Sunday, December 10, 2017

Teaching Children to Behave and to Become All That God Has Created Them to Be

Our kids mean the world to us. We want them to have fun, we want them to behave, and we want them to become all that God has created them to be. So how do we help our kids on this journey? Well, I want to share a few thoughts with you on this topic.

As parents, we underestimate the value of one another. We say we are too busy to spend time together. We try to give our kids all the attention they need, but we don't realize that what they need are real relationships with others.

Kids learn to behave when we encourage positive interaction in the home and outside the home. From my experience, the most well-behaved kids - those who are respectful to adults and good friends to their peers - are those who have a lot of positive interaction with others. Often times, cousins are great for teaching kids how to interact with one another. I am grateful for my sons' cousins; for, I know they have made a tremendous impact on their lives. They have taught them what it is like to be included and to have a ton of fun. That is an experience that we do not value enough.

In the church, we like to pretend that we have it all together. We like to pretend that we do not need one another. But, we do need one another. When our kids realize that they matter, that's when they get excited about life. That's when they can learn to have peace and joy, and to be confident, fun, and self-controlled. All they learn in the home, they can apply, so that they can become all that God has created them to be.

Thanks for reading!

~Melissa Seng

Saturday, December 2, 2017

P.J.'s for Your Family This Christmas?

Happy holidays! "May the calendar keep bringing, happy holidays to you." That's Bing Crosby. His song is simple, fun to listen to, and one of the most popular songs of the season. Listening to this tune helps us to enjoy the season with our families and friends.

There is something else that is simple, relaxing, and fun that we can do for Christmas...Wear your P.J.'s this Christmas Day!

We all love the idea, but have you tried it? You get up early, open presents, enjoy cookies and hot chocolate, read the Christmas story, listen to Christmas music, and just relax...That sounds great, right?

But, then, we start to wonder, "How do we make time to relax? That doesn't fit into our schedule." Well the good news is that many stores and restaurants are actually closed for the holiday, so we will not have to worry about running any errands, making last minute trips to the store, etc. We can stay home and enjoy our family.

You might be asking, "Why should I wear my P.J.'s?" Well, for good reason. 1. It can be a fun tradition for you and your family. 2. It helps us to remember what is important on Christmas Day. Sometimes we feel and act like we are only worth something to other people if we look nice, our hair is perfect, our clothes fit just right. The list goes on. The standards we set for ourselves are high. But, God tells us that we are valuable. Proverbs 31:10 tells us, "a wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." Our value does not come from our looks, or our wealth. It comes from God. When we get to take a day (or more!) to get our focus off of our impossible standards we set for ourselves, we can focus on what truly matters. We can love one another, as God loves us. We can live by the spirit that is within us.

I hope you enjoy Christmas Day with the spirit of Christmas and the joy and peace that come.

Thanks for reading!

~Melissa Seng

Five Great Gift Ideas for Kids in a Christian Home

It's the holiday season, and it's great to hear Christmas music once again. The thought of shopping is exciting as we think of gifts to bless our family and friends. On the other hand, it can be a bit stressful trying to find good buys, especially for those who are not usually big shoppers. So, I wanted to give you some ideas here. These ideas are not wild and crazy, but they are meaningful, and may very well be appreciated for years to come.

1. Movie night: The Star
    *The Star is such a fun, family-friendly movie that teaches the Christmas story in a unique way.

2. Focus on the Family's Clubhouse Jr. Magazine
    *Clubhouse Jr. Magazine is a fun way for kids to learn to apply Biblical knowledge to everyday circumstances. There are stories, crafts, jokes, all in a light-hearted manner for kids to enjoy. It's entertaining and educational for kids. Clubhouse Magazine Jr. is for kids age 3-7. Clubhouse Magazine is for kids age 8-12.

3. The Veggie Tales Bible or The Jesus Storybook Bible
    *The Veggie Tales Bible is an NIRV (New International Reader's Version) Bible. The Jesus Storybook Bible is a much condensed version of the Bible. You can find them at your local Christian bookstore.

4. Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Jr.
    *Financial Peace Jr. is for ages 3-12 and involves a fun curriculum for teaching children about money, and it's only $19.99.

5. Bill Seng's The Wrath of Giganotus Rex
    *The Wrath of Giganotus Rex is a fictional book that is geared towards middle school kids on up. It tells the story of a reporter, William Stevens, who is searching for truth. It is action-packed, and filled with a definite good vs. evil plot. You can get a copy at www.williamhseng.com

I hope these ideas are helpful to you as you enjoy the Christmas season!

Thanks for reading!

~Melissa Seng