Select Page

Wanda’s Question

by | Aug 19, 2020 | Mom Blog, Baby Too, Memorize God's Word

Wanda

 In the book (First Place) you mentioned that before children can begin speaking they can already memorize verses. How can I do this with Joseph…? (Joseph is one years old.)

Marian

Hi Wanda! I am excited for you as you begin this adventure of helping Joseph memorize Bible verses!

Babies naturally listen to what we say, and when they begin to talk, they start to say the words they have heard. As you consistently repeat Bible verses out loud in Joseph’s hearing he will begin to store those verses in his heart! The exciting day will come when you will be saying the verses and Joseph will join in, saying the verses with you!!

IDEAS!

START WITH ONE VERSE

Choose a Bible verse you would like Joseph to memorize. Genesis 1:1 is a great verse for little ones to memorize. It is important for our children to begin life with a Biblical worldview. They need to know right from the start that God made the world and that God made them. (For more memory verse suggestions for little ones click here.)

WRITE THE VERSE ON A CARD

Write the verse you have chosen on a card for Joseph. Index cards or blank business cards work great for this. Add a colorful sticker to the card. This will make it more exciting for Joseph to look at. If possible, cover the card with contact plastic or laminate it for durability. Show Joseph his special Bible verse card. Talk about it. From time to time he may enjoy holding his Bible verse card while you say the verse.

CREATIVE WAYS TO SAY THE VERSE

  1. Take Joseph’s hands and clap his hands while you say the verse.
  2. Use a baby rattle and quietly shake the rattle as you say the verse.
  3. Hold Joseph and jump up and down with him as you say the verse.
  4. Rub Joseph’s back and say the verse as he lays down to sleep.
  5. Put a tune to the verse and sing it to Joseph.
  6. Say or sing the verse as you push Joseph in a swing.
  7. Go for a walk and say the verse as you walk.
  8. Say the verse as Joseph takes a bath.
  9. Have a favorite toy animal “say” the verse.
  10. Hide the verse card in a room for Joseph to find. After he finds the verse card, say the verse. Repeat this activity as long as Joseph enjoys it!

Do you have a question related to helping your children love Jesus and grow in Him? About something shared on the Mom Blog or in the book First Place?

If so, it is highly likely that other moms have the same question and would be encouraged by your question and possible ideas/thoughts shared, so feel free to ask! 

Subscribe to the Mom Blog

Want to be updated about new posts and receive notes from Marian? Sign up here!

Marian Thomsen

Marian Thomsen

Wife, Mother, Mentor

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

When to Begin Bible Time

by | Aug 19, 2020 | Mom Blog, First Place, First Place Overview, Posts

No matter how old or young your children are at this moment, now is the time to enjoy Bible Time with them.

Your child can begin listening to God’s Word being read while still in the womb!

Your child can begin to study the Bible and respond in obedience to what is studied at a very young age.

Your child can begin to memorize Bible verses even before learning to talk!

It is never too early to begin Bible Time. And just as a newborn baby is ready for milk and not solids, so the type and amount of spiritual food we serve our children will vary according to their age and ability to spiritually digest that food.

“like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,” 1 Peter 2:2

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Marian Thomsen

Marian Thomsen

Wife, Mother, Mentor

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10

1 Corinthians 10:13

by | Aug 17, 2020 | Mom Blog, Audio, Let's Pray

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Join me in prayer as we give thanks to the Lord! God tells us to give Him thanks and what better way to do this than to give Him thanks using the truths found in His Word? This practice of using God’s Word to give Him thanks has been such a blessing in my life and I am happy to use God’s Word in prayer with you!

Audio

by Daughters of Decision & Sons of Decision | Prayer

After praying with me using the audio, I would encourage you to write the Bible verse used in prayer on a card. (Two simple 4″x6″ prayer cards are available as a free download, or feel free to use a blank index card you already have.) Your prayer card can be used again and again as you give God thanks in the days ahead.

Thanks Prayer Cards

I welcome you to join me in prayer again as we continue to tell God thank you, using His Word to guide us. Are you praying with me? Send a simple “Praying with you” my way in the comments below.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Marian Thomsen

Marian Thomsen

Wife, Mother, Mentor

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10

Scripture Memory Placemats

by | Aug 13, 2020 | Mom Blog, Memorize God's Word, Posts

Are you looking for another way to be consistent as you enjoy memorizing and reviewing Scripture verses with your children?

Try Scripture Memory Placemats!

Suggested Ages: 6 – Adult

These placemats are simple to make and easy to use. This post will share the supplies you will need and how to make and use the placemats.

Supplies

– Plastic or vinyl placemats (one for each family member)
– Packaging tape
– Clear plastic page protectors (one for each family member)
– Scissors

How to Make 

Tape a plastic page protector onto each placemat leaving the right hand side of the page protector open. (You may want to carefully cut off the slim edge of each page protector that has the punched holes in it.)

How to Use 

Write or print your chosen Bible memory verse on an 8 ½” x 11” piece of paper. Make a copy for you and each of your children. (Idea! Use Draw the Word memory verse pages.)

Have each person slide their prepared memory verse page into their page protector on the placemat. (These page protectors help protect the memory verse pages from inevitable spills and crumbs at the table.)

Have each of your children place their completed Scripture Memory Placemat at their place on your table. Each time you all sit down to eat, your Bible memory verse will be there, ready for you to read or review together!

When your children are ready to memorize a new Bible verse, have them remove their memory verse page from their Scripture Memory Placemat and then put in a new memory page! (You may like to have your children put their former memory verse page into their own three ring Scripture Memory Notebook for further review.)

Dad’s Scripture Memory Placemat

If you and your children make memory verse pages or Draw the Word pages while your husband is working, each time a new page is completed, copy one of your children’s pages for your husband’s Scripture Memory Placemat. This can be a highlight for each child as their page is chosen for Dad to use at the table.

Scripture Memory Tablecloth

Use a clear plastic tablecloth, instead of placemats! Have your children slip their memory verse page or Draw the Word page under the plastic table cloth at their place. (Thank-you, Kim for sharing this great idea!)

Subscribe to the Mom Blog

Want to be updated about new posts and receive notes from Marian? Sign up here!

Marian Thomsen

Marian Thomsen

Wife, Mother, Mentor

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Psalm 121:1-2

by | Aug 10, 2020 | Mom Blog, Audio, Let's Pray

I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the LORD, 

Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

Join me in prayer as we give thanks to the Lord! God tells us to give Him thanks and what better way to do this than to give Him thanks using the truths found in His Word? This practice of using God’s Word to give Him thanks has been such a blessing in my life and I am happy to use God’s Word in prayer with you!

Audio

by Daughters of Decision & Sons of Decision | Prayer

After praying with me using the audio, I would encourage you to write the Bible verse used in prayer on a card. (Two simple 4″x6″ prayer cards are available as a free download, or feel free to use a blank index card you already have.) Your prayer card can be used again and again as you give God thanks in the days ahead.

Thanks Prayer Cards

I welcome you to join me in prayer again as we continue to tell God thank you, using His Word to guide us. Are you praying with me? Send a simple “Praying with you” my way in the comments below.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Marian Thomsen

Marian Thomsen

Wife, Mother, Mentor

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10

How Much Bible Time?

by | Aug 6, 2020 | Mom Blog, First Place, First Place Overview, Posts

How much time should you invest in the spiritual growth of your children each day? This is a truly vital question to ask and answer. 

Let’s think about teaching children math for a moment. We know that it’s important to teach children math and we begin to teach them to count when they are very young. We don’t wait for them to be old enough to begin formal math instruction before introducing them to numbers.

When formal math instruction begins, it often takes place every school day.  We know that children will most likely struggle with math if they are sent to a math class only once a week. And, we do not hope that children will develop their math skills by just hearing someone talk about it. Often, math instruction is given 5 days a week and math practice is a must!

How many hours would it be if we calculated the time spent learning math from kindergarten to high school? Let’s see. Five days a week, a half hour to an hour for a math lesson a day, plus time spent on math assignments for 12 years. I am not going to take the time to calculate that here, but you get the point!  A lot of hours are spent on math. And that is a good thing! Math is important to know.

Now, let’s think about this in light of Bible Time. We would agree that your children’s spiritual growth is far more important than their mathematical skills.

And, if you truly believe this, you will make sure that you invest a significant portion of time each day in the spiritual growth of your children. 

Pin It on Pinterest