Helpful Tip Tuesday: Questions to Ask Yourself about Praise

1.  Am I a "fair-weather Christian" who praises the Lord only when all is well and my circumstances are ideal? (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

2.  Does my life lack that overflowing spirit of praise that characterizes those who are rooted, grounded, and established in the faith? (Colossians 2:6-7)

3.  Have I submitted myself to the Lord to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, by "continually praising and blessing God"? (Luke 24:53)

4.  Am I a "draw-back Christian" in whom God has no pleasure, because I withhold joyful, unceasing praises to my Lord? (Hebrews 10:38)

5.  Am I neglecting the thanksgiving and praise that are essential to an effective prayer life? (Philippians 4:6)

6.  Do I fully comprehend that every time I offer words of praise to God, I am truly glorifying Him? (Psalm 50:23)

7.  Am I experiencing the victory in spiritual warfare that can only be brought about through praise? (2 Corinthians 10:4)

~taken from There's Dynamite in Praise by Don Gossett

Helpful Tip Tuesday: 11 Questions Kids Can Ask A Grandparent

"If the conversation doesn't flow freely between your kids and their grands, consider these ways to jump-start it.

 1.  What was Daddy like as a kid? What was your favorite thing to do together?

 2.  How did you and Grandma first meet?

 3.  What jobs have you had? What was the        worst? The best?

 4.  Whom did you look up to when you were a      kid?

 5.  Can you tell me about the day Mommy was      born?

 6.  What kinds of toys did you like to play      with when you were little and what          activities did you do for fun?

 7.  What was your hardest chore as a kid?

 8.  Did you or Grandpa play a musical            instrument or a sport? Were you good at it?

 9.  In what ways are you and I the most          alike?

10.  Did my mom give you any trouble as a kid? Can you tell me a story about it?

11.  How did your family celebrate the            holidays when you were a child?"

~taken from Parents Magazine, pg. 183, Sept. 2014

Helpful Tip Tuesday: 5 Puzzling Questions to Consider

 *Why is it so difficult to realize that others are more likely to  listen to us if first we listen to them?

* Why is it so much easier to be negative than positive?

* Why is it so difficult to motivate ourselves when we know that results come only through motivation?

* Why is it so difficult to say thank you to someone when those are two of our own favorite words to hear?

* Why do we dread adversity when we know that facing it is the only way to become stronger, smarter, better?

~taken from Wooden by Coach John Wooden with Steve Jamison

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Homemaking

"A Calling to Be Queen 

(...of the Home)

1. Homemaking is a priority-I love Titus 2:3-5 because it so clearly spells out God's will for my life (and yours, too!) as a Christian woman.

2. Homemaking is a privilege-Being a queen is a privilege...just as "making" and "building" a home is a privilege.

3. Homemaking is about people-Home is a place where people live.

4. Homemaking is also about a place-A model home has no people. That's true. But it's also true that if there are people living in your house, then you should make that place a lovely home, a place for your loved ones.

5. Homemaking is a passion-not a prison.

6. Homemaking is a profession-As we all know, homemaking is a challenging and diverse career in itself.

7. Homemaking is a matter for prayer-The simple act of praying for our "palace" and our homemaking and for the loved ones for whom we are "making" the home transforms our physical efforts into a great spiritual work with eternal value.

8. Homemaking is permanent-Our high calling to homemaking is not only an important calling, but it is a permanent calling. Why? Because wherever you are, that's where your home is.

9. Homemaking sets a pattern-Titus 2:3-5 tells us what the older women are to do-they are to teach "good things" and train and model for others what a godly woman is and what a godly woman does.

10. Homemaking is a practice-and is to be practiced. An excellent (and encouraging!) time-management principle is "repetition is the mother of skill."

~taken from A Woman's High Calling by Elizabeth George

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Kids and Their Stuff

"Life Skills Checklist

*Do my children have too much clothing or too many toys or too many saved papers?

*Is the closet arranged so my child can hang up her own clothing? Are my child's drawers organized and not too crammed? If my child needs it, have I placed picture labels on the appropriate drawers? Do my children each have their own laundry basket?

*Do I have an organized place for out-of-season clothing, and do I regularly go through this storage area to keep it weeded out?

* Do we have a system for rotating toys so the children don't have too much out at one time? Do we periodically give away toys to someone who can use them? Do my children have a place for books and papers?

*Have we thought of a creative way to deal with items left lying around the house, like a confiscation box? 

*Does my older child understand why it is important to be organized? Has he spent time thinking about the best ways to organize his room and belongings? Do I regularly declutter with my child, helping him to sort and prioritize his possessions?"

~taken from Life Skills for Kids by Christine M. Fields, pg. 149

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Bring Out the Best in People

"Six Ways to Bring Out the Best in People

1.  Keep courtesy and consideration for others foremost in your mind, at home and away.

2.  Try to have fun without trying to be funny.

3.  While you can't control what happens to you, you can control how you react. Make good manners an automatic reaction.

4.  Seek individual opportunities to offer a genuine compliment.

5.  Remember that sincerity, optimism, and enthusiasm are more welcome than sarcasm, pessimism, and laziness.

6.  Laugh with others, never at them."

~taken from Wooden by John Wooden with Steve Jamison

Helpful Tip Tuesday: 7 rules to a good, clean fight

"1. Before we begin we must both agree that the time is right.

 2. We will remember that our only battle aim is a deeper understanding of each other.

 3. We will check our weapons often to be sure they're not deadly.

 4. We will lower our voices instead of raising them.

 5. We will never quarrel in public nor reveal private matters.

 6. We will discuss an armistice whenever either of us calls "halt."

 7. When we have come to terms we will put it away until we both agree it needs more discussing."

~Taken from Letters to Karen by Charlie W. Shedd

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Journaling

I read this article in "The Old Schoolhouse-The Magazine for Homeschool Families"and loved it. I want to share it with you because I believe that journaling is so important and it gave me some new ideas you might find helpful.

"Journaling: The Power of Personal Stories

Notebook Keeping By Laura Malone

Imagine holding in your hands writings from your grandmother’s journal that chronicle the mountain tops and valleys of her life and how God orchestrated His will through it all. Or imagine reading stories of your mom as a child or tips on how your great-grandmother kept the house tidy when all her children were under the age of 5. Wouldn’t that be a delight? Have you ever thought of the possibility of journaling—not only to develop clarity in your spiritual walk but also as a tool in the molding and training up of your children and even future generations? As a legacy-minded mom you can set realistic goals for when and how you will journal, and your written treasures will be cherished for many years to come.

Several years ago, just the thought of journaling brought on anxiety and frustration for me, because it was always something I wanted to do but felt defeated by. Then one day, while reading the Bible, I began to see the power of personal stories and beautiful examples of people passing them down to future generations, and I realized I could be doing this too. For instance, in Joshua 4:1–9, an account of the time when the whole nation of Israel had finished crossing the Jordan River, the Lord told Joshua to have men collect twelve stones from the river bed where the priests were standing and then place them at their campsite. The stones would serve as a sign for future generations, and when the children asked what the purpose of the stones was, they would be told how the Lord had helped their parents cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land.

The concept of journaling . . . comes from our Creator.

I also began to understand that the concept of journaling was not a modern idea but one that comes from our Creator. One of the most precious gifts our God has given us is a perfect collection of personal stories that paints pictures of God’s hand working through individuals’ lives. We know this God-inspired collection as the Bible. It has effectively taught and encouraged many generations of Christians, as well as strengthened our faith and given us hope when we have felt alone.

From this perspective, journaling became a natural priority for what I wanted to do in each of my children’s lives, and I decided I would make this work for me—somehow. As the years go by, I’ve become more creative with my journaling ideas and no longer journal solely about my spiritual walk but also include other things I believe will benefit future generations, even things to make them laugh.

Misconceptions about journaling can cripple your motivation and productivity, so I want to share with you the style of journaling that has worked with my busy schedule. First, I create a file for each journal and save it to my desktop, where it’s easily accessible. I keep my laptop on the counter in the kitchen, where I spend most of my time. When we’re in transition mode from breakfast to morning chores or right after I’ve put the baby down for a nap and before I move on to the next activity, I type up a quick paragraph, save it, and move on with my day.

If you prefer to use a paper journal, keep a pen clipped to it and place it in a location where you’re more likely to have your hands free (okay, one hand free), like near the kitchen table so you can write while you eat breakfast or lunch. Or consider leaving it on a TV tray next to the rocking chair so that you can jot something down while you nurse your little one.

Also, I decided that journaling could not be a daily or even a weekly, time-consuming activity and that I would write only when something particularly stood out in my mind. I put no expectations on myself other than to jot down a few sentences. This helps get me to the computer without procrastinating, and once I get started I typically write more than I thought I had time for.

I also keep a notepad beside the bed for the middle-of-the-night whispers from God and then type those notes into my journal the next day. And finally, I make it fun so that I’m more likely to do it. Occasionally, I’ll reward myself with my favorite cup of tea or a Snickers bar while I write. But I can sincerely say the best rewards are the teaching moments and the laughter that ensues as we read from these journals together.

To get you started, here are a few journaling ideas I’ve begun for my family:

Spiritual Heritage Journal 

This is a compilation of personal stories from family members such as your children’s grandparents, aunts and uncles, great-aunts and great-uncles, and even second cousins that documents ways that God has personally worked in their lives. Reading these stories as a teenager or young adult could strengthen your child’s courage and faith and equip him to face the spiritual battles to come. The finished product would make a forever-cherished graduation or wedding gift.

Teaching Journal 

I use this journal for the “Aha!” moments with God during my quiet times. These are special times when God clearly whispers into my heart about something I need to change or something new He has taught me through His Word, through other people, and sometimes through music or poetry. This journal could also be beneficial for your children to read and discuss during their high school years as they’re maturing in their faith and searching for tangible examples of God’s love.

The best rewards are the teaching moments and the laughter that ensues as we read from these journals together.

Parenting/Homemaking Tips Journal 

Let’s face it, not all of us are naturally inclined to having good homemaking skills or confidence in the decisions we sometimes make as parents. I’ve often dreamed of having notes from my mom or one of my grandmothers on how to do things efficiently and properly around the house or how to respond to a particular behavior problem with my children. After being a mom for seven years, I finally feel like I’m figuring some of this out.

So, to help guide my children a little, I decided to start jotting down parenting and homemaking tips that have worked for me. I have categories such as Health, School, Cooking, Kitchen, and Gardening and simply list bullet points under each.

Growing Up Journal 

This is probably my favorite journal. After my oldest was born I decided I would periodically chronicle what was going on in her life. These include journal entries about things she likes, what’s important to her at that time, and funny things she says and does. I’ve since continued to do this for all my children.

Sometimes at bedtime, instead of reading a storybook, I’ll grab a child’s journal and we’ll giggle at the stories until our tummies hurt. I’ve learned that sharing these stories helps them understand themselves a little better, teaches them to laugh at themselves, and shows them how special they are to God and to me.

Journaling, just like stones, can serve as a reminder of the goodness of God in our lives. Let’s challenge ourselves to leave these priceless treasures for our families in hopes of encouraging and inspiring them for the glory of God.

Laura Malone is married to Rusty, a high school football coach, and mom to three beautiful blessings: Grace (7), Mary Ella (5) and Elijah (1), with her fourth child due in September. She loves homeschooling, gardening, sipping jasmine tea, and watching for early-morning cardinals in her backyard. Laura is from Rowlett, Texas, where she also enjoys reading, sewing, and trying new things like writing articles!"

~Taken from Old Schoolhouse Magazine, July Edition

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Avoiding Gossip

"Gossip often veils itself in certain phrases:

"Have you heard...?"

"Did you know...?"

"They tell me..."

"Keep this to yourself, but..."

"I don't believe it's true, but I heard that..."

"I wouldn't tell you, except that I know it will go no further."

Of course, the most infamous such rationalization in Christian circles is,"I am telling you this so you can pray." It sounds pious, but the heart that feeds on evil reports leaves flaming fires in its wake. Oh, the heartache that comes from the tongue."

~Barbara Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Woman, pg. 88-89

Anything you would add to this list of possible gossip phrases?

 

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Courtesy Owed To A Small Child

"In addition to learning how to treat others, children must also be treated well themselves if they are to develop gracious manners. Parents most often think in terms of how they can teach their child to behave toward others and only rarely stop to think of the courtesy that even a small 

child is owed.

Here are the basic courtesies that 

any child is owed:

• Do not talk down. Children may not think or act like adults, but they do know when they are being condescended to, and they do not like it.
• Do not speak babytalk. Apart from the fact that speech experts have determined that babytalk only confuses a child, the child may think this is an acceptable way to speak. And there are few things more ridiculous than an adult speaking jibberish.
• Do not use vulgar language. In today's media-oriented world, with standards at what must be an all-time low, he will learn vulgar language soon enough. There is nothing cute about a two-year-old using obscene expressions that he does not understand.
• Do not, if you can possibly avoid doing so, discipline your child n public."

~Taken from The New Etiquette by Marjabelle Young Stewart

Is there anything you would add to this list?

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Studying the Bible

"London preacher and Bible teacher Dick Lucas provides these six basic questions that, if asked, will prove helpful:

1.  What is the main point (or points) of the text?

2.  How can you tell what the main point is?

3.  How does your understanding of the text connect to what came immediately before and after?

4.  Does this text tell us about or point us to Jesus? How?

5.  What are the surprises in this text?

6.  What is the application of this text? How do you know?

     Get the big picture. After applying these questions to the text you are studying, ask this question: 'How is the text tied to the context of the whole Bible?'  This will help you avoid getting bogged down in the small details and enable you to gain an understanding of how a smaller section of the Bible fits into the big picture."

~As quoted in Disciplines of a Godly Woman, pg. 79-80

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Relationships

From Head to Heart

* Practice being present with a friend. Stop everything and be there. Put your cell phone on vibrate. If possible, don't multitask, even if you feel like you can do something else and listen at the same time. Let her know that you are there by your body language and eye contact. Ask follow-up questions.

* Practice being present with yourself. When possible, drive in the car without the radio on. Sit still without reading or watching television. Start small, but become comfortable with longer periods of silence and solitude.

* Practice being present with God. Pour out your heart but then take time to listen. Or simply imagine you are leaning up against Jesus like his disciple John (John 13:25). Breathe out your worries and breathe in his peace.

* Imagine yourself stepping to the throne of grace with your feelings of shame and unworthiness. Now, picture him smiling and delighting in you because you are his beloved daughter.

* Call someone just to talk through your feelings.

* Call someone and ask for specific prayer.

* When people ask you to pray for them, offer to pray with them right then.

* Send a card, text, or email that says, "I have prayed for you." That is so much more comforting than, "I will pray for you."

* Collect your friends' Christmas card photos and put them on the fridge or a bulletin board nearby. Whenever your eyes land up on a family, send up a quick prayer for them.

* If a sermon touches you at church, buy the CD and send it to a friend. If a book helps you grow, buy one for a friend.

*Send a box of "withness" to a friend. Collect a handful of little gifts, wrap them individually, put a sweet note on each package, box them all up, and deliver it to a friend who needs a friend to be with her during a lonely or hard time.

* Consider attempting to reconcile a broken friendship.

* Think of the kind of friendships you would like to have and ask God to provide that kind of friend.

~Taken from Friendships for Grown-Ups, pg. 211-212

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Active Listening Part II

Hints for becoming an accomplished and effective 

"Active Listener:"

1.   Sit toward the front and center of the room. Vision and hearing are better.
2.   Tune in. Listening takes energy.
3.   Avoid distractions such as doorways, window glare and people who may distract you.
4.   Have two pens in case one runs out of ink.
5.   Write the date and topic on the top of your note-page.
6.   Prepare yourself mentally. Ask God to help you listen actively.
7.   Pay attention to the speaker for verbal, postural, and visual clues as to what is important. Repetition often indicates an important point.
8.   Listen to the introduction and write down the overall theme of the talk or sermon. What challenges or questions does the speaker raise?
9.   Be selective. Some points are more important than others. Write down only the main ideas and divide the lesson into key points. Number each point. Use letters or bullet points to highlight sub-points.
10.   Don't try to write down every word spoken. Concentrate on key words or thoughts and jot down words or phrases, not entire sentences. Write down a two or three word description of illustrations given to highlight key points. Use symbols ( +,=, &,@,w/ ("for with"), etc.
11.   Write scripture references next to key points.
12.   Instead of getting ready to leave immediately at the end of the sermon or lesson, listen carefully to the information given toward the end. Summary statements may be of particular value in highlighting main points.
13.   After the lesson, review you notes and write down applications from the lesson to your life. Learning without application is worse than no learning at all. Once we hear a word from God, we are responsible for that word.
14.   As part of your daily devotional time, re-read the scriptures used as a part of the lesson. Underline or make notations in your Bible's margin to highlight these scriptures for later reference. Commit to memory one of the key scripture references each week.

~Taken from Family Christian Press, Sermon & Lesson Organizer

Do you have any other helpful hints for listening that are not mentioned on this list?

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Active Listening Part I

Why take notes during a sermon or lesson?

1.   The spoken language is 90% forgotten within a week,   but you will retain about 50% of what you write down.
2.   Taking notes during a sermon provides a written record for review.
3.   It forces you to listen carefully and to pay attention. It forces you to become an "active listener."
4.   It requires organization, which involves active effort on your part.
5.   Taking notes aids in understanding because you must condense and rephrase what is being said.
6.   1 Peter 4:11 says that people who teach "should do it as one speaking the very words of God." This being true, to do anything less than listen with a whole heart is missing the very words of God for us on a given day. There is no such thing as an "ordinary sermon" if the speaker is a man or woman of God.
7.   Taking notes during a sermon or lesson will help you grow as a follower of Christ.

~Taken from Family Christian Press, Sermon & Lesson Organizer

Active Listening Part II will be shared on next week's Helpful Tip Tuesday!

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Routines

Routines 

*To keep you child's morning and evening routine "handy," try this. Trace your hand on two pieces of construction paper, a yellow piece for the morning and a blue piece for the bedtime routine. On each finger, write one thing that needs to be accomplished. Write the first thing to be done on the thumb, for instance, Make your bed. Once your child completes this first task, she gives you a "thumbs-up" and proceeds with the rest: Get dressed, Eat breakfast, Brush teeth, and Morning devotions. Upon closing her children's Bible, she gives you a "high-five" to indicate that her morning routine is complete. This is repeated in the evening for the nighttime routine. The only difference is, instead of ending with a "high five," you put your "fives" together for bedtime prayer.

* We wanted to establish a daily routine for our children while they were still little. The biggest obstacle we faced was the fact that they couldn't read the fancy chart I had made. So, I asked their grandfather to draw pictures illustrating the task that was to be done next to a picture of what the clock would look like at that time.

* A similar idea is to create a daily planner by taking a picture of your child engaged in the activity listed on the schedule, as well as a picture of the clock at that time. Buy a small photo album and put in the pairs of pictures, one page per pair, in the order in which the tasks are to be accomplished throughout the day. First thing in the morning, the child opens her daily planner, does the first task, and then turns the page. The last page has a picture of the child in bed with a snapshot of his or her bedtime on the clock.

* Your morning routine could include filling six sippy cups each morning for each child placing them on the lowest shelf in the fridge. You can fill two with milk, two with juice, and two with water. This is so much easier than pouring drinks all day long, it cuts down on your "waitressing" job, and it ensures that your kids get a healthy balance of liquids every day.

Taken from the Book: Creative Correction, pg. 324-325 

Helpful Tip Tuesday: Car Rides

Activities on the Road

If you have a long car ride, plan in advance to pack:

• Books on tape (free from the public library). There are some great titles for family listening.
• Books for individual and group reading.
• Art supplies. Try sticker books and coloring books to occupy your kids' time. Or if you really want to think ahead, bring old Christmas cards for the kids to cut up with fancy edging scissors, to be used as holiday gift tags.
• Games. Magnetic travel versions such as checkers, chess, and Othello are great. 
• Journals for recording travel experiences.
•  Music. Each of the kids has his or her favorite type of music, so we let them bring CDs or tapes to share with everyone.

Taken from the Book:  America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money