Story: Esther

Today brings us the story of Esther, a woman who had to stay true to Gods plan even when it seemed hopeless. (For the sake of length, only parts of the story will be given for context) by all means read the full story in the Bible here.

Esther was just a young woman who was raised Jewish by her uncle Mordecai in the ancient Persian Empire ruled by King Xerxes I. King Xerxes decided to put on a beauty pageant to decide on a new queen, Esther easily became the kings favorite and would win. 

Mordecai would also find favor from Xerxes by stopping an assassination plot. However, the Kings advisor Haman would come to hate Mordecai. In turn he would convince the king to enact a decree that would order the death of all of the Jewish people in the empire.  

Mordecai and Esther have to stop the decree but theres a problem; If the Queen visits the king unannounced, by law she would be killed. Despite the danger, Mordecai encourages her to keep going with this verse in chapter 4:

Mordecai and Esther knew they had to stop the decree but there was a problem: Persian law stated that if the Queen visited the king unannounced she could be killed. Despite the danger, Mordecai encouraged her in chapter 4:

If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 

Esther boldly would agree to the plan stating  “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16 

Esther reveals herself as Jewish and how Haman’s decree would result in her and Mordecai’s death. Not wanting to have his queen and the man who saved him killed, Xerxes immediately enacts a decree that would reverse Haman’s plot and save the Gods people. 

To quote one of our sermons: “God will work with you, without you and in spite of you. God is never mentioned in the entire book but we are challenged to observe his presence throughout the book. God repeatedly placed people in unpleasant situations but without them, Esther never would have had courage to go to the King. Mordecai knew that if Esther did not do it, God would do something or use someone else for his purposes. 

One of the greatest questions we all ask ourselves and others is “Why are we here?” but the better question is, “What is our purpose here?” The striking thing behind asking a question like that is getting to see what God has planned for our lives.

Sometimes we never see that plan until God places it right in front of us but the beauty behind that is no matter what God made us for something greater because he loved us enough to die for us. He wanted us to know that we were worth so much more. He gave us a plan and a purpose so that as he loved us, we can love others.

^18  “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” Ephesians 1:18

The Bible has had its fair share of people who hit their limit and then some in their walks with God. Immediately the names Job, David and Peter all come to mind. Though the one that is often forgotten is the prophet Jeremiah.

He was called at a young age to be a prophet to Israel and the nations that surrounded it. For 40 years he spoke of Israel being brought into exile for its sins but also a message of hope for its restoration.

There was only one problem… nobody listened to him. He was abandoned, beaten, rejected, imprisoned and some even demanded his death! One can only imagine the pain, frustration and depression Jeremiah faced. It got so bad that Jeremiah cursed his own birth! (Jer. 20:14-20) 

Whats interesting is that from a world standpoint, Jeremiah failed, at no point did the Israelites listen to him and they were sent into exile for their sins. To God, he did exactly what he was told. He preached every one of God’s prophesies to the people no matter what.

We live in a world that craves success: the more money you have, the higher position you achieve, the awards you win are what matters to most today. What we so often overlook is that to God, it is not about success, but about faithfulness.

Jeremiah, was not the only one who had to learn this lesson the hard way, Take a look at this moment from chapter 29:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”  Jeremiah 29:11-14

God Israelites to hold close to him during the exile; God told them how long they would be there, he didn’t tell them what would happen along the way. The Israelites would face pressure from all sides to give up their belief and walk away from God. Sure enough, they survived the exile and at the end, God delivered them from their enemies as He said he was.

I think that was something we forget to do. When we have the difficult times in our own lives where we don’t know where God is taking us, remember to stay close and have faith for God will be with us always. 

“Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart.  For consider what great things he has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24

The Bible is the ultimate tool in helping us understand the glorious and wonderful things that God has done for creation.

Jesus says in the book of Matthew

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” Matthew 4:4

Here are your 5 tips to help your child read the Bible.

1.) Give them a Bible they can read.

If your child does not already have a Bible of their own, absolutely invest in getting one. The best translations to get are either The NLT or the NIRV if you plan on getting a plain Bible.

If your child is below 12 years old one of the best Bibles around is the Adventure Bible. It’s easy to read with built in explanations and analysis to help them move through the chapters.

If you have a teen, one of the most popular and best Bibles to get them is the Teen Life Application Study Bible. This version does a tremendous job at creating a version that teens can enjoy. There are also Bibles that are also geared specifically for Boys or Girls.

2.) Set an Example/Routine:

It is vital to show your child that you are just as excited to read the Bible as you want them to be. Reading the Bible with them, or seeing that you read on your own can go a long way in encouraging your kids to read more.

There will be days where we forget or miss a moment to read; when that happens it is important to show grace when they fail but give them a daily reminder or encouragement to read.

3.) Encourage them to ask questions

As you and your child/teen reads through the Bible, questions are sure to arise; when they do, encourage them to ask. Similarly, ask them questions, sometimes asking even simple questions can foster a deeper interest in seeing how God was present throughout the Bible.

How does this story connect to Jesus?

How did they trust God during this?

Why would they do this?

What is this trying to show us?

Always aim to gear your questions towards their age and something they can understand.

**Remember it is okay to not know all the answers, taking time to discover those answers with them will not only grow a bond with God but a chance to grow with them too.

4.)  Show them how it all connects it all to Jesus

The Bible can be summed up in a single word: Jesus! “He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” Colossians 1:17 NLT  Every part of the Bible leads to the sacrifice and impact of what Jesus did for us. So even in the smallest and little read chapters of the Bible have a purpose and new way to how God is working in our lives.

5.) Pray with them

Creating a habit of prayer is equally crucial to developing a child’s faith as they grow with God. Whether it is when an ambulance goes by or just before bed, those intentional moments to pray to God can help them see how much God is working in their lives.

While we spend so much time praying for our own needs and wants, helping  them to focus on others by praying for those around them or even just a time to praise God for the wonderful things he has done or will do can go a long way.

Story: Matthew 22

This week takes us to the book of Matthew. Jesus had arrived in Jerusalem towards the end of his ministry. While there, he wasted no time preaching to the people through stories and parables. However, the Pharisees (Jewish religious leaders) came and challenged Jesus by trying to trap him with a wrong answer but every time Jesus baffled them with his responses. This continued for some time until a Pharisee who spent his life studying the law approached Jesus: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Matthew 22:36

The Pharisee was asking Jesus “What does God care the most about?” This was a question endlessly debated by the Pharisees at the time. They wanted Jesus to say a commandment they disagreed with, so they could discredit him.

“³⁷ Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.’ (Deuteronomy 6:5) ³⁸ This is the first and most important commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’(Leviticus 19:18) ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hinges on these two commandments.”– Matthew 22:37- 40

The most important thing to God is that we love him above all else and care for others just as we care about ourselves. It is not about following every rule to perfection but be called to give compassion as Jesus so freely gave it to us.

         4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. – Ephesians 2:4-5

A few weeks ago in our elementary room while teaching and a 10-year-old raised his hand and asked, “If you do something bad will God still love you?” I was blown away by the question, but I was happy to say that the answer to the question is absolutely! I remember an old quote from one of  Pastor Tim’s sermons: “Our failures to change ourselves serves as a reminder that need someone stronger than us to change us.”

The truth is, we are sinful and in no way are we worthy to be with God, yet he helps us every day to realize that we will always need him. Every moment we spend with God helps us grow to be more like Him. When we learn to love God unconditionally we can then go out and love others because God showed us that we are worth dying for.

         ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a]neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. –Romans 8:38

Challenge yourself everyday to make an impact in someone’s life, you never know how much it may mean to them.

Story: Paul (Philippians 4)

Today brings us to Philippians, one of three letters Paul wrote to the churches of the time in Ephesus (Ephesians), Colossae (Colossians) and Philippi. Their aim was to both assist and encourage the churches to continue their mission in spreading and teaching the Word of God. Filled with hope and contentment Paul speaks passionately to them, look at this:

“For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how-to live-in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” Philippians 4:11-12

Paul calls us to be thankful for everything that we have, especially when we are at our lowest. Paul at the time of writing it had been beaten, outcasted, whipped and at the time of writing this, in prison! Paul endured an incredible amount of pain, yet in it all he was happy with what he had. He even uses his time in prison to help those around him and write the letters to the churches. He had found peace.

For many of us, being content is one of the hardest challenges we face is being happy with what we have or even where we are. Part of that is that we live in a world that is always trying to tell us what the secret to success is. What is the life we should be living? What is the best car I should have. One of the biggest things we always ask ourselves “Where have the good times gone.”

We so often find ourselves wanting things we never need, but even if we get them it never is enough. I still have many of the things I wanted so badly as a kid but now they sit collecting dust in a closet.

Good news for us, God showed Paul the secret to contentment,

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13

Paul recognized that God had a plan for him, and he found joy in everything that he did or happened to him. He counted his time in jail in joy! He found joy in what God had called him to do. Prior to being jailed he was always moving, yet he used the time to write the letters. Sometimes even the hardest times in our lives can be used to make an impact.

Philippians is the most famous verses in the entire new testament, but we hear it so much we tend to forget what he was saying. Learning to be content is not something we can do on our own simply because we believe in Christ. It is when we fully bring into our lives to God who is working to strengthen us each and every day.

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” 2 Corinthians 2:9

Story: Nehemiah

* I will briefly mention the events for context. To get the whole story, be sure to check out the story in your Bible or online, this will cover Nehemiah chapters 1-6. 

    Today brings us a story from Nehemiah, an Israelite cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes. One day, when Nehemiah hears about the state of Jerusalem and its ruined walls, he prays to God to lead him as he resolves to go and repair them. The king not only allows Nehemiah to go, but gives him supplies and an escort to Jerusalem to help him. Though there were many who tried to oppose the construction, Nehemiah and the Israelites managed to build the walls. With the walls built, Israel could now begin rebuilding the city and return to God, all because Nehemiah had listened to the plan God had given him.

    This is incredible for someone who seemed to have such an unimportant position, but it meant so much more. Being a cupbearer meant you were a high official in the king’s court, well liked and deeply trusted. Nehemiah was living a life of luxury in Persia, Jerusalem was a thousand miles away, who would blame him if he had said “someone else will come along”?

    Nehemiah was set for life but despite this he felt the calling God put on his heart to help the people of Jerusalem. His willingness to be selfless serves as a wonderful example of putting others before ourselves.

    Sadly we live in a world where we are encouraged to put our own needs above those of others. It’s no secret that this has led to the hatred and violence we see on a daily basis.

    This is precisely why God calls us to be selfless in our everyday lives. Even the smallest actions can make a difference in someone’s life.

3 “Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves. 4 None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others.“- Philippians 2:3-4 (NIRV)

    Jesus exemplified this perfectly. He was the Son of God yet he left his place in heaven to help and serve others. Jesus gave his life so we could be free from sin!

    God may us call us to be selfless, but that doesn’t mean we have to do something big to make a difference Everyday God places opportunities in our lives to do something for someone else.
Helping a coworker who’s stressed, letting someone go in traffic, or being with a friend through a rough time could mean more to them than we think. 

Challenge: God loves to use us when we least expect it, so this week take the time to notice when He is using us to make an impact. 

^{16 “}In the same way, let your light shine so others can see it. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will bring glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NIRV

In Waters Kids one of our favorite moments of service is worship. Just getting to dance around and give praise to God with the kids is amazing. Though many adults can take any worship song and connect to it is hard to find songs that kids can take in and worship to. So we took 5 of our favorites and put them down for you and your kids to enjoy!

On every song title is an embedded link for you to check the song out, enjoy!

1. “All About You”- Planetshakers 

This song is very upbeat and easily something to jam out to. It has a modern feel that can get your kids on their feet, but a message that helps them know God is there for it all.

“I exist to bring You praise
And to shout no other name
But Jesus
You’re like no other
For Your love is greater
And You are the center of it all
It’s all about You”

2. “Real Love”-  Hillsong Young & Free

This song brings out the point of how true God’s love for us is. Jesus keeps us close and he will never give up on us making it a wonderful choice for this list.

“You’re pulling me closer and closer
Holding my heart till the very end
Jesus, I’m found in your freedom
This is real love, this is real love”

3. “For Your Glory”- Elevation Church Kids

This brings together an electronic blend with the voices of the band. This makes for a great song to bring kids onto their feet and just dance around and bop their heads to. It is also a reminder to give praise to God as he is the one who made us and deserves it.

“There is freedom in Your name

We will never be the same We are alive, we are alive in you

There is power in Your name In our weakness You’re our strength We are alive, we are alive in You”

4. “At The Top of my Lungs”- Orange Kids Music 

This song brings a fantastic mix of music and lyrics, this is one of our personal favorites. Easily a shoe-in for this list and a great suggestion for your child at home!

“At the top of my lungs I’ll sing
With all of my hear I will praise you
God you are everything
You’re the reason that I lift my voice At the Top of my lungs”

5. “Dance” Planetshakers

Planetshakers are a terrific band for kids worship and we couldn’t pick just one song from them for this list. Dancing may be a part of what your kids do while listening to this song but it keeps its message clear.

“Everybody, give it up for Jesus
Give Him glory, for He has redeemed us
Everybody, give it up for Jesus
Praise His name”

We hope you and your kids will enjoy these songs and we will see you all this weekend!

You may recall having to remember state capitals, the Gettysburg Address, PEMDAS…  all things we never really needed yet years later we can recite from memory.

As a kid, I went to Vacation Bible School, a whole week in the summer of worship songs, Bible stories and games. One of the big games was to remember Bible verses and if we did, we got candy. I still can remember a few by heart, but I never saw why it was important to know the verses.

The memory of a child is the best it will ever be, that is why learning things like language or the phrases above are so easy for them than adults. In the same way, knowing God’s word can go a long way in developing a child’s faith.

Here are the Top Three Verses your child should know to grow their Faith:

1.) “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”- Psalm 139:14 (ESV)

Identity is a big part of a child’s development. Even as adults, we are always trying to find out who we are and where we belong. Often times the world is trying to conform us to its ever-changing mold of what we should be. As we are being told to fit in, kids especially feel like they aren’t good enough if they don’t. In this verse, God tells us exactly who we are and where our identity lies: in Him and the fact that He has fearfully and wonderfully made us.

2.) “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”- Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Growing up is a constant cycle of trial and error, as we find ourselves facing challenges and fears we have never seen before. Knowing the Good News that God loves us and cares for us each and every day is amazing. That doesn’t mean we don’t have days where we wrestle with our faith. This verse speaks a message of comfort and joy that God is always going to be with us, and if we stay close to Him He will guide us through it all.  

3.)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.- Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

God’s gift of salvation is not an achievement. It is not a prize or special recognition that we have earned. On the contrary, it is something that God has done to save us. However, because we cannot see God, we can end up giving ourselves the credit for something we could never do on our own. This verse is a reminder not to fall into the trap of pridefulness or boasting. God’s gift of salvation is just that: a gift! Not something we have worked to gain, but something we have received by His grace.

Each of these verses contains something fundamental to our walk with God. Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” When you teach your child to understand what God is telling them through his Word, the relationship they have with God becomes a solid foundation for life. God becomes more than just a far away being, but their Father in heaven who promises to be with them every day of their lives.

    I grew up in a Christian household. I went to church every Sunday, told about God every weekend… the whole nine yards. One of the notable things we did not create was a habit of prayer. We always blessed the food before dinner, but outside of that, there was nothing.

   As an adult now, I always try making a habit for myself to pray whenever I can. Even if it’s a small moment like praying when an ambulance goes by. When I took the time and made the intentional moment to pray, it built my communication and trust in God further which in turn helped me develop my faith to the strongest it has ever been now.

   On the weekends when I am in the red room, there is always time set aside for small groups at the end. In these, we always make it a point to use the time to pray with the kids. It is mind-boggling to see so many of them eager to build that communication and trust in God.

   In my own small group, we constantly pray together and even for each other in the things we struggle with most. When we connected and got to know each other more, in the long run, it grew us as a group.

   Looking back now, I wish I could have experienced my parents pray more, even if it was just to normalize that trust and relationship with God. While I still would have struggled through many of the things I did; it would have meant everything to me knowing that God was there. 

   I wanted to write this to encourage you to initiate a conversation with your kids about prayer. The more time they have to build that relationship and communication with God, the stronger their faith can grow.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18