The Thankful Christian

Read It:  1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NRSV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.


Learn It:
I don't  know about you but this seems a pretty hard task for even the best of Christians.  There are times in our lives when we get down and sad and it makes it hard to rejoice.  We also have so many things going on: work, sleep, cooking, chores, etc. that it makes it hard to pray without stopping to do other things.  When we are down and having a hard time it makes it hard to rejoice in everything that happens to us.  Let's take a look at what this might mean though: Rejoicing always means that we should always remember that in both the good times and bad times in our lives we have a God that loves and cares for us so much God gave us Jesus as a sacrifice.  In that we can always rejoice. To pray without ceasing is to again always keep God and the work of Jesus in the forefront of our minds.  It doesn't have to be a formal prayer but an offering of our thoughts up to God.  In those ways we can then give thanks to God knowing and seeing all that God does in our lives in all circumstances.  


Share It:
Spend some time today talking about the things that God does in your lives.  What can you see that God does in both the good and the bad?  What do you see God do in the extraordinary and in the ordinary everyday things?  What are ways that you can give thanks to God for those things?  What offerings can you lift up to God for all the circumstances that you have gone through?  Talk about these and other things that come up during your time together.


Live It:
This week as you work, play, etc. spend some time focusing on rejoicing in the things that God has given you and how you are able to to work through life knowing the blessings you have from God.  That will be your way of rejoicing always and by constantly "thinking" about those blessings you will in a way be praying without ceasing.  Enjoy those blessings!

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God Time

Read It: 2 Peter 3:8 (NRSV)

8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 

Learn It:

This passage is often taken literally to mean that there will be a reign of Christ for 1,000 years.  As we know though it has been longer than that since Christ died and rose again; in fact it has been almost double that since then.  This passage then is not a literal passage about when things might happen but is a passage about how we see time and God see time.  God sees the whole scope of what has happened in the past and where God wants the world to go.  God is trying to bring all things to God's self.  We see time as moving forward and God sees it more as drawing to.  I know this is a deep concept but I think it's helpful to understand that our time and God's time isn't quite the same thought process as ours is.

Share It:

Bring out a clock and time your conversation together today.  Have you ever experienced a time when a moment or an hour or some length of time seemed either much longer or much shorter than the time actually was?  Why do you think that happens?  Sometimes in our own lives time doesn't always seem to be equal even though we know that it is.  So if the passage isn't literal what do you think this verse is all about?  What message about God and about Jesus do you think the author is trying to convey?  The author is using this verse when talking about Jesus coming again; so with that in mind why do you think that he is saying these things? 

Live It:

Take this week and make sure you have a clock with you.  Spend some time this week in prayer and spend it in other various ways and see how much time might fly or slow down for you.  Think about the ways that we spend our time and see how this passage might relate to any or all of it.

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Sought After

Read It:  Ezekiel 34:15-16 (NRSV)

 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. 


Learn It:
What a wonderful gift to be sought after by the shepherd.  In this passage God seems to take this opportunity to not rely on or use other shepherds (i.e. prophets or kings) to seek out the sheep.  In this passage God decides to take all of this into God's own hands.  The language here is wonderful in that God will seek us out...God comes to us looking for us when we are lost.  That indicates that sometimes we might stray and not realize it and God will come and bring us back into the fold.  God will help all who are injured and all who are weak.  God is here to look out for all of us that have lost the way and have been pushed aside from those who are fat and strong.  We have a God that will look out for us in all the difficult times in our lives.


Share It:
Try to think about a time in your life of faith that you have strayed from your beliefs.  How did you get back to the flock?  Who or what was it that brought you back?  This might be a good time for parents to do most of the sharing and let the children listen.  It's good to understand that faith can sometimes be difficult and that through it all, or in the end you kept or strengthened your faith.  When are times when you think your faith might be challenged or when you might have a lot of questions about your faith?  Why do you think that you might have those questions during those times?  Share these thoughts and other ideas that come up during your sharing this week.


Live It:
This week I simply want you to live out your faith walk to the fullest.  As you do, and as you realize how much freedom we have in this part of the world I want you to say a simple prayer for those who don't have the freedom to live out their Christian faith because of persecution.  Pray for them and their families and for those who persecute them.  

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The Strength of the Lord

Read It: Philippians 4:13 (NRSV)


 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 


Learn It:

This is a rather famous passage of the Bible that is used in many different circumstances of people's lives.  It is also a very common passage that youth pick when choosing their confirmation verse.  The thing to be noted is that this passage is not a passage about Paul but a passage about what Christ can do through Paul.  It is Paul's faith that gives him the ability to carry on through the good times and the bad times, or as Paul puts it through times of plenty and through times of having little. This passage then is not a passage about thinking better of yourself but about all the wonderful things that Christ does for us in any circumstance of our lives.  That is the great gift that God offers to us...to never leave us alone.

Share It:

What does it mean to you that you can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens you?  What are times in your life when you have felt strengthened to do God's work?  Did you rely heavily on God helping you through those times?  How can you see God when you have plenty and when you have little?  What does it mean to never be alone because you have Christ with you always?  Talk about these questions and anything else that may come up during your conversation.

Live It:

During this week when you face a difficult task in your day think about this passage and ask for God's help to get you through it.  See how relying on God's strength can help you through the good and the difficult times in your life.  

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Respond to the Light

Read It: Psalm 119:105-112 (NRSV)

    105      Your word is a lamp to my feet 
    and a light to my path. 
    106      I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, 
    to observe your righteous ordinances. 
    107      I am severely afflicted; 
    give me life, O LORD, according to your word. 
    108      Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD, 
    and teach me your ordinances. 
    109      I hold my life in my hand continually, 
    but I do not forget your law. 
    110      The wicked have laid a snare for me, 
    but I do not stray from your precepts. 
    111      Your decrees are my heritage forever; 
    they are the joy of my heart. 
    112      I incline my heart to perform your statutes 
    forever, to the end. 

Learn It:

While camping this week I used a lantern a lot.  I know that it doesn't get dark here in Washington until late at night but when it did get dark I needed the lantern to anywhere.  The whole idea of a lantern being used to as a metaphor is a wonderful way to express God's presence in our lives.  We can see the actions that God does to show us the path that has been set for us.  The Psalmist points out that he needs to confirm the path and to respond to that light and that promise.  It is also a reminder that following the path of God is not easy.  Verse 10 points out that there will be events or people that will try to make you stray from the path but it is up to us to choose to follow the path and the promises that God has laid out for us.  This is also a wonderful way to show that God does things in our lives for us and we respond to that light by following the path and the ways that God has laid out for us.  It is a response to what God has done and continues to do for us.

Share It:

I know it doesn't get dark outside until late but consider going outside with your family and bring flashlight or lantern/lamp during this time.  What are times when it is easy to see the path that God has laid out before you?  When are there times when it is hard to see that path?   What ways does this idea of God's path or plan being like a lamp fit for you?  How can you respond to the path that God has laid out for you and to give thanks to God for all he has done and does in your life?  Share this and other thoughts that come up during your time together.

Live It:

During this week spend some time trying to see the path God has placed for you and the ways God has done so in the past.  Take some time to try to find a way to 'respond' to that path, that love and grace that God has given to you and gives you all the time.  Respond to God for all that God has already done.

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Faith in the Unseen

Read It: 1 Peter 1:8-9

8Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Learn It:

This passage from Peter emphasizes the idea that those of us who have not seen Jesus and yet believe in him, his miracles, his resurrection from the dead (this Easter season we are now in).  With that belief we have this joy that and that trust in his promises we have a joy that is unconquerable.  The reward we receive for this belief and trust in Jesus is eternal life with him and God.  What a wonderful gift 

Share It:

Lots of Bible teachers like to use the wind as a symbol or sign of something you can't see but you know that it exists. With that in mind... What ways do you see God in your lives and in the world around you?  What ways is Jesus present in your life even though you don't physically see him?  

Live It:

Knowing that Jesus is present in our lives what are the ways that you individually or as a family express that joy and rejoice in knowing that Jesus is always with us and that the promises are real?  Take this week and really take time to express your joy for the wonderful gift of faith and life.

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