This Week in Faith 3-19-20
/My mom works for Perimeter Church in John’s Creek and they are working from home for these 2 weeks. Along with instructions on practical things, their pastors sent out a great list of things to keep fun mind as we spend extended time at home during this season. It’s been helpful for our family so I thought I’d share it with you:
“This is unplanned family time. It has been forced upon you.
You are home; but not alone. The world, flesh and devil will want to come home with all of that and create relational strife as well as inner turmoil.
What to do? We don’t have all the answers, but these may help spur your thinking.
Plan the day the night before. What time will you get up? Start with prayer. Maybe a short reading in the Word. Ask to not be led to temptation but to have joy and bless people.
Start the day with an encouraging word to one another.
Take time fixing meals together if you are a family. Keep the alcohol to a minimum.
Try not to OD on TV/Cable Internet. Limit it to a few hours a day. Maybe go to a good podcast or a sermon online. Play worship music! Stay away from unhealthy “web wandering” when you get bored.
Play a game. You can plan things inside and outside. Exercise is good.
Take time to read.
Overlook an offense. There will be many.
Know that someone will escalate. Be prepared to deal with it in a calm way. Let some steam get out. Give it some silence. Listen. Then be reminded of the gospel and the love of Christ for people. Start over.
This “time out” is from God for you. Don’t let the world, flesh and devil ruin it. We are here to help.”
30 Edifying Things to Watch When Stuck at Home
This is a great list of things that includes watching for fun, to spark conversation, and to consider spiritual things. I haven’t seen everything on the list and you’ll have to use your discretion to know what’s best for your family. I would highly recommend A Hidden Life from the first list. I saw it in the theater this year and it is a beautiful picture of faith and conviction in challenging moments. It’s a long movie, and probably not as much dialogue as your kids are used to, but I agree with the article that it’s one of the best movies about faith I have seen. From the second list, our family loved The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes. We watched every episode and had a lot of fun talking about the incredible design ideas in these houses and picking our favorite ones.
Click here to read the article by Brent McCracken.
Helping Students Redeem the Time During Quarantine
It has been an interesting week in our house learning how to spend the day with all 6 of us in the same house, trying to accomplish different things. It hasn’t been easy but what a great opportunity we have to spend the time with our family we are always saying we wish we could if we weren’t so busy. It’s a gift from God and I don’t want to waste it. We’ve been trying to get school done, have fun together, and grow in our faith. This article has some great ideas for helping our kids grow spiritually during this time- and how we can even do it together.
Click here to read the article by Chelsea Kingston Erickson.
The Life of St. Patrick: An Inspiration for Missions
With St. Patrick’s Day this past week, it’s always a great opportunity to help our kids learn the real history behind a now distorted holiday. Patrick’s story is na incredible story of hardship, uncommon compassion, loving your enemies, and a passion for the good news of Jesus. It should continue to inspire us to bring the gospel to our neighbors today.
Click here to read the article by Michael Haykin.
Guides For Kids and Middle Schoolers to Take Notes During the Sermon
Here are some sheets that you can give to your kids to follow along with the services on Sunday. Sitting in our living rooms and watching church on TV can be different, and maybe even more challenging, for paying attention. These might be a way to help your kids focus and can also give you a place to start talking about the sermon when it’s done.
Click here to download the sheets from Justin Taylor’s blog.
VIDEO: Song- Christ Is Mine Forevermore
Over the last month or so, this has become my favorite song. It has been a good reminder to me of the hope and peace we have in Jesus as I have listened to it again and again through challenging days. I hope it can be an encouragement to you as well.
