What do these stones mean?

The story of the crossing of the Jordan River is one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament. It is found in Joshua chapters 3 and 4. The Children of Israel have been wondering in the wilderness for 40 years. They have been waiting for this day all of that time! And it is finally here. They get to go in and possess the land that God promised to Abraham and his descendants many many years ago.

As they cross the river, Joshua asks that a representative from each of the 12 tribes take a rock from the middle of the river and carry it with them to the other side. When they finish crossing the Jordan, they take the stones and stack them together to make a monument or a memorial. God wanted to make sure that the Israelites always remember how God parted the waters so they could cross over into the land that God had promised to them. The Hebrew word used for remember here is "zakar." To "zakar" something means to remember with a purpose. It is a call to action. It is not to simply recall, but to recall and act. In this case, they were to pass on the story of God's faithfulness to God's people throughout history.

God is still at work in our lives today. God is still providing for God's people thousands of years after the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan River. And God wants us to remember. And when we remember, God wants us to pass on the story of God's faithfulness. I challenge you to create some sort of memorial system within your family. It could be a journal where you record prayer requests and how you see God answering those prayers. It could be a jar where you record stories about God at work in your family and collect those stories to read together from time to time. It could be a scrapbook of pictures and stories. They could be photographs or even drawings that you and your children make together about times when you have experienced the hand of God at work. The medium is not important. What is important is that we teach our children to recognize that God is at work in our lives. The story of God providing for God's people is a story that is still being written. And we need to do our part to share our part of the story.

Daniel and the Lions Den

The story of Daniel and the lion den is full of valuable lessons for children. If you need a quick refresher, check out Daniel chapter 6. Daniel always did what was right in the sight of the Lord, even when it wasn't popular with others and even when it meant disobeying the law. He wasn't afraid to do what was right because Daniel had put his trust in the God and knew that God would take care of him.

I encourage you to talk with your children about peer pressure this week. As hard as it is to believe, peer pressure exists even among our youngest children. As human beings, we naturally want to fit in. But sometimes doing what it takes to fit in means going against what we believe in. Taking a stand and refusing to follow the crowd can be very difficult, even for adults.

Use the story of Daniel as a springboard to discuss what values and beliefs are important to your child and to your family as a whole. Talk about strategies your child can use when faced with a situation that tempts them to compromise those values and beliefs. Pray together that God will give each of you the strength to always stand up for what is right.

Do not be afraid...

Isaiah 41:10a “So do not be afraid. I am with you.  Do not be terrified. I am your God. I will make you strong and help you.” (NIrV)

The story of Gideon is found in Judges chapters 6 & 7. God used Gideon to rescue the Israelites from the Midianites. The Israelites had been afraid of the Midianites and would run and hide in the caves when the Midianites came to destroy their crops. But God heard Gideon's cries for help, and God told him to gather an army. God would give them victory! With 300 men, God helped Gideon defeat the enemy of which they had been afraid.

We all have things we are afraid of from time to time. Talk with your child about things that make them afraid. Remind them of the verse above from Isaiah. Memorize it together as a family. Help them know that God is when them and will help them. With God on our side, we have nothing to fear!

We Can Worship Anywhere

Last week we talked about the Ten Commandments and how God have the Israelites a set of rules to help them learn to love God and live in a way that pleases God. A few chapters later in the book of Exodus, God gave Moses and the Children of Israel very specific instructions about how to build a special place for them to worship God. This place was called the Tabernacle. At this point in time, the Israelites were still traveling through the desert on their way to the land of Canaan which God had promised to give to them. They were a nomadic people, constantly on the move. So they needed a place of worship that could be easily moved and quickly set up/taken down.

God directed them how to make everything, from the structure itself to each of the items found inside including the Ark of the Covenant, which held the very presence of God, the Table of Showbread, the lampstands, the altar, and more. It also told exactly how to make the clothing that the priests would wear. All of these instructions can be found beginning in Exodus chapter 25. The people followed God's directions and the result was a place where they could gather to worship God together.

We still gather together as the Body of Christ today to worship together. But we no longer have to go to a specific location to worship. We can worship God anywhere in many different ways. We can worship God by serving others, by listening to or reading God's Word, by talking to God through prayer, by singing songs of praise to God, through our work or schoolwork, through art...the list goes on and on.

This week, I encourage you to talk to your child(ren) about how they can incorporate worship into their daily lives. Tune the radio to KLove or Air1 while you are driving to and from school or activities and sing along with the songs. You can also take some time to sing together at home. Turn on the radio, pop in a Christian CD or choose a worship song on your iPod. If you don't have any Christian music at home, you can also hop over to YouTube and sing along. Many of the videos even have lyrics to make singing along easier. 

Here are a few of my favorites that you might enjoy. Feel free to go search for your own favorites, too. 

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<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Jbe7OruLk8I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-eaalSMO5uM?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7-zJHgaoVa4?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

While music is a wonderfully enjoyable way to worship, it isn't the only way. Have dinner together as a family around the table and begin your meal with a blessing. As you eat, talk about things you are thankful for or ways that you have experienced God's presence or heard God's voice that day. As your child(ren) works on homework or chores, talk about how by doing our homework or chores with a joyful heart, we can worship God. Read a Bible story together with your children before bed. Have prayer with your child(ren) before bed, thanking God for the gifts of the day, praying for those who are sick or in need, and asking God for a restful night's sleep that will make you ready for the next day.

Worship is a way of life. It is living each moment attuned to God's presence around us and within us. When we learn to live a life of worship, we learn to live each day with joy, regardless of the circumstances around us, because we are walking with God who never leaves us or forsakes us, no matter where we may be.

House Rules

The 10 Commandments is probably one of the most widely recognized passages in the Old Testament. They have been posted in court houses, in churches, in homes, in schools, and many other places over the years. In Exodus chapters 19 and 20, God gave the Children of Israel a set of rules to follow. They were meant to help the people learn how to live and how to love God and love other people.

This week, I encourage you to read the passage with your child(ren). Talk about what each of the commandments means and why God gave each rule. Discuss ways we can still follow these rules today. You can even talk about what Jesus says are the greatest commandments, found in Matthew 22:36-40, which basically sums up the 10 commandments, to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as ourself.

You can also work on establishing some rules for your family. This is something that I have really been interested in doing in our home. Children long for boundaries and want to know what is expected of them. Having an list of established rules is a way to help them feel secure. There are lots of sample "house rules" lists on the web. Pinterest is a great resource for ideas. Google is another resource. Here is a list that I found on Pinterest that might be a helpful place to start:

In this house...
We do second chances
We do grace
We do real
We do mistakes
We do I'm sorry
We do loud really well
We do hugs
We do family
We do love

Here is another from Etsy:

Family Rules
Always tell the truth
Work hard
Keep your promises
Try new things
Don't whine
Laugh Out Loud
Always say I love you
Use kind words
Do your best
Be grateful
Be kind
Be proud of yourself
Say please and thank you
Remember you are loved

Here is another list from a local blogger, Sue Molitor, who recently spoke to my mom's group. Each of her family's rules has an accompanying scripture passage to go with it. I think this is a neat way to reinforce the importance of scripture in our homes and our lives. Just about any rule you want to include can be supported with a passage of scripture if that is the direction that you want to go.

Rule 1: Obey quickly and completely
"Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and mother." Ephesians 6:1-2

Rule 2: Honor each other
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

Rule 3: Be agreeable
"Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure children of God." Philippians 2:14-15

Rule 4: Work hard
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." Colossians 3:23


Chances are you already have a number of rules, you just may not have taken the time to write them down. Over dinner, ask everyone in the family to suggest some rules that your family should live by, rules that will help keep everyone safe and help everyone to live in a way that is pleasing to God. Create a list together and seek to follow them in your home. If you are willing, share them here so that we can get ideas from one another. Your family may think of a great rule that the rest of us could use.

God Meets Our Needs

During Sunday school this month, our children are learning that God is with us in times of change. There memory verse this month is Psalm 100:5, "Because the LORD is good, his loyal love lasts forever; his faithfulness lasts generation after generation." I encourage you to work on this verse together at home this month. Place it on your refrigerator or on the mirror in the bathroom. Say it together every time your child gets a snack from the fridge or brushes their teeth or washes their hands. Hiding God's Word in our hearts is important for Christians. You can help your child learn the importance of memorizing scripture.

This week's lesson was about how God was with the Children of Israel in the wilderness. They learned how God provided manna and quail to feed the people. God was concerned about the needs of the Israelites, and  God took care to meet those needs. God cares about our needs, too. Talk with your child about needs we have and ways that God meets them. Thank God for the way God meets our needs each and every day.

If your child is old enough, you can also talk about ways that God can use us to meet the needs of others. You can even find a way to help someone in need this week.

Our church is going to be collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. This ministry provides Chirstmas gifts to children around the world who otherwise would not receive anything for Christmas. Take your children shopping for items to include in a shoebox. Ideas for what to include (and what NOT to include) can be found here. Talk to you child about how Christmas will be more special this year for one little boy or girl because they have chosen to send them some things that they need. You can pack the box together and bring it to church during the collection period. We will gather the boxes and deliver them next month.

Another idea would be to pack large ziploc bags or even plastic grocery bags with basic items that could help a homeless person. You could include bottled water, packs of crackers, travel size toiletries, fleece blankets (which can be purchased from the dollar store), lip balm, etc. You can also let your child draw a picture or write a note of encouragement to the person. You can pray for the person who will receive the bag, asking God to bless them. The next time you see someone asking for money on an exit ramp or somewhere else around town, you can give them the bag. You can explain to your children that by sharing these items, you are sharing Jesus' love and helping God meet the needs of others.

There are plenty of other ways to help God meet the needs of people. Use your imagination, do a google search, listen to ads on K-Love and Air1. The sky is the limit when it comes to helping. It can be as simple or as involved as you want. What we do isn't important. What is important is that we do something!

God Created the World

This week's text: Genesis 1:1 - 2:3

Key verse: Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

This week we are focusing on creation and how God took a dark and empty space and turned it into the beautiful world in which we live. The children are learning what God created on each of the days. Read the story of creation at home with your child(ren) this week. Talk with your child(ren) about your favorite parts of creation and encourage them to share theirs with you.

God has indeed given us a beautiful world to live in and enjoy. Sometime this week, take 10 or 15 minutes or more if time allows and go on a walk through your yard or your neighborhood or maybe even your favorite park. Encourage your child(ren) to slow down and enjoy the beauty around them. Take a look at the trees and admire what a wonderful artist God is. Admire the beautiful colors that are swaying in the wind. Pick up some leaves and acorns that have fallen to the ground. Touch them. Admire the great detail that God put into each one.

If you children are old enough, talk to them about the seasons. At different times during the year, nature changes.  During the spring, we see new life emerge everywhere. In the summer, that new life grows and matures and thrives. In the fall, things begin to make preparations for the cold weather that is to come with winter. The leaves on the trees change colors and begin to fall and as the days grow shorter and their is less sunlight, flowering plants finish storing up nutrients before they wither away. They will need that nutrition to feed their bulbs throughout winter so that they can bloom again in the spring, but they wilt away so that the cold temperatures of winter do not harm the bulbs which are tucked under grown. Even the animals make changes with the seasons. In the fall, birds begin to fly south to avoid the cold winter temperatures. Squirrels and chipmunks are busy collecting nuts and other food so that they will have plenty to eat during winter. Perhaps you will see a squirrel or two busy at work, and you can take a moment to watch them. Whether you do or not, as you explain these events to your child, talk to them about how awesome God is to have created a world with some many intricate details. And how God took the same care with all of the details in each of our lives as well.

Allow your child to pick up a couple of souvenirs for your adventure. They can look at these over the next few days as you talk about the things that you saw on your walk.

As your walk comes to an end, take a moment to thank God for the beautiful world around us. Thank God for taking so much care when creating the world and when creating each of us.