MEMORY STONES
MEMORY STONES
- Family Devotions, Podcasts
LORD’S PRAYER
I am teaching my children about the Lord’s prayer and what it means to pray, “Heaven come – on earth as it is in heaven.” One morning during family devotions, I told them how I grew up with the belief that God was good and heaven was real, but for later, once you die. It gave us hope for what was to come. But I have learned over the years that Jesus died so we can have life and have it abundantly NOW. We talked about what the Kingdom of heaven looks like; peace, love, joy, power, clear mind, empowerment, connection, belonging, patience, honesty, truth, being seen, known, heard, understood, valued, attached to Him, family, etc. I had them think of something happening in their world and hold it in their hands. I then had them declare and pray, “Heaven, come” over that situation. Lauren felt anxious about the pep rally and having to be present but also take photos for the yearbook, not fully knowing where to be and when. When she declared, “Heaven, come,” she instantly felt peace and confidence that she would be able to figure it out. Emma was burdened by the girls in her class who gossiped behind their friend’s backs and wanted to say something to them. When she declared, “Heaven, come,” she got an increase of conviction that she was to figure out how to lovingly speak truth to them in a way that invites them into something greater (not just calling them out on it). She felt like she was to wait and really go after this with Jesus before saying something. Hudson was really burdened that he did not manage his time well last night and had homework due. When he declared, “Heaven, come,” he felt like God said to use the remaining 15 minutes and get it done. He said there was no way he could do that as it would take at least an hour. I told him to declare, “Heaven, come” over his time. Fifteen minutes later, he put it in his backpack and said, “Well, it might not have been my best job, but I did get it done.” WOW. Ellie was concerned about a test where she had to memorize something. When she declared, “Heaven, come,” she felt like God was highlighting her identity and that she was still loved and wanted even if she failed. Could you imagine a generation of ambassadors for Jesus who declared heaven COME to the world around them as a lifestyle?
CHILDREN-LED DEVOTIONS
Turn family devotions into a time of character training and making memories by having each child take a turn picking a subject and then teaching it. One morning, Ellie (then 6) asked Jesus what He wanted to say to each of us and then drew them in picture form on a sticky note and hid them in the living room. She was so cute as she called us in for a ‘family meeting’ and then began to play the hot/cold game to find them. I love this because they are learning leadership, how to teach others, and how to come up with creative ways of releasing the Kingdom. There were no yawns doing family devotions that morning!
TELL ME A STORY
I encourage you to embrace this activity as part of your family connection time. Children love hearing stories, and there is something so life-giving about hearing stories about your family members.
Spend some intentional time thinking of your own childhood stories, as well as those of your parents and grandparents.
Gather the children, perhaps over a fun dinner, cup of hot cocoa, or all piled on the bed, and tell them a story.
Maybe you will want to draw a question out of a hat, or maybe you will want to make it a part of your bedtime routine for a while? Either way, just make sure you are passing down the family stories; even those that feel trivial will teach a child about where they came from.
Some great ideas to share with your kids would be a time you:
- Were proud of your achievements
- Got in big trouble
- Traveled somewhere fun
- Teased your sibling
- Had fun with friends
- Felt scared
- First met Jesus
- Moved into a new home
- Met a new friend
Pass on the stories you were told about your parents and grandparents – where did they live, go to school, what did they do for work, how did they meet and marry?
In this five-minute message, I share the importance of passing the stories onto your children from their generational line: What’s My Story by Lisa Max – Let the Children Fly! (anchor.fm)