Welcome to my “Month of Encouragement for Moms” sponsored by D6 and Proverbs 31 Ministries. If you found your way here from my P31 devotion, I’m so glad you stopped by. And if you’re one my regular blog readers, thanks for being here each day. Your comments encourage me when I don’t know what to write; your thoughts and thanks let me know it’s making a difference. I am loving this journey with you as we find practical ways to connect spiritual truths with everyday life experiences – for us and our families.
In last Wednesday’s post, I talked about God giving me hope as a mom by giving me a new perspective of parenting. He challenged me to stop focusing on my kids’ habits and invest in their hearts by looking for ways to notice and nurture their character. From that day forward I looked for ways to learn and live God’s truths in everyday life lessons. Today’s devotion came after that commitment. One day I was reading about Davids passion for treasuring God’s Word in His heart, and thinking about my kids passion for a treasure hunt. I decided to combine the two and encourage my boys to approach reading the Bible like looking for a treasure in a field, and find ways to share that treasure with others. One night around the dinner table, we talked about the character trait of KINDNESS. Here’s a little family devotion I wrote as a result:
Todays’ Treasure of Truth:1 Thessalonians 5:15, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
Kindness means being nice to others with your actions and your words.
The Map of God’s Word:Read John 1:43-49. While Jesus was walking down the road with his disciples, Philip saw his friend Nathanael. He was so excited to tell Nathanael that they had met Jesus. Nathanael’s first response was sarcastic and unkind. As soon as he heard where Jesus was from, Nathanael said, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Instead of returning Nathanael’s comment with an insult, Jesus responded with kindness. When He saw Nathanael coming toward him he told the others that Nathanael was a person of character, true on the inside and out. Nathanael was surprised by Jesus’ kindness. He wondered how Jesus knew about him. When Nathanael saw the kindness in Jesus’ heart that formed the words on His lips, his sarcasm turned into faith. He returned Jesus’ thoughtfulness with kind words of his own.
A Nugget of Wisdom:Kindness is easy when others are being nice to us, but Jesus wants us to be kind no matter what.
Making Character Count:Developing God’s character isn’t just about doing good things; it’s about being Christ-like in our attitudes and actions. Talk as a family about the importance of having a heart like Jesus, remembering that before we can offer others what God has given us, we need to take time to acknowledge and thank him for His kindness towards me and
Prayer: Jesus, thank you that your love is patient and kind. Please help us to be kind to each other and those outside of our family. Help us to think of ways we can show kindness each day. And please remind us of how kind you were with your words and actions to those who were not kind to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Ways to live and give the treasure ofKindness:
- Say thanks when someone does something kind or gives something to you.
- Say please when asking for something.
- Offer to help a friend or sibling with homework.
- Tell someone else what you like about them.
- Let someone in line before you.
- Be friendly by saying hello and smiling at people.
- Give a thoughtful gift to someone for no reason.
Copyright 2009, Renee Swope – All rights reserved.
Today’s Mom Give-Aways
Today we are choosing winners from the comments and giving away two D6 mom resources – a copy of my “Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Chart and George Barna’s “Revolutionary Parenting”. Please include your email so we can reach you if you win.
We’ll be giving away gifts every weekday, so be sure to come back for more mom encouragement and resources from D6 and Proverbs 31 Ministries!
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I have loved your Proverbs 31 emails and have found them to be a wonderful encouragement and full of great truths. This is the first time I’ve made it to your site. The treasure hunt topic made me curious. I long for my children to be hungry and excited to read and apply The Word. For them to treasure Gods Word in their hearts… and have excitement doing it. Thank you for united passion and your resources(possibly free today!). I’ll be back to your site for future treasure hunting of my own.
Holly
mother of Megan 9, Nathan 8
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Reading encouraging devotionals is so easy! Planning to apply them in your own, small life is harder, but really live them is difficult! But who doesn’t want to?
I was praying for easy to follow ideas for my children Sunday School group … and today I found at least two of them … I would love to study them in more details and translate them in Romanian so the families around me would be able to have and enjoy them. I”m part of a big church with an increasing number of children … and the materials are not great, but the desire to raise Christ lovers is huge.
Mining for Gold in childs life would be an increadible material for us to follow, and I would love to introduce in my next parent meeting of my group. Looking forward to the upcoming of the idea!
Proverbs 31 Ministry is a blessing thank you. Please sign me up for todays give away Mining Gold in the heart of your child.
Your sister in Christ,
Angela Hink
Kansas City, MO
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Renee–
This devo is so awesome! Is it one from the Mining for Gold or is it one of the family devotionals from D6?
I love it, girl! The more I get to know your heart, the more I love it!! You encourage many!
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Renee, I have to tell you what a blessing your comments on Kindness were to me. I have been doing a study on the fruits of the Spirit, and decided to do it with my kids at home, 21, and 14; then expand it to study other Biblical character traits using an online study I’ve used in the past. This info. from you gave me the encouragement I needed to start this study with my kids.
I want to tell you to what I blessing reading your blog and your devotionals has been to me. I needed something like this when my kids were all little (the oldest is 30) Sharon
You have so much wisdom to share with these young moms, Renee! Thanks for sharing such sweet nuggets of advice!
Renee, my friend and I attended the girls night out in Houston last week and were inspired and blessed. Being the mom to three beautiful children and the wife of a minister, life can at times seem crazy and overwhelming. But, I know that my God is in the center of it and has anointed me for this specific time. Thank you for answering God’s call, saying yes to him, and sharing your heart with us!!!
Leah
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Another good word…great idea.
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Renee, This was a wonderful lesson both for parent ,teacher and child. You find ways to reach the heart of a child and the adult as well. This month my lesson plan for school (for my 3 year olds) is loving kindness and finding was to show love to your friends and family. I am always blessed when you deposit nuggets I can use with my own daughter and the kids in school.Prefering others before your self is the message of Christ and teaching it to our children early is the beginning of training up selfless littles ones.
Love in Christ Didi Gray
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Thank you for today’s article. I am always looking for ways to bring my children closer to His Word. I, like you, want it to be a natural and enjoyable activity to live and learn more about the Lord. Thank you again.
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Today is my first day reading your blog and I am very inspired. I am a stay at home mom who is trying to do the right thing with my little ones and I am always looking for the treasures. It is so important to teach them that Christ is the true treasure. Thank you and I look forward to much more inspiration.
In Christ,
I am so glad I found your blog! Thanks for the encouraging words!
Thank you so much for the reminder of kindness. I’ve been doing pretty well with my five homeschooled children, but my poor husband! He needs a little kindness from me. Thanks again for the devotional.
Lisa
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I would love to start doing this with my 5yr old son. It is easy to be kind when others are kind to us, but being kind when others are not so kind is the hard part. Thanks for your daily encouragement!
Sarah
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I recently found your blog & D6 ministries through Proverbs 31. I am loving it! Thank you for your advice, wisdom, and examples!
Tammy
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Once again such a timely blog entry. God has been teaching/ convicting me of my own tenancies to gossip, slander and fault-find. Teaching a lesson is such a great way to learn a lesson.
Please enter me in the drawing.
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I am striving to nurture a kind heart in my children and in myself….I want to model the selflessness of Jesus to those that don’t know Him, but boy, do i need His help!
Thanks for blessing me today with your words.
Cathy
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Mtn. Grove,MO
Thanks for the encouragement!
Jonda
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Renee, I have really enjoyed your recent devos! As a new mom of a 10 month old, the responsibility of introducing my little guy to Jesus sometimes feels overwhelming. I want to be a good mom and always lead him to the Lord, but am aware of my own frailties. Thank you for the reminder that God’s Word is a treasure and that we can encourage our kids to seek Him out!
Katherine
I really do continue to enjoy your blogs since being introduced to Proverbs 31 and subsequently following the link here. I find comfort and inspiration in your words.
Thank you!
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