Family devotion books

Above is two family devotional books that we have and are using for our family.  We are currently working through Worshipful Families, and are all really enjoying it. It is written in a way that is very interesting and holds the kids attention well. And is full of Scriptures, and wonderful lessons. 
  We have not read the other book, Fruitful Families, but I know it would have to be as equally good.
   I highly encourage families to have daily devotion time together. Very, very important I believe. These 2 books are  very helpful for that.
   We got these books from the Christian Light Publications.  Their web site is www.clp.org
Also you can phone 1-800-776-0478 to receive a free catalog of their books.
 They are a great place for Christian books  for your home.
  As you feed your family physically each day, do not forget to feed them spiritually as well.
 In Him,
Mae

my favorite thing to do

There is nothing more that I love  than to read to my children.
Yep, that is my most favorite thing ever!!
I read to them morning and evening. 
My husband reads from the Bible to us all in the evenings. Then I read to them out of the book that I am reading at the time.
In the mornings my husband does not have time to read, so I read to the children out of the Bible. After that I read in our book if time allows.
The books I read to them are good Christian books that help build faith and teach good godly characters and attitudes.  I am constantly looking for Christain books and have them in abundance so that I never run out of good books to read them.
I feel our reading  time is so important, and I really cherish it. I make sure nothing gets in the way of that time if all possible.
It is a very special time for me as I read instruct our children in the ways of the Lord.

In the mornings I like to read with us all around the breakfast table. I tried  hard to eat before they do so that then I can read while they finish off their breakfast.  So they are both fed physically and spiritual at the same time.
The best way to start the day I think.

I also encourage you to do the same. It takes about 30 mintues of your day morning and eveing, but it is so worth it.  Of course you can spend as long as you want reading to your children, there is no time limit!! :)

READ TO YOUR CHILDREN, AND INSPIRE THEM TO BE ALL THEY CAN BE FOR THE LORD!

In Him,
Mae

learning from the Israelites

For our recent Bible reading the children and I have been reading through the old testament, and are in the middle of reading about the Israelites in the desert.

(We read from a Bible story rather than directly from the Bible, because it makes an easier read for the children. But it is very correct and adds nothing to it, like some bible stories. It simply makes it easy to understand and follow along. I like that for old testament reading to the children, because the old testament is a hard read. But i feel its also very important.)

OK, so back to the Israelites, and what we have been learning during this read.
All kinds of good stuff. Its surprising what all can be learned from them.

One thing that is so clear and easy to pick up is that when the people obeyed God , he was with them, protecting them, guiding and leading them. But when they disobeyed and turned away from Him, He turned away from them as well.

If God said something was to be done a certain way, but they thought they had a better way, or could do it just alittle different: that was disobedience and they suffered for it. God meant what He said , and and what He said was to be done, and done His way.

Just like when the people had no water and cried on to Moses that God would give them water. So Moses and Aaron pray on to God for water, and He gives them instructions. Gather the people together in front of the rock, and speak unto the rock, and it shall give them water.
So Moses and Aaron gather the people in front of the rock. But Moses thinks he has a better plan and strikes the rock with his staff instead. Water comes flowing out. But Moses is punished for his disobedience. He would not be allowed to bring the people in to God's land. Numbers 20: 1-13.

There's an example time and time again how God give them very pacific instructions of how He wanted things done, and when they did not obey, they suffered for it.
We can learn such great things from that.
We learn that these examples can be applied to every area in our lives.
We learn that God's word was the only way.
We learn that God was, and is, and always will be the same.
We learn if we want God's blessings on us, then we must obey.
We learn that God's commandments wasn't just for His people the Israelites, it was for all His people for ever and ever.

Well I just need to keep reading and see what all many more great things we can learn!!

my new excting schudle!! We did morning devotions!

I started off this morning different than usually or atleast part of it, and I am so happy!!

First thing is Sarah woke up first this time and woke me up just after 6:00 a.m.
So i came out to the living room, put in Little House on the Prairie for her,
and sit down to check my e-mail.
Then Samuel wakes up next.
By that time its 7:00 and i get breakfast going. By 7:30 Nathan is up, and i have breakfast on the table ( dry cereal, sliced fresh fruit, Amish cinnamon bread, and ramen noodle soup for Sam and Sarah which they requested).
Nathan wakes up Clayton for me.
I serve up the 2 little ones, while the older ones help them selves.
I grab me a couple slices cantaloupe and pick up my Bible and read!!
That was so exciting for me!
My very first day of having all the children at the breakfast table at the same time ( minus the baby though) and reading to them.
We fed the physical bodies as well as the spiritual all at the same time!!

It was so exciting for me. I have heard that other moms have done this, but i had just not been able too. Because everyone would get up and eat at different times.

I had tried to read after breakfast and before school, but Clayton sometimes woke so late that he wouldn't be eating till 9:00 and of course Nathan had already been doing school for awhile.
It was crazy!

So I realized i would have to have a set time that everyone got up and ate.
For me the kids waking time between 7 and 7:30 i think will work good.
Maybe as they all get adjusted to this, we can work it to 7:00 a.m. ( and I will have breakfast ready when they wake)

That way we will have plenty time to eat and read, and discuss things together and still start school at a good time. ( note this wake time only applies to my school age children)

Nathan starts his at 8:oo almost always, but i have to do a few things after breakfast before I can sit down and start with Clayton, but no later than 8:30 is my goal for him. Sam's school only takes about 30 min., so i work it in as i can during the morning.

I plan for this wonderful exciting thing that took place this morning to be a part of every morning from now on!!!