Family Connection
09.05.2012
“Don’t worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to Him. Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood.’” Philippians4:6-7
Tomorrow I will board a plane headed for South Africa and Zambia. Another pastor and I will be heading out to Orchard Africa, the ministry we support in as a church as well as our children’s ministry. I am excited about the trip, but I was worried about whether or not I was going to be able to go this morning.
You see, last night as I was making sure I had everything I started looking for my passport. I couldn’t find it where I normally kept it. I kept looking, still no luck. I then enlisted the help of my wonderful wife, still no luck. We went to bed with the conviction that I must have left it in the office here at church. However, once I got to church this morning I couldn’t find it. Jennifer began systematically looking through every drawer and desk in our house; all to no avail. I finally called to make an appointment with the passport expediting service in Tucson and prepared to make the trek to get a new passport. I went home to change cars with my wife and get the supporting documents I would need. As I got out of the care I prayed, “Well, Lord this isn’t exactly what I wanted to happen but thank you that I can at least get a new passport today.” Just as I was about to put the car in reverse to make the trek, Jennifer came into the garage and said, “I found it!” Somehow the passport had slipped behind a drawer in the dresser and made its way to the bottom of the dresser. Thankfully Jen thought to remove the drawers. Needless to say I was thrilled.
I wish I could tell you that during the time I was looking for the passport I had unwavering faith, a calm disposition and was worry free. Since I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to lie to you I will let you know I failed miserably. However, I can say that as I look back on my minor ordeal, God’s peace was with me.
Just as I am sharing this story with you I believe it is important to share with our children the struggles, joys and triumphs we experience as we follow God. It is a way for us to be real and transparent with our children so they can see what a relationship with God looks like. Following God is not always easy, but it is always best!!
This week we will be wrapping up The Cure series and will provide talking points for you and your children as we want to build in Faith @ Home.
We will teach the children that the prescription to stay healthy this week is grace. Here are the Parent Talk discussion sheets we will hand out to your children this weekend:
We Can Love Others No Matter What
Basic Truth: God Loves Me
Key Question: Who loved us first?
Bottom Line: We love because God loved us first.
Memory Verse: “We love because he first loved us.” 1John 4:19, ESV
Story Summary:
Joseph helped his brothers get food when they were hungry and
welcomed them even though they had been mean.
welcomed them even though they had been mean.
(Based on Genesis 42-46)
Family Activity:
Talk with your child about all the people in your family, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, siblings, and parents. Talk about things those people like to do. Act them out. If a sibling likes to play soccer, pretend to kick a ball, for example. Then help your child thank God for their family. Remind your child that sometimes we have fun together and sometimes we make each other sad, but we always love and forgive one another. Remind your child that We Can Love Others No Matter What.
In our K-4 ministry, we will be handing out the following God Time questions:
Questions for children to take home to parents-Grace
Ask your parents these questions:
What does it mean to show grace to someone?
Ask your parents to help you understand how God has shown grace to you.
Ask your parents for specific ways you can do better at showing grace to others.
Ask your parents what they learned about grace from church this week?
This week we learned, I can show love to others when I give them the love God has given me. Could you please help me understand how to apply this?
Ask your parents to read Matthew 18:21-35 with you and discuss with them ways you can apply this to your life.
Ask your parents to help you understand what it means to be a Christian.
Ask your parents to help you make a list of people you are refusing to forgive and then ask them to pray with you so you can forgive them.
Ask your parents if they would be willing to memorize our verses for this month with you: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”-Matthew 22:39 and “We love because He first loved us.”-1 John 4:19 (NIV)
We are very excited about this series and the at-home discussions that will come about because of what everyone is learning together. I would love to hear how it goes!
Since I will be gone until September 17, I will not send out a Family Connection until I return. I will however try to update my blog as well as the Sun Valley Kids Facebook page with stories and pictures. Please feel free to follow along if you wish.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of the spiritual development of your children.
Walking by your side,
Brett Humphrey
Pastor H
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