R Is for Remember It! ABC: Deuteronomy for Me! Raising a Caleb Kid in a Disrupted World
Here's a lesson full of Scripture emphasizing the importance of recalling the past--especially notice the parts discussing monuments/memorials with your child. Read the lesson: "What Mean These Stones?" Scroll to the end to learn about stone stacking, and to view the colorful fold-out scroll with the verse with the very important truth: "REMEMBER now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." (Eccl.12:1)
R Is for Remember It!
a theme you'll see
frequently mentioned
in Deuteronomy!
Little Kids (Ages 4-7)
Remember It! Remember, Remember, Remember!
Deuteronomy is all about remembering. Moses told the Israelites things to remember. He said remember their time of slavery in Egypt, remember their exodus night, remember the Red Sea, remember the wilderness days, remember Mt. Horeb, remember all the rules, remember not to join those round you, remember there is but one God, remember not to worship idols, remember the poor, remember special days, remember the law, remember this song, remember, remember, remember!
Look at It: Remember "Remember!"
Write "R Is for Remember It!" on your white board. Read it. Discuss. "Remember" begins with what letter? Correct, a "R." "Rr" is the eighteenth letter of the alphabet. It comes from Latin and is called "the dog's letter" because it makes a "Grrr" or snarly sound.
How many letters are in remember? (8) With what letter does it begin? end? How many Rs and Ms does it have? Es? Say "remember!" Do you hear the growling sound? What letters do you hear in the middle? (Mm) How many parts or syllables does it have? (3) How many smaller words do you see in "remember?" (me, rem, mem, ember, member) Did you know "mem" is the 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet? What does "remember" mean? (to recall) Will you remember all about "remember?"
Memorize It: A Verse with an Important Truth!
Here's a verse with a very important truth: "REMEMBER now thy Creator in the days of thy youth!" Ecclesiastes12:1
Write verse on board. Read it. What book is this verse in? (Ecclesiastes) Go to the book of Psalms in the middle of your Bible, then comes Proverbs, and the very next book is Ecclesiastes. Did you find it? chapter 12? It's the first verse! In my Bible "Remember" is capitalized. In some Bibles it's not. Highlight it! Point out that Eccl. is the abbreviation for Ecclesiastes. Write it in your journal!
Draw a picture of yourself. Why? (You are a youth or kid.) Put today's date too--because that is the time to remember about the Lord who made you!
1st./2nd Write verse above in journal. Ks may write: "REMEMBER now thy Creator." 4s write: "REMEMBER!". What word does this verse begin with? What is the second word? (now) When is now? (Yes, today!) Who made us? (The Lord) He is our Creator. Why does Creator begin with an uppercase "C?" When is the time to learn about the Lord? (when you are young, or a youth) What do you notice about truth and youth? (rhyme, end in "th")
Make It: The REMEMBER Marker
Prep It: small sticky notes, print outline letters to spell "REMEMBER"; scissors, list of Deuteronomy "Remember Verses" (older kids); and glue.
Make It: (Parents) Make a colorful marker by overlapping two colors of eight sticky notes together. Print small letters, and cut out. Give kids strip; and cutout letters to spell "REMEMBER." Glue on letters. Use for further discussions, and as a Bible marker. Do view marker sample at end of this lesson!
Move It: An Eccl. 12:1 Fold-Up Verse Scroll
Prep It: paper, scroll pattern, stapler, ruler, print verse/verse words, small pics of children, scissors, glue.
Make It: Cut out two scrolls ends. Measure a strip of paper into 4"X12" two inch parts. Accordion fold the piece. Staple onto scroll ends. Fold and unfold. See sample below! Print verse, or use color book* words. Cut out words spacing them into each section. Glue pics of kids in each of the six areas. Idea: Print your own kid's photos, and glue to the scroll bottom. Find scroll images here:
* Lighthouse Trails carries The Trinitarian Bible Society Coloring Book 20 He Made the Stars which has Eccl.12:1 in it. See color book in photo section. Order the color book here:
Use It: Stand, hold scroll closed, open, recite, spell a word, and repeat! e.g. "R-e-m-e-m-b-e-r now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Next, "Remember n-o-w thy Creator ...." and continue going over verse spelling out one word at a time. For the littlest ones, choose two or three words.
Define It: A Memorial
What is a memorial? Do you know? A memorial is something, especially a structure, built to remind people of an important person or event that happened in the past. Have you ever visited a memorial? Where was it? Why did they build it?
I Remember It! "The Monument"
When I was a little girl I lived in Atlantic City, NJ. Now, Atlantic City had a giant memorial or monument that you couldn't miss right as you entered into the city. We called it "The Monument." It was big. It was humongous. It was monumental. Everyone had to drive around it. No one could miss this big stone turn-around. It was built to remind everyone of the soldiers of WWI. It made you remember. It made you notice. It was impressive and not to be forgotten! Joshua, in today's story, also made a memorial. It had just twelve stones, but it made people stop and take notice of it. It was a witness to God's great miracle that took place at the Jordan River.
Hear It: "What Mean These Stones?"
Moses had died. Joshua had become the new leader. Soon it was Joshua's job to lead God's people into the Promised Land. Therefore, Joshua told the people to get ready to enter the land. He commanded the priests to carry the golden ark box into the Jordan River. When the priests put their feet into the Jordan the water stood up in a big heap, and all the Israelites passed by on dry ground. It was a miracle!
To help the people never forget this miracle, Joshua chose twelve men, one from each tribe, to go back on the path so that each one might pick up one big stone to bring out of the Jordan. What did Joshua do with the twelve stones the men brought out? At Gilgal he placed them in a memorial pile to help the people, their children, and their children's children to remember the miracle that happened there.
So years later when some child said to his parents: "What mean these stones?" they would tell them the story of how God opened up the Jordan so that Joshua and all the people crossed over on dry ground. Yes, every time someone looked at these memorial stones they would know the story of how mighty the Lord God of Israel was! Joshua 3,4
Sing It: "My God Is So Big!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA2D4C-8EF4
Make It: The Joshua Memorial Pocket Page
Prep It: Needed: two copies of 12 stone memorial image, markers, crayons, blue paper, cotton balls, Jordan river pocket, glue, scissors, captions, and rhyme.
Use this image, or draw your own.
Assemble It: Print two twelve stone memorial images. Trace round the twelve stones of one page with a gray marker; color each one gray. Cut out a second memorial picture; glue to center of blue page. Cut out stones you colored one by one, wad up a bit of cotton, and glue it to second memorial rock image. This gives "the memorial" a springy 3-D effect; below memorial glue a Jordan River strip pocket. Don't forget to leave top open! Glue on captions. Do notice photo at end!
Move It: Touch each stone and count them. Repeat the Bible verse. Say the rhyme. !Idea! Build a cracker snack memorial. Build a block memorial too.
Pocket It: "What Mean These Stones?" Rhyme
What Mean These Stones?
How did they a memorial come to be?
Tell me!
Stick a copy into the Jordan River Pocket; you may also print small copy of story and insert that inside as well.
Sing It: "How Did Joshua Cross the Jordan?"
Tune: "How Did Moses Cross the Red Sea?"
Did he creep? No, no! Did he leap? No, no! Did he ski? No, no, no, no!
Did he skate? No, no! Did he swim? No, no! How did he get across?
God heaped the waters high, high, high; and He made a way all dry, dry, dry.
So through the river He made a path, that's how he got across!
Hear It: "How Did Moses Cross the Red Sea" here:
Sing It; "What Mean These Stones?" (Tune "Brother John")
What mean these stones?
That I see, that I see,
Tell me father, mother,
Tell me father, mother,
What they be, what they be?
Craft It: The Joshua 4 Tissue-box Marker
Prep It: tissue box (Pick a blue water-like pattern.); small image of Joshua and the Jordan waters, fine line markers, highlighter, scissors, glue, printer. Cut two strips 2 1/2"X7" from tissue box side. Run off small image to fit marker; parents cut around Joshua's hand. Front of Marker: Print verse: "For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan...." Joshua 4:23
Make It: Glue small image to marker front; and verse below. See pic at bottom of this lesson.
Back of Marker: For 1st. Grade and up print: "For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you, until ye were passed over ... That all the people might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever." Joshua 4:23-24.
Make-It: Cut verses into strips and glue to back of marker. Highlight: the LORD your God, might know, the LORD, might, might fear the LORD your God for ever. Help younger students with highlighting the verse parts. Check out marker picture below!
I Recall It: "Orator Man"
I was seven when I visited the Gettysburg Pennsylvania battlefield honoring the soldiers of the Civil War. It was filled with memorable places full of monuments and statues. I got to sit on a cannon and listen to a gifted orator I've named "Orator Man," or "Megaphone Man!" Mr. George Landis really was a preacher, but he was a-never-to-be-forgotten story teller as well.
Because I've never forgotten Mr. Landis' mesmerizing deep voice I wrote "Orator Man" telling about my memory.
Orator Man
with megaphone
at a Gettysburg
memorial zone
telling its story;
small girl sitting,
still as a stone,
listening never
to forget Orator
Man with megaphone--
ever! LEP
How I hope you too will visit memorial places that tell stories about our past. How very important this is. Often the Bible emphasizes dads, moms, and others tell children about the past. May we heed this instruction!
Older Kids (Ages 8-12)
Think About It: Memorial Stones
Memorial Stones
memorial statues are remembering places
where with uplifted faces we listen to stories
told by rememberers* who remind us of the past.
* poetic spelling
Have you ever been to places where there are many memorials or monuments? Washington, DC would be a great example. There you'll find numerous memorials and places where one can pause to reflect on and think about past events or prominent people from the past. Explore More: Look up one memorial or place in the Washington, DC area that you are interested in and write a short report on it. e.g. The Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, and so on. Draw a picture too. Add your report to your journal.
When I was young, whenever we visited Philadelphia, Pennsylvania my father always took time to point out a statue of William Penn high atop a building that could be seen as we entered. Dad, too, purposely took me to view the grave of one of the founders of our country: Benjamin Franklin. Another historical site we stopped at was the home of Betsy Ross who sewed our first flag. There I purchased a memento plate we kept for years.
It's important to know history and why things are what they are today. Perhaps, if more parents/ teachers did this many would not be so ready to tear down historical statues or areas because they do not like what those persons/structures stood for. Instead, they could point both the good and the bad things that happened there or that a particular person did.
God encouraged the children of Israel to inform their children of past events and to answer their questions about them. That's what the story of the Joshua and the twelve memorial stones is about! That's what the verses about the night the Destroying Angel came to Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, or the day near to Horeb tell us to remember and think about.
Explain It: What's the Difference Between a Memorial Statue and an Idol?
Do you know the difference between a memorial structure or statue and an idol? Talk about this. What Deuteronomy verses warn against idols? Why? Is there more than one verse that talks about idols? Where? Do a little research. Why did God not want people to bow to idols? Think of the Ten Commandments!
Reflect on It: 'Specially the Day!
Moses told the Israelites to especially recall the day when they stood near Mt. Horeb surrounded by fire, smoke, clouds, and the great voice. That day was meant to be remembered always. We too have days that we should especially remember and never forget. What special days do you have you know you won't ever forget and will tell your children about? What special places do you remember? The older you grow the greater will be your recollections of such times.
This reminds me of the time our two granddaughters were visiting and busily getting ready for bed. I tried to go in to visit a bit more with them, but they were occupied. So I retreated. A short while later my precious older granddaughter came in all ready for bed. "Gramma," she said, "now you can come and tell us stories!" Oh, praise the Lord, I was so glad for that invitation--it touched my heart.
Reread It: "'Specially the Day"
Moses spoke to God's people. You need to take heed lest you forget the things God did for you. You need to take heed lest they depart from your heart. Teach them to your kids and your kids' kids too. Moses warned them lest they corrupt themselves and sin. He warned against making statues or idols that were like men, women, animals, birds, fish, and creeping things. He warned them against worshipping the sun, moon, and stars. Understand, cautioned Moses, that it is the LORD that's brought you out of Egypt. Take heed, said Moses, lest you forget the agreement God made with you. Don't make images or idols as the LORD your God told you not to. Remember that! (Deut. 4)
Tell About It: A Born Again Birthday!
Do you have a very special day that you've never forgotten-- the day you asked Jesus to forgive your sins, and accepted Him as your Savior from sin? Do you remember it? I do! I was nine years old, and the date was August 22, 1954. I was playing outside in front of a huge building that was right along the Atlantic Ocean, and I could hear the waves crashing in the background. This building was where I went to church, and it was also a home for older Christians. Right on the corner was a sign from I Tim. 1:15 which read, "....Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." As I read the sign I knew I was a sinner, and I prayed right there to ask Jesus to forgive my sins trusting Him as my Savior.
That same night a visiting preacher told his special day story how during WWII he met Jesus while crouching in a fox hole hiding from the enemy. It was then I whispered to my mom that I too now believed and was saved. That very same man had his story published in a little paper, and later I had a copy of it. And now I am sharing my story with you.
Learn It: Moses' Reminders
Moses did say,
"Remember what
God did yesterday
in Egypt."
* at Mt. Horeb, Red Sea etc.
Read It! "The Forever Memorial"
Take turns with your children reading Joshua's "Forever Memorial" story in Joshua 3,4. Discuss it! Include any ideas mentioned in little kids' lesson. Allow children to open up their Bibles to Joshua 3, and Joshua 4 to find answers! Pair up the "up phrases!"
Look It Up! "The Up Quiz"
1. rose early (k) 2. sanctify yourselves (d) 3. the ark of the covenant (c) 4. magnify you (e) 5. the waters (h) 6. a stone (g) 7. twelve stones (l) 8. priests (j) 9. priests' feet (i) 10. the tenth day (f) 11. pitch in Gilgal (b) 12. Jordan River, Red Sea (a)
a. dried up b. set up c. took up d. clean up e. raise you up f. people came up out of the Jordan g. take up on shoulder h. stood and rose up upon a heap i. were lifted up j. did come up out of the Jordan k. got up l. took up out of the Jordan
Know It: Two Psalm 114 Rhymes
Read Ps.114. Think about it!
Remember!
God shook the river.
They did quake,
They did quiver,
At God's command
they did obey
opening up to make
a way for his people
to cross over.
Have You Read?
The Red Sea saw it.
The Red Sea fled.
Remember it!
God did it!
the Scriptures said
the Jordan was
driven back?
Remember it!
God did it!
From Psalm 114:3 "The sea (Red) saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back." Psalm 78:13 "He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap."
Sort It: Remember & Lest Thou Forget Tubes
Prep It: two toilet tubes, images of colorful straight lines, Bible verse print out, tape, scissors, glue ....
Make It: Print two colorful pages of lined paper; wrap paper round tube, tuck, and tape. Print off "Remember!" and "Lest Thou Forget" and use verse list to print off verses.
Verse List: Forget, Lest: Deut. 4:9, Deut. 4:23, Deut. 6:12, Deut. 8:11, Deut. 8:12, Deut. 8:19, Deut. 9:7, Deut. 31:21, Psalm 106:21, and Psalm 78:7. Remember: Deut. 5:15, Deut. 7:18, Deut. 8:2, Deut. 8:18, Deut. 15:15, Deut. 32:7, Psalm 78:35, Psalm 105:5, Eccl. 12:1, & I Cor. 11:23-25.
Sort It: Read verses, highlight either "remember," "lest thou forget," "lest," and "forget not" lines. Cut verses apart, and glue to strips. Put into correct tube. Play game: Teacher/parent reads verse; asks a question about verse; leaves a word blank, or asks kids to find it in the Bible. After each time child would tell parent/teacher which tube to place verse in. See photos at end of lesson.
Read It Aloud: A Classic Children's Christian Book to Remember!
I was eight when my mom first read to me Treasures of the Snow by an amazing author named Patricia St. John. It was a fairly recent Christian book then, but now is a Christian classic read in many places. It's the kind of book both children and parents will always remember! (And reread!)
The book begins on Christmas eve in a Swiss village when Annette, a small girl, meets her new baby brother Dani. And it was on that same night that Annette's mother went to spend Christmas with the angels. I recall my mom crying as she read that part. So it was that Annette became the special care giver and protector of her little brother Dani.
Several years later an accident happened to Dani caused by a village boy Lucien. After, Annette hated Lucien. Before long, many in the village seemed to dislike him too. As you read you'll discover how Annette was forgiven by the Lord Jesus and at last forgave Lucien.
After hearing the story I longed to visit Switzerland. Coincidentally, about the same time, a Swiss lady I knew took a trip back to Switzerland bringing me a Swiss chalet pin and weather house. Years later, with my family I visited Switzerland fulfilling my childhood wish. There I traveled via a cog railroad up into a sparkling Swiss village complete with cows with tinkling bells.
Do read this book, a treasure in its own right, for it is a book that touched my young heart leading to my salvation a short time later. P.S. This book is based on many true incidents for its writer spent a memorable year of her childhood in an Alpine village.
Find the book here: https://www.lighthousetrails.com/ages-7-12/43-treasures-of-the-snow-book.html
Lest I Forget It: This Do in Remembrance of Me!
In the NT we read I Corinthians 11:23-25 which tell us not to forget the Lord Jesus and what he did for us at Calvary: These remembrance verses that commemorate Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection read: "... the Lord Jesus ... took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take eat, this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. ... he took the cup, ... saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, ... in remembrance of me." Memorize these verses, remember them, do them!
Think of the Deuteronomy "lest I forget" verses. Jennie E. Hussey's beautiful hymn: "Lead Me to Calvary" has a refrain with these words "lest I forget" in it. It's refrain goes: "Lest I Forget Gethsemane, lest I forget thine agony, lest I forget thy love for me, lead me to Calvary." Hear it here so sweetly sung by The Bowers Family:
Teachers/Parents/Grandparents/You
Make An Eternal Impact!
an eternal impact?
Then, leave history intact:
Share its flaws, share its facts.
Share its stories, share its truths.
Discuss them with your youths.
Remember the Holocaust stories which have often been covered up and even dismissed as untrue. However, Germany did do something that impacts its visitors by making its heinous labor camps remembering places. I recall one cold winter day taking several trains in Munich, Germany to visit Dachau. It was one of those I can not forget moments. But, it was meant to be remembered, not swept away so we can learn from it today. May we as parents, grandparents, teachers, and others share and discuss such memorials with our children. Above, all acquaint your child with all the many places in Scripture that concern remembering!
If You See It: What Mean These Stone Stacks?
Before closing this lesson about the memorial stones I would be remiss not to mention small "stone stacks" that one often finds on store shelves, in homes, outdoor gardens, park trails, and by bodies of water. Exactly what are these stone stacks? Are they like Joshua's memorial? Not at all! Peruse the following information, and articles to find out what they are all about. Then, the next time you spy one of these stone stacks inform your kids of their meaning.
Find several sets of images of stone stacks. Preview first yourself. Pick out red flag words that give a clue as to what stone stacks are. Show some images or an image to your child. Explain. Discuss.
Read the: "The Yoga of Balancing Stones" by Helen Avery. Here's some of the red flag ideas to note: stones as sacred symbols, stones as uniting us with the environment, stones as spirits, stones as representative of prayers, stones as meditative devices, stones as balancing agents, and stones as yogic-like. Avery asserts, "During the practice of balancing of stones, the mind is required to focus and become very quiet. ... Michael Grab, who has been balancing stones since 2008, describes the process as similar to states of samadhi*... 'the mind shuts off entirely....'" https://wanderlust.com/journal/the-yoga-of-balancing-stones/
* Samadhi can be defined as a state of intense achievement through meditation. In Hindu yoga this is regarded as the final state, at which union with the divine is reached (before or at death.)
Here is an article I wrote: https://whputnam00.blogspot.com/2016/06/mindfulness-meditation-and-yoga.html. Read it; especially notice the section titled "Prayer Stone Stacks: Their Association with Mindfulness." Another series I wrote before these lessons is ABC: Bible Meditation for Me: Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation which contrasts for parents and children what true Bible meditation is as opposed to the kind of meditation one reaches through stone stacking, yoga, or mindfulness.
Stone Stackers
everywhere
infusing stones
with their prayers,
Stone stackers
clearing their mind,
stacking stones
that they find,
Stone stackers
stacking stones
they call divine,
Stone stackers
stone stacks
here and there--
beware! LEP
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