Saturday, March 19, 2011

Overflow of the Heart

This chart was inspired by a book I recently read called Shepherding a Child's Heart. I had made early last year a chart of blessings and consequences that was a quick throw together.

I spent a couple of weeks putting together this chart. My prayer is that it will be a blessing for you and your family too.


I decided to use hearts for a couple of reasons:

  1. It is a reminder to not only deal with the behavior issues, but the heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)
  2. To remind you to discipline in love, for our discipline should express our love. God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. (Hebrews 12)
  3. To discuss with the child if their hearts and actions are glorifying God? Man's primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalms 16:11) We have joy and pleasure in God when we live according His purpose. Our selfish desires and prideful hearts will not bring us lasting joy.

The top of the chart has Luke 6:45 as above.



I love the term Rescue Mission, it comes from the book. For me the discipline or consequence doesn't always need to be something harsh, but needs to be shown or explained in a way that leaves a lasting impression. As parents we are on a mission to train our children's hearts to make choices that glorify God and not our own selfish desires.


The top heart on both the Rescue Mission and Blessing Side have a scripture that correlates with the Rescue Mission or Blessing underneath.


I wanted the chart to be an aid for the parent. With the chart it helps as a visual and an instant reminder for both parent (in reference to heart when disciplining) and child (for heart and behavior). The idea behind velcroing the hearts was so that the child and you together open up the Word for the final authority or to see the blessings we hold when we live a fruitful life. It is also good for the hands on learner. I know I want my child to always seek the Word in difficult and joyful times in their life. To seek all answers from Him. This begins to teach them that.



These are just ideas for you behind the top heart.



You may not always go to the hearts either. Sometimes you may want to just read a scripture from the Sinful Nature and one from the Blessing Side and ask them which one are they demonstrating? What is the root of that behavior? (I find it pretty much boils down to pride or selfishness) Are you glorifying God? How can we glorify God? Do you want to pray and ask God for forgiveness and to help you to be more.....so that we can enjoy God and glorify Him?

The chart is 10-3/4" wide x 25" length. I used a 24" x 28" posterboard fold it in half and use one side.
  1. Print out the Overflow of the Heart and Luke 6:45 cut them out, glue them onto posterboard, then laminate the posterboard.
  2. Print out the blessing and rescue mission hearts. Number them from 1 to 14. They are in the same order as the Overflow Chart. Be sure to put an R or B in front of the number. This way if they get pulled off you know exactly where it goes. Laminate them and then cut out.
  3. Cut velcro in half put them on the outside rounded part of the heart. Same with the hearts on the posterboard.
I would love your comments.
If you use the chart or post to your blog I ask that you reference back to my post. Thank you!

Find below Blessing, Heart Issues, Sinful Heart, and Luke 6:45 documents to download.
http://www.mediafire.com/?7b9ebwbyom0b0za
http://www.mediafire.com/?jaz0bm059lhqa2m
http://www.mediafire.com/?rl459m9lpwlkwdj
http://www.mediafire.com/?mf3abhz88rt14xs

 

6 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for making this chart. Loved Shepherding A Child's Heart and knew someone would have a useful chart. Passed your site onto others that seen the chart. What is Attitude Jar and Forgive Bracelet?

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  2. I am happy that it will help another family. The gratitude jar is made with a jar, buttons, sock, string, and a heart that says thank God for the kindess of others. Every time someone says/does/gives something nice for them have ur child write it on an index card and put it in the jar. The bracelet is made from a plastic bottle, paper and string. Add a forgiveness verse onto the paper that you will glue on the bracelet. Both of the crafts are from the book Crafts for Christian Values by Kathy Ross. Another good ref book that I used in helping with the chart was Instructions for Righteousness by doorposts. I have tried their charts but they werent for us. I wanted a chart that made specifically for my children and that dealt with the heart not just the behaviour. And I wanted it to be more hands on.

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  3. i would love if you could email this to me. what a great idea! thank you for sharing!
    jennifer

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  4. We would appreciate the docs, it looks like a great hands on chart!

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  5. I need your emails to send the docs. I am trying to figure out how to load them onto the blog, but it may take a while.

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  6. Rawmama, did you get my email? Are the blanks in the email underscores or spaces or not suppose to be there?

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