My Wrong "Reaction" - Family Plus Children's

Hey everyone!

We all strive to "do the right thing"... at least sometimes we do. Tuesday night at our house was one of those kind of nights. I totally lost my cool with our oldest son, Carter. It was one of those moments where Katie's eyes got big because she didn't expect me to react that way. Before Carter fell asleep I apologized to him and then I crawled in bed and apologized to Katie. I wanted to vomit in that moment as I confessed how I had failed and expressed the kind of relationship I desire to have with both of our boys. 

I should have simply walked away from that moment where I displeased God and given myself the chance to trust Him before engaging Carter. I "reacted" instead of "acting". There was a difference in that moment..."acting" would have shown Christ-like intentionality and purpose..."reacting" showed my flaws and flesh. Instead I had to "act" in the appropriate Christ-like manner after I had failed.

Christ acted upon God's command to die for the sake of mankind that those who believe will be made right with God. In that moment don't be like Lot (Gen 13) or I, walk away from that reaction and trust God to help you act appropriately. This kind of self control will show the love of Christ to your child. 

Scripture:  Genesis 13 (Abram and Lot)

Memory Verse: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34

Prayer for the Nations: Greece

Jared Norris

Children's Minister

The Glade Church

FAMILY PLUS Children's - The Right Thing

Hey Everyone!

This week we will be talking all about "doing the right thing." It's safe to say that we are faced with this choice daily, so how well do you and your children stand up to this choice? Let's face it, neither you, nor I, nor our children stand up to that choice well. If we did, we'd be sinless and we know that's not true (Romans 3:23). This week I want to challenge you to do one simple task. Pray with your kids that they will see and make the right choice...at school, home, and other places. If we are ever going to stand out in this world for Christ, we need His constant help making the right choice. Teach your kids this truth by praying together for help.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 24 (David and Saul)

Memory Verse: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34 

Prayer for the Nations: Greece - Allergy Alert - We will be having Pita, Olives, Feta Cheese and Humus as we pray for Greece.

Jared Norris

Children's Minister

The Glade Church

FAMILY PLUS Children's - Values and Priorities

There are certain things that we struggle with in this world. If you're like Katie and I, we constantly have things vying to be the top priority for our family. Should we use our money for this thing or that thing? Should we spend our time doing this or doing that? Ultimately, we answer those questions using our values. Values are things we all have, and if we are not careful we unintentionally set values that we don't want.

Research shows that your kids will value your values. You communicate your values through your actions not your words. 

This week take 10 minutes and write down your families top 5 values, then show it to your spouse or a close friend. Do they agree that you value those 5 things? This is a worthy 10 minutes! This Sunday, your kids are going to be learning that "God is always the best option, and He wants to be the priority in their life." But this lesson will not have any value in your child's eyes unless you're communicating that value in your home.

The details are:

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Memory Verse: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34 

Prayer for the Nations: Greece

Jared Norris

Children's Minister

The Glade Church

FAMILY PLUS Children's - Your Advantage!

Hey Everyone!

This week you, as the parent, have the advantage over your children. You've been hearing and learning all about the point they will be focusing on this week in Kidstuf. We all know "living for Christ can be difficult at times," especially when we are in a changing culture. The temptation is to stop moving and stand and stare. It's like we are frozen and are watching the people around us change. The problem with that is if we are not moving, we are not influencing our children. 

Christ influenced His closest friends by giving them a night and a meal they would never forget. We call it the Lord's Supper. Those friends quickly found out that it wasn't easy to follow Him once Christ left this earth. I know the disciples looked back on that night just as we do in remembrance of the difficulties Christ met on our behalf (see 1 Cor 11:23-26). When life is difficult as a parent, look to this passage andremember that in a changing culture your kids need to see "you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes" (1 Cor 11:26).

The details of this week...

Scripture: Mt 26:17-30; 1 Cor 11:23-26

 Memory Verse: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” James 4:10 

Prayer for the Nations: Greece

Jared Norris

Children's Minister

The Glade Church