Volunteering Making A Difference For Others And In Ourselves

Volunteering  Making A Difference For Others  And In Ourselves     

By Daneille Gray Snowden

   As I have been doing some research on my 2nd child now entering into high school I was reminded of the importance of volunteering in our communities. Selfishly, this is a major plus for high school students as they do apply for scholarships. My son (who is in college now) was actively volunteering in our church (visitations, music, preaching, cleaning), politics (he was an aid to a senator as an intern), and Equestrian Horse Therapy for special needs. 

Now, he did this because he loved to serve and it was rewarding in multiple ways. 

Yet, as transcripts are being drawn up and scholarships applications are being filled out this is an area that does get over-looked in our home school lives. 

So, don't forget to volunteer to serve God by serving others and also to be an instrument to open a door of supply for higher education. Remind your college students to never stop making a difference.   

-------------------

Taken directly from Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) Website

[http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/200611030.asp]

By Diane Kummer and Becky Cooke
HSLDA High School Coordinators

Community Service

• "Food or clothing drives/Soup kitchens/Homeless shelters
• Nursing homes (visiting the residents, taking part in recreational activities, helping with arts and crafts programs, reading, organizing musical talent shows with other homeschooling families, caroling at Christmas, etc.)
• Tutoring or ESL programs
• Serving widows and the elderly in the neighborhood (running errands, reading to them, fixing their computers, raking leaves, etc.)
• Hospitals/rehab centers (candy striping)
• Local library"

      FROM DANEILLE: My daughter has always wanted to work in a food pantry and mission. She just wanted to touch the lives of people who have seemingly lost hope and given up. She wanted to offer them hope. We did this only one little bit and hope to somehow get involved in one or try to start one (lack of help has hindered this). 

Church

• "Administrative/clerical assistance (stuffing envelopes, folding bulletins, data entry, helping in the library, teaching Sunday School, etc.)
• Mercy ministry (visiting shut-ins, writing encouragement notes, babysitting, etc.)
• Technical assistance (sound technician, video production, computer skills, etc.)
• Nursery/children's ministry worker
• Wedding coordinator
• Events planner
• Short or long-term missions"

     FROM DANEILLE: I could add on to this with a surmountable list being in a pastors home my entire life. Yes, nursery work is good, cleaning the church, fixing food for the new mama's or the sick, welcoming committee, missions, VBS, AWANA, the pastor's assistant--gofer. 

Non-Profit Ministries

(All of these organizations depend on volunteer help in addition to their paid staff.)

• "Prison ministry
• Pregnancy centers
• Outreach to international students or adopting an inner city family
• Evangelistic organizations
• Disaster relief"    

     FROM DANEILLE: It's always nice to volunteer out of the sphere's of familiarity. We have done volunteer work for the special needs community, elderly, community children and even our local first responder's. 

Political Involvement

• "Campaign volunteers (stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, dropping leaflets, data entry, etc.)
• Voter registration drives
• Helping at the polls on Election Day"

       FROM DANEILLE:  Regardless of what political party you do serve, find your local party where they meet in their county to stuff envelops, pass out fliers and put up signs. 

GOP:  http://www.gop.com/volunteer/   --- your state's name(abreviated) then gop.org

          Example GOP has Victory Centers all across this nation for people to volunteer. 

                 Here is IL Web Site: Illinois Victory Center For Volunteering 

--------------------------------------

    I like what Kelli Mahoney mentioned in her article: 11 Awesome Outreach Ideas

Ways Christian Teens Can Make a Difference. She suggested: A Homeless Ministry, Craft donations, Christmas Tree Delivery, Turkey Delivery, Paint the town clean, and several others. Read her article. 

  Irregardless, teach your child to SERVE and be embellished with the benefits! 

-------------------------------------

Resources:

* http://www.makeadifference101.com/   Make A Difference 101 

* Listen to these podcasts from HSLDA on volunteering : http://www.hslda.org/docs/hshb/63/hshbwk3.asp

* Churches share community outreach ideas : http://www.interpretermagazine.org/interior.asp?ptid=43&mid=11470 [This is quite creative and even fun. A home school group could attempt to do this as well. Or your child could develop in their leadership skills and plan these.]
*Victoria Stankus from 'He Holds My Right Hand' is writing a theme of a late on ministry opportunities: http://he-holds-my-right-hand.blogspot.com/

HOT AIR BALLOON UNIT STUDY

   HOT AIR BALLOON UNIT STUDY

All pictures are from our time at the festival.

Just recently our family had the opportunity to attend an amazing Hot Air Balloon Festival. We watched 40 balloons being spread out, fans blown into them, the fire shooting out and then watching them grow into the hugest air filled beast we've seen. They were having a race of the 'hare and the hounds'. Later, when it became dark and the participants were all back they lit their beautiful balloons giving what was called a 'Night Glow'. 

  Our family was just 'blown-away' (not literally) on the magnitude and beauty of it all. Needless to say, being a home schooler I was inspired to do a short unit study on Hot Air Balloons. 
Because I want to keep this simple (for myself); this time I will be just compiling a list of amazing sites for us all to use and enjoy. 
Have fun!

"Up, Up and Away...in my beautiful balloon!"

Internet Sites:
*NOVA /A Short History of Ballooning: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/short-history-of-ballooning.html   [Do a time line with this information.]

*Home School Helper On-Line:  http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/units/hot_air_balloon.shtm

*My First Balloon Ascent-  Pioneering aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont recalls his initial exhilarating experience among the clouds. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/my-first-balloon-ascent.html

*Hot Air Balloons in the Civil War :   http://www.floridareenactorsonline.com/baloons.htm 
*PARTS OF THE BALLOON: http://www.eballoon.org/balloon/parts-of-the-balloon.html
     --THE BASKET: A single Open basket, single T-partitioned basket,A double T-partitioned basket.
   --THE BURNER
     --THE ENVELOPE: SPECIALIST FABRIC TYPES, SPECIAL SHAPES

*Famous Flights:       Atlantic Crossings

                                    Atlantic Crossings 1970-77

                                    Atlantic Conquered

                                    Around the World Flights

                                    First Successful Attempt

                                    First Successful Solo

                                    Champagne Flights

                                    Typical Flight

*Balloon Parts & Terminology: Vocabulary- http://www.ummbf.com/MTJHA/03.%20Balloon%20Terminology.pdf

This is really good. List of vocab. words, and work sheets to enhance this vocabulary. [I will be printing this one out for sure!]

*Science factor; http://www.hotairballoons.com/hotairballoon-air-science.asp

How Hot Air Balloon Works --> Lighter Than Air

*Hot Air Balloon Jokes: http://www.hotairballoons.com/Balloon_jokes.asp

*Science & Math: This is pretty hard, but my high schooler will get a great opportunity to stretch her learning abilities.    http://www.overflight.com/   MODEL HOT AIR BALLOON SCIENCE

*Take A Virtual Balloon Flight:     http://homeschooling.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/balloon/virtual/

*YOUTUBE Learning:

   -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev9xlnWseyw Basic Over-view of H.A. Ballons

   -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As3kJrCzhnE How Balloons Are Lighter Than Air

   -How Stuff Works: How Hot Air Balloons Work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Ej_Ayugxk&playnext=1&list=PL04A9F2900A881539&feature=results_video

   -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHo5SsF6n-g Educational Video

   -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG9sSLjwe8E Up in the balloon. 

   -Making a hot air balloon...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76m_99oucBQ&feature=related

   -The Song! Up Up and Away... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsVgSqAwSEI&playnext=1&list=PLA0E64431364C9BF8&feature=results_video

*Coloring Pages:
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/first-hot-air-balloon-flight-in-united-states-coloring-page/
First flight recorded in U.S.
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/first-hot-air-balloon-flight-in-united-states-coloring-page/
Across the English Channel
http://www.oncoloring.com/hot-air-balloons-coloring-pages.html  Variety of shapes to color.

       

The Classics for 5th Grade Girls

 Many  internet sites when searching for a list of 'Classic Literature', are mostly  fiction and some are just not where (I desire as a Christian) I want my child's mind and imagination to go. 

 Remember; Philippians 4:8 "For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]." 

  In book reading (and even in entertainment of all sorts) this is so important to apply.
So, as I scan over the Classics, I had to type in my search the 'Old Classics', even at that I compiled my own list including some ideas from others.

For my 5th Grader:
*Elsie Dinsmore Series by Martha Finley-we do the 'Life of Faith' version first. When my older daughter got older she read the original.

*The Little Prince by Antoine De St. Exupery

*Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

*The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White

*Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

*Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (We did a unit study on this.)

*The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

*Black Beauty  by Anna Sewell

*Heidi by Johanna Spyri

*American Girl Series (Though, I would suggest them for higher level readers these maybe too easy.)

*Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter

*The Velveteen Rabbit   by Margery Williams Bianco

*The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter  by Beatrix Potter

*Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit   by Joel Chandler Harris

*Swiss Family Robinson    by Johann David Wyss

*Adventures of Pinocchio     by Carlo Collodi

*Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm    by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin

*The Prince and the Pauper   by Mark Twain

*Anne of Green Gables    by L. M. Montgomery

    Now as you have seen the great majority if not all are fiction. I think there is a tremendous imbalance if this is all our children read, even for relaxation. Thus, biographies are vital as well as help books, and so on. Even books about travel and countries around the world. Learn about different religions and customs. 

  Books about how to cope as a kid Biblically. Inventions and inventors, foods, history and the list goes on and on. 

  Though the 'fictional' classics are great and important to read, include non-fiction. Reading can formulate your child's thinking. Can influence their future in various ways.

  So, enjoy reading to and with your child. Enjoy seeing them grow in knowledge and  vocabulary as well. 

A LINK I LIKED FOR THIS SUBJECT:
http://oldfashionededucation.com/classics.htm An Old Fashion Education

CLOTHING & FASHION UNIT STUDY

FELECIA’S CLOTHING & FASHION UNIT STUDY

   I gave my girls a choice for a short time to do a unit of study on something they would particularly like. My 13 year old choose period clothing. Of course this could have lasted for quite possibly the entire year, she had to limit herself greatly.
Felecia designed a lovely folder and aligned it with ladies of old in their period attire.
She also checked out several books and magazines to assist her as well.
Here is a basic rough out line of links and directive. Hope this helps you as you too learn about period clothing!


PERIOD CLOTHING

1.) Hold a fashion show,
2.) Create a new outfit
3.) Mural or collage from magazines.
4.) Clothing tags
5.) A map of the country where the clothing was made.
6.)  Five facts about the country.
7.)  Descriptions of the clothing the tags originated from
LINK:
http://www.teacherscount.org/teacher/lessons/TeachersCountLessonOne.pdf
Books to order from library:http://www.teacherscount.org/teacher/lessons/TeachersCountLessonOne.pdf
 "What We Wore: An Offbeat Social History of Women's Clothing, 1950 to 1980." It is one of the few books I've kept that I read in college.
posted by katinka-katinka at 7:04 AM on May 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
Adorned In Dreams: Fashion and Modernity.
The Dress of the People: Everyday Fashion in Eighteenth-Century England by John Styles
Fashions of A Decade 1990 by Anne McEvoy
Fashions of A Decade 1980's by Vicky Carnegie
Fashions of A Decade 1970's by Jacqueline Hearld
Fashions of A Decade 1960's  by Yvonne Connikie
Fashions of A Decade 1950's by Patricia Baker
Fashions of A Decade 1940's by Patricia Baker
Fashions of A Decade 1930's  by Maria Costantino
Fashions of A Decade 1920's  by Jacqueline Hearld


WRITE ABOUT:
8.) How does climate affect one’s clothing choices?
9.)  How does culture affect one’s clothing choices?
10.)  How does religion affect one’s clothing choices?
LINKS:
A decade-by-decade look at fashion in the United States
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0878570.html http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0767729.html
11.) Good For vocabulary…
http://www.eslflow.com/Accessories___style_dictation_exercises.pdf
LINK:

   TEXTILES how clothes are made. n how
silk, cotton, nylon, polyester and wool are made using the
http://library.thinkquest.org/C004179/textiles.html
http://www.poshgirlvintage.com/
Ethnic Traditions in Fashion

Ethnic Traditions in Fashion

EXCELLENT UNIT STUDY PUT TOGETHER HERE BY A HOME SCHOOLER

Excellent outline on what to learn & research.

http://rebecca-weber.suite101.com/fashion-unit-study-homeschool-in-high-school-research-projects-a335806 

LINK:

http://home-school.lovetoknow.com/homeschool-course-fashion-design 

LINK: (Fun to watch and see.)

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=history+fashion&oq=history+fashion&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=731l8517l0l9462l12l9l0l0l0l2l1365l2272l0.1.3.7-1l5l0 

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=home+school+history+fashion&oq=home+school+history+fashion&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=286l1932l0l2249l2l2l0l0l0l0l245l481l2-2l2l0

12.) Understanding the Lingo

         List 20 words used only in fashion and their definition.

LINK: 

Time-line 1900’s

http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/1900s-2000-fashion-trends 

Dolphin Unit Study Links & Helps

DOLPHIN UNIT STUDY LINKS & HELPS

My youngest had a choice of a mini unit study to do basically on her own and Dolphins is what she chose. She was thrilled doing this basically on her own each day.
She created a little dolphin note book, colored pictures and did little experiments to better understand dolphins.
This is a rough conglomeration of links that assisted Tabitha with her study.
Hope this adds to what you may be looking for in your study for dolphins.

http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/map-dolphins.html 

PICS AND FUN INFO

http://animal.discovery.com/features/dolphins/dolphins.html 

Animal Planet-Dolphins Discovered

Navy Dolphins:

 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/whales/etc/navycron.html 

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/critters/print/dolphin.html 

Info. On dolphins

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0110024/ 

(good site) names, eat, live, etc…GOOD; online quizzes-fun

http://library.thinkquest.org/17963/anatomy.html 

Basic anatomy

http://library.thinkquest.org/17963/anatomy.html 

Physiology

http://library.thinkquest.org/17963/anatomy.html :

Adaptations of the Anatomy/  Tail Flukes  /  Skin/  Locomotion

Good!

Sea World=Basic info: http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Bottlenose/whatisadolphin.html 

http://teacher.scholastic.com/dolphin/ 

Good all around info./with video of course.

Maui's dolphin=world's rarest marine dolphins. http://www.wwf.org.nz/what_we_do/species/hector_s_and_maui_s_dolphin/maui_s_dolphin/ 

Dolphin Camp click

Dolphins Communications:

COMMERSON'S DOLPHIN:cut.

Sonar Clicks click
"They produce whistles, creaks, chuffs, screams, squawks, pops, chirps– a whole assortment of sounds that scientists have labeled in any number of ways. We will talk more about the ins and outs of dolphin communication in future podcast episodes. Dolphins appear to use these communicative behaviors, vocalizations, physical contact, and postures, to express all sorts of things to each other. They can communicate their emotional state (anger, frustration, contentment, affection), but also convey information about their reproductive state, age, gender, etc. What’s more, dolphins, like many animals, can learn to read each other’s behaviors and communicative signals in order to coordinate activities like feeding on fish, or even just swimming together." Justin Gregg -  Dolphin Pod
Here is a  list of dolphin behaviors observed here at Dolphin Research Center: {The list is quoted directly from the center itself.}
"Arch: Bend head and tail ventrally.

Eyewhite display: Rolling eyes, showing the whites.

Flex: Bend head and tail dorsally.

Headwag: Rapid, side to side shaking of the head.

Play dead: Roll over submissively in the vicinity of another dolphin.

Snit: Sharp, sideways head jerk with closed or open jaws; may be accompanied by sound.*

*May indicate agitation or aggressive behavior." 

AND SEVERAL MORE...GO TO LINK ABOVE AT DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER. 

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/cetacea/commersons-dolphin.htm 

Types (Species) of Dolphins :  

 With Prominent Beaks :                                  Without Prominent Beaks

 Tucuxi                                                                          Commersons  

 Short-snouted Spinner Dolphin                                 Hector's Dolphin 

 Long-snouted Spinner                                                Heaviside's  

Atlantic Hump-backed                                               Black Dolphin 

 Pantropical Spotted                                                   Hourglass Dolphin 

 Atlantic Spotted                                                            Dusky Dolphin 

 Southern Rightwhale                                                  Peale's Dolphin 

 Common                                                               White-Beaked Dolphin 

 Striped                                                                         Pacific White-sided  

 Rough-toothed                                                            Atlantic White-sided Dolphin 

Indo-pacific Hump-backed                                          Fraser's Dolphin 

 Northern Rightwhale                                                     Irrawaddy Dolphin 

Bottlenose                                                                      Risso's Dolphin 

BOOKS

Carwardine, Mark. The Book of Dolphins. Dragon's World Ltd, 1996 

REVIVAL OF THE JOY IN HOMESCHOOLING

Wrote this 5 years ago. Wrote for other magazines. 
© Daneille Snowden

REVIVAL OF THE JOY IN HOMESCHOOLING
By Daneille Snowden

Do we define joy in homeschooing as….
Juggling
Our
Yardsticks
When we measure out the success of our teaching abilities=resulting in really smart kids?
Jumping
On
Your lesson planners when the school year is done?
Or could it be Your
Jewels
Obedient
Year?
Nonetheless, we all need the Joy and long for it in us, to pour out into the Hearts of our children, lasting for eternity. Joy means: “feelings of great happiness or pleasure, especially of an elevated or spiritual kind, or something that is seen as a source of happiness.”
Truly, real Joy is our only source of Joy and that is JESUS! I love that old chorus we sung in church; “Without Him, I could do nothing…without Him, I’d surely fail, without Him, I would be drifting…like a ship without a sail.” Isn’t that so true? When we try to go about life’s daily duties, without seeking Him first: we just don’t seem to get much done that really matters.
Mary B. Puplava of Handmaiden.org said this about her study on Joy; “Quite surprisingly, there are 15 different Hebrew words and 8 Greek words to describe joy which is used both as a noun and as a verb. To me this relates to the fact that JOY constitutes something that it tangible as well as intangible.”  Examples of the Hebrew & Greek definitions of Joy are fun, listen to some: rejoice, dance, cry, shout, good cheer, to glory, to be useful, to profit and to leap.
Now that summer is half over and I still yet need to finish purchasing my entire curriculum for this up-coming school year: the thought of doing this all over again just drains my brains as well as my soul! Hey, I am being bluntly truthful here, I have been home schooling now for over 12 years; and I am just not all that excited about teaching my chitlins. I know also that I am not alone; I have dear friends of whom I have chatted with that concur with this same sentiment. Yet, our true desire is to be joyous about teaching our babies once again by giving them the Word of God, using the three R’s and the extra curricula. When a dear friend and I were talking the other day, she was sharing her heart on this matter and I felt her burden…yes her BURDEN, not being excited about teaching her children and just purely WORE OUT! I felt her burden, because I identify. Burden defined is: “a load being carried; a difficult or worrying responsibility or duty.” We as home school moms (and or dads), feel that weight of responsibility; especially when our children become older and in high school. The weight just gets to be too much for us all to bear. So, where do I go…where do we all go when we get to this place of being overwhelmed and loosing our Joy to school our children? Jesus said; “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11.:28) Beyond a doubt do I believe that Jesus does care about this heavy laden burden of schooling and He wants to provide us His Rest! Rest here in the Greek means to: take ease and be refreshed! This is why the title of this article is called; ‘Revival of the Joy of Homeschooling.’ Because one of the definitions to revival is to be refreshed, ahhhh just the word itself is exhilarating!
I've been praying for myself and all my home school buddies; to have God's Joy of Homeschooling back in our hearts. As I was praying, I began meditating on this and the Lord brought this to my heart and mind.
When we all first began home schooling, we started off with this as a calling. Answering it, with a devotion to our Lord to nurture and teach our children at home. That calling stayed strong, especially with our guinea pigs (the first borns). Also, with the help of others who had this fresh zeal (referring to the awesome Moms Night Outs we had for hours on end).
As the years have passed; the zeal, the call waned away and home schooling has become more controlled and led by me (the home school mom) other than God controlled and led. Thus, it has become more and more a drudgery; to the point that it is also confusing trying to decide on the entire curriculum the children need. Perhaps, it is good to get into the closet of prayer; and surrender our call of being a home school teacher back to the One who willed this in the first place. In so doing, with that Joy and the Presence of God in complete control; I am confident He will guide myself and my fellow home school moms to the  subjects, books and so much the more He desires our children to learn from. Isn’t the Lord just wonderful on how He reveals just what we need at the hour of distress? All we need is Jesus, in complete control!
I was reading ‘The Old School House Magazine’ weekly newsletter and this week was about lesson planners, Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor wrote this; “God can use all these methods as they are yielded to His input first. Seek Him FIRST, and God will give you wisdom for each child.”  See, from a wise home school mom herself…SEEK HIM FIRST! Maybe it’s time to shut the curriculum magazines and shut the doors to our bedrooms, climb on our beds, open up the Word of God and the door to our hearts and truly seek God’s heart for the right schooling of our children! Amen?  "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)
Read what Denise Walmsley of  Broad Room web site in her article, The Real Joy of Home schooling (A study on Ps.51); “With this Psalm God graciously and gently opened my eyes to see that because He has cleansed my heart and renewed my spirit, I am then able to teach His commands to my children. He has put me in a family in the honorable position of mother in a Christian home. He hasn't burdened or demanded of me; He has honored me, and blessed me. I can also hold onto the promise of Psalm 51, which promises that those I teach will turn back to God. The thing I am working for WILL happen. My children will turn to the Lord And along with this fresh insight I see that the Lord has also "restored to me the joy of thy salvation". The Lord really answered the prayer in Psalm 51 for me, and I praise Him.”  Doesn’t this sum it all up; it’s all about Jesus and impressing His love, His Character into the lives of  our children. The only way this can happen is to allow Him to have complete control of what all we teach, say and do with them everyday.
Please know, I pray daily for my fellow home school moms out in this world and I ask that you will in turn pray for me too.
"Create in me a new heart, Oh Lord,
And renew a right spirit within me
Cast me not away from thy presence Oh Lord,
Take not thy Holy Spirit from me
Restore to me the JOY of thy salvation,
And renew a right spirit within me."
    
BIO: Daneille Snowden (from Morganton, North Carolina) is wife to Rev. Brad Snowden, and a home school mom of three children; Nathan (15), Felecia (8) and Tabitha (4). Daneille has a degree in missions and also is an ordained minister. Most importantly she is a daughter to her Lord Jesus Christ.
------------------------------
NOW:  Abides in IL. Married 24 yrs. Homeschooled 15 1/2 yrs./ Children 9-20 yrs. old.

TEACHING KIDS HOW TO PRAY

© Daneille Gray Snowden  2012

TEACHING KIDS HOW TO PRAY

                                                                                                   By Daneille Gray Snowden

For the past several years the Lord has been prompting my heart to TRULY teach my children how to pray; especially by example. We are blessed to read God’s Word together each morning, along with scripture memorization and do a quick prayer. In the evening, we have our family Bible time with prayer. Yet, the Lord would not ‘let-up’ on my spirit. As I have watched them grow, I do see a weakness in their prayer lives. How? Well, when they spend five minutes in prayer; basically racing through a quick over view of praise and intercession. Obviously, the younger the child this is to be expected. As our children approach mental, emotional and of course spiritual maturity this should change. From the beginning of their lives we are responsible to teach them how to pray, when they get to the more mature age here is when we jump in with detail explanation on how to pray. 

Purchase a journal for your child. Allow them to pick one out or buy a plain one and allow them to decorate it.

  Your child should at this stage in their lives have their own Bible as well.

  First teach them how to pray, sharing with them the ability to be flexible in their prayer life. God has His plans for each of us for each day, including our intimate time with Him. Teach your children to be careful to not be the ones ‘in control’ of their time with God. But to totally come before Him in complete surrender. 

  Start your children off by writing in a ‘Prayer List’ within their new prayer journal. Taking in account this lesson on how to pray.

  Divide the Prayer List into 3 categories:

Date Requested           Request         Date Answered

  Imagine as the days and weeks go by, when they get to put in the date the prayer was answered how their faith will grow. Isn’t that wonderful? 

  It is the job of the parent to teach their children how to pray and when to…not the church. They don’t instantly learn how to pray scripturally on their own. Deuteronomy 6:7 And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. (rd. vs. 8-10 as well). 

Let’s Begin:

I.)   Quiet place, private place to worship & pray. 

   *Praying In A Closet   

  Matthew 6:5-6 

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Isaiah 26:20 

Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.

       * Praying TO God and not FOR man.

       * Closet: inner chamber/ a secret room

 II.)  We must first "put off" our sin and self, and "put on" Christ. Repent of sins we may not even be aware of. God cleanse us and forgive us.  “Create in me a clean heart, cast me not away from Thy Presence and Renew a right spirit within me.” Ps. 51:10

            "And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:21-22) 

     * “…our heart condition matters more in worship than our voice, our good intentions or our actions. Without a cleansed heart, we simply cannot enter His presence or worship.”  [Nancy Missler = Entering Gods Presence] 

III.) Enter in God’s Presence With Worship & Praise

   Psalm 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with psalms. 

  “Enter in His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” – Psalm 100:4 

   *It was considered arrogant intrusion to enter the presence of an earthly king without bowing down to his majesty, praising his greatness and authority, and thanking him for the privilege of his audience.  [Luis Yosefus]

   *Express how much God is worth to us. Worth of all thanks!

   *We were created to praise.  Revelation 4:11 

   *Praise and worship is the means of entering God’s presence. 

III.) Pray for the Lost Souls of this entire World by Praying for Workers (Believers to Witness the Gospel)

     *Luke 10:2 Therefore said he to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. 

   *Matthew 9:38 Ask therefore the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest field 

IV.) Church 

     *To seek God/to have a revival of intercession.  

     *Prayer in church is a great spiritual power where believers pray together with unity of purpose (this is also known as 'in agreement'). 

     * The church to “seek guidance and the power to do as guided, 

     * Church is to pray for support. 

     *Church is to  pray for boldness for the Gospel. 

     *Church pray for specific healing. 

     *Local church and world church should  seek God, be consumed by Him, and work for Him. 

V.) Sick

    *James 5:15-16 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 

   *Mark 11:23-"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25) And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." 

VI.) Hurting: Lonely, Grieving, Depressed

    *Psalms 147:3 – He heals the broken heartened, binding up their wounds. 

    *Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. 

    *2Thessalonians 2:16, 17 – May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and hope which we don’t deserve, comfort your hearts with all comfort, and help you in every good thing you say and do. 

VII.) Provision: Financial, Open doors, Help

     *Raven: 1 Kings 17:2-7  Provision

    *The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way' (Ps 37:23). Guidance

     *Joshua was a helper to Moses. (Exodus 17:8-16, 24:13 - 25:8,  Numbers 13) As well as Caleb; (strength and faith). God send help to those who have devoted their lives to God’s Work.  Help

VIII.) Prayer for Family: different for the uniqueness of family. Always for salvation, healthy, happiness, peace, unity, provision, guidance and purpose. 

IX.) Pray for Self: Same as family.

X.) With Thanksgiving and Praise. Either before, after or even during ask for God’s directive in reading passages of scriptures. Meditate on His Word as He is faithful to give revelation. 

A strong prayer life leads to a strong family. A strong family alter time leads to a strong church. A strong praying Body of Believers leads to a Powerful Nation serving the True and living God.

It all starts at home!