Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

Just because I title these blessing posts, “Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing,” does not limit their use to only Wednesdays. Might I suggest you get in the daily habit? Bless your child as you wake them in the morning, or when they leave the house, or as you say good-night. Try out this one: Say your child’s name and…

The Lord blesses you and surrounds you with his love.

Here is a resource to get started using blessings.
View other blessings here.


Photo credits:
Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) – Pink Sherbert Photography on Flickr
Main photo – pipitdapo on Flickr, both licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing – a resource for getting started

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Here is a resource to use, a book to read with your child, to introduce them to the idea of receiving a blessing from you.

Cover of the book "Will You Bless Me?" By Neal Lozano

Why is this such a good book, especially right now, at this time of year?
Because it tells the Christmas story.

It’s not a complete telling and the details aren’t even in order. It’s just the highlights, as told by Mary to her young son, Jesus, who asks his mother to tell him his birth story. I like this part…

Joseph put down his tools… He loved these moments when Mary talked to Jesus about his birth, telling her son all the thoughts and plans God had just for him.

You can do that.

This week, let this be your blessing – your gift – to your child. Tell them about the day they arrived in your household. Tell them how glad you are to be their parent, or how much they are loved, or how they were uniquely created by God, and how God has a specific purpose for them in this life.

Here’s another quote from the book (on a page for parents, grandparents and caregivers). Take this as encouragement to regularly bless your child…

You have all you need to impart to your child the sense of identity and destiny that comes from the heart of God.

Blessings on your acts of blessing your child!


View other blessings here.


Photo credits:
Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) – Pink Sherbert Photography on Flickr, licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
Other photo – from my archives: my copy of this great little book.

Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Why should we bless our children?
Because the Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:24 (NiRV) that…

“Pleasant words are like honey.
They are sweet to the spirit and bring healing to the body.”

a bee on a honey comb

Spread some pleasant words (a blessing) on your child.

__Child’s name__, may you know that the Lord God is at work in your life. His strength keeps you safe and his Spirit increases your faith.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving.


Photo credits:
Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) – Pink Sherbert Photography on Flickr.
Main photo – Peter Shanks on Flickr. Both licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Four Friends: Family Talk Time… and an activity!

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

Here’s an activity to do with your family, and questions to discuss, about our current Rotation on four friends who bring a lame man to Jesus.

Make cups of hot cocoa but leave out the sugar. Don’t say anything about your omission but allow everyone a chance to sample their cocoa.

Ask: What do you suppose is missing?
I am wondering if cocoa without sugar is sort of like our lives without Jesus?
I wonder what our lives would be like without Jesus’ love?

Pass around a sugar bowl and allow everyone to stir in to their cup, perhaps two tablespoons of sugar. After everyone has tasted their adjusted cocoa…
Ask: How does it taste now?

a boy shows his approval over hot cocoa

Ask: I wonder how adding sugar to your cocoa, is like adding Jesus’ love to your life?
How does having Jesus as your friend make life sweeter?
Say: Let’s read about a time when a man who was paralyzed (he couldn’t walk) had a sweetened life because he met Jesus.

Read Mark 2:1-12. Alternately, ask your kids to help you tell the story. Check the Bible for accuracy.

Ask: Would the man likely have been able to see Jesus without his friends help?
How has someone helped you recently and made your life sweeter?
What are ways that our helping other people is like bringing them to Jesus?
Are there other ways that we can “bring” people to Jesus by helping them?

Say: Those four friends had a lot of faith in Jesus. Jesus wants us to use our own faith to help spread Jesus’ sweet love.

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Photo credits:
Wonderful cocoa by woodleywonderworks on Flickr, licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Two happy girls holding hands walking to school at sunrise

Bless your children.
Every day.
Say words that God would speak.

Here’s one for you to try out this week…
Say your child’s name and…

God empowers you to be a friend to those in need, offering encouraging words and comfort.


View other blessings to use here.


Photo credits:
Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) – Pink Sherbert Photography on Flickr
Other photo – another one from the same talented person – Pink Sherbert Photography on Flickr, both licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
A kid running on a beach

A note about Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing… The book Will You Bless Me? by Neal Lozano, says that saying blessings is “speaking the thoughts of God into the heart of your child.”

Think about that as you take leave of your child (as they make their way to school) and you say…

God wants you to go at your day with gusto; giving it all you’ve got!

May you go at your blessings with gusto!

View other blessings here.


Photo credits:
Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) – Pink Sherbert Photography on Flickr
Beach photo – Mike Baird on Flickr; both licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Wednesday’s Weekly Blessing

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
A sleeping child

 

Having difficulty getting started with this blessing stuff?

 

Does it feel awkward?
Not sure if your kids will think you’ve gone off the deep end?

 

Try this: Offer a blessing when your kids are asleep. (It’s not quite as good as when they are able to hear it but it’s a start. It can give you confidence that what you are doing is right!) This week’s blessing…

May you never doubt God’s love for you.

View other blessings here.


Photo credits:
Banner photo (not visible in readers or email) – Pink Sherbert Photography on Flickr.
Main photo – tamakisono on Flickr; both licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Family Talk Time: Adam and Eve, part 2

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
Open quote marksThese commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

An ancient proclamation; still applicable to us today!

As our Cool Disciples learn about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, here are some points to ponder together with your children. Did you miss the first posts with questions to discuss with your family? View them here and here.

This is a story about hiding when you’ve done something wrong

A girl peeks out at the photographer

  • I wonder why Adam and Eve hid from God?
  • Which do you think is easier, “hiding” or admitting you are wrong?
  • Adults: tell stories from your childhood: an occasion when you did something wrong and tried to hide.
  • I wonder what would have happened if Adam and Eve had said something to God instead of hiding?
  • God would have known what they had done. Why do you suppose he asked them if they had eaten from the tree? (in Genesis 3:11)
  • How can something that is good (because God created everything and called it good) be wrong? What modern-day examples can you think of?
And it’s about consequences

a broken coffee mug on the floor

  • What were the consequences of Adam and Eve’s bad choice?
  • Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden; they were separated from God. How do you suppose they felt about this?
  • How would you feel if you had to move out of your bedroom and sleep in the garage?
  • What do you think, was God too hard on Adam and Eve?
And about second chances

Super glue rescues a broken object

  • Where is the good news in this story?
  • The good news is that even when we make mistakes, God still lovingly looks for us. “Where are you,” calls God? How does knowing this make you feel?
  • Adults: tell about a time when someone offered you animal skin clothing to replace your fig leaves.
  • Do you suppose that God may be calling out for you, but that you’ve missed his signals? What would help you listen for God?
  • How does his story add to your understanding of who God is and what God wants for us?
May your family “talk time” be fruitful as you nurture and support one another in your faith journeys!


Photo credits:
Click here for info on banner photo (not visible in readers or email).
Hiding child by Ubo Pakes.
Broken mug by Antti T. Nissinen.
Super glue by David Goehring.
All licensed under: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic on Flickr.

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