Day 14 – Abram – Dealing with Family Arguments
Memory Verse: This Family Worship is your two week mark! Have you seen your family grow closer together? Have your kids amazed you with their ability to learn and understand the Bible? Let them know how proud you are of them and be ready for your new verse for tomorrow (hint hint try to be able to quote it from memory to them).
Genesis 13:1-18
If you have more than one child, odds are they ‘occasionally’ fight.
“That’s my toy!”
“You’re in my spot!”
“He’s touching me!”
“She’s looking at me funny!”
Lot and Abram are both blessed because of God’s relationship with Abram. Their flocks get to big and they need to separate. Abram could have demanded any land he wanted and sent Lot on his way. Odds are this would not have been a ‘happy’ split. Instead Abram gave up his ‘right’ and let Lot choose. Lot chose the ‘best looking’ land. Abram said ok, gave Lot his love, and then Lot moved on. God continued to bless Abram and repeated His promise to bless Abram.
We need to let our children know that sometimes it is better to give up our ‘right’ to make peace. Fighting does nothing but hurt both sides. This does not mean we teach our children to be floor mats, but that instead they should learn when it is wise to avoid strife. Teach them the importance of family relationships and how they are some of the strongest out there. You will always be brothers, sisters, father and mother. God gave us the family we have by design. We were each picked to be in the family we are, at the time He choose. So resist the temptation to fight, and instead find other ways to get along and resolve conflict.
Sing a song the whole family loves. Take turns picking their favorite. When it comes time to pray, have everyone thank God for the two weeks you have spent together as a family seeking him. Ask each member what they have enjoyed most about Family worship time. Ask them what they want to keep working on. God bless you and your family for coming so far!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Day 13 – Abram – His Calling
Memory Verse: Start thinking about what verse you want to add to your child’s Bible knowledge in the next few days. We did Ephesians 4:32, and Hebrews 13:16 to have ‘application’ verses. We choose verses that teach them how to behave according to the Bible. We’ll add Ex 20:12 during the time of Moses and the talking of the 10 commandments. John 3:16 can be added whenever you want. Like I’ve said before. If your children learn fast add more. If they learn a little slower, then go at the pace they need. Just try to add a new one at least every 2 weeks. We’ll be constantly refreshing the ones they have learned over the next few weeks.
Genesis 12:1-9
God told Abram to follow Him. He did not give him a map with directions on where he was going exactly. He did not say “X” marks the spot. Instead God gave Abram instructions to trust Him and obey. Verse 4 says it best when “Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him.” There Abram left. Paul tells us that it was this faith that God used (Romans 4). We need to find ways to teach our children to follow the leading of God and not to try and always have a GPS device which will show us each step of the way.
I have some friends who are entering the mission field at the ‘mid’ life point. God told them to do so, and they said ok. No back talking, no “well let me do this first”. Sure they are ‘nervous’ as they have things to get done in preparing for it, and they also have a family that they will take into the mission field. But it is their faith to say ok amidst all of those things, that allows God to move in mighty ways.
As Abram followed God’s leading, he came to a point where God started to show some of what He had planned. He told Abram that a certain area of land would be his. Abram responded by building an alter (remember Noah) to God.
God has a sense of humor. He loves Children. So you could maybe sing the song “Father Abraham” with your kids tonight. It will require some room as you put hands in, move hands out, put in some feet and turn around. Talk about how God promised Abram he would have too many decedents to count, and that we are one of them through Christ.
Memory Verse: Start thinking about what verse you want to add to your child’s Bible knowledge in the next few days. We did Ephesians 4:32, and Hebrews 13:16 to have ‘application’ verses. We choose verses that teach them how to behave according to the Bible. We’ll add Ex 20:12 during the time of Moses and the talking of the 10 commandments. John 3:16 can be added whenever you want. Like I’ve said before. If your children learn fast add more. If they learn a little slower, then go at the pace they need. Just try to add a new one at least every 2 weeks. We’ll be constantly refreshing the ones they have learned over the next few weeks.
Genesis 12:1-9
God told Abram to follow Him. He did not give him a map with directions on where he was going exactly. He did not say “X” marks the spot. Instead God gave Abram instructions to trust Him and obey. Verse 4 says it best when “Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him.” There Abram left. Paul tells us that it was this faith that God used (Romans 4). We need to find ways to teach our children to follow the leading of God and not to try and always have a GPS device which will show us each step of the way.
I have some friends who are entering the mission field at the ‘mid’ life point. God told them to do so, and they said ok. No back talking, no “well let me do this first”. Sure they are ‘nervous’ as they have things to get done in preparing for it, and they also have a family that they will take into the mission field. But it is their faith to say ok amidst all of those things, that allows God to move in mighty ways.
As Abram followed God’s leading, he came to a point where God started to show some of what He had planned. He told Abram that a certain area of land would be his. Abram responded by building an alter (remember Noah) to God.
God has a sense of humor. He loves Children. So you could maybe sing the song “Father Abraham” with your kids tonight. It will require some room as you put hands in, move hands out, put in some feet and turn around. Talk about how God promised Abram he would have too many decedents to count, and that we are one of them through Christ.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Day 12 – Noah – In the Boat for a while
Memory Verse: If you have time fill out flashcards with a one word from the memory verse on each card. Then help your children put them in the right order. If you want take a day off asking them to recite it, go ahead. I don’t want it to seem like your being beaten into saying it every day, but part of scripture learning is repetition. Part of hiding the word in our heart is daily using it.
Genesis 7:1-9:17
The rain came and covered the earth. Mankind was destroyed except where Noah was. Everything that lived on land that was not on the ark died. In total Noah spent 10+ months in the ark. It took time for the waters to drain. Eventually after sending out the Raven, and Dove God told Noah it was time to leave the ark.
The first thing Noah did when he got out of the Ark was build an alter to the Lord. He praised God for saving him and his family. We need to teach our family the importance of praising God RIGHT after he does something. Perhaps you can think of a time God did something for your family (besides our health, jobs, house, salvation, food, and many more) and how you all still need to thank Him for it.
God also made a promise with Noah that he would never flood the Earth like that again. The rainbow stands as the promise to us. Get some paper and crayons and help your children color the rainbow. Let them use the colors the see in a rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). Emphasize that whenever God makes a promise we can know for certain He will never break it!
Ask your kids if they think Noah might have sang some songs to God when he left the Ark. I’m sure that he was pretty excited about not having to be cooped up with all those animals. Have some fun while praising God tonight for the promises He gives us
Memory Verse: If you have time fill out flashcards with a one word from the memory verse on each card. Then help your children put them in the right order. If you want take a day off asking them to recite it, go ahead. I don’t want it to seem like your being beaten into saying it every day, but part of scripture learning is repetition. Part of hiding the word in our heart is daily using it.
Genesis 7:1-9:17
The rain came and covered the earth. Mankind was destroyed except where Noah was. Everything that lived on land that was not on the ark died. In total Noah spent 10+ months in the ark. It took time for the waters to drain. Eventually after sending out the Raven, and Dove God told Noah it was time to leave the ark.
The first thing Noah did when he got out of the Ark was build an alter to the Lord. He praised God for saving him and his family. We need to teach our family the importance of praising God RIGHT after he does something. Perhaps you can think of a time God did something for your family (besides our health, jobs, house, salvation, food, and many more) and how you all still need to thank Him for it.
God also made a promise with Noah that he would never flood the Earth like that again. The rainbow stands as the promise to us. Get some paper and crayons and help your children color the rainbow. Let them use the colors the see in a rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). Emphasize that whenever God makes a promise we can know for certain He will never break it!
Ask your kids if they think Noah might have sang some songs to God when he left the Ark. I’m sure that he was pretty excited about not having to be cooped up with all those animals. Have some fun while praising God tonight for the promises He gives us
Monday, June 1, 2009
Power Washing
I borrowed a power washer from a friend so that I could knock down some birds nests that have shown up around my house this spring. After I had taken down all the dirt and mud that I could I started to use the washer to spray the mud off the cement. I noticed that I was leaving small lines of 'clean' cement as I did this. Now these lines were not just from the pushing away of the mud, but instead it turns out that my cement was covered in nasty black dirt from over 3 years of not being cleaned.
I kept washing away this dirt, amazed at the contrast between what I had been oblivious to for years, and this bright, clean cement underneath. A few hours later I stood back and the first thing I realized was how bright it was in the sun. I actually had to get sunglasses to look at it. My wife and kids were also amazed at how dirty it had been and how clean and bright it now looked.
Sometimes our lives are like that cement. Years pass by and we do not realize the habbits or sins that have gone un-confessed or worse yet stopped. Our lives become covered in this black sin which steals the bright shinny appearence we should have in this world. We have to ask Christ to forgive us and cleanse us of these sins. It isn't pleasant and sometimes it takes a while of confessing to really get us clean. The amazing thing is once Christ is done, how bright we are. We should be shinning to this world in such a way that they almost need 'Jesus' Shades to look at us. We should be like Moses when he came down from the Mountain after spending time with God.
So while power washing isn't enjoyable, and neither is looking deep into our lives and finding the sin we have not confessed, its needed. Do not allow another day of filth to darken our lives, our marriages, or our families. Seek Christ for the deep cleaning and healing only He can bring.
I kept washing away this dirt, amazed at the contrast between what I had been oblivious to for years, and this bright, clean cement underneath. A few hours later I stood back and the first thing I realized was how bright it was in the sun. I actually had to get sunglasses to look at it. My wife and kids were also amazed at how dirty it had been and how clean and bright it now looked.
Sometimes our lives are like that cement. Years pass by and we do not realize the habbits or sins that have gone un-confessed or worse yet stopped. Our lives become covered in this black sin which steals the bright shinny appearence we should have in this world. We have to ask Christ to forgive us and cleanse us of these sins. It isn't pleasant and sometimes it takes a while of confessing to really get us clean. The amazing thing is once Christ is done, how bright we are. We should be shinning to this world in such a way that they almost need 'Jesus' Shades to look at us. We should be like Moses when he came down from the Mountain after spending time with God.
So while power washing isn't enjoyable, and neither is looking deep into our lives and finding the sin we have not confessed, its needed. Do not allow another day of filth to darken our lives, our marriages, or our families. Seek Christ for the deep cleaning and healing only He can bring.
Day 11 – Noah – The need for cleansing
Genesis 6:1-22
What happens when mankind fails to keep God in his heart? This next passage shows what happens when men turn totally away from God and forget who He is. Thankfully one man still feared Him and served Him.
We need to let our kids know that God can be sad and that our actions can break His heart (6:6). We rarely think about how our actions make God feel. Sin affects not just us, but our family, friends and God.
Our children also need to know that their walk with God can be a lifeline to others. We will never know when God will use us to reach out take care of another. Through Noah, God maintained mankind. It was one man’s fear of God and respect for Him that held back the wrath God was about to pour out.
We focus a lot on the boat, but we miss the need for the boat. We can talk about it and how God gave specific instructions. It was supposed to be a certain length and a certain height and so wide. The right material was to be used. With younger kids you might make a boat out of paper and have a boat made out of wood. Put them in water and ask them which one would last for 10 months in water. God knew what would be needed to house all the animals and Noah’s family for so long.
For songs there are many choices out there, but you could always sing “Who Built the Ark?”. With the internet the lyrics are easy to find and so is a sample of how it goes. There is nothing greater than to hear your kids singing the songs you sing as a family while they play during the day. My two boys were in their fort singing “I’m in the Lords Army” the other day. They would switch between that song and “Pharaoh, Pharaoh”. Little songs to help encourage the learning process.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Day 10 – Offerings and Murder
Memory Verse
Genesis 4:1-12
Adam and Eve have two sons. One becomes a farmer and the other becomes a shepherd. When it was time to give and offering to God, Abel brought his best and Cain brought just some of his produce. The difference here is one brought their best while the other just brought the normal every day stuff. We need to teach our kids young that God wants our best. He doesn’t want second best.
From here God warns against having the wrong attitude towards Him. Doing so provides the potential for sin. And since Cain failed to take God’s warning he ended up killing his own brother in cold blood. How dangerous is our heart and sin when we reject the warnings of God?
It is a tuff lesson for our children. Death, Murder, Sin. But God wants to warn us early on that we need to fear sin and seek him or else we can go down the wrong path with dire consequences. Let your children know that God desires us to seek Him with the right attitude.
By now I hope you have been enjoying your singing time. There are so many great songs for Kids as well as praise songs and Hymns one can be singing as a family. Enjoy this time and revel in it. If you can play an instrument, then you might try and lead your family in worship with that instrument. What can be better in the ears of God than a family singing together?
Friday, May 29, 2009
Day 9 – Sin
Memory Verse: Show your children where the verse(s) that you are learning are fond in scripture. Never forget to keep reminding them that what they are hiding in their heart comes from God’s word.
Genesis 3:1-24
Sin. It destroys the perfect environment God had created. Adam and Eve (both were there when the serpent was tempting them) listen to the lies that are told to them. They can be wise like God. God is trying to hold them back. They forget all that God has given them. They give into the desire to be like him. They take a bite and realize what they have done.
Next they hear God in the garden and hide. They say it is because they are naked. Suddenly they are ashamed to show themselves uncovered to their creator. Clothing might have been missing but perhaps it was the fact that they were no longer unblemished by sin and they knew it.
When God questions them they start the blame game. Like our children so often, when confronted with their sin, they blame someone else for it. Man blames woman, woman blames snake, snake is left in the cold… I’ve seen my two boys do this. Caleb blames Seth, Seth blames Micah… Micah being 5 months old sucks his hand and smiles…
God then doles out the punishment based on their actions. We need to STRESS to our children that there is punishment for our sin. Man and woman did not get off easy. Likewise God will punish us for our sin. We never know how it may come about but He cannot allow us to live in sin. He still protected them, giving them covering for their naked body. Sadly the relationship was never the same.
Depending on the age of your children will determine how deep you can go. Do not pass up the opportunity though to talk about the consequences of sin. With your older children see if they know of a time that they saw someone (or themselves) punished for sin. Perhaps as a parent you can share that with your children. Wise is the child who will learn from the mistakes of the parent. Proverbs 3:1 comes to mind… It is our job to help them store these lessons.
Pray tonight for any un-confessed sin. Pray that God will forgive us for them and restore our relationship with Him. Your family can draw close to God if we as a family will confess sin with each other and encourage each other to repent. Blessed is the family who prays. Look at Colossians 4:2,5-6. Devote yourselves to prayer. Live wisely among sinners. Make the most of every opportunity.
Memory Verse: Show your children where the verse(s) that you are learning are fond in scripture. Never forget to keep reminding them that what they are hiding in their heart comes from God’s word.
Genesis 3:1-24
Sin. It destroys the perfect environment God had created. Adam and Eve (both were there when the serpent was tempting them) listen to the lies that are told to them. They can be wise like God. God is trying to hold them back. They forget all that God has given them. They give into the desire to be like him. They take a bite and realize what they have done.
Next they hear God in the garden and hide. They say it is because they are naked. Suddenly they are ashamed to show themselves uncovered to their creator. Clothing might have been missing but perhaps it was the fact that they were no longer unblemished by sin and they knew it.
When God questions them they start the blame game. Like our children so often, when confronted with their sin, they blame someone else for it. Man blames woman, woman blames snake, snake is left in the cold… I’ve seen my two boys do this. Caleb blames Seth, Seth blames Micah… Micah being 5 months old sucks his hand and smiles…
God then doles out the punishment based on their actions. We need to STRESS to our children that there is punishment for our sin. Man and woman did not get off easy. Likewise God will punish us for our sin. We never know how it may come about but He cannot allow us to live in sin. He still protected them, giving them covering for their naked body. Sadly the relationship was never the same.
Depending on the age of your children will determine how deep you can go. Do not pass up the opportunity though to talk about the consequences of sin. With your older children see if they know of a time that they saw someone (or themselves) punished for sin. Perhaps as a parent you can share that with your children. Wise is the child who will learn from the mistakes of the parent. Proverbs 3:1 comes to mind… It is our job to help them store these lessons.
Pray tonight for any un-confessed sin. Pray that God will forgive us for them and restore our relationship with Him. Your family can draw close to God if we as a family will confess sin with each other and encourage each other to repent. Blessed is the family who prays. Look at Colossians 4:2,5-6. Devote yourselves to prayer. Live wisely among sinners. Make the most of every opportunity.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Day 8 – Man and Woman – Gods Special Plan
Memory Verse: Amazing how well our children do with learning God’s words when we spend time helping them to. If your children are pretty solid on having learned the first one, then do the other one listed on Day one. If they haven’t gotten it fully down, then don’t worry and keep at it! By the end of week two they should be ready for another one. My 2nd year old was able to do a verse every 2 weeks with a little help. Be patient and excited as they learn. Give them starter words and any help they need.
Genesis 2:7,15-25
Part of what makes man special is the extra detail that God gives when he creates man. God gives us the breath of life. This might be hard on a younger child to understand but the concept that God made man personally (versus say speaking us into existence like he did light) is pretty unique.
God also gave man a job and realized that he needed help doing it. He created woman for man. The two belong together forever. There is so much depth for how a wife and a husband become one and can never be separated (divorced). There is the fact that a man and a wife are supposed to be close (from Adam’s rib). For younger children I would focus on that God had a plan, and it involved Adam and Eve.
Don’t forget to look that God also told Adam what he could not do. The first rule is given. Of course what happens when rules are given? We will see that tomorrow.
Thank God as a family that your family has spent a week in His word together. Thank God that He has blessed you with your family. So many people in this world live in darkness without the Truth of God. So many people do not have any idea that there is a Lord who loves them and provided a way to be restored to Him. Prepare your child’s heart for tomorrow when we talk about sin and how it breaks that relationship with God.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Storms and Safety
Last night was an amazaing storm. Huge amounts of rain, constant lightning, thunder and high winds. It was loud and seemed like one should expect a tornado siren to go off at any moment.
Amazingly my kids slept through it. No real worries. Infact they didn't even know it had rained till they saw the wet cement outside in the morning. They sleep with a peace of safety. They know mom and dad are there to protect them.
My wife and I however were up. Checking the internet (which was down...), wanting to check the weather channel (but the satelite didnt work due to the storm), and I scanned the radio (yet was unable to get any news station at all). We wanted to make sure our family was safe. Short of calling someone and waking them up we did what we could to make sure that we were not in danger. Finally we prayed and gave it to God and drifted off to sleep.
King Daved wrote many Psalms about the need for God in times of trouble and times of life that are filled with storms. We can rest assured that God hears us and answers our prayers. We need to teach our children that God is there in those times of troubles and storms. We need to make sure they know who the Rock is that they can cling to in times of trouble.
Perhaps then as parents we will be able sleep soundly knowing that our Children are safe in their saviors arms regardless of what storms come their way.
Amazingly my kids slept through it. No real worries. Infact they didn't even know it had rained till they saw the wet cement outside in the morning. They sleep with a peace of safety. They know mom and dad are there to protect them.
My wife and I however were up. Checking the internet (which was down...), wanting to check the weather channel (but the satelite didnt work due to the storm), and I scanned the radio (yet was unable to get any news station at all). We wanted to make sure our family was safe. Short of calling someone and waking them up we did what we could to make sure that we were not in danger. Finally we prayed and gave it to God and drifted off to sleep.
King Daved wrote many Psalms about the need for God in times of trouble and times of life that are filled with storms. We can rest assured that God hears us and answers our prayers. We need to teach our children that God is there in those times of troubles and storms. We need to make sure they know who the Rock is that they can cling to in times of trouble.
Perhaps then as parents we will be able sleep soundly knowing that our Children are safe in their saviors arms regardless of what storms come their way.
Day 7 – Creation Finished - Resting
Memory Verse: Its been a week. You have done something amazing as a family. If you have not missed a day then way to go! If you did, no worries, just keep at it! Seven days ago did you imagine your kids and possibly you would have come this far? There should be no stopping now that you have had a taste of what this is like!
Genesis 2:1-4
Everything is finished. God rests on the 7th day and declared it holy because He rested on this day. Since we are created in His image we are supposed to rest as He did and consider it a Holy day (Set apart from the rest). What does this mean to us? Well as a family we often have crazy schedules that run 7 days a week. We work Monday through Friday and we try to ‘catch up’ on what we missed on Saturday and Sunday. Mix in church on Sunday and do we really ever have any family time where we rest? We might need to apologize to our children for never having spent the time we’re command to, resting as a family. Let them know that as a family you will do better to make an effort to spend more time together. Part of what makes this whole process of family worship and growth with God is time together as a family.
This might be a tuff one as you can go the easy route and just say we need to rest more, or stop and think about God more. The truth to this one hits parents more. Our job is to raise children in a Godly way, give them a biblical world view, and teach them some tuff lessons. This is one of the first… seven days into it. God wants us to not fill our lives with so much stuff that we can’t rest. We teach our kids to do 20 things more than they need to and wonder why we they have problems later on. Simple is the way to go. We might need to work a little more during the week, and plan a little better to have that one day were we can rest as a family. Take in a picnic. Go for a walk. Do something that doesn’t require us to run around non-stop.
Pray as a family that you will make the time to spend time together. Focus on your family. You might have to ask God for forgiveness during prayer time. We tell our kids they need to ask for forgiveness when they do something wrong, and we need to model it when we do something wrong. Rejoice in the fact that your family is on the right path with God!
Memory Verse: Its been a week. You have done something amazing as a family. If you have not missed a day then way to go! If you did, no worries, just keep at it! Seven days ago did you imagine your kids and possibly you would have come this far? There should be no stopping now that you have had a taste of what this is like!
Genesis 2:1-4
Everything is finished. God rests on the 7th day and declared it holy because He rested on this day. Since we are created in His image we are supposed to rest as He did and consider it a Holy day (Set apart from the rest). What does this mean to us? Well as a family we often have crazy schedules that run 7 days a week. We work Monday through Friday and we try to ‘catch up’ on what we missed on Saturday and Sunday. Mix in church on Sunday and do we really ever have any family time where we rest? We might need to apologize to our children for never having spent the time we’re command to, resting as a family. Let them know that as a family you will do better to make an effort to spend more time together. Part of what makes this whole process of family worship and growth with God is time together as a family.
This might be a tuff one as you can go the easy route and just say we need to rest more, or stop and think about God more. The truth to this one hits parents more. Our job is to raise children in a Godly way, give them a biblical world view, and teach them some tuff lessons. This is one of the first… seven days into it. God wants us to not fill our lives with so much stuff that we can’t rest. We teach our kids to do 20 things more than they need to and wonder why we they have problems later on. Simple is the way to go. We might need to work a little more during the week, and plan a little better to have that one day were we can rest as a family. Take in a picnic. Go for a walk. Do something that doesn’t require us to run around non-stop.
Pray as a family that you will make the time to spend time together. Focus on your family. You might have to ask God for forgiveness during prayer time. We tell our kids they need to ask for forgiveness when they do something wrong, and we need to model it when we do something wrong. Rejoice in the fact that your family is on the right path with God!
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