HomeFront Monthly: Storytelling Vol. 3 Iss. 1

8/3/2019 HomeFront Monthly: Storytelling Vol. 3 Iss. 1

1/21

IllustrationbyAnneBerry

M O N T H L Y

A FAMILY RESOURCE

ENVIRONMEN

storytellingG has aBig Story,an I can

be a patf it!

VOL. 3, ISSUE 1

F

A M I L Y F O O D T I M E

G A M E T I M E

P R A Y E R

B L E S S I N G

S T O R

Y T E L L I N G


2/21

2012 David C. Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Churchand a national network o amily and childrens ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

2

Howto

Usethis Resource

Eits Nte God is the grand Storyteller. He has been writingHis redemptive story since the beginning o

timea story that proclaims His unailing love or us.

Each o us is in need o redemption by our lovingSavior. When we receive His love and orgiveness, weare grated into His big story by grace! As Gods storyis told through our lives, we become living testamentsto those around us. Some narratives are not as neat asothers, but otentimes that is when God accomplishesHis best work.

This has been true in my liethose moments whenmy weaknesses were glaringly evident and when allthe strength I had became irrelevant. These are thetimes when Gods divine plan allows my lie to becomepart o an even bigger story than I could have ever

imagined.There is power in sharing our stories with others

especially our children. We learn rom those who havejourneyed beore us. This issue o HomeFront Monthlywill provide you with many opportunities to share your

stories with your children. It will also allow you toexperience the grandest narrative o all, The Big GodStory. Your children will recognize their place in thisstory that has been masterully written or thousandso years, and how He has chosen each o us to playa part in it.

DEBBIE GUINN | EDITOR

the Tru Team | Costa Mesa, CA

Its as easy as 1 2 3

1Start by deciding on a day and time thatworks well or your entire amily. It can be an

evening, aternoon, or morning. Just committo building this time into your amilys natural rhythm.Its usually best to build this time around a meal!

2Look through the HomeFront Monthly andsee what stands out. Choose one or twoexperiences you would like to incorporate

into your amily times this week. Dont eel burdenedto complete all the activities at once, but careullyselect which ones will t your amily best. Each issue

provides more than enough experiences to last youthroughout the month.

3

Remember to HAVE FUN! Strive to

make each gathering unique to your ownamily as you enjoy spending time with Godand each other.


3/21

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

3

ENVIRONMENT

STORYTELLINGGod has been working throughout history and He is still moving and working

today. All the things He has done, is doing, and will do in the uture are notstand-alone, independent stories.

MICHELLE ANTHONY | FAMILY MINISTRY ARCHITECT

the Tru Team | Costa Mesa, CA

These things all relate to each other, and togetherthey create one amazing story. The Tru Team likes tocall this amazing work The Big God Story.

As we are inspired by The Big God Story, we arecalled not to keep it to ourselves, but to give it away.We are called to share our experience o encounteringa loving and aithul God. We are a aith community

that needs to hear how God is moving and creatinga unique story in each o our lives. With the help o

the Holy Spirit, we can inspire and strengthen oneanothers aith.

It is our hope that the next generation will geta rsthand, awe-inspiring view o God as we passdown our personal stories o dependence on the

Holy Spirit and share how God has shown Himsel tous in unique and tangible ways.

This month, as your amily begins to tell stories, ourprayer is that your aith as a amily will be encouragedand compel you to share with others.

VERSES OF THE MONTHMemorizing Scripture can be an incrediblepractice to engage in as a amily. But wordsin and o themselves will not necessarilytransorm us; it is Gods Spirit in these words

that transorms. We come to know God morewhen we are willing to open our hearts andhear His Holy Spirit through the words wememorize. Have un with these verses and

think o creative ways to invite your amily toopen up to God as they commit these versesto memory.

F G s lve the wl

that he gave his ne an nly

Sn, that wheve believes inhim shall nt peish but have

etenal life.

John 3:16 (NIV)

Te Lord causes his

miacles t be emembee.

He is kin an tene.

Psalm 111:4 (NIrV)

ELEMENTARY

PRES/KINDER


4/21


5/21


55

byDebbieGuinn

byRaeLynnLott

Get your children talking at dinner this month bycreating a storytelling time o your own. Use a storystarter like the classic, Once upon a time , to getthings rolling.

Put the rump roast in a large stockpot, and ll thepot with water, slightly covering the roast. Bringwater to just about a boil, add vegetables and salt,and simmer or two hours. Crush 34 bee bouilloncubes in a cup o water and add it the pot. (Add morebouillon to taste.) Simmer or another hour, until soupis bubbling.

Strain the soup, moving meat and vegetables to aseparate plate (to eat along with the soup).

Now or making the moochings.Moochings are a type o homemade

noodle. I youre not ready to tackle

moochings, you can substitute rozen orpackaged egg noodles.

Lightly beat the egg in a medium bowl, then slowlyadd the four to it, sotly kneading the dough withyour hand. When the dough and egg attach, makingstringy-like pieces, add them to the soup, and

cook them on low or 1015 minutes. Everyonesmoochings are a little bit dierent, so have unexperimenting and nding what you like.

FAMILY FOOD TIMERecipe

Conversation

Starters

Then, going around the table, each person addsa sentence to the story. Your story might soundsomething like this:

Once upon a time (person 1);

there was a goat that could talk (person 2);

but he only spoke French (person 3).

When you eel the story has gone as ar as itcan, end it by saying something like, And theylived happily ever ater, or The End. Begin a newround, and have un creating your own stories.

Here are a ew other great ways to start your stories:

Long ago, in a land ar away, there lived a

Today I saw the most ridiculous thing

On a long walk with an old riend

I opened the door and saw

It was my frst night alone

Mching Sup (SERVES 8)Prep Time: 20 min. Cook Time: 2 hrs.

Ingredients

1 rump roast 4 large carrots 1 whole cabbage, cut in half

1 handful of parsley 4 stalks of celery 1 large can peeled tomatoes 12 tbsp. salt 34 beef bouillon cubes (to taste)

MOOCHIN

GS

1EGG

2CUPS

FLOUR


6/21


66

This month, we are playing a gamewith the entire amily. The Big GodStory has a place or everyone, nomatter how old they happen to be.Below you will nd a copy o the story, or you can purchase The Big God Story by

Michelle Anthony, published by David C. Cook 2010

THE BIG GOD STORY

The Big God Story begins in a beautiul gardennestled between our grand rivers. God created thisgarden and named it Eden. Adam and Eve werecreated by God to be in relationship with Him and tolive in this beautiul garden together along with all o

Gods creation.

Unortunately, Adam and Eve sinned against God

and thereore were instructed to leave the gardenand the intimate relationship that they once sharedwith Him. Shortly ater the all o Adam and Eve, Godpromised that one day, a Redeemer would come.This promised Redeemer would be the salvation for

sin and disobedience. And so mankind beganto wait in expectation or thepromise to be ullled.

Within just 10 generations,

the world had become so eviland corrupt that God decided todestroy all o mankind, except orNoah and his amily, with a globalfood. God gave Noah specicdirections to build a large boat,called an ark, on which he, his

amily, and the animals Godwould bring to him were to beprotected rom the food. Aterthe water subsided, Noahsamily began to repopulate theearth, and nations were birthed

rom each o Noahs threesons. The nation o Israel would

eventually arise rom Noahsson, Shem. Following Shemslineage, Abraham was born and eventually given aunique promise rom God. This promise was thatthrough Abrahams son, God would set apart a nationthat would demonstrate the relationship between God

and mankind. As other nations would see this loverelationship, they too would want to know the one

true God. God also told Abraham that the promisedRedeemer would be born out o his amily heritage.This chosen nation would be called Israel.

Abraham and Sarah began to doubt Gods promise.They would eventually grow weary of waiting for

Gods timing and unfortunately feel the need to help

God out by having a son through their maidservant,Hagar. This son was named Ishmael. The lineage oIshmael would grow to become the Arab nations.However, the promised son given to Abraham andSarah late in lie, 25 years ater God made that promise,was named Isaac. Next, Isaac had a son named Jacob,

and his name would later be changed to Israel (whichmeans, one who strives with God) ater wrestling withthe Angel o the Lord in a dream. Jacob (Israel) had12 sons, each son representing a tribe o Israel in thenations uture. One o the sons, named Joseph, wassold into slavery by his brothers and taken to Egypt.There, God allowed Joseph to rise to power under thePharaoh. Eventually his entire amily would move toEgypt where Joseph was able to keep his amily alive

during the seven yearso amine in the region.Later, these Israelites

would become enslavedby the Egyptians and cryout or a redeemer.

Moses was chosen by

God to lead the Israelitesout o Egypt and into thePromised Land so theycould worship YahwehGod alone. However, dueto their disobedience andgrumblings, that generationwould spend the next 40

years wandering in thedesert wilderness. A newgeneration would grow upin the wilderness with a

new respect or God and His power. This generation didnot grow up being seduced by the powers o thousandso Egyptian gods, but rather seeing the one and onlytrue Yahweh God daily in the provision o ood, water,

byMichelleAnthony

GAME TIMEThe Big God Story


7/21


7

and guidance. In act, the ood they had eaten wassupplied in the orm o manna each day by the hand oGod Himsel. Led by God, in the orm o a pillar o cloudsby day and a pillar o re by night, this new generation

grew to know and trust Yahweh God alone. Joshua

was the anointed leader o this young, new generationin order to conquer and take ownership o the Promised

Land that God had set aside or His people.

Through years o battle, the Israelites would takeclaim to their land and settle down to raise amilies.Today, this is the nation o Israel occupying the

land east o the Mediterranean Sea and northeasto Egypt. Eventually these people would cry out to

God asking to have a king like all the other nations,and God said, No. They would disobey and wander

away rom Him, and so God raised up other nationsto bring punishment against their sin. Israel wasgoverned by dierent judges during these times tohelp them prevail against their enemies, and or atime they would remain aithul to God.

Soon they would return to their wicked ways, until

calamity struck again. This time o the judges, which

included such leaders as Gideon, Deborah, Samson,and Samuel, lasted or over 450 years. Ready tohave a king, despite Gods warning, the peoplewere positioned to have what would eventually taketheir money through taxes, take their daughters aswives and slaves, and take their sons o to war amonarchy instead o theocracy.

Saul was rst to reign as king, but God quicklyrejected him because o his pride and disobedience.David, who was a humble shepherd boy, who knewand loved God, ollowed as the second king. He wouldsometimes stumble and all, but remained a manater Gods heart because he was humble and lovedto worship. His son, Solomon, would become the thirdand nal king o the united 12 tribes. Solomons sonsoon ound rebellion in the land and the tribes split in

two: the Ten Tribes in the north (Israel) and two tribesin the south (Judah). The line o the promised Christwould now ollow the tribe o Judah in the south.

Israel (the Ten Tribes in the north) had only evilkings who led their people into great sin. Israelwould eventually be taken captive by Assyria, even

ater many prophets pleaded with them to repent.Although Judah (the two tribes in the south) hada ew good and righteous kings, and even severalrevivals, they too ended up in captivity by thehands o the Babylonian Empire because o their

disobedience. Soon, the city o Jerusalem, the homeo Gods people, was utterly destroyed.

Faith was kept alive in some o the people oJudah, even in Babylon. We know o Daniel andhis righteous acts o prayer in the midst o hungrylions, and o Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and

how they stood strong in the ace o compromise.Eventually, Babylon would all to the Persian Empire,

and Esther (who was an Israelite now called a Jew)became the Queen o Persia and was used to save

her people rom death. Also under the Persian rule,Nehemiah (a Jewish cupbearer or the Persian KingArtaxerxes) was convicted to return to Israel torebuild the Jerusalem City and its walls. The Persian

king not only allowed or this to happen, but he paid

or it too! In all, one o the greatest constructionprojects o the ancient world was completed in amere 49 days, even in the midst o a great oppositionin the land. The lineage o the promised Christ wasnow back in the motherland o Israel, and the Old

Testament comes to a close.

Then something strange happened God was

silent. The promise was still alive, but it was hiddenand still. Nearly 400 years passed before the opening

words in the New Testament. The lineage that wasrecorded or us through the pages o Matthew andLuke showed us that the same promise that began inthe garden remained true throughout the passing oover our thousand years. Despite Satans eorts toeliminate the race, and the people o God, they hadprevailed, and the appointed time in history, that was

prophesied hundreds o years beore, was about to

make itsel known in the obscure town o Bethlehem.

Jesus was born. The awaited Messiah promised inGenesis, predicted throughout history, was here onearth in the fesh. He was born o a virgin namedMary, who raised Him in the town o Nazareth withher carpenter husband, Joseph. Jesus grew up living

in wisdom, stature, and avor with God and men. It

Te exciting part is that the story doesnt end with

us! It is much bigger than that!Jesus does return.

GAME TIME CONTINUED


8/21


8

was at this time that John the Baptist, a voice in thewilderness, was preparing the way or Jesus and Hisministry. Soon ater, Jesus called Peter, James, John,and the remainder o the 12 apostles. He began tominister to the poor, heal the sick, raise the dead, and

redeem the outcast. Jesus lived and proclaimed thekingdom o God. He demonstrated His divine power

over creation, and taught His disciples and the worlda new, radical way to live.

He grew to become a man, entirely for the purpose

of being the sacrice, the perfect sacrice that would

satisfy a holy God for our sins. The Jewish people

were well aware o sacrices. They remembered theirtraditions. They were instructed to make oerings opure, undeled lambs or the sins committed againstGod, just as it was outlined in the law o Moses.Jesus would be the once-and-or-all sacrice thatwould give every man, woman, and child access toGod or all time. This would be the nal sacrice. This

would be the sacrice that would satisy Gods wrathor all time, should anyone accept it.

His death gave way to the orgiveness o sin. Hisresurrection gave way to the victory over death. Hisascension into heaven gave way to the coming othe Holy Spirit, and His Spirit gave way to the powerto live out the message o salvation detailed in thebook o Acts. This book highlights the activities oGods people throughout the rst century, especially

detailing the apostle Pauls missionary journeys.Today, the Holy Spirit continues to work in each oour lives or the glory o God, allowing each one o usto be a part o His big story, until He returns.

He will return in all o His glory, not shrouded by Hishumanness, but completely unveiled, riding in victory onHis white horse to proclaim that He is King o Kingsand Lord o Lords, orever. He will judge the nationsand eventually send Satan and his ollowers to an

eternity o suering and separation. Those who loveGod and who have accepted His Son, Jesus, will live

with Him in the new heaven and new earth forever,in relationship with God the way that it all began

in the garden. The way that it should be. And rom thatday on or all o eternity, we will be with the promisedLord and Redeemer orever, and ever. Amen!

Using the biblical people

cutouts provided (see p. 1721),

you and your family put the

people into sequential order

according to their part in Te

Big God Story. Simply telling

e Big God Story can help kids

understand the grand meta-

narrative they are also a part of.

Have fun together as you see

how many people you can get in

the right order.

GAME TIME CONTINUED


9/21


9

byMattBarnes

GODS WORDThe Hall of FaithFaith is a word we throw around quite a bit in Christian culture. We casuallyuse it to describe the things we believe in when, in reality, we are quite otenmissing the power o this word.Biblically, aith is described as something muchmore than just a belie in something. True aith has atransormational eect that results in an outpouringo Gods love in our lives or all to see and experience.True aith pairs belie with action and results in ruitthat can only be described as o God.

In the rst chapter o his New Testament letter,James talks about how we cannot be merelyhearers o Gods Word, but we must be doers as well(v. 22). It is in the doing, the allowing o God to work

in and through us, that the ruit o His Spirit is able tomaniest in our lives. This is the most eective waywe can share The Big God Story with others.

Gods Spirit desires to work in and through each ous to share His story, the greatest story o love andredemption ever told, with the world. When we allowHim to do that, we truly experience the power o aith.

In Hebrews 11, we are presented with what is otencalled The Hall o Faith. This is a recollection o some

o the most well-known people o aith rom the earlyparts o The Big God Story. God used the aith o thesemen and women to shape His story and display His loveto people all over the world or thousands o years.

HEAR IT

As a amily, read Hebrews 11 together. (I you haveyoung children, you may want to preview this chapteras verses 31 through 38 use strong imagery thatmight righten younger kids.) If you or your childrenknow about any of the people mentioned in this

chapter, take the time to stop and talk about what

you know and how God used their faith in His

big story. (For younger kids, reading through TheBig God Story illustrated kids book by Michelle

Anthony is a great way or them to experience manyo these peoples contributions, and also helps themunderstand how the individual narratives o Godspeople throughout history come together to orm thegreatest story ever told!)

DO IT

In all aspects o my lie, God has oten shaped my

aith by the experiences Ive had with Him throughthe lives o others. Whether it was watching mydad come to know Christ when I was in third grade,hearing a youth leader share the struggles God hadhelped him overcome when I was in middle school,or seeing Gods delivery o a riend and his amilythrough a dicult period in their lives, my aith has

been strengthened and grown by seeing the aitho others on display. I oten thank God or peoples

willingness to share their aith journeys with me.

Each of us has been impacted by the stories of

others. God invites us, through faith, to play a part

in His story so that others might be impacted!

Enter into a time o storytelling with your amily. Sharewith your children about someone God placed in your

lie to share your story with. It could be a riend, amilymember, or coworker. Give examples o how you aresharing your aith with this person. Maybe you have

invited them to church or shared The Big God Storywith them. Maybe you are being a good example oJesus love and grace so this person can see God inyour lie through your actions. Encourage your kids todo the same. Ask them i they know anyone who needs

to become part o Gods amily. Ask them how they aresharing their aith with that person. Give them ideas ohow to share their aith with their riends. Then together,pray or the people you just shared about.


10/21


1010

STORYTELLINGFamily Faith Stories

In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul said to Timothy,

I have been reminded o yoursincere aith, which rst lived in yourgrandmother Lois and in your motherEunice and, I am persuaded, now livesin you also.I believe that i I knew Paul, he would have said thesame words to me. I am ortunate to have a amily Iveinherited a great portion o my aith rom. My amilysaith has created an arsenal o stories. These stories

remind me that God is real, and I am buoyed by avanguard o prayers that keep me afoat in hard times

even, I believe, when I am unaware.

Here are a ew stories rom my amily history thatI hope will inspire you. And even i your amily doesnot have a heritage o believers, God can use you to

grandmother experienced a revival. Some o the signso revival are repentance and change, my grandmother

said. Apparently these signs were taking place becauseevery day o the week people came to the churchand every day o the week people let having had theirlives orever changed by the living God. In the midst othis, my grandmother became pregnant with my mom.When my mom was born, they gave her the name AnnVictoria, which means, grace victorious, the inverse o

my given name, Victoria Ann.

This story is beautiul to me, but so are the many toldto me by my aunts and uncles on my athers sidehow they walked in, countless times, on my widowedgrandmother as she knelt, alone, in her bedroom, praying

or her children. And one told by my grandmother abouther mother, Anna, who prayed her whole lie or her

three children to come to aith. Her two sons eventuallyaccepted Christone on his deathbedbut she died

beore seeing it.

In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul commendedTimothys aith, remarking that hebelieved it was part o Timothysinheritance. Then Paul encouraged

Timothy to press orward (2 Timothy3:1415). He said, But as or you,continue in what you have learned and

have become convinced o, becauseyou know those rom whom you learned it, and howrom inancy you have known the holy Scriptures, whichare able to make you wise or salvation through aith inChrist Jesus. Paul urged Timothy to press orward inthe aith hed become convinced oin other words,

to not drop the baton o aith, but continue carrying it,blazing, into the uture.

Do you eel God prompting you to kindle the re oyour own aith? Do you desire God to use you to passthis re to the generations to come? I know I do.

This month, share together the faith stories ofyour family members. I you are the rst generationto have aith, share how God redeemed you by Hisgrace and how He is making you a part o His big storytoday. Begin to cultivate an environment in which yourchildren can eel encouraged and strengthened by thestories o aith in their amily. Ask God to reveal Himselthrough these stories and give them their own storieso aith to share with their children someday.

byToriFunkhouser

model aith or your amily. I also hope these inspireyou to know, even i you dont get to see the benetso your aith right now, God will continue to rememberyour prayers and complete the good work He beganin you.

My great grandather, Chet, was a drinker, a

ghter, and a hard man beore he met Christ. Heought constantly with his wie. My grandather saidthere was no peace in their home. Then Chet metJesus. My grandather watched God soten Chetsheart. He watched his ather begin to show loveto his children and his wie, to spend his time inhealthier ways, and to take his amily to church. Itwas in that church my grandather answered an

altar call, ater receiving a vision o the conditiono his heart: lled with dirty water. That day, Godemptied out the dirty water in my grandathersheart and replaced it with clean, living water.

Later, God called my grandather into ministry. Heserved as a pastor in Waterloo, Iowa, where he and my

D yu esie G t useyu tpass this fre t the

geneatins t cme?


11/21


1

CREATEStory BoxEach one o us has a story to tell. Like a ngerprint, these stories areunique and one-o-a-kind, the way God created us. This month, as youmeditate on The Big God Story, take some time to also think about yourown amilys aith story.

byJenniferCho

Salaff

Have each amily member share about his or herbeginnings, how and when they came to aith, andhow their journey ultimately intersected with oneanother (or younger kids, parents might want toshare the story o the day they were born, and thespecial role they play in Gods story).

A wonderul way to cherish these stories is byplacing objects that represent their story in a special

place, like a story box. In my amily, we have something

like a aith box that tells our amilys aith story. Itisnt ancy. In act, its an old, beat-up shoebox. But Ikeep things in the box like my daughters hospital IDbracelet rom the day she was born. Every time I lookat this tiny plastic tag, it reminds me o the beginningo her story, and how her lie is being grated into TheBig God Story each day.

This is a un project to do together as a amily. Youcan purchase a wooden box rom a crat store or usean old shoebox. Set aside a time to gather all o theitems you and your amily want to put into the storybox, then get creative!

STORY BOX

Get an old shoebox, small packing box, gift box,or purchase a wooden box rom a crat store.

Decorate the outside of your story box usingwatercolors, pu paint, glitter pens, markers,stickers, glue buttons, jewels, or beads. Considerattaching photos o each amily member on theoutside o the box, or decoupage onto the boxpictures and words cut out o old magazines thatbest represent your amily.

Use the box to keep things that tell The Big GodStory, as well as your amilys aith story. It canhold a Bible, a journal recording special memoriesor events (like baptisms, dedications, etc.),keepsakes, photos, avorite books, magazines,

CDs, postcards, birth announcements, homemovies/DVDs, and other things that help youcontinue to tell the story God is writing in each

o you!

Every time I look at this

tiny plastic tag, it reminds

me of the beginning of her

story, and how her lie is

being grated into Te Big

God Story each day.


12/21


12

PRAYERPrayer WalkMy amily used to make it a point to go on a walk at least once a month.Some o our best talks, times o refection, and vulnerability came out onthose walks. Sure, there were times my brother and I ought it or balkedagainst going, but when we walked as a amily, removing ourselves romour current responsibilities and obligations, there was a sense o reedomto open up in conversation.

byNatalieLisk

By simply stepping outside and going on a walk, myparents created an environment where we couldhave those conversations. And we learned so muchabout our parents as they told stories o who theywere and where they had come rom.

This month, set some time aside to go on a walk

as a amily. You can walk around your neighborhood,go to your avorite park, or hike on a nearbytrail. Use this time to reect on the passage inHebrews 11 and the Hall of Faith (see the GodsWord section in this issue). As you refect on the menand women listed in the passage, share about someo the people who have been instrumental in eachamily members aith walk. Was it a pastor or Sundayschool teacher? How about a co-worker, or a riendon the playground when you were young? Maybe it

was someone rom your extended amily. You can tellstories o who they are and how they have played a

part in your aith walk. Then encourage your childrento share who their Hall o Faith person is.

Take time to pray out loud a prayer o thanksgiving

or the people who have been instrumental in youramilys aith walkpast and present. This may eelawkward at rst and stretch your aith a little, butdont give up! Encourage your children to pray outloud as if God is part of your family walk. Talk

to Him about people you are now sharing your aithwith. Pray each o you will have the boldness to sharewith others the good news o what the Lord has donein your lie. Ask Him to lead you to people He has

prepared to hear your part o The Big God Story andhow they can be part o it too!

TAKE TIME TOPRAY OUT LOUD

A PRAYER OFHANKSGIVING

FOR THE PEOPLEWHO HAVE BEENINSTRUMENTAL

IN YOUR FAMILYSFAIH WALK ...


13/21


13

WORSHIPWho Is God?

byLaurenFrancis

The book o Psalms is lled with beautiul and poetic stories o how God

worked in His people, especially David. For an example, look at Psalm 32.

WE OFTEN THINK OF WORSHIP AS SINGING, BUT WE CAN WORSHIP GOD IN

MANY DIFFERENT WAYS: PRAYER, SILENCE, ART, DANCE, GIVING, SHARING, AND

THANKSGIVING JUST TO NAME A FEW. MAKE PLANS FOR YOUR FAMILY WORSHIP

TIME, BUT PREPARE YOURSELF TO HOLD THESE PLANS LOOSELY IF THE HOLY SPIRIT

LEADS YOU IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

This Psalm is a story about David conessing hissins to God, and experiencing the reedom anddeliverance that comes with being honest beoreHim. Although many o the Psalms are written in apoetic or song-like style, they show us who God is

and how He is working to bring us into His big story.

This month, as an act of worship, read Psalm

136:19 together as a family. Then write 10statements about who God is, specically in youramilys lie. They can be general statements such as,God is aithul, or God is mighty, but encourage your

children to think o more specic statements as well.

Has God healed someone or provided or someone?Create statements that show how God has revealedHimsel, specically to your amily. In between eachstatement, write His love endures forever.

Take turns reading the statements, but then readHis love endures orever, as a amily chorus. Thisis a great example and reminder o how God stillinvites us into His story today, much like He didwith David. These statements are a great way toworship as a amily through storytelling by talkingabout what God is doing in your lives.

G is faithful

G is mighty


14/21


14

MARRIAGETell Your Love StoryWere all aware o the power and impact o Bible stories. No matter how otenwe hear them, they have the ability to elicit memories o Gods aithulness,provision, and love. Through their tender, mysterious, or serendipitous details,our hearts are repeatedly and emotionally drawn toward God.

The story o your marriage, and its retelling, hasa similar impact. By repeating the exciting andaectionate stories, again and again, your heartsare drawn toward each other. By recalling how Godbrought you together, reminiscing about your early

days o alling in love, and especially sharing how Godrevealed Himsel to you along your marital journey,rekindles your deep love and passion or one another.

My love story with Becky began when God broughtus together to work side by side in youth ministry. Wespecically remember our early days o asking God toconrm i we were meant or each other in marriage.

As God showed us Scripture ater Scripture andunolded circumstance ater circumstance, not onlydid we sense His conrmation, so did our amiliesand riends. Our love story grew bigger and better,as we elt guided by God. We love to share the detailso the story with our only son, Jake, as they validatehis place in the continuation o The Big God Story!

Because day-to-day living with all o its stress andtemptation has a way o stealing the love God desiresor you to experience in your marriage, retellingyour love story is a powerul and practical way torekindle your love or your spouse. It will restore youraection or one another and conrm Gods plan oryour lives together.

TAKE HOME IDEAS

1Make time to write out (in detail or outlineormat) the memories o your early dayso meeting, alling in love, experiencing

closeness, engagement, wedding day, andhoneymoon. Then, sit ace-to-ace with yourspouse, and share your memoriesbig or smallwith one another. For example, I remember the rst

day I met Becky. She was wearing blue corduroysthat I thought looked particularly cute on her.When I remind her o what she was wearing andhow I elt about her, it always brings a smile toher ace. Most importantly, keep the experience

positive; dont bring up anything negative.

2Set aside time to sit with your children and

share your love story with them, allowingthem to experience the details o how God

brought you together. This will encourage their aithas they see how they are a part o the continuingstory o God through your marriage.

3Continue to rekindle your sparks or eachother by sharing parts o your story throughsmall reminders in spontaneous notes, texts, or

emails. For example, Becky and I went to Florida or

our honeymoon and stayed on the seventh foor oa hotel. To rekindle sparks, on occasion I might textBecky with the words: Heaven on the 7th foor. Shortnotes, texts, or emails can bring a smile to your aceand rekindle the rst days o your married love.

byRogerTirabassi


15/21


15

BLESSINGHis Love Endures ForeverCreate a hunger in your children byreminding them that each day they get tobe a part o the greatest story ever written.As they leave the house, remind them to be on the lookoutor ways God will show them how much He loves them. Tellthem to watch or Him in creation, and listen or Him to speakto them. Then encourage them to share their story with others bytalking about what God has done.

byDebbieGuinn

Read Psalm 107:12a (NLT) over your child as

a reminder and a blessing:Give thanks t the Lord, f he is g!

His faithful lve enues feve.

Has the Lord eeeme yu? Ten speak ut!

HomeFront Weekly: Dont forget to grab your HomeFront Weekly: A resource to getparents and kids talking about Gods Word together.

Ablessingcanbeaprayerofcommission,aBiblepassage,orwordsofencouragement.As

yourchildrenareblessed,tellthemtheyhavetheopportunitytoalsobeablessingtoothers.


16/21


16

Whats Happening in YourFAITH COMMUNITY?


17/21


17


18/21


18


19/21


19


20/21


20


21/21

2

1. Aam2. Eve3. Nah4. Abaham5. Saah6. Isaac7. Jacb8. Jseph9. Mses10. Jshua11. Samuel

12. King Saul13. King Davi14. Slmn15. Elijah16. Daniel17. Esthe18. Nehemiah19. Jhn the

Baptist20. Jesus21. Pete

22. James23. Jhn24. Paul25. Yu & Me26. King Jesus at

His Retun

CHARACTER KEY

Kin

g

Jesusat

HisRetu

rn

Documents

HomeFront Monthly: Storytelling Vol. 3 Iss. 1