scripture Archives - LeeAnn G Taylor - Embracing the Mosaic Life

Encouraging Back to School Bible Verses {Free Printable}

August 22, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

It’s back to school time!

We’ve managed to accomplish all the usual back-to-school activities:

✔ new tennis shoes (summer = worn out shoes!)
✔ new clothes (yep, kids grow in 3 months)
✔ school supplies
✔ Open House
✔ ice cream with the grandparents to mark the occasion

It’s back to school time! Time to spruce up our morning routines.

Now we’re working on our morning routine since in our family, mornings are our “around the table times”. Hubby works afternoons and evenings during the week as a pastoral life coach, so eating dinner around the table together usually only happens on the weekends when we aren’t out exploring or traveling.

Parenting With Purpose

Each year has seasons, and for us, the back-to-school season is a great time to refocus on intentional parenting with purpose.

Now that our “big kids” are a little older (6 and 3), this year’s morning routine after our kids wake up will include asking them to:

✔ get dressed independently
✔ put lunch in backpack & backpack by the door
✔ sit at the breakfast table with the family (sometimes sitting is the hardest part for them)
✔ write something you’re thankful for in our family gratitude journal
✔ work on scripture memory as a family

It’s simple on purpose since our kids are young.

Your Morning Routine

Your morning routine will look different in your home, but I’d encourage you to take a few minutes to think about what kind of morning would be your ideal morning. Then work backwards to put systems and routines in place to make that happen.

Let’s be real. If you have a beautifully planned schedule for your mornings and you have littles, middles, or even big big kids, your mornings probably won’t go 100% like you plan. But as the saying goes, failing to plan = planning to fail.

So this school year, let’s be intentional in determining the type of environment we’d like to create for our family and take some action to make it happen. Then remember to give yourself and your kiddos grace when it doesn’t work perfectly.

To help you get started, I’ve created two downloadable printables with encouraging back-to-school Bible verses. Please feel free to share with anyone you think would benefit from these as a jumpstart to intentional, God-centered mornings.

Blessings,

encouraging bible verses for back to school

Click the image to download a printable version.

Need a little help getting meals on the table now that school’s starting back up again? Try out my “secret weapon” — HomeChef!

They deliver pre-prepped ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe cards (with pictures…so helpful!) for meals I’ve picked from their weekly selection right to my door! Want to see if it is your “secret weapon” too? You can try it out with a free $30 credit!

Use the social share buttons below to share these free printable back to school Bible verses with your friends. Many blessings for another wonderful school year!

Finding God in the Seeking {Worship Wednesday}

February 24, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Are there days you question everything? Well, maybe not everything, but do you question whether or not you have any idea what you’re doing at this thing called life?

Oh wait, maybe that IS questioning everything…

Well, that’s me sometimes. So many questions swirl around in my head. At times the doubts become a tornado of thoughts that spin completely out of control. And I wonder.

Am I a good enough wife?

Am I a good enough parent?

Am I a good enough daughter/sister?

Am I a good enough friend/coworker?

My husband says I can be overly critical of myself. In reflecting on his observation, I’m learning I have a tendency to set expectations that are too high for myself. I doubt my own ability to become the best version of myself I’ve created in my mind. I forget on a regular basis to give myself grace.

In reality, I think what’s really happening is I’m trying to rely on myself.

In the past I’ve felt that somehow I should have already “arrived” at the strong relationship with God I’m seeking. I should already know the perfect thing to say to my 2 year old in the middle of the fifth tantrum of the day that will point him to Jesus. I should already know how to be the thoughtful and generous friend I desire to be. I should already have the perfect morning quiet time I’ve imagined a hundred times in my head.

I should, I should, I should.

All the expectations I have of myself can be crippling!

I know dwelling on “shoulds” and my own doubts is not particularly beneficial nor productive. Instead of focusing on the destination (the “I’ve arrived!” moments), I’m learning to find God in the seeking.

Sometimes we find God where we least expect him, in the middle of our seeking.

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And so, instead of looking toward myself for the answers when I feel like I just don’t measure up to my own unattainable standards, I’m looking to the Truth instead.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ~ Jeremiah 29:13

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ~ Matthew 7:7-12

I read these words and my soul feels a little more rest, just a little more at peace. The answer is right in front of me. I just need to know Him.

I’m learning that it’s a process. I need to keep on asking and seeking before I will find what I’m looking for.

And as I continue to feast on the bread of Truth, I will find Him in the seeking.

It is my prayer for you that you too find God in the seeking. I pray that together we learn to lay down our self-reliant, self-sufficient mindsets and remember who gives us life and breath to begin with. May today’s Worship Wednesday song remind us of how desperately we all need Him.

Oh How I Need You

Lord I find You in the seeking
Lord I find You in the doubt
And to know You is to love You
And to know so little else

I need You
Oh how I need You
Oh how I need You
Oh how I need You

Lord I find You in the morning
Lord I seek You everyday
Let my life be for Your glory
Woven in your threads of grace

Light glorious light
I will go where You shine
Break the dawn
Crack the skies
Make the way bright before me

Performed by All Sons and Daughters.

Parenting With Purpose: Day 18 – Scripture Wall Art

October 21, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

On Day 5 of the Parenting With Purpose series, we talked about 3 Key Ways to Make God’s Word a Priority in Your Home.

The keys to making God’s word a priority in your home are found in Deuteronomy 6:6-9.

These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up.Tie them on your hand as a sign. They should be on your forehead as a symbol. Write them on your house’s doorframes and on your city’s gates.

As parents, we are instructed to:

1. Fill our own hearts and minds with God’s Word first.

2.Talk about God’s story and His Word in our homes and read God’s Word out loud.

3. Fill our homes with visual representations of God’s Word.

Ways to Fill Your Home With Visual Representations of God’s Word

In this series, we’ve talked about filling our own hearts and minds with God’s Word first by cultivating a morning quiet time.

We’ve also talked about some ideas for sharing God’s story and His Word in our homes with our kids:

Today I’m sharing a few resources that will help us fill our homes with visual representations of God’s Word. This is an area I’ve wanted to focus on in our home for awhile. I think it’s such an important way to impress God’s Word into our hearts and minds on a daily basis.

Here are a few options I’ve found:

DIY Bible Verse Wall Art for Under $9 – free do-it-yourself tutorial (update: link no longer available)

DIY Bible Verse Wall Art for Under $9

Scripture Wall Art on Amazon – prices start at $7.00 for wall decals

Red Letter Words: Faith Inspired Art – check out the Print of the Month for 20% off

All Good Things Collective – a family-based business – Scripture Prints section

Do you have a favorite place online to find scripture based wall art? What other ways do you ensure you have visual representations of God’s Word in your home? Share in the comments so we can all benefit from your great ideas!

Looking for more ideas and resources for Parenting With Purpose as you create a God-centered home? You can find the whole series here.

This post contains affiliate links {full disclosure}.

Parenting With Purpose: Day 13 – Memorize Scripture Using Music {Giveaway}

October 16, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Be sure to read all the way to the end for an INCREDIBLE giveaway you won’t want to miss!

Looking for more ideas and resources for Parenting With Purpose as you create a God-centered home? You can find the whole series here.

It’s Sunday afternoon and I realize we’re going to be late (again) to our discipleship group. I grab the diaper bag, just hoping it actually has diapers in it, and shoes for the still groggy kids I just roused out of their Sunday afternoon naps.

It’s an act of will and a healthy portion of God’s grace that helps me maintain my composure instead of giving in to the rising frustration I feel in these rushed moments headed out the door. Finally, the kids are safely strapped in their carseats and I’ve verified that we do, indeed, have two sets of matching shoes and a diaper bag stocked with wipes and at least two diapers.

I breathe a sigh of relief, thankful for the 10 minutes of relative peace in the van I will have before joining our group as we discuss whatever deep meanings we’ve gleaned from the text this week in our “read through the New Testament in a year” plan.

I turn the key and the CD player, left on from our last excursion around town, quickly spurts out a tune.

Remembering my husband was the last one to drive the van, I’m fully prepared to hear lyrics from Jimmy Buffett’s Cheeseburger in Paradise, since my daughter has taken a liking to the tribute song to all things beef and toppings.

Instead, I hear these words floating through the speakers…

Call to me, and I will answer you

And tell you, great and unsearchable things, you do not know

Call to me, Jeremiah 33:3

My soul, previously anxious and frustrated by all the rushing, in a moment’s time calms. I am almost instantly transformed from a momma caught up in the whirlwind of our schedule into a momma remembering who I need to be calling on in the challenging times.

Music and Mood

As parents, we aren’t particularly effective at creating warm, happy memories with our children when we’re stressed, anxious, and in “whirlwind” mode.

When we’re trying to cultivate a God-centered home on top of the warm, happy memories in the middle of the stress? Well, sometimes we just need something to “reset” our minds and hearts.

For our family, we’ve discovered the easiest way to quickly change everyone’s mood and turn our hearts back to God. It’s MUSIC!

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that music can significantly affect our mood.

While we all can turn on the Happy Song and change our family’s mood in a minute, one simple way to change your family’s mood AND direct their hearts to God is listening to music that focuses on God’s truths.

Music and Memorizing God’s Truths

My swift attitude change in the car that Sunday afternoon wasn’t a product merely of a catchy tune changing my mood from sour to sweet. Instead, it was the words of TRUTH spoken into my heart that changed me that day.

I’m a firm believer in the importance of daily remembering and reflecting on God’s truths. In this series we’ve talked about the value of having God’s word in your home.

For me personally, that often means investing in my morning quiet time.

For my kids, since they’re so young and the oldest is just learning to read, this means scripture memorization. While my husband and I have worked with our daughter to memorize a few scriptures and I’m now using tools like printable lunchbox scripture cards to reinforce them, I love that we’ve found a gem of a tool to plant seeds into our children’s hearts through music.

Seeds Family Worship

I’m thrilled to share with you our favorite resource for hiding God’s word in my children’s hearts using music – Seeds Family Worship.

Seeds Family Worship is a music-based ministry that creates modern, relevant word for word scripture songs for families. I absolutely LOVE that my kids are singing their way to memorizing scripture.

Music creates a connection between the mind and the heart and I fully believe these songs they’re learning now will translate into God’s truths being deeply planted in their hearts.

I love this testimonial I found on the Seeds Family Worship website about their newest album, Word of God. It speaks volumes about the power of these songs and reinforces the fact that both kids AND adults love this music!

The musical diversity, energy, and synergy they have going on this album is unmatched in my opinion. My appreciation for it only grows with each listen. My heart is drawn to the heart of God and his Word more and more through these songs.” ~ Rachel

4 Ways to Listen to Seeds Family Worship Music

We all consume music differently, so I wanted to share a few options for ways to listen to Seeds Family Worship music in your home or on the go!

1) Order the CDs or download the mp3 files.

You can order all the CDs on Amazon. This is especially great if you have Amazon Prime since you get free shipping. If you don’t have Amazon Prime, you can get a free trial with 30 days of free shipping.

Order them directly from the Seeds Family Worship Store.

2) Download many of the digital music files for free!

For those of you who use Amazon Prime like me, I’ve recently found out about a program called Prime Music. Prime Music gives you unlimited, ad-free access to over a million songs and hundreds of playlists.

There are almost 100 digital music files from Seeds Family Worship on Amazon Prime Music – here is the list of the 60 songs available for FREE!

3) Create a Seeds Family Worship playlist on Spotify.

I’m new to Spotify as a way to listen to music and maybe you are too. Most people are familiar with Pandora and Spotify works in much the same way. Choose your favorite music and create a playlist or listen to one already created. The service is free although there is a Premium service available as well. This is a great way to play music using your phone, tablet, or computer.

4) If you are really strapped for cash and aren’t able to purchase the CDs or MP3 files, there is still an option for you!

The Seeds Family Worship team has made many full length songs available directly on their website. The newest album won’t be available to listen to online until November 16, 2014, but you can still get a feel for the music by listening to the other albums.

The Heart Behind the Seeds Family Worship Team

One thing I love about Seeds Family Worship is their heart behind everything they do.

From their website:

[We created this music] to especially bless and encourage everyone, young and old to plant God’s Word deep within our hearts so we can genuinely proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord! We believe that no other book is “living and active, sharper than any two edge sword” given by God to instruct us and speak into our very own lives as nothing else can.

Everything they do centers around planting God’s word in people’s hearts and impressing God’s truths on their lives. As such, they include two awesome bonuses with their music.

Planting God’s Word – Buy 1 – Give 1:

When you purchase any Seeds Family Worship album, you will receive two identical full-length CDs. One album is for you and one is to give away.

They want you to be a ‘seed planter’ and encourage you to pray about who God wants you to share the second album with.

Scripture Memory Cards

If your children are old enough to read, you will love this bonus.

FREE Scripture Memory Cards are available on their site to go along with each of the albums. You can print them out on colored card stock and keep copies around in your home or in your car to reinforce the memorization process.

Enter to Win All 9 of the Seeds Family Worship Albums

Remember how I mentioned I love the heart of the Seeds Family Worship team? I wasn’t kidding! They are incredibly generous and have offered The Mosaic Life readers a chance to win the entire set of 9 Seeds Family Worship CDs. Remember, each one comes with an extra copy for you to give away, so you’re really winning two copies of each CD.

Click on the Rafflecopter widgit below to enter. Email subscribers may need to click over to the blog to enter.

There are lots of ways to enter and you’ll get extra entries for sharing the giveaway with your friends!

Giveaway runs from Thursday, October 16 – Monday, October 20th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post contains affiliate links {full disclosure}. Sharing today with Fellowship Friday, Faith Filled Friday, and Essential Fridays.

Parenting With Purpose: Day 5 – God’s Word In Your Home

October 5, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Our daughter, fascinated with the idea of having a baby brother, exuded excitement the entire time I was pregnant. My belly was the target of her kisses each morning and she delighted in feeling him kick as he grew big enough to make his presence known to her.

Her little brother was born just four weeks before she turned 3 years old and she couldn’t have been more proud.

As often happens with older siblings, the excitement began to wear off once she realized this little human was sticking around and took precious time away from her mommy and daddy.

Finding ourselves reminding her daily to “be gentle” and “be kind,” we decided it was time to teach her a memory verse. We chose Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another.”

Even now, two years later, this is a verse we can come back to as a reminder of how God wants her to behave in situations where she naturally may tend to be selfish or, let’s say, less than kind.

The intentional choice we made to make scripture a part of our parenting process has planted the seed of God’s truth in her heart.

Note that we didn’t use any special curriculum, flash cards, hand motions, or anything else typically associated with teaching toddlers Bible verses. While those resources are SO HELPFUL, they’re not absolutely necessary to create a God-centered home with your littles.

3 Keys to Making God’s Word a Priority in Your Home

The keys to making God’s word a priority in your home are found in Deuteronomy 6:6-9.

These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. Tie them on your hand as a sign. They should be on your forehead as a symbol. Write them on your house’s doorframes and on your city’s gates.

1. Fill our own hearts and minds with God’s Word first.

Need help? Check out the post in this series on Maximizing Your Mornings. I share lots of helpful resources!

2.Talk about God’s story and His Word in our homes and read God’s Word out loud.

Like I said, you don’t NEED anything special to accomplish this in your home other than a Bible. However, I think it’s wonderful that we also have access to fun and engaging tools for sharing God’s Word in our homes.

I’ll be sharing lots of great resources for accomplishing this in future posts in this series. Tomorrow I’ll have the first of weekly giveaways during this series…you don’t want to miss it!

If you’re visiting after October 2014, you can find all the posts for this series on the Parenting With Purpose Series page.

3. Fill your home with visual representations of God’s Word.

There are so many amazing ways to incorporate scripture into your home’s decor. I’m excited to be sharing some of these options in upcoming posts in this series as well.

Follow Along!

If you’re not already receiving blog posts by email, you can sign up to follow along with the series and have the posts delivered right to your inbox. Or, if you’d prefer, follow along onFacebook,Twitter, Pinterest, or BlogLovin.

For those of you who would like to dive deeper into the topic each day, join the moms gathered in our private Facebook group for this series. I can’t wait to meet you and encourage one another on this parenting journey!

The Life Broom: The Lord’s Blessing

September 25, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

It’s my nightly ritual.

After the whirlwind that is usually dinnertime, the kids get up and I get out the trusty kitchen broom. With a 2 and a 5 year old in the house, it’s inevitable that more than just a few crumbs make it to the floor.

photo credit: reb via photopin cc

My sister, a mom of 3 under age five, says she has the solution…2 dogs! While I think I’d love their nightly under-the-table clean up, I don’t think I’m quite ready to trade that for dog hair all over the house and frequent vet bills. Somehow the benefit cancels itself out!

Last night as I swept up a hefty pile of shredded cheese, the tops of strawberries, and a stray macaroni noodle from the kitchen floor, I thought about how great it would be if we had a “life broom” to sweep up all our messes each day.

Wouldn’t that be great?

No matter what “mess” we made of the day at home, at work, or at school, we’d just get out the “life broom,” sweep it all up, and wa-la! No more mess.

The angry words, jealous thoughts, rude comments, misplaced priorities, and relational mishaps – gone, swept into the garbage can to be hauled out to the street on trash day and carried off.

While we all know this isn’t how life works, aren’t you incredibly grateful that despite how each day goes, the next day we have another chance to rein in our thoughts, think before we act, and intentionally grow our most important relationships instead of tearing them down?

Daily Blessing: Jesus can sweep up all our messes…every day! Lamentations 3:22-23

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What a blessing this scripture is to those of us who call Jesus our Lord:

Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

    his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.
Today, remember the truth that God’s love is steadfast – resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. 
His mercy – deliverance from judgment – is new every morning. 
His faithfulness allows us to continue to trust Him in the little things (and the big!) in our lives.
God is the master housekeeper. Friends, let’s allow him into our lives today with his “life broom” – accept His love and mercy daily and remember His faithfulness in the past and your life today!