What are you thankful for?

thanks·giv·ing (noun)

\thaŋ(k)s-ˈgi-viŋ also ˈthaŋ(k)s-ˌ\

1: the act of giving thanks

2: a prayer expressing gratitude

3: a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness

That’s what Mirriam-Webster has to say, but what does thanksgiving mean to you? What are you thankful for? This week I want to make our devotion really simple. I want to challenge you as a family to sit down together and talk about what you are thankful for. Think hard, Dig deep! Sometimes our biggest blessings to be thankful for are hidden in unexpected places. Here are some great verses in Scripture to get you motivated.

1 Chronicles 16:8
Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:35
Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise."

1 Chronicles 29:13
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

Daniel 2:23
"I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king."

Jonah 2:9
But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD."

Lastly, but certainly not least,

From all of us here on the KidzQuest team to you and your family, have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

oooooohhhh! I'm Tellin'!

The 10 Commandments 

Exodus 20:1-17

Many of us as parents are familiar with the story of the "Boy that Cried Wolf", and have most likely used it to teach our children the importance of not lying. We teach them not to take things that belong to someone else, which starts pretty early in life. Sometimes we get one of those golden nuggets where we get to teach them multiple lessons in one fail swoop. I remember one such incident when I was young. 

I remember wanting a cap gun I saw in a store, but did not have the money to buy it, so I kinda just let it take a ride in my pocket out of that store and into the next store we went in to where it begged me to play with it. Then I heard the inevitable question, "Where did you get that?" I did what any honest red-blooded American kid would do, I shrugged a shoulder or two and said, "I-dunno!" We'll save the typical witty child to parent banter and say that I ended up walking the long road of sorrow all the way next door to face the manager on duty, who held his fate in my hands. I returned the gun, apologized for what I did and if I knew what was in store when I got home, I would have told the manager to "throw the book at me." 

My parents had the wonderful privilege of teaching me about lying, coveting, stealing, and respecting my parents all in one shot. This week in KidzQuest we are learning about the 10 commandments from a special visitor, but don't wait till then to take a moment to teach your kids what God expects of us. Here is a great website that teaches the 10 commandments in "Kidinese" so they will better understand them. It even has a game that allows them to review. So come join us this Sunday as we practice commandment number 2, and worship God together!