ABC: Bible Meditation for Me! Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation
Introductory Chapter:
ABC: Bible Meditation for Me! is a book for parents, grandparents, teachers and kids that includes twenty-six lessons contrasting Bible meditation to Eastern meditation. For kids, each lesson includes rhymes, letter word, Bible meditation verse, Bible bookmark make-it, Bible Verse Hat, glossary, stories, and much more. For adults it includes discussion pointers to talk about, online sites to review, articles to read, read aloud picture books to view, and related images to look at.
Below is a sample lesson explaining ways one might use each lesson. In addition to individual ABC lessons, "K Is for Knowledge" and "R Is for Rumination" (end of lesson) provide even more in-depth ideas on how to teach each one. The Appendix also includes shortened verses, actions to move to, as well as an ABC verse hat directions for the youngest children.
Prepare It: For each lesson I'd suggest that if possible younger children might have a Giant Print/ Large Print KJV Bible, a small white board, markers, journal notebook, colored pencils, crayons, and any other materials given in each lesson for make-it bookmarks/hats. Teachers/parents would need their own KJV Bible as well as a larger white board and markers. Above all, teachers/parents should prepare their hearts and minds ahead of time viewing and reading the Scripture, the videos, and the articles before teaching them.
Use It: I would suggest teaching one letter lesson per week. e.g. Monday: introduce letter, word, rhyme, definition and verse; Tuesday: more verse activities, make-it-marker; Wednesday: continued verse activities, make-it-hat; Thursday: verse meditation discussion, other activities; Friday: review verse, view images, wrap-up. Whatever way you choose to use the lessons remember to emphasize the contrast between Bible meditation/Eastern meditation as well as meditating and memorizing the verse. In addition have your child open their Bible, find the verse, and read it each day.
Weekly Use: If you meet weekly you might use one lesson for two weeks making, e.g. the marker one night and the hat the next week. You might even include a copy of the lesson for the parents on the first night.
Weekly Use: If you meet weekly you might use one lesson for two weeks making, e.g. the marker one night and the hat the next week. You might even include a copy of the lesson for the parents on the first night.
Sample Lesson: Lesson Two: "B Is for Breath!"
B Is for Breath: Bible Meditation
Write It: Parent/teacher write "breath" on your white board. Trace over the word with another color marker. Kids may write the word on their small boards and trace over their word.
Define It: P/T use the book glossary and write out the "breath" definition.: "Air taken in or sent out by the lungs." Or go online to find "breath" in Merriam-Webster dictionary.
Print It: Write rhyme on board. "B Is for Breath" B is for breath with which I can say, "Praise ye the Lord any time, any day." Read. Move: Put finger in front of lips, and raise hands high.
Journal It: Kids write "breath," and its definition in journal; write one sentence about word.
e.g. I use my breath to blow bubbles, or I use my breath to speak. Illustrate.
The Meditation Verse: Psalm 150:6
Print It: P/T print: "Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD!" You might write it this way: "Let everything that hath breath PTL. Praise ye the LORD." Ask what "PTL" stands for? What is our ABC word?
Read It: Give child a pointer to use to touch each word as it is read out loud.
Discuss It: Underline, circle, or trace over "breath." What is a reason God gives us breath?
Write It: Copy verse into journal. Write a sentence; e.g. Our meditation verse is found in the last book of Psalms. Draw a picture of someone praising the Lord. e.g. Use a speech balloon or music notes.
Find It: Have each child open their Bible to its "Contents." Help them find the "Psalms." Point out the entire book or more than one Psalm has an "s" on its end while individual chapters are Psalm 1 etc. Highlight "Psalms." Note its page number.
Mark It: Help kids find Psalm 150:6. Highlight it. Use a colored pencil to write an "M" by it for a "meditation verse." Note: this is the last chapter and the last verse of the Psalms.
Recite It: Recite the verse together in soft, loud, happy, deep, high, low voices and so on.
Reflect on It: Pause and think about the verse. Say, e.g. "As I was meditating, or reflecting on our verse, the part that kept coming into my mind was: 'Praise ye the LORD.' Which part of the verse did you keep thinking about?"
Play It: Play a game with the white board verse. Have kids close their eyes. Erase a word. Let child tell which word is missing. Erase a second word. Repeat until no words are left. After each erasure repeat the verse again. Scramble one word. Let kids tell you what the scrambled word was. Repeat.
Sing It: Sing "Hallelu." Which words from the verse are repeated? ("Praise ye the LORD!")
Pray It: e.g. Dear Lord Jesus, we're so glad you have given us breath--breath to thank you for all you do for us and breath to praise and worship you. And breath just to pray today and to say, 'Praise ye the Lord!" In Jesus' name, Amen!
Make It! Bible Verse Bookmark
Prepare It: book marker shape; stickers, P.T.L.; colored pencil; glue; …..
Make It: Stick PTL stickers on one side; on the reverse side carefully print the verse or glue on a preprinted verse strip.
*Idea!* ABC sticker sheets can be purchased quite reasonably and be used for your markers, hats, or posters.
Insert It: After rereading your verse, saying it once more, help kids insert their bookmark by the highlighted verse.
Make It: Bible Verse Hat
Find a shortened verse to move to and hat directions in "Appendix for ABC: Bible Meditation Verses for Ages 3-6."
Move It: "I Can Meditate the Bible Way!"
Use this rhyme as an action rhyme or rhyme you move to. Write it on your board; then read, discuss, and move to it. Discuss "what the Bible way" is versus "breathing a certain way." Emphasize kids and grownups who meditate the Eastern way focus on their breath or a mantra repeated over and over. Explain Eastern meditators tell us not to notice our thoughts and push them away. But, God says as we meditate to think about his words again and again.
Movements: open out palms to make a "Bible," point to mouth, point to head, nod head, and raise voice at end.
B Is for Breath: Eastern Meditation Part
Breath Used as Bait!
How wide spread is the use of mindfulness and yoga meditation. Therefore, it can't be stressed enough that one become aware of such programs/activities being used in public schools, wellness centers, daycare centers and yes, even in Christian schools/churches. These programs/instructors encourage the use of "seemingly harmless breath techniques" to soothe, calm, and relax your youngsters.--and yourself as well. Therefore, carefully peruse the articles and web sites listed below and in Lesson B.
"Mindfulness Meditation"
Read the "Mindfulness Meditation" rhyme which warns us of how prevalent is the fascination with mindfulness all over the nation. Discuss it with older children. Detail "the various innocent ways" kids are told to breathe. As you view the sites, the picture books, and images you will be amazed at the numerous ingenious ways kids/adults are lured into mindfulness through clever techniques.
Be Aware of It: "Conscious Discipline"
In Lesson B read "The Take a Deep Breath Red Flag" section, and go to the link provided that describes the dangers of this program. When I researched this CD program that was being used by a local school system as well as a large nearby Evangelical church school I was truly astounded to find that its founder Dr. Becky Bailey was deep into the New Age "Course in Miracles" (Think Marianne Williamson). Even more mind-blowing was the fact that Bailey herself had lectured at the Christian school touting this program. This program might be "Exhibit A" as to why all must do their homework to find out the background and beliefs of the author(s) of materials such as those used in "Conscious Discipline."
Be Aware of It: Kids' Breathing Tools
Two breathing tools aimed at getting kids to focus and fixate on their breath are; "The Hoberman Sphere" or "the breath ball," and Conscious Discipline's multisensory flower pinwheel. See the links to these tools to realize there's an array of breath lures out there for little ones to be exposed to!
Be Aware of It: Breath Picture Books
Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard PsyD. and Daniel Rechtschaffen (May 2019) is but one of the many breath picture books in the mindfulness arsenal through which unusual breath techniques lure both adults and kids into breathing practices that appear oh so innocent.
Another informative site that features other Willard books, as well his upcoming book The Breathing Book, is "Spirituality and Practice." On the SP site page click on "Books," and then on "Children's Books" to spot The Breathing Book (April 2020) by Chris and his wife. Click on its book cover to read its review.
https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com
*"Idea!"* To obtain, e.g. "Images of Kids Doing Mindful Breathing" or "Images of Chris Willard's Mindfulness Books" or whatever other images you wish, simply enter your "Images of ……" (topic name). Almost immediately image after image will appear. Select those pictures appropriate to share with your kids, click on them, and talk about them. Warn your kids now, for later it may be too late!
As stated in the Parental Suggestion section at the end of "B Is for Breath," the authors of Alphabreaths were taught by mindfulness proponents such as Jon Kabat-Zinn, Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Dali Lama to name a few. Therefore, the authors' agenda is to encourage kids to become lifetime mindfulness meditators. On the other hand, our Biblical agenda is to encourage kids to become lifetime Scripture meditators.
May these lessons arm you with scriptural meditation verses and meditation teachings that will alert you how to ready your children and students to early know the Lord as Savior so as to be able to stand against the pervasive false teachings that would suck them into worldly meditation practices. For as Scripture admonishes us: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
B Is for Breath: Bible Meditation
Write It: Parent/teacher write "breath" on your white board. Trace over the word with another color marker. Kids may write the word on their small boards and trace over their word.
Define It: P/T use the book glossary and write out the "breath" definition.: "Air taken in or sent out by the lungs." Or go online to find "breath" in Merriam-Webster dictionary.
Print It: Write rhyme on board. "B Is for Breath" B is for breath with which I can say, "Praise ye the Lord any time, any day." Read. Move: Put finger in front of lips, and raise hands high.
Journal It: Kids write "breath," and its definition in journal; write one sentence about word.
e.g. I use my breath to blow bubbles, or I use my breath to speak. Illustrate.
The Meditation Verse: Psalm 150:6
Print It: P/T print: "Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD!" You might write it this way: "Let everything that hath breath PTL. Praise ye the LORD." Ask what "PTL" stands for? What is our ABC word?
Read It: Give child a pointer to use to touch each word as it is read out loud.
Discuss It: Underline, circle, or trace over "breath." What is a reason God gives us breath?
Write It: Copy verse into journal. Write a sentence; e.g. Our meditation verse is found in the last book of Psalms. Draw a picture of someone praising the Lord. e.g. Use a speech balloon or music notes.
Find It: Have each child open their Bible to its "Contents." Help them find the "Psalms." Point out the entire book or more than one Psalm has an "s" on its end while individual chapters are Psalm 1 etc. Highlight "Psalms." Note its page number.
Mark It: Help kids find Psalm 150:6. Highlight it. Use a colored pencil to write an "M" by it for a "meditation verse." Note: this is the last chapter and the last verse of the Psalms.
Recite It: Recite the verse together in soft, loud, happy, deep, high, low voices and so on.
Reflect on It: Pause and think about the verse. Say, e.g. "As I was meditating, or reflecting on our verse, the part that kept coming into my mind was: 'Praise ye the LORD.' Which part of the verse did you keep thinking about?"
Play It: Play a game with the white board verse. Have kids close their eyes. Erase a word. Let child tell which word is missing. Erase a second word. Repeat until no words are left. After each erasure repeat the verse again. Scramble one word. Let kids tell you what the scrambled word was. Repeat.
Sing It: Sing "Hallelu." Which words from the verse are repeated? ("Praise ye the LORD!")
Pray It: e.g. Dear Lord Jesus, we're so glad you have given us breath--breath to thank you for all you do for us and breath to praise and worship you. And breath just to pray today and to say, 'Praise ye the Lord!" In Jesus' name, Amen!
Make It! Bible Verse Bookmark
Prepare It: book marker shape; stickers, P.T.L.; colored pencil; glue; …..
Make It: Stick PTL stickers on one side; on the reverse side carefully print the verse or glue on a preprinted verse strip.
*Idea!* ABC sticker sheets can be purchased quite reasonably and be used for your markers, hats, or posters.
Insert It: After rereading your verse, saying it once more, help kids insert their bookmark by the highlighted verse.
Make It: Bible Verse Hat
Find a shortened verse to move to and hat directions in "Appendix for ABC: Bible Meditation Verses for Ages 3-6."
Move It: "I Can Meditate the Bible Way!"
Use this rhyme as an action rhyme or rhyme you move to. Write it on your board; then read, discuss, and move to it. Discuss "what the Bible way" is versus "breathing a certain way." Emphasize kids and grownups who meditate the Eastern way focus on their breath or a mantra repeated over and over. Explain Eastern meditators tell us not to notice our thoughts and push them away. But, God says as we meditate to think about his words again and again.
Movements: open out palms to make a "Bible," point to mouth, point to head, nod head, and raise voice at end.
B Is for Breath: Eastern Meditation Part
Breath Used as Bait!
How wide spread is the use of mindfulness and yoga meditation. Therefore, it can't be stressed enough that one become aware of such programs/activities being used in public schools, wellness centers, daycare centers and yes, even in Christian schools/churches. These programs/instructors encourage the use of "seemingly harmless breath techniques" to soothe, calm, and relax your youngsters.--and yourself as well. Therefore, carefully peruse the articles and web sites listed below and in Lesson B.
"Mindfulness Meditation"
Read the "Mindfulness Meditation" rhyme which warns us of how prevalent is the fascination with mindfulness all over the nation. Discuss it with older children. Detail "the various innocent ways" kids are told to breathe. As you view the sites, the picture books, and images you will be amazed at the numerous ingenious ways kids/adults are lured into mindfulness through clever techniques.
Be Aware of It: "Conscious Discipline"
In Lesson B read "The Take a Deep Breath Red Flag" section, and go to the link provided that describes the dangers of this program. When I researched this CD program that was being used by a local school system as well as a large nearby Evangelical church school I was truly astounded to find that its founder Dr. Becky Bailey was deep into the New Age "Course in Miracles" (Think Marianne Williamson). Even more mind-blowing was the fact that Bailey herself had lectured at the Christian school touting this program. This program might be "Exhibit A" as to why all must do their homework to find out the background and beliefs of the author(s) of materials such as those used in "Conscious Discipline."
Be Aware of It: Kids' Breathing Tools
Two breathing tools aimed at getting kids to focus and fixate on their breath are; "The Hoberman Sphere" or "the breath ball," and Conscious Discipline's multisensory flower pinwheel. See the links to these tools to realize there's an array of breath lures out there for little ones to be exposed to!
Be Aware of It: Breath Picture Books
Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard PsyD. and Daniel Rechtschaffen (May 2019) is but one of the many breath picture books in the mindfulness arsenal through which unusual breath techniques lure both adults and kids into breathing practices that appear oh so innocent.
Another informative site that features other Willard books, as well his upcoming book The Breathing Book, is "Spirituality and Practice." On the SP site page click on "Books," and then on "Children's Books" to spot The Breathing Book (April 2020) by Chris and his wife. Click on its book cover to read its review.
https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com
*"Idea!"* To obtain, e.g. "Images of Kids Doing Mindful Breathing" or "Images of Chris Willard's Mindfulness Books" or whatever other images you wish, simply enter your "Images of ……" (topic name). Almost immediately image after image will appear. Select those pictures appropriate to share with your kids, click on them, and talk about them. Warn your kids now, for later it may be too late!
As stated in the Parental Suggestion section at the end of "B Is for Breath," the authors of Alphabreaths were taught by mindfulness proponents such as Jon Kabat-Zinn, Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Dali Lama to name a few. Therefore, the authors' agenda is to encourage kids to become lifetime mindfulness meditators. On the other hand, our Biblical agenda is to encourage kids to become lifetime Scripture meditators.
May these lessons arm you with scriptural meditation verses and meditation teachings that will alert you how to ready your children and students to early know the Lord as Savior so as to be able to stand against the pervasive false teachings that would suck them into worldly meditation practices. For as Scripture admonishes us: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
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