FAMILY
Wo r s h i p I
AUTHOR
grew up in a home on the Swinomish Reservation, where my mother made family worship a priority. We always bought the latest devotional book for kids from the Adventist Book Center, took turns reading the day’s devotional and prayed together. I realize now, as an adult, how blessed I was to have a stay-at-home mom who made that a priority. Now, as a mother myself, I realize carving out that time for family worship isn’t as easy as my mom made it look. I have to be intentional and committed. My husband and I value personal devotion time and want our kids to see us putting God first in all we do. Family worship is essential in the growth of their own personal devotion time and the spiritual growth of us as a family: “You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deut. 6:7). Here are family worship ideas that will have a positive effect on your family:
LaVonne Long
58
MARCH/APRIL 2021
BIBLE READING TOGETHER
I encourage using an easy-toread version so the kids can easily understand what’s being read. We own many children’s Bibles, including a storybookstyle Bible, graphic-novel style Bible and even a Lego minifigure Bible. Both of my children love being chosen to read the Bible. When they get to be an active participant, family worship is much more exciting for them. Mix it up too — you can act out Bible stories, look at Bible maps to see where the story is taking place and give the kids incentives for learning Scripture.
