Teaching Joy to our Kids
I wanted to share the following information from my dear friend Julie on ways to teach our children about JOY. Hope it blesses you and your family.
Children’s Praise Play Date!
October 1, 2009
An XCMamas, Children’s Praise Event
The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
The Fruit of the Spirit
“But the Fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22 – 23
What is JOY?
The dictionary defines joy as a “feeling of happiness…delight…pleasure…enjoyment”. Everyone wants joy, but only God’s Holy Spirit can give us a joy that helps us be happy in good times and bad times.
Where do we find JOY?
We find joy in God’s presence! Psalm 16:11 says “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” And we enter into God’s presence and joy by praising Him!
In John chapter 15, Jesus tells us to “Abide (Live) in Him” and let His words “abide (Live) in us”. We need to stick really close to Jesus! And in verse 11, He says “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Songs
Song 1: If You’re Happy and You Know It (Clap Your Hands….) Motions
Psalm 81:1&2 says “Sing aloud to God our Strength; make
a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.”
Song 2: Praise Him Freeze Dance
Song 3: (I’ve Got the Joy) Down in My Heart Musical Instruments
Song 4: He Has Made Me Glad Scarves
Song 5: Open the Eyes of My Heart Sign Language
Additional Information
Bible Study for Moms
I found a superb essay on Joy at bibletools.org. I attempted to paste the link below, but if it doesn’t get you to the correct destination, go directly to bibletools.org and search “Fruit of the Spirit” and “Joy”.
Here is a wonderful excerpt from the article to wet your appetite. “A Christian's joy can be just as short-lived as anyone's in the world if we are seeking it for itself as the world does. Biblical joy is a fruit, a byproduct, an additional blessing, not the end in itself. It flows into and grows within the person whose life and energies are not focused merely on being "joyful." The lives of those in this world who are so zealously chasing after it prove this point. If they are still chasing it, they must not yet have it. God's Word also substantiates this.”
http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/280/Fruit-of-Spirit-Joy.htm
Coloring Activity for Children
My daughter Liv has been learning about the fruit of the Spirit. I have found a fun way to help her engage and remember the various qualities relayed in Galations 5:22 & 23. There are numerous online sites that offer free coloring pages, including pictures of fruit. I have printed off the most appealing fruit pics I can find & assigned each produce a “fruit of the Spirit”. For example, when we talked about Love, I had her color a picture of a smiley-faced apple. With Joy, it was a banana.
Fruit Bucks
I learned this wonderful idea from Lisa Welchel’s book, Creative Correction. (available on Christianbook.com) I look for ways that Liv shows the qualities described in Galations 5:22 – 23. When I notice that she is being loving, joyful, kind, patient, self-controlled etc., I praise her and give her a “Fruit Buck”. In our case, it’s a dollar-sized piece of construction paper. I write down the “Fruit of the Spirit” & the event details on the buck and place it in an envelope. After she earns a pre-determined number of them, she can use them to buy a treat from the “mommy store”. I keep a stash of items like puzzles, books, or toys that I want to give her at some point, and she gets to choose one.
Praise and Worship Music for Children
There are numerous sources of great children’s Praise & Worship music. I-Tunes, Christianbook.com, and the local Christian bookstores all offer a wide selection.
If you would like to find the specific songs we used at Thursday’s event, the information follows. They can all be purchased from I-Tunes for .99 each.
Praise and Worship Music for Children, Continued.
Song Title Artist Album________________________
If You’re Happy and You Know It Wee Worship Wee Worship: Favorite Sunday
School Songs
Praise Him Troy & Genie Nilsson Worship Rock Vol. 2 for Kids
(I’ve Got the Joy) Down in My Heart Wee Worship Wee Worship: Favorite Sunday
School Songs
He Has Made Me Glad (I Will Enter His Gates) Kids Praise! Company Top 25 – Kids Praise Songs
Open the Eyes of My Heart Cedermont Kids Cedermont Worship for Kids, Vol. 1
Children’s Praise Play Date!
October 1, 2009
An XCMamas, Children’s Praise Event
The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
The Fruit of the Spirit
“But the Fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22 – 23
What is JOY?
The dictionary defines joy as a “feeling of happiness…delight…pleasure…enjoyment”. Everyone wants joy, but only God’s Holy Spirit can give us a joy that helps us be happy in good times and bad times.
Where do we find JOY?
We find joy in God’s presence! Psalm 16:11 says “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” And we enter into God’s presence and joy by praising Him!
In John chapter 15, Jesus tells us to “Abide (Live) in Him” and let His words “abide (Live) in us”. We need to stick really close to Jesus! And in verse 11, He says “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Songs
Song 1: If You’re Happy and You Know It (Clap Your Hands….) Motions
Psalm 81:1&2 says “Sing aloud to God our Strength; make
a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.”
Song 2: Praise Him Freeze Dance
Song 3: (I’ve Got the Joy) Down in My Heart Musical Instruments
Song 4: He Has Made Me Glad Scarves
Song 5: Open the Eyes of My Heart Sign Language
Additional Information
Bible Study for Moms
I found a superb essay on Joy at bibletools.org. I attempted to paste the link below, but if it doesn’t get you to the correct destination, go directly to bibletools.org and search “Fruit of the Spirit” and “Joy”.
Here is a wonderful excerpt from the article to wet your appetite. “A Christian's joy can be just as short-lived as anyone's in the world if we are seeking it for itself as the world does. Biblical joy is a fruit, a byproduct, an additional blessing, not the end in itself. It flows into and grows within the person whose life and energies are not focused merely on being "joyful." The lives of those in this world who are so zealously chasing after it prove this point. If they are still chasing it, they must not yet have it. God's Word also substantiates this.”
http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/280/Fruit-of-Spirit-Joy.htm
Coloring Activity for Children
My daughter Liv has been learning about the fruit of the Spirit. I have found a fun way to help her engage and remember the various qualities relayed in Galations 5:22 & 23. There are numerous online sites that offer free coloring pages, including pictures of fruit. I have printed off the most appealing fruit pics I can find & assigned each produce a “fruit of the Spirit”. For example, when we talked about Love, I had her color a picture of a smiley-faced apple. With Joy, it was a banana.
Fruit Bucks
I learned this wonderful idea from Lisa Welchel’s book, Creative Correction. (available on Christianbook.com) I look for ways that Liv shows the qualities described in Galations 5:22 – 23. When I notice that she is being loving, joyful, kind, patient, self-controlled etc., I praise her and give her a “Fruit Buck”. In our case, it’s a dollar-sized piece of construction paper. I write down the “Fruit of the Spirit” & the event details on the buck and place it in an envelope. After she earns a pre-determined number of them, she can use them to buy a treat from the “mommy store”. I keep a stash of items like puzzles, books, or toys that I want to give her at some point, and she gets to choose one.
Praise and Worship Music for Children
There are numerous sources of great children’s Praise & Worship music. I-Tunes, Christianbook.com, and the local Christian bookstores all offer a wide selection.
If you would like to find the specific songs we used at Thursday’s event, the information follows. They can all be purchased from I-Tunes for .99 each.
Praise and Worship Music for Children, Continued.
Song Title Artist Album________________________
If You’re Happy and You Know It Wee Worship Wee Worship: Favorite Sunday
School Songs
Praise Him Troy & Genie Nilsson Worship Rock Vol. 2 for Kids
(I’ve Got the Joy) Down in My Heart Wee Worship Wee Worship: Favorite Sunday
School Songs
He Has Made Me Glad (I Will Enter His Gates) Kids Praise! Company Top 25 – Kids Praise Songs
Open the Eyes of My Heart Cedermont Kids Cedermont Worship for Kids, Vol. 1
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