Writing Them On the Doorposts…
(Written by Brad)
Deut.11:18
“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.”
The God of the Bible, in whom our family has implicitly put its trust, gave this charge to His people in the Old Testament. One of the many things you can take from this rich text is the simple fact that we need to be placing the Words of God in front of ourselves and our children at every opportunity. We believe that everything we need for life comes from God himself, and more specifically, from the scriptures.
So my problem as a parent is this: How do I get the scriptures into the hearts of 4 year old children? My friend Dan, an elder at our church, suggested a book which Jen had already purchased for our kids. Its called My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God’s Word in Little Hearts
The amazing thing about starting this book has been the surprising ability that children at 4 have to memorize. They can memorize things 4 times faster than I can!
Check it out:
Besides this book, we also seize opportunities to share the Gospel with our kids. Discipline is an exceptionally good time to point out their sin, humble yourself and admit your sinfulness with specific examples, tell them the truth of Gods justice, and then show them the glory of the cross and the punishment Jesus took so that we won’t have to pay that just penalty.
It is also easy to point out the spectacular creation we have all around us. We regularly point out intricate details in nature that clearly give evidence of our wonderful creator, showing them His magnificence.
What are the ways you have found to lead your children to God?
I always love your posts you guys! We homeschool our older kids (and will the quads as well) but I think all the trials we have gone through, are such teachable moments for our kids. I’ve blogged about this stuff a lot lately as it’s been so heavy on my heart. But I feel so blessed and honored to be with my kids so much and to be the one to teach them (daddy too) and train them sometimes hourly! Many blessings to you all and continued prayers for Jen!
Love this post, very well said!! I pray that God will save your boys at a young age. Hope you are all doing well. Continuing to pray for Jen’s recovery.
OMG, I was JUST thinking about this book last night and how I SERIOUSLY need to buy it!! My kids were being SO naughty yesterday, and I was thinking about how we need to get the Word more deeply deposited in their little hearts. I was thinking about the book you guys had told me about when I was visiting…and was going to text Jen today to ask the title. But then I saw this post, yay!! I’m buying this today.
So instead Jen and I were able to text our “glamourshots” of how AWESOME we’re looking these days. 😉 Jen takes the cake with the respirator thing, lol!!
It makes my heart so happy to see this! Always enjoy your posts and hope Jen is doing well!
i love this. i am totally going to go buy it!
One way that we have used to ” hide God’s word in their hearts” is through music.
ALL my children LOVE music. We have Steve Green’s ” Hide ’em in your heart” cd set. I absolutely love it. They are all just scripture put to music..also, some good ol’ Psalty, the singing song book.:) I listened to it as a kid and still remember several verses because of that..( psatly also has a abc verse song.:) you are doing a great job!!! Your little boys are going to be awesome men of God! I have a 3 yr old girl, if you wanna save some money and match one of your boys up now.:)