Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Blessings for your children (or for adults in your life, including yourself!)
can be found in the Bible. This one is from The Message, 1 Corinthians 16:23.

Say your child’s name and…

Jesus has his arms wide open for you.

A girl stands with wide open arms gazing at a sunset on Lake Superior

Wondering about my focus on blessings? Read about it here.
There are other blessings here.


Photo credits from Flickr:
Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) by Pink Sherbert Photography. Wide open arms by Nolan O’Brien. Both licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Some of you may be on break this week. Whether you are in town or far-flung… take time to look for God.

A red berried bush covered in ice

And remember to bless your children.

Say your child’s name and…

May you be open to whatever ways God uses to speak to you.


This blessing doesn’t work for you? There are others to select from here.


Photo credits: Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) by Pink Sherbert Photography on Flickr. Licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
Other photo: From my archives.

Are you facing a den full of lions?

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

If your kids are like most kids, they will experience good days and not-so-good days. They will have “glads” and they will have “sads.”

Spend time as a family with everyone sharing one glad and one sad for the day. (Don’t try to fix anything, just listen and celebrate and commiserate.)

A lion stuffed toy animal
After the sharing of glads/sads bring up the story of Daniel in the den of lions. In the days of Daniel, being sentenced to be thrown to the lions would count as a not-so-good day. It would have been a major sad!

Daniel got thrown in with a bunch of lions because he broke a law – he openly prayed to God rather than to King Darius. What did Daniel do about his situation?

He trusted God to take care of him.

This is my favorite part of this story… when the king discovers that the lions didn’t harm Daniel…

'Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.

Talk with your kids about how our “sads” can be like being “thrown to the lions.”
When that happens, will they remember the story of Daniel?

It’s not easy trusting God. It takes practice.

God is always with us, even when we are in the midst of hardships.

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Photo credits:
A stuffed lion by Terry Johnston, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing… for yourself!

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Recently I was introduced to the concept of blessing yourself. What a wonderful idea! To say to yourself words that give you a hug from God. (It doesn’t have to be out loud.)

Say your name and…

May the LORD be good to you and give you peace.

Then use the same blessing on your kids.


Here is a resource to get started using blessings with your children (and yourself).
View other blessings here.

 


Photo credits from Flickr:
Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) by Pink Sherbert Photography. A hug by ganesha.isis.
Both licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

A child "sleds" down a hill

A Blessing for your children…

Say your child’s name and…

Today may you take each problem you face and turn it into praise to God. Give thanks in all circumstances.


Like to see other blessings? Look here.


Photo credits from Flickr: both by D Sharon Pruitt of Pink Sherbert Photography. Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) and a sled (is it out of control?) Both licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Look! The Lamb of God!

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Asking questions is good. Encourage the asking of questions, even if you don’t know the answers!

A faith that quits questioning, quits growing.

+++++—Rev. J. Douglas Paterson in his “What If” sermon series
+++++“What If Having Questions Were More Important Than Having
+++++ Answers?” (2/6/11)

Here are a couple of questions… but first a bit of background. Our story about John the Baptist is found in all four Gospels. The Gospel according to John (a different John than John the Baptist) includes a picture metaphor.

One day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, “Look, the Lamb of God.” (John 1:36)

Lambs

So if having questions is a way to grow…

Why did John the Baptist call Jesus “the Lamb of God”?

In Jesus’ time, lambs were offered (twice a day) as a sacrifice for people’s sins. An animal’s life — to pay the penalty for sin. Calling Jesus the “Lamb of God” meant that Jesus would take the place of a lamb; Jesus would die to take away our sins.

How did John the Baptist recognize that Jesus was the Messiah?

Wonder together! What questions have your kids asked about this story?


Photo credits: Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Lambs by A. Roger Davies, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
A smiling baby 

 

Bless your child with the words God used to bless John the Baptist at his baptism. (Find the words God used, in the Bible at Matthew 3:16-17).

Say your child’s name and…

You are my dearly loved son (or daughter), with whom I am well pleased. You are a child of God, who is also well pleased with you.


Check out this resource about using blessings with your kids.
View other blessings here.


Photo credits from Flickr:
Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) by Pink Sherbert Photography. Smiling baby by Jay Malone. (Yes, bless your baby!) Both licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Dinner table conversation?

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

“atA little while back I’d suggested that a way to talk about faith with your kids was to make family dinner a priority. (Click on “family dinner” to read that post.)

Sometimes getting conversation going at the table can be tough, especially for older kids. Here’s an idea:

Before dinner glance at this brief post from “HuffPost Family Dinner Downloads.”

HuffPost? What’s that?

In the words of the editors…

'Every Friday afternoon, just in time for dinner, our editors highlight one of the most compelling news stories of the week — stories that will spark a lively discussion among the whole family.

This particular HuffPost Family Dinner Download happens to be about eating healthy and about one particular retailer (amazingly enough) agreeing to help with that effort especially for folks with limited incomes. Lots of room for various discussion – there are even questions provided to spark conversation!

But where is “faith” in this discussion?

Glad you asked? To tie your discussion to our current Rotation at at FUMC, bring up the question: What did John the Baptist eat?

The answer: locusts and wild honey! (Matthew 3:4) Yum?

Here are some other questions to discuss:

  • Do you suppose people thought John was strange? Why do you think that?
  • Do you suppose that his strange diet (and his strange clothes) were what drew people to him?
  • Oh, so why else did they want to listen to what John the Baptist had to say? And what was it he was saying/doing?
  • John the Baptist baptized with water. What are some ways water gives and sustains life in the world?
  • Why is water a symbol of what God does for us at baptism?

If your children have been baptized, tell them about it. If they haven’t been baptized, discuss baptisms they’ve seen. Enjoy your family dinner!

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Photo credits:
Dinner table photo by vizzzual-dot-com, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.