Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
(emphasis added)
Mark 8:27
Jesus used even travel time as teaching time. He didn’t squander one minute! What a great example for us as parents. Do we talk about Jesus on the way to school…gymnastics…piano lessons…the soccer field…the basketball gym…or the myriads of other places where we shuttle our kids daily?
It’s time to follow the example of Jesus and redeem those travel times as teaching times! (And it works for grandmommies, too!)
Here are a couple of ideas that have worked well for our family –perhaps they will stir up your heart to tailor them to yours or think of others:
- Keep a New Testament in your car and ask your child to read a passage aloud. Ask the Holy Spirit to provide a mini-devotional or application to share. You can polish off one of the gospels by redeeming the commute.
- As you turn into the parking lot, pray out loud for your child. Be specific and do keep your eyes opened!
- Choose a “vacation chapter” to memorize on a long trip. Print it off and place in a page protector. Add a new verse each hour on the hour and do a cumulative review. Be humbled when your kids smoke you on memorization! (And even better – in years to come Psalm 8 will always bring back memories of Colorado!)
- Take turns praying one-sentence prayers for family members, missionaries, or friends.
- Keep an individual verse on a note card to be memorizing together.
- Make a verse memory book with a chapter to memorize verse by verse. Here’s what we are working on now: http://www.crossmyheartministry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Romans-124.pdf
“On-the-way” time need not only be used with our children. While driving with a friend or (better still) out on a date with your hubby, consider sharing a teaching truth you’ve gleaned from your quiet time or group Bible study. Be sure to ask, “What is God teaching you these days?”
Blessings to you as you transform on-the-way time to Jesus time!
Photo attribution: Our beautiful Lydia!
