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

Family Fun Icebreaker: Who has been an influential Christian to you? Why?

Question: How do you know God is real? 

Topic 2: Trust—God is Real

Today’s Big Idea: Responding to God

Share with your family that God speaks to you through scripture and His Word makes a difference in your heart. The fact that Christians respond to God, believe Him, and live changed lives is evidence that God is real.

The questions give your family the opportunity to share about how to know if you are a Christian and really believe God. The scripture passage below talks about four types of people: those who reject God because they forget the Word, those who reject God because of affliction or persecution, those who reject God because of worries/ riches, or desire of things, and finally, those who hear the Word, accept it and are blessed. Today, many people are tricked into thinking that life is going so well they don’t really need God. Talk to your family about how to avoid rejecting God and help your family recognize that you really do need God in your life.

Talk with God: Read scriptures and questions below.

Mark 4: 14-20 (NASB) (Answers to the parable of the seeds): “The sower sows the word. These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word, which has been sown in them. And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky [places] who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no [firm] root in themselves, but are [only] temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it, and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

Walk with God:

Discuss with younger kids: You see four types of people in Mark 4:14-20. Three of the people don’t believe God and only one does; the last one. Many things can keep you from God. Who is a Christian that has shown you trusting God is good? How did that person convince you?

Discuss with older kids: Lies can lure you; lies of riches or lies of things that are supposedly better than God. Lies that being accepted by the crowd, even if they are opposed to God, can entice you. God tells you ahead what the challenges will be for following Him. How do you counter trouble and trust God through the struggle?

Prayer suggestion: Pray for God’s help to be a good influence

I will be praying for you!
Stacy

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

photo credit

Sign up for Mother Daughter Weekend!

Mother Daughter Retreat

"Rooted"

Come join us for a weekend packed with opportunities for connection. Experience moments of hilarious fun, intentional conversations, and the creation of special memories. We are praying for you and your daughter... and expecting God to move powerfully in your relationship!

Click here to register!

Mother Daughter Weekend is $175.00 per person.

Private accommodations are available, but limited. Cost for private accommodations is $125.00 per parent/child pair (up to 3 people) and $25.00 per additional person in room.

SIGN UP TODAY FOR OUR FIRST SKYMOMS RETREAT!

SkyMoms Retreat

Counter Culture 2014

She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.

Proverbs 31:25

We are planning our first Sky Moms retreat!

January 25^th and 26^th, 2014.

Sign up today and mark your calendars to come out to Van 

for a cozy one night get away.

You will be encouraged as you hear truth from amazing speakers that will help us to navigate with love, grace, and truth, the current culture our children are living in.

We don’t need to be fearful as we look to their future!

We can be clothed in strength and dignity and look toward their future with laughter!

Come find out how to do just that!

The cost is $125 per person. For private accommodations, there is an additional cost of $35. Space for private rooms is limited. 

Click here to sign up!

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

Family Fun Icebreaker: How do you like to communicate with others? 

Question: How do you know God is real?

Topic 2: Trust—God is Real

Today’s Big Idea: God Speaks

Share with your family that God is real and speaks to you. You can recognize His voice, but it takes getting to know Him. Once you learn God’s way of speaking to you, and you learn to recognize when He is guiding your heart, it is evidence that God is real.
The questions give your family the opportunity to share about learning to recognize God’s voice. God communicates with you by His Holy Spirit and by the Holy Bible. You know in your heart His direction for you. If the message really is from God, it will match, not oppose, the Bible. However, once you understand His direction for you, do you listen and respond? Teach your family the value of listening to wise counsel and applying what you have learned. Share how God’s messages have helped you in your life.

Talk with God: Read scriptures and questions below.

Proverb 21:1 (NLT): “The king’s heart is like a stream of water
directed by the LORD, he guides it wherever he pleases.”
John 10:27 (NIV) (Jesus is speaking about His people): “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Walk with God:

Discuss with younger kids: God wants you to know Him and understand Him. God guides you through the Bible, or sometimes through godly people that He uses, to remind you of His way. But when you recognize God’s guidance, do you slow down and listen? Do you recognize when God is guiding your heart through His Word? Do you spend much time talking to Him in prayer? Why is it good to listen to God’s advice?

Discuss with older kids: Do you consider the source? You can hear the opinion of your friends, TV talk show hosts, even lyrics in songs, but do you consider where their beliefs come from and what is motivating their point of view? Many times, their opinions are contrary to God and often self-centered. However, God has your best interests at heart. It can be hard to hear God if you don’t turn off all the other noise. God guides your heart through His Word. Why is it valuable to learn how to listen to God’s voice?

Prayer suggestion: Pray for God to help you find and recognize wise counsel. 

I will be praying for you!
Stacy

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

photo credit

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

Family Fun Icebreaker: What do you like to create? Question: How do you know God is real?

Topic 2: Trust—God is Real

Today’s Big Idea: Creation is Evidence

Share with your family that creation itself acts as evidence for the reality of God. His creation speaks and is evidence that He is real.
The questions give your family the opportunity to share about how God’s creation acts as evidence of God. As a part of creation, you can tell others about the reality of God and all of the kindness He has shown you. Encourage your family to recognize that they are part of creation and evidence of God’s reality. Plus, your family’s own creative interests reflect our natural instinct to imitate our Father in heaven. All people have created something: from artwork, to creative cooking, to doodles on a page. Creativity is universal! God is the Creator and you are made in His image. He designed you to enjoy your creativity.

Talk with God: Read scriptures and questions below.

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.”
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Walk with God:

Discuss with younger kids: God loves you very much! You are His creation. You have the ability to speak about the amazing God who created you. God created you for a purpose and to give you the gift of life. God also designed you to create. Why is it interesting to create something? How do your creations show you that God is real?

Discuss with older kids: God has a plan and purpose for your life. God is very good to all of His creation, including you! You are a part of creation that speaks and tells others that God is real. Thank Him for that blessing. You are created for specific good works. What do you think they might be? It may seem far away, but the time for college will come quickly. What would you be interested in doing with your future? How can you use the creativity that God has given to you?

Prayer suggestion: Pray for God to show you how you can bless others with your creativity. 

I will be praying for you!
Stacy

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

photo credit

Lisa Life Lesson- "Defining Moments"

I think there might have been a defining moment in my parenting journey when I felt God's presence so fully, holding my hand as I attempted to do this right.  Only Jesus.

Caroline was in 2nd grade and I received a call from a mom of a boy in her class.  She was irritated from the start of the call.  I knew she wasn't calling to ask me to bring brownies to the class social.  No. She had an agenda and my daughter's name was at the top.  She began to share with me that my daughter had called her son a "not so nice" word on the playground.  I found this funny but didn't laugh.   The word Caroline used didn't even make sense.  But anyway, she proceeded to tell me that she'd dealt with lots of name calling her whole life and she was afraid this would break her son's spirit like hers was broken growing up.  I totally related and felt her concern.  Well, needless to say, I profusely apologized on my daughter's behalf and promised to rectify the situation.  

I was mortified.  I pondered why.  Was I mortified because my parenting was under attack? Was I mortified because my child was a sinner.  Was I mortified because she acts just like her daddy? What? 

God spoke at that moment.  And he said in no uncertain terms, "Lisa, this isn't about you."  

"It's not?" 

"No."

So, before talking with my husband or daughter, I began to pray that Caroline would see her need for repentance and not try to blame anyone else.  Or make excuses for herself (ie. "I was just kidding!").  But that she would see where she fell short of God's best for her life.  And look at how the boy felt when she said hurtful things.  And that she would confess, repent, learn and grow.  

And it worked.  I took time to pray instead of go into the fetal position in the corner because someone had called me and my child out.  This is usually our first instinct isn't it, mom? We take our kid's sin personally.  I can't.  I'm here to reflect Christ.  He takes is personally.  He took it personally.  All the way to the cross.  

Blessings,

Lisa

Sky Ranch SkyMoms Parenting Mentor

photo credit

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

Family Fun Icebreaker: In your extended family’s history, do you have a famous or interesting past relative?

Question: How do you know God is real? 

Topic 2: Trust—God is Real

Today’s Big Idea: God Existed First

Share with your family that God’s order has a purpose and His order is evident everywhere in creation. The fact that God existed first is evidence that He is real.
The questions give your family the opportunity to share that God encourages order in your life. There is still some chaos in the universe, but there is a lot of order that can’t be ignored. God created all of the order that you see. God has designed the family to continue on from generation to generation in an order. People age in a certain order. God also intended for one generation to teach the next generation. Share the wisdom of God’s plan. God designed order in day, then night, months and seasons. Plus, He designed the stars in the sky to act as a calendar to move in certain paths. These orders are evidence of an intelligent designer who existed first, and then created order for you.

Talk with God: Read scriptures and questions below.

Genesis 1:1 (NASB): “In the beginning God created the heavens
and the earth.”
Psalm 90:2 (NET): “Even before the mountains came into existence, or you brought the world into being, you were the eternal God.”
Genesis 1:14 (NISB): “Then God said, ’Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.’”

Walk with God:
Discuss with younger kids: God existed first and then created the heavens and the earth. God likes order. When you are at home, you have probably been asked to keep your room clean and in order. What is good about learning to keep order in your life? What would it be like without order? How does an orderly world help you trust that God is real?
Discuss with older kids: You have generations of family in an order. God has provided people in your life to help guide you. You have the stars in the sky that act as a calendar. The seasons change in an order. This order that exists in our world is not just “Mom propaganda” to encourage you to clean your room and keep it organized. Order helps prove the reality of God. How is self-discipline, or order, in your life useful? How does the order in God’s creation help you believe that He is real?

Prayer suggestion: Pray for God’s order to act as evidence to you that He is real. 

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…His Adventurous Creation, with Stacy A. Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Fun Icebreaker: What is an adventurous thing that you have done?

Question: How do you know God is real? 

Topic 2: Trust—God is Real

Today’s Big Idea: His Adventurous Creation

Share with your family that although you can’t see God, He is very real. Scripture explains that God’s power is shown by His creation. His creation that He designed for you is full of adventure. He made ocean waves to ride or snowy slopes to ski. God loves for you to explore His creation and learn more about Him!
The questions give your family the opportunity to share about God’s amazing intelligence and that He encourages adventure for you through exploring His creation. He has designed an interesting life for you. Encourage your family to share about their own sense of adventure. Talk to them about when adventurous fun crosses the line into dangerous behavior and how you can know the difference. Some people are really wired for adventure and that is okay. As your family ages, there may be a bigger draw for adventure. Make sure that, as a family, you communicate with each other and talk about expectations and boundaries. 

Talk with God: Read scriptures and answers below.

Romans 1:20 (NASB): “For since the creation of the world His (God’s) invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
Job 38:4 (ESV) (God is speaking): “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”

Walk with God:

Discuss with younger kids: Think about some of the things that God created. Snowflakes are tiny, but very detailed in design. A magnifying glass is needed to really see them. Now compare a snowflake to something you see through a telescope, like another galaxy. Think about how complex both of them are and how intelligent God must be. How do these help you trust that God is real?
Discuss with older kids: You can create things by artwork or science experiments that can be fun and adventurous. You probably enjoy exploring the earth by visiting new places. God designed this interesting world for you to explore. What have you enjoyed exploring? Did it help you see the character of God? How has it helped you trust that God is real?

Prayer suggestion: Pray for God to help you see how real He is. 

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: "Who Needs a Big Sign?" by SkyMom, Terrie Chevaillier

Who Needs a Big Sign?

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

Do you need an answer today regarding a parenting decision?

Where do you often look for those answers?

To the right or to the left?

Friends, books, blogs, other moms, counselors, professionals.

If I go this way and choose this direction, this could happen.

If I go that way, this person might not like this or that.

What do I do?

Have you ever found yourself in that crazy circle of decision and dilemma?

The picture above is the dilemma my family found ourselves in a few weeks ago.

That picture was taken outside of Dallas on the side of Interstate 30.

We had a flat tire and immediately pulled over in the westbound lane as soon as we realized what was happening.

My husband had the boys and I get far away from the car in a field across from the access road that ran alongside the freeway.

We stood far away in a safe place we will watched him in a not so safe place go to work on the dilemma.

You see, this was not our car.

Our car was at the auto dealership in the service shop.

This car in the picture was a brand new “loaner” car with only eleven miles on it when they gave it to me.

Did I anticipate problems?

NO!!

So off we go in it headed to a weekend in Arkansas for some work and fun.

Work for my husband, fun for the boys and me.

As I watched him look under, around, and over the car…guess what…

this brand new car carried no spare tire.

Dilemma not solved.

It did come with a battery operated air compressor.

He tried it.

The hole in the tire was too big for this option.

Dilemma still not solved.

Psalm 91 came to mind.  

I read it and prayed it with my boys.

You could tell that they were not so much in prayer mode but fix it mode.

They are guys.

Lots of suggestions and solutions for the issue at hand started being discussed.

The first decision was to send us walking down the access road to actually be able to see the sign to let whoever it is we were calling for help know where we were.

The next decision to the dilemma was to call our insurance company for emergency roadside assistance.

They said they couldn’t help us with the dilemma.

This wasn’t our car and they didn’t insure this wonderful brand new car that wasn’t ours.

We then called the dealership where our car was being fixed and the owners of this 

“Loaner” car without a spare tire.

They told us to call the 1-800 number for Volvo road side service.

At this point we realize they have some fancy way of knowing where we were calling from….so there was no need to walk the half mile and back to read a sign regarding our location.

Do you get the picture yet?

Lots of circling, looking, wondering, fretting, frustration and number pushing as we listened to automated voice recordings.

When we finally pushed the right number to actually speak to a human we were told it would be a couple of hours.

At that rate, we would miss the function for which we were headed out of town for,

and…have no vehicle to get there in.

HMMMM.

Really?

What are we going to do?

Which decision should we make?

One of the more “chill” boys of the two quietly asks….

“Why don’t we just call the tire place on that sign over there?”

My husband and I both said…”Yeah..we saw that a while ago.”

We saw that a while ago is what we said.

An hour later is when we said it.

We finally did it.

And you know what….they were there in five minutes.

Took the tire off the car and to their tire center.

Patched it.

Brought it back to our car.

Put it on our car.

And off we went within 30 minutes.

How often our dilemmas in life are met this way?

Let’s pray God’s Word:

Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word.  Thank You for the Holy Spirit.

Thank You for your people.

You speak to us in ways that give us direction and peace.

Guide us to go quickly to YOU and not to all of the other sources that leave us without help and frustrated.

Thank YOU that through Your Word and Your Spirit,

 we can hear Your voice saying,

“THIS IS THE WAY; WALK IN IT.”

Amen.

~Terrie Chevaillier