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This past week in the HEART Book Club, we've been reading the chapter 1 of How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids. It's not too late to join us. You can still sign up for the email newsletter and get the printable journal, join the Facebook group, and chat on Twitter using #HEART4YourKids. Feel free to read ahead and don't feel bad if you get behind the schedule. Read at your pace! I'd also recommend signing up for my regular daily email to get all my blog posts sent directly to your inbox or adding my RSS feed to your favorite feed reader so you don't miss a post about the HEART Book Club.
Chapter 1
Some of my favorite quotes from this chapter:
- In order to reach the hearts of your kids, you must first have a heart for the things of God. pg. 31
- … you must set a clear example… pg. 31
- You cannot pass on what you do not have. pg. 31
- By seeking God first, we are going before our families, paving the way for our kids. pg. 32
- … it was my character that needed the most work. pg. 33
- The discipleship of our kids is an ongoing process and should permeate every aspect of our daily lives. pg. 35
- I started praying each week before I prepared and planned for the week of school. pg. 51
Therefore be imitators of God – Ephesians 5:1
Moms, we need to be responders, not reactors. What's the difference? A reactor acts in reaction to the the situations around them. If the surrounding environment is screaming and chaos, the reactor acts with the same – screaming and adds to the chaos. Responders act from within. They pour out what's inside them to add peace and calm to a situation. It's about being intentional and that starts with taking care of mom and our relationship with God.
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:6-7
We need to experience a “metamorphosis”, as Rachael describes it. We need to experience God ourselves before we can lead our children. You need to be in the Word regularly and you need to be praying.
Good Morning Girls is currently my favorite way to study the Bible. I'm leading a group this session that starts today! (How convenient?) My Facebook Group is already full, but you can read and participate through my blog and Twitter. If you need a simple but scheduled way to get started reading your Bible regularly, try it! Get all the details in my post from yesterday.
I usually have my quiet time first thing in the morning. If I don't get it in before the boys are up, then I read and study while the boys are playing after breakfast.
Now, once you've begun working on your own spiritual life, you need to find ways to introduce and keep your kids in the Word. I have a weekly link up to help you with this: Kids in the Word Wednesdays. I share each week what I've been doing with my boys to keep them in the Word hoping that something we try might be a good fit for your family. Moms share each week in the comments and through the link up things that they've been doing to keep their kids in the Word.
This past week, several moms from the HEART Facebook Group convinced me to try the scripture memory box method of memorizing and reviewing scripture. I created my box and will share how it has been going in my KITWW post this week. You can see the box, my free printable, and learn about the method in my KITWW post last week.
Ready? It's your turn! What stood out to you in this chapter? What are you doing to focus on God? How are you bringing your kids along? Share your thoughts, insights, and answers to any questions from the end of the chapter.
