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3 Steps to a Great School Year

August 2, 2016 By Jennifer H. Yates 2 Comments

2 Aug
3 Steps to a Great School Year

Summer is a time of relaxed schedules for most of us–less routine and more spontaneity. I have so enjoyed our time as a family to slow down and experience life together.

As the summer winds down and the new school year approaches, we begin to adjust our thinking to schedules and routines once again. We often plan to be more organized, more prepared, and more prompt than last year.

But just like new year’s resolutions, our plans for a great school year often get thrown aside like last year’s fads. Our schedule gets busy, and we fall into the same old habits of fast food, forgotten homework, and late night projects that we swore off after open house.

As both a mom and a teacher, I have lived through this season many times, and I have finally learned some secrets to a great school year.

First, lead by example.

We have to make our relationship with the Lord our number one priority. If we will start every morning with Jesus, we will be filled and empowered to walk with the Lord the remainder of the day.  Only then can we parent our children through the school year with grace and peace.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33, NIV

Think of the flight attendant’s advice on an airplane. In an emergency, parents are told to secure their own oxygen first and then tend to their children’s. Why? Because if the parent is incapacitated, she certainly can’t take care of her child.

The same is true spiritually. We cannot be effective parents if we are not in a right relationship with God. Make daily quiet time with the Lord your number one priority before everything else in your busy schedule.

Second, have family dinner.

Once the school year begins,  dinners at home are few and far between. With sports, music, church, and meetings, finding the time to prepare meals and have dinner as a family can become rather difficult.

We have to make family dinner a priority. Decide how many nights each week that you are determined to have dinner at home, and then commit to it.

During volleyball season, we used to plan for three nights per week, but we made those three nights count. Dinner at the table meant no television or cell phones, no negative talk, and no arguing. We were committed to talk about our day, read a devotion, and pray together.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

This verse is known as the Shema, which is Hebrew for “hear.” We need to let our children hear that God is good, that we love Him, that He is worthy of our worship. Committing to this time at the family table will keep you grounded as a family when the school year rush sets in.

Third, pray over your children. Out loud. In front of them.

This advice is one in which we failed as parents. We didn’t pray over them much after they became teenagers. Oh, we definitely prayed for them and even with them at the table, but we didn’t pray as much over them.

I believe our children need to hear our hearts for them. They need to hear us intercede for them and speak words of life over them. Find Scriptures that you can pray over them and speak blessings over your children. Bedtime would be a great time to do that.

“All your sons and daughters will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace.”

Isaiah 54:13

Pray often and specifically for your kids. Pray for their protection, wisdom, direction, attitude, and choices. Pray for their friends, teachers, and coaches. Pray that God would order their steps in His Word (Psalm 119:133).

I truly believe that if we will commit to these three steps this school year, our routines will become more peaceful and our families will enjoy the blessings of the Lord.

Need more encouragement to make Jesus the priority in your family? Get my best-selling book, Seek Him First” How to Hear from God, Walk in His Will, and Change Your World.

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Filed Under: Family Life Tagged With: 3 Steps to a Great School Year for Your Kids, Bible study, blessings, Christian devotional, family dinner, family worship, fellowship, Jennifer H Yates, new school year ideas, one thing, quiet time, religion vs. relationship, seeking God, spiritual battle, worship

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About Jennifer H Yates

About Jennifer H Yates

Hey, friends! I'm Jen--wife, mama, and empty-nester. I love to write, read, and drink coffee, especially with friends.

I've found that many women struggle to find time and focus to grow their relationship with God through studying His Word. I encourage and challenge women with practical strategies and helpful resources for quality study in as little as fifteen minutes a day.

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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-4, NIV).
All of Scripture, all of history, all of time has been about Jesus Christ, Son of God. 
Do you know Him? You can. His life, death, and resurrection are historical fact. All so that you could know Him and have eternal life.
Jesus loves you! ❤

"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee fo
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Luke 23:55-56).
Can you imagine the horror these women had witnessed? Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others had followed Jesus and helped support his ministry (Luke 8:3).
Now all their hopes had been crushed as they stood at a distance and witnessed Jesus' agonizing death on the cross (Luke 23:49). His own mother had to stand by helplessly as her son cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
As we women often do, they looked for a way to still serve Him, even in His death, by preparing His body for burial. Sometimes, it's the little things.
When our hearts are breaking and we think we can't take another breath, sometimes we need something in our hands--a burial spice, a casserole, a text that says I'm here.
We can't make the hurt go away, but we can channel it into something useful, something hopeful, something comforting.
As they rested on the Sabbath, I'm sure they anticipated the opportunity to see Him one more time, to minister to Him once more with the spices and perfumes they had prepared.
Hearts crushed, hands open.
Grieved but grateful. Resting but ready.
Because if there was anything they knew for sure, it's that Jesus was no ordinary man. And when hearts are turned toward Him, anything can happen.

God never called us to “blind” faith. We may b
God never called us to “blind” faith. We may believe without seeing, but faith is being sure and certain of what we don’t see, not what we don’t know. ⁠
The Israelites had historical facts on which to base their faith. That’s why God constantly told them to remember what He had done and tell it to their children. Their faith was in what they knew to be true, even though they didn’t always see it with their own eyes. ⁠
We, too, have facts on which to base our faith. The Bible is historically accurate and verified. If ever we needed to know what we believe, it’s now.⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
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#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like mo
It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like most women, when I do get still, my mind is still going 90 mph. I’m so distracted by all the preparations for the day. Sounds a little like Martha, who, by the way, is the one who invited Jesus over in the first place. But like Martha, I have felt the Lord’s gentle rebuke. He wants me at His feet. And really, that’s where I want to be. It’s not about time and focus. It’s about heart and desire. The rest will come. ❤️ #growingyourfaith #jesusfirst #wordbeforeworld #seekhimfirst #javawithjesus #womenintheword

Do you really want to grow your faith? What we fee
Do you really want to grow your faith? What we feed the most is what grows the most. 🍽️⁠
⁠
What are you feeding?⁠
⁠
Click the link in my bio to read this week's post.⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus ⁠


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