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.

Monday, February 1, 2010

"Snow Sparkles" Light of the World-God Sightings

Wow, it is wonderful to sit here by the window and look at the bright sunlight on the snow!!! The light boosts our spirits even with the cold temperatures. The Upper Room devotional today talks about Jesus as the Light of the World.

God Sighting-The Sunshine-sparkles on the snow
1. Take a small mirror outside when you go to the store or out for another day of sledding. The mirror will reflect that sunlight to others. The sun is the hope for Spring and the promise of growth to be who God wants us to be. He wants us to use the light to reflect the light to others. Look at the sparkles on the snow from the sun-that can be done with no preparation. LOL! This might be even a better idea!
2. You can also use a flashlight at night and a mirror to illustrate the same idea.
3. No time for the mirror idea; just praise God that the sun in shining and remind kids that He is the Light of our World that never goes away as the sun is shinning all all parts of the world today and tonight. He is the hope and the promise of life as the light from the sun is our life giving source on earth.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the light in the mist of the cold and snow of winter. Help us to share the light within us with others (with generosity-focus from yesterday).

Yes I love that sun today and I love Jesus GOD'S SON! Bring on those rays!!!
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