Sky Ranch Family Devotional…Faith in the Right Lifestyle, with Stacy A. Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Fun Icebreaker: What is a “good” cause that you believe in? 

Question: Who do you trust?

Topic 1: Trust—Truth and Faith

Today’s Big Idea: Faith in the Right Lifestyle

Share with your family that TV, movies, video games, books, and music can often try to lead you away from God’s right lifestyle. Express that sometimes you can go through difficult times for doing the right thing. Hang in there!
The questions give your family the opportunity to share about the lifestyle of listening and trusting God’s voice versus a lifestyle of listening to the “voices” of the world that oppose God’s teaching. When you trust God, you believe God and have faith that His direction is the right way to go. The world can teach you to be self-centered and think more of your selfish desires. God teaches you to be others-centered and only think about God’s desires. Be honest with each other and talk about the challenges of following God’s direction, but share the joy (Jesus, Others, You) in doing the right thing, too! 

Talk with God: Read scriptures and questions below.

Romans 1:17 (NASB): “For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed... as it is written, ’But the righteous (man) shall live by faith.’”
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever draws near to God must believe that He exists...”
Ephesians 2:8 (NISB): “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Walk with God:

Discuss with younger kids: The Bible describes the right way to live your life. It is the way that God, the Creator, designed for you. What are some examples of God’s right lifestyle?
Discuss with older kids: The world can teach you to be self-centered and think of what is best for you, no matter how it affects others. But God teaches you to focus on Him (God-centered) and to think of others ahead of yourself (selfless). God promises to lead you in the right direction if you will focus on trusting Him. Why is that difficult to do sometimes? How would God encourage you to live?

Prayer suggestion: Pray for God’s wisdom to live the right way. 

I will be praying for you!
Stacy

Stacy A. Davis, Author
Sky Ranch Family Devotionals 
© 2013 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

Tori's SkyMoms Tips...."MOM is WOW upside down"

This one goes out to moms! Without them we wouldn't be here.

“Kid President,” is back with a special message for all the moms...my personal favorite he points out is... 

“mom” spelled upside-down is “wow.”

This will be our Sky Ranch SkyMom luncheon topic this year!

 Lisa Clark, Sky Ranch Parenting Mentor will be bringing us an encouraging talk titled

"MOM is WOW upside down"

Our Role as MOM is never ending and ever changing. The one thing it's NOT is boring. We'll look at our responsibility as mom and see how to best maintain balance in our lives, so we can be all we need to be for our families.

Be on the lookout for SkyMom Luncheons in your area:

September 24, 2012

Maggianos

Plano, Texas

October 10, 2013 

McKinney Christian Academy 

Stonebridge Ranch Country Club

McKinney, Texas

October 22, 2013 

Timmaron Country Club

Southlake Texas

November 19, 2013 

Ridglea Country Club 

Ft. Worth, Texas

January 14, 2014 

Maggianos

Dallas, Texas

February 19, 2014 

Ricks Chophouse 

McKinney. Texas

February 6, 2014 

Bridlewood Country Club

Flowermound, Texas

April 3, 2014 

Stonebriar Country Club 

Frisco, Texas

Dates to be Determined:

Houston/Woodlands, Texas 

Prosper, Texas

Tyler, Texas

Sky Ranch Family Devotional…Live by Faith, with Stacy A. Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Fun Icebreaker: What was a difficult situation that strengthened you?

Question: What is truth? 

Topic 1: Trust—Truth and Faith 

Today’s Big Idea: Live by Faith

Share with your family that God is true because you have seen evidence of His help in your life. Talk about times when you listened to God’s counsel in your relationships and it worked!
The questions give your family the opportunity to talk about a lifestyle of faith in God. This lifestyle brings blessings and challenges. One of the biggest challenges of faith that many struggle with is: “Why does God allow bad things to happen?” The goal for Christians is become more like Jesus. God is shaping each of His children through different events in their lives. Sometimes, life can be difficult. Teach your family that God is a safe haven for help when life hurts or doesn’t make sense. 

Talk with God: Read scriptures and questions below.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NASB) (written by Paul): “For we walk by faith,
not by sight...”
Isaiah 55:9 (NASB): “For (as) the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Walk with God:

Discuss with younger kids: God used Paul to write some of the Bible. Paul explained that the right way to live was by faith or trust in God, and not by trusting the things we can see. Who can explain gravity? Can you see gravity? How do you know it is there? How is faith in God similar to faith that gravity is true?
Discuss with older kids: God loves you very much, but sometimes you can’t clearly see the way that God has planned for you. So, you resist God. God desires your highest good. Trust God really does know the best plan for you, and that sometimes you need to struggle through a very difficult time in order for you to become the best person that you can be. This is one reason that God allows bad situations to happen. What are other reasons that God allows difficulty in your life? What helps you continue to trust Him through times of trial?

Prayer suggestion: Pray for God’s help to trust His ways. 

I will be praying for you!
Stacy

Stacy A. Davis, Author
Sky Ranch Family Devotionals 
© 2013 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sky Ranch Family Devotional…Faith, with Stacy A. Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Fun Icebreaker: What is a big step of faith that you have made?

Question: What is truth?

Topic 1: Trust—Truth and Faith

Today’s Big Idea: Faith

Share with your family that your faith influences who you trust in. You either trust in God or something else.
The questions allow your family the opportunity to talk about what their faith is in: God or otherwise. Faith means a belief so strong that it motivates you to action. Your faith reflects who you trust in. Often people trust in themselves instead of God, which leads to self-centeredness or selfishness. You can also trust in things, other people, or ideas-- it can be anything. In your heart, you know when you are troubled. You also know in whom or what you turn to for help. Deep down inside you, you know who your faith is in. Talk about how your faith is shown in your actions. 

Talk with God: Read scriptures and questions below.

Hebrews 11:1 (NASB): “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped
for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Romans 8:24 (NASB): “For in hope we have been saved...”
John 14:1 (NIV) (Jesus is speaking): “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me...”
Proverb 29:25 (NIV): “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”

Walk with God:

Discuss with younger kids: Faith is knowing something is true, even though you can’t see it. Having faith means to believe God at His Word. What helps you believe God is in your heart, when your eyes can’t see Him? Why is it better to trust in God than a person?
Discuss with older kids: You can’t see God, but you know He is there. And even though you can’t see Him, you hope that all He has said in His Word is true. You really do believe God, but there can be moments that you may question your faith. Faith in God can be similar to faith in your harness on the ropes course. You have to trust that harness will be there to support you, no matter what happens, and trusting God is similar. But of course, trusting in God is much more! How do your actions reflect who you trust in?

Prayer suggestion: Pray for God to help you believe in Him. 

I will be praying for you!
Stacy

Stacy A. Davis, Author
Sky Ranch Family Devotionals 
© 2013 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

Lisa Life Lesson- "Loving Obedience"

Wouldn't it be easy if there was a checklist everyday for us to show our kids to make sure they are perfect kids? Do this, don't do this...and all will be good in the world.

I guess a list like that did exist in the Old Testament.  The law.  The problem with the law is it wasn't possible for the people (you and me) to keep it.  It was perfect.  We aren't.  What did the law do? Pointed us to the holiness of God.  And our need for a Savior.

Enter Jesus.  God saw our need and He delivered.  A King.  Who bore our sins on the cross and took our punishment for us.  Now we enjoy a life with God even though we can't keep the law.

Teaching our kids about the love of Christ is so essential because it also teaches them to love the law.  It teaches them that obedience is a natural response to what God did for us by sending Jesus.  It's all about the heart.

As you teach your children about Jesus, remind them that pleasing Him should be their highest aim.  As they please the Father, they please you.  He will always be with them.  You won't.  

Blessings,

Lisa

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Parenting Mentor

Sky Ranch Family Devotional…Truth in Creation, with Stacy A. Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Fun Icebreaker: Where is your favorite place to travel? Why? 

Question: Who do you trust?

Topic 1: Trust—Truth and Faith 

Today’s Big Idea: Truth in Creation

Share with your family that creation itself is a form of truth which proves that there is a Creator.
The questions will give your family the opportunity to explore the wonder of God’s creation. Scripture teaches that creation itself is evidence of God... and YOU are part of that creation! You are wonderfully made and designed by the Creator. Your praise to Him, as you thank Him for the life that He has given you, is actually telling others about His amazing kingdom and power. It is important for your family to talk about how creation acts as evidence of God. As you share, be patient with one another and respect each other’s questions. Your journey of trusting God is a process and each person trusts in Him at his or her own pace. Teach your family that as you share thoughts and feelings, each member of the family is unconditionally loved. Make sure to let your family know that your home needs to be a safe place that listens to each other, welcoming honest discussions. 

Talk with God: Read scripture and questions below.

Romans 1:20 (NASB): “...For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, ...”
Psalm 139:14 (NIV): “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 145:9-11 (ESV): “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power.”

Walk with God:

Discuss with younger kids: Was God created? No! The only uncreated being is God. He has always existed. He doesn’t begin and He won’t end. What does it mean to be called “Creator”? You are wonderfully made and part of God’s creation. How is God’s creation proof that He is there?
Discuss with older kids: You are wonderfully made! You may not feel wonderfully made sometimes, but God’s Word says you are and His Word is truth. Your very existence is evidence of God, the Creator. Even if you believe in God, you may meet someone someday who doubts God’s existence. Could you use creation as evidence to convince them that God does exist? How?

Prayer suggestion: Praise God for His amazing creation! 

I will be praying for you!
Stacy

Stacy A. Davis, Author
Sky Ranch Family Devotionals 
© 2013 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer Encouragement: "Grace for 2013-14!" by SkyMom, Terrie Chevaillier

Grace for 2013-14!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do Ephesians 2:8-10

This summer, God did a work in me in regards to this verse.   For some time, I knew it and believed it, however I had the experience to live it this summer.  For the first time in my Christian life I had victory over an extended period of time of actually receiving His grace daily.

I am thankful I received His grace for salvation in eternity years ago and that truth has been written on my heart for some time now.  But, grace for salvation today hadn’t really made its way deep down into the depths of my heart until recently.

 It changed the way I prayed, it changed the way I parented and it changed the way I looked for a solution to a problem.

I know that I cannot work my way into heaven…it is only God’s grace and love that I receive by faith that get me there.  He’s done it all.  I did nothing.

But how about God’s grace for today in the way I parent and shepherd my children.  I don’t know about you, but I get caught up in the “it must be up to me” thinking.  Therefore, I miss His Grace.

Not until I started asking daily for His grace to fall on me, my children, and that which concerns me did I get to live out salvation minute by minute.

My children are God’s handiwork.

Your children are God’s handiwork.

He has given them to me as a gift.

Responsibility comes with that gift.

But it’s His grace that saves them,

Not my good parenting works.

It’s His gift.

They aren’t good enough to deserve it and neither am I.

It’s freely offered.  Even on the WORST of days.

Profound when You believe and receive it.

So, as we approach the 2013-14 school year, I want to encourage Sky Moms to not miss this grace 

that changes everything.  As we start to “work” on our kids this school year….let’s 

remember God’s grace that saves and changes the handiworks among our homes.  

Let’s Pray Gods’ Word:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace.

I long to believe it and receive it daily.

Thank You for this gift that came to me completely undeserved and that comes

to my children apart from any good thing they do or I did.

Show me where I have works based parenting hoping that my good endeavors

will change behaviors or manifest good disciplines in all that we encounter in the school year.

Lead me to know Your grace as a mother.

Let it be what guides me as I take the handiworks You have given me and lay them before You

to do the heart changing work.  The work that you did on the cross and is available to us today.

I know You have many good plans prepared for my children.

Let me not miss Your grace as I trust You to see them come to be.

Amen.

~Terrie Chevaillier