24/7

 "24/7" refers to God's "how to" instructions to parents for instilling faith and Godly values in their children.  He said, "Impress them (the ways of God) on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  (Deut. 6)  The following resources are tools to help parents accomplish this highest-priority mission:

1.  The Refrigerator Door:  Each week children bring home a card to put on The Refrigerator Door.  This card contains the virtue definition of the month, the memory verse, the "bottom line" (central concept), and questions to spark lively discussions.

2.  The God-Time  Cards: Also brought home weekly by your child, these are tools to help your child develop personal devotions. Encourage your child to use them (There are four devotions per week) and, if possible, do them together. 

3.  The Family Times Pack: Each pack contains the following:

    1.  "Mealtime" - Four Mealtime discussion cards (one per week) that help you and your children learn and discuss the virtue at mealtimes.  With "mealtime", communication is formal discussion, parent's role is teacher, and goal is to establish virtues. 

     2.  "Morning Time" - Encouragement cards-You spend 15-30 seconds writing an encouragement card to put into your child's lunch...encouraging words that they may remember all of their lives.  With morning time, communication is encouraging words, parent's role is coach, and goal is to instill purpose.

     3.  "When You Lie Down" - For intimate conversations at bedtime, each of the four cards (one per week) has a Bible story to share with your child relating to the virtue, key questions to ask, and fun facts. With When you lie down, communication is intimate conversation, parent's role is counselor, and goal is to build intimacy.

     4.  "Drive Time" - is a CD with to take with you in the car.  It has three tracks-the monthly virtue song, "Kidjam", and "Parenting Matters."  Kidjam is produced in a radio broadcast format with interesting characters and fun, energetic music.  Your kids will want to listen to it over and over.  Parenting matters is for you to listen to when you have some alone time in the car.  It is just for parents and has excellent counsel for you in raising your children.

Having a successful relationship with children requires consistent and planned effort. The Family Times Packs are designed to be simple, fast and effective in assisting the family in maximizing strategic moments in their family life. Available at the Kidzone check-in table for $10. 

 Special note to parents from Pastor Keith:

As the parent of an immortal being created by God to live forever, you have the awesome privilege and weighty responsibility of helping your child develop a personal relationship with the mighty God of the Universe who strongly wants each one of us to know him intimately and forever!

  And God has gifted you with the time, talent and love to influence your child for God more than any other living person.

As you strive to deepen your own relationship with God, your children are watching and are profoundly impacted by your example.  Then, as you share life together -the good times, the hard times, the mundane and profound, and all the emotions that rollercoaster throughout each day, you have opportunity to bring to bear the thoughts and ways of God that will shape your child's view of the world and the many purposes God has for her life.