Devotion Time Question

[MommyInTraining]

I have been trying to have a family devotion time in the mornings with the children where we read a story out of the Egermeier Bible Storybook, sing some songs that we are trying to learn, discuss a character issue, practice our memory verse and pray. The children don't seem to enjoy this time. Either someone is being disruptive and someone else can't hear or, you know how it goes.

Right now we are only using LHTH, but I am planning on adding LHFHG and Bigger soon. I know that those each have their own devotional time, right? So, my question is: Should I just focus on the children having their own devotional time with me from the HOD material and drop the above mentioned routine or should I move the above mentioned to the evenings as a before bed devotion time?

What would you suggest?

Thanks for any advice and wisdom....

[Vicki]

I have found the devotional time from Beyond to be enough for us. I think that just the simplicity in itself helps make the lessons stick. I know that's kind of hard to wrap your mind around sometimes, but it really does work, or at least it has for us.

Oh, I should add that we just returned from a wonderful trip to the Pacific NW, and I have to say, it's truly beautiful out there!!

[LeAnna]

I use the devotionals from LHTH and LHFHG, as our morning devo time. It's all very Bible focused, and we will play the music selections during our breakfast time and then read out of the books used with each manual. It works great!

At night time, we read our own book for devotions as well. Hope this helps!

LeAnna

[my3sons]

We've had great devotion times with the HOD guides. I think you'll find the Scripture-based discussions and tie-ins to music, devotions, even history - etc. to be the basis for wonderful devotion times. My oldest ds has his own Bible time and quiet time in the morning before school starts, and we've done various family reading of devotion books or the Bible in the evenings, off and on, with whatever tickles our fancy! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[water2wine]

I think longer family devotions are kind of a learned thing. We had some squirming and I had some feelings like are we not enjoying this? But what I found was it was more an attention issue. I found when we sort of wrapped it in school time then eased it out to separate that worked really well. I think sometimes you have to start out slow.

There are some great moments in HOD Bible that really lend themselves to even deeper devotion. I might try sneaking a bit in there and then gently adding other times of the day. When my kids got wiggly in the beginning I wrapped it in school and then over time pulled it out of regular school time, although not completely. Over time we got to a point where there really enjoy it and now it is really easy for us to have a fairly long devotion. That is not to say that I never have to correct them if they need it but I am pretty confident all my kids would say that Bible time is one of their favorite times, both in school time and outside of school time.

So I think if a family worship time is what you want then just be willing to start slower and ease them into it, but in that easing be very consistent. Also I think really talking about what you are reading and trying to apply it to their life really engages them and makes them see that this is really personal to them. Even sometimes talking about the characters as far as how they might have felt or what life might have been like then or how their actions impacted others in the Bible I think helps to engage them. And sometimes it takes practice for kids to even enjoy worship time. I think if you just ease into it and stick with it eventually you will see the change. I don't know if there is anything there that might help but hopefully.

[MommyInTraining]

I don't know if there is anything there that might help but hopefully.

Yes, it was helpful!

Thank you all!

[Rebecca]

Dear Terri,
I was going to reply to this post when it was first started- and didn't... but now I will!

I just wanted to say: As we have added more young children to our family our morning bible times have become more difficult. For years I always did bible time at breakfast. In the last couple of years it has become decidedly more unsatisfactory- partly because of the varying ages, partly because of always having to jump up and serve more food/drink/whatever! Frustrating. Last year I noticed that my children were doing better with devotional material "on their level."
Last year, we continued with bible/devotion time at breakfast- but it was more geared toward the older kids. The little ones were much happier and blossoming more as I carved out time to include devotions with them during their daily read alouds. However, I still had the jumping up to serve food, etc. problem... Also, during this time- I found I was reaching my oldest heart better once I moved his time to him and me alone or with his next two younger brothers.

SO: This coming school year I am keeping the morning devotion time SIMPLE. It will be a hymn we are learning and a short prayer time (I take requests). I will also try to read a Psalm (or part of one) and a Proverb with the realization that all ages benefit from the Word.

HOD fits in here- because they will be receiving spiritual nurture on their level with the Bible plans.

I am also using a bible and devotion (first virtues for Toddlers) with my two year old who is not going to be starting Little Hands this year as far as I know now..

Our family also has a evening bible time. This my husband leads. It can also be challenging. I am often not there due to caring for our two month old and when I was pregnant- due to exhaustion.

I would encourage you to keep your morning doable. If you feel led for a group situation of more depth I would try for it in the evening.

I hope this helps.
I really wanted to encourage in the Lord. It can be tough to manage a lot of littles.
Rebecca
ds-8
ds-7
ds-5
dd-4
ds-2
ds-almost three months!

[MommyInTraining]

Rebecca,

Thanks so much for your encouragement. It is always nice to hear how other mommies of little ones handles things!

I have moved our group devotion time to the evening and I think it is definitely going to work better for us!

Thank you all for taking the time to share with me!

[my3sons]

Rebecca,

Thanks so much for sharing, and I have had almost the same experience that you've had. I agree that having the devotions on their level and being alone with them for it (especially when they are older) are 2 important things to encourage sharing and bring up the level of intimacy of a Bible study time. I reserve our HOD Bible plans to do with each child individually, and we've had some marvelous discussions doing it that way. I like to focus on prayer when we're all together. It seems to work well to share our concerns and our praises that way with one another first, and then with the Lord through prayer. I like your idea for breakfast devotions and may try that at the beginning of our day this coming year. Adding a Proverbs or Psalms to the mix would be great too - being in the Word together is always a good thing.

In Christ,
Julie

[Rebecca]

Thank you for the encouraging words Julie!
May the Lord mightily bless your school year!
It is good to know I am not alone!

Rebecca