20 Days of Thanks – 1st Day

Today is day 1 of our family’s 20 Days of Thanks!

20 Days of Thanks Button

 

The kids all seemed to choose to say thank you to God for different family members!

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We won’t be posting our thanks everyday, but I think we are off to a great start!  The kids got busy right away writing and drawing their thanks.  They especially enjoyed being able to take photos with the camera (which they don’t typically get to do). =)

Why not ask your children to share what they are thankful for!

Praise the LORD.  How good it is to sing praises to our God. 
How pleasant and fitting to praise him!
Psalm 147:1

Go ahead and print your own FREE 20 Days of Thanks booklet from Hubbard’s Cupboard or print one from This Reading Mama which has kids think of things they are thankful for related to each letter of the alphabet.  Both are simple ways to intentionally build hearts of thankfulness!

20 Days of Thanks

Ann Voskamp, in her book 1000 Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, states…

God gives gifts and I give thanks and I unwrap the gift given: joy.

Leading up to Thanksgiving this year, I desire for our children to get a small taste of the 1,000 gifts challenge by drawing, writing, and maybe even taking some photos of things they are thankful for in their own lives.

20 Days of Thanks Button

I created a booklet for our kids to record their words and drawings of gratitude – simply called ‘20 Days of Thanks’.  Each day has a short verse of Scripture to meditate on, a space for drawing, and a space for writing.  Due to the various ages and fine motor abilities of our children, I made several versions – unlined for our toddler, single lined for our PreK child, regular dotted lines for our first grader, and some smaller lines for our third and fifth grader who will be using cursive.

Here’s a quick peek…

20 Days of Thanks cover   20 Days of Thanks sheets

and a link!

‘20 Days of Thanks’ booklets – FREE to print for your own family!

Also, come see how we used these printables on the first day of our 20 Days of Thanks.

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.  (Psalm 103:2)

Character Traits for Kids

As part of the Joyful Heart Character preschool curriculum at Hubbard’s Cupboard, 27 character traits are explored with children.  This is done through singing a character trait song, memorizing a corresponding Bible verse, reading aloud related Scripture verses, studying a character or story from the Bible that models the trait, reading associated fictional stories, and  completing a craft or activity linked to the character trait being studied.

The following character traits are emphasized in the Joyful Heart Character Curriculum…
Orderly, Attentive, Teachable, Obedient, Respectful, Honest, Forgiving, Peacemaker, Courageous, Discerning, Content, Servant Hearted, Thankful, Self Control, Loving, Humble, Prayerful, Modest, Joyful, Generous, Responsible, Compassionate, Kind, Patient, Diligent, Faithful, Full of Faith

 

We have had the Character Trait Tune Charts available since the creation of the curriculum…Character Trait Tune Charts

but now you can also choose to print ones like this!

Character Trait Definitions and Verses

 Joyful Heart Character: Character Trait Definition and Verse Charts

 
If you are looking for a single sided chart that contains just the character trait definition and the related Bible verse, the above charts are for you!  The Character Trait Definition and Verse Charts focus on the same character traits as the song charts and use the same picture cues.  (Although these were originally designed to be used with the Joyful Heart Character preschool curriculum, elementary aged children can benefit from these, too.) 

As Christians, we desire to exhibit traits that reflect Christ.  We can train and instruct our children in these traits, but without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they will be powerless.   As we teach the character traits, we need to pray that God will help our children understand that they are sinful and in need of a Savior, that He would stir in our children a desire to live for the glory of God, that they would accept Jesus as their own Savior, and invite the working of the Holy Spirit.  Children need God, not just good morals and character traits to follow!  We can use Bible stories to point them to God.  The stories in the Bible, the characters, the events – -  ALL point to God.  So, in addition to studying the character traits exhibited by the people of the Bible, we also need to make sure to take time to think about and discuss what the stories reveal about the character of our Lord.  Children will learn that He is all knowing, all powerful, faithful, loving, gracious, attentive, eternal, and much more!   It is a good reminder for us as well =)

Child Training Bible

By placing Scripture verses to tunes, there are usually several verses that regularly come to mind quickly as I sit down to discipline one of the children.  However, I always wish that I could remember the multitude of other verses that we have read that would fit the situation as well – and, most importantly, in a timely manner!CTB Complete Closed

So, when I recently came across information for the Child Training Bible, I realized that this may just be the tool that I have been needing!    Starting with any version of the Bible, you can use the charts created by Mindy Dunn and her idea for highlighting and tabbing key Scriptures to create a quick, easy to use, Scripture reference tool.

Mindy has selected Bible verses that pertain to just about every child’s common sinful tendencies (and yes, even their mama’s as well).  From anger to fear, jealousy to laziness, wrong friendships to quarreling – verses are marked and tabbed, ready to be quickly located and shared to show what God’s Word says about each of these sin issues.CTBComplete

 

A couple of drawbacks about the Child Training Bible:
-The total cost to create our Child Training Bible was around $35.00.  This seems a little pricey, but I believe that the benefit to our family is going to far outweigh this cost!

CTBSupplies

   What you’ll need to create your own Child Training Bible:

- laminated Child Training Bible charts and instructions created by Mindy Dunn ($9.00)
- package of highlighters, coloring crayons, or colored pencils that match the colors on the laminated charts (yellow, dark blue, red, green, purple, light blue, and pink)
- package of coordinating sticky tabs
- 9 by 6 inch Bible of your choice

-I spent around 4 hours locating and highlighting Scripture verses and tabbing pages.  Again, in the long run, this is not a lot of time compared to the ability to have this handy tool during times of instruction.  Also, I enjoyed being in God’s Word and reviewing the Scripture verses for myself as I put it all together =)

The many things I like about the Child Training Bible:
-It gets all of us delving into God’s Word to read, hear, and see for ourselves what God desires for us, instructing us using His very Words.

I wholeheartedly agree with Mindy Dunn, creator of the Child Training Bible, when she states…

Whenever there is a problem, I want to train my children to immediately run to the Lord, seek His Words, and allow His truth to saturate the situation.

-I was able to use the charts with the version of the Bible that I desire for our family to use and that I know my children understand best.

- The laminated charts include questions to ask your child as well as a short, sample prayer using Scripture to pray with your child that relates to each behavior.

-Mindy and her husband created a tutorial that shows, step by step, how to assemble the Child Training Bible.  Although they do send written instructions, as a visual learner, I do so much better with photos and demonstrations!

- I can easily highlight and tab additional Scripture references that we come across that are fitting for certain discipline areas.  I’ve already added verses from the Joyful Heart Tune Charts, highlighting them in the color that most relates to a specific sin area.  I am sure there will be others as well!

CTBStartingtoTab

I plan to leave this out for easy access by all in our family and am prepared to turn it into a well worn treasure – just as God’s Word should be.

 

 Please note that I was not asked to review this product.  I am simply sharing a purchased resource that I think will be beneficial for my own family and is in line with my heart for training and instructing our children in His Ways!

Proverbs to the Rescue (again)

Our family was out of our normal routine for a couple of weeks last month as we were involved in some training with Wycliffe.  The training went well, but during that short time, we could begin to see some changes in our kids’ responses to us. 

So, in addition to singing and meditating on Proverbs 17:14 again, God led us to another verse in Proverbs that seems to fit the situation well…

 

Proverbs 10:17

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

 

Some key phrases to contemplate and share with our little ones…

“heeds discipline”

- To ‘heed’ is to pay careful attention to.  Some versions say ‘receive’ which is to take and welcome.

- Other versions also use ‘instruction’ or ‘corrections’ in the place of discipline.    All of these imply some type of learning and training in order to grow or improve … to learn from it, retain it, and obey it.

- John Gill, in his commentary, states for “the instruction in righteousness which the Scriptures give… and instruction into the mind and will of God about man’s salvation…”  (This is a good reminder to me to refer the kids to God’s Word in the Bible as I am correcting, disciplining, or instructing them.)

 

“shows the way to life”

- The way to life (eternal life in Christ) is not by works, but our outward obedience can point and direct others to Christ.

 

“ignores correction”

- rejects, refuses, disregards, or neglects
- Matthew Henry, in his commentary, states that they “willfully and obstinately refuse it when it is offered to them.”
- John Gill says “He that rejects the counsel and advice, the admonitions and reproofs, given in the word of God…”

 

“leads others astray”

-How we respond to discipline, correction, and instruction not only affects us, but others as well (siblings, younger children, friends, etc.)

 

Lots of conversation centered around one single verse of God’s living Word!

 

And, of course, I had to make some printables to go along with the verse =)  As always, there is a chart, strips to cut apart and rearrange, copywork, and a color sheet.  You can download them for free at my website – Hubbard’s Cupboard Bible Memorization  (just scroll down to Proverbs 10:17).  Enjoy!

Proverbs 10 17 Resources



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