What to do With All Those Christmas Cards?!?!

Has your mailbox been full of beautiful family Christmas cards? Do you ever wonder what to do with them once the season is over? Here's a great idea from our FamilyQuest opening teacher, Mrs. Jess Corkern:

Children (and adults) are so busy and excitable during the Christmas season.  Shopping, concerts, Christmas parties, and busyness sometimes greatly impact a family's normal schedule.  Sometimes we seem to actually   breathe a sigh of relief when we are able to get back to some normalcy when the rush of the Christmas season passes.  Here is a devotional idea for you to do with your children to spend additional time reiterating what the season is actually about.  Remember all the Christmas cards, texts, and Facebook greetings that you got before Christmas?  You opened the card, oohed and aahed over pictures included, quickly read the updates on family and friends, and then tossed the card in a stack to be thrown away or recycled when decorations were being packed up.  This year, keep the card and also write down names of all the people who text or give you a Facebook holiday shout out.  When the holiday is over, select one card daily to slowly look at with your family.  Use that time to reconnect with that person but primarily use it as a time to pray for that person.  When our daughters were young, they would enjoy hearing stories of how their parents knew people that were unfamiliar to them.  It was a great opportunity to share challenges walked together, answered prayers that had been seen, and precious times shared.  We would then lift that family up in prayer being sure to pray for specific needs if known and praying for God to bless and use them in the upcoming year.  Now in this age of social media, it would be especially sweet to notify the friend and let them know that they had specifically been remembered in this way.  Or, your children could make them a card or picture to be mailed to them to let them know they'd been thought about during your family devotions.   Whether a family member, friend, or even a business, letting them know what you have done will inspire and bless them! 

Old Testament Heroes: Gideon, Week 5

This year in FamilyQuest we’ll be looking at some Old Testament heroes of the faith. We’ll see how God took flawed human beings and accomplished great things while showing many, including us, just who He is. These famous heroes faced many hard choices and had to trust God to do miraculous things. We pray that as you study these real, live heroes your families will be encouraged that you, too, can trust God to do the big things that seem impossible to us.

During this unit, we will be looking at Gideon. When we first meet Gideon he is hiding out, frustrated that God has abandoned His people. When God meets with him, he calls him Mighty Warrior. Gideon looked nothing like a mighty warrior at the time! BUT GOD can take even the most insignificant member of the weakest tribe and make him a mighty warrior when that man is willing to trust and obey God. God can do the same with you!

IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME!
This unit's giveaway is a bundle of three Family Night Tool Chest books from Heritage Builders. These books will give you great ideas for family nights that will point you to Christ. It will also be a great way to get in your family devotion or family fun event for the workbook! You can enter to win by leaving a comment on the blog sharing your favorite family fun event you've done so far.

Old Testament Heroes: Gideon, Week 4

This year in FamilyQuest we’ll be looking at some Old Testament heroes of the faith. We’ll see how God took flawed human beings and accomplished great things while showing many, including us, just who He is. These famous heroes faced many hard choices and had to trust God to do miraculous things. We pray that as you study these real, live heroes your families will be encouraged that you, too, can trust God to do the big things that seem impossible to us.

During this unit, we will be looking at Gideon. When we first meet Gideon he is hiding out, frustrated that God has abandoned His people. When God meets with him, he calls him Mighty Warrior. Gideon looked nothing like a mighty warrior at the time! BUT GOD can take even the most insignificant member of the weakest tribe and make him a mighty warrior when that man is willing to trust and obey God. God can do the same with you!

Here's a short video you can watch as a family and then discuss:

Gideon's Victory Lap

Old Testament Heroes: Gideon, Week 3

This year in FamilyQuest we’ll be looking at some Old Testament heroes of the faith. We’ll see how God took flawed human beings and accomplished great things while showing many, including us, just who He is. These famous heroes faced many hard choices and had to trust God to do miraculous things. We pray that as you study these real, live heroes your families will be encouraged that you, too, can trust God to do the big things that seem impossible to us.

During this unit, we will be looking at Gideon. When we first meet Gideon he is hiding out, frustrated that God has abandoned His people. When God meets with him, he calls him Mighty Warrior. Gideon looked nothing like a mighty warrior at the time! BUT GOD can take even the most insignificant member of the weakest tribe and make him a mighty warrior when that man is willing to trust and obey God. God can do the same with you!

Here are some fun ideas for remembering the story of Gideon with your family:

In the Dark with Gideon

Advent Idea

Advent starts Nov. 27! Not sure what to do? Here's a great idea for your family:

Printable Names of Christ Advent Calendar

Old Testament Heroes: Gideon, Week 2

This year in FamilyQuest we’ll be looking at some Old Testament heroes of the faith. We’ll see how God took flawed human beings and accomplished great things while showing many, including us, just who He is. These famous heroes faced many hard choices and had to trust God to do miraculous things. We pray that as you study these real, live heroes your families will be encouraged that you, too, can trust God to do the big things that seem impossible to us.

During this unit, we will be looking at Gideon. When we first meet Gideon he is hiding out, frustrated that God has abandoned His people. When God meets with him, he calls him Mighty Warrior. Gideon looked nothing like a mighty warrior at the time! BUT GOD can take even the most insignificant member of the weakest tribe and make him a mighty warrior when that man is willing to trust and obey God. God can do the same with you!

Here is just one way to help you remember this month's memory verse:

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6b

Write each word of the verse onto a popsicle stick. Have the kids put the verse in order and then read it together three times. Do this once a day until your kiddos (and you!) have it memorized.

Old Testament Heroes: Gideon, Week 1

This year in FamilyQuest we’ll be looking at some Old Testament heroes of the faith. We’ll see how God took flawed human beings and accomplished great things while showing many, including us, just who He is. These famous heroes faced many hard choices and had to trust God to do miraculous things. We pray that as you study these real, live heroes your families will be encouraged that you, too, can trust God to do the big things that seem impossible to us.

During this unit, we will be looking at Gideon. When we first meet Gideon he is hiding out, frustrated that God has abandoned His people. When God meets with him, he calls him Mighty Warrior. Gideon looked nothing like a mighty warrior at the time! BUT GOD can take even the most insignificant member of the weakest tribe and make him a mighty warrior when that man is willing to trust and obey God. God can do the same with you!

Today, here's a short family devotion from Rustin Green:

Imagine this:  Your school is going to participate in a race with another school. The other school is known for their fast runners. Every year they win the track championship. Your principal is going to choose one student to represent your entire school against the other school’s top runner. So, your principal goes to the youngest children, say Kindergarten. Then, out of that grade, the principal chooses the slowest child to run. Does that make sense? No! She would choose the student with the BEST ability. 

In the story of Gideon, we see as one man learns, it is not our ability that matters, but God’s power. God sent a surprising message to an Israelite man named Gideon. The message was that God had chosen Gideon to save the Israelites from the Midianites.

"But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I possibly save Israel? My family group is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. And I'm the least important member of my family." - Judges 6:15

Gideon thought there must be some mistake. 

Why would God choose him? 

He was not a warrior.

The Lord answered, "I will be with you. 

So you will strike down the men of Midian all at one time." - Judges 6:16

God promised to be with Gideon. We have heard these words before. God said these same words to Moses (Exodus 3:12) and to Joshua (Joshua 1:5). 

Now He was saying them to Gideon.

It is very important for us to keep our focus on God. Gideon did not have the ABILITY to go to war and defeat a fierce army, but God certainly did! God promised to be with Gideon, and God ALWAYS keeps His promises.

When were you called on to do something that you didn’t think was possible?

What is a promise God has kept to you?