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Jo Dee (Jodee)
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 02:46 pm: |     |
1. Have you seen any signs of your child's spiritual awakening?
I have two in this age group. Both of them have professed salvation.
My 11 year old has been very concerned about others and has prayed that she could be used to show others the Savior. He has answered her prayer several times and it excites her each time. She is very involved with her personal Bible Studies and we discuss them together. We took her out of her Sunday School class last month as my dh and I signed up for a class we wanted her to attend with us. She was by far the youngest in our class, but she enjoyed it.
My 9 year old is very sensitive to when he sins. Many times he'll just stop and run to his room. When I ask what he did, he'll say he had to go ask God to forgive him of something.
2. If they are already Christians, have you seen any signs of their desire to grow and learn more?
Mentioned above.
3. If your child could ask Jesus any question at all, what would it be? (Ask them in a moment of reflection, and let us know the response)
I'll have to get back on this one.
4. Realizing the time is ripe for the harvest, how does this change your perspective and plans for homeschooling, if at all?
This doesn't change my perspective as one of the reasons for homeschooling was for evangelizing my children as well as giving them a desire to evangelize others.
Jo Dee |
Susan (Susan)
| | Posted on Monday, November 11, 2002 - 02:31 pm: | |
Dear Friends,
Time has been freed up a bit in our home now that Sarah’s volleyball season is over, and regular routines are being re-established now that Ted is starting a new job soon, and I thought I might post this next section of our manual discussion.
I separated out this section because I felt it was of the utmost importance the first time we went through the manual, and I still believe so. I would like us to really dwell on this for a a day or two, because this is the real reason for our home schooling. Education is wonderful, but Knowledge without God is Vain at best, and evil at worst. Some of the world's most diabolical minds have been well-educated geniuses, but without God. With that *wonderful* thought ringing in our ears, let us talk about:
GROWING IN FAITH (Quest for Personal Spiritual Identity)
How your child learns best at this stage: Through stories, service, active learning, reading, and catching your enthusiasm.
How he thinks at this age: He can now reason abstractly, and understand concepts like salvation, grace, and sin. He is starting to understand that history happened in order, and can see the pattern of God's plan through the ages. He wants his faith to be practical, he wants to know God will meet him where his greatest needs are, is a personal God. He asks "WHY" a lot. Needs to know the answer is in the bible.
How you can help him Grow in Faith: Appeal to him to make Jesus his savior. These are the peak years for commitments to Christ. This should be the #1 priority in his spiritual development. Point your child to worthy heroes to follow. Read books about Missionaries and giants of the faith, instead of focusing on media stars and rock musicians. Continue to give him opportunities to serve in the community and neighborhood. Make his Christianity practical. Explore the missionary work of your church, and help him raise money for the missionaries and to write to the missionaries.
Introduce your child to Jesus. Talk about Him, sing to Him, show your child how important He is in your own life, how you depend upon Him and trust Him. Teach your child that his mistakes are opportunities for exercising confession and accepting forgiveness. Memorize 1 John 1:9 together. Encourage your child to participate in family prayers, and to pray by himself. Give him opportunities to make a decision to follow Jesus. Model God's unconditional love for your child.
Topics to Explore with Your Child:
The History of the Bible
Bible Geography, customs of the times and peoples of the Bible
Salvation and conversion
Gospel Message
The Great Commission
Heroes of the Faith
Victorious Living
Prayer and Worship
Memorize bible verses related to these subjects.
Discussion/Confession Time:
I was so inspired and encouraged by this portion of this section. The hope and simplicity of The Great Commission, which begins within our own homes, is incredible.
I was struck with the above thought, that the Great Commission begins with our own children, and how sad it is when Christians seem to "throw their children to the heathen" by putting them in public school with the thought that now they, the parents, are free to serve God in the community without the baggage of little ones around them.
My daughter seemed to be questioning everything a couple years ago. I know now it was a developmental stage, and not one of a wavering in her faith. She just wanted to understand the foundations of what we believe. How exciting to see a child begin to grow. She wasn't disrespectful, nor was her tone one of disbelief, but of contemplation. She was making our beliefs her own.
The most exciting thing was this past summer, when she found that volunteering for the Red Cross was a way of fulfilling serving God. She found scripture to support her desire to do this work, and approached it with the attitude of extending Godly compassion to others.
I would suggest that when your child wants to participate in an activity such as sports or volunteerism or social activism, ask them to find scripture to support that desire. It is the beginning of considering God's design for their lives instead of just their own desires.
Questions:
1. Have you seen any signs of your child's spiritual awakening?
2. If they are already Christians, have you seen any signs of their desire to grow and learn more?
3. If your child could ask Jesus any question at all, what would it be? (Ask them in a moment of reflection, and let us know the response)
4. Realizing the time is ripe for the harvest, how does this change your perspective and plans for homeschooling, if at all? |
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