For this week, we will focus on Ash Wednesday.  If you go to church on Ash Wednesday you will more than likely get a cross of ashes on your forehead this is to remind us that one day our earthly bodies will return to dust.  But that’s not the end of the story, as we continue on our Lent Journey we will get to the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection!

At the end of winter nature is slowly coming out of it’s quiet season.  Lent is a lot like that, we are quietly following Jesus’ journey to the cross.  With the coming of Spring, it is a great time to get out and enjoy God’s creation, to see all the wonders of His works!

Here are a few ideas to do with your kids over the next few weeks:

1.  Lent Story Eggs - You will need 7 plastic eggs.  We will be putting something in each egg each week to remind us of the story of Jesus.  Put dirt in the first egg this week.  The dirt will remind us of the miracle of God’s Creation.  Read the creation story in Genesis 1-2.

2.  Spring Garden – With the coming of spring what a great time to get your kids out and plant a garden, if you don’t have the time for that, then just plant some grass seeds in a 9″ X 9″ baking pan.  Have them water it each day and watch it grow.

3.  Rice Krispy Worlds – Make your Rice Krispy Treats as normal but separate into 2 bowls, add green food coloring to 1 bowl and blue food coloring to the other.  Take a scoop from each bowl and mash them together to form a ball to look like a round green and blue earth.  YUMMY!

4.  Learn a Bible Verse Together – You can pick any verse that you want, but everyone in the family needs to learn it!  Our family this week is going to learn Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”  We are learning this one because we are focusing on the creation story.  You can use this one or you can pick one that your family needs at this time!

Blessings on your Lenten Journey!

The Sixth Petition

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean? 

God tempts no one.  We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice.  Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

We are praying in this petition for our Heavenly Father to give us strength to resist and overcome temptations.  Ask your children, what is a temptation?  We must make sure that our children know that God would never tempt us but he will test our faith to bring us closer to Him.  A temptation is the work of the devil.  Share with them the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in Matthew 4:1-11.

The Seventh Petition

But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

The Lord truly does rescue us from every evil, he keeps us from harm and helps us to endure the troubles that we face each day.  You may want to share with your children the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6) or The Three Men in the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3).  Both of these stories show the power of God and how He does deliver us from evil.

The Conclusion

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

What does this mean?

This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for he Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us.  Amen, Amen, which means “yes, yes, it shall be so.”

This petition brings it all together.  Our Heavenly Father has all the power and glory and he alone can hear our prayer and grant our petitions.  He is worthy of all our praise!

Moving Forward – Make a Pledge

The Fourth Petition

Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean?

God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with Thanksgiving.

Your children may wander what is daily bread?  It sounds like it is just food, but in actuality, it is everything that has to do with the needs of our body.  This includes food, drink, clothing, house, and also things like good government, peace, and health.

Why  should we pray for daily bread?  We pray for this so that we realize all that we are and all that we have is from God.  He will take care of us.  The thing to remember with this petition is that we ask for our daily bread.  God will give us all that we need from day to day and we have to receive those blessings with Thanksgiving.  We shouldn’t be wasteful or worry about tomorrow, but live with confidence that God will provide.  This is much easier said than done, but what a wonderful reminder to us when we pray the Lord’s Prayer each day.

The Fifth Petition

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them.  We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment.  So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

With this petition, we may want to start with what exactly is a trespass?  Another way to say it would be to “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”  That means a little more to us and for sure to our children.  This is so important for us to teach our children.  We can and should daily go to our Father, our Daddy, in heaven and ask for forgiveness.  Not only do we want them to know that they should ask for forgiveness, but also that they are forgiven, not because of anything they do, but because God sent Jesus to forgive our sins.

This petition gives us a job to do as well.  We have to forgive and to do good to those who sin against us.  This shows that we truly believe that God has forgiven us and that He is in our hearts.  What an amazing witness to those around us when we can forgive someone when we have been hurt by them!  What a great way to show the love of Christ to them.

This week we will look at The Lord’s Prayer again.  This time focusing on the Second and Third Petitions.

The Second Petition

Thy Kingdom Come.

What does this mean?

The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God’s Kingdom come?

God’s Kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His Holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

Here are some questions you can ask your children to get them to understand this petition a little bit more:

1.  Where is God’s Kingdom?  (The whole world, He rules over us here on earth and over heaven.)

2.  What exactly are we praying for in this petition?  (We want to live godly lives here on earth so that others may see His love and grace in us and come to know Jesus as their Savior.)

The Third Petition

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean?

The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is God’s will done?

God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come;

and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.

This is His good and gracious will.

Here are some questions to ask your children to understand the Third Petition a little more:

1.  What is the good and gracious will of God?  (His will is that we keep his name holy, that his Word be taught correctly and that sinners be brought to faith in Christ and lead godly lives.)

2.  Whose will and plans are opposed to the will of God?  (The devil, the world, and our own sinful nature.)

3.  How is God’s will done in our lives?  (When He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and helps us lead God-pleasing lives.)

Hopefully this will help you as you and your family learn The Lord’s Prayer.  The information was taken from Luther’s Small Catechism.  If you would like more information, let me know!

The Introduction

Our Father who art in heaven.

What does this mean?

With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear Father.

As you talk with your children about the introduction, let them know that they have a Father in heaven who dearly loves them and wants them to pray to Him.

The First Petition

Hallowed by Thy name.

What does this mean?

God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.

How do we keep God’s name holy?

God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it.  Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!  But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us.  Protect us from this, heavenly Father!

In the First Petition, talk to your children about keeping God’s name holy, you can connect it to the 2nd Commandment, You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.  Using words that lift others up, and show love, not words that hurt.  That is how we make sure God’s name is kept holy.

Next week we will take a look at the next 2 petitions.  I pray that God will bless your time with your children in learning this prayer.

Dear God,
We are sorry for doing wrong things.  Please forgive us.  Help us to forgive others.  Amen.

Father God,
As I turn off the light, please be with me.  Help me to get to sleep, and please give me good dreams.  Amen.

Lord Jesus,
Thank you for my friends and for the fun times that we share.  Please help me to be a good friend.  Amen.

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for my family, and not only those I live with, but my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.  Please be with them.  Amen.

Lord, Help me to notice people who need my help.  Children who are alone without friends, my parents and teachers, when they need a helping hand.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, I know that I am your special child and that you love me.  Some children don’t know you.  I want to pray for _____________________ that they would come to know you and love you.  Amen.

Dear Jesus,
Please help me at school.  Sometimes I find it hard, and it’s at those times I really need your help.  I know you are always with me.  Amen.

God, you are great.  You made a beautiful world for us to live in.  Thank You!  Amen.

Hopefully these prayers help you as you pray with your children.  I think they give kids a great example of prayer and how it doesn’t have to be perfect.  One other option is to teach your child The Lord’s Prayer.  This is the prayer that Jesus taught us in the Bible and it is a great way to teach “how to pray”.  Some of the words are big and hard to understand for little ones, so when we say it at home, we always talk about each section and what it means.  Here is The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, Who Art In Heaven
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Will Be Done
On Earth As It Is In Heaven
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
And Forgive Us Our Trespasses
As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us
And Lead Us Not Into Temptation
But Deliver Us From Evil
For Thine Is The Kingdom
And The Power And The Glory Forever And Ever.
Amen.

I can’t wait to hear how God is working in each of your families as you grow together by praying together.