PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN KIDS & FAMILIES date
1.5
Sometimes we lose sight of God and, in our fear, we think He’s left us.
Inspire (for parents) My nephew Mike was only four years old when I took him to see the ‘original’ animated Alice in Wonderland. The theater was on the top floor of a mall and was nearly invisible from the first floor, except for the bright lights of the marquee and the larger-than-life cutouts of Alice and the Cheshire Cat. There was only one way up or down—a long, steep escalator. As we stood at the bottom peering up, Mike slipped his hand in mine and asked in a hush of wonder, “Aunt Janet, is that Wonderland up there?”
Sometimes we lose sight of God and, in our fear, we think He’s left us. Sometimes we wander away because we think not even God can overcome our circumstances. We doubt His forever, unfailing love. We forget His promises. None of that changes God—He has promised never to leave us and always to love us. He cannot lie and He cannot fail. He has chosen to enter into an unbreakable covenant relationship with us. We can trust Him. by Janet Lee
Strategically placed at the bottom of the escalator was a store with movie merchandise. While my nephew was checking out some wind-up toys, I wandered into the next aisle. We were only separated for a few minutes but the next thing (Abraham) 12:1–9; 15; 17 is es I knew, Mike was standing at the en G : re an Scriptu enant, and I C bottom of the escalator wringing his od Made a Cov Main Point: G II little hands and crying. I’ll never forget Trust Him, Part your family to the look on his tear-stained face. Fear signed to allow de is ren ce ur so This re fore your child was written all over it as he looked up God’s Word be nts in re e pa r tim fo is ve ha God’s plan se au at me and said, “I thought you left me!” ec B . ch ildren’s faith, attend chur rers of their ch rtu nu It was a knife to my heart. Leave him? al n tu iri sp ly, your childre to be the u grow spiritual yo as Never! If he thought I would leave him, at th ow we kn ally as well. he didn’t know me. He didn’t know how will grow spiritu much I loved him.
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Equip (for parents) In the very first verse of Genesis 12, God tells Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Today, it could be easy to skim over this passage without fully comprehending the magnitude of God’s requirement. To begin, God commanded Abram to leave his country. For Abram to depart from a well-developed society to head to an unknown location would have been extremely challenging and uncomfortable. It would have taken a lot of faith in God! But Abram did not come from a family line that worshipped Yahweh alone. Researchers have speculated that Abram’s father most likely manufactured idols for a living. Actual relationship or communication between this man and God would have been quite unexpected. God called Abram to abandon everything: his family, his idols, his inheritance, and his country. True divinity made a connection with humanity; God was creating a covenant. God was going to use Abram to bless the entire world. But first, it required great faith and sacrifice … a foreshadowing of the sacrifices that were to come. Jesus required a similar commitment from His disciples. Many abandoned their occupations and families to follow Christ even though they had no idea where that would lead. Today, Christ invites us to live in the same manner. We are called to be people who daily submit ourselves to God. We are called to follow Christ in faith even when we’re unsure where it will lead. What a beautiful reality. Although God calls us to abandon all else to follow Him, He offers us Himself! He freely gives us access to His love and His character! This God who chooses to live in covenant with us is a God worth knowing and worshipping.
REMEMBER VERSE
““Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3
Support (for parents & kids) Sometime this week, read the biblical account of God’s promises to Abram in Genesis 12:1– 9. Before reading, pray together as a family and thank God for His promises to Abram, and also for His promises to us which we can always trust Him to keep. Then think of a question that reviews what you just read such as, “What did God promise Abram?” JUST FOR FUN, experience the nomadic life of Abram and his family. Set up three or four different locations inside and outside your home that can serve as Bibletime oases. Then, ask your children to join your caravan. Let them pretend to ride camels or donkeys as you journey from oasis to oasis. Use your imaginations along the way. Can you feel the heat? Do you smell the sand? At each spot, pause to read verses from this week’s passage. One oasis could have a snack; the final oasis could be bed if it’s near bedtime. When you’re finished, share with your children that what they just heard is a part of The Big God Story in the Bible, and they’ll hear it in church. Ask your children to share with you their thoughts and questions about what they just heard. Close your time by thanking God for keeping all His promises to us.
© 2010 David C Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.