We are taking this Tuesday off -
celebrating the arrival of Spring!
We hope you have a wonderful week!
Your friends at
Faith Christian School
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Glass half full?
Are
you a pessimist or an optimist? Do you see the glass as half empty or half full?
I
feel like more and more often I come across people, often believers, who have
an extremely negative outlook on life. The fact is, we live in a fallen world
and we live among fallen people. The Bible is clear about the depravity of man.
Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick; who can understand it?" Titus 1:15-16 says, “to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is
pure; but both their minds and their
consciences are defiled.”
So
how can we have a positive outlook on life and be optimistic people when the
world seems so out of control? Do we need to mistrust people and protect
ourselves from hurt and disappointment at all costs? I don’t think we are
called to live that way.
John 16:33 tells us, "In this world you
will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
We
as believers have a hope and a future! How much fuller can our glasses be? When
we walk around with pessimism on our lips and a defeatist attitude, we forget
who is in control!
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be
strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever
you go.”
Is it time for you to look on the bright side? Is there some lemonade that can be made with the lemons you have been handed?
Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all
things work together for good, for those who are called according to his
purpose. Maybe its time to remember what you DO have instead of dwelling on what you DON’T, and recognize how full your glass really is!
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Word Power
by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal
How silly was it that in childhood we used to say "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"?! We learn from a very young age that our words are powerful and although they may not manifest in physical wounds, our words can cut to the heart of someone and leave permanent scars.
In the last 8 weeks, I've been involved in a graduate level rhetoric class. Rhetoric is the study of the art of using words. My fellow learners and I have spent much time reading and discussing the theories of rhetoric - both ancient rhetors and modern day theories. So, for the last two months I have been pondering the impact of words and have been convicted by the fact that I don't discuss this topic enough with my children.
So, how can we bring this very important lesson before our children without constantly lecturing them about it? Here are some ideas:
Let the Scripture Speak
I love hanging scripture verses in my kids' bedrooms. I do it without comment, but with a lot of prayer. It's amazing to watch them notice and then begin to talk about it. My favorite is when they hear the verse in church or chapel and turn to me and wink. The Bible is full of great encouragement to us about our words. Here are some of my favorites:
Psalm 19:14: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Proverbs 15:1: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 21:23: Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Ephesians 4:29: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Colossians 4:6: Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
But there are a lot more. What others do you like? Leave them in the comments below or on our Facebook page!
Give them a visual image
Consider Proverbs 25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." Why not go to the craft store, buy some apples and gold paint. Have each child turn an apple to gold and put it in a silver bowl. While they do so, talk about good words and how beautiful they can be. Put your bowl of gold apples on display as a reminder of the encouragement from God's word.
I also loved this powerful image from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw0fiTNxB3o
Pouring forth ugly words is just like squeezing the toothpaste out of the tube. You can never get that toothpaste back into its container. Once our words are out, we can't take them back - they have done their damage.
Be a role model
Why is it OK for me to mutter mean things about the driver who has just cut me off in traffic? Because he can't hear me? I find that I get frustrated with myself when my children overhear me saying hurtful words. Be careful of what that can teach them, and apologize to them when you have done wrong. It goes a long way in the lives of our children when we demonstrate asking for forgiveness.
Sticks and stones....they certainly can hurt. But words can be destructive. Let's find ways to encourage our children to speak life into the people they encounter today.
Secondary Principal
How silly was it that in childhood we used to say "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"?! We learn from a very young age that our words are powerful and although they may not manifest in physical wounds, our words can cut to the heart of someone and leave permanent scars.In the last 8 weeks, I've been involved in a graduate level rhetoric class. Rhetoric is the study of the art of using words. My fellow learners and I have spent much time reading and discussing the theories of rhetoric - both ancient rhetors and modern day theories. So, for the last two months I have been pondering the impact of words and have been convicted by the fact that I don't discuss this topic enough with my children.
So, how can we bring this very important lesson before our children without constantly lecturing them about it? Here are some ideas:
Let the Scripture Speak
I love hanging scripture verses in my kids' bedrooms. I do it without comment, but with a lot of prayer. It's amazing to watch them notice and then begin to talk about it. My favorite is when they hear the verse in church or chapel and turn to me and wink. The Bible is full of great encouragement to us about our words. Here are some of my favorites:
Psalm 19:14: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Proverbs 15:1: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 21:23: Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Ephesians 4:29: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Colossians 4:6: Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
But there are a lot more. What others do you like? Leave them in the comments below or on our Facebook page!Give them a visual image
Consider Proverbs 25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." Why not go to the craft store, buy some apples and gold paint. Have each child turn an apple to gold and put it in a silver bowl. While they do so, talk about good words and how beautiful they can be. Put your bowl of gold apples on display as a reminder of the encouragement from God's word.
I also loved this powerful image from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw0fiTNxB3o
Pouring forth ugly words is just like squeezing the toothpaste out of the tube. You can never get that toothpaste back into its container. Once our words are out, we can't take them back - they have done their damage.
Be a role model
Why is it OK for me to mutter mean things about the driver who has just cut me off in traffic? Because he can't hear me? I find that I get frustrated with myself when my children overhear me saying hurtful words. Be careful of what that can teach them, and apologize to them when you have done wrong. It goes a long way in the lives of our children when we demonstrate asking for forgiveness.
Sticks and stones....they certainly can hurt. But words can be destructive. Let's find ways to encourage our children to speak life into the people they encounter today.
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