So… about that last post: the title that I didn't even refer to in the post.  A word of encouragement about parenting is that it is never too early or too late to build disciples.  It may feel like it, but God gives us wisdom for the age and time of life of each of our children if we ask Him.  Now is the best time to start!

 "The Great Commission" (from Matthew 28:16-20) gives all believers a purpose statement and the power to live it out!  As disciples of Jesus, we've been given the charge to make disciples, and I believe that at home is the place to start!   Verse 20 says "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."  Teaching our children God's Word is so important to giving our children roots for their own faith to grow.  Thankfully, verse 20 states, "And surely I am with you always…".  I'm so glad that Jesus is with us as parents, to give us wisdom for each day and situation.  Let's remember to ask Him for all we need today to be the parents our children need!

Dear blogging friends,
It has been a 6 month stretch since I entered a post!  Not too surprising knowing what all I've done in those months - March and April were spent creating 2 workbooks that go with my Living Lyrics CD.  One is a coloring book for each Scripture passage and the other is an Activity Ideas book that centers around each passage.  Either would be great for elementary aged kids - for home use, Sunday School or other classroom settings.  They are in addition to the copy workbook that I made a couple years ago - all available through my website:  www.lindabierymusic.com

As for May-August, I was the Head Cook at Summers Best Two Weeks camp, where my husband is the director and we live.  I was responsible for keeping 420 hungry mouths fed - 3x's day in June, July and August.  Of course I had 14 wonderful cooks to share the task with!
Since late August, along with starting school & activities for the kids, Kent and I have been working on a new-to-us rental property: repairing and repainting a duplex.
So, I feel excused for the time lapse - but now I'm ready!
Ready to be interactive (about 1x/week I hope) with some Christian blogging friends who really want to raise up our kids to be equipped to be disciples of Jesus & to live out their faith in the real world.
My kids are at wonderful ages: 10, 12, 15 & 16   I have enjoyed every age so far, but I feel most naturally inspired with elementary ages and below.  So I will be looking to many of you who are gifted differently to inspire me with ideas about how to encourage the faith of older children.
There are so many great resources out there.  Please share with me ones that have been useful to you & I will do the same.
Another way I really want this blog to be a resource is just by linking to helpful websites & resources and helping each other learn how to use technology to make charts, printables, and systems that motivate kids as well as how to reach out to people with the same desires to encourage each other.
So these are my lofty hopes and dreams as I begin with my super limited knowledge of blogging!  I believe I can learn and grow in these endeavors - will you help me?
Have a great day!
Linda Biery
 

Deuteronomy 6 has been so important to me as a parent!  It is a recipe for success in the promise land, given to the Israelites by Moses before he hands the leadership baton to Joshua.  This chapter is full of words that explode with meaning to me...words like: careful, obey, love, impress, write, satisfied, fear, serve, jealous, promised, prosper...  It is full of commands and warnings, potential pitfalls and promises.

Please believe me that I know this that keeping this priority is difficult with our typical, busy life-style.  I have not, by a long shot, been near as consistent as I would like...yet, every effort I've made to do these things has been worth it.  I believe that access to a blog like this would have been very helpful to me, especially while my children were elementary school age and under, (but it's never too late to start) so I hope that it is a useful resource to you!  I will keep striving to make the time to help my family to know God's Word, to memorize pieces & to apply it.  I am praying for you and for me!  Let's strive together to carry this torch and pass it on to our children!

Deuteronomy 6:7 says...
"Impress them (God's commands) on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  This verse has guided me as to how to pass on my faith to my children. 

2 Timothy 3:16 says...
16"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

Hebrews 4:12 says...
12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Reading the Word of God,  applying it to real situations, memorizing it, understanding it, using it, treasuring it in my heart, praying it, singing it, sharing it & impressing it on children has been a daily mission for me & is now the mission for beginning this blog.

My hope is to help others by providing copy work pages, coloring pages, classroom ideas, family applications, and songs that help to memorize Scripture.

Stated in a lot of "imp-words":  I seek to impassion parents to impart the Word of God, to impress it on our children, to impact lives (for God's glory and the building of His kingdom) & to implant truth for value that is imperishable.

So here is what I have to share with you today:
1) Order the CD "Living Lyrics" & listen to song #1. Listen, then try to sing along, then add motions on the 3rd time.
2) Print and color this picture with the verse attached.  Then you can display it or 3 hole punch it and put it into a 3 ring binder called "Living Lyrics."
3) Download the printable copy pages for this verse in any of the three styles (print, D'Nealian, & cursive) for handwriting practice as well as for memorizing the verse.
4) Try the "activity idea" with your own or any children to help them better understand the verse.
5) Pray for your own prayer life; pray with them & pray without them, but for them!

 "Pray without ceasing"  1 Thessalonians 5:17


- activity idea: have your children play with play dough while doing something else, like listening to a book being read.  Then compare how we can also be praying all the time while doing other things.  (The spirit can actively commune with God while the body or mind is functioning on a different level.)

You can find an audio version of this passage on the Living Lyrics album at:
http://www.lindabierymusic.com

Scripture:
3rd John verse 4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

Truth:
This verse truly sums up my joy and aspirations as a parent! 

Book:
check out - Anne Ortlund's Children are wet cement

Quote:
My African friend: Erick Simba says "Bend the fish while it is wet."

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Please mold my children into Your likeness and help them to walk in Your truth in love.  And help them be equipped to shape the world around them.