Stretching the Truth - Character MOMent #8

"When you stretch the truth, watch out for the snapback." ~Bill Copeland

Teachable MOMent #8  - Write the word TRUTH on a wide rubber band, and your child put it on as a bracelet. Ask them, "What happens when you stretch 'the TRUTH'?" To find out, have them slightly pull on their bracelet enough for it to snapback.

Stretching the truth causes pain and problems. Satan, The Father of Lies, is extra active at this time of year trying to convince us to ignore the dangers of "stretching the truth" through little "white lies" and "half truths". Have your kids give you examples of each of these.

A half truth is a whole lie. What should we do if we are not sure if something is completely true or not? Check the source.

The Scriptures are our source for absolute truth.  Before the invention of the printing press and multiple translations of the Bible, the common man was not as blessed as we are with easy access to God's Word.  Therefore, there was some confusion in the church about what God expected from believers.  The church had started "stretching the truth". They said such things as,

Truth - You need to ask God to forgive you of sin. (Rm 3:23)
Stretching Truth - You have to pay "indulgences" (money to the church)
      in order to gain forgiveness for you or your family's sin. (Acts 10:43)

After studying the Scriptures,  Martin Luther found 95 things like this that the church was doing that stretched the TRUTH of God's Word! So on October 31st, 1517, Luther posted 95 Theses on the door of his church for all to see -beginning the Reformation! 

This took extreme faith and courage!
Encourage  your kids not to stretch the TRUTH,
but instead stand up for absolute TRUTH the way Luther did
and to have a Happy Reformation Day on Wednesday!

How are you going to watch out for half truths and white lies this week?

Do you get the Monday "Blahs"? Truth or Dare #1

I like to pretend I have it all together most of the time, but here is the Truth:

I am not sure if it is my hormones, my season of life, or just plain Satan; but lately I have been overtaken by "THE BLAHS" way to often.

"The Blahs" is when you feel down, but don't have a super great reason to feel down except just the drudgery of daily life.

You can make a choice.  Usually, "The Blahs"

  1. ) Get worse if you sit around and mope or worry about your sad feelings or whatever you think is making you feel sad - like all that you have to get done but will "never" be able to accomplish, or
  2.) Can easily be solved by taking simply positive actions such as:
        a. Doing something you enjoy - for example: playing with your children.
        b. Making a to-do list and doing a few things on your list.
        c. Talking to someone about your feelings.
        d. Thinking positive.
        e. Expressing gratitude.
        f. Praying.

"Rejoice in the Lord always... Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things... Practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
                  - Phillipians 4: 4-9

Are you going to choose #1 or #2 today?
What simple actions do you find helpful for overcoming "the blahs"?

What to Wear for Halloween?

Dorothy is surprised and upset just like me!

It upsets me that it is okay for public school teachers to teach my impressionable children about witches and other scary evil things at Halloween when prayer, God, and definitely Jesus have been banned!!!!! This is very upsetting but not too surprising.

Here is something that is surprising and even more upsetting to me:

Growing up all things associated with Halloween was banned and despised, so I am not quite that strict. I love to dress-up, and we let our kids dress up for their class Halloween parties at school (although we do tell them that we are celebrating Reformation Day instead of Halloween). I think you can have fun without the fright during this season.

However, I don't understand how real believers in Jesus Christ can embrace the witches and goblins and evil things associated with Halloween - even dressing their children as witches and other innapropriate evil creatures - when the Bible is clear about the seriousness of sin - especially of witchcraft!

Galatians 5:19-21 says, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft..... I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Growing up in a secular society desensitizes our kids to the seriousness of sin. Christian Moms and teachers, let me encourage you to please stand strong and do not let your children be even more desensitized against sin and encourage other moms to do the same.

Be discerning. My mom had a great rule for dress-up: "Don't dress up like anything that you should not be in real life."

Witches are not cute little girls in pointy hats. They are real people who practice magic using the power of the devil! Is this what you want your kid to pretend to be? How about a mass murderer? How about a psychopath?

Come on guys, this is not rocket science. A rocket scientist would be a great costume!

Do you have any other great costume ideas? Maybe a super hero or a great story book character? I would loooooove to see your pictures.

Do you have any ideas for having fun without the fright this fall?

Moldy Moment - Teachable MOMent #7

Read and Share this "Simple MOMent" about MOLD!

The mold is growing in my shower, as I am writing this. The next time you are feeling down while cleaning your shower or that unidentifiable moldy leftover container, remind yourself that as a mom, God has created you for one of the most important jobs there is – MOLDING young lives.

 

Put down your scrub brush for a few minutes, and do some fun MOLDING with your children. Get out the playdo, clay, jello, or make popsicles in fun shapes and talk about how God has made us individually wonderful and unique.

 

? - Ask your kids how and if they think God continues to mold us daily (for example, through God's Word, parents, role models, circumstances, etc.)

 

Philippians chapter one tells about how God is not finished with us yet. Verse 6 says, "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

? - Ask your kids and yourself, "How are you going to respond to God's molding?

 

Moms, how are you responding to God's call to mold young lives? I hope it is not with the same attitude you have for that leftovers container?  Make sure you are seeking God's strength and direction to purposefully and positively MOLD your youngsters while they are still wet cement. As time goes by, the tougher the molding becomes.

Turn up the Music - Teachable MOMent #6/God's Girlz #2

Music influences and speaks loudly to our children. Talk to your kids about the music they like. No matter what you are listening to, there is almost always something that you can teach from the lyrics of songs - what to do or what not to do.  Remember to take advantage of that car time, or turn up the music and dance as you are cleaning up the house.

Peers are going to flood your youth with inappropriate music. Give your kids an arsonal of fun appropriate music to help them combat the world.

For Young Kids - When you are still picking the music out for your kids, it is easy.
          I play Cedarmont Kids, Seeds Family Worship, Steve Green, WOW, Character Builders, etc.

For Older Kids - As they get older, it is harder to find appropriate music with appropriate messages that your kids enjoy especially if you are musically challenged like myself.  I had to enlist a good friend to recommend some good albums, and make us a mix CD including some great Christian artists like TobyMac as well a some party classics like YMCA and the Chicken Dance.

Attached is my girl's new favorite song - God's Girl by Jamie Grace.
I would love to hear about who your kid's favorite Christian music artist is.

October Download - Truth

http://thecharactermom.com/downloads/

Happy October to You!
To go along with this month's festivities we are going to focus on Truth!

I have so much to say and share about the importance of teaching our kids truthfulness especially with Halloween coming up and the public schools trying to keep the truth of Christ out.
 
Enjoy this free 3 page download Entitled "Truthful Fall Festivities" packed full of fun family activities, until I have time to share more.

I would love to hear any of your great ideas about teaching truth in the meantime as well.