ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!: Y Is for Yoga!

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!:  Y Is for Yoga!

ABC:  Bible Meditation for Me!:  Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation

Introduction:  This is one of  twenty-six ABC lessons for parents, grandparents, kids, and teachers.  There are now nineteen lessons posted; scroll back to read them. Besides this lesson still to come are:  I, J, K, M, N, and S.

Yoga Is a Practice

Yoga is a practice I mustn't do,
for it's Hindu through and through.
Its gesture is Namaste,
and that's not the Bible way;
Instead I'll meditate and pray-
to fix my mind on His words!
                                                LEP
Y Is for Yogi

Several years ago in a PreK classroom I was listening to an ABC book being read. When the teacher got to Y she read "Y is for yogi."  "Y for yogi" that was a first for me!  How far we've come since that day, for now its even quite common to refer to children as "little yogis."   Because yoga is done in so many venues, it is imperative to understand why children or adults shouldn't be joining up.

"From My Youth" Bible Meditation

Psalm 71:5 is a great meditation Bible verse to contemplate and remember.  It reads, "For thou art my hope, O LORD God: thou art my trust from my youth."  II Timothy 3:15 also mentions "from a child" one must be taught from the holy scriptures making them ready for salvation!

"Y for Youth" Bible Marker

Cut out an oversized "Y" large enough to write Ps.71:5 on it.  Find it your Bible.  Use a highlighter to make the verse stand out so it can be easily located.  Discuss what the "Y" stands for.

Yes, That's the Book for Me!

If you haven't sung "The B-I-B-L-E" lately do it, for therein lies the message we want little folks to hear!  Sing here:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=Kids+song+youtube+The+B-I-B-L-E#id=2&vid=aff19218e5fb99a04d5d78a60e845149&action=view

Lots of Little Yogis

Lots of little yogis
here, there, everywhere
being taught they ought
      to do yoga!

Little Yogis Go to the Y,
Little Yogis Go to the Gym

Little yogis go to the Y,
Little yogis go to the gym,
Little yogis never hear of Him-
      for they do yoga!

Question:  Do you care?

Eastern Meditation

Y Is for Yoga

Y is for Yoga
where kids hear
eerie "Oms!"
in their ears!

Little Children Placed
  in the Resting Pose 

Two special needs teachers, in a school where I substituted, thought yoga was something that might help their restless PreK children. At the time in one classroom I noted a yoga CD on a desk and copied its title. After a bit of research, I began to see a little of what this yoga CD involved. Soon after, I happened to be in the classroom again as the children were laid in a resting pose,* masked on a mat, and expected to lie still for a short time.  Never having seen anything like that, it truly was strange! What to do? I vowed to know more, so I might be ready to explain what yoga really involved.

* I later learned this was a "corpse" pose or "relaxation pose" called "Savasana."  This pose ends a yoga session. An article "How to Do a Corpse Pose in Yoga" (Yogaoutlet.com) finishes with this Erich Schiffman (renowned American yoga master) quote:  "Savasana is where people are most likely to experience the meaning of yoga, which is their conscious unity with infinity... You lie there and look dead, but as you relax and sink into the feeling of the very alive energy that is being you, it literally feels like you come to life again."  Read the entire article here:                
https://www.yogaoutlet.com/blogs/guides/how-to-do-corpse-pose-in-yoga

A Meddy Teddy Yogi

Yes, there's a yogi "Meddy Teddy" teddy bear.  This cuddly "Meddy Teddy" comes with additional yoga outfits.  Meddy Teddy also has limbs that may be bent into any yoga pose.  This is a must-see video detailing persuasive reasons why this bear was invented, and why they want to put one in the hands of every child.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=meddy+teddy#id=1&vid=abb3c7160b090807bdc8323e7bcf73da&action=click

Yoga Bug For Babies

Both on-line and in bookstores there are board books for tykes under two years of age in yoga poses.  Always the books are cleverly illustrated and look so innocent.  But as many have pointed out, they are going after the little ones to early train them to be future yogis and meditators.  Here is but one sample of such a book.  View its one minute video here: 
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=Yoga+Bug+Sara+Hinder+video#id=1&vid=8569e2bca07ee5353c166ae45b5f83d6&action=click

The Cobra Embedded in Yoga

Often there's a child doing the snake pose in one of the board books for the little ones.  Of these snake poses there's an easier snake pose the Sarpasana, as well as the more difficult cobra pose the Bhujangasana.  These poses, by the way, are based on the Hindu snake god King Cobra.       
Read here:  http://thesop.org/story/religion/2008/06/04/king-cobra-is-snake-god-to-hindus.php

You Are a LION!
Taeeun Yoo's colorful picture book You Are a LION!, with its seemingly innocuous yoga poses and repetitive text, features the lion, the butterfly, the dog, yes the snake, the frog, and the cat.  It is just another early childhood picture book immersing mere babes into yogic teachings.  Hear it here:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&p=you+are+a+lion+read+aloud+on+youtube#id=1&vid=6d57934e0c51af50a97f9a7c86a8babf&action=click

Parental Suggestion:

Good Night Yoga from "Sounds True"

Take a look at Mariam Gate's Good Night Yoga which is read aloud on-line.  Notice its pose by pose flow.  Hear its short description of each pose.  Especially note the repetitive mesmerizing voice of the reader as she reads the mantra-like breath lines: "As I breathe in, as I breathe out …."  Its reader  is Tami Simon founder of a spirituality company "Sounds True."  Authors published by Sounds True are New Agers as Eckhart Tolle, Carolyn Myss, Pema Chodron, or Buddhists as the Dali Lama, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Daniel Goleman and the list goes on..  Perhaps a more appropriate name for the company might be "Sounds False!"  It can't be emphasized enough one must always research the author's background and the author's publisher. Often mindfulness/yoga teachers will declare it's all secular, however nearly always when the authors are investigated, one will find they are not secular!
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&p=good+night+yoga+mariam+gates+youtube#id=1&vid=de3ba96f282ca877104afba4351d66f6&action=click
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sounds_True

   

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!: G Is for Grounded!

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!:  G Is for Grounded!

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!:  Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation 

Introduction: This lesson is one of twenty-six lessons in a series for parents, grandparents, kids, and youth leaders.  A, B, C, D, F, H, L, O, P, Q, R. T, U, V, W, X, and Z are already posted; scroll back to find them.

G Is for Grounded

G is for grounded
when like a tree
I can be found
rooted in God's word.

The Righteous Man

Blessed is the man,
the righteous man
whose delight
is in the law of the LORD,
and in his law doth
he meditate day and night.

From Psalm 1

Day and Night
Meditation Verse to Recite

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."  Psalm 1:2  In this day and night meditation recitation we see that one who is following the Lord will be thinking of God's words day and night. Mark this meditation verse with a M in your Bible.

Be Like a Tree Verse

Psalm 1:3 says,  "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Like a Tree

Like a tree I will be
if I'm godly,
Like the chaff I will be
if I'm ungodly,
Which are you?

Rooted and Grounded

Trees have roots going deep into the ground.  Godly people can be like trees having roots that are found in the Lord.  They are grounded in the word of God having much fruit.  The opposite of a godly man is an ungodly man who does not love or serve the Lord.  He's not like a tree, but rather like chaff or the part of the head of grain that's useless which the wind blows away. To stay rooted and grounded, we must fix our eyes on the Lord, read his word, and meditate day and night.

I Shall Not Be Moved!

Hear the chorus; "Like a Tree Planted by the Waters"  here.  Sing it! 
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&p=like+a+tree+planted+by+the+water#id=37&vid=2e4ee8e92dd84858159d00c74b7117d5&action=view

Eastern Meditation

G Is for Grounded

G is for grounded
in the earth
a life founded
in my own way,
   not God's!

Grounded in the Earth

Eastern meditators, or yoga meditators who do the "Tree Pose" aren't grounded in God, but instead they plant one foot firmly on the earth.

Grounding Yoga Flow

Julie Bernier of BeYogi writes in "This Grounding Yoga Flow Will Bring You Down to Earth" that someone who is "grounded" is aware of the present moment rather than the past or future.  She states, "We feel more solid and connected to the world around us.  We receive a sense of assurance that the universe will take care of us."

Bernier observes that just connecting to our breath is grounding, for we focus on it rather than the past or future. Yoga teaches, she states, that we send energy downward by anchoring our feet or our palms to the earth. Yoga, says Bernier, helps one make pranic or energetic connections to the earth.  In the yogic "child's pose," "extended puppy pose," and "prostration pose" she notes that one touches their "third eye chakra (ajna)" to the ground.   Ultimate grounding can come as we do meditation.  Bernier then asks you to try her "grounding yoga flow" pose sequence.  Read this important piece here: https://beyogi.com/grounding-yoga-flow/.

The Sita and Rama Story

Did you know that when yogis stand in a tree pose that this asana comes from the story of the Hindu god Rama and the godness Sita?  In "Spiritual Meanings of Yoga Poses" (Livestrong.com) Henry Halse tells the story of how Sita, captured by the demon king Ravana, believing Rama will save her, finds solace meditating among the trees waiting for Rama to return. While meditating, the trees told her to remain calm and steady like them for Rama will come.  And says the writer "During tree pose, one of the goals is to stay rooted through your foot into the ground and hold the pose with patience."  The lesson for us all is whatever book, whatever video, or whatever practice do your research and understand its background.  For Eastern meditation is built on idolatry, something God hates!
https://www.livestrong.com/article/395082-spiritual-meanings-of-yoga-postures/

Yoga, Yoga

Doing poses,
wrinkling noses,
feet on the ground,
Oms all around,
Namaste too,
Yoga, Yoga,
That's what we do!
                       LEP

Truly what is happening to children all over is disheartening.  Don't let it happen to yours.  Teach them now.  For "... "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." II Corinthians 6:2b

Parental Suggestion:

Grounded Kids Site

A web site http://groundedkids.com/ has a ton of yoga information demonstrating how wide spread yoga infiltration is in our world. Explore it just a bit to understand what is happening to so many young children.

View here one of their videos:  "Solidly Grounded in Red."  https://groundedkids.com/quest-for-elevation-videos/    This is all the more reason why we, as Colossians 1:23 tells us, need to "... continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard …."

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!: C Is for Calm!

ABC:  Bible Meditation for Me!: C Is for Calm!

ABC:  Bible Meditation for Me!: Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation 

Introduction:
This lesson is one of twenty-six ABC lessons for parents, grandparents, kids, and teachers.  Already posted is A, B, D, E, F, H, L, O, P, Q, R, T, U, V, W, X, and Z.  Please scroll back to read the others.

C Is for Calm

C is for calm,
the way I can be
if I trust in the Lord
to watch over me!

B Is for Bible

B is for Bible,
M is for meditation,
turning over
in our minds
Bible quotations.

A Calm Alarm!

The cry these days is help kids get calm.  It's like a "Calm Alarm!" To help kids achieve this educators, doctors, scientists, and parents say try mindfulness, yoga, or both. There's even a group called: "Yoga Calm."  But instead, there's a Bible way.  And that is by trusting in the Lord Jesus as Savior to give us peace and in His word to give us hope.

A Calming Psalm

One of the favorite Bible Psalms is the twenty-third Psalm!  Read it!  It says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."  Is He your shepherd?  If not, Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:11)  He died on a cross for you to take your sins away. And if you will pray, ask him to forgive your sins, and trust him as your Savior he will be your shepherd.

As our shepherd, the Lord gives us peace.  Psalm twenty-three says: "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me by the still waters."  His word can help us feel tranquil, still and calm our emotions. It goes on: "He restoreth my soul."  He can help us get over being very hurt or  angry.  It also says if we should die he will be with us  It ends, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Ruth Meets the Shepherd

There's a wonderful children's book The Tanglewood Secret by Patricia St. John that tells the story of a missionary child who was living with her aunt.  Her name was Ruth.  Now Ruth wasn't someone who was calm often disobeying her aunt, while her very serene, kind brother Philip always obeyed.  In the book Ruth meets Mr. Tandy, a shepherd, who had a little lamb, and later Ruth meets the Good Shepherd, Jesus, who changes Ruth from an angry child into a calmer one who loves Him and others.  If you've never read this book, how I'd encourage you to do so.
https://www.lighthousetrails.com/ages-7-12/37-the-tanglewoods-secret.html

Balms That Calm!

Sometimes if our lips hurt we use lip balm to help make them feel much better--to calm down the soreness.  An old lotion, folks used to use to soothe and calm down dry red skin, is called Italian Balm.  These balms are calming and soothing; they help us.  So the Lord Jesus calms us down when we get all upset and angry.

Meditation Reflection

Psalm 4:8  "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me to dwell in safety."  Sometimes kids have trouble getting to sleep or have bad dreams, but the Lord says we can trust in him to keep us safe.  He's always awake!  Sleep on this!

Attractive Reflection Marker  

If you have drawer liner roll (the one with tiny holes) cut a strip 16"X 2 n' 1/2".  Fold over so it is 8" long.  Inside slip a strip about 8"X2 n' 1/4" cut from the side of a birthday gift bag or like paper.  Slip this colorful strip inside the folded drawer liner, and staple closed at the top/sides.  At the top tape a small rectangle of the same colorful material inside your marker.  Onto that small rectangle stick a gummed sticker of Jesus. A little lower down tape another rectangle of same material as top rectangle to make a tiny pocket.  Find a small paper; print Ps.4:8 on it.  Place your marker in your Bible.         

Eastern Meditation

C Is for Calm

C is for calm,
M is for meditations,
the cure they say that
will stop our frustrations!

The Bedtime Book: Yawning Yoga

Laurie Jordan has written a bedtime book full of yoga poses for a four-eight year old to do with "Om" mantras to repeat to calm kids' minds for sleep. One "Here Wee Read" reviewer raves over the book's unusual dreamy soothing illustrations.  She relates she has used the book's suggestions as a regular sleep routine with her children.
http://hereweeread.com/2016/12/yawning-yoga-laurie-jordan-book-review.html

The text written in rhyme includes these lines:  "Yawning yoga helps me unwind, thank my body, my spirit, my mind.  So after pjs, brush, and comb, I settle down with a gentle Om. Connecting with the soothing sound, Connecting with the world around."  On another page Jordan spells out exactly how a child should "Om." The book closes with an afterword how yoga is much more than just a set of poses which is exactly what ABC: Bible Meditation for Me! is warning about.   "Look inside" here:
https://www.amazon.com/Yawning-Yoga-Laurie-Jordan/dp/1939775108#reader_1939775108

My Calm Place: (Card Set) Yoga, Mindfulness, and Meditation

Take a look at this card set with its various card activities by Barbara Neiman and Shiela Lewis.  This is just one in a myriad of similar card sets.  One card "Energize Your Battery" tells the child to do a "Ha" mountain pose as well as chant a "Ha" mantra.  Look inside the pack here:
https://www.amazon.com/Calm-Place-Mindfulness-Meditation-Strategies/dp/1683730011

Calming Moovlee Monkey Video 

There's a whole series of wordless videos using  movements of the most mesmerizing little monkey doing all sorts of yoga and meditative moves.  Many of these are made for toddlers!  Here is just one sample of the Moovlee monkey.  Innocent, not!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXYHdRP8DsA

Andrew Nance's New Book: The Lion in Me

Coming in September 2019 is another Andrew Nance mindfulness picture book The Lion in Me.  Nance, as mentioned in the "P Is For Present, Being Present!" lesson, wrote Puppy Mind equating our mind to a puppy wandering from place to place.  Endorsed by his friend Sylvia Boorstein, co-founder teacher of the Spirit Rock Center, and author of Happiness Is an Inside Job, Nance's book is about a young boy learning to calm his ferocious anger by using deep breaths.  Nance's stance is Buddhist through and through.  Coincidentally, there's a Buddhist periodical entitled: "The Lion's Roar!"
https://www.lionsroar.com/reverence-for-life/

Parental Suggestion:

Nance's Book The Lion in Me Is Featured on Christianbook.com!

Of all books for a so-called "Christian Book" seller to feature would be this Nance book, but even Christian book sellers are profiting from this mindfulness tsunami that has come into our culture right around every corner.  View the book here!
https://www.christianbook.com/the-lion-in-me/andrew-nance/9781946764416/pd/764416

P.S.  Write letters or e-mails to inform Christianbook.com what this book is all about and where it comes from.  Encourage your older kids to write letters or e-mails too. 


   



     

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!: E Is for Emotions!

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!:  E Is for Emotions!

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!:  Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation

Introduction:  This is a lesson in a twenty-six part ABC lesson series for parents, grandparents, kids, and teachers.  Posted so far are: A, B, D, F, H, L, O, P, Q, R, T, U, V, W, X, and Z.  Scroll back for each of these lessons.

E Is for Emotions

E is for emotions:
sensations we feel
like being glad,
sad, or mad
that are very real!

A Meditation Verse to Repeat

In Psalm 104:34 the psalmist writes, "My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord."   Even if you're feeling sad, this verse can cheer you up!  Mark a M beside this verse in your Bible, and draw a tiny happy face.  What "emotion" word is used? 

My Meditation Marker

Cut out a marker rectangle.  Draw a happy face circle; cut out.  Tape the happy face to marker top so its bottom edge overlaps a page.  Print Ps.104:34 on it.  Place it in your Bible.

Another Sweet Verse to Repeat

Psalm 119:103 is another neat "sweet" verse to know and ponder.  It says, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste!  yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth."

Rejoice In the Lord Always!

Philippians 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."  Find this scripture verse in your Bible; write two little music notes next to it.  Listen to it here, and sing it too!
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=Rejoice+in+the+Lord+Always+You+Tube+song#action=view&id=60&vid=de5f589186706e0464a093b9141b05a3

King David's Sin Makes Him Sad

In Psalm 51, David told how sad he was because he had committed some awful sins.  David asks God to have mercy on him and to cleanse and forgive him for all he'd done.  David said, "His sin was ever before him."  David says as a baby he had been born into sin.  David begs God to forgive him and give him a clean heart.  He wants to be happy and glad again.

Did you notice what David did when he felt so sad and sinful.  He cried out to God for forgiveness, and God heard him. How about you?  Have you ever felt sorry for all your sins and asked the Lord to save you?  And if you already know the Lord as your Savior, do you confess your sins to him?  I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Eastern Meditation   

E Is for Emotions

E is for emotions,
C is for commotion,
P is for promotion
of mindfulness and
yoga, you do to fix it.

Mindfulness and Yoga Will Settle Your Emotions

Some say mindfulness and yoga will help you, but it is not the Bible way.  Instead it tells you to do things God says are not good--like repeating words over and over, doing poses that relate to gods, or letting your thoughts pass by.  

A Kids Yoga Feelings Book

Giselle Shardlow has written many yoga books and materials.  One book is a yoga feelings book titled: The Grateful Giraffe.  In it, one will meet animals such as the grateful giraffe, the fussy koala, the frustrated frog, the sneaky snake, the sad sloth and more.  For every one of these animals there's a yoga pose to do.  Shardlow has products galore of which she assures the buyer they will enable kids gain control of their emotions.
 https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A2KIbMqRRj5dIswA9A9XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=The+Grateful+Giraffe+by+Giselle+Shardlow&fr=yfp-t

Blissful Kids Suggests "Mindfulness Pauses"

Blissful Kids' "Mindfulness for Children--3 Ways to Be Mindful of Our Emotions" by Michelle Paget(2016) names "Anchor Words," "Stop, Drop, and Breathe," and "Finding Our Quiet Place" as "mindfulness pause" ideas to help children conquer their emotions.   Read the article here:
https://blissfulkids.com/mindfulness-for-children-three-ways-to-be-mindful-of-our-emotions/

Parental Suggestion:

"Mindfulness for Kids--Learning to Manage Your Emotions" (3-1-2018) from the Psychology department of "Exploring Your Mind" has a provocative article concerning mindfulness and its infiltration into every corner of our culture. 

It especially emphasizes that the time to get children started in mindfulness should be by the age of three!  It tells how mindfulness has spread round the world.  It states the U.K., Canada, Holland, the United States, and Australia all plan to include it in their school curriculum.  By 2020, says the article, mindfulness practices should be in every school.
https://exploringyourmind.com/mindfulness-kids-learning-manage-emotions/

View Air France's "The Frog In the Air Video"
 
This video encourages one to learn something new so you can "Come home to yourself."   How? Travelers are told to  click on to Air France's mind app to find two options: one for an adult, and the other for children.  Adults listen to a guided meditation taken from Christophe Andre's book Looking at Mindfulness. Kids hear: a guided meditation from the Sitting Still Like a Frog book by Eline Snel of the Netherlands. These "meditations will be your guide" the voice on the app states.  Don't miss this brief video here: (1:12)
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=Frog+in+the+Air+Video+from+Air+France#id=1&vid=a70a81ba04d5f2adbdd2b338460a858d&action=click

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!: H Is for Heart!

ABC:  Bible Meditation for Me!:  H Is for Heart!

ABC:  Bible Meditation for Me!:  Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation

Introduction:  This is one of twenty-six ABC lessons for parents, grandparents, kids, and teachers.  There are already fourteen other lessons posted; scroll back to see them.

H Is for Heart

H is for heart
a place in me where
my emotions, desires,
n' thoughts reside there.

Bible Meditation

Bible meditation
is something to do,
for it is a good thing
for me and for you-
it's acceptable!

The Meditation of My Heart Verse

Psalm 19:14  "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer."

Acceptable Meditation!

Bible meditation is acceptable to the Lord--the kind of meditation where we think about what we are reading or saying.  By contrast, Eastern meditation is unacceptable --the kind of meditation that's about feelings, sensations, breathing, and chanting.

The Be Acceptable Book Marker

Cut out a marker rectangle.  Cut out a small heart to fit over top.  Fold this heart in half; cut out smaller center heart to "peek" through.  Hold marker vertically and attach see-through heart.  Print verse on marker front below heart.  Use marker to locate Ps.19:14.

Angel of Light

The Bible says our enemy, Satan, comes as an "Angel of Light" making things seem acceptable and alluring to entice or entrap us into things we shouldn't do.  Do you remember Jesus' temptation story?  Satan was trying to trick Jesus into doing something wrong.  How did Jesus stop Satan?  Jesus quoted scripture verses.  Each time Satan threw out a lure, Jesus repeated scripture to him.  This is why the Bible tells us to hide God's word in our hearts that we might not sin against him.  (Matthew 4)

Whole Heart Chain

Cut out eight hearts or use sticky note hearts attaching them together in chain-like fashion.  Look up  "whole heart" or "with all thine heart" verses.  In your Bible draw a tiny heart beside each of those verses.  Then print one on each heart in your chain.   Here are eight verses to find: Ps.9:1; Ps.111:1; Ps.119:2;  Ps.119:34; Ps.119:58; Ps.119:145; Ps.138:1; and Prov.3:5.      

Eastern Meditation

H Is for Heart Chakra

H is for heart chakra
a place where
a green ball of energy
is said to be there.

Chakras Are Hindu

Chakras are Hindu
energy balls to know
that look quite alluring
like a colorful rainbow.

Lots of Lures

Have you been to a sport's store where there's lots of fishing equipment?  Inside there's row after row of every possible colorful lure with hooks you can buy to attract various kinds of fish.  That's exactly like Satan who uses every sort of trick or gimmick to lure us into doing wrong.  The Bible warns when those enticing things come our way, we are to flee from evil.  In other words get away fast!

Chakras for Children

There are colorful charts with kids doing meditation or sitting lotus with rainbow-like balls pictured on them resembling big clown-like buttons.  These circles are said to be special energy places which certain things open them beginning with the red root chakra up to just above the head.  These charts and chakras spell danger.  Flee from them!

Guided Rainbow Meditation

Here is a guided meditation that's very unacceptable.  Beginning like a body scan, (see Lesson F) it suggests kids imagine rainbow colored lights starting with a red light that soon spreads down to the toes and up to the head.  The mesmerizing voice says it's warm and fuzzy.  It makes you happy.  The next color is orange, and the same sequence occurs.  These rainbow colors match the chakra colors and proceed until one reaches the head. At the end, it tells the child to rest in a rainbow of light that will keep them safe.   Undiscerning partakers may surmise this is just about rainbows, but it is far more.  Stay away from guided meditative practices completely.  Rather, turn to the one who said "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&p=the+guided+rainbow+meditation+for+kids#id=5&vid=76cd55a54339e19d1bb5e479cfff6d44&action=click

Parental Suggestion:

I would strongly recommend reading Ray Yungen's classic A Time of Departing to check out its pages on "chakras" and other terms used in these lessons.  Ray also included an excellent glossary and index.  Find the book here:
https://www.lighthousetrails.com/discernment-books/684-a-time-of-departing.html

Some terms/topics covered in lessons/Ray's book include: breath, Buddhism, centered prayer, creative visualization, Dalai Lama, Eastern meditation, emptying the mind, Hinduism, namaste, Psalm 46:10, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Zen Buddhism.


 

ABC: Bible Meditations for Me!: F Is for Focus!

ABC:  Bible Meditations for Me! F Is for Focus!

ABC: Bible Meditations for Me!  Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation

Introduction:  This lesson is one of twenty-six ABC lessons for parents, grandparents, kids, and teachers.  Please scroll back to view  A, B, D, L, O, P, Q, R, U, V, W, X, and Z.

F Is for Focus

F is for focus,
F is for fix,
Fix your focus
on Jesus!

I Focus on Jesus!

Some focus on bells,
Some focus on smells,
Some focus on mudras,
Some focus on mantras,
Some focus on lotus,
But I focus on Jesus!
                              LEP

Daniel Kept His Focus

In Daniel 6 we read that the prophet Daniel had a dilemma.  He wasn't allowed to pray except to the king for thirty days.  If he did pray to God he'd be thrown into the lion's den.  Did this law deter Daniel?  No!  For the Bible says Daniel kept his focus on praying at certain times just like he always did.  When it was his prayer time he got up, went to his window, opened it wide, and then as usual he knelt down by it and prayed.  Nothing kept Daniel from focusing on and worshipping his God!

Dare to Be a Daniel!

An old song "Dare to Be a Daniel" tells us to dare to be like Daniel, have a purpose firm or focus, and dare to make it known.  Listen to it here:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=Dare+to+be+a+Daniel+Lyrics#id=1&vid=b32eb0bc6696ffe8c345c443c845ae7a&action=click

"Look Unto Me!" Meditation

Isaiah 45:22  "Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth: for I am God and there is none else."  Focus on its words the Bible way!

"Look Unto Me!" Cross Marker
Cut out a cross.  Edge it with a colored marker.  Print verse on it or glue on typed verse.  Put into your Bible next to Isaiah 45:22. 

The Resolute Rugby Player

Recently there was a rugby player who wrote how he believed things in the Bible.  Oh, how people rose up against him when he decided to do this and dare to focus on Jesus.  Folks made fun of him, and he lost his sports job.  Many, like him, who have stuck to or focused on God's word have been persecuted for their faith.  Psalm 119:31 says, "I have stuck unto thy testimonies: …."

Eastern Meditation

F Is for Focus

F is for focus,
P's for pay attention
to the task at hand
with total concentration.

Pastor's "Pause" Videos

A pastor/author stops for quiet pauses at certain hours.  He sits still, opens up his hands on his knees, closes his eyes, focuses on a computer bell sound, takes deep breaths, and sits in silence saying he is thinking about the Lord.  If his mind wanders he says, "Here I am Lord."  When the bell signals he stops and breathes deeply again.  He then reads some "devotions" from Catholic sources.  Is this a Bible way to meditate?  What do you think?  What do all the things he does remind you of?

Focus on Sound

Using "singing bowls" is a popular way to let children know when it's time to begin mindfulness meditation.   A bowl is struck by a child with a mallet signaling for all to sit still in lotus, fix their fingers in mudras, focus on their breath, and relax as the bowl's vibrations slowly die off.   Later, the bowl is struck again as the kids end their meditation time.

Focus on Vibrations

My first singing bowl introduction came while working with a group of PreK hearing impaired and special needs group.  Ms. Nancy, one of the teachers, felt each child would benefit from feeling the bowl's vibrations as it was hit with a mallet. Sadly, she introduced the children to yoga also.

Focus on the Body

A body scan meditation has kids focusing on their body by sitting comfortably, closing their eyes, and noticing how they feel in their chair. After noticing the weight of their body, they then notice how their feet feel on the floor.  Moving onto the legs they are asked to notice pressure, pulsations or lightness.  It is on to the back, the stomach, the hands, the arms and shoulders, the neck and throat, the face, and finally the entire body.  Interspersed with breathing they're told to sense feelings or to soften each body part.  

Perhaps, this seems soothing but the child is totally under the sound of the hypnotic video voice. Such scans can also be done lying down before nap or bedtime every day.  These guided meditations are but stepping stones to going deeper into other meditative techniques.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=Five+Minutes+Body+Scan+Meditation+for+Kids+and+Adults#id=1&vid=29204c6803b5382d3bb14de544e4887a&action=clickelf-help

Whitney Stewart's Mindfulness Card Deck

Whitney Stewart put together a card deck of 50 Mindfulness Activities for Kindness, Focus, and Calm for ages 4-104.  This card set, one among other such sets, is divided into five categories: feel grounded, find calm, improve focus, practice loving-kindness, and relax.   Be sure to click here to see the entire set as shown by its artist Mina Braun.  Click on each category to see some cards in each section.   Cute, clever, but oh so deceptive is how one might describe these enticing cards!     
https://www.minabraun.com/Mindful-Kids-Activity-Cards

Parental Suggestion:

Buddhist-Inspired Author Whitney Stewart

For a few minutes, focus on this Whitney Stewart image gallery that shows some of her mindfulness picture books as well as books for teens and adults. As with many of the authors that are passionate about mindfulness meditation, Stewart has an extensive background in Buddhism having lived in India and interviewed the current Dalai Lama.  Notice her picture book Becoming Buddha. Therefore, be aware how material similar to this has seeped into such places as the doctor's office, the local library, the workplace, the preschools, and the church that at its core is Buddhist, Hindu or both!

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=Whitney+Steward+author+of+mindfulness+buddhism&fr=yfp-t-s&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fselfesteemshop.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F03%2FMeditation-is-an-Open-Sky-Whitney-Stewart-549087.jpg#id=0&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fselfesteemshop.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F03%2FMeditation-is-an-Open-Sky-Whitney-Stewart-549087.jpg&action=click

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!: T Is for Thoughts!

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!  T Is for Thoughts!

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!:  Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation

Introduction:  This lesson is one of twenty-six ABC Lessons for parents grandparents, kids, and teachers: As of now A, B, D, L, O, P, Q, R, T, U, V, W, X, and Z are posted.  Scroll back to read the others.

T Is for Thoughts!

T is for thoughts,
meditate the Bible way;
Think thoughts a lot,
don't push them away!

A Bible Meditation to Think On!

Psalm 119:59  "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies."

Turn to the Word Bible Marker!

Cut out a rectangular marker; also cut out a smaller arrow.  On arrow print: "Turn to the Word!" and on its tip print: Ps. 119:59.  On back of rectangle marker print entire verse.  Turn marker sideways; attach arrow with a brad, or glue so point can be moved up and down.

Some Thought Synonyms

Here are some words that are related to thought: cogitation, consideration contemplation, meditation, introspection, pondering, reflection, rumination, and study.  In Bible meditation we do all these things when we think over what our Bible words mean.  But, in Eastern Meditation the opposite happens for one is told to get rid of, push aside, observe, notice, let go, pass by, acknowledge, not judge, and not react to our thoughts.

Thought Concentration

Using the thought synonyms, make two cards for each word.  If you find other words use them as well.  Put into pack; shuffle.  Then spread out the cards turning them over to play "Thought Concentration."  The winner is the one who finds the most pairs.

Thought Quotations

Here is a secular thought quotation: "Your mind is a garden, Your thoughts are the seeds.  You can grow flowers, or you can grow weeds."  And here are well-known "thoughts" verses from Isaiah 55:8,9:  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Think about these; talk about them!          

Eastern Meditation

T Is for Thoughts

T is for thoughts--
let your thoughts go!
That's the Eastern way
to stop the flow, so-
Your mind grows quiet.

Thoughts Are Like

Thoughts are often pictured like clouds, balloons, bubbles snowflakes, dots, butterflies, birds, fish, bees, and ….  Can you name any other images used to picture our thoughts?  In Eastern meditation you'll often seen these images in book or on videos.  Always, the thoughts are considered a nuisance or a bother.  Why is this?

What are kids sitting on a chair or in lotus told to do?  If you said sit comfortably, close your eyes, fix your hands, and notice your breath you would be correct.  However, there is one thing Eastern meditators are told not to do?  What is that?  If you said not notice your thoughts you'd be correct again.  This is the exact opposite of Bible meditation where we're told to reflect or think on our thoughts!

Let Go of Your Thoughts!

When someone teaches meditation they'll tell you to let go of your thoughts!  And they'll also often tell you that your mind with its thoughts is like a monkey chitter chattering and running here or there.  Next they will tell you how to quiet your "monkey mind."

"The Monkey Mind" Introduced 
      at a Christian Camp 

I first heard the term "monkey mind" on a Christian conference podcast where a dean of a Christian college was introducing the audience to the practice of "Centering Prayer" This prayer, like mindfulness, says get quiet, sit comfortably, and close your eyes.  Instead of watching your breath, they tell you to pick a word or words like "Lord Jesus."  You are then to repeat that word(s) over and over to help your mind forget its "monkey chatter."  Is the Bible way to pray?  to meditate?  No, and no again!  Just because you change from breath to a Christian word mantra doesn't make it Christian at all!

The Monkey Mind and the Buddha

In the Guide to Buddhism A to Z  states that the Buddha described "the agitated, easily distracted and incessantly moving behavior of ordinary human consciousness like that of a monkey swinging from tree to tree."  In contrast, the Buddha told his disciples to train their minds to be like a forest deer who was gentle but always aware.  http://buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=274

Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda

Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda by Lauren Alderfer is read aloud on YouTube.  View it here:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t-s&p=mindful+monkey+happy+panda+read+aloud+videos#id=1&vid=dcfbb9d05ff217dcddc36741b1132978&action=click
This is just one of the many books on mindfulness for young children teaching the belief in the monkey mind.

Peace of Mind

Say no to monkey mind,
Say hello to peace of mind
that one can find in Christ!

Isaiah 26:13:  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."

Parental Suggestions:

Some Thoughts on the Book Seven Little Monkeys

View the book Seven Little Monkeys by Joanie Woodward based on the well-known rhyme "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed."  However, this bedtime tale teaches little ones about a monkey who had seven little chakra-colored monkeys chitter-chattering in its brain picturing the "monkey mind thoughts" that stopped it from sleeping.  

As the rhyme progresses (complete with background monkey sounds) one by one a little monkey leaves the monkey's mind until it falls asleep. Be sure to notice the wall sign: "Om Sweet Home."  Next comes pages with the Om symbol itself.

At the video's end the listener should pause the button to read carefully the note: "To the Reader" explaining the words and symbols in the book including: definitions of yoga, deep belly breathing, Om, yogi, yogini, namaste, and chakra colors.  This book truly is what the "monkey mind" is really all about, and it isn't a cute bedtime tale at all.  Ponder this parents!  Beware of these words, symbols, and colors! Beware of this book! View it here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoR73WOW1xo