Sharing the Good News

Where will God send you this week?

God Hears Our Prayers

Sunday is a great day to worship Jesus, to call to Him. So is every day - right? 

I'm calling with you today. . . and every day. Look at the verse. It says the Lords hears!
 

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Tweetables

Sunday is a great day to worship Jesus. . . So is every day!   Tweet this!

The Lord hears me when I call to Him. Psalm 4:3b  (NIV)   Tweet this!

So sweet! The Lord hears our prayers.  Tweet this!

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Notes from Carol

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!


P.S. These days I am busy writing two devotional books for Zonderkidz. Will you pray with me about the devos? You can sign up to be a prayer partner on the right. I won't share your contact info. Promise.


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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore

Prayer - Kid Min at Home

Don't you love how verses in the Bible connect in different ways? One verse causes us to think of another, and they go together to form a new way of thinking or an action plan. I know that we have to be careful not to randomly connect things out of context. However, I do think that the verses in God Word are intricately connected  for our instruction. God is just that amazing!

This week I have been poring over examples of prayer . . . and thinking about kids, particularly preschoolers and beginning readers, but the ideas apply to kids of all ages (including those who are grown up). The topic of parents praying with their children seems so appropriate as we near Father's Day.

Three verses continue to come to mind.

First . . .

“Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching,and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 (HCSB)

And . . . 

Start children off on the way they should go,and even when they are old they will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

When???

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.  Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)

Our kids are never too young or too old to be a part of our prayers.
Here are some times we can pray with them:

• when they are happy
• when they are sad
• when they are thankful
• when they are sick
• when they are lonely
• when they are ready to eat
• when they are ready to sleep

When else can we pray with our kids? Please share your ideas : )


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Tweetables

God is just that amazing!   Tweet this!

Start children off on the way they should go,and even when they are old they will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)  Tweet this!

Our kids are never too young or too old to be a part of our prayers.   Tweet this!

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Notes from Carol

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore

Beginning Reader Bible Stories

Parents know that the good old days of summer are perfect for visiting the library. This is especially true for the child in the six to eight year old range who is just mastering reading skills. The many Bible stories available in the easy reader format are close to my heart (as a parent, teacher, and writer of Sunday School curriculum).

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.  Psalm 119:105   (NIV)

What do beginner Bibles offer the new reader?

• a chance to explore the Scripture for himself
• an opportunity to practice his newly acquired reading skills
  

Beginning Bible Readers at Home

Do you want to encourage your child to read Bible stories for himself?

• Visit your local library or Christian bookstore.
• Help your child select some Bible storybooks at his reading level.
• Give your child the opportunity to read them to you again and again. (Kids learn from repetition.)
• Suggest that your child read one of the stories aloud for bedtime devotional.
• Have a Bible story play. Act out the story using simple props found around the house.

Kid Ministry Idea

How can VBS and Sunday School teachers encourage the new Bible reader?

• Establish an easy reader check out system. Allow kids to borrow one or two books to read at home.
• Create a Bible readers club. Fashion it after the summer reading club at the local library. Reward kids for beginning Bible stories they have read.
• Have guest readers. Encourage one child to read the focus Bible story for the other kids

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Tweetables

What do beginner Bibles offer the new reader?   Tweet this!

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105  (NIV)   Tweet this!

How can VBS and Sunday School teachers encourage beginning readers?   Tweet this!

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Notes from Carol

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore

Summer Reading Clubs Update

Hey Everyone!

It's summer! The perfect time to grab a book or your e-reader and enjoy a good story.

Are you part of a summer reading club? It is fun to track how many books you read. . . and did I mention there are usually prizes?

 

Zonderkidz is giving away some books to kick off summer reading. Read all about it as well as about summer reading clubs here.

A Doodle Message for Boys from John

Lots of people are talking about the Google doodle today from Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Today would be Sendak's 85th birthday.

I asked John from Ohio to doodle something he would like to share about with tweens. His doodle shows some of the wild things created by God. Here it is the message from John. . . 

Dude! Jesus is amazing!

Here is just one way. . .

Doodle Devotions for Boys. Must read.

Coming from Zonderkidz in 2015. . . 

 

 

John is from Ohio. Check back to see doodle messages from other states. . . Did you know there is a  map for girls, too?  Did you know there will be a contest to see who fills their map first? So far, it is 

Girls  1

Boys 1

Did someone say there is a prize??? Yep. Stay tuned for more info. . .

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Tweetables

A doodle message for boys ages 9-12. . .    Tweet this!

Doodle Devotions for Boys. Must read. Coming from Zonderkidz in 2015. . .   Tweet this!

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Notes from Carol

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore

Teach Tween Sunday School? Here's One Tip You Can Use Now

It is Saturday! A day off work . . . a day to relax. Wait! Tomorrow morning you will be facing tweens in Sunday School. What is a teacher to do?

It is a privilege to teach tweens, but it is often also a challenge. Many tween have grown up in church. They might even help with younger children in the nursery. They have heard the basic teachings of the Bible. Certainly they don't know it all -- Do any of us? But you know, as well as I do, some of them can answer those lesson questions quickly. Then, you look at the clock. Okay. That took a few minutes of the lesson time. Now what?

Here is ONE TIP that you can use NOW : ) The best part of it is that it will strengthen your Sunday School teaching time with the tweens. THEY WILL LEARN MORE. The second best thing is that it will COST YOU NOTHING!

• Start with the lesson. Follow the curriculum.
• Use the questions that go with the lesson.
• HERE IS THE TIP: Switch seat with the kids. I don't mean literally jump up and in it one of their chairs. I mean switch roles. Pass out pencils and index cards. (You can give slips of paper or really anything for them to write on. Remember this DOES NOT COST ANYTHING!) Then, have them write one question about the lesson on the paper. Use those questions for a review game.

Why is this such an effective teaching tip? People learn when they teach others. Scouring the lesson Scriptures for questions causes tweens to focus on the over all message, the details, the sequence, the application . . . everything you wanted them to learn. And guess what? They will have a blast while they are doing it.

Special Learner Tip: Some kids have special needs. Very often Sunday School is a place that they can blend in with their peers. You can make that easier. In this activity, be aware of kids who might need help with spelling or who need someone to retalk the lesson with them for ideas. This is a great task for the teen helper in your class. Everybody learns : )

Let's get a discussion going. Have you tried this tip with your tweens? How did it work? What did you do to make it fun?


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Notes from Carol

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore

Missional Tween Girls

Tween girls may have grown up in the church. They know the basic Scriptures and can answer the questions from most Sunday School or VBS lessons. Certainly they need to hear the Scripture. We all do. But how can they be engaged in the Great Commission? 

Letter-writing Mission
Consider developing a missions project such as letter-writing. Tween girls love to e-mail, text, and jot down notes. Encourage them to use these interests to show God's love to others.

Who would receive missional notes and e-mails?

• retired members of the church or the community in general
• the tweens and younger children of missionaries overseas
• children and tweens in residential schools such as the state school for the deaf

Start the Mission
Let parents and other adults in the church know about the project. Collect colorful note cards and stationary. Plan a party to write, write, write! Later, share responses from their communication (if not too personal). Then, write some more.

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Notes from Carol

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore

Make Mini Books with Beginning Readers

Preschool and kindergarten children learn the alphabet and the sounds that go with each letter. Soon they are pairing the print word with familiar pictures. For example, they see a picture of a baby in a book. The word baby is under the picture . . .  The child begins to read.

Parents and VBS teachers can help kids use simple pictures to create a beginning reader booklet: What Did God Make? Make one page for each letter. Then, add pictures with the word for things that God made. The pictures might be foods, animals, people, weather, or landforms. 

Aa 

God made apples

ants

alligators

astronauts

apes

Kids can draw the pictures. They can be cut from magazines. You can also get some great pics from Pinterest. Here are some examples to get you started on this project.

  
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Tweetable

Parents and VBS teachers can help kids use simple pictures to create a beginning reader booklet.    Tweet this!


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Notes from Carol

Do you work with tweens? I hope the posts on my blog are helpful and offer some new ideas. Maybe you work with younger children. I am changing up my post categories. I want to include activities and kid min ideas for beginning readers in addition to the topics that have been in my blog.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore

A Doodle Message for Girls from Michelle

I am so excited about the devotions I am writing! I asked Michelle from Missouri to doodle something she would like to share with the future readers. If you are a girl who is 9-12 years old, that would be you! Here it is the message from Michelle. . . 

Hey Girls!

This is how much Jesus loves you!   

 

Doodle Devotions for Girls. So sweet!

Coming from Zonderkidz in 2015. . . 

 

 

Michelle posted her message to you from Missouri. Check back to see doodle messages from other states. . . Did I say that there will be a map for the boys, too? 

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Tweetables

A doodle message for girls ages 9-12. . .    Tweet this!

Doodle Devotions for Girls. So sweet! Coming from Zonderkidz in 2015. . .   Tweet this!

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Notes from Carol

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore

Writer Refuel

Writers pour themselves onto the page. After some time, the writer can begin to feel empty, worn out, and without much to share with her readers. How can a writer refuel during such a parched season?

Time away from the writing task can help. Here are some ways that a writer can refuel so that she again has words to share on the page.

Time with God

Spending time in prayer or in reading the Bible is a great way to recharge. What better way to fill up on creativity and ideas than spending time with the Creator? Time with God is a wonderful way to begin or end the day. It is also a wonderful well to seek during the dry seasons of the day.

Time with Family

Spend time with those you love. They make you happy. They challenge your thinking. They draw you away from your obsession with words on paper and into face-to-face engagement. Time with family is a wonderful way to return to writing with renewed focus and enthusiasm.

 

Time with Nature

Time with nature can be calming and renewing. Maybe you like to walk through the forest or along the beach. Maybe you are the gardener who loves to plant, prune, and water. Seeking nature can help you, the writer, see things differently when you return to the keyboard.

 

Time with Creativity

Time to create is important. Sure. Writing is without a doubt creating, but what about painting, sewing, and cooking to name a few? These creative outlets can benefit not only your writing, but also those around you.

 

Time with Nothingness

Sometimes you need to do just nothing. Sleeping or just chilling can help your brain with a much needed break. No one can give, give, give or write, write, write without stop. Allow yourself the opportunity to do nothing and return to your writing after that much needed rest.


I shared a few more ideas here.

What did I forget? How else can a writer refuel?



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Tweetables

Spending time in prayer or in reading the Bible is a great way to recharge.   Tweet this!

What better way to fill up on creativity and ideas than spending time with the Creator?   Tweet this!

Sometimes you need to do just nothing.  Tweet this!

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Notes from Carol

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore