God - The Better Mom

At the Cross of Jesus

March 29, 2013 By Kara Chupp

Today is a day to–

Pause.

To stop…
From casually, flippantly, hurriedly– jumping to the joy of Easter-rejoicing.
But to really stop.
And not skim over the sacrifice that was made at the Cross,
On that horrendous Good Friday so long ago.

So please pause with me for a moment and let our hearts and our minds take in the sufferings of Jesus.

“For six long hours he hung there before a gazing crowd, naked, and bleeding from head to foot–
His head pierced with thorns,
His back lacerated with flogging,
His hands and feet torn with nails,
And mocked and reviled by His cruel enemies to the very last.
Let us meditate frequently on these things:
…that all these horrible sufferings were borne without a murmur;
no word of impatience crossed our Lord’s lips.
In His death, no less than in His life,
He was perfect.
To the very last,
Satan had no hold on Him (John 14:30).” ~J.C. Ryle

And for what?
For whom did He endure this suffering?

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer.” ~Isaiah 53:10

“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all–” ~Romans 8:32

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ~2 Cor. 5:21

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” ~John 3:16

This hymn, written by Philip P. Bliss back in 1875, is one of my favorite Easter songs.
Please take just a minute and read the words with me and then in the comments below, let’s use this online space to give thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
who gave all of Himself, so that we might gain everything worth anything.

“Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, Who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in heaven exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!”

Praising Him with you,

Kara @ The Chuppies

6 Comments | Filed Under: Following God, Hope, Prayer, Uncategorized Tagged With: Easter, forgiveness, God, God's Word, good friday, Gratitude, holidays, intentional, prayer, salvation, thanks

Favorite Devotion Books for Children

January 11, 2013 By Kara Chupp

The new year is a great time to create a plan for studying God’s Word with your children.
One way to do that is by reading through a devotional book together as a family.

And so we wanted to share a few of our favorites…

Long Story Short – Marty Machowski

“Parents know the importance of passing the gospel story on to their children, yet we live in a busy world filled with distractions…The Bible can seem like a long story for an active family to read, but when you break it down into short sections, as Marty Machowski does, family devotions are easy to do.

Long Story Short will help busy parents share with their children how every story in the Old Testament points forward to God’s story of salvation through Jesus Christ…The gospel is deep enough to keep the oldest and wisest parents learning and growing all their lives, yet simple enough to transform the heart of the first grader who has just begun to read…Long Story Short is a family devotional program designed to explain God’s plan of salvation through the Old Testament and is suitable for children from preschool through high school.”

The Gospel Story Bible – Marty Machowski

“Can a Bedtime Story Actually Change Your Life? It is easy to forget Jesus in the midst of frantic schedules, family squabbles, and conflicting priorities. But the truth is that he is the hero of every story, including these ordinary ones. This is why Marty Machowski puts God’s plan of salvation in Christ on continuous display in The Gospel Story Bible. The easy-to-read storybook introduces your family to many captivating people, places, and events from the Bible’s Old and New Testaments, showing how each one ultimately points to Jesus.”

The Dig for Kids– Patrick Schwenk

“The Dig is an effort to simply and systematically help you as a parent study through books of the Bible so you can help your child. Out of the experience you create, biblical principles are learned and lived. The goal, of course, is that our children will fall in love with Jesus as their Savior and grow up to follow Him with all their heart, soul, and strength.”

The Jesus Storybook Bible — Sally Lloyd-Jones

“The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the Story is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David—every story points to him. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle—the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle. A Bible like no other, The Jesus Storybook Bible invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation—and at the center of their Story too.”

The Big Picture Story Bible — David Helm

“No child is too young to begin learning about the greatest love story of all—God’s love for his people, as portrayed in the Bible. David Helm and Gail Schoonmaker have together created a colorful book of Bible stories written especially for children ages 2–7. Rather than simply retelling portions of the Bible, this book presents the big picture—the unified story running through the Old and New Testaments. Simply written and beautifully illustrated, this book teaches children the Bible’s whole story so they can begin to appreciate the fulfillment of God’s promise to his people.”

God’s Names — Sally Michael

“A full-color guide for parents to teach early elementary children about God s character, as revealed in 26 names in the Bible. Each chapter ends with personal application and activities.”

Big Truths for Little Kids — Susan Hunt

“This wonderful book, with its easy-to-use story format, can help you teach the basic truths of the Christian faith to your children. They’ll learn right along with Caleb and Cassie that God’s ways are the best—and that even as kids, they can live for His glory every day.”

Get Wisdom — Ruth Younts

“Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom…” ~Proverbs 4:7

“Designed for parents or teachers to use with children from K-5-through Grade 4, twenty-three lessons illustrate qualities of wisdom and godliness. Each lesson is presented in a simple format with illustrations to capture the attention of the child, and supplemented at the back of the book with suggestions for teaching the lesson. Every child of God both adults and children should work hard to show these traits more and more, because we love Jesus and want to be like him. That s easier said than done, isn’t it? We struggle with sin every day, and we will fail. The lessons remind us that when we do, we will find forgiveness and the grace to continue to get wisdom at the foot of the Cross.”

Dinner Table Devotions — Nancy Guthrie

“One Year of Dinner Table Devotions & Discussion Starters helps families start where they are already gathered together on a daily basis—around the dinner table. As the meal comes to a close, family members can take turns turning to the dinner-table devotion for that day, designed to be done together as a family in 10 to 15 minutes. The result is a meaningful daily discussion in which every family member can participate, drawing the whole family closer to God . . . and each other.”

Hero Tales — Dave & Neta Jackson

“In this beautifully illustrated treasury, Dave and Neta Jackson present the true-life stories of fifteen key Christian heroes. Each hero is profiled in a short biography and three educational yet exciting and thought-provoking anecdotes from his or her life. Ideal for family devotions, homeschooling, and more…”

Mighty Acts of God — Starr Meade

“Do as David did. Don’t do as Saul did. Follow this Old Testament person, but not that New Testament person. That’s what you may find in many Bible story books. In Mighty Acts of GodStarr Meade takes a new approach to teaching the Bible to elementary school aged children: she focuses not on characters in Scripture, but on God. Each of the ninety Bible stories included focus on a particular character trait or truth about God, emphasizing that God is the main character in every Bible story.”

God’s Mighty Acts in Salvation — Starr Meade

(ages 8 and up)

“Long before we reach adulthood, the gospel ought to be shaping our lives. Paul taught the core truths of the gospel in his letter to the Galatians, and this collection of interactive readings for preteens applies those truths in understandable ways.

Each reading begins with a key verse and then highlights one element of the gospel in everyday terms, followed by questions and activities that reinforce Paul’s teaching. Meade guides young readers to a full picture of God’s saving work, as well as a real understanding of other doctrinal concepts such as justification by faith alone, the priority of Scripture, the requirements for apostleship, and the relationship between the old and new covenants.”

God’s Mighty Acts in Creation — Starr Meade

(ages 9 and up)

“Nature reveals majestic truths about God—truths that help us know him better. God’s Mighty Acts in Creation helps children recognize those wonders, and what they tell us about their Creator.

As Starr Meade, author of Mighty Acts of God, guides young readers through the six days of creation, she points to how creation displays the wisdom and power of God…”

Wondrous Works of God — Starr Meade

“Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!” ~Psalm 107:8

“We want our children to know the God we love and worship, but communicating abstract truths about God can sometimes be difficult. It’s good for us and for our children that God wants to be known. So he doesn’t simply tell us what he’s like; he shows us in the stories of the Bible.

As the sequel to Mighty Acts of God, this volume tells 90 more stories from the Bible, beginning with the account of God creating Eve and ending with the epic visions in Revelation. Each story highlights an aspect of God’s character and includes a helpful discussion guide to help the whole family see and understand the wondrous works of God!”

Journeys of Faithfulness — Sarah Clarkson

“Mary and Martha. Mary, mother of Jesus. Their stories reveal how Almighty God can reach into the life of an ordinary girl and, through her love and obedience, bring His beauty and grace to bear in this world. Celebrate the sacrifice and courage that made these women the heroines they are with this collection of inspirational stories and devotions. In Journeys of Faithfulness, author Sarah Clarkson explores their paths of faith while challenging today’s young woman to reach higher and go deeper in her relationship with Jesus Christ by choosing well and staying the course in her walk with God. A wonderful gift for mothers and their daughters!”

Some of these books include verse-by-verse studies of the Bible.
Others are more of a stepping stone or spark for parent-child discussion of how life events and the stories of other Christ-followers can help each one of us love God more as we try to live our lives in a way that honors Him.

Being intentional and having a plan is the key for setting aside time to have devotions with our children.

What other favorite devotional books have you enjoyed with your family?

How does your family make it a priority to spend time in God’s Word together?

We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments…

Love,
Kara @ The Chuppies

InLinkz.com

14 Comments | Filed Under: Babies, Boys, Following God, Fun For Kids, Girls, Homeschooling, Parenting, Special Needs, Teens, Toddlers Tagged With: Accountability, Back to School series, bible study, character training, child behavior, Devotions, God, God's Word, help for children, Homeschool, intentional, motherhood, parenting

Contentment in the Little Years & Better Mom Mondays Link-up!

October 8, 2012 By Kara Chupp

“Suppose your stories…say that everything should have been different.
Suppose you encourage or even just allow your children to believe that their parents ought to have been different people…with a better chance, born in a better place…
Doesn’t that finally unmake everything that has been made?
Isn’t that the loose thread that unravels the whole garment?

…Sometimes you can say dreadful things without knowing it.” ~Wendell Berry

And I wonder…
Have I said those things?
Without speaking them.

Have I unknowingly said?
I would’ve, could’ve, should’ve, might’ve
Wanted to be somewhere else, somewhere not with them,
Surrounded by little hands and little feet and sticky chair backs.

Have I made them feel it?
That there is something more, something different, that I want–
Something missing–
Unclaimed, thwarted ground–
That I’m longing for?

“If by doing some work which the undiscerning consider not spiritual work I can best help others,
and I inwardly rebel, thinking it is the spiritual for which I crave,
when in truth it is the interesting and exciting, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”
~Amy Carmichael

Because if I’ve said those unsaid words…

With a sigh as I glance at the muddy laundry piles.
Or a scowl as I wash nose prints off the sliding door.
Or a frown when it takes too long for tying shoes.

If I’ve seemed too busy to listen to stories.
Or I appear to count the minutes until naptime.
Or if I’ve pushed away questions with a wave of my hand.

Or if I ever, ever, ever let it seem that my heart is somewhere else.

Forgive me.
I didn’t mean to.
I don’t want to.
Please forgive me.

For I want to dwell in this land that He has provided as a friend of faithfulness (Psalm 37:3).
Strengthened by His power, according to His might, for all endurance and patience with joy (Col. 1:12).
Learning to be content in whatever the situation (Phil. 4:11-12).
That I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord…so that I may testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).

This
Is what I want.
It’s what He’s given me,
These incredible years with you…
That are passing too quickly already.

“If we had the least notion of God’s lovingkindness and tender mercy,
His fatherly care for His poor children, His generousity, His beautiful
plans for us; if we knew how patiently He waits for our turning to Him,
how gently He means to lead us to green pastures and still waters, how
carefully He is preparing a place for us, how ceaselessly He is ordering
and ordaining and engineering His Master Plan for our good-if we had any
inkling of all this, could we be reluctant to let go of our smashed
dandelions or whatever we clutch so fiercely in our sweaty little hands?…
If with courage and joy we pour ourselves out for Him and for others for
His sake, it is not possible to lose, in any final sense, anything
worth keeping. We will lose ourselves and our selfishness. We will
gain everything worth having.” –Elizabeth Elliot

These lines have fallen for me in pleasant places (Is. 26:3).
His beautiful threads that have woven us into a family.

And in His intimate knowing-ness,
Because He sees those deepest places,
Of what would really make me–
Live.
And love.
And give.
And learn.
And need.
And trust.
And grow.
And shine for Him.

He knew it would be–
This.

In this appointed time and place and season of these Little Years.
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned…
And to which God has called (1 Cor 7:17).

“Christian contentment…is the direct fruit of having no higher ambition than to belong to the Lord and to be totally at his disposal in the place He appoints, at the time He chooses, with the provision He is pleased to make.” ~Sinclair Ferguson

So….
If you (sweet child)
Ever think you’ve heard me say–
Or want.
Or claim.
Or desire.
Or strive for….

Something else.
Something different than–
This.

Just know that–

This is what He gave me.
And I want nothing else (not more)…
And for me all else would be less
than…

This.

“Motherhood as a mission field is giving up yourself. Lay yourself down. Sacrifice yourself here, now. Cheerfully wipe the nose for the fiftieth time today. Make dinner again for the people who don’t like the green beans. Laugh when your plans are thwarted by a vomiting child. Lay yourself down for the people here with you, the people who annoy you, the people who get in your way, the people who take up so much of your time that you can’t read anymore. Rejoice in them. Sacrifice for them. Gain that which you cannot lose in them.” ~Rachel Jankovic

Blessings,

Kara @ The Chuppies

This post is part of this month’s series:

Sharing with thanks over at some of our favorite places:

**************************************************************************************

So now it is time to LINK-UP and join the party!!!!

*****We pin our favorite link-ups on The Better Mom’s Pinterest Board!!*****

Better Mom Mondays Link-up is every Monday!!! Every week we have hundreds of posts linked up here from so many beautiful women with beautiful things to share! I encourage you to visit their sites by clicking on the links and reading all of the fantastic ideas and insights! Also don’t forget to join the fun by adding your blog!! We request that if you join below -please add the Better Mom Mondays Link Up button to your post so your readers can find us here! (Posts can include the topics of mothering, marriage, homemaking, discipleship, recipes, organization and more!) You can find the html code in the sidebar, or “save as” copy, and paste the button below.

70 Comments | Filed Under: Babies, Boys, Discipling Children, Family Management, Following God, Girls, Homemaking, Hope, Marriage/Relationships, Ministries and Missions, Parenting, Special Needs, Toddlers Tagged With: behavior in children, character training, child behavior, Contentment Series, Defying the Culture, God, God's Word, helping Moms who feel alone, Homeschool, motherhood, parenting, Preparing for Children

Jordan River Remembering

September 28, 2012 By Kara Chupp

I’m adding new rocks to our Jordan River Stones today…

Is that why the Israelites keep recounting their past–
to trust God for their future?
Remembering is an act of thanksgiving,
this turn of the heart over time’s shoulder to see
all the long way His arms have carried.

~Ann Voskamp

This is not a new idea… (it’s actually quite old).

Nor is it my idea… (it’s actually one that God thought up).

But we’ve piled up “Jordan River Stones” for many years now.

The idea comes from Joshua 4 where God told the Israelites to:

“Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone…that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord…so these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever…so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
~Joshua 4: 5,6,7&24

So whenever something happens that reminds us of God’s love or provision or power, we write it down on a stone to help us remember to– not forget.

Because it’s so easy to forget–
His goodness.
His faithfulness.
His power.
His love.

And the kiddos do ask– “What do those stones mean to you?”

Some rocks remind of big things– healing, financial provision, a new birth…

Some seem small– like the time our Laura prayed we would find an American Girl doll at a garage sale. Even after I made several, faithless attempts to fill her with doubt. God answered her prayer that day because He knew it would show her 7-year-old-heart something special about who He is and His love for her.

I see that rock and remember our young daughter dumping her small bag of change into the lady’s money box and I think, “His lovingkindness is great toward us…” ~Psalm 117:2.

I look back over these rocks of rememberance as I add a new one today…

…praising Him for the way He gives us concrete evidence of His love.

I want to remember.

“But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is (His) faithfulness.”
~Lam. 3:21

~Kara @The Chuppies