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.
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.
Psalm 119 is known for its author’s love of God’s word and its big expression of emotions. It’s the longest Psalm—and the longest chapter in the whole Bible! Most impressive yet, it’s a poem!
In this post, we’ll embark on an exciting journey through Psalm 119, exploring its poetic nature and uncovering the big feelings it conveys. So, buckle up and get ready for an adventure into the world of heartfelt expressions!
I love the Jonah story. Even more as an adult. So much that I preached a sermon series on it a couple years ago. It’s not just for kids.
It’s almost comical how much more I learn coming back to scriptures usually reserved for children. What’s not funny is how often this story (and many others) are dumbed-down for kids. They can handle more. Like the viny cliffhanger at the end of the Jonah story.
Praying both well and consistently can be tough.
I’ve been there. The success and failure comes and goes in waves. For a while my prayer will be on fire, then (I don’t even know when or how), it becomes boring. Rote. Dead.
When I see it floundering, it’s up to me to fix it. And praying the scriptures can inject new life.
Murder, concubines, war, animal sacrifice, stoning sons? You CAN teach kids hard scriptures. Even the most cryptic ones from the Old Testament. Simply.
