Memory Verses

A little while back I wrote about using the Charlotte Mason Scripture Memory System. We finally got started, and I’ve been very excited with the system so far. This is not only a great way for the kids to learn memory verses, but for me to learn memory verses as well!  I thought I’d share a couple of videos of the kids saying a couple of memory verses.

Troy usually speaks a little clearer, but he was super excited/crazy because I was videoing him. Here’s Troy saying James 1:22: “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

 

Troy saying memory verse from Lisa Kennedy on Vimeo.

And, here’s Ella saying Ephesians 6:1: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

Ella saying memory verse from Lisa Kennedy on Vimeo.

Scripture Memory System

Starting this week, I’ll be implementing a new system to help the kids (and me!) memorize Scripture. It is called the Scripture Memory System, and it is part of the Charlotte Mason homeschooling method. Whether we end up homeschooling or not, and whether we’d even use the Charlotte Mason method if we did end up homeschooling, doesn’t matter to me. I want to use this Scripture Memory System to help my children memorize Scripture, and I can foresee us using this system long into the future whether we are homeschooling or not, after all, it is my job as a parent to teach my children whether I also send them to public school or not.

I could explain the Scripture Memory System to you, but I think the video I linked does a great job (much better than I’d do with words!), so I encourage you to watch it. I will leave you with a list of the first verses we’ll be putting in our box: mostly Scriptures that the kids already know on some level, but we’ll be adding to the list as we go. Our verses are taken from the NKJV.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for the Almighty God who rules the heavens and the earth.

I am thankful for His sovereignty.

I am thankful for God’s perfect love and grace.

I am thankful for God’s salvation found through Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for God’s supreme knowledge and wisdom.

I am thankful for God’s holiness.

I am thankful for God’s truth and peace.

I am thankful that this list could never be complete because there is so much to thank God for.

Hiding the Word in Their Hearts: Genesis 1-2 {Part 1}

Child’s Target Age: 2 years old

Bible Text: Genesis 1-2

Memory Verse:

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Key Lessons:

• God is all powerful.
• God is in control.
• God made everything we can see and everything we cannot see.
• God’s creation was good.
• God created the earth in six literal days (consider how the days are defined in the passage – morning and night were day one, etc.)

Songs:

Days of Creation:

Day one, day one, God made light when there was none. (repeat)

Day two, day two, God made heaven and sky of blue. (repeat)

Day three, day three, God made flowers and grass and trees. (repeat)

Day four, day four, God made sun, moon, and stars galore. (repeat)

Day five, day five, God made birds and fish alive. (repeat)

Sixth day, sixth day, God made animals and man that day. (repeat)

Day seven, day seven, God rested in His heaven. (repeat)

Fuzzy Caterpillar:

Fuzzy caterpillar, climbed up in a tree!

He wiggled short, he wiggled long, he wiggled right at me!

I put him in a box. “Don’t you move!” I said.

But when I opened up the box, there was a butterfly instead.

Now I could never make one, even if I tried.

Cuz’ only God in heaven can make a butterfly!

Genesis 1:1 (to tune of “Are You Sleeping”):

In the beginning, in the beginning,

God created, God created,

The heavens and the earth, the heavens and the earth.

Genesis one-one, Genesis one-one.

My God is So Big

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do!

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do.

The mountains are His, the valleys are His, the trees are His handiwork too.

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do!

Activities:

• Creation Cards (from Apologetics Press) to reiterate that God made everything. I really love these cards from Apologetic Press – great quality and beautiful pictures, but you could easily make your own.
• Draw/color a representation from each day of creation. This lesson could be spread out over the week, doing one day of creation each day of the week. The child’s creations (sheets) could then be used in conjunction with singing the Days of Creation song. You could also hang each sheet up on the wall, bulletin board, etc., and review each day prior to learning about the next day of creation.

This is only part 1 in the lessons I plan to do based on Genesis 1-2. The second lesson will be focused on “God Created Me!”

For a list of all the Hiding the Word in Their Hearts Lessons, click here.

Hiding the Word in Their Hearts: The Bible

I know that this series of lessons will be a work in progress. That is to say that I’d like to have a particular format for the lessons to follow, but I’m not 100% sure what will work best until I actually put it into practice. So, with that said, bear with me as I work out the kinks!

How will I use these lessons? For now, considering Ella’s age (2 years old), I plan to focus on one lesson per week. I want her to be immersed into Bible stories and messages, and to become familiar with these things. However, I don’t want to overwhelm her by throwing too much information at her at once, which is why I intend on only doing one main lesson per week at this time.

I’ve thought a lot about where to start these lessons, but I’ve decided to start with a very basic foundational lesson: The Bible. There is a major attack on God’s Word in today’s world, and I want to train my children to have a strong faith in the Bible, even when others may be tearing it down. This foundation begins with a knowledge of what the  Bible is.

Child’s Target Age: 2 years old

Bible Text: This lesson is not taken from one particular passage; however, some passages to draw principles from or to consider could include 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:15-21; 2 Peter 1:2-4; and Psalm 119.

Memory Verse: Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” (NKJV)

Key Lessons

• God gave us the Bible.
• The Bible is a special book.
• The Bible tells us about Jesus.
• The Bible tells us how we should live.

Activities

• With a Bible, practice proper handling of the Bible such as talking about not coloring in it, not tearing the pages, etc. because it is a special book.
• Using a flashlight and/or candle in a dark room, demonstrate how the light shows the way. Explain that the Bible does the same thing for us in this world.
• Using individual letters (such as magnetic fridge letters or simply letters on separate pieces of paper), practice letter recognition while singing “The B-I-B-L-E".”

Songs

The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me.

I’ll stand upon the word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.

 

The Bible is God’s book, His words are written there.

I’ll keep it in a special place and handle it with care.

 

Oh, we love to hear the Bible, the Bible, the Bible.

Oh, we love to hear the Bible for it is God’s word.

It tells us God loves us, it tells that God made us.

Oh, we love to hear the Bible for it is God’s word.

(Repeat with “read” instead of “hear”)

 

Two little hands to hold my Bible, two little hands to hold my Bible.

God gave me my two little hands to use for Him.

Two little eyes to read my Bible, two little eyes to read my Bible.

God gave me my two little eyes to use for Him.