Posted by ajenkins on October 11, 2009 under Devotionals, Just A Thought | 
Family Devotions Tips
Starting devotions with very young children builds time with God into the rhythm of their lives at an early age.
Here are some tips for successful devotional times:
1. Be Consistent. Determine how many days a week you will spend in daily devotions. Will it be every day, every other day, or only weekdays? Choose a time that works for your family. Involve your children by letting them put stickers or drawing smiley faces on the calendar for each successful daily devotion. Keep the calendar accessible to the children and celebrate each successful week.
2. Keep it Short. Leave your children wanting more. For example, if you play a game until everyone is tired then you have played too long. However, if you end with everyone screaming “one more round”, you will have them coming back eagerly to play next time. Finishing on a high note creates anticipation for the next time. Remember: Less is more.
3. Keep it Simple. Do not make the material too complex for your child. If you would like more information on age-appropriate resources, please contact Mary Ellen Doran at mdoran@saint-james.org
4. Have Fun. The #1 goal of devotion time is to have fun. Children will learn their is joy in their friendship with God. Family Devotions should never become boring.
5. Don’t Give Up. If you take the “All or Nothing” approach you will surely fail. Realize that you will not be perfect in your devotional life. Remember to see everyday as a new opportunity. You may even want to build some days off in your devotional life. Remember: Don’t let a bad patch stop you.
6. Involve the Kids. Family devotions are not a one-way street. Devotions must engage the parents and children. Use a devotional book with pictures to help you. You then can ask the children simple questions about the pictures/story. Take advantage of daily devotions that have a short prayer or Bible verse. Children learn through repetition, so have the children repeat the prayers or verses.
We pray these tips will help you create successful devotional times with your family.
Posted by ajenkins on under Devotionals |
20091010 – Arthur’s Note: this is the first of a devotional using the Heidelberg Catechism. Learn more about the Heidelberg Catechism here.
Question 1. What is your only comfort in life and death?
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)
(a) Rom.14:7,8; 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living..”
(b) 1 Cor. 6:19; “19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”
(c) 1 Cor.3:23; “and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. Titus 2:14; who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
(d) 1 Pet.1:18,19; knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
(e) Heb.2:14; “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,’
1 John 3:8; “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
John 8:36; “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
(f) John 6:39; “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”
1 Peter 1:5; who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
(g) Matt.10:29,30; “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? [1] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
(h) Rom.8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
(i) 2 Cor.1:20-22; “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
(j) Rom.8:14; “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
1 John 3:3; “And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”
For your personal reflection:
In what or whom do you find your comfort? What disturbs your comfort? What can restore it?
What does the comfort of Jesus Christ cost? You? Him?
Is it worth it?
Posted by ajenkins on under Just A Thought |
How would it affect the church if our perspective changed? How would it affect the church if we saw the Church, the Bride of Christ through God’s eyes? How would it affect our lives?
We see the church as a place to go to.
God sees the Church as the people who go.
We see the church as a place where we drop our children off to teach them about God.
God sees the Church as the parents sharing their faith with their children.
We see the church as place where the clergy ministers to us.
God sees the Church as the people who minister to the world.
We see the church as God’s Plan A for the help of the world.
God sees the Church as Plan B with the Family as Plan A.
We see the church as the center for Christian Education.
God sees the Church as the Family who shares the faith with our children.
We see the church as the place where we go to do mission.
God sees the Church as the place where the mission leaves to go.
We see the church as a place for programs.
God sees the Church as a place for conversation.
We see the church as the place where we go to pray.
God sees the Church as the place where we pray to go.
We see the church as the focus of the Christian mission.
God sees His Kingdom as the focus of the Christian mission.
We see the church as the place where “we” are the point.
God sees the Church as the place the place where “they” are the point.
We see the church as the place where we go to have our needs met.
God sees the Church as the place where we go prepare to meet the needs of others.
We see the church as the destination.
God see the Kingdom as the destination.
How would it affect the world, if we could see the Church, the Faith, our faith from God’s perspective?
It’s Just A Thought.
