Parenting/Biblical Advice

By Summer Lane

Photo: Deposit

As a child, some of the most profound concepts about the Gospel were related to me through the power of music. Later, as an adult who found myself sifting through mountains of misguided theological beliefs, the wisdom of old-fashioned hymns or simple Sunday School songs would often come back to me.

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Perhaps most impactfully for me were the songs I learned during VBS. I remember one year, learning John 8:12 in song form, and to this day, I often find myself humming the song. I even sang it to my daughter as a lullaby when she was an infant. It’s incredible that songs can stay with us for our entire lives – and what a gift that is!

If you’re worried about how to imprint the Word of God into the hearts and minds of your little loves at home, here are four wonderful resources that will impart that wisdom into their souls – all through the power of music!

Seeds Family Worship

Available on Spotify, Minno, and more, this incredible group’s expertise is in setting Bible verses to music. They have a library of 187 songs and 274 videos, per their website. Their songs are verbatim from Scripture – word-for-word. A seasoned mother from a Bible study I was attending a couple of years ago recommended their music to me, and I haven’t been able to stop turning it on ever since! It’s been a wonderful way to tune my daughter into the power of Scripture through musical fun.

Our favorite album is “When You Lie Down: Lullabies and Scripture Songs, Vol. 10.” The music is peaceful and soothing. I often played this for my daughter at night when she was having trouble sleeping. When I need to be calmed by Scripture, but I am too anxious to read, I will play this music.

Another cool thing about Seeds is that they organize their albums by topic and theme. For example, “Seeds of Faith,” “Seeds of Courage,” Seeds of Character,” and “Jesus,” are all albums that include songs about the topic in the title.

Scripture memorization will happen for both yourself and your child without even trying!

Jana Alayra

What church-going child of the 80s and 90s doesn’t remember Jana Alayra? My child attends a private Christian preschool, and her classroom still sings Jana’s legendary catchy praise tunes. With songs like “Dig Down Deep,” “Jump Into the Light,” and “Rain or Pour,” I have been singing her songs since I was a little girl. Check out her album, “Dig Down Deep,” (1995), and “Believin’ On,” (2002), or catch her newest releases in 2020, “Livin’ Loud 4 You,” and “Totally Transformed.”

I also have DVDs (yes, they still exist!) of Jana’s concerts for my daughter to sing along with at home and do the hand motions. In the car, we often turn on Jana’s classic songs and sing along together. Her music is unforgettable and teaches wonderful moral messages that are rooted in Scriptural truth.

The Collingsworth Family

I had the pleasure of seeing The Collingsworth Family in concert a few years ago in California, and I have been in love with their music ever since. I can’t recommend their albums enough. They sing a blend of both classic hymns and original Christian music. Every member of the family is a well-trained vocalist and musician. Some of my favorite tunes are “Your Ways are Higher than Mine” (from their “Mercy and Love” album in 2018), and “That Day is Coming,” from their album of the same name in 2015.

I have found their albums to be comforting and encouraging in even the darkest times. They are family-friendly and truly inspirational to listen to.

Miss PattyCake

Miss PattyCake is similar to Jana Alayra in that she is an expert at entertaining children and simultaneously teaching strong, Biblically-grounded moral lessons. Where Miss PattyCake differs a little is her presentation – complete with bright colors and a fun, vibrant character, this wonderful children’s entertainer and singer presents beautiful music that will stick with kids for a lifetime.

Aimed largely at preschoolers, Miss PattyCake is played by the multi-talented Jean Thomason. Her albums, “Good Night World,” and “Colors, Numbers, ABCs,” are available on Spotify. Otherwise, you can check out her entire library on her website.

Jean Thomason was also on the Counter Culture Mom Show this week, discussing how she kickstarted her unforgettable children’s music ministry. You don’t want to miss it!

I personally am very excited to play the “Good Night World” album for my daughter. It’s a safe and soothing option for parents looking for something wholesome and fun for their kiddos.

The opinions in this article are specific to its author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire Counter Culture Mom team. This specific article was written by Summer Lane, and may not be reproduced, except to quote for reviews or interviews, without the express permission of the author. 

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Watch this fun interview with Jean Thomason on the Counter Culture Mom Show this week to learn more about Miss PattyCake’s wonderful musical ministry for children!

Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 30 books, including the hit Collapse Series and Resurrection Series. She is an experienced journalist and columnist who reports on news within the U.S. and abroad. Additionally, she analyzes politics and policies in weekly op/Eds on The Write Revolution.

Summer is also a mom and wife who enjoys rural country living, herding cats, and gardening. She is passionate about writing about women’s issues, parenting, and politics from a theologically-grounded perspective that points readers to the good news of the gospel.

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