TRY THESE: Faith-Nurturing Family Activities

Family devotions are notorious for giving migraines to parents and causing children to groan. Formal family devotions at home can range from breakfast Scripture readings, bedtime prayers, or even "sermonettes for Christianettes from the dinette." But even these can come across as irreverently artificial, canned, and hokey, further creating a gap between church and home. Christian parents realize the value of time at home spent with God -- but how do we do it? Family faith-building need not always be structured to be effective. Whether the setting is formal or impromptu, the purpose is a conscious effort to strengthen communication, to experience communion, and to build community.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 suggests the best way to meet these goals. Moses says that "these commandments...are to be upon your hearts." We are told to "impress them on [our] children." How? By talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." WOW! Here's movement; crafts (gee, we should even write on our doorframes -- get out those stencils!); conversation; and creative, hands-on teaching at its best -- all to be done with our children.

Activities that are natural yet directed, routine yet imaginative, personal yet spiritual, nurture faith at home. A spiritual home will produce a spiritual child who matures into a spiritual adult. Here are specific activities to help parents build their children's faith at home.

• Worship Preparation -- Prepare for formal "at church" worship before you leave home. Wake up earlier than your kids so you're not rushed. My mom diffused the Sunday-morning-rush stress by waking us up to the soft sounds of Christian music. Music sets an emotional tone wherever it's heard. It worked for King Saul, and it worked in our madhouse also.
• Prayer-- Have you ever passed by someone broken down on the side of the road but you just couldn't stop? Why not pray aloud for that person? Or when you spot an ambulance or squad car speeding to the scene of a problem, pray for the people involved, their safety, and their relationship with God. You'll find that children fight over who gets to pray. Another time for prayer is just before kids run off to school. My wife commits our children to the Lord and challenges them to stand up for the things that are right and against the things that are wrong.

Bible Reading/Study -- Read a key verse at breakfast. Read or tell a Bible story in your words before bedtime. Bible reading should be a social, bonding opportunity, not a dry discipline devoid of purpose. Remember: Short passages for "short people," long passages for "long people."

Meals Together -- Mealtime is family together-time. Even if you regularly don't eat meals together, you can still create activities that nurture faith during mealtime. Assign table-setting chores and the before-dinner prayer to different family members. My daughter loves to have everyone pray with her when she prays. Encourage conversation. I like to ask open-ended questions at the table. Ask each person, "What's the best thing that happened to you today? the worst?" Instead of asking, "What did you do at school today?" get specific: "Who did you play with at recess? Who did you sit with at lunch and what did you talk about? Who was your friend today at school?"

Family Fun -- Television, the newspaper, Nintendo, shopping, and the telephone can interrupt or effectively eliminate opportunities to build faith. Pull the plug on these things. I like to join my daughter in cleaning up her room. She and I have a great time singing the cleanup song and sharing. Or set up craft or coloring books on the kitchen table as kids get home from school. This will give them an opportunity to be creative and will give you an opportunity to talk with them. Board games have become one of our family's favorite activities. Around the Monopoly board, we dream about what our homes will look like someday on the inside and outside.

Celebrations -- Birthdays in our home are all-day events. One child is special, and we emphasize that. On holidays we try to focus on giving to others. We encourage each child to learn the value of giving by picking out a gift for siblings. On Easter we decorate together and invite another family to help. We tell the stories that make the holidays meaningful and focus on others in practical ways. Traditions are powerful ways to bond and cement what's important. My grandfather would tell the story " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" each Christmas morning. Before packages are opened, we read the Bible's account of Jesus' birth.

 Vacations -- The best part of a vacation is the memories it gives family members. Planning, packing, sitting in a car for hours on end, sleeping in a strange bed, and having unexpected breakdowns produce stress and conflict. But no sooner have we returned from a vacation than we're planning the next one. Why? Because of the intense togetherness of these excursions. My wife and I were surprised to learn that our children prefer driving to flying. Our children (11, 8, and 5) prefer driving because they have our undivided attention for hundreds of miles. To a child those dull stretches of highway look great when you have your parents all to yourselves. We play road games, stop for treats (a.k.a. potty stops), and have crazy conversations. Prayer for the journey is standard, but what about prayer at the restaurant so others will know that God is important? What do you do on Sunday away from your home? Try sitting together in a different church for the first time -- maybe even a church from a different denomination.

Service Projects -- It's been wonderful to hear my kids pray each night for the last four years for Mariamu in Zimbabwe. We sponsor this little girl and pray specifically for her food, water, education, and family. We feature her picture [rominently in our home. She has literally grown up with us. Visiting convalescents' homes as a family, helping a new neighbor move in, bringing lunch to Habitat for Humanity workers, or assisting in a park cleanup gives kids the valuable experience of seeing faith with works.

Sacrificial Giving -- Allowance time is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate sacrifice and giving. Set up three cups: one for God, one for saving, and one with your child's picture on it. Allow children to determine who gets what, and help them stick to it. Let their savings be for a specific project. Turn in their "God" cup once a month at church (once a week for younger kids).

Rest -- Spiritual nap-time? Sometimes a busy family needs a break. God knew we would fill our time with busyness and commitments. Rest doesn't come naturally, so God had to command that we take a break. A family pause is an ideal time to regroup, reconnect, and recharge.

Family Mission Statement -- Stephen Covey introduces an important concept in the life of a family by encouraging families to come up with mission statements. Covey writes that there's a "supreme value in the process of long-term thinking and planning in building strong families. Deciding as a family what your worthy purposes, worthy visions, and worthy values are will unite your family in ways you've only dreamed of. Your mission statement will embody principles everyone has participated in choosing and that everyone has committed to live, both publicly and privately." In the process of writing your statement, everyone gives input into the "big picture" of your family. God is placed at the center of your home not by chance, but because you've purposed it to be that way.

Family Conference -- We have family night every Saturday. We take turns planning an activity. If it costs money, then Dad has to be consulted to see if it's in the budget. We also have three or four family conferences each year to assess our assigned chores and responsibilities, to evaluate family nights, and just to connect in a formal way.

Conflict Resolvers -- Sometimes siblings can get on each other's nerves. What better way to redirect tension than to think about the good qualities of one another. Whenever someone in our family is mean-spirited to another family member, the offender has to say or write four things he or she appreciates about the other person. This makes us thankful for one another and tenderhearted. It's also fun to watch the other person take in the compliments. We conclude with all of us chiming in a good quality we appreciate.

Times when we have to discipline our children become great opportunities to share God's forgiveness and unconditional love. Last night my two boys had a water fight in the basement with their friends. They were in their rooms awaiting the punishment, and their contrite hearts melted my wife and me. They were truly sorry and said, "I wish I could take it back." What a wonderful time to share the forgiveness that resembles God's forgiveness.
Conflicts, as with all family situations, provide clear opportunities to put flesh to Jesus, put teaching into practice, and make Christ the center of our homes and therefore our lives.

Child Dedication- June 17th FATHER'S DAY

If you would like to dedicate your child to the Lord, please fill click HERE to register your family. You can also sign-up at the ALL THINGS FREEDOM BOOTH in the church lobby.

Don't expect God to do what you won't do

 

I wonder how many times I continued to beg God for something when I knew it was going to take a little work on my part to bring about change. Sure, I have experienced some water to wine, blind to vision miracles in my life but most of the time the miracles in my life have been “time delayed” because I needed to put forth some effort to see the results.

Lazarus is a great example of this. Jesus provided the power to raise Lazarus from death, but Lazarus still had to walk out. Tiny step by tiny step, bandaged, bruised and bewildered, he had to walk out of a tomb that had the smell of death. I'm sure it wasn't easy for him to shuffle out the way he did. I can relate a bit to Lazarus. Mary and I had to take some active steps to move from a hectic unhealthy path to a path of health in our own lives. We rearranged priorities and set some new ones, and one step at a time bandaged, bruised and bewildered, we had to walk out.

There were days, months, when I felt like these were impossible steps to take. Occasionally, I would loose my emotional and spiritual equilibrium and would end up facedown until someone helped me back up, loosened the bandages and encouraged me to keep moving. Please hear me when I say that God brings life from death, resurrection from ruin, but occasionally you must put in some work to walk out of the tomb that so desperately wants to keep you hostage.

Jesus brought Lazarus back from death, but Lazarus had to walk out one tiny step at a time. I don’t think it was easy waddling out of that tomb all bandaged up. Lazarus had to put in some work. And so will you.

Steps to Keep Moving
Step 1: Move forward an inch at a time, a day at a time, but keep moving forward.
Step 2: See Step 1

A great article by a great leader!-Craig Jutila

Family Fun Night Ideas

6 family-pleasing ideas that'll help family members learn about each other and their faith!

Go, go, go! That's all families do today. They're frazzled from running to meetings, lessons, sporting events, school activities, church, work, parties...they long for a break just to be a family for once.
How can your church programs help families feel closer instead of fragmenting them even more? Provide events that bring families together. Get started with these intergenerational family-time ideas.

1. We schedule meetings for different ages all on one night of the week. Then we bring families together before the meetings start with a low-cost meal, such as spaghetti, a salad bar, or tacos. Church members serve dinner for $1 (kids pay less). We have "dinnertainment"-people act out parts in simple skits. I bring photocopies of instant skits and assign roles on the spot. We also provide activities for children, such as balloon-blowing contests or simple relays. We recognize people who received honors during the week, such as kids making the honor roll. Each week, families update their prayer needs and answers to prayer on our prayer chart. We have a flannel-backed bulletin board with a tree shape on it. Family members write prayer requests on Velcro-backed leaves and put them on the tree for everyone to pray for during the week.
   -- Joan Zeldenrust, a Christian education director in Lansing, Illinois
2. We use family nights to build community. We make giant dominoes by cutting 3 X 4-foot cards out of tagboard, cardboard, or poster board. We draw a line down the middle and paint dots like dominoes, such as six dots on one side and three on the other. We make several dominoes with a blank side. We spread out the dominoes on the floor. Then we start the music and have people walk around the dominoes. When the music stops, family members each put their toe on a dot. The blank space can hold as many people as necessary. Each time we stop the music, we remove one domino but always leave a domino with a blank side on it. No one is eliminated. Family members help others get on dominoes so that everyone has a place each time the music stops.
   -- Glenn Bannerman, president of Bannerman Family Celebration Services, Inc., in Montreat, North Carolina
3. We have a fun family night every third Friday night. It's an easy, uncomplicated, informal time to socialize. Each family brings a pizza and liter of soft drink. Families eat together and play volleyball. Young children watch videos. Sometimes we go to someone's pool to swim.
   Judy Kile, director of education, youth, and evangelism in Kansas City, Missouri
4. Our families enjoy making pizza together. We have all the supplies at the church when families arrive. They pay a small fee to cover the cost. Families make the dough, top it, and let it cook. While it's cooking, we have a short devotional.-- Keith Johnson, pastor of children's ministry, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota
5. We have a family talent show once a year.Families prepare acts to do together. We also have individual family members perform. We serve light refreshments and enjoy one another's talents. -- Kathie Taylor, a Sunday school teacher in Stamford, Connecticut
6. We connect families to the uniqueness of our church. For example, I dressed mannequins with church vestments. I made signs for different parts of our church such as "Hi, I'm the narthex. It's like worshipping in an ark." When families arrived, we had a short family worship. Then I gave each family a list of 40 to 50 items to find in the church. Families have 20 minutes to find the items. Afterward, I gave them a list of questions to discuss: What was something new you learned? What funny thing happened to you? What were the most meaningful things that happened to you? -- Dick Hardel of the Augsburg Youth and Family Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota

SUMMER IN THE GREENHOUSE! ALL ABOUT SPORTS!

This summer, we are putting our focus on sports and how it relates to our relationship with God! It is going to be lots of fun!!! Men, if you're looking to hang out and build your relationship with your kids as well as their friends, this summer is the time to jump in and hang out with us in the Greenhouse! Get your kids to invite their friends and also SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 30th (more details coming soon)

 

Below shows you what we'll be covering each week this summer! Thank you for investing in your kids and for allowing us to invest in your kids too!

 

 

Go the Distance

 

June 3 "Change" God changes Paul in an instant Acts 9:1-18 (Change can improve our game. God can change us in an instant.) Rick Ankiel's homerun wins the game.

June 10 "Endurance" Paul and Silas endure prison Acts 16:16-34; 2 Cor 11:23-35 (enduring hardships builds our strength. God can use our problems for His glory.) Pittsburgh Steeler Rocky Bleier overcomes hardship to win.

June 17 "Rest" Paul rests after a shipwreck Acts 27:1-44 (an off-season recharges us. Because God never takes an off-season, He always cares for us.) NASCAR driver Mark Martin wins the race.

June 24 "Teamwork" Paul meets and shares with King Agrippa Acts 25:23-27, 26:1-32 (We can't do it alone. We need others to help us win. We are not alone because God is with us.) Michael Jordan and Steve Kerr team up to win the game.

July 1 "Finish Strong" Paul finishes strong 2 Tim 4:6-8 (doing our best helps us finish strong. Finishing God's ways has eternal rewards.) Laura Wilkinson dives to win the gold medal

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The Great Comeback

 

 

July 8 "A Go-To Person" Elijah and the Widow's Son 1 Kings 17:7-24 (Comeback teams always have a go-to person. In life, God is the best Go-To person.) Sanya Richards: 2008 Olympic Runner

July 15 "A Desperate Moment" Elisha and the Shunammite Woman 2 Kings 4:8-37 (in desperate moments, comeback leaders remain calm. Prayer is the best starting poit in life's desperate moments.) Michael Phelps: 2008 Olympic Swimmer

July 22 "A Leader who knows it can happen" Lazarus Raised from the Dead John 11:1-44 (comeback leaders have an inner confidence. In Life, our inner confidence comes from God.) Glenn "Doc" River: Boston Celtics Coach

July 29: "A Reason to Comeback" Jesus on the Road to Emmaus Luke 25: 13-31 (The greatest comebacks are done for others. Jesus' greatest comeback was done for us.) Hugh McCutcheon:2008 Olympc Volleyball Coach

August 5: "A Follow-Up Performance" The Rapture John 14:1-3; 1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Thess 4:15-17 (Great comeback leaders have more than one comeback. Jesus' final comeback lasts forever.) Joe Montana: "The Catch"

5/20 in the GH and Memorial Day weekend for GH and REV56

May 20th: Yesterday, we had a great time learning about "No matter where you are... trust God!" The kids heard a funny story about Jesus having breakfast with his friends who were out catching some fish (John 21:1-14) and we talked about no matter where we are or what we are going through, we can trust God.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

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This coming week, in the GH, on May 27th, we will be learning about "No matter what people do... trust God!" as we wrap up our trusting God series! They will be hearing the story of Jesus being arrested and put on trial. (Matthew 26:36-27:31)

This is the Bible verse we will be going over: "But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles." (Isaiah 40:31)

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Starting June 3rd, your kids will want to invite their friends the whole summer for a fun-filled SPORTS series!!! 

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This week at REV56, we will be on our 3rd week of our NOT A FAN series... they won't want to miss it! Also, make sure they bring $2 to purchase a bracelet!

 

You weren't meant to go through life alone!

God designed you to do life with other people... to be encouraged by eachother, to spur one another on, to lift eachother up, to have a shoulder to cry on, to be completely real with, to laugh with--or at :)

What relationships do you have in your life? Who are you allowing to speak into you? Whose life are you speaking into?

It's been said that what you pour in is what you will pour out.... what are you getting filled up with? Negative, unhealthy relationships? or Positive relationships with people who are on the same journey with you and trying to reach a common goal?

Get plugged in... NOW! Now is the time to build relationships with people! You need them and they need you :)

Check out the Freedom Small Group catalog and jump into a Summer Small group... If you keep waiting for tomorrow to start, you'll have a whole bunch of today's piled up and tomorrow will never come. Jump in!

http://www.freedom-church.org/www.freedom-church.org/web/content/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012-Summer-Groupssmall.pdf

How to spot a Greenhouse Leader

New Greenhouse Leader Shirts!!! BAM.

What's this shirt mean if you see someone wearing it? It means they are first aid certified, back ground checked, application and interview approved to love your kids!

The Greenhouse is a safe and fun place for kids to discover God!

My Bible and Devotional Recommendations for birth-teens

 

Faithgirlz Bible

This is great for girls age 8-12
Every girl is unique and special, and here’s a Bible that connects them more closely to God, themselves, and their friends—all with Faithgirlz! sparkle.

Features include:

• Dream Girl—use your imagination to put yourself in the story
• Bring It On—take quizzes to really get to know yourself
• Is There a Little ____ (Eve, Ruth, Isaiah) in You?—see for yourself what you have in common
• Between You and Me—share what you are learning with a friend! Between God and Me—get brutally honest with God through guided journaling space
• Oh, I Get It!—find answers to Bible questions you've wondered about
• Complete NIV translation—the most read, most trusted translation.

http://www.familychristian.com/faithgirlz-bible-niv-2.html

 

Adventure Bible-NIV: #1 Bible for Kids

This is great for boys and girls just learning to read through age 10!

Ready for Adventure? Embark on a fun, exciting journey through God’s Word with the Adventure Bible. Along the way you’ll meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of things about the Bible. Most importantly you’ll grow closer in your relationship with God. Recommended by more Christian schools and churches than any other Bible for kids.

Description:
The #1 Bible for kids! The Adventure Bible takes you on a fun, exciting journey through God’s Word. Along the way you’ll meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of things about the Bible. Most importantly, you’ll grow closer in your relationship with God. Here’s a quick tour through the features: • Life in Bible Times—Articles and illustrations describe what life was like in ancient days • Words to Treasure—Highlights great verses to memorize • Did You Know?—Interesting facts help you understand God’s Word and the life of faith • People in Bible Times—Articles offer close-up looks at amazing people of the Bible • Live It!—Hands-on activities help you apply biblical truths to your life • Twenty full-color pages—games, a scavenger hunt, and other Bible fun, with a jungle safari theme • Book introductions with useful facts about each book of the Bible • Dictionary/concordance for looking up tricky words • Color map section to help locate places in the Bible • Complete text of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible Recommended by more Christian schools and churches than any other Bible for kids!

 WE TEACH FROM THIS IN THE GREENHOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Candle Bible for Toddlers

The Candle Bible for Toddlers has all the favorite stories in the Bible: Noah and the Flood, the Lost Sheep, Jonah, and many more. Each classic story is retold in clear words and simple sentences. A great book full of Bible stories and colorful illustrations written especially for toddlers and perfect for first time readers.

Ages: 4 – 8
http://www.familychristian.com/candle-bible-for-toddlers.html

WE USE THIS ONE IN THE GREENHOUSE!!!!

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name

 

The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the Story is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David-every story points to him. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle-the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle. A Bible like no other, The Jesus Storybook Bible invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation-and at the center of their Story too.

Product Details
Ages: 4-8
http://www.familychristian.com/the-jesus-storybook-bible-every-story-whispers-his-name.html

2:52 Boys Bible: The Ultimate Manual

From the manly, metal-looking cover to the cool features inside, The 2:52 Boys' Bible, NIV is the "ultimate manual"" designed for boys ages 8 to 12. Based on Luke 2:52: "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men," this Bible focuses on the four primary areas of growth highlighted in the Scripture to help boys become more like Jesus mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially-smarter, stronger, deeper, and cooler.

This unique Bible uses the full-text of the New International Version^R and contains a study system called the 2:52 Track that takes boys through the Bible using the four primary areas. Each track highlights people, stories, and Scriptures that help boys grow towards maturity and manhood.

For Toddlers
The Beginner’s Bible, the bestselling Bible storybook of our time, now in a special edition just for toddlers. Toddlers will love this special edition of The Beginner’s Bible created especially for tiny hands to carry with them wherever they go. The toddlers edition features a smaller size, a go-anywhere handle, and an easy Velcro closure. Toddlers will come to know and love the key stories and characters of the Bible with this best-loved Bible storybook. Now updated with vibrant new art, text, and over 25 stories, The Beginner’s Bible is the perfect starting point for children. Toddlers will enjoy the fun illustrations of Noah helping the elephant onto the ark, Jonah praying inside the fish, and more, as they discover The Beginner’s Bible for Toddlers just like millions of children before!

http://www.familychristian.com/for-toddlers.html

Adventure Bible Storybook 

The newest edition to the top-selling Adventure series, this storybook Bible for kids ages 4-7 will start them on a journey of discovering about the Bible and growing with God as they grow up with the Adventure Bible, at every age and stage, beginning with the Bible Storybook and continuing on through age 12 with the NIV edition.
At every twist and turn, the Adventure Bible Storybook is filled with—what else—ADVENTURE! Parents and loved ones can be assured that children who read it will learn the main stories and themes from the Bible, but all within a fun, exciting theme of discovering, imagination, and suspense—everything you’d expect from a fantastic adventure.
This storybook includes some lesser known stories that are particularly adventurous, such as Paul’s shipwreck on the island of Malta, and when the Israelites went to spy on the people of Canaan.
http://www.familychristian.com/adventure-bible-storybook.html

My First Read and Learn Bible

For Babies!!!

Baby's First Read and Learn Bible features eight timeless stories from the Old and New Testament including: the Creation, The Story of Noah, The Nativity, and Jesus and the Children. Illustrated in full color, this is a perfect introduction to the Bible for the youngest of children.

http://www.familychristian.com/my-first-read-and-learn-bible.html

NIV Revolution: The Bible for Teen Guys

For every teenage guy who wants to live a revolutionary life. The Revolution Begins with You!

If case you did not know, you are in a war. Your enemy is dead serious. He wants you to think the battle raging around you is not big deal. It is a big deal. Your life, your relationships, your world – it is all a big deal, and it takes a big, God-filled heart to make a difference.

It is time to stand up and fight for what is right. Time to be a revolutionary – living your faith on the edge, challenging things that need to be challenged, discovering new possibilities, helping others to discover them as well. Fill your hands with Revolution. It will open your eyes, strengthen your courage, and guide you like a compass toward a life worth living.

But this is a Bible!

Yeah – a Bible like none other you have ever read, for today’s teenage guy going toe-to=toe with a hard-hitting world. A world God knows all about. He is the authority when it comes to understanding girls, sex, communication, drugs, divorce, relationships, success, parents, popularity, peer pressure and everything else guys face. He also knows what makes you tick, He loves you more than you can ever imagine, and he wants you to experience a life of purpose, power and impact.

The features in this Bible will strengthen you and hone our spiritual fighting edge. Battlelines show you how other teen guys deal with relationships, sex, drug abuse and other real-life issues. Match-Ups pit the good guys against the bad guys of the Bible to uncover winning – and losing – approaches to life. Challenge Notes do just that: challenge you to reach for everything God wants you to be. And there is plenty more – enough to help you make a kingdom-difference in the world around you.

A Revolution of the heart is not about how confident, strong, or popular you are. It is about what God can do in you and through you. He can revolutionize your relationship, your opportunities, and the whole course of your life. He can use you to change the world around you. Are you ready to find out how? Then look inside and let the revolution begin.

Feature 

• 125 Battlelines interviews share solid insights from everyday, normal guys about sex, conflict, music, anger, addition, popularity and more.
• 12 full-color tip-ins give you 50 Ways to Be Radical for God, 100 Things Real Men Do and other ideas to help you revolutionize all aspects of your life.
• 100 Instant Messenger-style Challenge Notes paraphrase key Scriptures that call you onward and upward to all that God has for you.
• Over 200 Now or Never call-outs challenge you to discover God’s truth on a variety of faith-related issues.
• 100 Live the Adventure notes show you how to change your life and revolutionize your impace on others.
• 50 Match-Ups capture the conflict between good guys and bad guys of the Bible. Cain vs. Able, Ahab vs. Elija, and David vs. Saul … they have moves you can learn from – and moves to avoid.
• 66 books introductions provide overviews for each book of the Bible to help you dive in and know what is going on.
• Customer-designed reading plans let you pick the topic you are interested in.

Product Details
Ages: 13 – 16
http://www.familychristian.com/bibles/niv-revolution-the-bible-for-teen-guys.html

True Images: The Bible for Teen Girls-NIV

True Images connects the timeless truths of the Bible to your life, your relationships, and the things you care about most. Above all, you’ll get to know the God who loves you and has plans for you that are bigger and better than you can imagine.

Features:

• 120 “In Focus” articles take you inside other girls’ lives to see how the Bible applies to your own issues
• Over 300 “Genuine” notes focus on true inner beauty
• Over 500 “Truth or Dare” call-outs dare you to discover God’s truth about life and faith
• 52 “Mirror Images” profile the good girls and bad girls of the Bible
• Over 100 short “Love Notes from God” tell the very personal message of how much God loves you and of your incredible value in his eyes
• 24 full-color tip-ins bring you fun quizzes that reveal a lot about you
• “Reflections from the Other Side” reveal what guys think about different topics
• 66 book introductions

Page edges of Bibles: they can be plain, gilded, or stained. But printed? Yes, this edition of the bestselling True Images Bible has page edges that are actually printed with a youthful, contemporary paisley design in colors that coordinate with its trendy Italian Duo-Tone™ binding. It’s a look that’s sure to appeal to the young teen who wants a Bible that speaks to her in a unique design that fits her lifestyle.

Product Details
Ages: 13-16

http://www.familychristian.com/bibles/true-images-the-bible-for-teen-girls-niv.html

DEVOTIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PASTOR TIFFANY

  

Book of Devotions: My Time with God

For Toddlers:
My Time with God is a great way to start or end your child's day---by spending time with God. Preschoolers will love The Beginner's Bible art and the everyday situations they encounter. You'll love the simple connection to a Bible story and memory verse. Together you'll enjoy an activity, song, or prayer that brings home the story's theme. It's the perfect starting point for children as they discover the life and fun of the Bible, just like millions of children before them!
http://www.familychristian.com/book-of-devotions-my-time-with-god-1.html

Gotta Have God - Devotions for Guys

These books teach guys to rely on God as they learn more about the Bible and themselves. Available in age groups 2-5, 6-9, and 10-12.

http://www.familychristian.com/gotta-have-god-devotions-for-guys-vol-1.html

God & Me! Devotions for Girls

From toddlers through pre-teens, girls need to know that God is the friend they can count on as they mature. Available in age groups 2-5, 6-9, and 10-12.

http://www.familychristian.com/god-me-devotions-for-girls.html

Heads Up!: Sports Devotions for All-Star Kids

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS:
Sports Spectrum's Dave Branon hits a home run when he brings together the worlds of faith and sports to create this unique devotional designed just for young sports fanatics. Heads Up! uses stories of athletes and sporting events to inspire faith and achievement in kids, ages 8 and up. Each day's devotions includes: ? A 'game plan' - verse for the day ? A 'playbook assignment' - a short Scripture passage ? 'On the chalkboard' - final thoughts In addition to great devotions, you'll also find scattered throughout birthdays of some well-known athletes, sports tips, and rare facts & figures. With all the challenges that kids face today, Heads Up! is a great inspirational book for the young all-star kid.
http://www.familychristian.com/heads-up-sports-devotions-for-all-star-kids.html

Dear Diary: A Girl's Book of Devotions

The years between ages 8-12 can be an awkward and uncertain time for many girls. Not quite a little girl, but still not a teenager - just in between. Well, author and teen advocate, Susie Shellenberger introduces a unique and creative devotional just for girls ages 8-12 in a way that is totally cool. Dear Diary is a hip new devotional that addresses many of the issues facing young girls today, by providing biblically based solutions at a time when straight answers and solutions to real-life challenges aren't always so clear-cut. Written in the style of a young girl writing in her diary, each devotion not only offers guidance but also encourages girls to develop their God-confidence.

http://www.familychristian.com/dear-diary-a-girls-book-of-devotions.html

The One Year Mother-Daughter Devo

"The One Year Mother-Daughter Devo" is designed to be used by a mother and her tween daughter; both can read and understand the same devotion and share in the "girl gab" section to discuss their understanding of Scripture and their relationship with God. The devotion will strengthen mother-daughter relationships as well as their relationships with God. Topics for the devotions are centered around issues that the best-selling author (Dannah Gresh) is known for addressing through her books and mother-daughter conferences. Topics include modesty, purity, self-esteem, handling emotions, witnessing, living the faith. Dannah will encourage mother-daughter devotional time as a part of her conference curriculum for 2010- 2011, which will present a natural connection for the devotional.

Product DetailsAges: 8 - 12

http://www.familychristian.com/the-one-year-mother-daughter-devo.html

Teen Devotional Bible-NIV
Being a teenager--well, it has its ups and downs. It's cool to discover new stuff about yourself. But you've also got to make a lot of choices about who you want to be. You've got a lot of questions about God, dating, sex, faith, drugs, friends, your family, popularity--and the list goes on. Hey, you're not alone. Open up this Bible and read devotions written by teens like you who are dealing with the same stuff. They want to share with you what God has to say and how he can help you get through anything.
The NIV Teen Devotional Bible is written by teens for teens. Its 260 weekday devotions can help you find out what the Bible says about stuff that really matters to you. You'll love the exciting look and feel of this Bible. The page-by-page bursts of surprising facts, cool graphics, crazy humor, and radical ideas to chew on--and apply. The introductions loaded with features that help you get to know each book of the Bible. Fifty-two weekend devotions by youth experts that sum up the week. And 22 full-color pages about tough issues for teens, written by well-known speakers such as Dawson McAllister, Susie Shellenberger, and Jay Kessler.
Featuring lots of material from Youth Specialties and Campus Life Magazine--2 of America's coolest, most in-touch youth resources--The NIV Teen Devotional Bible is about real life. About real teens. About YOU.
The only NIV devotional Bible available for teens ages 12-15. - Daily devotions by, for, and about teens; 52 weekend devotions by well-known youth leaders. - Addresses issues relevant to today’s teens, such as faith, life, family, friends, and the future.

Check out this link for some other good stuff for your kiddos! http://www.familychristian.com/kids/early-readers.html?limit=30

Please contact me if you would like help finding some more things for your kids to bring faith into the home tiffany@freedom-church.org

-Pastor Tiffany

3 keys to effective parenting VIDEO

http://vimeo.com/39099567

Why Proverbs 22:6 is Not a Guarantee

 

 

"Train up a child and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

This is one of the most often quoted verses about raising children. I have heard people use it as a guarantee that if a parent or church raises a child correctly, they will grow up to love and serve Jesus.

But I do not believe it is a guarantee. Here's why...

Kids have a free will. The word "train" means to coach. We can coach children how to live for Jesus...but we can't do it for them. At the end of the day, each person must decide for themselves if they are going to follow Jesus. God doesn't have any grandchildren.

Good parenting doesn't guarantee kids will grow up to love Jesus. God is the perfect parent...and look how many of His children make poor choices, go their own way, and don't follow what He has taught them in His Word. A lot of good parents are beating themselves up because of the poor choices their adult children are making. Stop blaming yourself.

Look at life. I have seen children who came from terrible, ungodly, abusive home situations grow up to be passionate followers of Christ. And I have seen children from the best of homes walk away from what they were taught.

Environments and influences play a huge role in a child's life, but they do not have the final say. Friends, parents, family, home situations, teachers, and surroundings all contribute to the decisions a child makes...but they are not the final, deciding factor. It's the personal choices of the person.

We must pour everything we can into children's lives. We must love them...teach them...train them...be good examples for them...pray for and with them...surround them with good friends...read God's Word with them. The more we pour into them, the better opportunity they have to grow up to love and serve Jesus.

But there is no guarantee. The only guarantee we have is that Jesus loves them and wants a close relationship with them.

Happy Mother's Day!



Mother's Day Prayer

My mom, I love her
And that's why I pray
Not just today on this Mother's Day

But with each remembrance
Of the love she's expressed
My thankfulness to the Lord I've professed

For my life began
In a warm and safe place
Then grew more secure in Mom's tender embrace

When I was little
She taught me to crawl
Then to walk and run, and get up when I fall

Nurtured and cared for

She raised me to stand
Lifted, supported, by her loving hand

She believed in me

Inspired me to dream
Nothing was impossible for me, it seemed

It was her example
That pointed the way
To the life in Christ I know today

My mom, I love her
On this Mother's Day
She's the reason I'm taking this moment to pray

My mom, I love her
Let her know, dear Lord
Please bless her with the most abundant reward

MOMS---WE LOVE YOU!

Sword Drills--a family activity

The basic idea is that I give them a reference to look up and they "race" to see who can find it the fastest. The name is taken from Hebrews 4:12 which says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." Here are our rules:


1. Swords Ready! You may put down the pages in your Bible before Genesis 1:1 and after Revelation 22:21 (Some Bibles have thick concordances, dictionaries, map sections, etc. and this helps them to only search through the actual Bible.)

Swords ready! Thumbs up!

2. Thumbs up! Thumbs must be up off the pages of the Bible so that no one is already opening up their Bible before I say "go."


3. State reference. At this point I state the reference they are to look up. If I have a group of kids unfamiliar with Scripture or new to the game, I might give them a hint like, "It's in the Old Testament" or "It's only a few pages long...look toward the end of the New Testament." The fact that their thumbs are up helps with the fact that there are probably kids who know exactly where to start searching and kind of makes it more of a level playing field. (Fun Fact: Did you know that if you try to open the Bible in the middle, you'll almost always land somewhere in Psalms? Good place to start!)


4. Go! When I say "Go" they search until they find the Scripture. I usually repeat the reference a few times while they're searching because they often forget the chapter or verse. Also, my husband, sister and I will kind of walk around during this part and point kids who are struggling in the right direction (helping them if they're in the wrong testament, past the verse or just don't even know where to begin).


5. Bottoms down. Bottoms must stay in the chair until their finger is on the verse they were to look up. If they stand up while moving their finger over the page and searching for the actual verse they have to sit back down.

6. You win! The first one standing with their finger on the correct verse wins! We usually have them read the verse for the group. If we have any candy on hand, we'll often give them a piece.


Here's a couple of things we've learned that makes this a better experience for everyone:


You can't "win" a second time until everyone else has had a chance. Sometimes we have kids that are the first one up almost every single time. This is great! But it can be discouraging to other kids who are always coming up just short. We allow the kids to participate each time, even if they've already won, but we have the first person who stands up and hasn't won yet read the verse and earn a reward (if we're giving out one).


I always make sure to emphasize that the "winner" is NOT the most spiritual person. Sometimes I like doing it jokingly because I think it gets the point across better and it lightens the mood. I say something like, "Now, the first person to stand up is the most spiritual, right?" At first some of the kids weren't sure, but now they all laugh and say, "No." I think this is a super important point to make because those who are usually toward the end need to understand that learning to use their Bible is an important process that takes time and doesn't in any way affect how much God loves them. On the flip side, those who are typically one of the first, need to understand that there is no place for pride here and that they are not better than the others because they know the order of books of the Bible and can find them quickly.


How about using this to make a fun, family devotion sometime soon? If you've got older elementary kids, you can lead the devotion and the game while giving them references about a topic (like salvation, attitude, prayer, etc.) Discuss the verse they look up and then move on to another one. If you've got younger elementary kids or preschoolers that need lots of help, consider participating by partnering up with them and drawing your verses out of a cup. This would help a family with a wide-variety of ages make it more fair and fun! (And, of course, your rules don't need to look exactly like ours!)

Need a little help with your first try? Here's a list of verses on the topic of Salvation that come from a wide variety of verses in the Bible so they can get practice looking up Old and New Testament verses:


Jeremiah 17:9
Proverbs 14:12
Romans 3:23
John 3:16
1 John 5:12-13
John 14:6
Isaiah 53:5-6
Ephesians 2:8-9
Romans 10:9
(This is certainly not exhaustive and you could take some out if this is too much for your kiddos to handle or encourage them to think of more! You can look them up in this order, or grab them out of a cup at random. Either way, these verses will provide a great springboard for discussing God's Word together!)


Why start here? What if your kids are already believers? I love talking about the Gospel with kids. The awesome thing is for EVERYONE! If your children have already trusted Christ as their Savior that is wonderful! Go through these verses and remind them to find JOY in their salvation! We should never, as children or adults, "get over" the gift of the cross. It is foundational to everything!!!! Sorry, rabbit trail... look up Bible verses, talk about Jesus, yep, that about sums it up! :)


Enjoy 30 minutes of family and God's Word! What an awesome thing to laugh and bond over!

Pit Stop or Rest Area?

Would you consider your home a pit stop or a rest area for your family? What I mean is – are you only coming home long enough to change clothes, eat, and sleep between activities or are you living life with your family in your home? If you answered yes to the first part of either question, then it is time to take a look at how busy your family’s life has become and make some changes.
Consider the following verse:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Here are a few simple changes you can make to free up more time with your family:

• Limit extracurricular activities for both you and your kids.
• Unplug from the computer, phone, and the television.
• Add family time to your calendar and work everything else around it.

Be selfish your family time and don’t apologize for it. Turn your pit stop into a rest area today.

What are you doing to guard time with your family?

Organizing your life one room at a time!

Here's a few tips that may help you with practical everyday chores.
IN THE KITCHEN

• Dishes: Color code your kids. This has been the very best way to keep our kids organized. We went to Dollar General and bought 3 sets of cups, bowls and plates – pink, orange, and green. Each child is assigned their own color. So, when they leave a dish out, we know who it belongs to. It makes setting the dinner table easy and fun and colorful to boot. It also makes putting dishes away easy for kids.

• Dedicate one cabinet to each of your kids: This cabinet will include color coded dishes, water bottles, lunch boxes, one bucket of silver ware for easy access, one towel for each one to clean up their own mess, kids’ aprons, mixing bowels for helpful cook times, popcorn cups, and a basket full of snacks just for them. You can also put kids’ cook books in this cabinet along with a kid’s step stool if you have the space. This keeps the kids out of all the other cabinets and gives them some independence in the kitchen. This helps the kids feel like they belong and make clean up time so easy.

• Snack drawer: If you don’t have a place in the kids’ cabinets, give them a drawer just for snacks. When you come home from the store grab your snack size zip lock bags and divide snacks in to these bags and place them in the drawers. You do not have to put them all in at one time. Fill up the drawer as needed. This not only keeps it tidy but it controls portions, easy to grab snacks, and gives the kids some independence.

• Kids love to help you clean if you make it fun for them: Place a pack of baby wipes under the sink, and let the kids wipe off cabinets and walls while you are cooking. Not only will it help keeps things clean, but gives them something to do.

• Plan meals together: Make it fun. Hear their ideas. Make them part of the family.

IN THE LIVING ROOM
Your living room should be a relaxing place to put your feet up at the end of the day! Here are some ideas to help!

• No food or drinks allowed: Don’t allow food or drink in the living room unless is a special occasion. This means Mom and Dad have to follow the rule too. Don’t eat apart from your kids. This is not healthy. They deserve your time.

• Keep one tub for each kid in the living room: Fill it with things that you only allow in the living room. When it’s time to clean up, it is so much easier for them to put things away when you have a designated place. Personally, I do not allow my kids to have crayons or markers in their rooms. The tub allows them to color with freedom while watching TV. Finally, make sure that it isn’t a large tub as all that will do is become a collect all and work against your efforts to organize.

• Have one large tub for storage: This will be used to put things in when guest come over and you need to hide stuff. Shove things in and tuck it away.

• Get rid of DVD and CD cases: Do you have movies everywhere? Get rid of the cases buy a cd/movie holder and put all your cds in one easy place. This allows you to store them up out of site, keep the kids from tearing them out and makes sure that they are all in one place when you are searching for them.

• Keep a small blanket for each child folded and in a cabinet: We have ours in the entertainment center.

GENERAL IDEAS
Here are some more general ideas for other areas of your house.

• Have a mail box for each child: This can be as simple as a tub. You can use it for library books, special projects, notes, b-day cards, notes, allowance, etc.

• Keep a Comment box: There is only one rule for the comment box – anything goes. Your kids can have freedom to ask questions, make a comment, and communicate with privacy. You will answer their inquiries and put the solution in their mailbox or talk to them in private.

• Let your kids cut coupons: This teaches them fine motor skills, the value of a dollar and lets them help out.

• Pick up for 10 minutes a day: You can get so much done in 10 minutes, without overwhelming kids or yourself. Use the 10 minute throughout the day to achieve things together. Make sure you get involved too. Your kids will revolt if you just set the timer and watch them work.

• Keep a tub for shoes: It may be easier for you to keep the kids shoes in a tub by the front door. It also helps when they are looking for them in the morning.

• Put a box in each kid’s room for school papers: Kids love to keep their work, coloring sheets, etc. Have them dump them in one box. Then go through the box at the end of the month and figure out which ones you want to keep.

• Make us of all those art projects: Use school art work to decorate bedrooms.

• Prepare for your week: Layout clothes for the weeks on Sunday afternoon. Freeze all of your meals for one week in advance.

• Organize your bathroom: Have a place for hair brushes and hair ties that make it easy for you to get to

• Prepare to travel: Have a bag filled with just items to take in the car. Always have it ready for travel. When an unexpected trip comes up, you’ll be ready.

These are just some tips for helping to get your house organized. What would you add?