WEEK #2 SEPTEMBER 9/10 2017 G PARENT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

HEY PARENTS… DID YOU KNOW? ’s sons grew up and he had a mess on his hands. He had picked favorites and his sons fought and argued with each other. That’s what favorites do to a family. But ’s hand was on and the whole mess. And His hand can be on our messy, ordinary families too. Even if we haven’t gotten it all right—all the time—there is hope. God is in the business of redeeming ordinary families and making them special. But it all starts with our own hearts—our feelings plus our will plus our in- tellect. We have to ask God to meet us there in His Word. Everyday. That’s where special begins.

Reuben Potiphar The oldest of the 12 sons Captain of the Palace Guard, of Jacob, Reuben felt the Potiphar was wealthy and responsibility to save powerful. Joseph was sold to Joseph from death and Potiphar by ’s selling him to the caravan. Reuben was the son of grandchildren the Jacob’s first wife who was “Ishmaelites”. not Jacob’s favorite and felt the strongest sting of his father picking favorites.

Ishmael Joseph, Potiphar’s Manager God promised and a son but Sa- Joseph was successful in rah grew impatient with everything he did for Potiphar waiting. (She did have to because the hand of the Lord wait a long time.) So she was on Joseph. Potiphar cheated and did it her worried about nothing but the own way. But God loved food he ate because of God’s Ishmael and took good favor on Joseph’s life. care of him even though he wasn’t the promise. Connecting your child every weekend to the Word of God through story ten new words a es are able to learn ? Children of all ag 11 weeks. HE WEEKLY WORD nine new words in WHAT IS T re teaching children them in DINARY KIDS we a erience and grow day! During OR enrich a child’s exp ntionally chosen to hese words are inte T eel- their young faith. n’s individual f ART: Each perso y+ HE o obey or disobe gs + my choice t . It’s in brain that I know all the stuff in my very personal PARENT: It’s important to engage your child with God’s Word everyday. Here are three days to guide you and then you share for three days about what God is teaching you. Save day seven to talk about what you learned in church this weekend. This is storing up God’s Word in their hearts. KEND? . WE DO THIS WEE things to each other WHAT DID were doing horrible . that Jacob’s sons We did this weekend We learned le, skip chapter 38. ay to d from an adult Bib taken 200 miles aw If you rea , sold as a slave and eri- was thrown in a pit ul Potiphar. We exp Joseph wealthy and powerf was Then resold to the ordinary paper that . ilding a tower from blems, d engineering by bu eers simply find pro ence y hold books. Engin er) to ong enough to heav y materials (like pap str nd then use ordinar problem. k good questions a solve the as

ASK YOUR CHILD: The talks a about the heart. Can you tell me what God’s Word means by the heart? DISCOVER & LEARN: OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO PSALM 119:10. IMAGINE & SOLVE: Ask your child to circle the words HEART. Draw a line and write “Feelings + Choice (will) + knowledge”. Open a conversation in a practical way by using their favorite food. “What if I left the ____ off the pizza or out of the cookie dough?” It would not be delicious. That’s like our hearts. Our hearts are all three mixed together. God knows everything about our hearts. IMPROVE & TRY AGAIN: Read another verse. Turn to Psalm 44:21 PRAY OVER YOUR CHILD: Heavenly Father, thank you for knowing everything about our hearts. We know we can trust You with our hearts too. In ’ name, amen. ASK YOUR CHILD: How much of our heart does God want? DISCOVER & LEARN: OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO PSALM 119:10. IMAGINE & SOLVE: Ask your child to circle the words WHOLE. Draw a line and write “All, any, everything”. Ask your child what they would think if you put their favorite treat in front of them but only gave them a crumb to enjoy. How would they feel? God doesn’t want a crumb of anything. He wants all, any and everything. IMPROVE & TRY AGAIN: Read another verse. Turn to Proverbs 3:5. PRAY OVER YOUR CHILD: Heavenly Father, help ______and us to follow you with our whole hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

ASK YOUR CHILD: What does God want us to do with our hearts? DISCOVER & LEARN: OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO PSALM 119:10. IMAGINE & SOLVE: Circle the word SEEK. In the margin write “to frequently chase after someone.” Then circle the word COMMANDMENTS. Draw a line and write “godly laws, principles and rules.” With every ingredient of our heart, God wants us to chase after Him everyday. That’s what the word “seek” means. With every ingredient of our hearts, God wants us not wander from His rules. God is not hard to catch and His rules are not hard to under- stand. He promises to make them clear and straight. IMPROVE & TRY AGAIN: Read more. Turn to Proverbs 3:6 PRAY OVER YOUR CHILD: Heavenly Father, help us to trust in you with our whole heart and not wander from Your rules. In Jesus’ name, amen. Psalm 119:9 (ESV) REVIEW

How can a young man Action: Two hands outward; questioning face Action: Two thumbs to self keep his way pure? Action: Hands parallel zig-zagging in front of you Action: Two thumbs up By guarding it according to your word. Action: Hands clasped together Action: Hands together like a Bible

Psalm 119:10 (ESV) THIS WEEK With my whole heart Action: Hands over heart

I seek you. Action: Hands pointed upward

Let me not wander Action: Shake head no from your commandments. Action: Hands together like a Bible

BEYOND THE WORDS: WHOLE: All, any, everything HEART: Feelings + Choice to obey or disobey (will) + Knowledge SEEK: To frequently chase after someone COMMANDMENTS: Godly laws, principles. Rules.

FIVE STEPS to BEING SPECIAL for CHILDREN 1. Become God’s child. (John 3) Motion: start at the top of your head and move hands over body 2. Learn God’s Word. (Psalm 119:9) Motion: place hands over your heart 3. Wander not from the Lord. (Psalm 119:10) Motion: place right hand over eyes like you are looking for direction 4. Ask the Lord to teach you. (Psalm 119:12) Motion: fold hands in pray- ing position 5. Remember what you learn. (Psalm 119:15-16) Motion: point left hand index finger to side of head