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Illustration by Anne Berry

FAMILY FOOD TIME p. 5

GAME TIME p. 68

STORYTELLING p. 10

story tell ing


PRAYER| ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING p. 15 p. 12 BLESSING HOMEFRONT
ENVIRONMENT

God has a Big Story, and I can be a part of it!


M O
A FAMILY RESOURCE

N T H L Y

VOL. 3, ISSUE 1

this Resource
Editors Note

Remember to HAVE FUN! Strive to make each gathering unique to your own family as you enjoy spending time with God and each other.

God is the grand Storyteller. He has been writing His redemptive story since the beginning of timea story that proclaims His unfailing love for us.
Each of us is in need of redemption by our loving Savior. When we receive His love and forgiveness, we are grafted into His big story by grace! As Gods story is told through our lives, we become living testaments to those around us. Some narratives are not as neat as others, but oftentimes that is when God accomplishes His best work. This has been true in my lifethose moments when my weaknesses were glaringly evident and when all the strength I had became irrelevant. These are the times when Gods divine plan allows my life to become part of an even bigger story than I could have ever imagined. There is power in sharing our stories with others especially our children. We learn from those who have journeyed before us. This issue of HomeFront Monthly will provide you with many opportunities to share your stories with your children. It will also allow you to experience the grandest narrative of all, The Big God Story. Your children will recognize their place in this story that has been masterfully written for thousands of years, and how He has chosen each of us to play a part in it.

DEBBIE GUINN | EDITOR the Tru Team | Costa Mesa, CA

2012 David C. Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and childrens ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

How 1 to 2 Use 3

Its as easy as 1 2 3
Start by deciding on a day and time that works well for your entire family. It can be an evening, afternoon, or morning. Just commit to building this time into your familys natural rhythm. Its usually best to build this time around a meal! Look through the HomeFront Monthly and see what stands out. Choose one or two experiences you would like to incorporate into your family times this week. Dont feel burdened to complete all the activities at once, but carefully select which ones will fit your family best. Each issue provides more than enough experiences to last you throughout the month.

ENVIRONMENT

STORYTELLING
These things all relate to each other, and together they create one amazing story. The Tru Team likes to call this amazing work The Big God Story. As we are inspired by The Big God Story, we are called not to keep it to ourselves, but to give it away. We are called to share our experience of encountering a loving and faithful God. We are a faith community that needs to hear how God is moving and creating a unique story in each of our lives. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can inspire and strengthen one anothers faith. It is our hope that the next generation will get a firsthand, awe-inspiring view of God as we pass down our personal stories of dependence on the Holy Spirit and share how God has shown Himself to us in unique and tangible ways. This month, as your family begins to tell stories, our prayer is that your faith as a family will be encouraged and compel you to share with others.

God has been working throughout history and He is still moving and working today. All the things He has done, is doing, and will do in the future are not stand-alone, independent stories.

VERSES OF THE MONTH


Memorizing Scripture can be an incredible practice to engage in as a family. But words in and of themselves will not necessarily transform us; it is Gods Spirit in these words that transforms. We come to know God more when we are willing to open our hearts and hear His Holy Spirit through the words we memorize. Have fun with these verses and think of creative ways to invite your family to open up to God as they commit these verses to memory.
ELEMENTARY
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MICHELLE ANTHONY | FAMILY MINISTRY ARCHITECT the Tru Team | Costa Mesa, CA

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
PRES/KINDER

The Lord causes his miracles to be remembered. He is kind and tender. Psalm 111:4 (NIrV)

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

by Rae Lynn Lott

TRADITIONS
A Family Affair
My great grandparents immigrated to the United States from Slovenia in the early 1900s. Though they quickly assimilated into American culture, they managed to preserve a handful of traditional Slovenian cuisine recipes. Many of my great grandmothers recipes, from her homeland, have been shared and passed down in my family, but my personal favorite is Mooching Soup.
Mooching Soup has always been an important meal in my home. As a young child, I remember my great aunt would babysit my brother and me, and each time she made a pot of soup for us. As picky kids, who didnt necessarily like grown-up food, we never had a problem with Mooching Soup. It easily became the only suitable remedy when we were homesick. Every year, when extended family gets of Mooching Soup. It forward to, and when our bowlsmany of third helpings. the weather gets cold, my together, and we make a pot is a tradition that we all look the soup is ready, we load up us getting second and even The recipe has been passed down in my family from person to personfrom my great grandmother to my grandmother, from my aunts to my cousins, and now to me. Each person makes a slightly different variation of the soup, but my grandmother says no ones version can beat the original my great grandmother made. As our family has grown, we have shared our family soup with othersnew spouses, children, and friends have joined in on this family tradition. It seems that every person weve ever shared Mooching Soup with has come to love it and look forward to eating it each year.
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A tradition is the handing down of statements, beliefs, stories, or customs from generation to generation. What traditions are in place for your family? What would you like to pass down to the next generation? It is always fun to create new traditions with each generation.

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

by Rae Lynn Lott

FAMILY FOOD TIME


Recipe
Mooching Soup
(SERVES 8)

Prep Time: 20 min. Cook Time: 2 hrs.

Ingredients
1 rump roast 4 large carrots 1 whole cabbage, cut in half 1 handful of parsley 4 stalks of celery 1 large can peeled tomatoes 12 tbsp. salt 34 beef bouillon cubes (to taste)

GS CHIN MOO G 1 EG PS 2 CUUR O FL

Put the rump roast in a large stockpot, and fill the pot with water, slightly covering the roast. Bring water to just about a boil, add vegetables and salt, and simmer for two hours. Crush 34 beef bouillon cubes in a cup of water and add it the pot. (Add more bouillon to taste.) Simmer for another hour, until soup is bubbling. Strain the soup, moving meat and vegetables to a separate plate (to eat along with the soup).

Now for making the moochings. Moochings are a type of homemade noodle. If youre not ready to tackle moochings, you can substitute frozen or packaged egg noodles. Lightly beat the egg in a medium bowl, then slowly add the flour to it, softly kneading the dough with your hand. When the dough and egg attach, making stringy-like pieces, add them to the soup, and cook them on low for 1015 minutes. Everyones moochings are a little bit different, so have fun experimenting and finding what you like.
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by Debbie Guinn

Conversation Starters

Get your children talking at dinner this month by creating a storytelling time of your own. Use a story starter like the classic, Once upon a time , to get things rolling.
Here are a few other great ways to start your stories: Long ago, in a land far away, there lived a Today I saw the most ridiculous thing On a long walk with an old friend I opened the door and saw It was my first night alone

Then, going around the table, each person adds a sentence to the story. Your story might sound something like this: Once upon a time (person 1); there was a goat that could talk (person 2); but he only spoke French (person 3). When you feel the story has gone as far as it can, end it by saying something like, And they lived happily ever after, or The End. Begin a new round, and have fun creating your own stories.

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

by Michelle Anthony

GAME TIME
The Big God Story
This month, we are playing a game with the entire family. The Big God Story has a place for everyone, no matter how old they happen to be.
Below you will find a copy of the story, or you can purchase The Big God Story by Michelle Anthony, published by David C. Cook 2010

and mankind. As other nations would see this love relationship, they too would want to know the one true God. God also told Abraham that the promised Redeemer would be born out of his family heritage. This chosen nation would be called Israel.

THE BIG GOD STORY


The Big God Story begins in a beautiful garden nestled between four grand rivers. God created this garden and named it Eden. Adam and Eve were created by God to be in relationship with Him and to live in this beautiful garden together along with all of Gods creation. Unfortunately, Adam and Eve sinned against God and therefore were instructed to leave the garden and the intimate relationship that they once shared with Him. Shortly after the fall of Adam and Eve, God promised that one day, a Redeemer would come.

This promised Redeemer would be the salvation for sin and disobedience. And so mankind began
to wait in expectation for the promise to be fulfilled.

Within just 10 generations, the world had become so evil and corrupt that God decided to destroy all of mankind, except for Noah and his family, with a global flood. God gave Noah specific directions to build a large boat, called an ark, on which he, his family, and the animals God would bring to him were to be protected from the flood. After the water subsided, Noahs family began to repopulate the earth, and nations were birthed from each of Noahs three sons. The nation of Israel would eventually arise from Noahs son, Shem. Following Shems lineage, Abraham was born and eventually given a unique promise from God. This promise was that through Abrahams son, God would set apart a nation that would demonstrate the relationship between God

Hagar. This son was named Ishmael. The lineage of Ishmael would grow to become the Arab nations. However, the promised son given to Abraham and Sarah late in life, 25 years after God made that promise, was named Isaac. Next, Isaac had a son named Jacob, and his name would later be changed to Israel (which means, one who strives with God) after wrestling with the Angel of the Lord in a dream. Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons, each son representing a tribe of Israel in the nations future. One of the sons, named Joseph, was sold into slavery by his brothers and taken to Egypt. There, God allowed Joseph to rise to power under the Pharaoh. Eventually his entire family would move to Egypt where Joseph was able to keep his family alive during the seven years of famine in the region. Later, these Israelites would become enslaved by the Egyptians and cry out for a redeemer. Moses was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land so they could worship Yahweh God alone. However, due to their disobedience and grumblings, that generation would spend the next 40 years wandering in the desert wilderness. A new generation would grow up in the wilderness with a new respect for God and His power. This generation did not grow up being seduced by the powers of thousands of Egyptian gods, but rather seeing the one and only true Yahweh God daily in the provision of food, water,

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

They would eventually grow weary of waiting for Gods timing and unfortunately feel the need to help God out by having a son through their maidservant,

Abraham and Sarah began to doubt Gods promise.

GAME TIME CONTINUED

and guidance. In fact, the food they had eaten was supplied in the form of manna each day by the hand of God Himself. Led by God, in the form of a pillar of clouds by day and a pillar of fire by night, this new generation grew to know and trust Yahweh God alone. Joshua was the anointed leader of this young, new generation in order to conquer and take ownership of the Promised Land that God had set aside for His people. Through years of battle, the Israelites would take claim to their land and settle down to raise families. Today, this is the nation of Israel occupying the

after many prophets pleaded with them to repent. Although Judah (the two tribes in the south) had a few good and righteous kings, and even several revivals, they too ended up in captivity by the hands of the Babylonian Empire because of their disobedience. Soon, the city of Jerusalem, the home of Gods people, was utterly destroyed. Faith was kept alive in some of the people of Judah, even in Babylon. We know of Daniel and his righteous acts of prayer in the midst of hungry lions, and of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and
HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

The exciting part is that the story doesnt end with us! It is much bigger than that! Jesus does return.
land east of the Mediterranean Sea and northeast of Egypt. Eventually these people would cry out to God asking to have a king like all the other nations, and God said, No. They would disobey and wander away from Him, and so God raised up other nations to bring punishment against their sin. Israel was governed by different judges during these times to help them prevail against their enemies, and for a time they would remain faithful to God. how they stood strong in the face of compromise. Eventually, Babylon would fall to the Persian Empire, and Esther (who was an Israelite now called a Jew) became the Queen of Persia and was used to save her people from death. Also under the Persian rule, Nehemiah (a Jewish cupbearer for the Persian King Artaxerxes) was convicted to return to Israel to rebuild the Jerusalem City and its walls. The Persian king not only allowed for this to happen, but he paid for it too! In all, one of the greatest construction projects of the ancient world was completed in a mere 49 days, even in the midst of a great opposition in the land. The lineage of the promised Christ was now back in the motherland of Israel, and the Old Testament comes to a close. Then something strange happened God was silent. The promise was still alive, but it was hidden

Soon they would return to their wicked ways, until calamity struck again. This time of the judges, which
included such leaders as Gideon, Deborah, Samson, and Samuel, lasted for over 450 years. Ready to have a king, despite Gods warning, the people were positioned to have what would eventually take their money through taxes, take their daughters as wives and slaves, and take their sons off to war a monarchy instead of theocracy. Saul was first to reign as king, but God quickly rejected him because of his pride and disobedience. David, who was a humble shepherd boy, who knew and loved God, followed as the second king. He would sometimes stumble and fall, but remained a man after Gods heart because he was humble and loved to worship. His son, Solomon, would become the third and final king of the united 12 tribes. Solomons son soon found rebellion in the land and the tribes split in two: the Ten Tribes in the north (Israel) and two tribes in the south (Judah). The line of the promised Christ would now follow the tribe of Judah in the south. Israel (the Ten Tribes in the north) had only evil kings who led their people into great sin. Israel would eventually be taken captive by Assyria, even

and still. Nearly 400 years passed before the opening words in the New Testament. The lineage that was
recorded for us through the pages of Matthew and Luke showed us that the same promise that began in the garden remained true throughout the passing of over four thousand years. Despite Satans efforts to eliminate the race, and the people of God, they had prevailed, and the appointed time in history, that was prophesied hundreds of years before, was about to make itself known in the obscure town of Bethlehem. Jesus was born. The awaited Messiah promised in Genesis, predicted throughout history, was here on earth in the flesh. He was born of a virgin named Mary, who raised Him in the town of Nazareth with her carpenter husband, Joseph. Jesus grew up living in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and men. It

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

GAME TIME CONTINUED

was at this time that John the Baptist, a voice in the wilderness, was preparing the way for Jesus and His ministry. Soon after, Jesus called Peter, James, John, and the remainder of the 12 apostles. He began to minister to the poor, heal the sick, raise the dead, and redeem the outcast. Jesus lived and proclaimed the kingdom of God. He demonstrated His divine power over creation, and taught His disciples and the world a new, radical way to live.

He will return in all of His glory, not shrouded by His humanness, but completely unveiled, riding in victory on His white horse to proclaim that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, forever. He will judge the nations and eventually send Satan and his followers to an eternity of suffering and separation. Those who love

were well aware of sacrifices. They remembered their traditions. They were instructed to make offerings of pure, undefiled lambs for the sins committed against God, just as it was outlined in the law of Moses. Jesus would be the once-and-for-all sacrifice that would give every man, woman, and child access to God for all time. This would be the final sacrifice. This would be the sacrifice that would satisfy Gods wrath for all time, should anyone accept it. His death gave way to the forgiveness of sin. His resurrection gave way to the victory over death. His ascension into heaven gave way to the coming of the Holy Spirit, and His Spirit gave way to the power to live out the message of salvation detailed in the book of Acts. This book highlights the activities of Gods people throughout the first century, especially detailing the apostle Pauls missionary journeys. Today, the Holy Spirit continues to work in each of our lives for the glory of God, allowing each one of us to be a part of His big story, until He returns.

Using the biblical people cutouts provided (see p. 1721), you and your family put the people into sequential order according to their part in The Big God Story. Simply telling The Big God Story can help kids understand the grand metanarrative they are also a part of. Have fun together as you see how many people you can get in the right order.
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2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

He grew to become a man, entirely for the purpose of being the sacrifice, the perfect sacrifice that would satisfy a holy God for our sins. The Jewish people

God and who have accepted His Son, Jesus, will live with Him in the new heaven and new earth forever, in relationship with God the way that it all began in the garden. The way that it should be. And from that
day on for all of eternity, we will be with the promised Lord and Redeemer forever, and ever. Amen!

by Matt Barnes

GODS WORD
The Hall of Faith
Faith is a word we throw around quite a bit in Christian culture. We casually use it to describe the things we believe in when, in reality, we are quite often missing the power of this word.
Biblically, faith is described as something much more than just a belief in something. True faith has a transformational effect that results in an outpouring of Gods love in our lives for all to see and experience. True faith pairs belief with action and results in fruit that can only be described as of God. In the first chapter of his New Testament letter, James talks about how we cannot be merely hearers of Gods Word, but we must be doers as well (v. 22). It is in the doing, the allowing of God to work in and through us, that the fruit of His Spirit is able to manifest in our lives. This is the most effective way we can share The Big God Story with others. Gods Spirit desires to work in and through each of us to share His story, the greatest story of love and redemption ever told, with the world. When we allow Him to do that, we truly experience the power of faith. In Hebrews 11, we are presented with what is often called The Hall of Faith. This is a recollection of some of the most well-known people of faith from the early parts of The Big God Story. God used the faith of these men and women to shape His story and display His love to people all over the world for thousands of years.

DO IT
HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

In all aspects of my life, God has often shaped my faith by the experiences Ive had with Him through the lives of others. Whether it was watching my dad come to know Christ when I was in third grade, hearing a youth leader share the struggles God had helped him overcome when I was in middle school, or seeing Gods delivery of a friend and his family through a difficult period in their lives, my faith has been strengthened and grown by seeing the faith of others on display. I often thank God for peoples willingness to share their faith journeys with me.

Each of us has been impacted by the stories of others. God invites us, through faith, to play a part in His story so that others might be impacted!
Enter into a time of storytelling with your family. Share with your children about someone God placed in your life to share your story with. It could be a friend, family member, or coworker. Give examples of how you are sharing your faith with this person. Maybe you have invited them to church or shared The Big God Story with them. Maybe you are being a good example of Jesus love and grace so this person can see God in your life through your actions. Encourage your kids to do the same. Ask them if they know anyone who needs to become part of Gods family. Ask them how they are sharing their faith with that person. Give them ideas of how to share their faith with their friends. Then together, pray for the people you just shared about.
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HEAR IT
As a family, read Hebrews 11 together. (If you have young children, you may want to preview this chapter as verses 31 through 38 use strong imagery that might frighten younger kids.) If you or your children

know about any of the people mentioned in this chapter, take the time to stop and talk about what you know and how God used their faith in His big story. (For younger kids, reading through The
Big God Story illustrated kids book by Michelle Anthony is a great way for them to experience many of these peoples contributions, and also helps them understand how the individual narratives of Gods people throughout history come together to form the greatest story ever told!)

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

by Tori Funkhouser

STORYTELLING
Family Faith Stories
In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul said to Timothy, I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
I believe that if I knew Paul, he would have said the same words to me. I am fortunate to have a family Ive inherited a great portion of my faith from. My familys faith has created an arsenal of stories. These stories remind me that God is real, and I am buoyed by a vanguard of prayers that keep me afloat in hard times even, I believe, when I am unaware. Here are a few stories from my family history that I hope will inspire you. And even if your family does not have a heritage of believers, God can use you to grandmother experienced a revival. Some of the signs of revival are repentance and change, my grandmother said. Apparently these signs were taking place because every day of the week people came to the church and every day of the week people left having had their lives forever changed by the living God. In the midst of this, my grandmother became pregnant with my mom. When my mom was born, they gave her the name Ann Victoria, which means, grace victorious, the inverse of my given name, Victoria Ann. This story is beautiful to me, but so are the many told to me by my aunts and uncles on my fathers side how they walked in, countless times, on my widowed grandmother as she knelt, alone, in her bedroom, praying for her children. And one told by my grandmother about her mother, Anna, who prayed her whole life for her three children to come to faith. Her two sons eventually accepted Christone on his deathbedbut she died before seeing it. In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul commended Timothys faith, remarking that he believed it was part of Timothys inheritance. Then Paul encouraged Timothy to press forward (2 Timothy 3:1415). He said, But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Paul urged Timothy to press forward in the faith hed become convinced ofin other words, to not drop the baton of faith, but continue carrying it, blazing, into the future. Do you feel God prompting you to kindle the fire of your own faith? Do you desire God to use you to pass this fire to the generations to come? I know I do.

Do you desire God to use you to pass this fire to the generations to come?
model faith for your family. I also hope these inspire you to know, even if you dont get to see the benefits of your faith right now, God will continue to remember your prayers and complete the good work He began in you. My great grandfather, Chet, was a drinker, a fighter, and a hard man before he met Christ. He fought constantly with his wife. My grandfather said there was no peace in their home. Then Chet met Jesus. My grandfather watched God soften Chets heart. He watched his father begin to show love to his children and his wife, to spend his time in healthier ways, and to take his family to church. It was in that church my grandfather answered an altar call, after receiving a vision of the condition of his heart: filled with dirty water. That day, God emptied out the dirty water in my grandfathers heart and replaced it with clean, living water. Later, God called my grandfather into ministry. He served as a pastor in Waterloo, Iowa, where he and my

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This month, share together the faith stories of your family members. If you are the first generation
to have faith, share how God redeemed you by His grace and how He is making you a part of His big story today. Begin to cultivate an environment in which your children can feel encouraged and strengthened by the stories of faith in their family. Ask God to reveal Himself through these stories and give them their own stories of faith to share with their children someday.

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

by Jennifer Cho Salaff

CREATE
Story Box
Each one of us has a story to tell. Like a fingerprint, these stories are unique and one-of-a-kind, the way God created us. This month, as you meditate on The Big God Story, take some time to also think about your own familys faith story.
HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

Have each family member share about his or her beginnings, how and when they came to faith, and how their journey ultimately intersected with one another (for younger kids, parents might want to share the story of the day they were born, and the special role they play in Gods story). A wonderful way to cherish these stories is by placing objects that represent their story in a special place, like a story box. In my family, we have something like a faith box that tells our familys faith story. It isnt fancy. In fact, its an old, beat-up shoebox. But I keep things in the box like my daughters hospital ID bracelet from the day she was born. Every time I look at this tiny plastic tag, it reminds me of the beginning of her story, and how her life is being grafted into The Big God Story each day.

Every time I look at this tiny plastic tag, it reminds me of the beginning of her story, and how her life is being grafted into The Big God Story each day.
This is a fun project to do together as a family. You can purchase a wooden box from a craft store or use an old shoebox. Set aside a time to gather all of the items you and your family want to put into the story box, then get creative!

STORY BOX
Get an old shoebox, small packing box, gift box, or purchase a wooden box from a craft store. Decorate the outside of your story box using watercolors, puff paint, glitter pens, markers, stickers, glue buttons, jewels, or beads. Consider attaching photos of each family member on the outside of the box, or decoupage onto the box pictures and words cut out of old magazines that best represent your family. Use the box to keep things that tell The Big God Story, as well as your familys faith story. It can hold a Bible, a journal recording special memories or events (like baptisms, dedications, etc.), keepsakes, photos, favorite books, magazines, CDs, postcards, birth announcements, home movies/DVDs, and other things that help you continue to tell the story God is writing in each of you!

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2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

by Natalie Lisk

PRAYER
Prayer Walk
My family used to make it a point to go on a walk at least once a month. Some of our best talks, times of reflection, and vulnerability came out on those walks. Sure, there were times my brother and I fought it or balked against going, but when we walked as a family, removing ourselves from our current responsibilities and obligations, there was a sense of freedom to open up in conversation.
By simply stepping outside and going on a walk, my parents created an environment where we could have those conversations. And we learned so much about our parents as they told stories of who they were and where they had come from. This month, set some time aside to go on a walk as a family. You can walk around your neighborhood, go to your favorite park, or hike on a nearby trail. Use this time to reflect on the passage in Hebrews 11 and the Hall of Faith (see the Gods Word section in this issue). As you reflect on the men and women listed in the passage, share about some of the people who have been instrumental in each family members faith walk. Was it a pastor or Sunday school teacher? How about a co-worker, or a friend on the playground when you were young? Maybe it was someone from your extended family. You can tell stories of who they are and how they have played a part in your faith walk. Then encourage your children to share who their Hall of Faith person is.

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TAKE TIME TO PRAY OUT LOUD A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN YOUR FAMILYS FAITH WALK ...

Take time to pray out loud a prayer of thanksgiving for the people who have been instrumental in your familys faith walkpast and present. This may feel awkward at first and stretch your faith a little, but dont give up! Encourage your children to pray out loud as if God is part of your family walk. Talk to Him about people you are now sharing your faith with. Pray each of you will have the boldness to share with others the good news of what the Lord has done in your life. Ask Him to lead you to people He has prepared to hear your part of The Big God Story and how they can be part of it too!

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

by Lauren Francis

WORSHIP
Who Is God?
The book of Psalms is filled with beautiful and poetic stories of how God worked in His people, especially David. For an example, look at Psalm 32.
This Psalm is a story about David confessing his sins to God, and experiencing the freedom and deliverance that comes with being honest before Him. Although many of the Psalms are written in a poetic or song-like style, they show us who God is and how He is working to bring us into His big story. Has God healed someone or provided for someone? Create statements that show how God has revealed Himself, specifically to your family. In between each

statement, write His love endures forever.

This month, as an act of worship, read Psalm 136:19 together as a family. Then write 10
statements about who God is, specifically in your familys life. They can be general statements such as, God is faithful, or God is mighty, but encourage your children to think of more specific statements as well.

God is faithful God is mighty


WE OFTEN THINK OF WORSHIP AS SINGING, BUT WE CAN WORSHIP GOD IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS: PRAYER, SILENCE, ART, DANCE, GIVING, SHARING, AND THANKSGIVING JUST TO NAME A FEW. MAKE PLANS FOR YOUR FAMILY WORSHIP TIME, BUT PREPARE YOURSELF TO HOLD THESE PLANS LOOSELY IF THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS YOU IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

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2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

Take turns reading the statements, but then read His love endures forever, as a family chorus. This is a great example and reminder of how God still invites us into His story today, much like He did with David. These statements are a great way to worship as a family through storytelling by talking about what God is doing in your lives.

by Roger Tirabassi

MARRIAGE

Tell Your Love Story


Were all aware of the power and impact of Bible stories. No matter how often we hear them, they have the ability to elicit memories of Gods faithfulness, provision, and love. Through their tender, mysterious, or serendipitous details, our hearts are repeatedly and emotionally drawn toward God.
HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

The story of your marriage, and its retelling, has a similar impact. By repeating the exciting and affectionate stories, again and again, your hearts are drawn toward each other. By recalling how God brought you together, reminiscing about your early days of falling in love, and especially sharing how God revealed Himself to you along your marital journey, rekindles your deep love and passion for one another. My love story with Becky began when God brought us together to work side by side in youth ministry. We specifically remember our early days of asking God to confirm if we were meant for each other in marriage. As God showed us Scripture after Scripture and unfolded circumstance after circumstance, not only did we sense His confirmation, so did our families and friends. Our love story grew bigger and better, as we felt guided by God. We love to share the details of the story with our only son, Jake, as they validate his place in the continuation of The Big God Story!

Because day-to-day living with all of its stress and temptation has a way of stealing the love God desires for you to experience in your marriage, retelling your love story is a powerful and practical way to rekindle your love for your spouse. It will restore your affection for one another and confirm Gods plan for your lives together.

TAKE HOME IDEAS


Make time to write out (in detail or outline format) the memories of your early days of meeting, falling in love, experiencing closeness, engagement, wedding day, and honeymoon. Then, sit face-to-face with your spouse, and share your memoriesbig or small with one another. For example, I remember the first day I met Becky. She was wearing blue corduroys that I thought looked particularly cute on her. When I remind her of what she was wearing and how I felt about her, it always brings a smile to her face. Most importantly, keep the experience positive; dont bring up anything negative. Set aside time to sit with your children and share your love story with them, allowing them to experience the details of how God brought you together. This will encourage their faith as they see how they are a part of the continuing story of God through your marriage. Continue to rekindle your sparks for each other by sharing parts of your story through small reminders in spontaneous notes, texts, or emails. For example, Becky and I went to Florida for our honeymoon and stayed on the seventh floor of a hotel. To rekindle sparks, on occasion I might text Becky with the words: Heaven on the 7th floor. Short notes, texts, or emails can bring a smile to your face and rekindle the first days of your married love.

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2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

by Debbie Guinn

BLESSING

His Love Endures Forever


Create a hunger in your children by reminding them that each day they get to be a part of the greatest story ever written.
As they leave the house, remind them to be on the lookout for ways God will show them how much He loves them. Tell them to watch for Him in creation, and listen for Him to speak to them. Then encourage them to share their story with others by talking about what God has done.

Read Psalm 107:12a (NLT) over your child as a reminder and a blessing: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
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HomeFront Weekly: Dont forget to grab your HomeFront Weekly: A resource to get parents and kids talking about Gods Word together.

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

A blessin g can be a prayer of comm ission, a Bible p assage, or words of encou rageme nt. As your chil dren are blessed tell them , they hav e the opportu nity to a lso be a blessing to other s.

Whats Happening in Your

FAITH COMMUNITY?

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2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

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2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

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2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

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2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

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2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

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CHARACTER KEY
1. Adam 2. Eve 3. Noah 4. Abraham 5. Sarah 6. Isaac 7. Jacob 8. Joseph 9. Moses 10. Joshua 11. Samuel 12. King Saul 13. King David 14. Solomon 15. Elijah 16. Daniel 17. Esther 18. Nehemiah 19. John the Baptist 20. Jesus 21. Peter 22. James 23. John 24. Paul 25. You & Me 26. King Jesus at His Return

2012 David C. Cook. All rights reserved.

HOMEFRONT | ENVIRONMENT | STORYTELLING

King Jesus at His Return

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