This week’s diving deep question is: How old is God? What has God been doing for all that time?
Good luck trying to wrap your mind around this one! God has been around forever! It’s impossible to say how old he is, because he had no beginning and will have no end. That means you can try to imagine the biggest number ever, and God would still be older than that! God is infinite. Everything else had a beginning.
The bible doesn’t tell us everything there is to know about God, including all that God has been doing for eternity. Even the biggest book in the world couldn’t hold all there is to know about him. Many people spend their entire lives trying to learn all that the Bible has to teach about God, and even that is a tall order. Better get started!
This week’s Diving Deep question is: Does God to us? How can I hear him?
Throughout the Bible, there are times God spoke out loud to people (Moses heard God talk to him lots of times.) For most of us, though, God speaks mostly through his Word, the Bible. The Bible is so full of truth that we can find answers there to all of life’s big questions.
Sometimes, though, God uses other ways to talk to us. God might send a wise person to give you the advice you need (see Exodus 18: 13- 27). Or he might show you what to do by making other options impossible (see Acts 16: 6-10). Sometimes the Holy Spirit might put the right decision in your heart (see Romans 8: 14, 16).
The most important thing to remember is that no matter how God communicates, his message will never go against the Bible. So if you get advice from someone, but that advice goes against what the Bible teaches, you can be sure that the advice didn’t come from God.
This week’s Dive Deep question is: Why can’t I see God? How do we know God is real?
There are a number of things we can’t see, yet we know they’re real. We know the wind is real because we can feel it on our skin or because we can see it blow the leaves off a tree.
Because God is a spirit, he’s invisible unless he chooses to reveal himself in some way for a special occasion (Here are some examples you can read about in your Bible when God showed up in a special way: Exodus 3: 4-6; 1 Kings 19: 11-13; Matthew 3: 16-17).
Only a few people in history have met God in these ways. For the rest of us, there are other ways we can “know” God exists, even though we don’t see him.
First, we know by faith that God exists. The Bible says he’s real. So those who believe in the Bible believe God is real. (Take a look at what Hebrews 11:6 says). Second, we know God exists because of the impact he has on our lives. Just like we know the wind is real because he changes our lives. He lets us know when we do wrong. He comforts us when we’re sad. He answers our prayers. And the list goes on and on. Those who have faith know that God is real because he really is active in their lives.
Grandmothers, Mothers, Daughters and Friends:
Princesses of all ages are invited to join us for a princess tea party on October 10th from 3-5 pm.
There is no charge for this event, we simply ask that you bring your favorite tea party treats to share. You can sign up for what dish you would like to bring in the lobby or email Eliza Fitzgerald.
We are also looking for volunteers to sponsor a table to decorate. You can sign up for this in the lobby or by email as well.
We are looking forward to this fun chance to get dressed up and celebrate as the beautiful princess that God made us to be.
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Parenting Tip
September 11, 2009
Building Relationship Makes Kids More Responsive
Many parents see a problem and start giving instructions immediately. This often means that they yell across the parking lot or bark commands from the other side of the house. We believe this approach isn’t the best. It’s not enough to see the need and tell someone to respond to it. That approach doesn’t demonstrate value for the relationship. Parenting isn’t just about getting tasks done; it’s about building relationships at the same time.
Start by getting close to your child. Most of the time this means that before you give an instruction you call your child over to you. This presents a problem in many young families because preschoolers often don’t come when they’re called. The fact is, even older children don’t come when they’re called unless they are taught to do so.
Take time to teach your children how to come when you call them. It takes practice but it’s well worth the work. Parents often ask, “What do I do in the grocery store when I call my preschooler and he runs away?” Well, the grocery store isn’t the place to practice. That’s the final exam! By practicing over and over at home and at the park, children are then able to respond in public.
Like every step in a good instruction routine, getting close to each other requires changes from both child and parent. Children also find it tempting to yell across the house. Now children learn that dialogue only takes place when relationship has been established through eye contact and being physically close together. Sometimes it’s the small things that demonstrate that a parent cares or that a child is willing to listen. Putting down the paper, looking up from the computer, or just turning to face your child before you speak communicates the importance of what you are about to say.
Some parents report major improvement in a child’s responsiveness when they just implement this step and give instructions only when the child is within a few feet. Sometimes that little nonverbal statement about your relationship is all that’s needed to gain a more cooperative attitude from your child.
And what if that doesn’t work? Well, it’s only the first step. Four more steps are yet to come and you can read about them in the book, Good and Angry, Exchanging Frustration for Character In You and Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
