InstaEncouragements Blog

Come and Gather: Family Time with God

6/14/2019

Why Have a Family Time with God?

I once thought we didn’t have time for family devotions. But one day I read a report that said the average family watches over 20 hours of television a week! I wondered if TV time was eating up hours my family could be using to become more like Christ. So, I did a quick check of our TV habits and realized we were watching at least 15 hours of television a week. I was shocked!

I led the way for better family time. I quit watching one of my favorite shows. That gave us time to relax at dinner and talk about how our day went. As we began sharing our joys and concerns, we were soon praying together and reading the Bible together. Now, that family time has become one of the most important things we do together.

Changing habits is difficult, it takes time, but it can be done. Here’s how we did it in our home:

We talked it over thoroughly before making changes. As we discovered with diet and exercise, gradual changes were the longest lasting. So, we concentrated on small baby steps.
I discovered that sitting in front of the tube was often a response to boredom. So, we started looking for activities the whole family could enjoy. Following a minor league ball team in our town has been fun. A family in my church plays table games one night a week, and the kids love it.
We moved the TV to a less prominent place in our home, and found by doing so, it takes more effort to watch television—this is a good thing.
Changing the family time from the glowing screen to God’s Word was one of the most important things we ever did as a family!

God has really blessed that time of sharing, praying, and Bible reading. Our family devotions have become the foundation of our relationships with each other and with God.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

Reprinted with permission | Pastor Jeremy Sweatt | Farmington Avenue Baptist Church, West Hartford, CT

Come and Gather: Family Time with God

Introducing Come and Gather: Family Time with God, or what we lovingly refer to as Gather.

Gather is a lovely, 35-page, daily devotional centered around families enjoying time together with God and each other.

This 27-day devotional is divided into 3 parts:
Part One: Days 1-5, is written specifically with husbands and wives in mind. In this part of Gather, husbands and wives will explore 5 Signs of a Functional Family.
5 Signs of a Functional Family includes:

An Attitude of Service
Intimacy Between the Husband and Wife
Husbands Who are Loving Leaders
Parents Who Teach and Train
Children Who Honor and Obey

Part Two: Days 6-20, is written with the whole family in mind. It's A Walk Through God’s Word. From Genesis to Revelation we will discuss subjects like God's mercy and protection, being humble, dealing with difficulties, having a teachable spirit, dependence on God, and much more.

Part Three: Days 21-27, is a Men of God Character Study. We'll learn character traits that every Christin should strive to demonstrate in their life straight from characters in God's Word.

At the end of Gather you'll find a place for your family to record specific prayer requests. I love being specific with my prayer request and seeing God answer in specific ways. Recording the answers, as well as the requests, is a great way to help your children see God working in your lives.

Join the movement today and download Gather for free toady!

How are you intentional about family time with God in your home?

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SLiCES of Summer Goals

6/7/2019

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SLiCES of Summer: Being teacher has always granted the summertime to take a break from the hectic schedule of sports and school calendars. Our family has enjoyed this time in many different ways. When I was a stay at home mom I would plan out special free activities for each week. We would pick a special Bible program to use in family devotions or plan an incentive plan complete with rewards for reading and personal devotions. Such treasured memories have been made during these times.

Being a teacher has always granted me the summertime to take a break from the hectic schedule of teaching, sports and school calendars. Our family has enjoyed this time in many different ways. When I was a stay-at-home mom, I would plan unique, free activities for each week of the summer. We would pick a special Bible program to use in family devotions or put in place an incentive plan, complete with rewards, for reading and personal devotions. Such treasured memories have been made during these times.

This summer, as I prayed about what we should do with these precious few weeks, the Lord led me in a different direction. Instead of planning actives and trying to fill our days, God challenged my heart to look for the purpose behind each activity we would plan or do. Instead of trying to keep everyone busy with do, do, do, God was saying to me, "Take time to be." As I was praying over this, the idea of an acrostic came to my mind. I am using the acrostic SLiCES as a target to aim at and keep our family on track this summer.

Here are our S L i C E S of summer goals:

Set aside a time for study and reflection on God’s Word. To meet this goal I purchased a few different studies for the age groups represented by my children, and one for myself. We have chosen special days of the week to work on these with each different age group. I also started a new study with a few close friends to help me with accountability.

Listen to messages and books. My children love to listen to Adventures in Odyssey (link below). This summer we are also going to listen to books like The Chronicles of Narnia series, which you can find on YouTube for free. I have looked into some topical podcasts from places like Focus on the Family for us to listen to as well. The art of just listening is getting lost today, so the Rossiters are going to practice listening this summer.

Increase our investment in family and friends. To accomplish this goal we have determined to keep on hand the ingredients for our favorite desserts and an open door. Spending time sitting on the porch, playing games, or racing Hot Wheels are things that can be done with no preparation. Choosing to make the little things the main things will help every second be spent on the people and not the process.

Cultivate a clutter-free home. This one is everyone’s least favorite, but very needed. During the school year things get shoved into drawers, closets, under beds, and in the garage to be dealt with at another time. Well another time has come! Each week we will tackle a different space. We don’t do it all at once because that would be overwhelming. This gets us ready for a new school year with a clean slate and allows space for the new items we will need at the beginning of school.

Enjoy new recipes. This one helps me kill two birds with one stone! During the school year, I neither have the time or the budget to cook anything other than the old standbys. During the summer however, I encourage my children to research and even cook new things that they would like to see added to our list of family favorites. This has been a fun thing to do together, and tasty too.

Sing songs and soak in the sunshine. Our family loves to listen to music together. We often include worship songs with our family devotions. This summer we are taking time each day just to listen to our favorites and sing at the top of our lungs. It may not be pretty, but it will make some good memories. We are also spending a couple hours a day, if not more, out in the sunshine. We purchased an inexpensive above ground pool, for a cooler activity, and a spike ball set for the athletes in our bunch. We also drew four square on the driveway and stocked up on whiffle balls. These activities are some of our favorite ways to enjoy being outdoors.

So, what will your family’s acrostic be?

How are you going to soak up this lighter schedule?

Summer is a precious time of enjoying all the things that the school year eats up. No matter how you slice your days for your family this summer, be sure that God is at the center of each one.

Our S L i C E S of Summer Goals:

Set aside a time for study and reflection on God’s Word.
Listen to messages and books.
Increase our investment in family and friends.
Cultivate a clutter-free home.
Enjoy new recipes.
Sing songs and soak in the sunshine.

5 studies we are doing with our kiddos this summer:

True Woman 201- Interior Design: Ten Elements of Biblical Womanhood by Mary A. Kassian and Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth

We're doing this study with our girls ages 22, 20, 18, and 14.

"When we step into God’s plan for womanhood, we step into the great adventure of discovering who we are created to be. The greatest display of God’s glory, the greatest wholeness of personhood, the greatest joy of human relationships, and the greatest fruitfulness in ministry come about when we embrace and celebrate His design.

In this Bible study for women, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Mary Kassian delve into Titus 2 to celebrate redeemed womanhood. Exploring 10 “design elements” of biblical womanhood, they will lead you on a 10-week journey of discovering what a beautiful heart looks like, and how it leads to a beautiful life.

Each week is divided into five lessons that provide opportunity for group interaction and delving deep into Scripture.

You'll explore the following themes:

Discernment
Honor
Affection
Discipline
Virtue
Responsibility
Benevolence
Disposition
Legacy
Beauty

The Lord wants to come in and do a radical renovation of your heart. He wants to change you into a godly woman from the inside out. If you let Him, He’ll give you an extreme makeover... a new interior design. Why wait? Begin your renovation today." --goodreads

Lies Girls Believe & The Truth That Sets Them Free by Dannah Gresh and Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth

We're doing this study with our girls ages 11, 8 and 6.

"Today’s girls face a number of challenges we never dealt with at their age. From skyrocketing anxiety rates to bullying on social media, the Enemy’s lies are everywhere. How do you help the girl you love walk in freedom?

Equip her with Truth. Dannah Gresh, author of Secret Keeper Girl and Lies Young Women Believe (coauthored with Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth) brings you Lies Girls Believe. This fun, easy-to-read book engages your daughter in the twenty most important truths she needs. She’ll help solve problems using fun sidebars and it’s packed with wisdom, quizzes, games, exploded quotes, and graphics to help her absorb the message.

Prepare your daughter for the difficult challenges she’ll face in the world today with sections addressing:

Lies about God
Lies about Friendship
Lies about the Future
Lies about Myself
Lies about Boys

And more!

Lies Girls Believe is designed to help your daughter fully understand the Truth so she can live the way God meant for her to live—free!

For the best results, use the accompanying Mom’s Guide to Lies Girls Believe which invites you to critically examine the lies girls believe and discover how to set your daughter free. It also helps facilitate discussion between you and your daughter." --goodreads

Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God & Science by Louie Giglio.

We're doing this study with our 4-11 year olds.

"It’s impossible to out-imagine God. He orchestrates time, creates light, and speaks things into existence—from the largest stars to the smallest starfish. God is a powerful, purposeful, personal, unparalleled Creator.

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens tell the glory of God. And the skies announce what His hands have made.”

Indescribable displays the majesty of creation with scientific findings, photography, and original illustrations. These 100 devotions encourage awe at God’s creativity with an in-depth look at:

Space, Galaxies, Planets, and Stars
Earth, Geology, Oceans, and Weather
Animals—from Hummingbirds to Dinosaurs
Our Minds, Bodies, and Imaginations

Each devotion features a “Be Amazed” section with fascinating facts, hands-on activities, and a closing prayer. Based on Louie Giglio’s popular messages “Indescribable” and “How Great Is Our God,” Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God & Science will help kids discover the incredible creation of our indescribable God." --goodreads

Heroes of the Bible by Joshua Cooley.

We're doing this study with our boys ages 13 and 9.

"Ask any 12-year-old kid to describe a hero, and you will get some of the following answers: a superstar athlete, a soldier on the front lines, or a guy in a cape who can jump over buildings.

Most of our "heroes" are related to human achievement and glory, but the Bible has a very different concept. The list of people who were great in God's eyes might shock you. This devotional book is about their stories.

The 90 devotions feature the qualities of Bible characters that made them heroic. From Moses to Esther to Jesus, kids will learn more about how these Bible people pleased God.

They will know that qualities like courage, worshiping God, and being a true friend are heroic actions. The devotional features line drawings of the Bible characters to further help youth identify with and learn about the people in the Bible." --goodreads

Control Girl, lessons on Surrendering Your Burden of Control From Seven Women in the Bible by Shannon Popkin.

A study with friends for accountability.

"Little fights with your husband and kids. Unhappiness when things don't match your version of perfect. Tension, anger, fear—it all begins with a heart that craves control. When your vision of how life should be replaces God's vision, you doom your quest for security, peace, and joy before it even starts. Thankfully, there is a better way.

Join Shannon as she shares what she has discovered about her own control struggles and about God from studying Control Girls in the Bible. Learn how you too can lay down this burden and find rest in surrendering to the One who truly is in control.

"In this funny, tender, and truth-telling book, Shannon Popkin peels back the layers of our control problem." —Erin Davis, author, blogger, and recovering Control Girl

"In the style of Liz Curtis Higgs, Control Girl is an easy and entertaining read, yet Shannon Popkin packs a punch where we so need it if we are to be set free from the stressful habit that robs our joy and ruins our relationships!" —Dee Brestin, author of Idol Lies

"With personal vulnerability, biblical depth, powerful personal illustrations, and pointed application questions, Shannon Popkin reveals how seven women of the Bible can teach us how to surrender our will to God's design for our future." —Carol Kent, speaker and author of Becoming a Woman of Influence

"Control Girl is a penetrating look at how selfishness and self-protectiveness wreck lives—and why surrender and trust are God's life-giving pathways to true freedom and joy." —Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, author and Revive Our Hearts teacher and host" --goodreads

Listening references: Focus on the Family, Adventures in Odyssey podcast and Radio Theater.

So, how will you be intentional about taking time to be with your kiddos this summer?

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The Ultimate Guide to Praying Proverbs Over Your Child

5/21/2019

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The Ultimate Guide to Praying Proverbs Over Your Child: It's our responsibility as parents to teach our children to be more like Christ. We need help with this daunting task. Proverbs is God’s textbook for that task. Let me introduce you to the best child-rearing book ever written--the book of Proverbs. Read it, study it, meditate on it, teach it to your children, and PRAY IT OVER THEM! This is a great resource for character building!

It's our responsibility as parents to teach our children to be more like Christ.
We need help with this daunting task. Proverbs is God’s textbook for that task.

"The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.... Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart." Proverbs 29:15, 17

Let me introduce you to the best child-rearing book ever written—the book of Proverbs. Read it, study it, meditate on it, teach it to your children, and PRAY IT OVER THEM! This is a great resource for character building!

There are so many ways to use the book of Proverbs to raise godly children. Besides the list here, there's also the chapter-a-day way. There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs. Each chapter is packed with wisdom from God! Read a chapter a day to your children for a whole month. You can start today. Whatever day of the month it is, start with that chapter. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

There is no greater calling, no greater obligation given to us as parents than that of raising godly children. I believe you will find the book of Proverbs covers most every situation or decision that could arise in your child’s life. The list here will help you find many of the answers quickly. Download the free printable today and keep it on hand so you have it when you need it.

With this list, you can easily identify areas your child struggles in. Consider having them find the verse that deals with the particular situation they are struggling with and write that verse out or memorize specific passages where they struggle.

Join the Movement and download The Ultimate Guide to Praying Proverbs Over Your Child printable today!

AFRAID OF THE DARK Proverbs 3:24-26
ANGER Proverbs 14:17 & 29; 15:18; 16:32; 25:28; 29:22
ANIMAL CARE Proverbs 12:10
APOLOGIZING Proverbs 28:13
ATTENTION Proverbs 17:28

BRAGGING Proverbs 20:6

CHEATING Proverbs 20:10 & 17
CONFIDENCE Proverbs 3:26; 30:5
CORRECTION Proverbs 3:11 & 12; 13:24; 15:5; 19:18; 22:6 & 15; 23:13 & 14; 29:1, 15 & 17

DECISIONS Proverbs 3:5 & 6
DISCIPLINE Proverbs 3:11 & 12
DRINKING Proverbs 20:1; 23:19-21 & 29-35

EATING Proverbs 13:35; 27:7
EDUCATION Proverbs 1:1-9; 2:1-15; 8:11, 18 & 19
ENEMIES Proverbs 16:7
ERRANDS Proverbs 26:6
EXCUSE Proverbs 1:24-26
EXERCISE Proverbs 20:29

FEAR Proverbs 1:7; 3:7; 10:27
FIGHTING Proverbs 20:22
FOOLISHNESS Proverbs 22:15
FRIENDS Proverbs 1:10-19; 4:14-17; 13:20; 14:7; 18:24; 19:27; 22:24 & 25; 24:1 & 2; 27:17

GIVING Proverbs 3:9, 10, 27 & 28
GOOD GIRLS Proverbs 11:16; 12:4; 14:1; 21:9 & 19; 31:10-31
GOSSIP Proverbs 16:28; 17:9
GETTING ALONG WITH SIBLINGS Proverbs 11:29

HAPPINESS Proverbs 17:22
HELPING OTHERS Proverbs 21:13
HONESTY Proverbs 11:1; 22:11
HUMILITY Proverbs 11:2; 15:33; 26:12

INTEGRITY Proverbs 16:20; 25:19

JUDGMENT Proverbs 1:20-31

KINDNESS Proverbs 3:27 & 28

LAZINESS Proverbs 20:4; 21:25
LOVE Proverbs 10:12; 13:24; 17:17
LYING Proverbs 6:16-19; 10:18-21, 31 & 32; 11:9; 12:13, 17, 19 & 22; 13:5; 14:5; 16:13; 17:4 & 7; 19:5, 9 & 22; 21:6

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Post Continued

MAKE-UP Proverbs 11:22; 31:30
MEANNESS Proverbs 10:1-3; 17:13
MINDING PARENTS Proverbs 1:8 & 9
MISCHIEF Proverbs 10:23
MONEY MANAGEMENT Proverbs 6:1-8

NEIGHBORS Proverbs 3:29
NOSEY Proverbs 26:17

OBEDIENCE Proverbs 5:12 & 13
OUT OF BED Proverbs 20:13

PLEASED WITH YOUR CHILD Proverbs 23:22-25
POPULARITY Proverbs 22:1, 2 & 4
PRAYER TIME Proverbs 15:8; 28:9
PRIDE Proverbs 16:5; 22:4; 29:23
PRIORITIES Proverbs 23:5
PUNISHMENT Proverbs 11:21; 30:17 (see CORRECTION)

QUIETNESS Proverbs 10:19; 12:23; 13:3; 15:2; 17:28; 21:23; 29:11 & 20

REBELLION Proverbs 29:1
RESPECT FOR PARENTS Proverbs 20:20

SCHOOL WORK Proverbs 1:7; 3:13-19; 8; 9:10; 16:16
SEX EDUCATION Proverbs 2:16-22; 5:1-23; 6:20-35; 7:1-27; 9:13-18; 23:26-28
Specifically Girls Proverbs 2:6-19
Specifically Boys Proverbs 5:8-13; 6:23-29
SHARING Proverbs 11:24-26; 22:9; 28:27
SNEAKY Proverbs 5:21; 15:3 & 11
STEALING Proverbs 15:16; 21:7; 22:22 & 23; 29:24

TATTLING Proverbs 11:13; 18:8; 20:19
TEACHING YOUR CHILD Proverbs 4:1-27; 22:6
TEASING Proverbs 11:12; 14:31; 15:1; 17:5
THOUGHTS Proverbs 16:3
TRAINING Proverbs 22:6
TROUBLEMAKERS Proverbs 24:19 & 20

UNDERSTANDING Proverbs 2:1-11; 3:3-6; 4:1, 5 & 7; 9:4-6 & 10; 10:13 & 23

VALUES Proverbs 8:1-36; 11:4
VANDALISM Proverbs 22:28; 23:10