Beginning Your Day With The Lord (Learn a Verse Before School)

Holly Milton believes there is a missing element from most of our mornings. A few minutes together praying not for our children, but with our children about specific issues that we need to see developing in our lives. We need to begin our day with the Lord to prepare for what the day has for us and so we want to model that and come along side of our children and do that with them and you will grow with your child as you get asked to make it a discipleship opportunity for yourself as well.

I think one of that greatest examples we can have is humility with our children that we are coming more like Jesus alongside them. We are not perfect and so every week I'm encouraging the parent also only what they can grow and in this topic. This is family life today.

Our hosts are Dave and Wilson on Bob Lapine. You can find us online and family life today.com are you intimidated by the idea of praying together with your kids every day before school.

Holly Milton is going to help walk you through just how easy this can be stay with us and welcome to family life today. Thanks for joining us. So to play for you. The text message I got from my daughter Katie lives in Brooklyn she know your plan is. I think I've got her okay okay that she actually sent a video to the whole family sheep about a month ago sent us a note and said Cedric, who is our four-year-old grandson Cedric wants a sword and she said, so I'm thinking about having him memorize some Scripture in order to earn his sword and I said like Ephesians 6 right arm and you can go right to the sword of the Spirit so that he has some spiritual connection shows that's a great one and then she writes to everybody else. So how do you get a four-year-old to memorize Scripture. I said well you probably need talk to your sister about that because she's the most recent one to have experience with that. So they shared about hand motions in different ways to get the kid engaged so here you go you ready for this. Yes, dear Cedric, I was so his sword absolutely. I'm ready to buy the whole thing is every parent, every grandparent cherishes absolutely that kind of progress in the kid's life and he probably doesn't know what half those words mean.

Why do you cherish it because we don't worry is spiritual yet right, but to see him beginning to work out what it looks like to walk with Jesus and you trusted those seeds to get planted.

God can bring those to harvest a person's life and are so many things you put in your mind and look what is put in is my were all almost tearing up because we understand the power of truth from the word of God, and that's what is put in. Well, we've got a guess who's joining us this week to help us in this process of pointing our kids to Jesus, helping them understand God's word, helping them learn how to pray through God's word together. Holly Milton is with us again on family life today Holly welcome back and keep Holly lives in the valley of the son she and her husband have two children a boy and a girl, five and six.

They are on staff with crew Holly has spoken all around the world to the campus director been on a regional director for crew and now works with the staff at the end of Empire/if you talked about how you lead somebody to Christ, who was into the vampire lifestyle back when you were in college. She's written a book that is for us as parents about praying with our children before school and that's the before school part is strategic in your mind right yes definitely we need to begin our day with the Lord to prepare for what the day has for us and so we want to model that and come along side of our children and do not let them how it really is a discipleship manual is I was going through that I was thinking this isn't just about because the prayer which is so important that year really teaching us how to disciple our kids what that looks like conversations Scripture think most of us as parents are thinking. How do I do that, but you've made it very simple for us.

When I try to do it at the beginning of each week. There is a theme for the week so the first week of school and be strong and courageous because while, especially this year they're going into a new school situation. Most likely, and many children are nervous and even teens about what it's like with their new teachers their classmates their older new friends and so for an example the first week of being strong and courageous.

We start out with a devotional for the parents that helps them kind of think about how their children need to be strong and courageous this week and also how we as parents may need to be stung greatest you don't like my daughter going to preschool and kindergarten last year. This year, both of them going to elementary school together.

It's that first moment of the empty nest of them being in school and for others it's just thinking how I am putting them into this worldly environments whether they can learn get out so we have to be strong and courageous too and so it starts with discipleship at the parent and helping you have an understanding of that week's topic and this is really critical.

You've already talked about the fact that only six says that word love the Lord with all our heart, mind and strength. We can't pass on to our kids.

What's absent in us.

So if you're trying to train and disciple your kids and things like being strong and courageous. You need to be in the same process therein and growing in your own faith your own strength your own courage. Not that you have to have it down and have it perfect because you don't. But you have to let your kids know that this isn't just something for them at something for mom and dad to yes you will grow with your child as you did as I make it a discipleship opportunity for yourself as well.

I think one of the greatest examples we can have is humility with our children that we are becoming more like Jesus alongside them. We are not perfect and so every week I'm encouraging the parent also only what they can grow and in this topic.

I think that's really important to you as parents even as we sit down at the table. I know that Dave and I tried to have stories of what it looks like to be strong and courageous when we were fearful enough to be like this is been really hard for me are. This is been really important for me, or I'm really learning this week so for us as parents to be vulnerable opens kids up. Have you seen not to yes completely I tell them when I'm nervous, like flying here. I do not like turbulence, my children, but is it worth pushing through my fear in order to give other people an opportunity disciple their children. Yes you're right so that I let them know when there are things that are uncomfortable and also love the fact that you said earlier, when you think even think of Deuteronomy 6 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with a lot of people dismisses that one written to a person that was written to a community. Yes, the whole nation really, and you've done this, not just one mom you've done that you said what 18 others and so there's this community going on.

So even the fear and courageous thing. It isn't just Malone it's one family. It's like we are a community and we can do this as a church in a sense, to help our kids become strong, courageous, II think that's a great point. I think for mom who would say I want to do this with my kids. If you say I want to do this with five other moms and were all going to do it together.

That accountability will help you persevere and the experience of it will be a richer experience. Yeah. And I think that accountability is key. Just other moms going through it or even if you say my kids today were like this is done email another mantra encouraging say I'll keep pressing on my kids were like that yesterday, but it just keeps you together and accountable to one another. So you're talking about being strong and courageous. You're coming up with illustrations from your own life, you can share with your kids. But as you get in the car on the first day or around the breakfast table.

First day of school, and you've got this out. What's the brochure to share with your kids on the first day so the first day the theme is, do not be afraid. And it's from Deuteronomy 31, six, and it says so be strong and courageous to not be afraid, and do not panic for them for the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you.

He will neither fail you or abandon you.

And then we have a prayer for the children and it's to contextualize adverse to their circumstance that says father, help me to be strong and courageous. As I walk into my new classroom and meet my teachers and classmates. I choose right now to be courageous and work through my fears instead of being controlled by them. Amen. We also make it a little easier if you have younger children and so the example for the younger children would just be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid God will be with you and then the prayer for them is God, thank you for being with me on the first day of school. Help me to be strong and courageous today. Amen.

If you have that little five minute interaction with your kids.

First of all, you acknowledge that you know what's going on in their world that there facing something new.

You told them the promises of God to be with them in the midst of that and you prepared them.

Now I'm thinking that the end of the day when they come home and you say you have a chance to be courageous today. Were you afraid you have those conversations. As a follow-up MAC.

This is not just something that's abstract this is something that applies to what I'm living yes and that's where we continue on with the Deuteronomy 6 where it says you know engage with them when you're sitting down when you're lying down. When you wake up. So were letting it out, you start in the day. The morning you discuss it at dinner in your bedtime, and it becomes a conversation of the week. You're not trying to get kids to memorize these verses every day, but in reading them out loud and reading slowly with the kids, you're helping them understand God's word is real, it's practical, it makes sense that applies to my life and it's funny somewhere in your book and remember where it was in their story about Carter with a bully above is courageous. Tell that is pretty cute. So remember my son is only in kindergarten this past year and we've been trying to help them understand that not everyone in their public school knows about Jesus, let alone wants to follow Jesus and so we need to have compassion on them, but we want to share Jesus with others, so he saw bully in the playground he went up to him and he said I'm as an evangelist have to work on his approach but he said do you believe in Jesus and the bully said yes and Carter looked at him surprised he said why don't you act more like him because he understands if we do believe in Jesus. There is an expectation, we become more like him already at age 60 punched for sale but I'm a little confused but I really feel strong and courageous people run from bullies and I don't speak at all. It's funny because kids get excited about sharing Jesus. I remember I would share the story even at the dinner table sometimes about anatomy in the fall and the serpent and Satan, and our need for Jesus is coming to redeem and connect us back with God. They love this story so much. They asked me to repeat it all the time because it really becomes thing you keep taking into the gospel and so their friends to come over for like 10 years old and I can't tell the garden story you know they want me to share the gospel and these kids are like into it, which is we assume that they won't be but they really becomes, can you give us like what are the other themes of each day for courage share. So Monday was do not be afraid.

Tuesday is put your hope in God, Wednesday, your work will be rewarded Thursday. Be courageous to obey God and Friday. Be courageous in waiting. I have to think Josh was in there somewhere right there in Utah so here be strong and courageous. I think have I not commanded you wrong encourages affect our kids were growing up there was a song I find out you will be strong and go gray just right. I don't know neither but we old movie called T this song. It was one of those having some of these verses put the music. I'm thinking about seeds, family worship, which we talked about earlier and think about all of the different my wife does know about what he figures he downloaded all the seeds family worship you every time we walk anywhere. She starts singing verses to have.

She really does really work to to music. This is what makes the Scripture stick in your heart.

That's why I can still remember Joshua one years later because I got the melody in my head. Along with the words I did you use Scripture memory songs as a part of this this rotation with your family.

We didn't do Scripture I sonically do you salty.

Like you mentioned, we do have they listen to salty to memorize that we actually used this idea of memorizing verses from a through Z, and they would learn a verse that started a live assessment be all the way down to see and they started doing that when they were three and understand the verses but again it's hiding the word in our heart that they will number for the afterlife. Just like you did with that song.

I do think just like with your grandson. It's important to get memorization and not worry about them always understanding and that doesn't guarantee that they will walk with Jesus. The rest of their life, but it does give them an opportunity for the Holy Spirit, or for God to just bring that verse back in a time of need in your life. What about that sir anything is there a role for men for the dad, now all way to the corner know if you seen anything.

Is there a way that men can do this or dad could do. This is only have to be mom. In fact, my whole book.

I am purpose did not try to make the front to let flowery I am purpose did not say mom's anywhere in my book and I think it could be dads and moms and dads could be taking turns, which would be even better.

No, nowhere do I emphasize this is a mom manual. It's a parents who have annual and I think it's something great. I think if there is only one parent available in the morning. It should be that parent. Whoever it is, and then the evening the following packet follow-up they can ask the question, so what did you learn what was your verse today. What were you praying that they could be a learner of the kids had that child can then share what they've experienced.

I didn't want things that we did when the kids were real little, how long we did it, but I would take them. We call the boys day out just to give Anna break right and I don't know if I did once a month or once every couple weeks and we had this ritual of going to videogame mall and get A&W root beer but listen to this right now is like that with an opportunity at least to take one of these and spend the day doing my part again would be just once a month, but it's a way we had this back then I would've said okay. Friday is my day or Mondays my day. I'm driving the school.

I'm going to take him through a look at week five comparison and jealousy that never happens. People never compare very jealous that never ends, but to build a walk them through truths from the Scripture and to be involved with and I mean that some men to jump in is your husband on anything that way. While I'm a morning person so he picks up the kids and I take the kids so because we both try though he does ask them.

As he picks them up. How was your day what did you learn today. How were you and seeing the people around you. So he asks discipleship questions on the drive home might not be exactly always related to our prayer in the morning, but the other thing we've put into our day that our children demand from my husband is we do five minutes with them before they go to bed till so we start the day.

One of us with this prayer, both of us.

Now we only have two kids. If you like eight kids. This might not be a little harder that we each spend five minutes with each of them which can end up being 10 or more. But every night they want five minutes alone with each parent and not five minutes has become so great in this specific bonding. It's almost likely now that you take your Friend date right but five minutes everyday really adds up to have some significant quality conversation said they want their daddy time every night that five minutes.

It's like nonnegotiable.

Are you finding that this is sticking with your kids. I mean something that you talked about a few weeks ago is coming back into their conversation there gone. I remember that verse that happened, I would say that at their age that naming a verse there remembering the principal because they're doing I'm doing it for a whole week so it really becomes foundational and then the next week because foundational any one example, as I'm very big on teaching them the fruit of the spirit. I think that's up. I think a lot have success for kids are young or old. When a child comes to faith in Christ. That doesn't make us more sinless right it just makes us safe from our intent, but we still said I think one of the theologies we often teach our children no matter their age is that the Holy Spirit comes in us to empower us to empower us to be courageous to empower us to watch our mouth and parents do not have comparison or all of these things and so we specifically spent a week in this devotional on each of the fruit of the spirit and what we now do in our evening prayers as a family is. We say evaluate your day went to the fruit of the spirit was a little hard for you want to own it can facet and then asked the Holy Spirit to empower you to have more self-control or kindness. The next day and this has really helped them to evaluate five and six their own sanctification, their own meeting to become like Jesus. There still not perfect that they need the Holy Spirit and asking for his help to their getting dependence and there hearing you start, it's not just where was the fruit of the spirit absent in your life today, but mom and dad are going. I'll go first. I think for kids to know were on the same journey the drama and were handling this as well. One thing to just hit me about this is thinking of teenagers you're not there yet, but you want things we notice with our teenage boys was they would start to ask us questions about our face and this would've given us a theme which would've been really interesting because of before. Talk about courage the whole week.

You don't remember thinking, even when our our last son was there and the other two were in college.

He we really start reach out. So tell me your testimony and it was different.

Because go to work. There was sorta chaotic, but he really wanted know it could be this whole thing. Okay. Encourage dad when we when were you afraid in college last week so and when were you fry me and gives you like you said, the intentionality, I'm not always the most intentional, so I need a resource tool and I'm thinking you're doing it with little 56 euros. But winter 15 to 16. This is can pay off. It gives you a chance you're right to tell them your story or maybe your failures of when you weren't courageous or when you were there. John 14 comes to mind. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth and when you're talking about bedtime. For us, that was one of our favorite times because kids open up at bedtime because I don't go to sleep and I know his parents are tired and you're exhausted and you want to guess just have time to yourself. But I think that time for us is been the most precious time I've said this before, but when our sons was getting married so Dave and I were on our knees. Actually, because at first when their little here in the bed with them and then they get a little old and you're sitting on the bed, but this night the night before he got married we were on our knees and we are praying for him for the last time before he got married and we had our hands on him, praying for him. And of course I'm crying because it's like I'm so excited for you, but this is an end of an era and I asked him Austin. What will you miss the most about living under our roof, and he said this, you guys praying for me every night. This will be something I'll carry on. It was so interesting because later we asked his wife what will you miss about being under your parents roof and she said the same thing.

My parents praying for me at night in bed.

I know that work in the mid-seven were exhausted were thinking this doesn't make any difference there.

They're playing their they're totally out of it. Those moments sink deep into a child's life and we all know because our kids are grown. Those are the greatest joys Bob when you just played that video of your grandson memorizing Scripture no greater joy than older kids walking in the truth I was just thinking that son when we calm and FaceTime if you have four kids and it's absolute chaos I mean kids are running naked you know you and one were just like how in the world you survive.

And it's exactly what we experienced back in the day as we will thing is when they get ready for bed. Thanks we been there there on their knees, their friends are doing with the singing songs really cool Holly. This is a gift really for parents to have this laid out the habit systematized for them. It's a roadmap that they can follow. I'm grateful we can offer to our listers. Thanks for being here.

Thanks for all the work that went into this and may it be multiplied in tens of thousands of homes across the country and around the world think you have me now and for our listeners. Any of you who would like a copy of Holly's book. We're making it available this week to those of you who can make a donation to support the ministry of family life today. Your donations help us deliver practical biblical help and hope to marriages and families all around the world every day you extend the reach of this ministry every time you donate your having an impact on the lives marriages and the families of tens of thousands of people every day when you make a donation today. Just ask for your copy of Holly Milton's book playing with your kids before school.

You can make your donation online@familylifetoday.com or call one 800 FL today to donate again. The website is family life today.com or call to donate and get a copy of Holly Milton's book, praying with your kids before school, call 1-800-358-6329 that's one 800 F as in family L as in life and in the word today, not tomorrow. We're going to introduce you to Matt Hammett, former lead singer for Sanctus real guy who wrote the song lead me in. His wife Sarah to join us and talk about his journey to becoming the spiritual leader in his home is written a book called lead me to be a great conversation. I don't think our engineer today. Keith Lynch along with our entire broadcast production team on behalf of our hosts David and Wilson on Bob team.

We will see you back next time for another edition of family life today. Family life today is a production of family life of Little Rock, Arkansas. Accrue ministry help for today hope for tomorrow