A blog by Griggs International Academy focused on elementary homeschool families and curriculum.
Worship and Prayers
This page will be dedicated to worship thoughts, prayers and prayer requests. If you would like to remain anonymous in your prayer request you may send it to me via email. I will then post it. Otherwise feel free to post it here.
Do you or your children struggle to know what to say when asked to pray? Is prayer time becoming routine around your house--even boring? Karen Holford has an idea. Actually she has 100 Creative Prayer Ideas that are guaranteed to make time with Jesus interesting, meaningful, and even fun! And don’t assume grown-ups are left to watch from the sidelines. A helpful index organizes the various prayer activities by age and other categories. Many of these ideas will work especially well in small group settings, or use them in your own prayer time to put a fresh sparkle into your prayer life!
From "Bag of Bits Prayer," and "Blessings Basket," to "Garden Prayers," this book provides a smorgasbord of simple activities that will help kids and adults find new delight in talking to God.
“Let your way of life be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Content How’s it working out for you? Has it been a tough year? Have you struggled? I have. Maybe most of us have. We all know economic woes, but in the long run, those don’t really matter too much, do they? The things that really bother us are usually far more personal than our money. In fact, if money is so personal in your life that it rises to the top of the list, then it’s probably time to read this verse again. The real point of this verse is contentment. That’s the biggest struggle for most of us. We are a long way away from the prayer of the sages: “Lord, make my heart so malleable that I am ready and willing to accept whatever You provide for me.” We need to learn contentment. I suppose that process is very much the same as the one which says, “And He learned obedience through suffering.” (Hebrews 5:8).
Frankly, contentment is impossible unless I trust the Lord. That’s why the author of Hebrews points us toward His faithfulness. How can I be content if I think contentment is about anything except His faithfulness? If my contentment rests on any other foundation, I will be disappointed, won’t I? This is a good time to reflect on the truth that whatever the world provides, it can repossess (with interest). A life built on sand is a life built on people, possessions and power. It’s wonderful when you have these things but they are merely blessing of His grace. In the end, life must be built on something more solid than blessings. The rock-bottom of contentment is the fact that He will not forsake us, even when everything else seems to evaporate.
The Greek verb here is arkeo. It is essentially the expression of being satisfied with the provision of God. “My grace is sufficient” is exactly the same concept (and word). God provides. How He provides and what He provides is not my concern. My concern is simply that He does provide and I am called to rest in that truth. The real character of my life is reflected in the foundation of my rest. May I be restless to do His will and to rest in Him. This is the sacred balance: that His purpose becomes my driving force and His character becomes my contentment. The entire message of Scripture can be read in these words: May I find rest in You, O Lord.
Do you need a New Year’s resolution worth pursuing? Try this Rest, O my soul, in the graciousness of God.
The Lord was with Joseph and made him successful in Potiphar’s house where he served as a slave. Potiphar noticed that the Lord was with Joseph.
Joseph’s new master was so pleased with him that he put him in charge of the whole house and everything he owned.
Potiphar had never had it so easy: Joseph took care of everything and God blessed Potiphar’s household and his fields.
Why should I do my best if I get nothing extra for it?
Have you ever wondered what motivates a person to work hard for someone else? Some people work hard because they want to make a lot of money. Some work hard to be known as an expert, and some do their best to get to the top in their career. But why would someone do their best when doing a job well doesn’t bring in extra money or lead to some reward?
In one of Paul’s letters, he gives us the best reason to have a good attitude towards working and serving: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does (Ephesians 6:6-8).
God created us with a need to work. One of the first things He told Adam was that he should look after the garden and work in it. Hard work honors the Lord; and that means, whatever task you do, when you do it to the best of your ability, you are pleasing the Lord. And when the task is completed you will also feel good about a job well done.
Verse for today
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” Colossians 3:23.
The Lord was with Joseph and made him successful in Potiphar’s house where he served as a slave. Potiphar noticed that the Lord was with Joseph.
Joseph’s new master was so pleased with him that he put him in charge of the whole house and everything he owned.
Potiphar had never had it so easy: Joseph took care of everything and God blessed Potiphar’s household and his fields.
Why should I do my best if I get nothing extra for it?
Have you ever wondered what motivates a person to work hard for someone else? Some people work hard because they want to make a lot of money. Some work hard to be known as an expert, and some do their best to get to the top in their career. But why would someone do their best when doing a job well doesn’t bring in extra money or lead to some reward?
In one of Paul’s letters, he gives us the best reason to have a good attitude towards working and serving: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does (Ephesians 6:6-8).
God created us with a need to work. One of the first things He told Adam was that he should look after the garden and work in it. Hard work honors the Lord; and that means, whatever task you do, when you do it to the best of your ability, you are pleasing the Lord. And when the task is completed you will also feel good about a job well done.
Verse for today
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” Colossians 3:23.
100 new and exciting ways to pray
ReplyDeleteDo you or your children struggle to know what to say when asked to pray? Is prayer time becoming routine around your house--even boring? Karen Holford has an idea. Actually she has 100 Creative Prayer Ideas that are guaranteed to make time with Jesus interesting, meaningful, and even fun! And don’t assume grown-ups are left to watch from the sidelines. A helpful index organizes the various prayer activities by age and other categories. Many of these ideas will work especially well in small group settings, or use them in your own prayer time to put a fresh sparkle into your prayer life!
From "Bag of Bits Prayer," and "Blessings Basket," to "Garden Prayers," this book provides a smorgasbord of simple activities that will help kids and adults find new delight in talking to God.
A New Year Resolution
ReplyDeletePosted on 2012/12/31/ by June
by Skip Moen,(D. Phil.)
“Let your way of life be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Content How’s it working out for you? Has it been a tough year? Have you struggled? I have. Maybe most of us have. We all know economic woes, but in the long run, those don’t really matter too much, do they? The things that really bother us are usually far more personal than our money. In fact, if money is so personal in your life that it rises to the top of the list, then it’s probably time to read this verse again. The real point of this verse is contentment. That’s the biggest struggle for most of us. We are a long way away from the prayer of the sages: “Lord, make my heart so malleable that I am ready and willing to accept whatever You provide for me.” We need to learn contentment. I suppose that process is very much the same as the one which says, “And He learned obedience through suffering.” (Hebrews 5:8).
Frankly, contentment is impossible unless I trust the Lord. That’s why the author of Hebrews points us toward His faithfulness. How can I be content if I think contentment is about anything except His faithfulness? If my contentment rests on any other foundation, I will be disappointed, won’t I? This is a good time to reflect on the truth that whatever the world provides, it can repossess (with interest). A life built on sand is a life built on people, possessions and power. It’s wonderful when you have these things but they are merely blessing of His grace. In the end, life must be built on something more solid than blessings. The rock-bottom of contentment is the fact that He will not forsake us, even when everything else seems to evaporate.
The Greek verb here is arkeo. It is essentially the expression of being satisfied with the provision of God. “My grace is sufficient” is exactly the same concept (and word). God provides. How He provides and what He provides is not my concern. My concern is simply that He does provide and I am called to rest in that truth. The real character of my life is reflected in the foundation of my rest. May I be restless to do His will and to rest in Him. This is the sacred balance: that His purpose becomes my driving force and His character becomes my contentment. The entire message of Scripture can be read in these words: May I find rest in You, O Lord.
Do you need a New Year’s resolution worth pursuing? Try this Rest, O my soul, in the graciousness of God.
Joseph
ReplyDeleteFebruary 5
Genesis 39:1-6
Serving with excellence
The Lord was with Joseph and made him successful in Potiphar’s house where he served as a slave. Potiphar noticed that the Lord was with Joseph.
Joseph’s new master was so pleased with him that he put him in charge of the whole house and everything he owned.
Potiphar had never had it so easy: Joseph took care of everything and God blessed Potiphar’s household and his fields.
Why should I do my best if I get nothing extra for it?
Have you ever wondered what motivates a person to work hard for someone else? Some people work hard because they want to make a lot of money. Some work hard to be known as an expert, and some do their best to get to the top in their career. But why would someone do their best when doing a job well doesn’t bring in extra money or lead to some reward?
In one of Paul’s letters, he gives us the best reason to have a good attitude towards working and serving: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does (Ephesians 6:6-8).
God created us with a need to work. One of the first things He told Adam was that he should look after the garden and work in it. Hard work honors the Lord; and that means, whatever task you do, when you do it to the best of your ability, you are pleasing the Lord. And when the task is completed you will also feel good about a job well done.
Verse for today
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” Colossians 3:23.
Joseph
ReplyDeleteFebruary 5
Genesis 39:1-6
Serving with excellence
The Lord was with Joseph and made him successful in Potiphar’s house where he served as a slave. Potiphar noticed that the Lord was with Joseph.
Joseph’s new master was so pleased with him that he put him in charge of the whole house and everything he owned.
Potiphar had never had it so easy: Joseph took care of everything and God blessed Potiphar’s household and his fields.
Why should I do my best if I get nothing extra for it?
Have you ever wondered what motivates a person to work hard for someone else? Some people work hard because they want to make a lot of money. Some work hard to be known as an expert, and some do their best to get to the top in their career. But why would someone do their best when doing a job well doesn’t bring in extra money or lead to some reward?
In one of Paul’s letters, he gives us the best reason to have a good attitude towards working and serving: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does (Ephesians 6:6-8).
God created us with a need to work. One of the first things He told Adam was that he should look after the garden and work in it. Hard work honors the Lord; and that means, whatever task you do, when you do it to the best of your ability, you are pleasing the Lord. And when the task is completed you will also feel good about a job well done.
Verse for today
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” Colossians 3:23.