About Ruth Schwenk

About 2 years ago my daughter said to my husband, “Dad, I am glad you are a pastor.” When he asked her why, she said, “Because you teach us the Bible.”

The truth is, every parent should be (and can be) a pastor to his or her children.

The Apostle Paul makes an interesting comment regarding Timothy’s training as a child. In 2 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Paul suggests in those verses that Timothy was being taught the Bible from a very young age.

In an effort to simply and systematically teach our children books of the Bible, my husband created The Dig for Kids. Out of the experience you create, biblical principles are learned and lived. The goal, of course, is that our children will fall in love with Jesus as their Savior and grow up to follow Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. 

We were thrilled to have such an amazing response to The Dig for Kids: Luke Volume 1! The Dig for Kids has consistently been on Amazon’s “Best-Seller” List and #1 in Children’s Bible & Prayer!  It is incredible to think of literally thousands of families joining together and learning God’s Word with this resource.  The Dig, provides a fun and easy way for YOU to get into the Bible with your kids!

For those of you who haven’t heard of The Dig, a typical Dig lesson consists of the following four components:

1. The Map: The Map tells you and your child where you’ll be going in each lesson. It is a short summary of the study ahead.

2. The Dig: The Dig is the main passage you will be studying. Following each passage will be several questions designed to help conversation and understanding. They are meant to be a guide. You can use them or tweak them to help you talk with your children.

3. The Treasure: The Treasure is the big idea of each lesson. In a short statement, it is what you want your child to remember from the passage you studied.

4. The Display: When an archaeologist finds a treasure, they will clean it up and put it on display for everyone to see. This is the basic idea of the Display. It is the application of the Treasure you have found!

Of course I may be a bit biased, but the author is an incredible father and Godly man that I am honored to call my husband .  Here is a little bit about him.

Patrick Schwenk grew up going to church wearing clip-on ties, uncomfortable shirts, pants that were too short, and shoes that were too tight (at least that is how he remembers feeling). He was born, raised, and then born again within a conservative evangelical home (and church) in the Midwest. Today, he still loves the church and is thankful to both serve and lead others toward Jesus. He is a father, husband, and pastor. Patrick and his wife Ruth (www.thebettermom.com) met while attending the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. They have been married for fourteen years and currently have four children ages three to ten. They love serving in ministry, spending time together as a family, reading, drinking lots of coffee, and resting in God’s grace.

The Dig is available in PDF, Kindle, and Nook Versions as well as Paperback.

The Dig Luke Vol. 2 (Chapters 13-24):

Click HERE to purchase for $2.99 (reg. $4.99) the PDF

Click HERE to purchase for $2.99 (reg. $4.99) the Kindle version 

Click HERE to purchase for $2.99 (reg. $4.99) the Nook version 

Click HERE to purchase for $9.99 (reg. $12.99) the Paperback version

You can also purchase The Dig Luke Volume 1 here.

To celebrate we are giving away 3 copies of The Dig for Kids: Luke Vol. 2!! Enter to win below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last month we talked about the different types of hearts based on the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 13:1-8:

“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

So why does Jesus tell this parable?  What is the connection between obedience and our hearts?

Obedience in the Christian life is very different than obedience in any other religion.  God is not just after your actions, He is after your heart.  Obedience doesn’t start with what we do (our actions), obedience begins with our desires(our hearts).  God knows that when He has your heart, He has you.

The Israelites were often rebuked because they offered the right acts, but their hearts were far from God.  Their sacrifices were right, but their hearts were not.

C.S. Lewis makes a similar point in Mere Christianity when he writes these words:

“Christianity is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, “Give me All.  I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work. I want it all: I want You.  Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked – the whole outfit.  I will give you a new self instead.  In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.” I have been crucified with Christ.”

He knows that when you truly love Him, you will live for Him.

What evidence suggests we are good soil?

The last heart we talked about was The “Fruitful Heart”. In verse 8 it says the seed fell on good soil and it produced grain. This soil produced a harvest!  As we seek to have a fruitful heart, lets look at the evidence of a fruitful heart.

1. A fruitful heart is a believing heart. – We believe Him and His Word.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

2. A fruitful heart is a hungry heart. – We are hungry to know Him.

Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.”

Psalm 42:1-2 says, “As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?”

Our problem is not a lack of knowledge; it is a lack of desire.  

3. A fruitful heart is a teachable heart. – We are continually molded by Him.

James 1:22-25 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”

Every morning we wake up and look in the mirror to make ourselves presentable. Mirrors in the ancient world were made of polished metal.  You look at a mirror to see what the reflection reveals about yourself.

Vs. 25: But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

We must look intently into the Word and we must continue to look – In other words, take the mirror with you!

4. A fruitful heart is an obedient heart. – The gospel empowers obedience. Obedience doesn’t start with an act, it starts with an affection.

1 John 2:3-6 (NLT) says, “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

‎”A servant’s true obedience can sometimes be as well seen in what he does not do, as in what he does.” – Spurgeon

Friends, the fruitful heart is alive and God’s word is doing something in it and through it. Just like we look in the mirror every single day, as Mamas who are mentoring and discipling our children we must ask ourselves every morning, “How is my heart today?”

Blessings,

Ruth Schwenk, The Better Mom

*References taken from Pastor Patrick Schwenk message on a Fruitful Heart

I just love the holidays and all of the yummy food that accompanies this time of year!  I gathered a few of my favorites for you. 

No party is complete without Sally Clarkson’s famous Cinnamon Rolls. You will want to gobble down every bit!

Crockpot Applesauce is always a hit with the children and it makes the house smell wonderful!  

At this time of year I would like Pumpkin in just about every recipe! Here are a few fantastic Pumpkin Recipes. 

As the air turns cooler a warm mug of hot cocoa sounds perfect! 

A beautiful breakfast with family warms my heart! These banana pancakes are the best pancakes I have ever had.

Apple Pie is a must have and this recipe is delicious!

Apple Pie with Crumb Topping 

We all need a yummy sugar cookie recipe!

Soft Sugar Cookies with Homemade Frosting 

This would be a lovely addition to any table….

Crockpot Apple Butter 

This wonderful cake from The Nourishing Home could be served for any meal!

Apple Streusel Cake

I dream of a steaming cup of tea and a scone. This is a delicious and easy recipe.

Chocolate Chip Scones.

My friends these are just a few of my favorites. I would love to know some of your favorite recipes for this season so please don’t hesitate to share in the comments below! As we celebrate our days with family and with friends may we be reminded of how God delights in our fellowship with others.

Blessings,

Ruth Schwenk, www.thebettermom.com