Resource Review: "Gospel Light Preschool CD #1"

"Praise the LORD!  For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting." Psalm 147:1 ESV

My daughters and I have had so much fun singing praises to God while singing along to Gospel Light Preschool CD #1.  Also, with children in the local Church I have had so much fun singing, listening and dancing to this CD.  It is part of a curriculum that Gospel Light produces.  Since it is intended to be used in the local Church there is limited permission to reproduce it within your local Church.  I am not familiar with the other parts of the curriculum, so this review is only a recommendation of this music CD.

 

The Music

My husband helped me to describe the music as "family rock".  The music is genuine and fun without being too cheesy.  I enjoy that the music has a real rejoicing quality.  For many of the songs both the children and I easily want to dance along while we are singing.  The songs are easy to sing along with when singing with the accompaniment, but would be challenging to sing without the CD.

The Words

The words to the songs cover topics such as God's love for us, obeying God's word, praising God, and that Jesus is alive.  The words are simple and easy to catch on to because of the repetitive nature of the lyrics.  Songs that my family uses often are "God Cares About You", "God Loved Us", "Jesus is Alive", "Hear the Word".  Also, I use the songs "Come On In!" and "Wave Goodbye" for a once a month mother and child Bible group.

The qualities I really appreciate:

• Rejoicing in God
• Easy for small children to join in singing
• Encourages movement on many of the songs

Finding the CD:   Amazon, Harvest Books, Cokesbury.com

Disclosure: I make recommendations on the basis of products that I personally use and that I think would be of value to the reader. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or links that I mention on this blog.

© 2013, Brigette Hill

Song: "Happy Hope"

 "looking for the happy hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13 Working Translation: A Journey Through the Acts and Epistles

One day while riding in the car, I thought about my recent reading of Titus chapter 2.  I turned my husband Luke and said "Titus 2:13 talks about a "happy hope", that would be great for kids to sing about." This song is the product of that car ride.

"Happy Hope" is a simple children's song.  What I love about simple children's songs is that once you know them, they can be sung anywhere.  It is so great to be in the middle of an activity with my child and to burst into singing praise to God together. 

We've included the sheet music and the guitar chords for the song.  Simple songs like this are great for children learning to play the guitar, piano or recorder.  They are also great for parents wanting learn or dust off music skills, while the family praises God together.

Happy Hope*

I've a happy hope to look for.   (hand above eyes looking out)
         D                      A
I've a happy hope in Christ. (3 claps)
         A                      D
When the trumpet sounds I'll see him.  (pretend to play trumpet)
                 D                           A
So I'll glorify God in my life. (3 claps)
          A                         D
*The song can be swung as heard in the video above.

This song is shared with the intent for use in the home and in the local Church.  

  "Moreover, the grace of God that brings salvation [deliverance] has appeared to all people, educating us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly cravings and live soberly and justly and godly in this present age, looking for the happy hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ." Titus 2:11-13 Working Translation: A Journey Through the Acts and Epistles

Working Translation: A Journey Through Acts and Epistles, Copyright © 2006 by Walter J. Cummins. All rights reserved.

Related Post:
"By The Well" children's Bible song
 
 ©2013 Brigette Hill

God is Almighty

This is the third teaching in a series of 5 teachings to help teach young children about God.  The target audiences are toddlers, preschoolers and young elementary; with plenty of room for you to adjust to the needs of your child.  I have taught this to my preschooler and toddler.  If I was just teaching it to my toddler I would have simplified it a little more.  I wrote this in a way to give ideas of how to talk when teaching children the Bible.  Going through the verses on your own first (as listed in the "Parent Preparation") is extremely helpful in teaching young children accurately.  
 

Theme Verse: 

 “I am God Almighty” Genesis 17:1 

Song:

"My God is So Great", Video,  This version adds another verse.  
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do. x2
The mountains are His, the rivers are His, the stars are His handiwork too.
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do, for you!

Supplies:  

List of God's names (print from here), Copy of this teaching, something heavy (such as a 20 pound weight), a picture of Abraham, picture of Moses crossing the Red Sea, and a picture of an empty tomb (these can be from a children’s Bible or coloring book).

 

Parent Preparation:

Genesis 17:1, Exodus 14:21-22, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalm 78:1-13, 22, 42; Psalm 59:16-17, Isaiah 40:28-31, Jeremiah 10:6,12-13; Jeremiah 32:17, Ephesians 1:16-20

Teaching Ideas:

Day 1

• How strong are you?  What is the heaviest thing you can pick up?  (show your child the heavy object and have him/her try to lift it)  
• Since I am an adult I am stronger than you.  Do you know who is stronger than me?  God!  He is stronger than any person.  
• God has many names (show them the sheet of God’s names)  God, Lord-Jehovah, Holy Spirit, the Creator.
• God told Abraham another name.  (“Almighty”)  (read Genesis 17:1 “I am God Almighty” and show a picture of Abraham)
• Almighty means “most powerful”.  Our God is the most powerful.

Day 2

• One of God’s names is Almighty   (read Genesis 17:1 “I am God Almighty”)
• Almighty means “most powerful”.  Our God is the most powerful.
• God showed Moses how strong He is.  Moses was with God’s people and they were running away from bad guys.  They came to the Red Sea and there was no bridge for them to walk over!  The bad guys were going to get Moses and God’s people.  God divided the water and made dry ground for the people to walk on and get away from the bad guys!  God is so strong.  (show picture of Moses crossing the Red Sea)  

Day 3

• (Read Jeremiah 32:17)  Nothing is too hard for God!  There are things that are hard for us to do, but nothing is too hard for God.  When we pray to God and ask for help, nothing is too hard for Him!
• God is looking to help us and be strong for us.  He wants us to go to Him for help. God showed His strength when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  Jesus Christ died for our sins.   God is so strong that He raised Jesus from the dead and made him alive! (show picture of the empty tomb).

Activity Ideas

Praise God: Read Psalm 21:13b “We will sing and praise Your power.”  Sing songs together that praise God.  Play children's instruments together such as shakers, a child's piano, or a guitar, as you praise God together.

Cross the Red Sea: Act out crossing the Red Sea.  Drape blankets on chairs to be the water parting.  Walk through on the dry ground.

 

"I Can Know God" Teaching Series

1. God is Big 
2. God is the Creator
3. God is Almighty
4. God is Love
5. He Cares for You

 "but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:24 NASB

© 2013, Brigette Hill

Resource Review: "Baby's First Bible"

I have enjoyed so many sweet moments with one of my daughters curled up on my lap reading "Baby's First Bible" by Colin and Moira MacLean. We have used this Bible since our first daughter was a baby.  Our first copy was from a consignment sale. It became so "well loved" (aka: falling a part) that we are now on our second copy!  When deciding on a board book Bible my husband and I wanted it to mention a part of the gospel, including the resurrection.  We have been happy with how this book has provided moments to start teaching about Who God is and about His son Jesus Christ.

The Pictures

One thing I love about this book is how it engaged my little one's attention through the pictures.  The illustrations are brightly colored with round faces that babies are drawn to.  Once it had my daughter's attention then I could have moments to start to teach her about God.  On every page there are lots of animals.  I find this amusing, because I don't think there were quite so many frolicking foxes, dogs, birds and cats during the actual events!  But the animals in the pictures helped to initially engage my daughter to look and listen.  From there, she started to take in some of the content on the page.

The Words

The book has simple text that often rhymes.  The content starts to expose the child to the Bible record. For example "God raised Jesus from the dead. "My Lord's alive!" Mary said."  Each page is concise enough that when my daughter had a short attention span we could just do a page or two and still be profitable.

 This Bible touches on Adam and Eve, Noah, baby Moses, David as a shepherd, Daniel with the lions, baby Jesus, Jesus at 12 years old, Zacchaeus, Jesus calming the storm, and the resurrection.  It illustrates Deuteronomy 6:5, Psalms 47:1, and Mark 10:14.

With any resource I am always looking to see if the resource says what the Bible says.  For the angels talking to the shepherds it has "angels sang praises" when in the Bible they "said" praises.  I find this easy enough to change the wording when reading to my child.

Using This Book

Sometimes my daughter's attention span would last for a page or two, and other times we would read the whole book from front to back.  Often when reading this book we end up singing songs related to the page such as My God is So Great, Noah's Ark, Daniel Was a Man of Prayer, Zacchaeus, and He Arose chorus.  We even made up our own tune with clapping for Psalm 47:1.  

We also played "pointing" games.  I would ask my daughter to point to David, point to the sheep, etc.  Then other times my daughter would love to point to different things on the page for me to name what they where.  These where wonderful chances for her to start to build vocabulary related to the Bible.  Having the vocabulary, she now has been ready as she starts to become old enough to understand parts of Biblical records.

This board book Bible has engaging pictures, simple but accurate words, and is a wonderful starting point for teaching your child the Bible.  It is a great book for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.  You can look at a preview of the pages at Amazon and Christianbook.

Related Posts:

4 Things To Remember When Reading a Children's Bible
NIrV Read With Me Bible

_______________________________________________

Disclosure: I make recommendations on the basis of products that I personally use and that I think would be of value to the reader. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or links that I mention on this blog.

© 2013, Brigette Hill

God is the Creator

 This is the second teaching in a series of 5 teachings to help teach young children about God.  The target audiences are toddlers, preschoolers and young elementary; with plenty of room for you to adjust to the needs of your child.  I have taught this to my preschooler and toddler.  If I was just teaching it to my toddler I would have simplified it a little more.  I wrote this in a way to give ideas of how to talk when teaching children the Bible.  Going through the verses on your own first (as listed in the "Parent Preparation") is extremely helpful in teaching young children accurately.  

Theme Verse:  

“the Creator of the ends of the earth” Isaiah 40:28

Song:  

“God Is So Good”, God Is So Good Video
God is so good x3
He's so good to me
(optional verses: God loves me so...God answers prayers...I love Him so... )
 

Supplies: 

List of God's names (Print from here), Print Teaching

Parent Preparation: 

Genesis 1:1-31 Genesis 2:1-3, Psalm 102:24-27, Proverbs 8:22-31,  Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 45:18, Jeremiah 10:12-13, Jeremiah 32:17.

Teaching Ideas:

Day 1

• God has many names (show them the sheet of God’s names)  God, Lord-Jehovah, Holy Spirit.
• Another name God has is the “Creator” (have them repeat the name aloud)
• Our theme verse this week is “the Creator of the ends of the earth” Isaiah 40:28.
• (Read Genesis 1:1) God was before everything else.
• There wasn’t any heaven or earth (no ground, no sun, no trees, no animals or people) and then God created it.  
• What are things you make? (it might be paintings, building with sand or blocks, etc)  For the things you make you used something to make something new.
• God created something out of nothing.  Only God can do this.  That is why He is called the Creator.

Day 2

• Our theme verse this week is “the Creator of the ends of the earth” Isaiah 40:28.
• God was 1. smart and 2. strong to make the heavens and earth
• (Read Genesis 1:3)  God said it and it happened.   What great power! Can you just say something and then it happen?  He saw that light was a good thing.  How does light help us?  God was so smart to make it.  This was the first day.
• On second day God divided water above and below heaven.  
• On the third day God made earth appear.  So there was land and water.  How strong God is!  He made plants and trees that make seeds and fruit grow on the land. God is smart.  God saw that this was good.
• On the fifth day God made living creature in the ocean, What lives in the ocean?  And He made birds fly in the air.  He saw that this was good.

Day 3

• Our theme verse this week is “the Creator of the ends of the earth” Isaiah 40:28.
• God was 1. smart and 2. strong to make the heavens and earth
• On the fourth day God made the sun for the daytime, the moon and stars for the nighttime.  How smart and strong God is to make these good things!
• On the sixth day God made animals to walk around the earth.  What kinds of animals do we have on the earth?  God made them!  He also made a man and a women.  It was God’s idea to make people.  And it was a good idea.
• He first made the man Adam.  God saw that it wasn’t good for Adam to be all alone, so God made Eve to help Adam.
• God gave Adam and Eve plants and trees and animals to eat.

Activity Ideas 

Go On a Walk:  Read Jeremiah 32:17  Go on a walk together with your child.  Talk about what God made and created.  Talk about the strength that He needed to make what you see.  Talk about how smart God was in what He made and created.

Crafts:
Days God Made and Created 7 Days Craft 
Coloring Pages God Made Animals, Birds and Fish 

"I Can Know God" Teaching Series

1.  God is Big

2.  God is the Creator

3. God is Almighty

4. God is Love

5. He Cares for You

 "but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:24 NASB

© Brigette Hill, 2013

11 Simple Ways to To Teach Your Child in 5 Minutes or Less

If Monday's post giving ideas for a multi-day teaching theme overwhelmed you, then today's post is for you.

There are days when I put my daughters to bed and I sadly realize that our prayer time at bed was the first time we talked about God all day.  On these days my heart aches because I desire to weave throughout my day teaching and training my daughters as talked about in Deuteronomy.  "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 6:7

We don't need to waste time dwelling on what we are not doing.  We don't need to waste time feeling guilty.  Instead, we can think about God's love, mercy and grace.  Our works did not earn salvation.  We want to teach and train our children in response to God's beautiful love for us.  

Think about "What is one thing I can do today?"  These ideas can be done with almost all ages of children (some even with babies).  They will probably take 5 minutes or less.

1. Pray with your child in the morning for the day.
2. Sing a song together to praise God.
3. Read a simple verse or a portion of a verse to your child.
4. Look together at the craft your child did in Sunday School or Children's Fellowship.  Talk about what they learned.
5. Do a Bible coloring page with your child (both of you coloring) and talk about the people in the picture.  Depending on your child this may take anywhere from 30 seconds or 10 minutes.
6. Point out something God made or created to your child.  Talk about God's power and wisdom.
7. Listen to music together that praises God.  Talk about the song.
8. Read from a children's Bible.
9. Talk with your child about what you both are thankful for.  Then pray and thank God together.
10. Hug your child and tell him or her that God loves him/her.
11. Pray with your child at night before bed.
 

As we keep adding teaching moments into our days, soon teaching and training will be woven into our daily lives.

We want to be diligent.  "You shall teach them diligently to your children" Deuteronomy 6:7.  But we are not going to be perfect. Today is a new day.  I can take steps to be diligent today.  

God is Big

This is the first in a series of 5 teachings to help teach young children about God.  The target audiences are toddlers, preschoolers and young elementary; with plenty of room for you to adjust to the needs of your child.  I have taught this to my preschooler and toddler.  If I was just teaching it to my toddler I would have simplified it a little more.  I wrote this in a way to give ideas of how to talk when teaching children the Bible.  Going through the verses on your own first (as listed in the "Parent Preparation") is extremely helpful in teaching young children accurately. 

Theme Verse

"I am with you;" Isaiah 41:10 NASB

Song

"Bigger Than Big", by Jay Stocker on "Whirl and Worship" CD  Listen Here, Motion Ideas Here, iTunes

Supplies

Bible, List of God's names (print from here), items for "Bigger and Smaller", Print Teaching Here

Parent Preparation 

Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Psalm 139, Hebrews 13:5, Numbers 23:19, John 4:24, John 1:18

Teaching Ideas 

Day 1

• (Play a short game of hide and seek.  Have each person have one turn to hide and be found)
• The Bible tells us about God.  (show your Bible)  God tells us "I am with you." Isaiah 41:10
• When we played hided and seek, you could hide from me and I didn't know where you were.  Can you hide from God?  Let's find out from the Bible.
• (Read Jeremiah 23:23-24, or parts of it) God asks us questions to get us thinking about Him.  Is God near?  Or is He far?  Is there anywhere you could go that God wouldn’t be with you?  No!  God is big. In this verse He says that He fills the heaven and earth.  God is so big that wherever you go He is going to be there with you!

Day 2

• Psalm 139 it tells us about how big God is.  God knows when you stand up (stand up with child) and when you sit down (sit down with child). He knows where you walk to (pretend to walk) and when you lie down (lie down). God knows what words that you say! (have your child say something). He is in front of you (have child find front) and behind you (have child find back). 
• If we go to a high mountain (pretend to climb a mountain) is God still with us? Yes! If we go far away in the the ocean (pretend to be on a boat in the middle of the ocean) is God still with us? Yes!
• Repeat after me our theme verse.  "I am with you." Isaiah 41:10

Day 3

• The Bible tells us Who God is.  Is God a person?  Lets read in the Bible to find the answer.  (Read Numbers 23:19a)
• If God isn't a man, what is He?  (read John 4:24)
• Can we see God?  (read John 1:18a)
• God has many names.  (show God's Name sheet, covered up names with post-its)
• Do you have different names?  (nicknames, daughter, sister, etc) He is called God, (have child remove the post-its use for today), LORD Jehovah, and Holy Spirit.  
• "I am with you." Isaiah 41:10  God is always with you. He never leaves you.    Even when I am not with you, God is with you. His is always there to take care of you because He loves you. Where do you sometimes go without me? (babysitter, in bedroom at night). God is still with you.

Activity Ideas

• Bigger and Smaller

Gather 5 items that are various sizes.  Give your child one of the  items and ask them to find something bigger than that item.  Continue to do this for all 5 items.  For the last item keep asking what is even bigger.  Keep going bigger (couch or house or world, etc) until they get to saying "God".

• Fear Not

If your child is afraid in a situation this week, read "Fear not, for I am with you." Isaiah 41:10  Talk about how we don't need to be afraid because God is with us.

 

"I Can Know God" Teaching Series

1. God is Big

2.  God is the Creator

3. God is Almighty

4. God is Love

5. He Cares For You

 "but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:24 NASB

© 2013, Brigette Hill

A Parents Heart: Love God - Deuteronomy 6:5

Printable Verse by Katie Zitelli

This month the parenting verse to meditate on is: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Deuteronomy 6:5 NASB

1. Click on the link to the size picture you want, and then print out the verse. Half Page or Full Page (Computers vary in how they print.  Make sure you do a print preview to see if it is printing as the size that you want.)
2. Post it where you will look at it often this next month.  I'm putting mine on our refrigerator next to our grocery list.  Other possible spots are on your bathroom mirror or propped against a window.
3. Meditate, think on, or literally "talk to yourself" about the verse.

Artwork by Amy Miller

You May Be Asking "Meditate?": In the Bible to meditate isn't a passive state of thinking.  Instead to meditate is to think on, to consider, or literally "talk to yourself".  The Bible talks about meditating on God's Word (Psalms 1:2), on God (Psalms 63:6) and on God's works (Psalms 143:5).

Think, Then Act: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:9  Meditating on God's Word helps us to work on doing what the Bible says.

Context:  This verse comes from a section in Deuteronomy 6 that has great guidance for parents.  This is written to Israel and not the Church, but there is still great learning for us.  1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:1-7 

Keep God First:  As parents, we want to keep God first in our lives.  While many things need our time and attention (children, work, housework) we keep working to put God first.  We love God.  We desire for our children to love God.  They will learn this the best when we are doing this ourselves.  Throughout the day I can think about loving God with all of who I am.

Feedback Would Be Appreciated:  What size printout works best for you?  Where do you think you'll post it?  Please let me know if you have any trouble printing out the verse. 

Related Posts

• A Parent's Heart: God's Word In Our Heart Deuteronomy 6:6 
•  A Parent's Heart: Teach Diligently Deuteronomy 6:7

 © Brigette Hill, 2013