We have been asked to invite your prayers for the following people:
Bob Scott
Lynne White
The family of Ward Murray
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
For Devotion and Reflection
From: http://www.explorefaith.org/signposts/
The Signposts for January are written by Susan Hanson.
His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.—Nahum 1:3
When we're kids, our image of God is often quite benign. A cross between Santa Claus and our grandfather, this God seems totally agreeable, even tame. Not only does he listen intently to all our prayers, but he answers them just as we want, healing our relatives, watching over our friends, protecting us from myriad childhood woes.
Or so we like to think. Yes, God does listen to our prayers, but he's anything but tame. Indeed, the God we meet in scripture is spirited, audacious, wild.
As comfortable as domesticated life can be—with its king-size beds, DVD players, takeout food, and instant messaging--there's still a part of us that craves adventure. And so we spend our weekends driving to remote locations where we can happily rappel down cliffs, hike through brush, and sleep on the ground.
Tell us a storm is coming, and within minutes some of us are heading to our cars to chase it. Give us an opportunity to bounce through whitewater, possibly drowning in the process, and some of us are getting in the raft. We need the adrenaline rush.
But daring as these experiences may be, nothing can compare with the wildness of God. As the Letter to the Hebrews tells us, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God"—not because he wishes us harm, but because we aren't accustomed to such power. The wildness of God is the same wildness that gives us breath, that makes us feel alive, that speaks from the heart of the storm.
PRAY: O God, help me to see your power not just in whirlwind and storm, but in my soul as well.
The Signposts for January are written by Susan Hanson.
His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.—Nahum 1:3
When we're kids, our image of God is often quite benign. A cross between Santa Claus and our grandfather, this God seems totally agreeable, even tame. Not only does he listen intently to all our prayers, but he answers them just as we want, healing our relatives, watching over our friends, protecting us from myriad childhood woes.
Or so we like to think. Yes, God does listen to our prayers, but he's anything but tame. Indeed, the God we meet in scripture is spirited, audacious, wild.
As comfortable as domesticated life can be—with its king-size beds, DVD players, takeout food, and instant messaging--there's still a part of us that craves adventure. And so we spend our weekends driving to remote locations where we can happily rappel down cliffs, hike through brush, and sleep on the ground.
Tell us a storm is coming, and within minutes some of us are heading to our cars to chase it. Give us an opportunity to bounce through whitewater, possibly drowning in the process, and some of us are getting in the raft. We need the adrenaline rush.
But daring as these experiences may be, nothing can compare with the wildness of God. As the Letter to the Hebrews tells us, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God"—not because he wishes us harm, but because we aren't accustomed to such power. The wildness of God is the same wildness that gives us breath, that makes us feel alive, that speaks from the heart of the storm.
PRAY: O God, help me to see your power not just in whirlwind and storm, but in my soul as well.
Family Devotion Ideas for the Week
Each week we will offer different devotions and different styles of devotions.
This one comes from: http://www.christianitytoday.com/cpt/2003/004/25.20.html
It is based on reading Psalm 100 (consider lighting a candle as you read it):
* Read the Psalm
* Look at the activity for each day of the week
* End with a prayer…ask your children who or what they would like to pray for.
Here is a devotion for each day of the week.
Psalm 100:3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
1. Look around school or town or the mall at all the different kinds of people God made.
2. God made each member of your family. Tell each family member something you love about him or her.
3. Read Psalm 139:14-18.
4. Learn Psalm 100:3.
5. Look in the mirror to see how wonderfully you are made.
6. Take a walk and find five things God made.
7. God made our bodies to move, so go outside and play!
This one comes from: http://www.christianitytoday.com/cpt/2003/004/25.20.html
It is based on reading Psalm 100 (consider lighting a candle as you read it):
* Read the Psalm
* Look at the activity for each day of the week
* End with a prayer…ask your children who or what they would like to pray for.
Here is a devotion for each day of the week.
Psalm 100:3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
1. Look around school or town or the mall at all the different kinds of people God made.
2. God made each member of your family. Tell each family member something you love about him or her.
3. Read Psalm 139:14-18.
4. Learn Psalm 100:3.
5. Look in the mirror to see how wonderfully you are made.
6. Take a walk and find five things God made.
7. God made our bodies to move, so go outside and play!
The Four Keys for Faith Formation for Youth
The Youth & Family Institute has identified four keys that are essential for nurturing the faith, values, and character formation of children, youth, and adults:
1. CARING CONVERSATION. Christian values and faith are passed on to the next generation through supportive conversation. Listening and responding to the daily concerns of our children make it easier to have meaningful conversations regarding the love of God, and are ways to express God’s love to others.
2. FAMILY DEVOTIONS.Adults need to learn the Christian message and the biblical story as their own story if they are to pass on their faith to their children and other adults. Our Christian faith shapes the whole of our lives and involves a lifetime of study, reflection, and prayer.
3. FAMILY RITUALS AND TRADITIONS. Families identify themselves and tell their family stories through daily routines, celebrations, and rituals. Whether it’s an annual summer vacation, hanging Christmas ornaments, or an informal liturgy before bedtime, these activities speak volumes about what the family values, believes and promotes, and how much the family values its faith.
4. FAMILY SERVICE. Children, youth, and adults are most likely to be influenced by those who “walk the talk.” There are many opportunities for service: some in the home, some in the congregation, some in the larger community. Whatever type of service you choose, it is best done with family members or other intergenerational groups.
1. CARING CONVERSATION. Christian values and faith are passed on to the next generation through supportive conversation. Listening and responding to the daily concerns of our children make it easier to have meaningful conversations regarding the love of God, and are ways to express God’s love to others.
2. FAMILY DEVOTIONS.Adults need to learn the Christian message and the biblical story as their own story if they are to pass on their faith to their children and other adults. Our Christian faith shapes the whole of our lives and involves a lifetime of study, reflection, and prayer.
3. FAMILY RITUALS AND TRADITIONS. Families identify themselves and tell their family stories through daily routines, celebrations, and rituals. Whether it’s an annual summer vacation, hanging Christmas ornaments, or an informal liturgy before bedtime, these activities speak volumes about what the family values, believes and promotes, and how much the family values its faith.
4. FAMILY SERVICE. Children, youth, and adults are most likely to be influenced by those who “walk the talk.” There are many opportunities for service: some in the home, some in the congregation, some in the larger community. Whatever type of service you choose, it is best done with family members or other intergenerational groups.
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