• Heartprints

    Teaching Kids to Focus on Strengths, Not Weaknesses

    We’d all like to be good at everything—I know I would. But the truth is, we all don’t have the same gifting and talents, and unfortunately, we tend to compare our weaknesses to other people’s strengths. And with our current online promotion, social media culture, one can begin to feel bad about themselves because, “I just don’t feel good enough” at a very young age.  When our youngest child was six years old, my husband and I put him on a T-ball team. Our whole family played softball, and we thought for sure he’d love it too. My husband, Mike, and I were the coaches. Excitement was in the air…

  • Heartprints

    Pointing Children To Their Strengths

    Today our guest poster is Lucille Williams, who has written a children’s book: “Turtle Finds His Talent” is a wonderful addition to your children’s library. Pointing Children To Their Strengths by Lucille Williams When I was in elementary school I can remember feeling extreme panic when the teacher asked the class to read out loud. We would start at one end of the classroom, and as it got closer to my turn, panic would set in. I had trouble reading as a kid, and I’d stop at “small” words as I saw “big” words coming up. During the pause, I’d try to figure out the “big” word. All this to…

  • Heartprints

    Are you trying to hide from God?

    Judges 6-7 Why is it that we think we must be the strongest, bravest, and wisest for God to use us? We are not all heroes like David, the shepherd who took down Goliath. Some of us are like Gideon, who, when afraid, hid in the wine press! King Solomon understood that some of us are more like Gideon than David, Joshua, or even like Caleb. Yes, King Solomon understood this clearly. Listen to his counsel: Ecc 9:11 Again, I observed this on the earth: The race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those…

  • Heartprints

    God is looking and listening

    Children are our precious resources to raise to lead and be a light in the darkness of this world. As teachers and parents, we are tasked with raising them to honor God, and it is even more evident now how Satan is busier than ever! He is reaching into the hearts of our children. He is infiltrating our families, our schools, and our media. Whether a parent or a teacher, we are called to be careful how we walk, not as unwise but as wise. [Eph 5:15] As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he commanded them to “be imitators of God.” [Eph 5:1] That is the task before us. How…

  • Compromise
    Heartprints

    Compromise has Consequences

    Gen 19-21 One of the hardest lessons for children to learn is that of boundaries and the consequences of compromise. We can take a lesson right out of scripture to teach these hard lessons to our little ones. God established boundaries for the land and for the people. In fact, after the colossal blunder of Adam and Eve and their compromise regarding God’s established boundary, He graciously put angelic forces at the entrance lest they seek to return. God graciously puts boundaries around us as well. In the book of Genesis, God uses a hard lesson for Lot to teach us the consequences of compromising our principles. Like Lot, we…

  • God remembers, do we?
    Heartprints

    God remembers…do we?

    Gen 8-11 “But God remembered Noah…” God never slumbers or sleeps, and He remembers! How’s our “remember-er?” Do we remember God as He remembers us? When you go through each day, do you stop and give Him the praise that He remembers, that is recalls who we are. “For he knows what we are made of; he realizes we are made of clay.” [Ps 103:14] And because of that, He knows our needs and wants, and He provides for each. God remembered not just Noah but all the animals that were with him in the ark. Isn’t it interesting that God’s memory included not just Noah but the animals? That…

  • Are you a doubter
    Heartprints

    With God, Nothing Is Impossible.

    The story of the first Christmas begins like many others, long ago in a faraway place. Dr. Luke has a special friend, and he wants him to know the story of the birth of Jesus. We don’t know much about this friend, but Dr. Luke wanted him to understand how it all took place. So what friend do you want to know about the Christmas story? Dr. Luke begins by telling us that long ago, in the reign of King Herod, a man named Zechariah was busy serving as a priest in the temple when an angel named Gabriel appeared. God had sent him to tell Zechariah that God had…

  • Winter
    Heartprints

    The Season of Winter

    Recently, we turned our clocks back from daylight savings to winter and shorter days. God has given us seasons to show His perfect plan for our universe. Psalm 104:19 He made the moon to mark the months, and the sun sets according to a regular schedule. And long ago, Moses wrote: in Genesis 1:14, God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years. Remember this song? “Oh the weather outside is frightful but the fire is so delightful?” Winter is when we can reflect on the goodness of God in times of…

  • Are you ready for the King of Kings
    Heartprints

    Will you have a crown to lay at His feet?

    This week we saw the end of the life of Queen Elizabeth, who had reigned over her nation for over 70 yrs. She reigned longer than any British monarch, and in those years, she remained steadfast and lived by the words she shared as a new queen in 1953. “I declare before you that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong,” But what was more remarkable was her testimony that she wished Jesus would return so she could lay her earthly crown at his feet.  In sharing this with children, you…

  • welcome back
    Heartprints

    Welcome to a new school year!

    How to be S.M.A.R.T in 2022 and 2023! Here in Texas, the new school year has just begun. Teachers have been busy decorating their classrooms, making plans for the day, and making name tags for the children. The first day and the first week are exciting! The energy is overwhelming, and the children wake up early and are exhausted after a day in their new classroom, learning a new teacher and rules. Each year brings its challenges, and one of them is learning to be “S.M.A.R.T.” wherever you are. Here are some ideas and strategies to have a great new year wherever you are and whatever grade you are in.…