Prayer Encouragement: "Take it to the Lord in Prayer" by SkyMom, Terrie Chevaillier

Take it to the Lord in Prayer

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”

² Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ³ “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: ⁵ “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘this is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. ⁶ And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

Isaiah 38:1-4

I love how these verses point out that Hezekiah took the report from Isaiah the prophet straight to the Lord.  He didn’t take it to someone else and it doesn’t say that he asked Isaiah to repeat it nor did he ask him if he was sure.

Scripture says that Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord.

I want to encourage you to take it all to the Lord in prayer.

Take the report card, the doctor’s report, the sales report, or whatever report might be saying or reporting or advising your children or family.

Does it sound like it is from God?  Does it reflect God and His character?

Is it true?  What does it reveal?

Instead of trying to acquire your own perspective or someone else’s perspective on the report…

STOP.

Get on Your knees and take it to the Lord in prayer.

Let’s Pray God’s Word:

Father, so many opinions and reports of progress or lack of progress sometimes just unravel me at the core of my being.

Sometimes it is illness that someone in my family is experiencing.

Sometimes it is a negative report about the economy that threatens to make me or my husband anxious.

Sometimes it is the news that forecasts future job loss or doom and gloom for our country.

Sometimes it is other’s opinions of my child…their progress…their failures….their gifts…or their successes and how those should be stewarded.

When those reports come my way, please draw my heart toward You.

Cause me to plead my case before You.

I want Your mercy and Your grace and Your everlasting kindness to fall on me and all that are in my family.

Thank You Father that I can take these things to You in prayer and be left with Your perspective to give direction, wisdom, hope, and purpose over my own perspective or that of another that could threaten to lead my heart or actions astray.

Amen

~ Terrie Chevaillier

Getting to know your SkyMom Writer...Tori Miller, Sky Ranch SkyMom Ministry Director

Tori Miller

Sky Ranch SkyMom Ministry Director 

(our family at Sky Ranch Family Camp- Ute Trail, Colorado)

I am  a wife, mother, and friend that has a passion for equipping and encouraging moms in all areas of their lives. The Lord has allowed me to face many different trials and celebrations and I love to use those to minister to other ladies, allowing them to know they are not alone as they walk this journey of motherhood. I am very involved in women's Bible studies, serve on church and community committees that allow me to minister to ladies in all walks of life.

The role as Sky Ranch SkyMoms Ministry Director allows me many incredible opportunities to serve alongside moms by organizing and leading events throughout the year and helping to continue the fifty-plus year tradition of serving youth and families at Sky Ranch Christian Camps. Meigs, my husband, and I have been married for 21 years and have two daughters, Kyndall (16) and Sterling (14).  Our family considers it a blessing for us all to be apart of Sky Ranch through SkyMoms, Parent Child weekends, Family Camp or Summer Camp.  We Love Sky Ranch!

Teach Intentionally..."Family Time…Jesus’ enemies’ views and difficulty believing", with Stacy A. Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Time…Jesus’ enemies’ views and difficulty believing

Who is Jesus? There is such an amazing answer to that question! The rest of this school year will be dedicated to answering this question with your family. This month, so far, your family has looked at some prophecy about Jesus, how He fulfilled it, and what Jesus’ claimed about Himself…and the next two weeks are looking at what other people said about Jesus. This month’s family time topic from the “Sky Ranch Family Devotional: Follow the Leader” is on “Jesus is God “ and the weekly discussion is on “Jesus’ enemies views and difficulty believing.“ In the passages below are the description of people who opposed Jesus and how they described Jesus. The people in these passages did understand that Jesus was claiming to be God in human form. However, these people did not agree with Jesus’ claim. But by their reactions, they are validating that Jesus is claiming to be God. Throughout history, there have been arguments of who Jesus claimed to be. Some think that Jesus claimed to be God and others did not agree that He was making that claim. But in the passages below, your family can read for themselves Jesus’ claim and the reaction of other people at that time. Why does it matter if Jesus claimed to be God? This is another question with an amazing answer. For the purposes of keeping the answer simple for your family, God is sinless and the sacrifice that is acceptable to God, the Father to pay for your sins, needed to be sinless. So, God the Father sent God, the Son - Jesus, to free you from your sin. God provided a way for you join Him in His kingdom, if you will believe in Jesus. Jesus paid a price and gave up His life on this earth so that you could have life with God. But in order for you to truly be freed and His death pay for your sins, it is important that you believe all that Jesus said including that Jesus is God. 

As a Mom, my kids never really argued if Jesus is God.  They just believed it. But as a Bible teacher, I did find it was useful to be able to explain how I knew Jesus is God. Since I needed to be able to understand Jesus’ death on the cross and how it paid for my sins, in order to explain it to others. I had to understand why God would accept Jesus as a substitute sacrifice for me. What was different about Jesus from anyone else? There are many theologians who have gone into in-depth explanations on this topic and I don’t think that you need to get that deep with your kids at this point. But if you need extra help, I found Josh McDowell’s “More than a carpenter” as an easy book to read for teens and adults and useful to someone searching for answers. 

This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family about their personal belief in Jesus. Pray that God would help you address any of their concerns or questions. Some kids have a child-like faith that easily believes and does not question. Pray that your family would feel safe to express if they do have questions. It is okay for kids to question “why” they believe something and it is even healthy. You want their faith to be their own and in order for them to own it, their faith needs to make sense to them. Pray that God would help you explain Jesus is God to your family. Pray for an encouraging discussion that builds your trust in Jesus. 

Do you have questions or need prayer for your family? Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.

I will be praying for you! 

Stacy

Stacy A. Davis

Sky Ranch Family Devotionals and

Teach Intentionally Author

This week we are in the 1^st  Topic and 4^th  Family Time (or page 16 ) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Follow the Leader”…

Family Time 4: 

Topic 1: Jesus is God…Jesus’ enemies’ views and difficulty believing

Talk with God: Read…Scriptures and questions below.

Exodus 3:14  And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

John 8:24  (Jesus is speaking) "I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am [He], you shall die in your sins.”

• In Exodus 3:14, what is God’s name?
• In John 8:24, what is Jesus asking them to believe His name is?

John 8:58  Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."  59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple.

John 10:33  (spoken to Jesus) The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out [to be] God."

• In John 8:58 and John 10:33, what do the Jews understand Jesus is claiming to be?

Walk with God: Discuss… Jesus did claim to be God. The Jewish religious leaders did understand this claim. Why is it difficult for others to believe what Jesus claimed about Himself?

Prayer suggestion…  Pray for God’s help to understand Jesus is God.

Family Time 4: 

Leader Answers:

• I Am
• I Am
• God
• Discussion ideas: John 10:33 tells us that the Jews’ reason for unbelief was that Jesus was a man who claimed to be God. However, wasn’t that what God said would happen ahead of time? Didn’t God say that “God would come to earth as a Child?” And doesn’t a Child grow into a Man? Yes, He does. In Luke 19:41-44, Jesus actually weeps because the Jews missed recognizing His visit to earth.  What other truths help you believe that Jesus is God?

© 2012 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

Lisa Life Lesson, "Cast Away"!

Please join us in PRAYER for this sweet family!

Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30

For the past month, I've been helping out a young family who was called by God to adopt two orphans in Uganda.  Mom and Dad are in Uganda walking through the adoption process, and grandma is living with their 3 young girls, ages 7, 5, and 3.  I'm helping grandma.  I told the 29 year old mom, "If 2 50 year olds can't do the work of a 29 year old, then we've got problems!?"  

I forget how much there is to do for little ones. Baths, lunchboxes, homework, practices, toys, dirty clothes, and then do it all over again the next day.

My perspective this time around is different.  I'm much more calm.  I guess I know it will all be okay.  We'll get it done.  No big deal.  

But when you're in the trenches, it doesn't seem like it will all be okay.  It's all a big deal.  It's all big.  

Jesus asks us to cast our cares on Him.  HE can handle it.  His yoke is easy, His burden light.  

Practice casting today.  Cast away.  Cast away, Mom! Be free of worry and anxiety.  He cares for you.

~Lisa Clark
Sky Ranch SkyMom Parenting Mentor

*You may read about the Knights and their current journey on their blog!

Teach Intentionally..."Family Time…Jesus claimed to be God",with Stacy A. Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Time…Jesus claimed to be God

Your kids understand the super hero craze….Superman, Batman, Spiderman or what about the Avengers: Captain America, Ironman, Thor…do your kids understand who they are? But when it comes to God and His super abilities, do they look at you with a puzzled face? Do they think of Jesus having super ability? Probably not.  Even though, when Jesus was on earth, He was an actual man who really did walk on water, save people from death, appeared and disappeared, walked through walls and floated up in the sky. Hmmm…why don’t we think of Him this way? Now is your chance to help your family connect the dot and understand Jesus’ super abilities. You can even note that Jesus didn’t need a special suit or even use His fists to fight. Jesus fought with His Words instead. This month the family time topic from the “Sky Ranch Family Devotional: Follow the Leader” is on “Jesus is God“ and the weekly discussion is on “Jesus claimed to be God.“ Talk to your family about all the neat abilities Jesus had while on earth. And remind them that Jesus’ human side is still true too. Jesus still loves you, encourages you and forgives you when you say you are sorry. Jesus is still with you today through His Holy Spirit and communicates with you in your heart. He is very real today. His Words have amazing power. His Words can save lives. Sometimes words like “divine” or “deity” are difficult for kids to grasp, so it may be easier to talk about what Jesus does and they will understand. Remind them that Jesus will come back to earth someday and will come down from the sky, just like He left. Try reading Revelation 19:11-16.

In our family, we had many fun conversations about Jesus’ super abilities. The kids had a great time learning about what amazing feats Jesus did while on earth. I took them to Bible passages such as Jesus in the upper room (John 20:19-23) and the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). In John, we discussed how amazing it was that Jesus just appeared in the room, even though the doors were locked. In Luke, we read through the interesting passage that shows Jesus just disappearing. We also enjoyed sharing other stories of Jesus’ healing miracles…something you don’t see today.

This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family and asking God to reveal what your family does believe about Jesus’ super abilities. Pray that your family would accept Jesus’ claim about Himself of being God and be amazed at that awesome statement. Ask God to help you make a distinction between a very real Jesus and pretend super heroes. Pray that your family will see Jesus as so much more. Pray that your family time will be a way to honor and celebrate Jesus!

Do you have questions or need prayer for your family? Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.

I will be praying for you! 
Stacy
Stacy A. Davis
Sky Ranch Family Devotionals and
Teach Intentionally Author

This week we are in the 1st Topic and  3^rd  Family Time (or page 15 ) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Follow the Leader”…

Family Time 3:

Topic 1: Jesus is God…Jesus claimed to be God and Deity in bodily form

Talk with God: Read…Scriptures and questions below.

Mark 14:61  …Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed [One?]"  62  And  Jesus  said, "I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

• In Mark 14:62, did Jesus claim to be the Christ?

John 17:5 (Jesus is speaking) "Now, Father,  glorify  Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

• In John 17:5, did Jesus claim to have glory like God before the world existed? 

John 10:30 (Jesus is speaking)  "I and the Father are one."

• In John 10:30, is Jesus claiming to be God? 

John 20:27 (Jesus is speaking) Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing."  28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

• In John 20:27, what is Jesus asking Thomas to believe?

Walk with God: Discuss…Was Jesus making the claim to be God? Why is it important for you to know what Jesus claimed about Himself?

Prayer suggestion… Pray for God’s help to know what Jesus said

Family Time 3: 

Leader Answers:

• Yes
• Yes
• Yes
• That Jesus is God and was brought back to life
• Discussion ideas: It is important to know that Jesus did claim to be God when He was here. This understanding that “Jesus is Deity” is one of the beliefs that defines Christianity and separates it from all other religions. In Colossians 2:9, you are told that in Jesus Deity dwells in bodily form.  What is the meaning of Deity or divine power?

© 2012 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

Getting to know your SkyMom Writer...Lisa Clark, Sky Ranch SkyMom Parenting Mentor

Lisa Clark

Sky Ranch SkyMom Parenting Mentor

I joined the Sky Ranch Team in 2007 and have loved every second of it! It has been my pleasure serving the moms and families of campers and their friends. The SkyMoms team exists to encourage and "pump up!" moms in biblical parenting.  With each post, gathering and interaction we hope you feel loved on and encouraged.  You are the heartbeat of the home!

I am a native Texan and have grown up in the Dallas area.  Prestonwood Baptist Church (PBC) is my church home and I love teaching bible study there.  My husband Brad and I were married at PBC in 1986 and have two daughters, Caroline (23) and Camryn (18).

Never in my wildest dreams, could I have told you that God would be using me at this point in my life to minister to moms.  But He is and I am forever grateful. To God be the Glory!

Prosper SkyMoms - You're Invited!

Please join us for an interactive parenting luncheon full of fun, fellowship and spiritual encouragement with Linda Paulk, President and CEO of Sky Ranch, Tori Miller, SkyMoms Ministry Director, and Lisa Clark, SkyMoms Parenting Mentor. "Why Can't My Kids Be Perfect Like Me?"  September 27, 2012 - 12:00 - 1:30 pm  Check-in begins at 11:30 Gentle Creek Country Club in Prosper Limited space available - Drawings for fabulous prizes!    Please RSVP by Friday, September 21, 2012  by email: SkyMoms@SkyRanch.org by phone: 469.484.4840

Prayer Encouragement: "Family on a Hill!" by SkyMom, Terrie Chevaillier

Family on a Hill

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 

Matthew 5:14

SkyMoms, you are the light of the world in your town and community. So are your children in their schools and your husbands in their workplaces

WE ARE LIGHTS IN THIS WORLD.

And because of that light in us, there is just no hiding. Because of Christ in us, we are put in places just for the purpose of letting our light shine.

It could be that your child is the only light on a team, in a classroom, on a bus, or at a lunch table.  You could be the only light on a committee, at your place of work, or on your street. Your husband could be the only light in a business meeting, in an office, or on a seat next to someone on an airplane.

Think about how a city on a hill looks as you are driving on a freeway at night.  Or how a city shines brightly below from an airplane up high. It just cannot be hidden unless the entire town had no power/electricity.

We have the power of Christ in us and that power is always available for display in those who profess Him as Lord and Savior.

Let's Pray God's Word:

Dear Father, I come before You today asking that our family would shine bright like a city on a hill for others to be drawn to You.

Where are we dimming down out of fear of rejection or doubt that our light can or would make a difference?

As my children go to school, let someone see Christ on them as they radiate Your love through friendship and faith.

I pray that I would be a light to moms in the many circles I gather because of the commonality of our children's schools, friendships, or teams.  Let the light of Your love shine so brightly in me that other moms would be drawn to You.   Many I know are Christians and know of Your love, but please help me to remember that my light can be encouragement or words of truth that I can speak or minister to their hearts on any given day.

Help my husband to have courage to speak of You or just shine in the way he does business with integrity without even saying a word.

I pray that my family would be like a bright and shining city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

Amen

~Terrie Chevaillier

Ronda from ~ The Family Table, brings us "Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits!"

The Fall weather just begs for comfort food. Nothing to me is more comforting that a homemade Buttermilk Biscuit. Although I do a lot of baking, I don’t partake too much in all of the goodies. But a hot, buttered biscuit is almost more than I can take.  Right now I’m staring down a pan full and hoping I can wrap and freeze before I gobble a few. :) 

I know I have been on a foodsaver kick, but this little tool has proved to be invaluable to fast cooking for the family. I bake a batch of biscuits only about once a month but I still want to do it fast. Every time I cook I think to myself how I can make it faster and more efficient for next time. 

My first time cutting tip is that I automatically double the recipe. My batch makes about 7 biscuits so doubling gives me a dozen plus two smaller ones. When we eat them, each person gets 1. Easily we could each eat 3, but by limiting to 1, we have another breakfast AND we aren’t getting more calories than we need. Second time cutting tip is that I wrap each left over biscuit in saran wrap and then freeze (foodsaver style) in batches of 3 (because I have 3 kids). On a busy weekday morning, I can pull the biscuits, defrost in micro for a few seconds, top with an egg and slice of lean ham, sprinkle of cheese and they have a hearty breakfast that takes no more than 5 minutes to prepare. Third tip.  Whenever I make a fresh batch of something that needs measuring with flour etc, I make multiple batches. Get out the bowls and start an assembly line. It takes a few minutes more, but you are only washing the dishes once. Normally I can whip out the double batch, dry ingredients in foodsaver bags but since I had time, I went ahead and crumbled the butter into each batch, foodsavered and then froze the bags. If I make three, that is a quarter of the year with two breakfasts worth each time. Do you see how the time saving elements come into play when you think of this each and every time you cook something? The fourth time saving tip is that I plug what I cook into the icalendar and make it repeat monthly. Next month, as I am doing my meal prep and plan, I can see that some of my meals are already planned and pop up automatically. I can serve something that my family isn’t sick of eating and since it is already mostly prepped, it is quick. I open the bag for a fresh batch and all of I have to do is add the buttermilk and pop them in the oven. Quick and efficient. Home cooked. Inexpensive. 

Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

adapted from Heirloom Baking by The Brass Sisters

4 cups of flour

2 T sugar

1 tsp of baking soda

4 tsp of baking powder

1 tsp salt

12 T cold, unsalted butter, diced

1 1/2 cups cold butter milk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Add dry ingredients to a big bowl. Add diced butter. Working quickly, use your fingers to pinch each small piece of butter with the flour and go through the batch until all of the butter is mixed with flour into small pieces. Add buttermilk and mix using a touch more flour just so it isn’t too sticky. Turn out on the counter and roll out to 1 or 1 1/2 inches thick and use a biscuit cutter to cut out the circles. Do not twist and turn the cutter or your biscuits won’t rise as much. Push down cutter and pull straight up. Add biscuits to cookie sheet. Brush biscuits with melt butter. Bake for about 10-12 minutes until golden 
brown.

Look at the rise! Do you see the layers? Don't over mix...

all I have to do is add buttermilk!

Fried egg sandwich!! :)

Serve hot with butter and honey or jam. Or make a biscuit sandwich with a fried/scrambled egg, ham, and cheese. Have a hot cup of coffee and relax. This is the perfect weekend, sleepy morning type breakfast in my book. Enjoy!

Happy Cooking,

Ronda from The Family Table

Getting to know your SkyMom Writer...Linda Paulk, Sky Ranch President and CEO

Linda Paulk

Sky Ranch President and CEO

Linda accepted God's call to Sky Ranch in 2007.  Prior to serving at Sky Ranch, Linda was President and CEO of Snelling and Snelling, Inc., one of the nation's largest staffing firms. Her passion is to help children tap into God's greatness within them, equipping them with Spiritual Truth to grow into Godly character leaders. She is a recognized speaker and leader in Christian Camping and was awarded "Texas Women," honoring women who have blazed trails in their respective fields. Linda's zeal for helping others goes far beyond business, as she is active on many non-profit and for-profit boards that focus on strengthening families and promoting the well-being of children. She is also co-founder of Star Charities.  Linda's husband Bob is a Captain in the Naval Reserves and has recently served three tours of duty in the Middle East. Linda and Bob are blessed with two children, Ashleigh and Bobby. 

Teach Intentionally..."Family Time…Heavenly lineage and prophecy’s purpose", with Stacy A. Davis ~ Bible Teacher and Sky Ranch Board Member

Family Time…Heavenly lineage and prophecy’s purpose

As a Mom, starting a conversation about Jesus can be difficult with your kids, how do you know the best time to share very important beliefs with the most important people in your life? If it is approached too often or not enough, it can be difficult to engage your kids in a discussion. What is the right balance? The new “Sky Ranch Devotional: Follow the Leader” is designed to help you start the conversations and give your family a weekly opportunity to share your faith with each other. On the calendar, plan a weekly family time one night after dinner. Then begin with the devotional topic such as this week’s topic on “Jesus is God “and the weekly discussion is on “Heavenly lineage and prophecy’s purpose.”  Most people, especially kids, think prophecy is interesting and are very interested that God is able to tell you what will happen before it does. Explain to your family that the Bible is split into two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Let your kids see these sections by looking in the Bible themselves. The Old Testament contains many prophecies, history and all kinds of good information to learn from. The New Testament contains many places where the Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled; plus, more prophecy, history and more great information for learning. One of the neatest things to see is learning an Old Testament prophecy and then finding the New Testament fulfillment. And then discovering how many years were in-between. But as Mom, you will have to set the stage for them and explain why this is unusual. God has amazing knowledge, and knows much more than you or I do. Explain how you or your kids cannot tell the future, especially not 1000 years from now. But God can and already did. Below in the family devotional you will see prophecy in Isaiah which was almost 1000 years before Jesus and Micah was about 400 years before Jesus’ arrival. Then In Matthew, you see that the child named Immanuel or “God with us” would be born from a virgin and in Luke, you see the same virgin gives birth to her son in a town called Bethlehem, just like the earlier prophecies said would happen.

As a young Mom, I joined a ladies Bible study and did not know much about prophecy. I knew that people had said that prophecy was fulfilled but had never searched for it myself and read it with my own eyes. During one of the Bible study courses, our class went through a series of lessons listing the Old Testament passages and finding the New Testament fulfillment. I was shocked! There were so many prophecies that had been fulfilled between the Old and New Testaments. It is worth it to see it. Today, you can search the internet, but back then I had to do it the old fashioned way with a book. If your kids seem interested in prophecy after this devotional, you could look together on the internet to see what other prophecies were fulfilled.

This week in your family time, I would encourage you to prepare by praying for your family by asking God to show you the best way to explain God’s amazing ability that tells the future. He loves you and wants you to know His plans. Pray that this is relayed to your family. Pray and ask if there are any worries or fears about the future in your family.  If family members do worry, pray for God to help you explain that God gives His people a future and hope…Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB) says  'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a  hope.” Encourage your family to share what they look forward to in their futures and enjoy the conversation.

Do you have questions or need prayer for your family? Email me at SkyMoms@skyranch.org.

I will be praying for you! 

Stacy

Stacy A. Davis

Sky Ranch Family Devotionals and

Teach Intentionally Author

This week we are in the 1^st  Topic and 2nd  Family Time (or page  14) of the Sky Ranch Devotional “Follow the Leader”…

Family Time 2:

Topic 1: Jesus is God…Heavenly lineage and prophecy’s purpose

Talk with God: Read…Scriptures and questions below.

Isaiah 7:14  (Prophecy)  "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Micah 5:2  (Prophecy) "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, [Too] little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

• In Isaiah 7:14, what is the name of the Jewish Messiah?
• In Micah 5:2, what is the birthplace of the Jewish Messiah?

Matthew 1:23  (about Jesus)  "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, ‘God with us.’"

Luke 2:4, 7, 10-11  (about Jesus) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,  ...7  And she gave birth to her first-born son… 10  And the angel said to them, …11  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

• In Matt. 1:23, what is the name of Jesus?
• In Luke 2:4, what is the birth place and family name of Jesus?

Walk with God: Discuss… Ahead of time, why do you think God would tell you the birth location and birth family of God’s Son?

Prayer suggestion… Pray for God’s help to understand prophecy.

Family Time 2: 

Leader Answers:

• Immanuel
• Bethlehem Ephrathah
• Immanuel
• Bethlehem, family of David
• Discussion ideas: God is showing you that this special child will be called “God with us” and come from King David’s family. He will be born in the Bethlehem named for King David, which is Bethlehem Ephrathah.  In Isaiah 48:5, 7, God tells you things before they happen so that you will know the situation or happening is from Him and He planned it, so, you won’t claim it is a coincidence. God leaves you clues in scripture that point to who the Messiah will be and Jesus fits the clues. Do you know of other clues?

© 2012 Stacy A. Davis, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer Encouragement: "Minds Made Up for Excellence!" by SkyMom, Terrie Chevaillier

Minds Made Up for Excellence!

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds 

Daniel 1:17

Daniel was one of the four men that the King chose to come be a part of training and service to the King. Daniel had a spirit of excellence and purposed in his heart to not defile himself with things that he was being asked to do that did not go along with his morals, values, or way of living. He purposed in his heart that he would trust the Lord and be a man of excellence.

When reading through the first few chapters of the book of Daniel, it is clear that he was a man who feared the Lord more than he feared man.

He made up his mind to have a spirit of excellence in everything he did.

He had moral values that he would not compromise.

He was also a man that was skilled in learning and knowledge and all kinds of things

that attributed to the service he was called to be about.

Let’s Pray God’s Word:

Dear Father, I pray that the children in my home would desire a spirit of excellence.

Show me where I am adding to that learning and where I am taking away.

I know that many times my children learn by what I do and less by what I say.

Do I have a spirit of excellence?

Show me the difference in striving for excellence over perfection.

I pray that our home would be one where Your training ground of knowledge and understanding begins and continues on until they are no longer living in my home.

Show me how You would use me to increase their knowledge in all kinds of literature and learning.  I pray that Your Word, the Holy Bible, would be where we first start and always go back to over and over again before I teach them anything about man’s word.

Cause our home to be one of excellence.  Convict us of any disobedience or apathy to learning and knowledge that would lead to less than Your best for us.

From reading Your word and being trained for moral excellence in our home, would you take that knowledge and cause them to understand all kinds of things as Daniel did?

Thank You Father that we can trust You to guide us and lead us daily.

Amen.

~Terrie Chevaillier