Here's a video just for your kids!  10 Commandments in Motion is a quick and easy way to learn the 10 commandments.
I made a small mistake in something I said near the end. Have your kids listen carefully and see if they can hear my error!

Have you ever actually prayed for your enemy? Or maybe the person is not an enemy but is very difficult to get along with?

This is a tough one, isn't it!  I haven't suffered persecution really, but from time to time, I do have difficult people in my life.
Have you ever tried to regularly pray for someone like that?

I've tried it. And I was blessed for doing so.

1) It helped get rid of any negative inside chatter I was regularly rehearsing about that person in my head.
2) It replaced contempt with seeds of appreciation for that person.
3) It removed seeds of bitterness in my own heart.
4) It put restraint on my words and attitude when around that person.
5) It filled me with peace and a clear conscience.
6) It reflected Christ.

The next time your thoughts begin to dwell on the difficult person in your life, stop and pray for him or her.
Easier said than done? Stop and consider...

Yes, praying for the difficult people in our lives goes counter to everything that is within us.  Everything, that is, except the Holy Spirit. He will empower you to pray.

1) If the person is an enemy, look to many of David's Psalms in which he prays for justice. But then leave the justice completely in God's hands (as David evidenced when he had opportunities to kill King Saul).

2) If the person is difficult to get along with, look to Galatians 5:22. Is the person lacking in one or more fruits of the spirit? Request it on their behalf!

3) Pray Galatians 5:22 for yourself. Pray that God help you exhibit the fruits of the Spirit in your thoughts, attitudes, actions, and words toward that person.

A sneak peek at what's inside Sermon Notes for Teens!

Paulette from Ohio won the copy of Sermon Notes for Kids!

I had prayed that the winner would be someone who would most benefit from having a copy of Sermon Notes for Kids.  God chose Paulette and her family!

But for the rest of the entries, I have decided to offer a 10% discount on Sermon Notes for Kids now through Sunday, March 31 (Resurrection Sunday!)  $14.00 is now $12.60!

This offer is for everyone, not just the giveaway entries!

Purchase Sermon Notes for Kids at 10% discount here 

While you are at the online store, be sure to order a copy of Parenting in the Pew.   It's full of tips and ideas for teaching your children (preschool - teens) to worship.

I have always preferred silver jewelry.  I once worked at a precious metals refinery where I was happily able to add to my collection of silver necklaces and bracelets at very little cost.
 
A little while back (not exactly sure how far back), I placed all my silver jewelry in a silver cleaning solution container.  It's just supposed to be dipped in the solution, but for some odd reason, I put the top on and walked away....got distracted.
Forgetting that the jewelry was still in there, I later tucked the container neatly away in the linen closet.

The other day, I couldn't find any of my silver jewelry.  I looked everywhere!  And then I remembered.....

I opened the container.  There sat a pile of silver dust!

I'm not highly attached to jewelry so the loss is not terribly devastating.  I mostly miss a couple of pieces that were sentimental.  Jewelry is not a treasure of my heart. But there are other things that easily could be.  So this is a good reminder:

 

To keep prayer from becoming too routine and list oriented, I occasionally set my routine and lists aside and simply pray Scripture.  I pray one Scripture for the unbelievers that are on my heart and another Scripture for all my brothers and sisters in Christ that the Holy Spirit brings to my mind.

This morning I will be praying Psalm 16:8,11 (NIV84) for my believing friends. I will be praying it for my children, as well!

"I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

Here is how I turned it into a prayer:

"May ___ always set you before him. Bless him with not being easily shaken by the upsets of life.
Make clear to ___ your path of life. May he always use your Word as a light to guide his thoughts and actions.
Give him the strength to set all his pleasures in you. Bless him with deep and satisfying joy."

Wouldn't you greatly appreciate if someone prayed these verses specifically for you?
The Scriptures are loaded with verses that make wonderful prayers. Comment below with any that have stood out to you.

I'm excited to reveal the final cover for Sermon Notes for Teens, available this spring!

Matt Redman had Psalm 103 on his mind when he penned the song
10,000 Reasons.

Psalm 103:1  "Bless the LORD, O my soul ,,, bless His holy name!"

The Psalm goes on to list reasons that God's name deserves our blessing. 
God gives us a powerfully packed list of His very own reasons that our hearts can sing!





1) He forgives all sins
2) Heals diseases 
3) Redeems lives from the pit
4) Loving
5) Merciful
6) Gives good things
7) Renews your youth
8) Righteous
9) Just
10) Makes His ways known
11) Compassionate
12) Gracious
13) Slow to anger
14) Will one day end His anger
15) Understanding
16) Keeps His promises
17) Rules over all
18) Established His throne
19) Everlasting
20) Knows us

If I inspected the chapter closer, I'm sure I could find more.  The fact that He is God, the one true and living God is reason enough to bless His holy name, but He goes on to give us lots more reasons.  And most of those reasons are benefits given directly to us!  "Forget not all His benefits." (vs 2)

There is more to engaging your children in worship than taking sermon notes. 
Music also plays an important role in our corporate worship.

You can help your children with songs that are unfamiliar to them by teaching and discussing them at home.  My music pastor lets me know what songs or hymns we will be singing the coming Sunday by e-mailing the service schedule to me once it is planned, usually mid-week. If you are not able to obtain this information in advance, it can be helpful to teach and discuss the songs even in the days following the service.

 

My favorite resource is The Complete Book of Hymns. It contains back-ground stories for many of the most frequently sung hymns and praise songs. Full lyrics are included but if you prefer to have the music, you will either need a hymn book or another resource such as another of my favorites, Then Sings My Soul. However, this one does not include praise and worship songs/choruses that are now popularly sung in many churches. Then Sings My Soul also has a special edition of Christmas and Easter hymns.

What I typically do is read the story behind the writing of the hymn, sing the song to the kids, and talk about portions of the lyrics. As often as I can, I will load the songs onto the ipod so we can listen to and learn the songs as we go about our day.

Another thing that will help you even while in the pew, is to ask your child to listen for what the key words or theme are of each song.  It’s fun to see if all the songs sung have the same theme or not.

A fun little thing I do for my daughter that thrives on touch and sensory input, is to draw a cross on her with my finger every time we sing the word “cross”.  You know my finger will be busy drawing a lot of crosses on her back and arms this month with Easter just weeks away!

Please comment with any tips you have to lead our children in worship through song.