Every month, we "trade posts" with CentriKid. Here’s this month’s great post from writer Mary Chase Breedlove. 

My roommate is one of those people who seems to know every word to every song ever written. Do you know people like that? They’re the ones sitting with you in the restaurant singing along to the song you’ve never heard of playing in the background. When you try to impress them by knowing the lyrics of a not-so-popular genre, they still stump you with their thorough knowledge of the artist and album.

I wonder how many thousands of words I have memorized thanks to song lyrics. Even sitting here pondering this article, I cannot think of a concrete number of songs I have memorized—it seems infinite. I often wish I could put rules and formulas of trigonometry to a catchy melody.

It’s safe to say song memorization comes naturally, especially when it is a song we enjoy. It’s very encouraging to think that we can memorize Scripture through song; what a fantastic way for children to learn!

I have had the blessing and honor of working with CentriKid Camps for the past two summers. Last summer, Chris Wells was the worship leader for our team, and as we sang a song he wrote for the summer’s camp theme, “God Provides,” I had a sort of epiphany.

The lyrics were quite simple: God will provide everything that we need because His love comes to us though Jesus Christ. I was struck at both the power and simplicity of that phrase.

This experience opened my eyes to something about children’s ministry: music geared towards kids is incredibly powerful and effective. Children go home from camp and Vacation Bible School singing the songs—I am living proof. I learned one of my favorite Bible verses though VBS when I was a kid. A year or two later, I left Crosspoint at Carson Newman College after my first week of camp ever singing songs we learned the entire way home.

Aside from memorizing Scripture, children’s music taught me something else: it was during that time that I began to understand what worship meant. I first understood the concept of how to praise God through singing songs. I was taught at an early age that we are to worship God, but the “why” and “how” sank in through the context of kid-friendly worship music.

We can help kids learn Scripture through music at home, too! Play those VBS CDs from years past. A popular album when I was a kid was “Hide Em in Your Heart” by Steve Green. Sing every song you can think of that teaches biblical concepts. ParentLife’s friend Amanda at Impress Your Kids loves the Seeds Worship albums.

It doesn’t matter whether you can carry a tune. Your kids don’t care. They just want you to sing with them, do funny motions, and be with them. Helping them learn Scripture is a big takeaway from these things.

Mary Chase Breedlove is a Camp Director for CentriKid Camps.  She is graduating from Mississippi State and will be getting married soon!  Mary Chase wrote about her earliest experience with scripture memory on centrikidblog.com. 

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Having family devotions does not have to be scary. Teach your child about God throughout your daily routines.
 

• Begin your day with a Bible verse. Show your child the verse in the Bible and read it aloud, encouraging her to repeat it. Say it together several times throughout the day.
• Pray often. If you pass an ambulance while driving, say a prayer aloud together. If your child tells you about a friend’s lost cat, say a prayer together. Demonstrate for your child that prayers can be said anytime anywhere!
• Cook with your child, talking about how God made food. Share the creation story about the garden of Eden. Discuss how God made your body to be His temple. Together, decide healthy ways to take care of your bodies.
• Create skits from Bible stories. Play dress-up and perform your Bible skit for grandparents.
• Plan a time of family worship each week. Let each family member choose a favorite worship song. Enjoy creating hand motions together!
• Walk through your neighborhood, praying for your neighbors as you pass by each house.

Kristy Williams is a stay-at-home mom to two boys, Christian, 3, and Jameson, 18 months. She and her husband Gary attend Sarasota Baptist Church in Sarasota, Florida.

Photo from Flickr user linneberg and used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. 

27 weeks pregnant

Names. They are given to us at the beginning of our lives, and, for the most part, they stick with us for its entirety. How do you decide what name to give your newborn child? Do you choose a family name or try something completely out of the box? Do you spend hours pouring over meanings of names, seeking just the right one? Or, do you wait until your baby is born and see what name suits her best?

My husband and I waited until we found out we were having a girl to choose names. It really wasn’t an agonizing process. For us, we wanted to incorporate family names from both sides.

Meaning of names wasn’t something we dwelt on. After all, my name is Rebecca, and through research, I’ve seen it mean everything from “beautiful” to “snare” to “bovine”! (I think I’ll stick with the first meaning.) I was, however, pretty insistent it be a name that would go well with children’s rhymes and that her initials could be put on anything!

For us, using family names is something that brings both of our worlds together in a very tangible way. For me, it’s a way to honor both of our parents as we bring new life into this world. 

When our little one makes her debut in a few short months, she will be given the name Anderson Taylor Suggs. Anderson is my mother-in-law’s maiden name. Taylor is my father and grandfather’s middle name. 

Our daughter may not ever find her name on a set of pre-printed pencils. She may not have a name on the top 100 list of baby names. The meaning may not be exactly what she would have chosen. However, her name is one I pray brings honor to our families and God as she carries it with her throughout her life. 

Can you remember naming your children? Was it a tough decision? What processes did you go through as you named your children?

Becky Suggs and her husband, Robert, live in the mountains of Glorieta, New Mexico, with their pug, Sadie. They are expecting their first child in April. In her spare time, you can find Becky reading, enjoying the great outdoors, filling in squares to the latest crossword puzzle, and spending time with family. She has a passion for both kids and camping ministries.

• In our March issue, we mentioned that the best remedy for a cold can be chicken soup. But do you know why? Homemade stock (made with bones) provide the body with vitamins and minerals and calcium as well as aiding in digestion. Read more about it at Kitchen Stewardship.
• Impress Your Kids is doing an awesome series about incorporating the senses into learning about the Resurrection.
• Why It’s Worth Sharing Our Messy Stories at The Gypsy Mama
• Solomon’s Little Ponies: Where Is Our Trust? at Orange Dad
• Is There Laughter in Your Home? at To Love, Honor, and Vacuum

Did you read or write something you’d like our readers to see? Leave a link in the comments, on our Facebook page, or send us a Tweet!

Why not find a reason to celebrate in this almost-Spring, not-quite-Easter time? In our family, we really enjoy March Madness time simply because it gives us something to do together without our planning.

If you’re into a little planning, however, throw a basketball party! You can go big and invite friends or extended family or simply make it a casual family gathering over dinner and a game.

Either way, here are some fun ideas for a basketball-themed event.

• Make basketball cookies or a basketball cake. The cookie recipe calls for royal icing, but I won’t tell anyone if you tint store-bought icing. I love that the cake uses black licorice for laces!

• Decorating in orange and black screams basketball! Hang orange and black streamers.
• Have a chalkboard or whiteboard with a bracket on it so you can follow the games.
• During halftime, play a game of two-on-two or HORSE outside if you have a hoop. Or, improvise: have someone hold a hula hoop or a large bowl and try to get the ball in it!
• Wear team gear. Who cares if it’s the team playing? It lends atmosphere.
• Hang a banner with this Scripture: Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever (1 Corinthians 9:25). Play a game to help kids (and parents!) memorize it during commercial breaks.
• Have younger children decorate a crown to help them memorize the verse. Spend some time explaining what "a crown that will last forever" means.

Enjoy the game, and see you next Friday for more Fridays in March Madness!