The Rehearsal Room

Rehearsal Room

When I was a teenager I tried to learn how to play the keyboard.  It was a pretty awful experience.  I really have little to no musical abilities.  It just isn't how God made me.  I also didn't put a a lot of effort into it.  So with my lack of talents and my lack of efforts, I was never going to become an amazing keyboard player.

To become great at playing an instrument, you need to practice . . . to rehearse.  You need to commit to sticking with it even when you don't feel like it. (God given talents help too!)

This is true for faith.  To grow -  to mature - takes practice.  It takes commitment.  Once you accept Christ as your Savior you don't automatically become the perfect Christian.

Just like learning an instrument takes practice . . . so does your faith.  This month in Inspire Kids will focusing on different faith skills as we learn about the Life App, Commitment.  Kids will be encouraged to make a plan to put these faith skills into practice.

As we start a new year what a great time it is to check our personal rehearsal rooms.  Are you growing in your faith?  What faith skill (prayer, personal worship, Bible reading) needs a little more practice?  This new year make a new commitment to grow in a specific area.

Christmas!

Christmas!  It's a time for family, for traditions, for making memories, for gifts, and for Jesus.

Growing up, my family had a couple of silly traditions.  We always had pizza on Christmas, Eve, opened up one present on Christmas Eve, and of course we got our Christmas cookies ready for Santa Clause.  I have continued some of those little traditions with my family.

Take some time to teach your children about the real meaning of Christmas. It's so easy to even have a family Christmas gathering and get so wrapped up in the gifts, the food, and the social activity . . . that we neglect to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is a special time where memories are created that last a lifetime.  Take some time to plan your Christmas week carefully to make sure the things you do and say have lasting value.   Maybe you can start a new tradition this year.  Here are a couple of ideas.

• Attend a Christmas Eve service together as a family.
• Read / tell the Christmas story on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning before you open the presents.
• Make a birthday cake for Jesus.
• Give back to your community this Christmas by serving at a community kitchen or homeless shelter.

What are your Christmas traditions?

Generosity - Pay It Back

Merry Christmas!  What a fun time of year. What a crazy time of year!  This month there will be lots of opportunities to practice generosity.

Often we think of generosity in terms of finances, but generosity goes beyond our money. Generosity should impact everything - our time, talents, energy, and resources.

1 Timothy 6:18 says to“Be rich in good deeds … be generous and willing to share.” We're not generous because we are rich, we are rich because we are generous.  Generosity changes us when we learn how to give the way God gives.

As focused as our kids may be on what they're getting for Christmas, sometimes that makes it even more surprising how much they want to give.

Children seem to be the first to notice the homeless man on the street or know about the family with the unemployed dad.  They're wired for generosity, and how we approach the holidays will help determine if they stay that way.

In each one of our lives, we have a tendency to move towards a lifestyle of generosity or a lifestyle of greed.  Are we wrapped up in ourselves or our things, or do we reflect God's character by giving freely to others?

So how will you as a family demonstrate generosity this December?  Here's one idea.  I'm sure you can come up with your own as well.

Pay-It-Back Cookies!
As a family make several batches of cookies.  As you're baking talk to your kids about people who help others.  Decide as a family who you will give the cookies too.  Be sure to deliver the cookies with a thank you note.

Let's all get wrapped upped in Jesus and in giving and not the gifts.  If children understand how to be generous it will not only change the people around them but it will change them as well.

Life isn't fair!

In Matthew 20:1-5, we read that a few of the workers started making comparisons to what others were getting paid and became ungrateful and started complaining.  Then at the end of the day, they had a bad attitude because they thought, that's not fair,

The truth is that sometimes life isn't fair.  Your child should have had the opportunity to play more in their game, you should have received the promotion over your co worker, your bff should have kept your promise to you.

Life isn't fair!

There are many times when we don't want to give thanks - especially when life isn't fair.  But our hope in Jesus allows us to be thankful regardless of our circumstances.

So how do you teach your kids to be grateful?

1. Model and teach gratitude:  It's been said that things are caught not taught.  The best way to teach gratitude to your kids is to model it.  Are you showing gratitude to your spouse, to your boss, to your parents, to the Lord?  Don't just say it but show it.  Work gratitude into your daily conversation.
2. Have kids help.  Find things for your kids to do.  Serve at a community kitchen as a family.  Maybe come up with a family tradition of serving the community at a particular event each year.
3. Insist on thank you notes.  Its so easy easy today to say thank you through text or a Facebook message.  It's quick and easy.  There's nothing wrong with using technology to say thank you.  But you may want to take an extra step and have your kids write out thank you notes for their birthday and Christmas gifts.  They can even send a note to their teacher or coach as well.

Showing gratitude is not just an action but its an attitude.  As you model this attitude you are teaching your kids to do the same.  It's about choosing to be grateful instead of miserable.

Gratitude

Gratitude!  This the time of the year that we tend to think more about what we're grateful for.

White Mochas.  Family.  Health.  The Dallas Cowboys beating the Seahawks!

Gratitude is more than things; it's an attitude.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "Give thanks no matter what happens.  God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus."

If we never take the time to acknowledge what God has done in our lives or how others have helped us, we may develop an unhealthy ego or a growing frustration with the people around us. We might become bitter and complain about everything little thing. 

Take time today, this week, this month, this Thanksgiving, this Christmas . . . to be grateful.  You always have something to be grateful for.

How will you practice gratitude these next two months?