We’re rounding up some of our favorite bloggers to get their thoughts on faith and family. We asked them:
What verses encourage your family as the new school year begins, and why?
Leah of As We Walk Along the Road
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
These verses are the theme verses for our school in general, and I like to remind the kids as we begin a new year that one of the main reasons we homeschool is to be able to share together the things God has done for us as we wake up, as we go to be, and as we go about our day.
Kimberly of Living in the Sweet Spot
This year as we head back to school, our family is focusing on verses about friendship. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Romans 12:10, Proverbs 13:20, Proverbs 17:17) During the summer we tend to live bubble. We spend a lot of time together at the pool, travel, and attend various camps. Our kids don’t see many of their friends because everyone else is doing the same and schedules don’t always match up. Learning what the Bible says about friendship teaches them the value of relationships and how to treat others. It adds to the joy of reuniting with old friends and prepares our hearts to meet new ones.
Danika of Thinking Kids
We like to read through Ephesians 6:10-20 at the beginning of each school year. Let’s face it–school can be tough sometimes for little people. Learning requires effort and persistence. Having boys, we find that remembering that we’re equipping ourselves for spiritual battle, and that our job of learning God’s Word and about His world is valiant, is exciting. When the boys were younger, we would dress up as we learned about each piece of armor. Now they just smile with a twinkle in their eye and look manly as we talk about the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness and the sword of the Spirit.
Heather of Learning As We Grow, Growing As We Learn
This year, we’re going to memorize Matthew 22:37, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” As well as Ecclesiates 9:10a, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”
We’ve chosen these verses to encourage our kids to work diligently and to do that work in love, whatever that task may be.
Allyson of All Our Days
As we enter a new school year, I’m reminded of how much my children are growing and how little time I really have with them. I love the encouragement to seize every minute that is given in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.“
Jessica of Grace for Moms
My life verse is one I want to speak over my kids every year: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name with God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4 These are the keys to the right kind of popularity. I want my kids to come to know and believe this more and more every year.
