Ritual/Tradition

Begin your time together at your established Family Worship area.  Light your candle and have a family member open up this time of worship in prayer.  One way to think about your prayer time is to use the word PRAY as a guide. (P-is for Praise, praising God, R-is for repent, asking forgiveness, A-is for another, pray for another person, Y-yourself, pray for yourself). 

Share

After praying, you can begin to share your highs and lows for the week.  Allow each family member to share their thoughts, feelings or observations from the week.  Be mindful that sharing in a loving, safe and non-judgmental is important so that your child will feel comfortable opening up his/her thoughts and feelings.

This may also be the time that you will want to read the entries in your family’s 40 Day Lenten Journal.  Hopefully everyone has had a chance to write down something that can be shared during this time together.  Perhaps it was something as simple as your child shared their toys, or maybe you noticed how everyone was helping out at home with chores, maybe your child scored well on a test at school or you decided not to scream and yell at the driver who just cut you off and instead offered a prayer for that driver.  Your family journal will be unique to your family.

Read/Reflection

Matthew 6: 25-27 Do not worry about what you eat or drink

This is one of the most powerful lessons that Jesus taught at the Sermon on the Mount.  He was instructing his followers to not worry about their life.  Do not worry about the basic necessities of life; food, and clothing.  Jesus makes a very humble comparison by asking the people to “look at the birds of the air”, they don’t worry about where their next meal is coming from nor do they worry about storing away food.  “Yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”   Then Jesus asks, “Are you not much more valuable than they are?”  You see birds flying around, no cares in the world, just having a wonderful time flying, soaring, reaching for the stars, no agenda, no thinking, “my nest is better than your nest.”  Just free flying.  Jesus uses that word picture to help his followers understand the simple notion that if God can supply all the needs of the bird in the air, do you not think that God will supply all your needs.  No need to worry, God’s got this all under control. 

It was never God’s intent for his people to feel anxious, worried or in distress.  Although those are all common feelings and emotions that each of us possess, however God does not want our lives to be filled with worry.  Jesus goes on to say that “Is not life more important that food, and the body more important than clothes?”  Of course, we can be concerned about our daily needs, but God tells us that we need not worry, He will supply all our needs.  As a believer, God is already at work in your life, He knows your ever need and will provide for you.   He will take care of all your needs.   Your life has meaning, purpose and God has a plan in place for each one of his followers.

Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God shall supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  God did not send his son to die on the cross for the sake of the birds in the air, He gave us His only son so that we might have life and have it abundantly.  (John 10:10)

God values each one of his followers, and will take care of them.   We can be assured of this truth, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)  No need to spend your life worrying about things that you have no control over, the only thing you can control is your attitude towards your life. 

We hunger for assurance, and God assures us through His word, “seek ye, first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33)  If you are seeking God first, you are not concerned with worldly things because you know that God will provide.  You are assured that God loves you more than the bird in the air, and if He provides for them, He will surely provide for you.

Activity

Create a Worry Free Jar

What you will need:

• a large jar (you can use a basket or some other small container to place your worries in)
• blank paper
• pens or pencils

Have each family member write down a worry, fear or concern for the week.  (It may be that your child is concerned about an upcoming test or school project, or some sporting event, or perhaps a theatrical performance.  A parent may be concerned about a major work event, or business trip that requires overnight travels.  Your family may also have some health concerns.)  Whatever the concern is, write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the “Worry Free Jar.” 

After each family member has placed their concern in the jar, repeat the following together:

“So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; What shall man do unto me?”  (Hebrews 13:6) 

Release all your fears and worries, and remember that God will supply all your needs, your job is to trust that He is in control and will guide you through whatever circumstances you are in as long as you place your faith and trust in Him. 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time together.  We ask that you forgive us for not trusting in your provisions.  We know that you will provide for all our needs and we thank you for always being there for us.  We ask that you bless our families’ worries, help us to know that we can trust you with all our concerns.  Guide and direct us to your truths and help us to remember that you are always with us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

Blessing:

“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine,

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long”