<![CDATA[THE MUNIAK FAMILY - For the Gals]]>Wed, 24 Jul 2024 21:46:00 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[11 Ways to Keep Your Kids Busy on Long Car Rides]]>Sat, 03 Nov 2018 22:38:52 GMThttp://www.muniakfamily.com/for-the-gals/11-ways-to-keep-your-kids-busy-on-long-car-ridesGot a road trip coming up with a bunch of little ones and need ideas on how to keep them occupied for longer than five minutes? Here are some of the things our family has used in the past to make those long car rides more bearable. I have tried to list things that are either reasonably priced or reusable to make it budget friendly. Here we go:

  1. Scratch Pads. These sheets cause very little mess and instead of a bunch of crayons, it comes with a single wooden scratch stick. My oldest spent a good hour on these when we first got them. You can buy them with pictures printed on them or blank and the kids can make their own colorful picture. Lots of fun and plenty of styles to choose from (you can even catch these at Dollar Tree!).
  2. Water Wow Pads. These things are amazing. You just fill the “pens” with water and the colors appear on the paper. It is reusable and it keeps the car clean. These also come in a variety of themes to choose from.
  3. Reusable Sticker Pads. These are great for many ages. Even toddlers will enjoy these and will be entertained for a significant amount of time.
  4. Magnetic Play Set. Reusable and come in their very own container already. They have dress up ones as well as various scenes with people and objects.
  5. Portable Game Systems. We have a Nintendo DS and a portable Atari for our kids. They love playing these so much that we have to establish time limits for them. These systems we got for around 20-30 dollars each. They love these older, cheaper systems just as much as the new ones that are out and its not the end of the world if they break one on accident.
  6. Travel Binders. Making your own activity binder is so much fun. We have done them with road trip scavenger hunt sheets, travel bingo cards, hidden object pages, and more. These sheets are really cost effective and offer hours of fun with a variety of activities. Pinterest has  a bunch of free printables to choose from. (TIP: Put your printables in sheet protectors and have the kids use dry erase markers for reuse)
  7. Workbooks. This is a great way to sneak in learning on your trip in a way that is fun. They can be found pretty much anywhere (Walmart, Amazon, Dollar Tree, etc.)
  8. Secret Decoder books. My girls are really into secret codes and anything spy or ninja related. These books satisfy that desire to pretend to be on a secret mission from the comfort of their car seat.
  9. Books. These can be absolutely free if you get them from your local library. Try and be careful with regular books though. My kids have dropped theirs on the floor and someone stepped on it and torn out some pages. Another idea would be to have some chapter books you could read in the car to everyone. And do you remember when you could buy books with a cassette and follow along with the story? They still exist! And they have a collection of books on compact disc for those who have moved forward technologically from the cassette player. Put it in the cd and let your child read along in the car to their favorite stories.
  10. Radio Shows. My husband downloaded a radio program called The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd. Our whole family loved listening to these short programs as we travelled together. A couple of other good programs to listen to would be Adventures in Odyssey and Jonathan Parks.
  11. No Mess Markers and coloring books. These things are great! While I wouldn’t list them as my cheapest item for road trip activities, they keep the car clean which keeps parents from stressing.

So, there you have it, our 11 ways to keep the little ones entertained on road trips without destroying the car. If you know of an inexpensive and clean way to occupy the kiddos on long car rides, message us and let us know.

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]]><![CDATA[Why I retired my torch and pitchfork]]>Sun, 20 Aug 2017 21:18:35 GMThttp://www.muniakfamily.com/for-the-gals/why-i-retired-my-torch-and-pitchforkWhen I was a new believer, I was full of zeal, but had no knowledge. I had placed my faith in Jesus and asked for forgiveness of my sin, but I was following false teaching after false teaching. I was especially interested in signs and wonders. I wanted a personal experience with God that was supernatural. Whether this manifested in speaking in tongues, in gold dust falling from the sky, or hearing God speak personally to me in a still small voice didn't matter. I was also taught to read the Bible as if every single verse was to be applied to me however I chose. This is a hazardous place to be in as a Christian. Praise the Lord that I would soon come under some teaching that would change my Christian walk.

One of the first sound sermons of my Christian walk was Paul Washer's "Shocking Youth Message". My mind was blown. Shortly after this, my husband found an evangelism boot camp that taught "The Way of the Master" as its resource for training believers and we began attending the church. This church had a heavy emphasis on bible reading, evangelism, and apologetics. While we were there we were connected with some believers that introduced us to preachers such as Todd Friel, Voddie Baucham, and more. Not only that, but they would share with us warnings about false teachers and their dangerous teachings.

This caused me to really seek out God's Word in its proper context and to examine these false teachers statements more carefully. God was gracious to grow us a lot during this time. However, I found myself dealing with something that I see many among reformed circles struggling with: pride and severe criticism. 

It seems most memorable that this attitude began around the time I accepted the doctrines of grace, also known as Calvinism. Now, please don't misunderstand me. I still hold to those truths as God has opened my eyes to the Scriptures and I am convinced that they are biblical. It is merely the clearest reference point I can recall and see where this shift was taking place in my life. 

We moved to relocate for my husband's job and found an amazing church. However, I found myself looking for errors in the preacher's sermon. I would ask my husband what he thought of this one comment the pastor made. I would be met with a gently rebuke from my husband that I was overreaching and making something out of nothing. I also found myself being more critical towards Arminians, even suggesting that they may unknowingly be trusting in works for their salvation. 

Well, the Lord convicted me of this. I began to see that I had become a type of theology police that was just waiting to spot someone's mistake so that I could join with the troops and cast my judgment among the lot of them. I had very little grace towards others I deemed doctrinally inferior. To put it bluntly: I was being self-righteous.

Why am I sharing this personal account of me showing a very sinful attitude? Because it isn't just me that has dealt with this and it needs to be addressed. I see many who, like me, are waiting in the wings to denounce "ANY" teaching they deem to have a shred of error. Even preachers and teachers who have been solid for decades I see people disowning over one statement that they did not agree with. And not statements where Scripture is clear either.

I am posting this because I want to encourage you if you have had this attitude to repent. There are many false teachers out there spewing their lies even when shown truth clearly. However, a difference of opinion on Scripture shouldn't be an immediate dismissal of a brother or sister from fellowship. Calvinists and Arminians can both be believers. Cessationists and Continuationists can both be believers. We need to quit making everything an essential and be willing to extend grace, even when we do believe our doctrinal viewpoint to be the biblically correct one.

I also want to encourage you to discuss these issues. No one is saved with a perfect theology at the start. God grows our knowledge as we grow as believers. Talk with people you believe are in error in love, in gentleness and always with Scripture. And be willing to extend grace if they don't immediately embrace your interpretation of Scripture. God used many in my life to share truth in love when I was in error.

Lastly, I want to leave you with this verse. This should be our motivation for discussing truth with brethren and with how we respond to those who are of the faith but who we disagree with on non-essentials.  Remember that there is a difference between those who are teaching a false gospel and misrepresenting God blantantly, and those who are genuine believers, but may be immature in their faith or haven't grown in understanding of a certain teaching of Scripture. Please don't treat both as if they are one and the same. God bless you

 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35, ESV


]]><![CDATA[What in the world are you clinging to???]]>Fri, 16 Oct 2015 16:07:19 GMThttp://www.muniakfamily.com/for-the-gals/what-in-the-world-are-you-clinging-to“And when he was gone out on the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do, that I may possess eternal life? Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, even God. Thou knowest the commandments, Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Thou shalt hurt no man. Honor thy father and mother. Then he answered, and said to him, Master, all these things have I observed from my youth. And Jesus looked upon him, and loved him, and said unto him, One thing is lacking unto thee. Go and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me, and take up the cross.  But he was sad at that saying, and went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” Mark 10:17-22, 1599 Geneva Bible (Emphasis Added)

We see in this passage of Scripture a man coming to Jesus to ask about what is necessary for salvation and Jesus responding to this question. What a great question to ask the Messiah whom God the Father foretold would come and bring salvation to man! This is a vital question for every man because it tells how to escape judgment and be restored into a right relationship with God. This should have been a joyous moment for the man.

However, we see at the end of the passage, the man did not respond to Jesus’ answer with delight, but instead with sorrow. Why? Because he loved his wealth. To put it bluntly, he loved his possessions more than God. Think about it. He left sad at the thought that Jesus had told him to sell what he had to gain eternal rewards. Jesus exposed this man’s love for material riches.

And what would he have gained with obeying Christ in this? Eternity in heaven, sweet communion with God, peace and so much more. He would have gained a treasure which he could never lose and which is far more valuable than all the riches in the world. Which of these two is the greater possession?

We can look at this gentleman and think him foolish, but let me pose a question to you, reader: Is there anything you would even hesitate to let go of if the Lord would ask it of you? What if you needed to give up your home, your job, your freedom, some leisure activity perhaps? Are you willing to truly forsake everything and follow Him, even unto death if necessary?

Jesus tells us to count the cost. The cost is indeed great, but I also know the trade-off is infinitely better. Let go of anything that would put a wedge between you and God and pursue Him passionately. He is worth it all 

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