Family Time…God preserves you
The Family Time focus for this month is on God’s preserving and ruling all of creation. The next several weeks will be spent on looking at God’s sovereignty over all of creation. Sovereignty may be a new word for your family. Take the time to explain that sovereignty means being over everything, in charge, the leader, or the King of everything, even King of the universe. God was not created, but has always existed; this is always a challenging concept for most people. Let your kids grapple with the idea that God did not begin and will not end. However, God did create everything on earth and in the universe and keeps it in existence or preserves it. Without God holding it all together, it would all fall apart. God preserves all; including you. God’s hand is in everything that you and I see, think, feel or hear in our created world. Without God, nothing would exist. These are big concepts. Let your kids grasp these ideas by talking through how they visualize it.
One of the best ways that I have found to relay this concept to my kids was by looking at the stars in the night sky and sparking conversations on other solar systems like ours circling those stars in the sky. As my kids aged, I could get more detailed, but I kept it simple while they were young. In order for my kids to understand how big God is, it helped to look at how big our universe is and then explain that God made all of that and preserves it and keeps it all in motion. It helped my kids grasp how in charge God really is by talking through all that He had made.
This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family and asking God to show you if anyone has trouble accepting God’s sovereignty. Pray for direction of the best way to direct the conversation to help each person understand (as best you can) how “big” God really is. Then bring the conversation full swing the other way to discuss how incredible it is that such an important God wants to have a personal relationship with you! Through this special relationship with God’s Son, Jesus, God will preserve you and keeps you. Talk about how God’s plan for salvation is a plan for giving you eternal life and preserving you. Let your kids share if they struggle with understanding this…it is common to struggle. They may ask “how can such a “big” God who created the universe have anything to do with me since I am so small?” Let them question it and think about it. Then, gently remind them of last month’s topic that God loves them. And bring them to the Family Time for this week below which focuses on God’s provision for preserving you. You can share that God cares so much for each of us that He sent Jesus to tell us all about it. Maybe if you have time after the Family Time, go outside and try to see the stars in the sky or go online for pictures of solar systems or plan a special outing over the weekend to go star gazing!
Do you need help or prayer for your family time? Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.
I will be praying for you!
Stacy
Stacy A. Davis
Teach Intentionally
This week we are in the 7th Month Topic and 1st Family Time (or page 61) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Open Your Eyes”…
Family Time 1:
Month 7 Topic: God works to preserve and rule all of creation…Preserve God’s covenants/commands
Talk with God: Read…Nehemiah 1:5, Psalm 97:10, Proverbs 2:8
~ Nehemiah 1:5 O Lord God of Heaven, the great and awesome God, Who preserves the covenant and loving-kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments.
- In Neh. 1:5, who is God preserving the covenant and loving-kindness for?
~ Psalm 97:10 Hate evil, you who love the Lord, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
- In Ps. 97:10, whose souls are preserved?
~ Proverbs 2:8 Guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones.
- In Prov. 2:8, what does He preserve of the godly ones?
Walk with God: Discuss… In this passage, preserving is to guard, keep watch or ward, to protect. God preserves those who love Him and keep His commandments, their souls, and their way. Do you want this protection from God? Are you considered one of His godly ones? How do you know?
Prayer suggestion… Pray that the Lord would help you love Him and keep His commandments (teachings).
Family Time 1:
Month 7 Topic: God works to preserve and rule all of creation
Leader Answers:
- Those who love Him
- His godly ones
- Their way
- Discussion ideas: This is a question that goes through everyone’s mind. How do I know? Do you love God, His Son Jesus, His commandments (or teachings)? Do you follow Him in your lifestyle? Is it evident to you and others, too? You know your heart…if there is a doubt, pray, take it to God directly. He will show you in His timing. Earnestly seek Him and you will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29).
© 2011 Tori Miller and Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.
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