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Archive for family devotions

using scripture in family devotions

Podcast 83 – How to use scripture in your family devotions

Posted by Carey 
· Wednesday, July 30th, 2014 

How to make use of scripture in your family devotions

Christian Home and Family subscribe on Stitcher! Miro Video Player listen on player.fm

Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/

USING SCRIPTURE IN FAMILY DEVOTIONS

HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY DO A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL TIME?

  • For my family it consists of three parts: Song, Scripture, Prayer
  • We covered the song part last week  – www.ChristianHomeandFamily.com/82
  • This week we’ll talk about how to include scripture in your family devotional time.

Here’s an example of how I’d go about it… let’s use this passage…

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. – Psalm 103:1-5

TAKE IT SLOW

  • Make sure words like “bless”, “soul”, “benefits”, and “iniquity” are understood… remember podcast 81?
  • Explore the meanings through discussion (you don’t have to give all the answers).
  • There’s going to be no meaning and no impact if the passage is not understood.
  • Depending on the age / spiritual maturity you may only take 1 verse at a time – that’s OK.

ASK QUESTIONS (that require more than “yes / no” answers) – here are some examples:

  • What are some reasons the LORD wants us to bless Him?
  • What do you think it means that God’s name is “holy?”
  • What is forgiveness? How has God forgiven you?
  • What impression does this passage give you of God?

TELL STORIES FROM YOUR OWN LIFE THAT ARE APPLICABLE

  • Your kids need to hear about God’s work in your life.
  • It gives them real-life examples.
  • It demonstrates a pattern of how God deals with people.
  • It shows them how sinful people can relate to God.

END WITH PERSONAL APPLICATION – here’s some examples I might ask based on this passage…

  • Let’s list all the benefits the LORD has given to our family, or to us as individuals.
  • What ideas do you have of how WE can bless the LORD for all He’s done?

Carey does speaking on this and other topics. You can find out more here.

Music used by permission of Adam Rey at www.HeyReyGuitar.com

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Categories : Parenting, Podcast, Spirit Health
Tags : family devotions, family worship, how to do family devotions, scripture in family devotions, scripture in family worship
Include music in family devotions

Podcast 82 – Integrating music into your family devotions

Posted by Carey 
· Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014 

How to integrate music into your family devotions

Christian Home and Family subscribe on Stitcher! Miro Video Player listen on player.fm

Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/

USING MUSIC IN FAMILY DEVOTIONS

Including music for the sake of worship is not an easy task for most people

If you’re not musically inclined, what do you do? Before we get into the “how” part of including music in your family worship, there’s one other step we need to take first…

Talk with your family about the “WHY” behind singing…

  • Why do we sing to God in the first place?
  • It’s not only that it’s fun (though it is), it’s one way that we worship God. And remember, younger children may need an explanation of worship. See podcast 81 for details on how to go about that.
  • In singing we are speaking truths about God and to God
  • When we sing ABOUT God, it’s for our sake – to increase our faith and remind us of the truths we believe.
  • When we sing TO God, it’s in worship, for all that He is and does, to show our love and appreciation.
  • Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. (Ps. 95:1-2)

 The easiest way I’ve found to use music is to make use of “sing along songs”

  • These are songs that you may have on a CD, mp3, or other source that is professionally produced… and your family just sings along!
  • You have a professional leading you, so the pressure’s off. You don’t have to be musical at all.
  • No instruments are needed, though you could include them if you like.
  • Everyone will be able to follow along
  • Most of the time, kids love it.
  • Find this kind of music on YouTube, internet apps like Spotify or your own collection.

A method that’s a bit harder is to use a Hymnal or song book

  • You have to know the songs well in order to do this one, and someone needs to be able to sing moderately well to start the tunes.
  • You can sing a cappella (no instruments) if you know the songs well.
  • Another option is to use songs the kids know from Sunday school (Jesus loves me, This little light of mine, etc.)

What if they won’t sing?

  • When a person won’t sing, it’s usually a heart issue, not a singing issue.
  • Find out what’s going on.
  • Is there some embarrassment? Bitterness? Something painful that needs to be explored?
  • Your job is not to get them sing, but to find out why they won’t.
  • Patient, loving inquiries will get you there in time.

Next week – Using scripture in Family devotions Carey does speaking on this and other topics. You can find out more here. Music used by permission of Adam Rey at www.HeyReyGuitar.com

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Categories : Parenting, Podcast, Spirit Health
Tags : family devotions, family worship, how to do family devotions, music in family devotions, music in family worship
family devotions with smaller children

Podcast 81 – Family devotions with small kids in the mix

Posted by Carey 
· Wednesday, July 16th, 2014 

Family Devotions with small children in the mix

Christian Home and Family subscribe on Stitcher! Miro Video Player listen on player.fm

Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/

FAMILY DEVOTIONS WITH YOUNG KIDS IN THE MIX

Before we begin to talk about the “how to” portion of family devotions with younger kids involved, let’s remind ourselves of the purpose of family devotions…

  • PURPOSE OF FAMILY DEVOTIONS: Facilitate heart-level connection between your family members and the God of the universe.

That kind of connection IS possible in the hearts and minds of younger kids. Don’t underestimate their capacity to make very real connections with the living God.

The challenges with YOUNGER CHILDREN:

  • Attention span
  • Understanding
  • Mixture of ages (How can you engage the younger children without losing the older ones – or vice versa?)

SUGGESTIONS FOR DEVOTIONS WITH YOUNGER KIDS

1. Think like a child…

  • Don’t assume too much
  • God, Jesus, sin, cross – all of these are words they may not understand.

2. Take it slow…

  • Ask questions to gauge comprehension
  • Don’t move ahead if they don’t get it
  • Make deeper topics a project, over time

3. Keep it simple…

  • One simple point is enough.
  • No need for a 3 point sermon or loads of illustrations.
  • Once they “get it,” you’re good.

4. Apply it in a relevant way… relevant to the child, that is.

  • They know “love” in the context of family and friends, so give illustrations related to those contexts.
  • If you want to illustrate the concept of “mercy”, go back to the last time they were disciplined and talk about what it would have been like if they’d received mercy… and why they didn’t.
  • Always emphasize God’s desire to help them obey His truth. That’s called “grace” and it’s why Jesus came to die.

5. If older kids are involved too… dismiss the younger kids, give an activity while you continue the conversation Next week – Using music in family devotions Carey does speaking on this and other topics. You can find out more here. Music used by permission of Adam Rey at www.HeyReyGuitar.com

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Categories : Parenting, Podcast, Spirit Health
Tags : family devotions, family devotions with small children, family worship, how to do family devotions, small kids, variety of ages in family worship
Getting started with family devotions

Podcast 80 – Getting started with family devotions

Posted by Carey 
· Wednesday, July 9th, 2014 

HOW TO START FAMILY DEVOTIONS

Christian Home and Family subscribe on Stitcher! Miro Video Player listen on player.fm

Or if you are using a “podcatcher” here is the feed address: https://christianhomeandfamily.com/feed/podcast/

How to begin your own family devotions

UNDERSTAND YOUR PURPOSE

  • Family devotions are intended to facilitate heart-level spiritual growth. They are not just about getting more knowledge into your head (or the heads of your kids). So your goal in devotions should never be to teach your kids to be perfect little theologians, having all the answers to every questoion, or applying religious formulas for a happy day/life.
  • Family devotions are about relationship – between each member of your family and God. Your family devotionals are for the purpose of pointing every one of you, every day, toward God and His purpose for your lives.

That can be done at breakfast, before bed, after dinner – or all of the above. You pick and be consistent.

SOME FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTS

1. Be real

  • From your real-life experience (no fakers allowed). You need to demonstrate what an authentic relationship with God looks like, warts, mistakes, and all.
  • Be who you are. Don’t get over enthused about family devotions just because you want your kids to be excited. Be who you are and let God lead you in the enthusiasm part.

2. Use your Bible

  • When you pick up the scriptures, your demonstrating that there’s something of value between the covers of that book.
  • Makes the scriptures an authority to your kids, not just an irrelevant old book.

3. Be flexible

  • Stuff will happen. Phones will ring, burps will happen in the midst of prayers, readers will mispronounce words as they read the scriptures. Roll with it. God is sovereign over all those things and will use them
  • Relax.

4. Trust God to use every effort.

Remember that God is in control, and He wants your family close to Him, more than you want them close to Him. He’ll handle it. You need to let Him lead.

 Next podcast – Doing family devotions when small children are in the mix

Carey does speaking on this and other topics. You can find out more here.

Music used by permission of Adam Rey at www.HeyReyGuitar.com

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Categories : Parenting, Podcast, Spirit Health
Tags : family devotions, family worship, how to do family devotions
FAMILY DEVOTIONS

Family devotions – group style

Posted by Carey 
· Monday, April 7th, 2014 

There are lots of ways to do family devotions…

from Dad leading the way, to Mom or a big sister reading a Bible story or leading some kind of game or activity. All of those are great ideas, and you should do them as they fit your family.

But here’s an idea for family devotions you may not have thought of…

I’m calling it Group Family Devotions.

The idea is that everyone gets their own Bible (whatever version and age appropriate style they have) and comes together in the same room. Someone can choose a passage (Psalms, Proverbs, or a gospel account in Jesus’ life are great places to start), and everyone reads it to themselves, silently. Smaller kids can look at the pictures in their story Bible.

Take your time. 15 to 20 minutes wouldn’t be too long.

Then, stop and talk about what you’ve read.

I see a few benefits to doing family devotions this way…

1 Everybody gets to see everybody else reading God’s word. Don’t underestimate the power of this. Younger kids see their siblings reading. Older kids see their parents reading. Some may even be taking notes. Some may be praying as they read. The power of a good example is HUGE. This way of approaching family devotions helps provide that important component.

2 Everyone focuses on the same topic, but approaches it on differing levels. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been reading to a younger child out of a Bible storybook, and been blessed by the simple way it presents the biblical truths of a passage. You can mine great nuggets of truth out of topics like faith, love, hope, trust, etc. – just from approaching the same topic from differing levels of understanding.

3 Everyone gets to discuss what THEY understood from the story/passage. Insight will come, I guarantee it. God uses the simple observations of a child and the more life-oriented insights of an adult, to enrich everyone. There’s something for everyone to contribute, and every contribution is important.

Those are just 3 of the benefits I’ve seen from this kind of family devotional approach. Can you see others?

I’d love to hear your ideas about family devotions below!

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Categories : Parenting, Spirit Health
Tags : family altar, family devotions, family worship

3 Simple and Easy Ideas for Family Prayer

Posted by Carey 
· Friday, October 11th, 2013 

3 family prayer ideasHere are 3 simple and easy ways of going about “family prayer” that you can try in your family!

1. Pray for the person to your (right/left).

In our “family nights” (we sing together, read and discuss the scriptures, and pray together), we often use this method of prayer. It goes something like this…

“OK, everyone turn to the person on your right and find out what things you can pray about for them. Then we’re going to pray for those specific things”

Naturally, there’s a little bit of giggling as everyone turns to their right and finds that person turned to their right… but everyone finally gets past it and receives and gives a prayer request. Then we pray together for those things.

I don’t typically keep track of which direction I’ve told people to turn the previous family night, nor do I keep track of who’s prayed for who.

Why? Because every time we’re sitting in different places, so we naturally get “mixed around” in who we are praying for.

Sometimes I will intentionally look to see who’s sitting next to who and choose the direction I feel will be most beneficial for those relationships, but other than that, this one works on its own pretty well.

2. Round Robin Prayer

We’ve recently begun doing this one and it seems to work pretty well. We do it at the dinner table, right after we’ve finished eating and it works great.

You start with a prayer list… things that you are facing as a family. They could be financial needs, health issues, employment, salvation of a family member, etc. It doesn’t matter how many you have on the list, but it’s probably better to keep it to 15 or under.

Take the list and a pen and explain what you’re going to do.

“I have a list of things that we as a family need to be praying about. I’m going to pray for the first one on the list and check it off. Then I’m going to pass it to the (right or left) and the next person will pray for the next item. When they are finished, they will check it off and pass the list to the next person. We’ll just keep passing the list around until everything is prayed for. The last person can say the ‘Amen.'”

This way everyone is praying, everyone is involved, and nobody gets to “opt out.” And it focuses the entire family on the needs that the entire family is facing. I think it serves to build unity because we are praying together.

3. Sharing Joys and Sorrows

Another option is that we’ll give these very simple instructions,

“I’d like everyone to share something they are currently happy about, and then share something they are having a hard time with right now. As each person finishes sharing, I’ll ask for someone to take that request and then we’ll pray for all of them at the end.”

It’s a pretty simple way of going about family prayer. But it’s a great way. Everyone gets to hear what’s on the heart of the others.

It builds community and unity. It builds compassion and care within the home.

Getting started

If you have not had any sort of prayer time together as a family in the past, it’s time for that to change. You need to lead your children to prayer for each other and for the family as a whole. Here is one way I’d suggest you make the change…

  1. Call a family meeting.
  2. Repent to the family for not leading the way in prayer.
  3. Ask them to forgive you for neglecting that duty.
  4. Tell them the ideas you have for family prayer.
  5. Tell them you’d like to start praying together regularly to ask for God’s blessing and help as a family.
  6. Plan a time together when you will start (every Monday evening? Every Saturday before bed?)
  7. START

What prayer ideas do YOU have for the family? Share your ideas below…

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Categories : Parenting, Spirit Health
Tags : family, family devotions, family night, family prayer, family worship ideas, prayer
Family Worship Ideas from Desire Miller

Podcast 14: Family Worship Ideas for the Christian Home –

Posted by Carey 
· Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 

Podcast 14: Family Worship Ideas for the Christian Home

SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY PODCAST

 

Christian Home and Family subscribe on Stitcher! Miro Video Player listen on player.fm

 

EPISODE #14

Family Worship Ideas for the Christian Home: A conversation with Desire Miller

Today’s Guest:

Family Worship Ideas from Desire MillerDesire Miller
www.WhenYouRise.com

SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST

You’ve probably heard a lot about the topic of family worship or family devotions. But many, many parents don’t know where to begin to get that idea off the ground in their own Christian home. Thanks to people like my guest today, Desire Miller, you can find great, FREE resources to get you started. Desire is the owner of When You Rise, a website that provides a ton of truly helpful and valuable resources to help you bring the scriptures down to your child’s level, and work alongside them to help introduce and grow their Christian faith.In this episode of the podcast I talk with Desire about here site, the way she got started creating this kind of curriculum, and what she hopes will come of her efforts. It was a delightful conversation about family worship resources I think you’ll enjoy!

Links & Resources mentioned in this podcast:

  • Covenant Eyes (affiliate link*)
  • My upcoming episode of the podcast using YOUR Christmas traditions! – Submit yours
  • Redeemed Reader
  • My speaking page

* These resources are affiliate links – you pay the same price, but part of your purchase goes to support the ministry of Christian Home and Family. Thanks!

A couple of brief reminders:

  • I’d love to do some future episodes that are “Q & A” in nature, regarding anything related to living as a Christian family. Please submit YOUR questions to me in the comments below or in any of these ways.
  • Christian Home and Family is supported by generous donors like you. If you’d like to know more about how you can partner with me in this vital mission, see my partner page.
  • I am available for SPEAKING engagement at your next retreat, conference, or seminar series. Check out my speaking page to find out more.

NEXT EPISODE: Podcast 15 – Christian Siblings as Best Friends

Meat & Potatoes by Adam ReyThe music track used in the Christian Home and Family Podcast is entitled, “Midian” and is from Adam Rey’s instrumental album Meat & Potatoes – Adam has generously given me permission to use his music, so please, support his generosity by checking out and purchasing his music at www.heyreyguitar.com – (no affiliate relationship, Adam’s just my friend.)

SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY PODCAST

Christian Home and Family subscribe on Stitcher! Miro Video Player listen on player.fm

LEAVE FEEDBACK AND A REVIEW ON I-TUNES

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Categories : Parenting, Podcast
Tags : Christian family, Christian home, Christian Home and Family Podcast, Christian parenting, Christian worship, family devotions, family time, family worship, podcast
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