He (Isaac) went up from there to Beersheba. The Lord appeared to him the same night, and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” He built an altar there, and called on the Lord’s name, and pitched his tent there. There Isaac’s servants dug a well. Genesis 26: 23-25
Spend time in nature
Today grab a camera and head to a still body of water. See if you can take a family portrait, but there is a twist, take a photo of your family reflecting in the water. This task might prove to be more challenging then you might think. If it is too challenging try drawing your family in nature. If there is fresh snow on the ground draw each family member in the snow, try to be as detailed as possible. Try pouring warm colored water over the snow to dye it and take a picture of the snow version of your family. (Remember to steer clear of pouring water near walkways) The kids might light building a snow family instead. Have everyone pack together a classic snow person and dress it in their own personal style. Maybe you’re near a sandy beach, draw your family in the warm sand or create sand people. Build little mini’s of each of your family members by putting together pine cones and twigs, leaves might be the perfect way to create a new stylish hair look. As you work at the creative way to represent your family talk about how God has made enough room for your family today. Remind one another of all the ways God has blessed you with material things like a warm place to sleep, or a place to sit and eat together. More importantly praise God for the non-material ways He has blessed you. Thank God for mom’s cooking, or dad’s stories, great family memories, or for the gift of laughter or singing.
Tip
In a book “the Secrets of Happy Families: Improve your mornings, rethink family dinner, fight smarter, go out and play, and much more” 🙂 The author encourages families to eat together for a meal once a week (at a minimum). This helps in a number of ways, increases vocabularies and builds self-esteem.
Do something creative
As a complement to the photo you took earlier, create a fun photo frame to hold the picture. Make little versions of yourself out of furry pipe-cleaners. See if you can decorate the frame to look like the outside of your house with one big window where the photo will be displayed. Use your imagination to create landscape out of construction paper or paint tree on the frame. You can also glue cardboard to a simple frame you don’t mind covering up, if you want more space to work. Make sure everyone contributes something to the masterpiece.
What you will need:
- A simple photo frame
- Cardboard
- Construction paper
- Pipe Cleaners
- Paint
- Various creative material
- Tape/Hot Glue Gun
Family worship idea
For family worship gather together, have everyone bring a devotional book or bible that needs to be resurfaced. There are book cover kits you can pick up at various locations. You can create a cover with butcher paper, or paper sacks and coloring or sketching on the paper. While you read through Genesis 25: 19- 26: 34 let the family quietly decorate their book cover. Once you are done, visit about how Isaac’s family was already starting to grow he already had two children who were beginning to marry. God came to him and passed on the promise he made to Abraham, and He intended to keep because Abraham obeyed His voice and kept His commandments. God blessed Isaac in a time of famine and made the land fruitful, so the family reaped one hundred times what was planted. Not only was Isaac’s earthly harvest good, the people who sent Isaac away from them could see that God was with Isaac. Though they caused him hardship, they also saw how God blessed him through the adversity. Their hearts were changed toward Isaac, and maybe eventually toward God. Just as the books are given a new cover that is more beautiful than the original, God will give us a new heart that is more loving and caring than the stony heart we might have.
Personal thoughts
Once you find God you don’t keep searching, you put up your tent, dig a well of life-giving water and dwell in the Lord. God will bless you and make you fruitful, He does what he can to keep you near him and out of the land of Egypt. Many Christians and their neighbors think we are going to be like Job and have a tall hedge around our perfect lives. We are like Job, God does not withhold every hardship from us, and we may never know if a challenge is refining our character in the fire or meant to be a witness for someone else. Isaac and his family moved again and again hoping to find a place where they could live in peace. Each time they left to avoid a conflict they left the fruits of their labor, and a well, behind. Other’s can see when we are near God by how we react when friction is added to our lives. This doesn’t mean we are perfect, Isaac left the newly dug wells and called them contentment and hostility. He felt something other than peace when he left his hard work behind, but more importantly, he had faith. He knew God would find a place for him and his family as they sojourned in this foreign land. God will also make a place for us as we wonder about the earth waiting to go home. The question is, are we sowing seeds that will be multiplied and produce good fruit? Or would the Son of God curse us and make us shrivel up? With God, and only with God, can we live a life where others can see us and know we follow the one true God? I hope we reflect the patience God has with us when we too face challenges.
Hiding His word in you ❤
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Psalms 91:2-4
Sabbath Catalyst 