Family

Family, Parent Helps, Parenting, Uncategorized

March 29, 2021

How to Talk with your Kids

These days, especially these days, our kids can easily isolate themselves in their rooms, on their screens, doors shut, earbuds in. And sometimes, it’s just easier that way, isn’t it? Not having to confront them with hard conversations; not asking a question, only to be the recipient of an eyeroll or a heavy sigh. And they’re thinking the same thing on the other side of that door. It is a lot easier.

But easier is not better.

It’s time to take a risk of rejection and start pursuing our kids. Truly pursuing them.

Today’s generation is said to be the loneliest generation ever. (I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling pretty lonely right now, myself.) We can do our part to help them through this, by letting them know we care, that they’re loved, and that they’re important. And maybe even letting them know we actually LIKE them!

Timing is everything. Find times that your kids are at ease and more open to a little conversation. This could be at dinner, in the car, at bedtime. You’ll know when.

Have some questions in mind to get discussion started.

What was your favorite part of the day?
What was the hardest part of your day?
If you could stop doing one thing forever, what would it be?
What’s something that you’re looking forward to?

As time goes by, doors will open for deeper discussions. But caution! Don’t try to jump there too quickly—they’ll get suspicious and ask what you’ve been reading. (I speak from experience!)

I read recently that the entire Bible is the story of God pursuing us. Don’t you love that? Doesn’t it make you feel loved knowing that God desires a relationship with you? Imagine how your kids will feel when they realize that you truly desire a relationship with them. Start showing them now.

Enjoy the pursuit! It’s worth it!

Klista Storts serves as an Editorial Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Kids. Before coming to Lifeway, she served as the Weekday and Preschool Specialist at the Tennessee Baptist Convention and as Director of Preschool Ministries at churches in Oklahoma and Tennessee. Klista has a passion for equipping leaders to share the love of Christ and lay foundations for conversion in the lives of kids.

Family, Parent Helps, Parenting

February 22, 2021

End of Winter Bucket List for Families

By Kids Ministry 101

By Sarah Humphrey

February can be a long month, even when it’s a short one! The days can be dark, and the ache for Spring starts to birth in us the desire for all things fresh and new. Though it can be tough to keep kids motivated during the winter months, here are a few bucket list items that can spur you on in faith and fun. They don’t cost much, and Spring will be here before we know it!

Make an inside-the-house scavenger hunt. Create a few riddles or clues about things around the house that can lead you on a mini-adventure. A half hour of running around the house can lead to a freshly charged heart and a laugh or two.
Clean up the clutter! Have each of your kids fill up a garbage bag full of trash, tattered items, or things you don’t use anymore. If you find some things in good working order that are no longer needed, make an extra pile of items to donate. Whoever has the best bag of goods, gets $5!
Make a Friday Night ice cream tradition. Each Friday night, choose a new flavor of ice cream to share as a family. Make it a point to try flavors you typically would never buy!
Sibling arguments in close quarters? Have each child find a Bible verse that is encouraging or affirmative to each of their siblings. They may need some adult help, but it will be a joy to watch them support one another instead of squabble with one another!
Arts and Crafts time is always a favorite! Head to your local store and buy a new coloring book, fresh paint, or even nail polish for girls. Take the time to enjoy color, creativity, and the simple fun of fresh crayons and coloring inside (or outside!) the lines.
Who doesn’t like to laugh? Google a few tongue twisters, and repeat them five–ten times. Go faster with each repetition, laugh, and have some fun!
Take a trip to your local store and find a new board game for the family to play together. It’s amazing how much you can engage with one another when you learn a new game. Memories like these last forever, and the tradition can be carried on for years to come.
Eat more cake! Baking together can be a sweet activity that includes following directions, learning about the ways of the kitchen, enjoying and expressing creativity, and also ending with a treat! Find a recipe that fits the age range of your kids, turn on a little music, and have fun creating something together!
Take a nap. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is the hardest thing to make time for. Watch an afternoon movie until you fall asleep on the couch, cuddle in bed and close all the blinds, or sprawl out on your fuzzy carpet. A twenty-minute power nap is God’s grace to us all!
Call a loved one you haven’t spoken to in awhile and check in! Hearing the voice of someone you love is one of the best things in life. During a time when people feel isolated and lonely, FaceTime and phone calls are such a gift.

Though we never want to wish away the time, winter can be tough. Enjoy these tips to spruce up the last days of cold, and savor the sweetness of connection and comfort!

Sarah is a wife and homeschool mom to three kids while also working as an artist, author, and voice actor. Her writing and doodling can be found in her devotional, “40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood” and her voice in several commercials, children’s books, and audiobooks. She loves encouraging women and kids to embrace self-care, utilize their gifts, and become leaders in the community around them.

Encouragement, Family, Parent Helps, Parenting

February 15, 2021

How To Be Friends With Your Daughter (And Still Be The Parent)

By Kids Ministry 101

By Chrissy Duke

Being a parent and a friend often seems like a contradiction, or just too layered to be true at the same time. Either way, it is a common critique of parents that they either err on the side of being their child’s friend, or they simply have little to no personal relationships outside of setting boundaries and rules with their children. Where is the balance and can there be a balance between the two?

I remember as an elementary age kid one morning waking up to a horribly loud crashing noise. I ran out of my room to find my mom, who had recently had knee surgery, had slipped on the stairs and fallen down the entire flight. 911 was already being called because she couldn’t move. Needless to say, it was scary as a young child, seeing this and watching your mom be taken to the hospital by ambulance. To skip to the end real quick – my mom ended up being okay and came home the same day! But I remember after this all happened, my dad took all of us kids for an early morning breakfast, maybe to cheer us up or to distract us all from what happened. Either way, when we got home, as I unwrapped my breakfast sandwich it slipped from the wrapper and fell to the ground. I immediately started bawling! My dad picked me up, set me on his lap, and whispered in my ear, “I know you’re scared, but mom is going to be okay.” I specifically remember the amazement I felt that he knew I wasn’t upset about the breakfast sandwich. I was so grateful in that moment that He understood me, and assured me that it was okay to be scared.

Whether we are family or friends, our goal in relationships is focused in the same direction and the ultimate goal is connection—to be known and understood. We all long for connection, a space where we can be known and know another. In fact, we don’t just long for it, we are made for it. God created us to be connected with others. It’s no small thing that God Himself is in constant connection and relationship with Himself. He is the triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It’s hard to comprehend but He within Himself is fully in connection and fully known! He created us in His image, with the intentional design to need connection. We are not supposed to do life alone.

A parent relationship and a friend relationship often look different. A parent connection happens naturally, automatically—simply because you are family. But a friend relationship seems like the place where connection is deeper. A friend is often the person whom you confide in and offer honesty with in a way you may not with a parent. When you go to a friend, you are really looking for someone who you can share with that will say, “oh man, i know how you feel.” “That is so unfair.” “I am so sorry you went through that.” “Wow, how awesome that happened!” So, even though a friend and parent both seek connection, a parent may feel it’s impossible to be a “friend” because of discipline. boundaries and rules.

I would like to offer one suggestion for you to create a connection with your daughter that reflects the automatic connection, as well as a deeper connection and understanding. The invitation is to offer validation.

Validation is when you recognize or affirm a person’s feelings or opinions as valid or worthwhile. At first glance, I’m sure you feel like validation is the wrong way to go especially if your child has just rolled their eyes at you for the hundredth time today, or they just shoved their sister down as they walked to their room. And yet, the most beautiful thing about validation is it does not declare their action as right or wrong.

Validation is the opportunity to connect even in the most difficult or hurtful of situations. In Michael Sorensen’s book on validation, he says validation is essentially “saying to someone, “I hear you. I get what you’re feeling, and it’s perfectly alright to feel that way.”1 You may have heard it said that feelings are neither right nor wrong, they just are. Feelings are there to inform us, to tell us and point us to truth. When we validate someone, we for a moment suspend the right and wrongness of the situation and offer to empathize with the emotion.

For example: when your daughter rolls her eyes again, you can offer validation of the emotion (not the action). “I don’t blame you for being frustrated right now, being told no is frustrating when you have a plan you would like to see happen.” You may be amazed how quickly this little thing called validation diffuses a situation. It immediately creates connection.

Is this not the type of connection we look for in our friendships? What if, as parents, we can create opportunities for this same type of connection without stepping away from discipline and equipping our children to make wise choices. What if validation is a way we can enter into and appreciate their struggle and as we create connection we also create the safe space to reinforce boundaries?

If you read through the gospels, you will encounter countless examples of how Jesus validated His followers and friends without condoning their sin. Think about John 11 when Jesus weeps over the death of Lazarus. Even though He knew that Lazarus would rise again, “when Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled.” (v. 33). Jesus was compassionate to His friend, Martha, and the Jews, and despite their doubts, He extended an invitation for them to witness the miraculous resurrection of their friend, Lazarus.

It’s a beautiful reminder that our Heavenly Father isn’t just our Savior—He is our friend. And if you want to model your parenting after anyone, He’s the best example there is.

1. Michael Sorenesen, I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships (Autumn Creek Press, 2017).

Chrissy Duke is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ who loves to share what God is speaking to me with other young girls and women! She is also a wife and a mother of two beautiful girls. Chrissy has a calling to help the marginalized be recognized, heard, and helped. She does this primarily through an organization called Beauty For Ashes Africa. They work to combat human trafficking in North Africa, where they have a transition home for at-risk girls! Chrissy loves a good cup of coffee in the morning, getting outside in nature, and being with family.

Encouragement, Encouraging, Family, Kids Ministry

February 3, 2021

Who Does God Want to Be for You?

By Kids Ministry 101

By Sarah Humphrey

The lives of children are complexly simple. They are also beautifully honest.

The presence of children in our lives nurtures a part of our hearts that we’ve often left behind somewhere. They always seem to ask just the right questions to make adults think twice, gather themselves, or sometimes even get frustrated. It’s as if God gave us children, not only because they are a delight from Him, but also because they are the truth-telling witness we often need.

I’ve had countless experiences where my kids have ministered to me when I was supposed to be ministering to them! I bet you have, too. Children are full of thoughts, they take the Bible literally and believe it, and their black and white thinking is often a beautiful source of faith, conviction, and grace. As adults and caregivers, we can get so overwhelmed by the details that we forget the beauty of the Gospel is in the presence of these little ones. They often point us back to our own need for our Father, and they give us grace to rest in Him again.

The world is a different place now than it was when we were children. Though kids are facing some similar needs, they are also facing many new challenges. That can feel both overwhelming and also all-encompassing. One of my favorite questions when I struggle is: “Who does God want to be for me right now?” I’ve started to ask my kids the same question when we work through different struggles, fears, and cycles of defeat.

When we aren’t able to do things ourselves, we become desperate for a God who can save us. And when we reach that point, we re-learn our faith. We get to ask Jesus: “Who do You want to be for me in this place? How do You want to show Yourself to me? Where I am insufficient, where are You all-sufficient?” This is the God of the Bible; He is Jesus. He is the King of Kings, the All-Powerful One, and the Maker of Heaven and Earth. It’s these times that we remember that He is God, and He wants to provide for us.

Take 30 minutes and spend time making an opposites list with your kids. Ask them to write down anywhere from 1-5 struggles they might be having currently. After they have named where they lack, go to the Bible and find the Name of God or the Bible verse that fulfills their need. Have them write it down or make an art piece about it, and hang it up somewhere they can see it often. God is good, and His delight is in providing for His children.

Encouragement, Family, Family Ministry, Kids Ministry

February 1, 2021

Loving Kids and Families When You Don’t Feel Like It

By Landry Holmes

Life overall is messy, and church life is no exception. In addition, COVID-19 has made both even more messy. What causes the mess? People.

One of my favorite quotes from the beloved comic strip Peanuts^® is attributed to Linus, who exclaims one day, “I love mankind . . . It’s people I can’t stand!” I think we all feel that way sometimes. We love kids and families, but sometimes we lose our patience or get irritated with them. (Kids and families, by the way, love us but become frustrated with us, too.)

So, what are we to do about this situation? The apostle Paul’s writings offer insight for us today when kids and families don’t always act in ways that make it easy to show them Christ-like love. Here are some biblical principles that can help us be more loving:

Love is expected of us as believers. Paul says, “Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)
Love is expressed through our behavior. What is referred to as the love chapter has these words for us: “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Love is observed by unbelievers, who are watching us. I think that is part of what Paul is saying here: “About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12)
Love sets an example for others in the church. Paul writes to his protégé Timothy, “. . . set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
Love is a source of church unity. Again, Scripture reminds Christians “ to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3) Paul also states, “Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (Colossians 3:14)

So, why all this talk about loving preschoolers, children, and their families? For one, the Bible has a lot more to say about love, which is indicative of its importance. In fact Paul says in his closing statement to the church in Corinth, “Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14) So, while the world is thinking about love this month, let’s double-down on our desire to show the love of Jesus to everyone. Playing favorites is not an option.

_________________________

Landry Holmes is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Ongoing Bible Studies and Network Partnerships, Nashville, TN, and is a graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The author of It’s Worth It: Uncovering How One Week Can Transform Your Church and a general editor of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids, Landry is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. He teaches kids at his church in Middle Tennessee, where his wife Janetta is the Preschool Minister. They enjoy spending time with their two adult sons and their wives, and spoiling their five grandchildren.

Discipleship, Encouragement, Family, Parent Helps, Parenting

January 18, 2021

Caring for Kids during Worldly Chaos

By Kids Ministry 101

By Sarah Humphrey

Thank goodness, 2021 is a new year! We are living in a time of history unlike any other. There were many barriers and some breakthroughs in 2020, and our children were watching how we dealt with them. They are still watching, and they will continue to both mimic and seek help from us as this transition in history continues.

Though we may not know a lot about 2021, we do know that God is with us. He promises us that, and it’s our response to Him that can make a big difference, not only in our community but most importantly in our home.

As a homeschool mom, I spend 2-3 days a week coaching my kids through a family Bible Study. As we’ve been studying the Names of God this year, we have been reminded several times of God’s protection, power, and provision for us. Romans tells us clearly to keep our hopes up.

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” –Romans 8:28

In a world of many unknowns, God reminds us that He is El Shaddai, God All Powerful. He is the one who is in control, moving the puzzle pieces of history to serve His purposes, and we get to partner with what He says when He says it.

And so, the days might be long, and the questions from our children might be plentiful, but we serve a God of answers! There is no better time to teach our kids how to memorize Scripture, pray simple prayers, and express their feelings through art and speech. As we hear their voices rise in faith, our faith rises also.

If you’re looking for ways to encourage your young ones during this season, consider these simple tips for time together as a family:

Set up a family calendar that includes time for dinners at the table, family devotions, or family movie night. Take the time to discuss the themes and current events that are unfolding in this season. If you watch a movie, give yourselves a few minutes to debrief how it made your kids feel, what they learned, and if they enjoyed the characters involved. It’s small conversations that sometimes contain the most truth and awareness.
Set aside time to pray together as a family. It doesn’t have to be complicated or serious. But remember that a simple and consistent example of a 3-minute prayer is a marker of peace for children throughout their lives. They will remember it. So, pray out loud before meals, before bed, before school, and any other appropriate time.
Be honest. Be forgiving. And be gentle. We are all learning something new right now. It’s in times like these, that slowing down can be one of the wisest things we do.

May God bless you as you walk this year, and may He keep you and your family in peace during this time!

Discipleship, Family, kids101

January 4, 2021

3 Big Truths I Wish I Had Learned as a Kid

By Brian Dembowczyk

It wasn’t a difficult choice really. My family was living in suburban Baltimore, Maryland, when my father shared that his company had asked him to work in Hawaii for a couple of years. We loved where we lived in Maryland—it was home for both of my parents and all of our extended family lived in the area—but you cannot pass up the opportunity to live in a tropical paradise. So we packed up our home, put on short-sleeve shirts in the middle of the winter, and jumped on a plane.

Here is what I remember most from my time in Hawaii as a seven- and eight-year-old kid: I trusted in Christ and was baptized at Mililani Baptist Church, the school lunches were terrible, and my parents often wanted to take dreadfully boring drives around the island we lived on, Oahu. Yes, you read that right. I was in the middle of one of the most beautiful places in the world—a place people dream of visiting and where Magnum drove around in a red Ferrari (no, we never saw him)—and I was bored by it all. I was simply too young to appreciate it at the time. I look back now and wish I had been able to drink it all in, but as the saying goes, youth is wasted on the young.

I wish I knew then what I know now. I wish I could have appreciated the beauty of Hawaii and savored every moment of living there. But that is far from what I most wish I had understood as a child. Rather, what I most wish I could have understood better was the gospel. Here are three big truths about God—about the gospel—that I wish I had known.

Big Truth 1: In Christ, God Has Credited Me with Christ’s Righteousness

I loved my Sunday School teacher in Hawaii. The axiom is true: I remember very little of what Mr. Chen taught me, but I remember that he cared about me. I remember his encouragement and grace as I tried my best to memorize the books of the New Testament to participate in an ice cream party. And I remember my family eating dinner in his home. Mr. Chen was faithful to his calling, and because of that (and my parents), I heard the gospel and I trusted in Christ.

I knew that I was a sinner. I knew that Jesus is the Son of God. I knew that Jesus died for my sins and that He rose from the grave.

But here is what I didn’t know: that Jesus is a kind and generous companion. He did not take my sin from me and give me nothing in exchange. Rather, He gave me His righteousness. I knew the John 3:16 of the gospel, but I didn’t know the 2 Corinthians 5:21 of the gospel.

Had I only known. I spent years after trying to earn God’s favor by obeying enough, never feeling confident that God loved me and accepted me fully because I knew my obedience was never full. Had I only known then what I know now, that God’s acceptance and love for me is indeed full and perfect because they are not based on what I have done or might do, but rather on what Christ has done—His life of perfect obedience.

Big Truth 2: God Is Sovereign, and That’s a Good Thing

We ended up living in Hawaii for about 18 months of the 24 months we were supposed to. Midway through our time there, my father’s company had a new idea: how great it would be if we lived in Munich, Germany, for a while. So we put on snow suits and jumped on a plane headed to Europe. I loved my time in Germany. By this time I had reached the age where I could actually appreciate it, and looking back, those five years were among the best of my life. My time in Europe shaped me in critical ways and I am grateful that God, in His kindness, sent us there.

But that is the second big truth I wish I had known as a kid. I know it now, but didn’t know it then—that God is sovereign and that going to Germany wasn’t a matter of chance. It was part of God’s design for my life. At the time, I don’t think I ever even heard of the word sovereign, let alone grappled with its meaning. I thought life was just happening around me, and as I plunged into my teenage years, the worries of fitting in, dating, nuclear war—yeah, that was a thing then, and so on plagued me at times.

We know that there is a tension between human responsibility and God’s sovereignty, at least from our perspective. We know that the Bible teaches both and that we must embrace both. We are to take our decisions seriously, but at the same time, we are to rest securely in God’s sovereignty. I wish I had understood this back when I was a kid. I wish I would have had the ability to take my worries, my cares, and my uncertainties and lay them before our loving, sovereign God. Had I only known that I cannot mess up what God controls.

Big Truth 3: Everything Was Created for God’s Glory

When I was in Hawaii as a kid, I failed to appreciate its beauty. God’s fingerprints were all around me but I was clueless to it all. My time in Europe, however, was a different story. I was amazed by the splendor of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. I appreciated the different cultures. And I was grateful to be around so much history.

I was closer, but still not all of the way there. All of what I appreciated and enjoyed was for me. I liked going to Paris and Venice. I liked skiing in the Alps. I liked eating the different foods. There’s nothing wrong with any of that, of course, but what I failed to do is reach the true end of all of it. Paris, Venice, the Alps, and wienerschnitzel were not created ultimately to bring delight to me, but rather so that I might ultimately delight in their creator, God. My delight in those good things was to be a conduit toward a greater delight in the giver of those good things.

Had I only known then what I am continuing to learn today: that God is our greatest good and that everything was created for His glory. My enjoyment of those things would have been further magnified, but more importantly, I would have been able to worship God through those things, which I did not do as a kid. Oh, if I could only go back and worship God in the Alps. If only I could have connected God’s goodness to every good thing I experienced.

As I reflect over these memories and experiences, I am not filled with regret of what I missed then. Far from it—I am filled with a deeper sense of awe of God’s mercy and grace. That He lavished such good things on such an undeserving kid—such a clueless, ungrateful kid—fills me with great joy. And it also encourages me to seek God’s face in the moments of my days today, and to help my kids do the same.

Christmas, Evangelism, Family, Gospel-Centered

December 23, 2020

Family Christmas Traditions That Celebrate Jesus

By Kids Ministry 101

Christmas is finally here – a warm and welcome sight in a year where the ‘weary world’ is truly ready to usher in the season with eager and open hearts. Because this year has been so difficult for many of us for various reasons, it might be tempting to tilt our focus on things that don’t point to why we celebrate Christmas. We might want to buy even MORE toys for our kids, put up MORE lights around the house and yard, and bake even MORE cookies to devour while watching even MORE Christmas movies! While I am wrestling with doing more of these inevitable traditions, I want to share some ideas for how families can wrap around favorite traditions to truly help celebrate our Savior, Jesus—now more than ever.

Celebrate with scripture: Many families read the “Christmas story” from one of the gospels on Christmas eve or morning. While this is a beautiful tradition, let me encourage you to maximize it by reading scripture each day leading up to the BIG day! This can be done through an Advent reading plan or by creating a Jesse tree that highlights stories throughout scripture that have prophecies and promises of the Savior to come. A quick google or pinterest search will lead you to numerous choices for these kinds of reading plans. My family has enjoyed making a Jesse tree for many years by coloring simple ornaments that represent each story and hanging them on a tree made with sticks in a flower vase!
Celebrate with symbols: Help children of all ages learn about Jesus by calling attention to the Christmas symbols that surround us during the season. Here are a few ideas:
1. Hot chocolate with candy canes: As you enjoy a hot cup of cocoa, add a candy cane treat to stir up the goodness! Candy canes represent the shepherds who came to visit Jesus who, no doubt, carried a staff. Even better, they represent that Jesus is our shepherd and we are his sheep. The red represents his blood shed for us and white reflects how he washes our sins away.
2. Decorating the tree: Most of us put up Christmas trees (either a real one carefully chosen at a farm or tree lot; or an artificial one put together each year). As your family places ornaments on the tree, talk about the meaning of an evergreen tree (even if yours is artificial!) and focus on how Jesus gives us everlasting life. Place a star on top or as an ornament and talk about not only the star of Bethlehem that guided the wise men, but also how Jesus is the light of the world!
3. Three gifts: Some families choose to give their children three gifts that represent the three kings who brought Jesus gold, frankincense and Myrrh. While the wise men brought Jesus gifts, Jesus himself is the ultimate gift to us! Don’t miss the opportunity to talk about the gift of salvation this season as you unwrap gifts under the tree.
Celebrate with service: Jesus came to seek and save the lost, heal the sick, and serve the poor. His last command to us was, “go make disciples.” Christmas is a wonderful time to be the hands and feet of Jesus through serving others. Help your family find ways to serve in the community around you such as gathering items for a food bank, donating to a homeless shelter or writing letters to those in nursing homes. Even though it may be difficult to serve in person this year, we can still show the love of Jesus through our resources, talents and prayers.

Though many of these traditions are nothing new to us, perhaps this is the year we slow down and truly rest in the simple things in order to prepare our hearts for celebrating Jesus in all that we do for Christmas. Let this be the year we don’t miss a single opportunity to count every blessing and every trial as pure joy. Afterall, this unspeakable joy comes from Jesus himself.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 Peter 1:8 KJV

Advent, Family

October 30, 2020

2020 Family Advent Guide

By Kids Ministry 101

During the past eight months, families have experienced a roller coaster of emotions and experiences. At first, families were uncertain how to do this “together all the time” life, then it became the norm and new routines were established. Schools started back in a kaleidoscope of options that seemed to shift and change as quickly as the view through that kids toy. In all the craziness, I think families are longing for some sense of a normal routine of life. Here we are at the brink of the holiday season, which in the past has been the signal of “the beginning of crazy” as schedules fill with holiday parties, events, and even special church functions. Many of those events may or may not even happen this year. And honestly, many families may be struggling with how to weather this holiday season financially.

This year in particular, families seem to be waiting. Waiting for things to get back to “normal.” Waiting for relief from the cultural and global issues facing us. Families seem to be longing for the opportunity to refocus, and what a season to lead families to refocus on the true meaning of the Christmas season! The word “advent” is derived from a Latin word meaning “coming.” We anticipate the coming of Christmas. We remember how the world waited for the coming of the promised Messiah. We acknowledge the fact that we are looking for the “coming” back of that same Messiah when Jesus returns. This season can be filled with hope, love, joy, and peace as we consider all the good things God has given us.

We are excited to share this resource with families to guide them as they navigate this special season. What a great opportunity to open the Bible together, to talk about what this Advent season is all about, to engage in activities together, and most of all to pray together. We pray that families in your communities will celebrate this season and experience the peace that only comes through Jesus, our Savior.

Family, Fun

September 25, 2020