Is the World Coming to an End?

With the presidential election here in America, being very close, everyone is worried. As Christians especially we feel like we are entering a bleak world with either candidate, and that America will never be 'great' again. We worry about our children and the lack of morality in which they will grow up. If we don't have a God fearing leader, the world will come to an end! If this has been your thoughts, here lately, let me encourage you, and perhaps challenge you with this verse. 

"Jotham did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the LORD. But the people continued in their corrupt ways." 2 Chronicles 27:2

2 Chronicles notes the ups and downs of Judah. One king would be godly, the next would do great sins. During this particular time, Judah had, had two kings that were fairly Godly and did what was pleasing to the Lord. And yet, as this verse states, with a Godly leader the people still acted wrongfully. In our eyes, they had all the makings of a Godly nation, but with a lack of spiritual maturity in the people, it made the people as a whole corrupt. 

I take from this, that it is not the leader who determines how a country will go spiritually, but it's people! You can have a preacher for a president, but if the people don't fear the Lord, it won't do any good. Let's focus on our own homes first. I want Christ to be front and center in my family, regardless if Trump or Hillary gets the presidency. Our church family should be next in our priorities. Godly communities help strengthen the nation, because they are the source of outreaches to the people. If our local church is doing its job, it should be reaching out to the poor, defenseless, the weak, and the broken. While doing this, the local church (people make up a church, therefore, it's the people inside it that) carries out the great commission, by sharing the gospel, teaching and making disciples of the community and throughout the nation and world. 

Let's be encouraged that no matter who gets the White House, God is on His throne. We don't have to give up the good work, just because the leadership of the nation is not Christian. Instead, it should encourage us to work all the more, in our homes, churches and communities. 

Toddler Tested: Pinterest Activities

If you read my other blog posts, you'll know that I like books, puzzles, finger paint, blocks, and other activities to entertain my little man. However, you know, sometimes I want to think a bit outside of the box. Not often, which is why I only have three things to share, but there are those days.  Here are three activities we've done that I found on Pinterest. I'll share the pros and cons; what worked and what didn't.

Drive in Movie

In theory this sounded like the cutest idea, ever! Here is the link I found on Pinterest, and what an adorable thing it seemed! I wasn't going to do a projector or anything, just a normal movie, but it was raining that day, and I thought this would be a fun project before so much media time. 

Pros: He liked decorating it! This part was a success! We used finger paint, so it's a bit transparent, but he didn't seem to mind. This gave us probably 20 minutes of messy fun. 

Cons: I needed a bigger box. Little Man did not like curling his legs, so I made a hole for his feet. Even then, he didn't like being in the box so he was out two seconds after this picture. If you have a bigger box handy, then this might work!

Colored Soap Foam Sensory Activity

I used a recipe with half and half water and dish soap, cornstarch, and food coloring that's mixed with a blender on high speed. I put 1/3 cup of water and dish soap and that filled half a large plastic container. I threw in some bath toys, a whisk (his favorite thing to play with when I wash dishes), shovel, and some cups. 

Pros: He thoroughly enjoyed himself! He likes to play in the bubbles when I wash dishes, and this just brought that to a new level. However...

Cons: The food coloring stains! He was almost naked, so it didn't hurt any clothes, but we had a graduation rehearsal to go to in the evening, and we both had blue hands. He had blue on his legs and arms as well. My solution would probably be to either put less, or none at all. He seemed to enjoy the bubbles part of it, and I think he would enjoy it just as much color free. 

Using Paper Towel Tubes to Paint

This last one is a bit of a no-brainer. There aren't really any cons, but I thought I would share, because it's a fun idea, and its easy. Just save your toilet paper tube or paper towel tube and let your little one dip it in paint and go to town. In all honesty, my toddler enjoys using his hands, probably the most, but he had fun with this. You can use a lot of things as tools to paint with, so take inventory around the house for things that can be used. Here is an example of The Very Hungry Caterpillar painted with paper towel tubes.



What are some of your favorite Pinterest activities for toddlers?

Toddler Tested Summer Toys

I am starting a new 'Toddler Tested' series. Today's post will be about toys that my son has played with and really enjoyed. Hopefully this helps you figure out some fairly inexpensive ways to entertain your kid this summer! I am not paid by any of these companies, so you are getting my true honest opinion.

Bubble Mower

This thing. This toy has been played with, and played with, and played with! If you read my post about things to do with pre-toddlers ,then you will know that bubbles are a big hit around here. Add a tot sized mower that my son can push around and bubbles come out, and you have a complete winner! You can find it at Walmart for $15.  It comes with an itty bitty amount of bubble mixture, but a small amount lasts pretty well. I must add, the brand of bubbles it comes with, is the brand of bubbles you want to use to refill. I tried some that I already had, and although it worked, it didn't work as well. No worries though, the brand it uses is very inexpensive!

Splash Mat

I am from the south, and it gets hot. I mean 90 degrees in May kind of hot! Water is always a go to on hot humid days. This next toy was found last year at a garage sale or resale shop, still new in the box for a whole dollar! Unfortunately this particular splash mat is no longer in stock, but there are some similar on amazon. If you want something where your toddler can cool down, a small pool, sprinkler, or splash mat can do the trick!

Chalk Bucket

This next toy can be found at your local Walmart for $10. Sidewalk chalk for ten dollars? Hear me out, this is not your ordinary chalk bucket! This includes stencils, various colors and shapes (eggs, balls, 'paintbrush', etc.), and various chalk holders to draw with. It's really cool and really fun! I love the very bright colors. I am just going to admit this here: I enjoy this toy as much as Little Man!So if you don't mind your toddler 'helping' you color your highly artistic endeavors, this is a great bonding toy!

Other tried and true toys:

Balls

Big dump trucks

Various kinds of Bubbles

What are some of your toddler's tried and enjoyed summer toys? I would love to hear! 

Next post will be on Toddler tested Pinterest ideas. 

Going Beyond the Facebook Comment

They did it again. Someone posted or commented something that called Christians idiotic bigots. Your fingers fly faster than your brain. You hurl even worse names at them, and tell them how God is going to judge the entire world one day in fire. They'll be in hell, and they won't be calling you a bigot then!
While this may not be you (but, unfortunately I've seen this so many times), it just hurts us when people call us mean things. In the world of angry emojis and sitting behind our computers in our comfortable homes, calling people out seems like the way to go. I mean, should we just sit there and allow our fellow Christians to be called all sorts of vile names and not retort? Why? Do we think we will win those people to Christ or to 'our side' by a random stranger going 'Your a terrible person, you are going to hell unless you repent'? Dare I say this?
I don't believe your comments are helping anyone, if anything you are dragging the Christian name in the mud right along with those hurtful comments you are so eager to refute.

Here is what I'm not saying: You should stand back and do nothing. On the contrary, I believe we are using Facebook to help ease our consciences instead of doing what we know we need to do. I am also not saying we shouldn't use Facebook to share the gospel. I love sharing verses and blog posts (and write and share blog posts!) about how great my God is! I believe it's a great tool, but I believe it's just one of the tools we should be using (and not using to retaliate with hurtful words to others' comments).

What should you do then, while people are calling you names and dragging the name of Christ in the mud? Here are my suggestions:

Get Into a Local, Bible Believing Church

What? What does that have to do with anything? Did you know, the church sits in a community? Did you know that it's the church's command to share the gospel, and disciple those who come to Christ? Did you also know that you can become part of that process?

Get into Sunday School, and maybe teach a class. Get involved in outreach programs, VBS's, disaster relief efforts, etc. Show your community what a Christ centered church looks like. 

Raise Your Children in the Lord

While the schools may have your children for a good chunk of the day, you still have an obligation to teach your children the Bible and what it says. While salvation is the most important thing to teach them, teaching your children to be strong in the Lord is also very important. So many times I see kids rejecting what they've learned in church as soon as they hit college, but I believe it can also be (but not always) because they weren't taught at home, or because the parents weren't living out an example. Do you want your kids to follow Christ? Put Him first in all you do. ALL you do. That includes ball! and ballet, and whatever else that can come between you and Christ. 

We are raising the next generation. While our world is trying to fill their heads with gender confusion, easy sex, 'live how you want to' mottoes, it is our job to teach them what the Bible says. We can't do that if we aren't in the Bible ourselves, or not getting our children into the Bible. 

Show Love

This is not to be confused with tolerance. Love these days equals accepting whatever is going on. However, we are to show the love of Christ to all. Romans 12:9-21 says best what a Christian ought to do:

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

What would happen if Christians would live these verses out? I am praying for revival in our land! Let's get off our phones and into communities. This has convicted me, and I pray it convicts you. 

Summer Ideas for Pre-Toddlers

Last year Little man had mastered crawling, pulling up on things, and coasting from furniture to furniture, however, he hadn't quite learned to walk yet. Just a few months shy of his first birthday (which is early September), I was very excited about him experiencing his first summer. I scoured Pinterest for ideas, but came up (almost) empty. He was too mobile for the baby ideas, but not mobile enough for the toddler ideas. It was time for me to get creative, and now I'm here to share things I did with you! Happy summer!

Water Fun

All you need is a large plastic container or bowl, fill halfway with water, and throw in baby's bath or swim toys, and watch the fun (doesn't have to be bath toys, but just things that won't get damaged or rust)! 

I like this idea because it's cheap, cool, and most importantly fun! Warning: Child may dump entire container out at some point! He/she will probably still enjoy splashing and playing in the puddles. 

Bubbles

You can't go wrong with this! And at this point, they don't want to blow the bubbles themselves, so you can go get a few of the 94 cent long wand ones at Walmart. Little man likes to blow and dip the wand himself, so mess and design of the bottle has to be considered now before purchase(so he doesn't dump it out in the first two minutes of playing!).
It out. 

Interactive Museums

Yes, your Pre-Toddler can enjoy museums! We took Little Man to one when he was 10 months, and he loved interacting with the different exhibits. Obviously, he couldn't do everything or appreciate everything, but he still had a great time. Most of the time babies and toddlers 2 and under are free, so it's relatively inexpensive. If you have older kids it's a great thing to do as a family, as kids of all ages enjoy interactive museums

Sensory Play

I have a love hate relationship with this notion. If you look up things for babies and toddlers to do, you will find pins upon pins of sensory play ideas. For me, the less mess the better, so I put some of Little man's teething toys in the freezer, and put it in a container with other mess free items, and he could enjoy cool, low mess fun. Colored foam, indoor sand, colored cool whip...nope! Not for me! I am now a bit more adventurous in the mess making category, but I still like it to be contained, and one thing at a time. 

Other Sensory Play I've done:

Pot and pans with big spoons. 

Stacking containers

I've also put items in plastic water bottles. All time favorite for littles!

Other ideas:

The Park

Swimming 

Walks

Swinging

All of these are perhaps 'no-brainers', however, I love summer bucket lists, and wanted to make one available to you. Soon I would like to post about things for Toddlers to do during the summer. 

What would you add to the list? I would love to hear!

Struggling with Contentment

Watching Chip and Joanna in the show 'Fixer Upper' turn people's dreams into realities, sometimes makes me look around my house and see the 80s paneling, old floors, and sigh because I can't have everything I want. How foolish is that?! I have a home, one that I don't have to pay a mortgage, it's a very good size, and we have everything we need. Please tell me I'm not the only one, though! As you skim Pinterest and see a mix of DIY art, beautifully matched rugs, new fixtures and modern furniture, do you stop being thankful for the roof over your head and sigh with discontentment as you look at your lack of creativity, funds, and decorating skills?  Paul had something to say about this:

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8(ESV))

Do you have food? Do you have clothing? If you live in the US, or other developed country, there is a good chance you have a great deal more than this. What causes us to have to have the latest phone, trendiest house, or most amazing vacation?

 I remember when I first went to Thailand, my room was huge, had my own large bathroom, which was in a large 3 story (if you count a very spacious attic) home. I was miserable,  though. One of the people I was staying with was just very hard to be around.  Two years later, I moved into a tiny dorm like apartment with a roommate, and we shared a tiny outside bathroom that birds would poop in. I was so happy! For the first time, I enjoyed living in Thailand, and was treated like an equal by my roommate. I was so content. The moral of this story is: possessions and things have nothing to do with our happiness level. We can have a Pinterest worthy house and wardrobe, and yet still be extremely unhappy and discontented. I think in our heart of hearts we know that, but it's so easy to forget!

Whenever I start to get discontented, I think back to that time, and remember all the blessings God has given me. I have a home, an amazing family, enough food and clothes to last a great while. I am blessed! I am not saying that I still don't have dreams of a Disney World vacation, a color coordinated kitchen, or a new pair of shoes, but those dreams shouldn't be on a high priority. Our relationship with God, then our family, should come a long ways before any of that. 

My prayer is to not let the things of this world tempt me and distract me from my real purpose: to bring Him honor and glory!

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Philippians 4:11-12

A Spiritual Lesson I Learned From my Toddler

It's amazing, isn't it? Once you have a child, you start understanding so many things about your parents, and about God. It was on a walk the other day, that the Holy Spirit convicted me through a couple of things my son did, and I thought I would share that with you.


Little man wanted to get out of his red wagon, and walk the rest of the way to his grandmother's house nearby. He started on the dirt road, and then quickly realized that he didn't know where he was going. He looked at me and put his hand up for me to grab, trusting that Mommy knew where we were going. Oh if we could be like that! If only we would:

Trust God and Let Him Lead us to Where He Wants us to go!

So many times I want to blindly go on alone, forging my own path, instead of looking up in trust and faith, and putting my hands up to be led by Him. To do that, knowing that He knows where I am going. To want to be led by Him to do His will! To be like that, always!

Near the house there was a pond and Little Man got very excited and wanted to let go of my hand and charge towards the water. I would not let him, however, and it frustrated him. He whined and griped that I didn't let him run towards what looked to be so fun. What he didn't know, was that I was protecting him from possible danger of drowning. It was out of my love and care for him, that I didn't let him have the 'fun' he wanted.

Isn't that like us and God sometimes? We want to go charging head first into sin, or even to something that is simply not God's will and plan, because it looks inviting, easy, or fun. God has to convict us or shut doors that keep us from going, and often we get angry and frustrated that we aren't doing what we want (or feel like is a good thing) to do. When we are convicted of a certain thing, or when we see that doors are being shut to something we think is good, but perhaps don't have peace or certainty of God's will, then we need to go back to letting God lead. Remember:

He loves us so much that His plan will be far greater (although perhaps not as easy or fun) than ours ever could be.