The sadness of a mother with a broken heart cannot be compared to anything. It’s a kind of sorrow that cannot be explained unless you have experienced it. I remember waking the morning after we had found out our baby had unexpectedly died in my womb, and I wailed. It came from somewhere deep inside…
Hide and Seek is a familiar childhood game. The point, obviously, is for one person to search out every possible spot of the given area in order to find the concealed person. Children have so much fun playing this game! The anticipation of finding the one hidden is what makes the game so much fun. In comparison, what joy it is to…
When you hear someone say, “I promise,” what comes to your mind? Hopefully you have a positive reaction to this phrase, from experience with individuals who kept their word. A promise is a commitment to someone about a certain action that will be carried out. God provides many examples throughout Scripture of His faithfulness in keeping His promises. Do you give much…
“Why do I have to obey you?” This question comes up millions of times every day—from people of all ages. Children ask it of parents. Parents ask it of employers. And we all ask it of God. This lesson to obey—or not—goes back to the Garden of Eden, showing that it’s been a tough one…
I was picking up my son from school and I could tell something was up by the way he pulled open the back door and jumped in. With all my children/teens I can always tell when something is up by the look in their eyes, but there are times when I’m not quite sure if it is good…or bad. Will this be a moment of…
Easter is an exciting time of celebration with kids! Cute outfits, family lunches, egg hunts, and baskets full of Easter candy. It’s no wonder why young children enjoy the festivities surrounding this holiday. Fun activities are a great time of enjoyment. And as Christian families, we can add even more to this special time of year by…
In our first segment called “Solving the Family Devotion Dilemma, Part 1: Younger Kids,” we looked at some age-related tips to help with your family devo time with preschoolers and elementary-aged kids. This segment cranks it up a notch by considering ways your teens can have more meaningful Bible study and prayer times on their own and with your family unit. Sharing these…
What’s all the talk about devotions, anyway? Whether you’re someone who has gone to church your whole life, or kind of new to the scene—you’ll most likely hear others mention the importance of having “quiet times” or “devotion times” each day. These terms have to do with setting aside some time [each day] to pray and…
Walking from the back yard toward the garage, I heard a chorus of children voicing a simple request: Will you jump on the trampoline with us? My mind instantly flashed through every undone task, and after a momentary hesitation I responded simply with “Yes.” Ashamedly, I didn’t deserve the squeals of delight that instantly drifted across the bright green grass surrounding us. The…
You may have hit a lull in the conversation because you have talked about everything that easily comes to mind. These moments of together time are quickly evaporating and before you know it, this special break will be over. Here is an idea to break through these times and continue connecting with the ones you love. Simply assign one person to ask the…