January 2019 - princetown church
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January 2019
LOVE Jesus
LOVE One Another
LIVE with Purpose
God Created You With a Purpose
Because January is a time for new each of his beloved children. As kids
beginnings, let’s go back to the very grow, they often wonder, “Why am I
beginning. Genesis, the Bible’s first here?” or “What am I supposed to do
POWERSOURCE book, starts with the words “In the with my life?”
ASK JESUS: beginning, God created the
heavens and the earth.” Over six The main reason God created people
1. To help your children realize days, God made the entire world is because he wants to have a
they are wonderfully made—in and everything in it. relationship with us. Our ultimate
purpose is to love God and to believe
God’s image.
Young children are usually intrigued in his Son, Jesus. By growing closer to
2. To remind family members they by the creatures God fashioned to God through his Word and through
each have a God-given purpose. fill the air, water, and land. Most prayer, we can begin discovering what
children’s Bibles colorfully depict the specific plans he has in store for our
3. To reveal his plans for each variety of marvelous animals God lives. As Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) says,
person, no matter his or her age. made. Yet it’s also important to “We are God’s masterpiece. He has
emphasize God’s final creative act created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we
before resting: making people in his can do the good things he planned for
own image. us long ago.”
Humans weren’t just God’s grand Read on for some active experiences
experiment; instead, our Creator that reinforce what God made and how
has a specific purpose and plan for he created us with a purpose.
Everything God Made Is Good!
After creating the world, God called it good. What an understatement! In
fact, God’s work is incredible! Whether you look at creation up close or from
far off, you must admit it’s amazing. God thought up the tiniest bug and the
largest planet. And he created people—not merely to populate his world but
to share him and his love with others. We’ve never needed God’s love
more. Although human sinfulness marred his perfect world, God never
gives up on us. Instead, he faithfully continues working through his
imperfect creations to fulfill a perfect plan.
Time to Create! Make clay by Follow God’s Plans Cut a large
squishing together for five minutes red paper heart into 10 pieces. Put
1 cup flour, 1/3 cup salt, and 1/3 each piece in a separate envelope.
cup tap water. Create a never- Tape five envelopes in easy-to-see
seen-before animal or plant. Name places and five in hard-to-see
the creation and compare it to places (inside cabinet doors or
TEACHABLE something God made in Genesis 1. under chairs). Tell family members
MOMENTS Wonderfully Made Read aloud
to search for 10 envelopes while
following your traveling instructions
Psalm 139:14. Call out body parts, (hop, tiptoe, crawl, etc.). Lead the
God’s Plan Boxes group to all the envelopes, then
and have family members name
good uses for each one. For assemble the pieces. Ask: “How
You’ll need a Bible, one medium-size does God show us his love?” Read
box per family member, wrapping example, “God gave me hands to
help others,” or “I use my ears to aloud Jeremiah 29:11. Say: “God
paper, and decorating supplies such as loves us and has good plans for
markers and stickers. Decorate your listen to teachers.” Then hold
hands and repeat the first part of us. If you hadn’t followed my
boxes, making sure they still open. instructions, you wouldn’t have
the verse four times.
found all these pieces. Let’s follow
Afterward, say: Let’s store in these Creation Snack Mix Make a treat God so we don’t miss the great
boxes reminders of how God uses to represent what God created: things he has planned for us!”
challenges to do great things in our Day 1: Light and dark (mini Oreo
lives. For example, you can add a cookies) A Perfect Plan Display a globe.
ribbon from a sports event to remind Day 2: Sky and ground (Frosted Say: “We can see only a small part
you of the satisfaction that comes Mini-Wheats cereal) of the world at a time, but God
from practice. Or you can include a Day 3: Trees, grass, and flowers always sees his entire creation—
note of encouragement you receive. (stick pretzels, green and red and has a plan for every creature.”
M&M’s candies) Ask what jobs God gave cows,
Read aloud Psalm 33:11. Ask: What Day 4: Sun, moon, and stars dogs, and mosquitoes. Say:
does this Bible verse say about (orange and yellow M&M’s “Although they’re pesky to us,
God’s plans for you? What are some candies) mosquitoes even have a place in
amazing things God has already Day 5: Birds and fish (Goldfish God’s world, as food for bats and
done in your life? crackers) birds.” Read aloud Psalm 89:11.
Day 6: People, plus all animals that Say: “This Bible verse reminds us
Read aloud Psalm 40:4-5. Ask: Why do walk on the ground (animal that God has a plan for everything
you think God takes the time to cookies) he made—even mosquitoes!” Put
make plans for each of us? Why is it Day 7: God rested (marshmallow your hands on the globe and pray,
important to follow God’s plan? “pillows”) and saw that everything thanking God for the whole world.
he made was good (enjoy!).
Close in prayer, thanking God for
making each of you “on purpose.”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.
“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give
you a future and a hope.”
—Jeremiah 29:11
MEDIA MADNESS
CULTURE
MOVIE TV & TRENDS
Title: Let’s Go, Luna! Getting Organized Nannies are so
Title: A Dog’s Way Home
Network: PBS Kids 2018! More parents are using “family
Genre: Adventure, Family
Synopsis: This new TV series for kids assistants” to help with childcare,
Rating: PG
ages 4 to 7 introduces viewers to household duties, driving, and
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Ashley
cultures throughout the world. As three schedule management. Two moms
Judd, Edward James Olmos
friends (a wombat, a butterfly, and a who launched the family-assistant
Synopsis: In this movie, based on a
frog) travel with their parents’ service Nest Easy say meal prep is
novel by W. Bruce Cameron, Bella the
performance troupe, Luna the Moon one of their clients’ biggest needs.
pitbull travels 400 miles to return to
helps them learn about each region (various websites)
Lucas, her owner. The loyal dog must
and its people, food, music, and
survive the Colorado wilderness to
folktales. Each episode contains two Slime Is Here to Stay Love it or hate
make it back to her “person.”
11-minute stories. it, the slime craze is more than a fad.
Our Take: As with Cameron’s book
Our Take: PBS continues to make Forecasters say the glue-hungry
and movie A Dog’s Purpose, expect
education fun and age-appropriate. goop “has legs” because caregivers
this to tug on your heartstrings. The
This series encourages curiosity about seek out tactile, educational activities
perilous situations may be tough for
our diverse world and teaches basic for kids. (cen.acs.org)
some children to watch. Discuss the
social-studies concepts. It also shows
concepts of being “lost and found”—
children the importance of global
especially how Jesus searches for us,
his lost sheep. Also talk about what it
citizenship and cultural appreciation—
lessons you can reinforce when you
QUICK STATS
means to have unwavering devotion. Back-to-School, Winter Edition If
travel as a family, even close to home.
you ran out of ideas to keep kids
busy over Christmas break, you’re
Games, Podcasts & Apps not alone. Last year, 58% of parents
said they wished summer break were
Super Mario Party Grimm, Grimmer, Bully Alert
over after 13 days. (businesswire.com)
This Nintendo Switch Grimmest Researchers developed
game offers the original This podcast from Pinna, this free Android app to
Soup’s On—Use Care! Almost
board-game-style play an ad-free app for ages combat cyberbullying.
10,000 U.S. children receive burns
of Mario Party but with 3-8, features Grimm fairy The app tracks a child’s
from instant-soup products every
upgraded strategic tales with a twist. A public Instagram account
year. (aap.org)
elements. It also has 80 classroom of grade- for signs of bullying and
skill-based mini-games schoolers tries to predict alerts parents within two
On the Horizon? Although only
and Toad’s Rec Room, plot points, reacts to hours of the onset of any
about 5% of families own a virtual
which lets you pair up enchanting creatures, problems. Parental
reality headset, 62% of parents
two gaming systems. and challenges the tales’ feedback helps the app
believe VR will prove educational for
Up to four people can logic. Reviews call the become personalized
their kids. (smallbiztrends.com;
play. Rated E, with mild podcast fun, daring, and over time.
commonsensemedia.org)
cartoon violence. highly interactive.
This page is designed to help educate parents and isn’t meant
to endorse any movie, music, or product. Our prayer is that
you’ll make informed decisions about what your children
watch, read, listen to, and play.
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