Elyse Fitzpatrick has a new book entitled Found in Him. I love the introduction where she talks about feelings of isolation and aloneness and self-condemnation. No matter how surrounded we are by friends and family, especially at the holiday, I think most of us feel that way at some point. Know that no matter how much you make a mess of things or feel like you aren’t loved, or no matter how you spend the holidays, God loves and welcomes you through Jesus.
I grew up totally loving the Berenstain Bears and all their lovely adventures. And now that I’m a parent I would love to share these tales with my boys and have them love them too!
Grownups do have money worries – with insurance, mortgages, health coverage, gifts, food, diapers, etc. But, how do we teach our children about money and possessions and what God has to say about them?
In this children’s book Papa and Mama bear notice that their cubs didn’t make good choices when it came to the money that they had and how they used it. They spent it on frivolous items at the mall. Fleeting joys. They teach about saving for a rainy day – but that isn’t exactly what the Bible teaches us. The cubs don’t keep the money for themselves, they instead give it to Papa Bear so he won’t have to worry. Generosity is a loving characteristic.
Here are some teaching points about money when reading this book to your children:
1. God is more concerned with our eternity than our financial status. Ecc 5.10
2. We are not to be OVERLY concerned and worried with the cares of this world. Matthew 6.24, 31-33, Hebrews 13.5
3. Our money is not meant to be hoarded, but spent wisely and given generously. Deut 15.10, Deut 16.17, Luke 6.38, 2 Cor 9.6-8
4. God gets the first of everything. Prov 3.9-10
5. The gospel is more than money because you can’t take money with you into eternity. 1 Tim 6-7-10
6. God owns everything. Our lives are about stewardship. 1 Chron 29.14-17
Favorite author. Great gospel topic. 10 weeks. Women studying, growing, and learning together.
Starting January 6, we will begin the second installment of Women and Books Together. A weekly blog post where we discuss a chapter of a book together. Doesn’t matter where you live, how fast you read, or what church you go to. Thankful for blogs to do this – and the book!
Elyse Fitzpatrick’s latest book (came out in October) is Found in Him. All about learning and celebrating our belonging to Christ. This is a marvelous aspect of the Gospel. One that as women we should know and celebrate.
So, we will start on January 6 with discussing chapter 1. I will post my thoughts and some discussion or thought-provoking questions.
If you don’t have the book yet, put it on the Christmas list or buy it with gift card money!
As I sit and look out my double windows at my home in Little Rock AR, and watch the wintry mix cover the road and driveway in white, I look at these photos with color and the truth of the Season and smile.
I smile because they are pretty.
I smile because they are true.
I smile because I love getting the Gospel into others’ homes.
I smile because I know the artists and they love Jesus and are creative.
I smile because I like giveaways! (and so should you!)
Ice. Yes, people in the south flip out about winter weather. I like it. S, you have to be prepared, so be prepared! Stay calm. God created the weather! 🙂
I took this picture on Christmas day 2012 – our first Christmas in Little Rock. Gorgeous!
