Getting our Bearings, Coordinates and Course Heading for Kids

Deuteronomy 6:5-7



"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."



Bringing our faith, prayer and practice to our children within the church will impact their lives as well as the lives of others. But how we do this has certainly changed over the years. We now have the best technology along with the best teaching strategies based on children's learning styles than we have ever had in the past. Yet, there might be something missing.



Who really should be leading the children spiritually on a daily basis? A new (but probably very old) shift in children's ministry could very well impact the lives of every child and every family touched by a children's ministry based on feeding our children's hungry hearts each day at home with their families. Brian Haynes talks about this in his new book "Shift" where he speaks about bringing families together to spiritually equip this next generation. We could do this with our children in our families today.



"God Sightings" is one way. They can be easily explained by encouraging family members to develop a sense of God's loving presence in our every day lives. Examples may be looking for God's love at a sporting event or simply placing a fun treat and a note on a family member's pillow.





Also, planning time for intentional "Faith Talks" where a time is set aside for weekly conversations based on Scripture. It may be "family devotions" around the fireplace or a walk in the snowy woods, or other creative times...even a trip to Walmart. You can talk about your God Sightings on these journeys and pray and praise God for what He has done.



Through our Sunday evening programs, and studies, I hope to provide scripture and guidelines based on our evening Bible studies that will provide a plan and outline for God Sightings and Faith Talks.



Other events, such as our Fun Fest Survivor Night and Easter Caroling will provide many opportunities to have material for leading weekly Faith Talks with the family.



Our bearings-Scripture, our coordinates-God Sightings, and our Course-Faith Talks with prayer can be possible.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

God Moments & Connections with Movement

Read the Upper Room Devotional

Colossians 4:2-6 (NRSV)
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.
Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

When having some family time at my son and daughter-in-law's house (grateful for this extra time being our of school for snow), my grandson came to me with arms open wide when I first saw him after his nap with a huge smile. As I looked in on my granddaughter (in her crib), she opened her eyes from her nap and there was a huge smile telling me "Hello, I'm happy to see you". Precious moments, God moments with loved ones. As we left, that precious little boy said, "bye", and "hola" and waved saying, come back soon.

We use our words to express our joy and our love, but also our expressions and movements in our "body language".

God Sightings/Activities for Babies, Toddlers and Tweens:
1. Babies: a litte rhyme I came across for a hand massage
"God made this little pinky, (Rub baby's pinky finger)
and one to hold a ring, (Rub baby's ring finger)
A tall and pretty finger, (Rub baby's middle finger)
one to point at everything. (Rub baby's index finger)
A short, strong thumb, (Rub baby's thumb)
and then the Lord was through
With this precious little hand God have to you. (Stroke baby's palm)
2. Toddlers: Teach them sign language for "I love God" and "I love you". (point to self, cross arms across chest, point up) (same for "I love you", except you point to the baby)
3. Tweens: Ask them during lunch or dinner, how many words can you come up with to compliment your family members. Then have them make up their own signs for these words. Let the other family members guess what words they are thinking of. (great way to expand vocabulary).
Pray: God, thank you for our language that we can use to build others up and build them up in their faith.
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