accurate, a homeschooling favorite.
Prudence and the Millers by Mildred Martin: These engaging true-to-life stories guide children through lessons about health, safety, and courtesy... from the Bible. Each story is based on a Scripture.
Wisdom and the Millers: Proverbs for Children by Mildred Martin: This is a favorite of our kids. N especially considers this and A Hive of Busy Bees (stories of which he still fondly recalls, though we read through it way back when he was 5yo.) two of his all-time favorites. He still refers to his conscience telling him when something is wrong as being like the *sting of the bee*.
Little Visits With God & More Little Visits With God by Jahsmann and Simon: Simple, Biblical and to the point devotionals for young children. Each reading starts with a Scripture which is followed by an interesting story (some fictional and some nonfictional) about other children, bringing the Scripture applications to a child's life in wonderful ways. Then there is a "Questions to talk about" section relating to the story, along with another (longer) Scripture listed that is recommended for older children (or those able to sit still) and grownups, followed by a prayer. These are priceless stories. We have the original, now OOP editions of these books, so I'm not sure if the layout of the newer editions are the same or not?
I was rather surprised at how fond T and N both, but especially T, grew of this precious little book of the Parables (which they soon had memorized). I cannot begin to figure how many times we read, and re-read, and then took turns re-telling the tales to eachother, acting them out and laughing out loud over the illustrations of each of these simple, yet poignant stories, then looked them up and reading them from the Bible, and talked and talked about them and all their implications. T was 4 the year she claimed this thrift store gem of a find (with binding now falling apart) as "her own special Bible book". It still sits proudly on her shelf, a treasured book, nostalgic to us all.
This was the first story Bible that we read through with our kids, and it's a classic! What precious memories of sweet, simple quiet times with our then 5/6yo son, and our daughter was 2/3yo that year... but how they both listened, and understood. It has become such a special time for us, lending us an eternal treasure trove of memories and truths, ever since Chris/Dad started those few years ago... just simply reading the Bible stories to them, regularly.
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The kids also like to lay in bed with me at night, and listen to me read aloud my own Bible to them, just starting wherever I'm at. I started doing this with N during his nap times when we was oh, so little. Now it's comforting to he and T both... of course.
Share ThisChildren need three kinds of knowledge: the knowledge of God, the knowledge of man, and the knowledge of the world around him. Of those, the knowledge of God is the most important, the most necessary and the one that has the potential to bring him happiness. Mothers do a better job of teaching children about God than teachers. They know their children better and don't underestimate their minds as much, so they tend not to talk down to them. But, to read educational publications, one would think that the art of education is dumbing down concepts for the 'little' minds of children! If we give up that preconception that assumes the superiority of adults, we'll be surprised at how much and how profoundly children are able to understand. We'll realize that a relationship with God is an inborn attraction and it's up to us to help our children attain that relationship. Mothers know how to talk about God in the same way they would talk about a beloved but absent father, drawing attention to his love and care for her and the children. She knows how to make her child feel a thrill of joy and gratefulness as he looks at a meadow full of flowers, or a huge tree, or flowing river by making him understand that God made all of it. Children aren't too simple to understand that, 'the mountains, valleys and glittering rivers belong to the one who knows their Creator and whose eyes brim with tears of holy joy.' [freely adapted from the poem The Freeman, by William Cowper] We remember how Arthur Pendennis [from Pendennis, by Thackeray] walked in the cool of the evening with his mother, reciting passages from Milton, and both of their eyes would fill 'with tears of holy joy,' and he was only eight! A teacher can never have the same of opportunities with an entire class, but if she makes an effort to get a true estimate of what a child's mind can comprehend, she'll be surprised with how much can be done.
The arrogant mindset of some teachers is the reason that so many students never achieve much. Students are seen as 'just kids' and not expected to understand much, and they live down to that expectation.
~excerpted from The Knowledge of God, Vol. 6, ch.10, pp.158-59 of the CM Series~ Towards a Philosophy of Education
