The SG Notebook

Trying to minister to those who invest in children has become a top priority for us. Well, actually it always has been top on the list. Unfortunately, we suspended some of our publications for kids because of some worrisome things going on in Congress, though more recent information indicates that maybe some of those worries have been abated, in which case we could possibly bring back one or two of those items. We’ll see how God leads in the future. Anyway, we have a new venture and I’m just so excited about it. Now at the new Facebook page, I’m going to be posting a daily prayer. And why am I excited? The prayer each day will coincide with the daily devotionals in Bright Gems for His Crown! I’m currently writing out the prayers–there will be ninety-three of them in all, one for each of the ninety-three devotionals in the book. And the intent is to keep recycling them four times through the year. You can better understand now my excitement, as it’s giving me a reason to revisit these beloved devotionals the Lord gave to me so many years ago.

Check it out here at the page for more information.

I covet prayers from the saints, that these little prayers will be owned by our God and used mightily by Him. He alone can bring the fruit!

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Just another reminder, as we occasionally do, that “Keys for Kids” devotions are posted at our site. If you are looking for a nice short devotional for your kids on a given day, try printing one out and using it. The key for the day is always a nice discussion starter for your family as well. We recommend our Bright Gems book, of course, but these are a nice alternative. They are posted everyday here. Today they are talking about the important topic of doing your best when given a job to do. An important character lesson for anyone, especially the young.

I have been to the cross where my Savior died,
And all of my life is made new–
In the person of Him I am crucified.
I have been to the cross. Have you?
~ Frazee-Bower

Do your children have devotions every day? A good age to get them out on their own with this is whatever age they are when they begin to read. Just a few minutes a day to start, but there’s no better “habit” to instill in them. You know how important that is to us. That’s what the Bright Gems book is all about, but we have other helps as well. Bookmark our Children’s site as you never know what goodies we’ll be putting up there; bookmark our “Keys for Kids” page and use it faithfully, even daily; and by all means purchase our Bright Gems for His Crown book asap!

If you haven’t read it before, maybe this article will help get you thinking!

Have the best of days,
Maxine a/k/a Nanna

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18

(Image Credit: http://heycheng.tumblr.com)

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” ~ Forest E. Witcraft

I stumbled upon this quote today, knowing little of this man other than that he was a scholar, teacher, and scout leader. But what wisdom are in these words. They are particularly relevant to parents and teachers, but they should be remembered by all of us. Even after we’ve raised our own children and retired from our occupations, we can still make a difference in the life of a child. From our homes, if we can scrape up a few dollars a month to sponsor one in another country, or even talk a bit to the neighborhood children, who knows what good we can do for the future of not just our own country, but the world? After all, that future is in the hands of today’s children.

And you know that the most good you can do is to help point them to Jesus, who is the only Hope for the future everywhere. We can point our children and grandchildren to Him; we can point our students to Him; we can speak of Him to the children out on the streets after we befriend them; and we can support Christian organizations that are serving Him by ministering to the needy little ones.

I need to be more diligent in being “important in the life of a child” in the ways that matter most. Do you?

Lovingly,

Maxine

Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like a horse and carriage
This I tell you brother
You can’t have one without the other

Love and marriage, love and marriage
It’s an institute you can’t disparage
Ask the local gentry
And they will say it’s elementary

Try, try, try to separate them
It’s an illusion
Try, try, try, and you will only come
To this conclusion

Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like the horse and carriage
Dad was told by mother
You can’t have one, you can’t have none, you can’t have one without the other!

This is one secular song that I have to say I do like the words. This was a popular song at one time; its catchy little tune was heard in many stores and restaurants and, of course, on the radio. But are its lyrics, which were probably memorized by many folks, still believed in the day and society in which we live? And how are they believed? What truths are applied to them today?

Well, I would purport here that these words are certainly believed by God. Love and marriage definitely go together. And in speaking of the kind of love that is resident in a marriage, you can’t have one without the other. Now notice that I did not say which of these necessarily comes first, but that they go together. There is an important concept which I have believed for a while now, and here quote from my Companion to Aunt Jane’s Hero (still yet to be published): “Let us see if they learn in the pages to come what many of us have had to learn: that it is not their love which must keep their marriage dwelling intact, but it is the marriage itself, and their commitment to it, that must sustain their love.” Hopefully, you understand what’s at the root of that statement. I think you probably believe it too, because the statement that immediately follows is that “we all know Who must sustain the marriage.”

That is the nature and heart of the Christian marriage; it’s sustained by God. And when both husband and wife love God and Christ is the focus, that which naturally follows is love for one another. It’s a beautiful thing; actually you’ll have to look hard and far to find anything in this earthly journey that so closely resembles the relationship of Christ and His church. Actually, marriage is the ONLY relationship that does. So, if it is truly sustained by God, then love will be there, because it flows from Christ.

Everyone loves a wedding. Well, almost everyone does. That’s because it’s known to be one of the happiest events of life. In my opinion, what makes it truly special indeed is the fact that it begins a marriage. And if the two people involved love and belong to the Lord Jesus, it is an event of great magnitude indeed. It deserves celebration. Even our Lord has attended at least one such celebration. But, for years it has been impressed on my heart, and I know others who feel the same, that it’s not the size and fanciness of a wedding that sets it apart, but the strength of the commitment of the couple to be a blessing to their families, and to bring glory to God. We have been to a few like this, and I hope as time goes on, in a world which has less and less regard for matrimony, or else distorts it, we will see more and more couples who hold it in high regard, and who seek to be a blessing as they enter into it.

Here at SG, we are taking some steps in the direction of the Christian bride, with a hope that we can provide some gifts and favors which might help her and her groom to be the blessing I just spoke about. We’re moving along in that direction now and hope to introduce a few items soon to get started. In the meantime, bookmark this page on our site and check back with us soon.

Lovingly,
Maxine

Thank God for Little Children

Thank God for little children,
Bright flowers by earth’s wayside,
The dancing, joyous lifeboats
Upon life’s stormy tide.

Thank God for little children;
When our skies are cold and gray,
They come as sunshine to our hearts,
And charm our cares away.

I almost think the angels,
Who tend life’s garden fair,
Drop down the sweet wild blossoms
That bloom around us here.

It seems a breath of heaven
Round many a cradle lies,
And every little baby
Brings a message from the skies.

Dear mothers, guard these jewels.
As sacred offerings meet,
A wealth of household treasures
To lay at Jesus’ feet.

~ Frances E. W. Harper

Remember to guard these jewels, mothers; they are precious. They are our “household treasures.” My prayer for all mothers who read this is that you will indeed lay them at the feet of Jesus.

The above photo is of the two newest treasures in our family, my two grandchildren. Need I say what my prayer is for them?

Have a blessed and Christ-honoring Mother’s Day, whether you are a mother or have one. If neither applies, may the Lord Jesus draw near to you and be your all in all. After all, that should be the case no matter what the circumstances.

For His Glory,

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna