Daily Devotional Times for your Kids!

I don't know about you, but me and Jalita were really excited for the kids to start school this week. They were excited too. Not sure who was more excited.! The fall feels like a new beginning to me. Our family schedule significantly changes. The kids have more structure to their lives. I was thinking how we as parents can take advantage of this beginning. This might be a great opportunity to help your kids establish a daily time with God. Our GodTime cards are a great resource. Below are a couple of tips.

• 1st-3rd graders: Even though kids in early elementary (1st through 3rd grade) are beginning to read things on their own, most are not mature enough to have a God time by themselves. So, do the GodTime card with your 1st-3rd grade child.
• 4th-6th graders: Encourage kids to choose four different days during the week to do these devotions. Most 4th, 5th, and 6th graders are capable of having a “quiet time” on their own, once they’ve been taught how to do it, but they still need an adult to prompt them and/or follow up on it.

You can also check out www.youversion.com for additional Bible reading plans. If your child needs a Bible, here are a few suggestions:

• KidsBible.com, New Century Version, Published by Tommy Nelson
• The Edge Devotional Bible, New International Version, Published by Zonderkidz
• Young Women of Faith Bible, New International Version, Published by Zonderkidz
• 252 Boy's Bible, New International Version, Published by Zonderkidz
• The Adventure Bible, New International Version, Published by Zonderkidz
• Kids' Life Application Bible, New Living Translation, Published by Tyndale House
• Kids' Quest Study Bible, New International Readers' Version, Published by Zonderkidz

We have the great responsibility and tremendous privilege of leading our kids spiritually. Do your best! 

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.   Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."  Deuteronomy 6:4-9"

Don't Count the Kids;

Make the Kids Count

Numbers!  Wikipedia defines a “number” as a mathematical object used to count, label, and measure.  Hey it’s even a book of the Bible.  NUMB3RS was a drama about an FBI agent who recruits his mathematical-genius brother to help the Bureau solve a wide range of challenging crimes in Los Angeles. As a sports fan, numbers represent some of my all-time favorites. 47 – Tom Glavine; 22 – Emmit Smith; 24 – Kobe Bryant. I could go on and on and on.

Our culture counts everything.  Our kids our constantly tested at school to ensure they are learning and are achieving basic understanding. The church is also concerned about numbers.  We often ask each other:

·        How big is your church?

·        How many kids came to VBS?

·        What’s your average youth attendance?

I recently finished reading “Energizing Children’s Ministry for Smaller Churches” by Rick Chromey.  The following quote stood out to me:  “Don’t count the kids, make the kids count.” 

Sometimes we can be more concerned about who isn’t at church then who is there.  We may even say, “Where’s everyone at.”  Yes we need to seek and reach the lost.  Yes, we want to grow.  But it’s vital that we make every moment count and make every child count.  It’s also important to remember that the average child that attends church only comes 40 hours a year.  In fact Chromey says that “too often we worry about what we can’t do rather than seek what God can do through us.”

A smaller church has a unique advantage.  It’s the ability to develop stronger relationships.  Relationships between child to child; relationships between teacher and child.  Let’s use that advantage to make every child count.