Like the slogan says, “Just do it.” There will never be a perfect time or place to start. Just start and don’t stop. You might be asking, “Start what?” Start reading Scripture together daily. At first it may seem like a chore or one more thing on your “to-do list”, but as you continue day after day the Miracle Word will begin to penetrate your heart and you will find you are but a small participant in God’s big story. Hide response

Our kids today are so used to stimulus it may take them awhile to learn how to hear Scripture. They may complain about it being boring or they might feel they don’t understand what you are reading. It may help them if you begin with small portions and read a couple of times a day. You might want to paraphrase as you go along. It may be a benefit to them if you choose a special spot or a special pillow or blanket to curl up with while reading. If you sit where they can gather around you they will begin to cherish the time of reading. Hide response

There are many different versions of the Bible so you can read which ever one you choose. If you want to help engage your children you might choose a more modern translation like The Message or The New Living Translation. If your child is a reader you might choose the NIRV (New International Readers Version), that way he/she can follow along as you read. You may even choose to mix it up using one translation one day and switch the next. Don’t wait to start until you can get to the store for the perfect Bible. Just use what you have and stop every once in a while and check to see if your kids are following along. If you don’t know what version you might like you can view them all at BibleGatway.com. Hide response

Any age child can participate in Miracle Word to some extent. You can hold your baby on your lap as you read. You can sit on the floor with your preschooler while he helps you hold the Bible. You can have your older kids take turns reading out loud with you. Hide response

Preschoolers may be a bit of a challenge to keep engaged or at least to keep them from distracting others. Fill a small basket with quiet toys and Bible storybooks they can use while you read. Spread out a special blanket for them to hang out on while you read. Give them a sketch pad and a few colored pencils to use while you read. Occasionally call their name and ask them to repeat that funny name or make that animal sound from the story. Ask them if they have ever been to a place like in the story. If the story includes a lake, ask them to draw a lake while they listen. Preschoolers learn through movement so allow that, but try to direct it in ways that it won’t distract others. Hide response

As mentioned before, your older readers can take turns reading with you. If they enjoying drawing they can sketch the story you are reading. They can tally how many names are in the genealogy list, or they can draw a picture of the family in the story. Your kids may want to act out the story with simple costumes after you have read it. Do what you can to keep them engaged. You might follow up your daily reading with some questions like:
“Who were some of the people in the story?” “Are you like anyone we read about today?” “What kinds of problems did the people in the story face?” “What did they do?” “Have you ever faced a problem like that?” “What did you do?” “Did this story help me find a new or different way to look at problems or people?” “Was there something in this story that surprised you?”
Anything to get your family talking about Scripture will help them to begin to realize that the Scripture is not just for adults, it is a story that impacts their daily lives as well. Hide response

The big question is, “When will you find the time?” Now that you have some tools, how will you fit this into your already overwhelming, jam packed, impossible schedule. Busyness is a fact of our society. Maybe we should think in terms of meshing into our schedule instead of adding onto it. As you drive in the car turn off the radio and have one of your older kids or your spouse read out loud to everyone. Before you begin dinner or as everyone is finishing up (depending on how hungry everyone is that night) read a chapter together. Substitute a chapter of Scripture for a bedtime story. Buy the audio version of The Message and listen in the car or at bedtime. Before you play video games or get on WebKinz read a chapter of Scripture. Count Scripture reading as your SSR for the day. Be creative. Don’t overburden your family by trying to add more to your schedule. Hide response

Your family schedule is unique. Only you know when the best time of day is. And if your family is like ours, that will vary from day to day. Don’t add frustration by feeling you need to stick to a rigid schedule. On the other hand we all know that we only accomplish the things in a day that we set up as a priority. So at the beginning of the week sit down as a family, evaluate each day’s schedule, and decide what would be a good time each day to read Miracle Word together. Go ahead and write it on your calendar like an appointment. If you miss an appointment with Miracle Word don’t beat yourself us and don’t give up. Just make sure you have a plan for the next day and start again. Hide response

We all know that anything that draws our family together is a benefit. For those of us who have had some or all of our children grow up and leave home we really know how precious that time together is. So family time is definitely a benefit. Miracle Word will allow our children the opportunity to see their lives in light of Scripture by taking the focus off of them and onto God and others, and that will begin building a desire for a relationship with God that could impact all their future decisions. You will never live to see all the benefits of your family joining in God’s big story, Scripture, on a daily basis. There are so many giants of the faith who impacted this world for good because they were raised in a family that knew the value of being in God’s story daily. (Cory TenBoom is one of my favorites.) Maybe your family will be one of those. Hide response

The best way to get your friends excited about participating in Miracle Word is to ask them. Share some of your stories about your family and Miracle Word. Don’t be afraid to offend someone by talking about matters of faith. And remember to always allow the Spirit to do the convicting, not you. You can also add Miracleword.net as a tag on your electronic communications. If you are really excited about it you can even request a yard sign to let others know about MiracleWord.net. If you haven’t already received a Personal Promotion Kit (PPK) for Miracle Word you can request one on our front page. Just share your excitement and the rest will fall into place. Hide response