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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Family Devotion Ideas & the Homemaking Party

Welcome to this week's Homemaking Party!  Hope everyone has had a nice week!

My husband has been leading our family in some fun Bible studies that he found in the Family Night Tool Chest series from Focus on the Family.  I got smart and grabbed my camera the other night so I could share one with you all!

The activity that goes with this study could actually be used to discuss two different themes so I've made a "Pinteresting" image for each in case you're wanting to save this and come back.  (Keep reading...you'll find them!)


Jamie started out the lesson by sprinkling the contents of all our baby powder containers, as well as my new container of cornstarch, evenly over a square of sidewalk.


Then he instructed everyone to get to the other side of the powder without tracking any powder onto the clean part of the sidewalk.  The grass on both sides was off limits.


After a very long time of contemplation, the kids decided there was no tricky way around this---so they tentatively began stepping out onto the powder.


Results---nope, not possible.


Everyone thought it was funny to see Daddy try too!


They decided to try running through it really fast to see if that would keep the powder from sticking---but no, there was no way around it.


Jamie used the activity to illustrate how there is only one way to God---through Jesus.  Just like the only way the kids could get to the other side of the powder was to walk through it, there is only one way for us to reach Father God---through Jesus Christ.  He read Exodus 3:1-6 and talked about the definition of holy.  He likened the powder to sin and the clean square to holy ground.  We couldn't be allowed near God with our dirty sin if it weren't for Jesus' sacrifice for us!


As Jamie was giving the lesson, I kept thinking about how we'd tracked that powder all over the place.  Even though the kids all wiped their feet off on a wet towel before coming inside, I could still see white footprints here and there.  Kynthia even had it on her face!  It made me think about our good and bad moods and how contagious they are.

After Jamie was done with the lesson, I told the kids to imagine that powder was a bad attitude and that clean sidewalk was everyone we come into contact with in one day.  I told them how our bad attitude can spread and cause others to catch it like a sickness.  I explained the importance of keeping our attitudes in check and being careful to spread cheerfulness and kindness instead of grumpiness!

Let me know what you think of these devotion ideas---can you use them?  If you all are liking them, maybe I'll put up some more!

I hope you'll join me for this week's Homemaking Linkup.  I love to feature some of the neat posts that are linked up so please make sure and put my button or a text link on your blog so you'll be eligible to be featured!

Here are a couple of my favorites from last week's party:



I get a lot of questions about the hows and why of homeschooling, but the big FAQ is always:  how do you homeschool with so many kids?  Ha!  Check out Daja's post from The Provision Room.  Such a great article about the philosophy of homeschooling different age groups at once.


Audra's article on How to Drink Enough Water has really blessed me this week!  Using this information, I figured out how much  I need to be drinking each day and actually removed my wedding ring without the aid of lotion tonight!  Woo Hoo!! Thanks, Audra!

Thanks to everyone for the great posts!

Now for the linkup.  Please remember to return the favor by adding my button or a text link to your post.  Have a great weekend!



Photobucket


This article was featured in Issue #111 of The Christian Home Magazine

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Linking with:


Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Pearls and Lace Thursday @ Faith, Grace and Crafts
Legacy Leaver Thursday @ Leaving a Legacy
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
Homeacre Hop 
Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable  
Desire to Inspire @ A Royal Daughter
Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 
Open House @ Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thoughtful Thursday @ Found the Marbles 
Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove
Inspiration Friday @ Dear Creatives
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Beverly's Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound
Family Fun Friday @ Happy and Blessed Home
Farm Girl Friday @ Let This Mind Be In You
Fit & Frugal Family Friday
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Or So She Says...
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Finding the Pretty & Delicious @ Your Homebased Mom
30 Min. Linkup @ 30 Days
Sharing Creative Ideas @ Made By Joey  
Sunday Showcase Party@Under the Table and Dreaming 
Sundae Scoop @ I heart nap time
The Creative Homemaker Hop 
Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life
One More Time
Sunday Blog Hop @ Cuddlebug Cuties
Craft-o-Maniac Monday  
Motivate Me Monday 
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 
Matrimonial Monday @ A Proverbs 31 Wife 
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill 
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 
Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 
A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 
Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 
Mondays with Countrified Hicks
Manic Monday @ Cupcake-n-Bake
Mommy Mondays
Making Your Home Sing Monday
A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life
Cottage Style Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage 
Teach Me Tuesday @ Growing Home
Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios
Courtship Connection
Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good 
Domestically Divine @ Far Above Rubies
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
Tending the Home Tuesday
The Bliss Project Linkup @ Grace-Full Intentions
Wisdom Wednesdays @Simply Helping Him
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Whole-Hearted Home Wednesdays 
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Home @ Rose Chintz Cottage  
Inspire Me Wednesday @ MamaBuzz
What's Working Wednesday @ NextGen Homeschool 
Watcha Work-Up Wednesday 
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants 
Wow Me Wednesday @ Gingersnap Creations
Simple Living Wednesdays @ Our Simple Farm
Sheltering Linkup @ A Sheltering Tree
Shoe Lace Linkup @ Living In the Shoe  










34 comments:

  1. What a great way to illustrate the path of God to the kids....Christine

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  2. I love this!!! Is it on the Focus On the Family Website? We are always looking for creative devotionals!

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  3. I'm a constant advocate of participatory learning! Well done :))
    and great effort you've put into all your photos, Sarah!

    I think you'll like today's FHC link!
    Free books for all ages, genres, audiobooks, Bibles and commentaries, just for signing up thru the link in the post ! Blessings..

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  4. Great family game and quality time together!!
    Thank you for the party and I wish you much more time spending together

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  5. Oh yes, I loved it. More please! I loved the smiles on their faces too. They were having fun but they "got" it.

    I would really love it if you'd link this up to my "Making Your Home Sing Monday" linky party this coming Monday! ;)

    Thanks so much for hosting today.

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  6. How lovely,it's a joy to see such loving family activity. With so much sadness in the World,it's refreshing.

    I teach 3 sisters and 1 brother, embroidery. They have another brother and sister at home and they are all home schooled by their father and open access, while mum works long hours. They are a joy. So well mannered and respectful,a credit to their parents

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  7. I love that devotional! While reading it I was thinking about how when we "dip" into sin, it messes up so many areas of our lives, affects us now and down the road, even though we're forgiven. Thanks for sharing it, and for hostessing the party. Hugs ~ Mary

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  8. Thanks for hosting! Have a wonderful week :)

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  9. Great lesson for the kiddos!! Grownups too!

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  10. What a delight to read and see photos of your dear family immersing themselves in things of God! Jaime is a good teacher, I see, and you two make a great team :) I also wanted to ask if I am linking up too many posts?! It seems selfish to me. What would you like as the hostess?
    Have a blessed day in Jesus!

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  11. PS I also must say that linking up on your Link-Up is SO easy, I get carried away! Ha! And your comments are easy...not catchpa!

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  12. I was thinking about your post this morning. There's a recently started "pin it" party that I link up to.

    I don't have any pin boards but the hostess told me that I could link up anyway.

    So I am suggesting that you might want to link up your post to that pin up party as I'm sure people would love to read it. Here's the link: http://oneorganicmama.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-pin-it-party-2.html

    That is not MY linky party that I mentioned earlier though. Mine is on Monday. Have a great day!

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  13. How wonderful it would be and the world would be a better place if more fathers took the time for their children like our Jamie does. *I enjoy seeing whatever they are engaged in. That little one is such a cutie.

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  14. What a fun idea...and great lesson.
    Happy pinks.

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  15. Thanks for sharing on Frugal Fit Family Friday Linky Party. www.leahinspired.com

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  16. Great object lesson! As I was reading about it I was thinking about Acts 15:11 as well.

    Someday I'll get linked up to your Weekly Homemaking Party - if I remember to take pictures of things I do!

    Have a lovely weekend,
    Robin

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  17. Wow, what a great lesson and one we could all learn from! I'm betting your kids will re-do this one with their own children someday!

    Happy Pink Saturday!
    gena

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  18. It is so wonderful to see a family that have Devotions together on a regular basis. My husband was brought up by a God loving family that had devoitions and I was not. In fact I'm the only believer in my whole entire family (so far...), and yet God saved me when the influence came from outside my own family, regardless of my upbringing. So seeing your sweet family learning life lessons is just awesome. Great photos and I'm blessed by seeing your post!
    Doni

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  19. Hi Sarah
    I saw your link on Cuddlebug Cuties blog hop today.
    I love this post. What a great lesson on attitudes.
    I linked up and I'm a new follower. Hope you will visit my blog also.
    Angel @ sewcraftyangel.blogspot.com

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  20. Thanks so much for the invite, Sarah -- sharing my recipe for Leftover Oatmeal Muffins as requested. :)

    Blessings! ~Lisa

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  21. A compelling lesson. Thanks for sharing on the HomeAcre hop and please join us again this week: http://everythinghomewithcarol.com/self-sufficient-homeacre-hop-and-herbal-tea-giveaway/

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  22. Thanks so much for the invite and the party! :)

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  23. What a terrific idea. Please share it (and any others) on my family-focused Kid Corner @ http://wp.me/p280y0-SQ. You may just get highlighted next week :-) Jennifer

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  24. Thanks for featuring my post. :)

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  25. I'm so excited that you were able to link up with us! Yay!

    I've been trying to figure out how I can use this as an illustration for our children's Awana program in the fall.

    I'm thinking if the weather is good we could take the kids outside during the large group time, and use it as a great illustration then.

    Thanks so much for linking up to the "Making Your Home Sing Monday" linky party today! :)

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  26. Sarah, I loved both scenerios. Thanks so much for sharing them with SYC. I will be using this sometime for sure.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  27. Hi Sarah,
    What a wonderful way to illustrate the path to our heavenly Father; no other way but through Jesus! It was fun for the kids too. Thank you for sharing at my HOME and have a wonderful weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  28. I was blessed reading your devotional idea. We have access to God through Jesus! Certainly a creative way to illustrate it to children.

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  29. What a great live lesson! We don't do family devotions, per se, due to a number of things. We just tend to talk scripture all the time. Thanks for sharing this with me this week!

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  30. Sarah, I really loved the lesson. I love your dual interpretation as well.
    I teach public school so I can use the biblical reference, but your idea about attitude rings very true and I can use this reference in my class.
    Thanks for blessing us with this share, and yes, please keep them coming!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! I read each one of them and love to respond back to those who visit! Please consider signing up for EMAIL NOTICES so you'll have a reminder of our weekly HOMEMAKING PARTY---and more! Have a wonderful day!

Mrs. Sarah Coller

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