For such a time as this…We choose Hope, Healing, Connection, and Faith

When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and he will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse. Psalm 91:1-5

We are living in the midst of a time that very few have seen in a lifetime. The enemy has set out to divide and bring to ruin families, cities, nations, and the world. But God has a different plan and it is our job to decide which voice we are going to listen to. In the midst of simply trying to survive, we can determine that our own families will come out stronger, more united, more connected, and faith filled on the other side. This will take intentionality. First and foremost as parents we must be taking care of ourselves and our own fears and concerns as best as possible. This is a time to immerse ourselves in worship, prayer, and scripture. Each week, I will post a short note that will hopefully inspire you. Today I want to pass along some fun ideas for families who have tweens and teens on how to connect as a family. Just pick 1 or 2 to do each week. Have fun and pass it on to anyone who might need encouragement. This too shall pass and when it does, let us be more connected and stronger in our faith than ever before.

CREATE

I am POTUS. Create a podcast/story/video telling what you would do if you were the President during this crisis:

• Make it funny and creative
• Make a serious one with real ideas
• Make one where the sky is the limit. There are no limits on funds or even real life.

Change the World. Create something that will change the world and/or help the world in anyway. Plan a day when the family will get together and present their project.

• Young Children: Create a craft using pop cycle sticks, boxes, paper, paint, sticks, rocks, etc.
• Middle school/High School: Final product can be a video, written project, a song, or a drawing/painting

What do you See? Go outside and take a picture of something that inspires you. Add a song, poem, rap, dance, art, written word, etc. to go with it. Share if with your family or a friend.

I  have a dream? Have a dream contest. Give everyone 15 minutes to write down their dreams – the sky’s the limit and there are no constraints or boundaries. For young children, have them draw pictures. Then share with each other.

LIFE SKILLS

• Each child does his/her own laundry. Young children can help sort of color.

• Assign one day a week for each person to create a meal for the family. It has to be something new from a recipe that they found. Young children can help decide the menu and help prepare.

• Assign a chore chart for cleaning and rotate the chores. Vacuum, bathroom cleaning, dusting, mopping, yard work, feeding the animals, etc.

Obstacle Course. Create an obstacle course in the back yard. You can also create one inside using blue painters tape. Have them follow the tape around the house. Time everyone to go through it.

TIK TOK. Create Tik Tok videos and show them together to bring laughter in your home.

BUSINESS

Clean Out.  Have everyone clean out their rooms, closets, dressers, cubbies, etc.  Find things to sell on a selling app like Mercari. Have a contest to see who can make the most money. Once you get your money gather it together and give it away. A food bank, someone who’s job is compromised etc., a charity, etc.

Money Wise: Save, Give, and Spend

• Young children:
  • Plant a seed and watch it grow. 
  • 3 jars with “Save”, “Give” and “Spend” to put their allowance in.
  • Tweens/teens:
    • Give your child $30 to invest in anything of their choice. Provide them with a timeline and see who makes the most money or greatest investment.
    • Open a joint savings and checking account and teach them online banking. Give them an allowance for clothes and spending and have them manage it. Teach them how you budget. Encourage them to tithe 10% of their allowance or income to their church or favorite charity.
    • Teens: Make sure their money is in an account and consider giving them a monthly allowance for all their spending – food, clothing, etc. Teach them how you budget. Encourage them to tithe 10% of their allowance or income to their church or favorite charity.
    • Dave Ramsey offers classes for all ages. daveramsey.com (good for teens and adults).

JUST FOR FUN

Hot Topic. This activity is a great way to build trust and communication with your tween/teen. Pick a hot topic in today’s society and have everyone do a little research on their own about both sides of the topic. Then have a round table discussion about the topic. Make sure to set rules that everyone abides by and remember, this is not a debate -no trying to prove someone wrong – no commenting on what another says.

• All ideas are welcome, however, no one may present an idea or opinion on a topic without doing some research on the opposite view along with: what does the Bible say about this?
• Everyone respects all words that are said even if they don’t agree.
• After everyone has stated their idea, the table is open for only positive conversation on what others have said.
  
• Assign a moderator with the authority to tell someone if they are out of line with the rules
• Be willing as a parent to hear things you don’t like and don’t agree with without commenting or rebuking.

Campaign Topic

Since this is an election year…

• Have everyone pick one major theme of the campaign and research both sides then practice telling each other the side you agree with in a non confronting way without bashing the other side. This is a great way to teach your children how to make good decisions about who they will vote for instead of simply siding with one side or the other.
• Talk about what they think is important for a government leader and why.
• Choose a leader in government each week and spend time praying for them out loud as a family even if this person is not the one you voted for.

Word of Encouragement. Pass out a card to every person in the family with the instructions to ask the Lord for a word of encouragement and love. Have them write it down on the card. Young children can draw a picture or even scribble. Before everyone goes to bed put the cards upside down on the table and everyone choose a card. Read the word you get out loud knowing the Lord has chosen it for you. Allow the writer of the card to share anything else they saw or heard from God while writing this. Let little children tell about their picture.

• Do this same activity for another family and drop the cards in their mailbox.

Reading together. Read a book together as a family and then have a discussion just like a real book club. Young children can read a storybook then do activities around the book (parents included):

• Act out your favorite character
• Draw a picture of the best page.
• Make up a video to go with the book.

Church. Listen to a church service online together and ask each person to say one impactful thing they heard and how the Holy Spirit is leading them to move, change, or seek. There are lots of online bible studies that can be done as a family too. rightnowmedia.org.

Rest. Set aside a time everyday for REST. No TV. This is a time for each person to go to their own room and rest, read, and pray. This is for everyone but especially Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad need to also have a quiet time or sleep. Resist trying to get stuff done.