July 2010

For Christians, prayer is a privilege. We have direct, 24/7 access to the God who created and saves us. But prayer isn‟t just for grown-ups. Jesus wants little children to come to him (Matthew 19:14) and to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Prayer is a powerful way to harness kids‟ love of words. Between the ages of 2 and 5, a child‟s vocabulary explodes from about 50 words to thousands. And who better to talk to than God? Yet even Jesus‟ disciples needed help learning how to pray (Luke 11:1). Keep these things in mind as you teach children to connect with God:

Prayer is an attitude. Praying constantly means we‟re always aware that God is here. We can sense God‟s presence with us no matter our circum-stances. We can pray about anything and every-thing, including other people and their needs.

Prayer is a routine. Regular times with God help shape our prayer attitude. Help children establish “check in” times with God, not out of obligation but out of love.

Prayer is a first response. When troubles and tough decisions loom, we can turn to God before trying anything else. Prayer should be our first resort, not our last.

Prayer is listening to God. Prayer is a dialogue that involves letting God speak to us through everyday life. Because prayer is two-way communication, we also should practice listening to God.

Prayer is modeled. The best way to challenge your children to pray is by letting them see and hear you praying often. Regularly share with them how you see God at work through your prayers.

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June 2010

The warm, relaxing summer months are perfect for reconnecting as a family. They’re also ideal for helping your children stay connected to God and boosting their faith in him.

For starters, participate in faith-building opportunities available in your community. These include vacation Bible school, church camps, outdoor worship, mission projects, and more. But realize that faith growth can occur in unstructured, day-to-day settings, too. By talking to your children often about God—and your relationship with him—you model faith in action for young Christians.

Use these ideas as a springboard for summer faith growth:

Take it all in. Admire God’s handiwork as you travel and sight-see. Acknowledge and thank our Creator. Use simple object lessons; for example, draw a line of chalk in front of some ants and notice that most of them won’t cross it. Then talk about what it means to follow and obey God.

Take out the “trash.” Together, clean up a park or street. Then discuss what God wants us to fill our minds and hearts with (see Philippians 4:8).

Take it outside. For variety, conduct your family devotions outside in the shade. Use a book-club format to go through a book of the Bible or a children’s Bible storybook. Encourage questions and have children put themselves in the people’s shoes. Then apply the lessons to situations we face each day as we walk with God.

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May 2010

God created us perfect, in his image. But after sin entered the world, we needed a Savior. The good news of Easter is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and then rose again. Because of his victory, we can have the free gifts of forgiveness and eternal life.

As forgiven people, God tells us to extend forgiveness to others who wrong us. That can be tougher than it sounds, especially when an offender doesn’t seem repentant. But God will work on our hearts and give us a desire to forgive when we ask him for help.

Here are some insights about forgiveness from God and for others:

Children first learn what forgiveness is by experiencing it firsthand. As kids experience the feeling of being forgiven, they can begin to forgive those around them. Eventually compassion will compel them to forgive as Christ calls them to—whether or not the people who hurt them are sorry.

Forgiveness is more than just saying “I’m sorry.” Forgiveness costs us something, just as it cost Christ dearly on the cross. When we forgive someone, we resist our urge to retaliate, to get even, to make someone pay for their mistakes. We become vulnerable as we allow that person back into our lives. And that’s a big part of loving others.

As you help children understand forgiveness, let them know that they can fully experience Jesus’ gift of forgiveness when they obey his command to forgive.

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April 2010

Each spring, we see reminders of new life and rebirth. Trees bud, flowers bloom, and butterflies emerge from their cocoons. For Christians, the most important celebration of new life is Jesus’ death and resurrection at Easter. Children may associate this holiday mainly with bunnies, baskets, and candy. So it’s important to share with them the real reason we rejoice: the empty tomb.

Use these creative ideas to share the Easter message with children of all ages. Let them know that Jesus, our loving Savior, died and rose again so we can go to heaven and be with him forever.

Palm Sunday—Make “praise shakers” to celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Decorate the bottoms of paper plates, fill them with beads or unpopped popcorn, and then staple together the edges. Add streamers and then have a parade. Shout out praises to Jesus and make noise to celebrate that he is our King.

Good Friday—Buy a small vine wreath at a craft store and insert toothpicks to resemble the crown of thorns Jesus wore. Whenever a family member makes a sacrifice for someone else, they should remove one thorn. On the night before Easter, after your children are asleep, remove the remaining thorns and decorate the crown with white ribbons and bright flowers.

Easter Sunday—Using a stamp pad and colored pencils, make thumbprint pictures that tell the Easter story. For example, draw a tomb with a rolled-away thumbprint rock and a butterfly with thumbprint wings.

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March 2010

With the explosion of technology now available, it seems like children are always plugged in, zoned out, or wired for sound. They spend less time outside, have shorter attention spans, and are exposed to online dangers such as pornography. On the positive side, technology has expanded children’s knowledge and opportunities. They learn teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills. Technology has also boosted activism among today’s young people.

Although children may seem like “experts” when it comes to technology and new media, parents are still responsible for supervising what their kids are exposed to—and for how long. Two keys are moderation and interaction. These tips can help you limit and monitor what your kids see and hear:

Strategically set up your equipment and schedules. Keep televisions out of children’s bedrooms, and place [...more]

February 2010

February brings lots of talk about love, but love is more evident through our actions than through our words. Children show love and respect by obeying parents, and Christians show love and respect by obeying God’s commands. God gave us his laws because he loves us, and following them helps mold us into his faithful followers.

Love is at the “heart” of all God’s commandments, including his two greatest: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

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January 2010

“Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith,” wrote Frederick Buechner. “They keep it awake and moving.” This runs contrary to most people’s assumptions about doubt—that questioning your faith proves you’re a weak Christian. But when we have doubts about something, we’re forced to examine its truthfulness and consider how much of ourselves we wish to invest in it. If we (and our children) are going to truly own our beliefs, we must critically evaluate them first.

Teaching your children that it’s okay to express doubts and ask questions is crucial for their faith development. “When the doubts get….[...more]