Family Time with God: November

For Christian parents, integrating faith into family life is a top priority. One of the best ways to model a living, active relationship with Christ is to emphasize the importance of the Bible in your family's day-to-day life. You can hide God's Word in your own heart and the hearts of your children by learning verses as a family and discussing together what those verses mean in your lives. These calendar pages from Awana will help you do just that!

How to use these pages:

If you and your family are not in the habit of learning Scripture, today is a great time to start. Scripture memory is vital to the spiritual health of a family because:

1. It keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11).
2. It gives us the tools we need to share the message of salvation with others (Romans 10:17).
3. It gives the Holy Spirit room to work in our hearts (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
4. It helps us focus our lives and the lives of our family on the things of the Lord (Hebrews 4:12).

To help make this a family project, we've divided the verses into three parts. Preschoolers memorize the words printed in bold. Elementary kids memorize the words in bold and italics. Older teens and parents learn the complete verse.

Memorizing is not always easy. As you work through each week, figure out the ways each member of your family learns best. Here are some ideas that have worked for Awana Club members:

"I say my verses about two times a day"
(Jaclyn, age 8)

"I say five words at a time over and over again"
(D.J., age 11)

"I write them down three times"
(Amanda, age 11)

"I say them three times a day"
(Nathaniel, age 9)

"I say them in my head 20 times"
(Dylan, age 9)

Once you've learned the verse for the week, continue to repeat it so it will truly be "hidden in your heart." Repeat the verse with your children as you sit at the breakfast table, ride in the car, take a walk, make supper, get ready for bed—or any other time you find yourselves together. Help your children do any or all of the activities listed to bring home the message of each verse.

What is Awana?

Awana is a nondenominational youth ministry committed to reaching boys and girls with the gospel of Christ and training them to serve him. Each week, more than one million kids in over 110 countries attend Awana clubs where they play games, memorize Bible verses, and learn practical truths from God's Word. From preschool through high school, Awana offers a fun environment in which children and youth hear the life-changing message of the Bible. To learn more about Awana and locate an Awana club near you, visit www.awana.org/about.asp.

November
SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday

Week #1 Why be thankful to God? 1 John 4:8b–9 God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.					1 What are you thankful for? Why do you think God gives us good things?	2 Pick out the clothes you want to wear to church tomorrow.
3 Say "hello" to a new friend at church.	4 Memorize 1 John 4:8b–9	5 Remind Mom and Dad to vote! Pray for your government.	6 A survey showed that only 1 out of 10 people write thank-you notes.	7 Write a thank-you note to your Sunday school teacher.	8 Read Luke 17:12–19.	9 Make a poster of this week's verse.
Week #2 Be thankful with your attitude 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 Be joyful always; pray continually; Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
10 Give the thank you note to your Sunday school teacher.	11 Go to your town's Veterans Day celebration to thank those who defended our freedom.	12 Memorize 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.	13 Research the history of Thanksgiving online or at your library.	14 Read Exodus 12:31-42.	15 Do an extra chore as a thank you for Dad or Mom.	16 Thank the Lord for flowers. November's flower is the chrysanthemum.
Week #3 Be thankful with your actions Psalm 118:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
17 Count how many times you hear the word "thanks" in church.	18 Memorize Psalm 118:1	19 Read Exodus 14:21–15:2.	20 What did the people eat on the first Thanksgiving? Eat at least one of those foods on Thanksgiving.	21 Write your own song of praise.	22 Make corn bread.	23 Find the Red Sea on a map.
Week #4 Be thankful with your song Ephesians 5:19b—20 Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Say thank you to three people at church today.	25 Memorize Ephesians 5:19b-20.	26 Write a skit of one of the Bible stories you read this month. Do the skit for your family on Thanksgiving.	27 Review the four verses you learned this month. Say them tomorrow before Thanksgiving dinner.	28 The first Thanksgiving lasted three days.	29 Sing a song about God's goodness.	30 Mom gets a bubble bath!

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today/Christian Parenting Today magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Christian Parenting Today.

Winter 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2, Page 16

Read more articles that highlight writing by Christian women at ChristianityToday.com/Women