Thriving Family Magazine

This is my new magazine that I just love! It is right up my alley with parenting and marriage. I ordered it through Focus on the Family and it is awesome!! Here's the link if you are interested in subscribing....

http://family.christianbook.com/thriving-family/pd/0TFUSA6?item_code=WW&netp_id=649976&event=HPT&view=details

7 Days A Week

To make bible reading fun, purchase a weekly medicine box. In each slot, place a short scripture. During your devotion time with your children, have them open the day of the week and read the scripture. This makes a great family devotion while sharing the word of God with your children!

I found the boxes at the Dollar General. Its work sitting down each week and replacing new scriptures, so save the old ones to use again!

Depending on the age of your children, you can also just add the verses.  During their quiet time, they can look up scriptures each day. This might also be a good opportunity for them to start a journal and relate scripture to their lives.

Here are a few that I have used in the past~

James 1:19-20
Father, help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Remind us that our anger does not bring about the righteous life you desire.

Colossians 3:8-9
Lord, guide us to rid ourselves of any anger, rage malice, slander or any language that does not lift each other up.

Psalm 19:14
May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts always be pleasing in your sight towards each other at all times.

Hebrews 12:14-15
Father, help us to make every effort to live in peace with each other becoming holy through your word. May no bitter root grow between us to cause trouble not only in this relationship but also others within our family.

Hebrews 12:2-3
Lord, may we fix our eyes upon you, the author and perfecter of our faith. May we keep our hearts in your word so we do not grow weary or lose heart.

Isaiah 55:11
Heavenly Father, keep the words from our mouth returning empty. May we accomplish what you desire and may we achieve the purpose for which you have sent them.

James 3:17-18
Lord Jesus, may the wisdom we receive from you be pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Help us to sow in peace and raise a harvest of righteousness.

James 1:22-25
Dear Jesus, show us your word so that we may listen and do what it says. Remind us that when we read your word and walk in your path, we will be blessed in relationships.

James 3:9
Lord, with our hearts we worship you; with our mouth we praise your glorious name. With our hearts and mouth we have created bitterness and resentment. May we honor you with our hearts and our mouths in how we treat one another.

James 1:2-4
Thank you Lord for blessing us with hardship. Through this we will develop perseverance which will guide us to be mature and complete in our spirit and relationship not lacking anything.

2 Chronicles 7:14
Help us Lord to humble ourselves and pray, seeking your face. Help us to turn from anger and bitterness and resentment of any kind. Bring us healing.

Psalm 19:12
Lord forgive our hidden faults. Help us to forgive each other.

Matthew 18:21
Father, just as you forgive us each time, may we forgive each other.

Matthew 18:3-4
Bring us to our feet before you Lord. May we continue to humble ourselves and our hearts. Change our hearts and our ways. May we surrender all to you and become as innocent and loving as a child.

Proverbs 14:10
Lord, you know what rests in our hearts as well as we know ourselves. Remind us that bitterness and anger steals our joy and it is not of your spirit.

Proverbs 17:22
Father, keep our hearts from drying up with bitterness and anger. May our hearts become cheerful and happy from the medicine of your joy and peace.

Proverbs 16:23
May we gain wisdom from you who leads us to wise words and instruction towards one another.

Matthew 6:14
Remind us that when we forgive others you also will forgive us. As we come to you daily Lord, help us to confess to you anything that is not of you in our hearts towards others.

Ephesians 4:32
Help us to always be kind and compassionate to one another always forgiving just as you do.

Psalm 4:4
May we search our hearts daily giving to you all that is in our own will. Lord keep our hearts from anger.

Jeremiah 29:11
Lord you know the plans you have for us. We call upon you and seek you in prayer to heal our hearts and protect our hearts from weakness.

Philippians 13:3-4
Father guide us to press forward forgiving what is behind and straining forward to win the prize of healing and new beginnings.

Ephesians 5:21
Lord may we submit to each other our reverence for you.

Philippians 4:8
Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, may our hearts think these things towards each other. If it is not excellent or praiseworthy, may we give them to you and seek forgiveness.

Proverbs 17:17
A friendship loves at all times.

(Please forgive me if I have incorrect verses)

Little Teaching Tools

I found some more great books for bible lessons with the kids! I chose The Ten Commandments, but check out your local Dollar General for more! For just a dollar, you get a real powerful teaching tool.

A Praying Heart

I have found comfort in these prayers over my son. Maybe you might in a similar situation with your children...

Give Richie a wise and discerning heart so that he can distinguish between right and wrong.
~1 Kings 3:9, 12

Set guard over Richie's mouth; keep watch over the door of his lips. Do not let his heart be drawn to what is wrong. Keep him from those who delight in making bad choices.
~Psalms 141:3-4

Guide Richie's heart away from complaining and arguing.
~Philippians 2:14

May the words of his mouth and the actions of his heart be pleasing in your sight.
~Psalms 19:4

Help Richie to pay close attention to your words with an obedient heart.
~Proverbs 4:20

Direct Richie to obey his parents and his teacher for this is right.
~Ephesians 6:1