Yesterday in Kids’ Village we talked about how the Father is LORD. That means that the Father is eternal, unchanging and self-existent. Unlike earthly fathers, He is perfect. He is perfectly wise, perfectly strong, perfectly loving, perfectly attentive, and the list goes on. He is not limited by anything or anyone. We are all born outside of God’s family because we have hearts sick with sin. But because of Jesus, sinners who love and trust Jesus can know the LORD as Father. This week take some time to think about what a good father does. Think about what a good father is like. Then, think about what it means for God to be a perfect Father.

Also, parents, check out the Family Resources provided to help talk to your kids about this sweet truth and how it affects your daily life. The March Family Activity Calendar is also now online. Make sure to check it out as well!

Many pop culture depictions of death and the “resurrection” can lead to confusion when we discuss the resurrection of Jesus. Young men of a certain age (say 8 to12) have a tendency to solicit information from each other about their recent interactive gaming exploits. These discussions lend themselves to comparative analysis of mystical worlds, war strategies and what to do when a zombie tries to stay alive (or undead as it may be referenced).

This is not the only instance where children may have an influence regarding the death and resuscitation of a human body. They also are subject to hospital dramas on television. These shows will depict the dashing handsome emergency room doctor and the car accident victim on the table. The physician yells, “Clear!” rubs two large electrodes together and places them on the victim’s chest. The jolt of electricity causes the person’s heart to begin beating again, and invariably the statement is uttered, “I thought we lost you…”

These are images that can be conjured when thinking about Jesus’ resurrection this Easter. That is why it needs to be made clear to our little zombie-zapping offspring that the resurrection of Jesus is something totally different. When Jesus was raised from the dead several things occurred. God confirmed that Jesus was who he said he was and that his ministry was true. Jesus defeated the sting of death. Jesus disarmed the spiritual authorities. Jesus shows our deposit and guarantee of future resurrection.

The Hebrew belief through the time prior to Jesus was centered on the hope of resurrection, and this resurrection was not resuscitation, but a new man, putting on a new body; corruptible putting on incorruption (1 Corinthians 15). He is the first fruit of the resurrection (Colossians 1), and this is our hope in our resurrection from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4). Jesus’ resurrection was not just some random resurrection; it was THE RESURRECTION. The promise made long ago by God to the fathers that a new world, a new kingdom and a new people would emerge – this is what we celebrate.

Let’s depict the Lord’s resurrection as the cataclysmic thing it is, the event that shapes the whole of history and the promised fulfilled from God that death has no victory, because Christ has defeated it. The resurrection matters – not just on the day of judgment and not just on Easter. It matters today. It matters when your children face conflict. As you challenge your children to forgive someone, show them that they need Jesus for this and that forgiving others is possible because Jesus died and was raised. It matters when your children walk through a death of a loved one. As they experience death of others, point them to the truth that Jesus beat death and one day death will be no more. It matters in the midst of your children being tempted. As they deal with temptation, encouraging them with the truth that we already have victory over sin because of Jesus’ death and resurrection so we can fight sin with confidence.

Yesterday in Kids’ Village we talked about how the LORD is the King of the heavenly armies. His army is made up of a multitude of mighty angels who worship and obey the LORD as King and commander. There is no army like His, and there is no King like Him. God’s children can trust that the LORD will protect them, so they do not need to fear anything. Instead, they should worship and be in awe of His great authority and strength.

We saw an example of God’s mighty presence in the story of Elisha and his servant. Aram was making war on Israel and tried to plan surprise attacks on the Hebrew people. Every time the Aramean king would send his army somewhere, the LORD would tell Elisha to warn the Israelites. Every attempt made by Aram failed and this made the king angry. When the king heard that Elisha was the one messing up his plans, he sent an army to find him and capture him. When Elisha woke up, he and his servant were surrounded by a large army. Elisha was not afraid though, because He knew that the LORD’s army was among them, and that the LORD’s army was larger and stronger that the Aramean army. Elisha knew that the LORD is the King of the heavenly armies. Parents, check out the Family Resources provided to help talk to your kids about this sweet truth and how it affects your daily life. The March Family Activity Calendar is also now online. Make sure to check it out as well!

This weekend in Kids’ Village we talked about how God is peace. It was a great opportunity to talk about the good news of Jesus. We all know what it’s like to be in conflict with others…to have enemies and broken relationships. But this weekend we talked about the greater problem – that we are all born as enemies of God. Our hearts are sick with sin and in opposition to the Creator. But there is good news. The LORD is peace and He gives peace through Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God, and He is all of God poured into skin. He is without sin, and therefore He has never been an enemy of God. Jesus came to earth to bring peace; to reconcile sinners to God. He did this through His death and resurrection. He took the punishment for sin even though He didn’t deserve it. And God reconciles to Himself anyone who loves and trusts Jesus. These reconciled people would no longer be enemies of God. Rather they would be dearly loved children who have peace with the LORD.

This Sunday, like every other Sunday in Kids’ Village, the gospel was preached. But our voice is just one of many, and we hope that you will take time to engage your kids with the good news and truth that the LORD is peace. Parents, check out the Family Resources provided to help talk to your kids about this sweet truth and how it affects your daily life.

A couple of weeks ago in Kids’ Village we talked about how the LORD is Healer. He heals both the physical and spiritual sickness. The LORD has the authority, power, compassion and wisdom to heal so we should pray.

In Kids’ Village, we spent part of our time making cards for three families in our church: The Steinbach’s, the Merriman’s and the Duffy’s. Each family is learning how to suffer well, trust God’s sovereignty and goodness, and fight in prayer on behalf of their sick little ones. Check out each child’s story in the link below and pray with these families for God to heal.

Ava Steinbach http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/avavictoria
Jackson Merriman http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacksonmerriman
Bryce Duffy http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bryceduffy

Use this as a springboard to pray for the physical and spiritual sickness of others. Pray for Pastor Matt Chandler. Pray for family members. Pray for friends. Pray for the people at work and in your child’s classroom. Practice prayer as a family. God’s children are needy and helpless, but God delights to care and provide for His children.

Yesterday in Kids’ Village we talked about how God is ever-present. That means that God is always there. There is no time or place where God is not with His children. His nearness is good for His children because He is what is best. God’s presence is comforting because God’s children are never alone. When life is good, He is there. When life is hard, He is there. And God’s children can trust that in any situation, He will do what is best and He has not left them. God’s presence is also convicting because He is with His children and sees everything, even their sin. When we sin, we shouldn’t run away from God. We should run to Him. Our sin is not hidden from God, and He has sent Jesus for us so that we can be forgiven. So we should confess to God our sin and turn away from it to follow the LORD.

We saw an example of God’s unfailing presence in the book of Jonah. No matter where Jonah went or what he did, God was with him. The LORD is ever-present. Parents, check out the Family Resources provided to help talk to your kids about this sweet truth and how it affects your daily life.

I know that every four years this time of the year, America sits in front of the television (or computer) and watches men and women fly down mountains and frozen tubes at 100+mph, and we watch grown men slide big rocks down a patch of ice in what amounts to a game of frozen horseshoes. And really, the Olympics are great in many regards. It is an opportunity to see people playing their sport very well.

There are ample opportunities in life to see people do a poor job at a task or to work less than vigorously at a job. But when watching an Olympian compete, you see neither laziness nor apathy. And perhaps more importantly than that, watching the Olympics with your children gives them an additional opportunity to be exposed to other nations and cultures. So leverage your Olympics time with your family.

• Watch the Olympics with a map nearby and as you see other countries mentioned, help your child find them in their relation to the U.S.
• Do the same thing with a list of flags. Many maps have countries’ flags listed on the side bar or bottom margin.
• As a family, make a list of the countries you see and when heading to bed, pick one particular country to pray over.
• And as you talk about the different countries, incorporate this coming weekend’s key point: the LORD is Ever-present. Talk about the LORD’s presence in these other countries. Help them see that our God is not just the God of DFW, Texas or the U.S. He is King of the World.

One great resource for these activities is the book, Window on the World by Spraggett and Johnstone. This book gives a brief, kid-oriented explanation of the make-up and cultures of many different countries (listed in alphabetical order) along with suggested prayer points. It can be found and ordered on our Recommended Books page. And if you don’t have access to the Olympics on your TV before bed time, check out the following websites for online videos and pictures that are viewable any time of day:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/
http://www.vancouver2010.com/

This year at your house, the Olympics can be about rooting for the U.S. to walk away with 70 medals or about admiring twirling figure skaters. Or it can be about the gospel being spread to all nations.

Yesterday in Kids’ Village we learned that the LORD is Healer. God takes what is sick, broken and hurting and brings health, wholeness and comfort. He heals both physical sickness – when our bodies break or get sick – and spiritual sickness – the sin that is in all of our hearts. God alone has the authority, power, compassion and wisdom to heal what is sick.

• Authority, meaning that He has the right to be in charge and is in charge of everything.
• Power, meaning that He has the strength and ability.
• Compassion, meaning He sees, cares and acts when His children are in need.
• Wisdom, meaning He knows what is best

We saw an example of this as we looked at Jesus’ healing of the paralytic in Luke 5:17-26. Jesus heals the man’s physical body to demonstrate His authority to forgive the man’s sins and bring healing to his heart. The LORD is Healer. Parents, check out the Family Resources provided to help talk with your kids about this weekend’s lesson.

The new Family Activity Calendar is up for the month of February. Click here and check out ways you can engage your kids as you disciple them in the ways of the LORD. Here are some activities from this monthly resource:

• Make up a song or rap using this month’s memory verse, Deuteronomy 32:2.
• Play tug of war. At the end of the game talk about how conflict is all around us but the LORD is our peace.
• Make a first aid kit and talk about how the LORD heals.

Know that we love you and are praying for your family. Enjoy!

I love the rules. Maybe not for the right reason, but I love the rules. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Out of all the things Jesus could have said, He says the first and greatest rule is to love God with all you are, with everything you have.

This commandment can be found in Deuteronomy 6, and the LORD tells the Israelites to teach this commandment to their children. There is so much to teach your kids…how to read, how to tie their shoe, etc. But this cannot be overlooked, and it is of the greatest value if Jesus calls it the first and greatest commandment.

I want to encourage you to teach your children this commandment. Teach them what it looks like to honor and obey God by loving Him with all they are. But do not lose the gospel while doing so.

As you teach your kids how to honor the LORD, remind them of their need for Jesus. Perfect love toward God is impossible. Not because He is unlovable, but because we are wicked and depraved. We have hearts sick with sin. Apart from the person and work of Jesus, we cannot love Him rightly. And our love of created things rather than the Creator keeps us from intimately knowing the Father. Let them see that they are in need of forgiveness because they have not loved. Let them see that God meets that need in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Let them see that even those who belong to God still need Jesus’ help to obey and love like God has called us to.

So, today begin asking yourself and your kids these questions:

• How do I love God with my thoughts?
• How do I love God with my time?
• How do I love God with my speech?
• How to I love God when I am alone?
• How do I love God when I am with my friends? Family? Enemies?

As you call your children to obey and love God with all that they are, point them to the hope of Jesus. As a family ask God for the ability to love Him as He ought to be loved. He is our example and our source of help. I pray that we would strive to love Him well, and as we strive I pray we would grow in awareness of our need for Jesus.