Exploring the Depths: A Journey through Jonah
Most Minor Prophets inspire us to arise and respond to God. Jonah is quite the opposite—simply his story. One in which he rises and runs from God. And leaves us with the ultimate cliffhanger.
Most Minor Prophets inspire us to arise and respond to God. Jonah is quite the opposite—simply his story. One in which he rises and runs from God. And leaves us with the ultimate cliffhanger.
What’s your Maewyn IQ? Did he use clovers to explain the Trinity? No. Drive snakes out of Ireland? Nope. Well, he was Irish, right? Not even that. Get the real story. Because it’s way better than all of that. Your kids are gonna love it.
Dinner is the one time in our day we are all face to face with no disruptions. It’s our time to see each other clearly—our struggles, our triumphs, our hearts’ longings. We see them as we pray our most pressing needs of the day. And in the thanking for what touches us. We see each other more deeply as we open the tops of our heads and let each other peek in when we answer a question drawn out of a bowl.
Kids ask the darndest things. But entertaining the questions well ensures they keep asking—and letting us into their heads. And it allows for some great exercises in thinking critically about the Bible.
This year we started a simple New Year tradition that as a Christian mom, I LOVE.
It’s really easy to find a secular countdown-to-Christmas calendar. It’s not always easy to find a Christian Advent calendar.
So, you can probably guess—I made one. And I’m sharing it with you!
I’ve struggled feeling assured I’m getting in the gates. I mean, if I really love God, why would I ever disobey? Instead, I wrestle—like Jacob. My mind fights to rationalize what I should do against what I want to do. There are times it’s not a struggle—when my will and …
Pharoah was scared of being outnumbered. He decided all Hebrew baby boys should be thrown into the Nile. Jacobed decided to throw in her own—in a basket. Her daughter watched him float down the river—right toward Pharaoh’s palace. But his daughter found the basket first. Her heart melted.
“Can I keep him, father? Please? Sparing just this one won’t hurt anything.”
Jacob. There are 24 stories about him, the way I count—the exact same as his Grandpa Abraham. (Get our family tree printable to connect some cool family dots). But the climax of the 24 has to be his wrestling match with God—bringing back that famous death grip he had from day one. And it gives us an inside look at his heart.
Navigating change faithfully isn’t always easy—even for kids. But change provides an opportunity for self-evaluation and faithful transformation of our own. And although change may be a great revealer of what’s in the heart, we can still help kids navigate—no psych degree needed.