What Goes in Must Come Out
One thing the Thrive message series keeps reminding me is that we have a heart problem. Pastor Derek in his message at Third Coast used a French press coffee maker as a visual to show us how this works. Put clean water in a French press and clean water will press out. Put in coffee grounds and the water comes out brown. Like our heart, what you put in is what gets pressed out.
There is a children’s song that goes like this: I’m gonna hide God’s Word inside my heart. And learn each verse from memory. I’m gonna hide God’s Word inside my heart. Until this Word is part of me…
Let me encourage you families to help your children put God’s Word in their heart. Start from the moment they are born, speak it when you rock them to sleep or when you are riding in the car, or when you are hiking or biking. Say it together before you eat and before you go to sleep. And, watch God’s word get “pressed” out as they grow up, when times are hard, when they overflow with joy and when they need an encouraging word.
This fall we want our 2 and 3 years old to memorize the following verses: Matthew 5:14 – You are the light of the world, Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path, 1 John 3:23 – Be kind to one another. And John 13:35 – Love one another
Here are 5 verses for 4 years old – 4th grade: God created the world (Genesis1:1); We have all sinned (Romans 3:23); God loves us, forgives us and Jesus died for us (John 3:16); We are called to Serve wholeheartedly… (Ephesians 6:7); The gift of God is eternal Life in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
While you teach your children to memorize a verse watch yourself grow in God’s Word as well.
Partnering with you to raise fearless followers,
On behalf of the Children’s Ministry Team
Pastor Cathy