February 2015
POWERSOURCE
ASK GOD:
1. To help your children
realize the depth of Gods
love for them.
2. To give your kids a loving
spirit toward all people,
including those who are
different from them.
3. To guide you to live out
your love daily.
Put Love Into Action
Love is a theme seen throughout the month of
February, but it doesnt mean much unless we put it into
action. As Christians, we have the perfect example of
love in action: God sending his only Son, Jesus, to die
for our sins and rise again to give us new life.
God, who is love (1 John 4:8), calls his followers to love
one another as he has loved us (John 15:12). That
includes people of different skin colors, cultural
backgrounds, physical abilities, and even religious
beliefs. Kids notice differences and may be unsure how
to treat people.
But no matter a persons appearance or situation, Jesus
loves and values him or her, and he calls us to do the
same. As parents, you play an important role in teaching
your children how to love others in both word and action.
Here are some helpful tips to follow.
Acknowledge the differences that kids notice in people,
and allow them to explore those differences.
Encourage children to look for positive qualities in
others. Focus on what makes each person special and
unique. Kids who feel secure in themselves are more
likely to embrace other people with love.
Be a role model of love and acceptance. If you want
your kids to express love, you need that same approach
yourself. As your role model, remember Jesus, who
befriended outsiders and outcasts.
Love One Another
Exchanging cards and treats on Valentines Day is a small reminder that
love is meant to be given away. Use that tradition as a springboard to
discuss how much God loves each of usand how we, in turn, get to share
that love with other people. Remind your children that Gods love isnt
performance-based. In other words, he doesnt love us more or less
depending on what we do or dont do. Instead, our loving actions are merely
a grateful response for the love that God gives us so abundantly. Try a few
of the fun activities below to reinforce the importance of loving others
inside and outside your family.
TEACHABLE
MOMENTS
Gods Heartbeat
With masking tape, create a heart
outline on the floor. Say: Lets read
what the Bible says about love. Read
aloud 1 John 4:8.
Ask: What do you think it means that
God is love? When you think of his
love, what words come to mind?
Have family members stand on the
heart outline and hold hands. Say: Ill
squeeze the hand of the person to
my right. When you feel a squeeze,
pass it on to the next person.
Continue until theres a good rhythm of
squeezes. Say: Think of this as Gods
heartbeat. When we receive his love,
we can give it away and keep that
love going and going!
Ask: What are some loving things
people have done for you? What are
some ways you pass along Gods
love to other people? Close in prayer.
Living ValentinesGive each
family member a heart-shaped
candy, and share the messages
written on them. Read 1 John 3:18,
and discuss what it says about
showing love. Put that love into
practice by exchanging candies
with another family member, giving
them a hug, and saying, Jesus
loves youand so do I!
Woven With LoveIf you have a
chain-link fence (or can obtain
permission to decorate one at or
near your church), create a symbol
of Gods love. Weave red and
white crepe-paper streamers in
and out of the fence to make a
design, such as a white heart with
a red cross in the center. Pray
together, asking God to use the
image to remind your neighbors of
his great love for them.
Polar MolarAhead of time,
freeze some bubble gum. Read
Matthew 24:12, and give each
family member a frozen piece of
gum. Have them race to soften it
and try to blow a bubble. Then talk
about how that cold gum is like a
cold heartand how you can
soften your heart. Also discuss
how you can show Gods warm
love to people with cold hearts who
might be sad, lonely, or scared.
Name GameCome up with ways
to show Gods love to other people
based on the first letter of your first
names. For example, Tristen can
tell people Jesus loves them.
Hannah can help someone carry
groceries. Read John 13:35. Say
that other people know us by our
names, but Jesus knows us by
how we love one another.
Secret ValentinesHave family
members choose names so each
person has a Secret Valentine.
During February, surprise one
another with encouraging notes,
treats, and help with chores. At the
end of the month, reveal the
names of Secret Valentines and
express appreciation for all the
love that was shown.
Dear friends, let us continue to love one
another, for love comes from GodIf we love
each other, God lives in us, and his love is
brought to full expression in us.
1 John 4:7,12
MEDIA MADNESS
MUSIC
MOVIES
Title: SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rating: Not yet rated
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Clancy Brown,
Tom Kenny
Synopsis: This is the second feature
film starring SpongeBob SquarePants,
the popular character from the
Nickelodeon TV series. (The first
released back in 2004.) SpongeBob and
his friends must recover the Krabby Patty
recipe from a pirate.
Our Take: SpongeBob has taken some
heat from parents because of its rude
language, name-calling, and cartoon
violence. The movie will likely be more
appropriate for older kidsabout 8 and
up.
Title: No Turning Back
Artist: Brandon Heath
Synopsis: This is the fifth studio album
for award-winning Christian singer and
guitar player Heath, 36. He first heard
about Jesus at age 16, while attending
a summer camp. Since then, Heath
has stayed involved with Young Life.
He uses personal lyrics to explore
faiths role in peoples lives.
Our Take: Older kids will enjoy Heaths
radio-friendly hooks and encouraging
messages. On No Turning Back, he
beckons listeners to decide to follow
Jesus, like he did. I made up my mind,
I leave it behind, Heath sings of the
worlds distractions.
CULTURE
& TRENDS
E-Cig RegulationsDue to a
patchwork of state laws, an
estimated 16 million children can
legally purchase e-cigarettes. Only
three states (New Jersey, North
Dakota, and Utah) prohibit indoor ecigarette use. (Centers for Disease
Control & Prevention)
Naming TrendsMore parents are
selecting their childrens middle
names based on real-life or fictional
heroes (Angelou, Austen, LeBron,
Malala). Other trends include Kale
(not just a food anymore!) and exotic
hues such as Cerulean and Azure.
(today.com)
Games, Sites & Apps
Hohokum
BuildWithChrome
Homes by Tinybop
This artistic PlayStation
game filled with color
and music has a unique
look and a relaxing
effect. The player
becomes a kite-like
creature who floats
through different worlds.
The game is a curious
adventure filled with
nooks and crannies.
(Rated E10+)
Lego and Google
Chrome teamed up on
this virtual playground,
where builders of all
ages can construct their
own projects. Kids can
just start creating or can
take lessons from a
Build Academy, which
get increasingly more
complex.
With this app for iPhones
and iPad ($3.99), users
embark on interactive
tours of homes across
the world. Kids can
make meals, decorate,
explore rooms and
working models of
utilities, and click to hear
items described in more
than 50 languages.
This page is designed to help educate parents and isnt meant to endorse any
movie, music, or product. Our prayer is that youll make informed decisions
about what your children watch, read, listen to, and play.
QUICK STATS
Nutrition Pays Off!Researchers
have found that every dollar spent on
nutrition during the first 1,000 days of
a childs life can provide a country
with up to $166 in future earnings.
(MedicalNewsToday.com)
Parenting ValuesWhen parents
with a variety of ideological beliefs
were surveyed about what they want
to teach their children, these qualities
came out on top:
Responsibility (55%)
Hard work (42%)
Religious faith (30%)
Helping others (22%)
Good manners (22%)
(Pew Research Center)
Non Profit Org.
U. S. Postage
PAID
Texarkana, Ark.
Permit No. 74
Trinity Baptist Church
3115 Trinity Blvd
Texarkana, AR 71854
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