God, Me and My A,B,C's Flash Cards!

God, Me, and My A,B,C's Flash Cards

work with the God, Me, and My A,B,C's student workbook.

It is not only perfect for reviewing the alphabet each day,

 but also for reviewing the children's Bible memory verses too!

Each card shows the upper and lower case letter,

a picture to help your student hear the sound of the letter,

(The picture also matches the Bible craft from the student book),

and lastly, the Bible memory verse for that letter.

Here are a sample of a few letters of the flash card set:

 For example:

"Memory Verse: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray." (Isaiah 53:6)

If you are interested in ordering a flash card set for $15,

please contact me at shepherdingwithjoy@gmail.com.

You may be interested in ordering the 'God, Me and My A,B,C, set'

featured below:

which includes the teacher edition-$20, student workbook -$12, and flash card set -$15
for only $40!

 A savings of $7 in purchasing the set.

God, Me & My A,B,C's

God, Me and My A,B,C's

Introducing:

God, Me & My A,B,C's!

written and illustrated by me!

It is a wonderful Pre-School Bible Curriculum

that teaches children:

-their alphabet

-Bible Stories throughout the Old and New Testament

-Bible Memory Verses and

-Bible Crafts

*Sample shown below*
Below is the student page for the letter Aa.
The children will hear the story of  how Adam and Eve
disobeyed God.
The title of the page is "Adam ate an apple."
Then they will color in their letter of the week: Aa.



In the back of the book the teacher will find the craft pieces.
(All of the craft pieces, for each letter, are included in the back of the book!)

Here is what the completed letter Aa page will look like!

I have also written a Teacher's  Guide to go along with the student book.

It will guide the teacher in how to use the student workbook,
help plan her lessons, add ideas to the lesson,
 and create a wonderful experience using this book.

If you are interested in a copy of:

God, Me & My A,B,C's!-$12

and the Teacher's Guide-$20
God, Me & My 1,2,3's!-$25
(God, Me & My 1,2,3's is a math book
 that compliments the A,B,C book. 
It has over 70 pages of activities for your child!)
God, Me & My A,B,C's Flashcards! -$15

To hear more about pricing

please contact me at:

shepherdingwithjoy@gmail.com

He is in the Boat

I am not a sailor and I can count on one hand how many times I've ever been on a boat, but in reading the Scriptures I have found that, as I am sailing through this life, Jesus is in my boat.

There is a story in the Bible about how the disciples took a trip across the lake with Jesus, when a storm suddenly began. "A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger." (Luke 8:24) The disciples were literally with Jesus on that boat. Jesus was with them, but had fallen asleep. "As they sailed, he fell asleep." (Luke 8: 22) The disciples did the only thing they could think of-to go to Jesus in fear and wake Him up! "Master, master, we're going to drown!" (Luke 8:24) Jesus awoke, and rebuked the winds and the water and everything became calm.

Many times I have had seasons of life in which I was simply sailing through calm waters. Everything was smooth and easy and I could see where I was going. There were no worries. I felt safe. And of course, on the flip side of that, I have had many seasons of life that came in like a brewing storm and took over my life. All of a sudden I was in the middle of what felt like a tsunami. Winds blowing, boat rocking, confusion, fear gripping my heart and I no longer could see Jesus. I would try to manage life, but in utter desperation I would yell out, "GOD HELP ME!"

Presently I am not in a storm. I am not afraid or worried. I have what may even be calm waters, but just the other day in prayer the Lord gave me a vision of myself on a boat, with the storms of life, whipping around me. In the vision I was worrying, and afraid. I, too, saw Jesus sleeping. I saw myself about to lunge towards him to frantically wake Him up from His slumber, when I stopped and thought, Jesus isn't sleeping. It feels like He's sleeping, but He is God and God never sleeps. The storm is real. The storm is scary. I feel alone and afraid, but the truth is God, Jesus, is IN my boat.

The vision was so powerful, but I had to ask God, "What storm am I in?" Without a word I saw all the things I am worried about flash up in my mind. I'm worried about my husband and his job. I'm worried about our finances. I'm worried about my children and the great, enormous responsibility I have been given to raise them to love God and follow Him. The fear of failing as their homeschooling teacher. The fear and frustration that my children's books will never get published. I worry and worry and worry. And yes, with all of these worries, I feel alone, in the dark, on a boat, out in the great, deep waters. I didn't realize how alone I felt. I didn't realize that I even thought Jesus was 'asleep.' But I have felt it. Many times crying out to God for a raise, or wisdom with the children and I just felt alone. The good news is, rather, the great news is, I may feel alone, BUT the truth is I am not. The Scriptures reads, "they were in great danger." The disciples felt they were in 'great danger' but Jesus, Himself, was in the boat-what possible danger could they really be in? None. Well, Jesus is with me too. In Matthew 1:22-23 it says, "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). God is with me, He is in my boat. He has everything under control. He can see my future and He knows where I am going and the perfect timing of it all. I need to be at peace as I sail through life. I need to lay down right next to Jesus in that boat and rest in Him. I need to trust that He really does know what is best for me, my husband and my children. I need to surrender all these worries.

I'll tell you honestly that one of my favorite Scriptures is found in Matthew chapter six where it talks about, do not worry! I'll never forget it-it was about twenty-two years ago when I read it for the first time. The Bible actually says, "Do not worry." That is all I did back then-worry (and apparently, I still do!)  Jesus is bigger than the storm. He controls the storm! He is our God. He is our brother, our Father, our Holy Spirit in one. He cares for us and our life and keeping us safe, more than we do. He sees the enemy before we do and He's out there fighting for us and yet in all that He sees, He can rest. We need, I need, to rest beside Jesus and trust Him.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you- you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ' What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34)

Lord Jesus, I surrender all my worries to you. I trust that you are with me. I trust that you will guide me. I believe through faith that you will protect my heart and lead me into the plan you have for me. Help me to be patient. Help me not take control when things seem to be going slow or when I feel like you are sleeping in the boat. Send your Holy Spirit to remind me of the truth of your Word. I love you and give you my life. Yours forever...
 

Protect My Heart

"Protect my heart, Lord," is prayer I never prayed, until recently. 

In the past, when I have been really hurt or wounded,  I have noticed a pattern of response: first, I would cry, second, I'd forgive, and then I would protect my own heart. I was told long ago that you can freely love everyone, but trust has to be earned. And that was my ticket- I'd forgive, but felt that I no longer had to trust the person who hurt me. They were put on my,'"Do Not Trust,' list. Whenever I had dealings with one of these people, I would be friendly and casual, but never deep, or transparent. I kept them at a certain distant from my heart at all times- never allowing them in, unless the trust was rebuilt, and rarely was trust rebuilt.

Recently, I've been hurt. Not just any little hurt, a real punch to the gut, kind of hurt. I cried for a good long time, then dried my eyes and said, 'Well, I'll never trust that person again.' I tried to go on with life as usual, but there has been no 'usual' since. Each day I would think about what happened. Each day I would profess forgiveness for each thing that wounded my heart. Each day I would ask God, "How can I ever trust 'so-in-so' again?" There was no answer.

Well, the other day I heard myself in prayer, talking to God. "Lord, I forgive this person, but I know they don't even like me, so what do I do?" I heard it...'they don't even like me.'  What did those words really mean? They mean, I believe this person is going to hurt me again. If someone doesn't like me or finds me annoying, (which is what I fully believed) then how can I be myself, talk casually and not be hurt again? I can't. I will be hurt again, and that's the issue- afraid of being hurt, again. I didn't know how to protect my heart from the inevitable. I cried out, "Lord, protect my heart!"

All these years I've been trying to protect my own heart from being hurt by the same person who hurt me once, but I never could. The only real way to protect my heart or strategy was to distance myself from them, loose the friendship, or simply-avoidance. In protecting my heart I had to constantly remind myself what the offender did to me. I thought I was completely in the right to remember the hurt. To not trust. To keep certain people at an arms length. I was wrong. The Bible, in 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that we are to keep no record of wrongs. No record. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) Love is having no record of hurt against a person. With no record of wrongs, with no list of hurt or offenses, I have no reason to distance myself from someone. No reason to guard my heart. I must forgive, tear up the list of hurt, love again, trust again, and allow Jesus to protect my heart.

In having Jesus protect my heart  I am under no illusion that it should mean that I will never be hurt again. I know I will be hurt again, but the difference is I can live freely now. I can love freely. No more records. No more having to be alert and on guard every time I go out. I can be myself and allow the Lord to watch over me. And I truly believe that the Lord is able to do a much better job than I ever could. I have so many testimonials of how God has protected my very life from physical pain and death, and yet I never thought to allow God to protect my sensitive heart. Who knows, maybe this will be the beginning of not being so sensitive. Maybe as the Lord removes the fear of being hurt, I will not hear the whispers behind my back, or notice the mean glances. In not having to be so focused on protecting my heart, but rather loving others, maybe there just won't be so much hurt.

This is new for me. Sadly, it has taken me so long to figure it out, but I am here, trusting God with my heart. I am excited about all that will happen- deeper friendships, new friends, and the restoration of old friends. We have this one chance to live as Jesus- to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Luke 10:27) It is my goal to love everyone, freely, with all my heart, and without fear.

Little House in the Big Woods: Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Summertime

In the beginning of this chapter we learn that Laura, after being taunted by Mary, slapped her sister across the face. Pa notices and calls her inside. Pa explains to Laura that one of the rules in their home is to refrain from hurting another person. He then tells her that she must mind what her Pa and Ma say. The discipline was a spanking. After Laura's spanking, Pa scoops her up in his arms, holds her tight and loves her.

Our assignment for the day was to look up Scriptures pertaining to discipline. We found Scriptures that clearly speak to the parent about disciplining their child, 'as to drive the foolishness bound up in a child's heart far from them.' (Proverbs)  We also saw how God discplines those He loves so we may be holy. (Hebrews) We talked about how discipline is an example of love. The parent cares so much for the child and desires them to live according to the Bible that they would take the time to discipline them. I love that after Laura was given her spanking her Pa holds her and loves her. He spanked her, not in anger, but in love and that love was received.

Our project was to make a small Bible. On the inside we wrote down the Scriptures we looked up and explained in our own words how discipline is a form of love.

Next we read about how Ma made cheese. To be honest, it was confusing for me, since I had NO idea, in the least, what any of the terms she used so freely, meant. I turned to YouTube to help me. I searched, "How to make cheese" and came up with the video below. Seeing it done made it very clear. So, the children and I watched it together.

Making Cheese: The Traditional Way (In Northern Italy)

I also rented, Extra Cheese, Please, by Cris Peterson from the library. The children and I read all about how to make cheese and then wrote about it.

                                                           Also in the this chapter,
                                                we learned about how Pa found and
                                                      collected honey from a tree.
                                             I added more books to this lesson and
                                                         we read about honey farms.

                             After we learned all there is to know, we spent time writing
                                    the steps down in our "Collecting Honey" booklet.

I'll tell you one thing I've learned through all the many lessons is that Pa and Ma never stopped working! They worked from sun up to sun down. They are an inspiration to me of what hard and diligent work really is. How much they loved each other and their children and how they worked so hard to provide a beautiful home for them. They have kept me on my toes just trying to teach my children all the different chores they did naturally every day!

Little House in the Big Woods: Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Going to Town

There was much to learn in this new chapter, but what we focused on were just a few things.

First, we talked about the little poems written on the candies the girls received and then worked together to write our own poems.

Next, the little kids learned how to sew Laura's pocket! They loved it.

Lastly, we talked extensively about how Laura compares herself to her older sister. Laura is not grateful to God for her brown hair or the candy she received because her poem was smaller than Mary's.  We discussed how ungratefulness and jealousy can lead to bitterness and anger towards God. The older children were given Scripture verses to look up. (This idea came from The Prairie Primer). The older children made their own pocket and placed the Scriptures into the pocket.

Superman Party!

My Superman!

This little guy not only wanted a Superman birthday party,

but wanted his siblings and friends to make a Superman movie with him.

So, we did!

We wrote the script for the movie as a family.

Each night at the dinner table we all added our thoughts and ideas.

I was in charge of costumes!

My husband in charge of filming it and

all the kids were the actors.

 

My youngest wanted to be a princess AND a supergirl-

So- that's what she is!

The villians in our story were the

Lucky, Ducky Duo...



 It took almost two hours to film a 6 min. movie!

But it's a memory we'll never forget!

I found Superman rings at a local cake shop,

so I make cupcakes and placed a Superman ring on each one!



A cereal box piñata!

My friend told that making a cereal box piñata is easier to make than an old fashion paper mache piñata- and she was right! I had a double size cereal box
 and had no idea what else to make than Superman's shirt.

1) First I filled the box with lots of candy!

2) Then I wrapped the box in wrapping paper.

3) Then wrapped it again in this royal blue glitter tissue paper.

4) For the arms, I used a sheet of the tissue paper and wrapped it around
a plastic disposable cup.

4) I used red streamers to make his cape.

and 5) Lastly, I cut out the Superman symbol from one of the cake plates!

I completed this piñata in less than one hour!

It was such a fun day!



"Close Your Eyes"

I have found that when I say to my children, "Let's Pray," they all begin to get into a serious posture for prayer, but then someone along the way, and not the same person each time, will open their eyes and start playing with something or stare off into space. I can't really blame them because as a child there were times I couldn't keep my eyes closed long enough for the prayer of Grace before a meal. But,  I'll notice it, wink at the child to close their eyes or I'll wait until the prayers are finished to say something. This has been going on for years and lately I've begun to feel frustrated. I didn't even know why it bothered me so much, but it was and our prayer time together was more frustrating than peaceful, that is, for me.

So, I did the only sensible thing I could do, I prayed alone and asked God, "Should I be making a big deal about closing our eyes when we pray?"  In my quiet time He impressed on my heart how very much He loves my children and wants to give them visions or Words of Knowledge or Prophecy. Then I realized, we should close our eyes so we can hear from God. It was a revelation of sorts. I would tell my children to close their eyes so they could be listening to what was being said and come in agreement with it, but now it was so much more than that.

The next day I shared with my children what I learned. I was so excited for them. GOD wants to talk to them. He has something HE wants to show them! Thus, the eye opening problem during prayer time has stopped.

Now for why I'm really writing this article...

The other day I prepared a great lesson for my children and I was looking forward to doing it. The activity that went along with the lesson was to simply write or journal about their favorite Christmas or Christmas present and explain why. Sounds fun, right? Sounds easy, correct? WRONG! One of my daughters began to cry. She told me it was too hard for her. She didn't understand the assignment. She couldn't do it. I'll be honest, inside I wanted to go run and hide and leave her to figure it out alone. I could not emphasize.  I had no compassion. She cries whenever anything deviates from the norm and I just felt so lost-- her too.

So, without any ideas of how to reach her, I took her in my arms and began to pray for her. (Don't think I'm a great mom, wait to you hear the rest of the story). I DIDN'T close my eyes. I prayed a rote  prayer, and had a, "Nothing is going to change" attitude! In my mind I was done with the crying and the "I Can't" attitude. (Believe me, this isn't easy to admit or write about, but it's the truth of my ugly, imperfect heart and how God loves me still).  As my eyes were opened I heard the Lord speak to my heart, "Ellie, Close your eyes I want to show you something." I closed my eyes immediately.

With my eyes closed, I settled down.
The frustration began to leave and then I saw a vision.
The Lord showed me my daughter's heart. In her heart was a treasure chest. A beautiful treasure box, but it was locked up. Shut tight. I was dying to see what was inside. So, I prayed, "Lord, I see in my daughter's heart a glorious treasure chest, that is sealed with a key. Will you open it for her?" Then He showed me that she is afraid to have it opened. She is afraid of being rejected or made fun of. All her gifts and talents are inside waiting to come out." Compassion flooded my soul. I prayed for her to be released from fear. I prayed, "Perfect love drives out all fear" (I John). I prayed for her to know in her soul that she is accepted.

I could feel her tears water my shirt.
I could feel her heart pounding.
I could feel her fear.

I held her tighter .
Kissed her head.
I asked her, "Do you want God to open the treasure box in your heart?"
She nodded.
I prayed.
"Lord, will you now open the treasure chest. Will you take your Holy key and open it up. Allow the gifts and talents you have given her to come forth. Pour down your freedom. Let her shine! Amen."

We hugged a final hug.
I asked her, "Do you think you need help with your creative writing assignment?"
"Nope." she said in confidence and walked away and wrote a lovely remembrance.

Since that day she has been open in sharing her thoughts, feelings and expressing herself in dance and worship. I tell her in her ear, "I love the treasures God has given you!"

She sweetly smiles a look of freedom.
 

Little House in the Big Woods: Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Grandpa's Dance

In this chapter Laura and her family go to Grandma's house. Laura talks about how much she loves going to visit her Grandma and the reasons why. My children were given time to reflect on what they love about going to their Grandma's house and why.

                               I can't wait to let their Grandma read all of these!

Uncle George blew his bugle to announce the beginning of the party, and played it during the dance. We made our own bugles too!

 BUT the part of the story that I couldn't wait to read with them was when Pa took his fiddle and began to 'call' out the dance! I rented a Square Dancing Video from the local library and taught my children how to square dance! We were one person shy of having a complete square of eight, but how much fun we had. The children laughed and laughed! (I also rented a CD on square dancing so they could hear the calls and respond). This has been a great experience.

And lastly, Laura spoke about all the food at the party. I let my kids choose which food item named that they would like to make- they chose the, "Heart Shaped Cookies" recipe. We got straight to work. (I used the Little House Cook Book for the recipe).

                                                                  Delicious!