Fusion Thx – Bless the Lord Devo
Bless the Lord Devo Download
BLESS THE LORD
Read It – Psalm 103 The Message
A David Psalm
1-2
O my soul, bless God.
From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
don’t forget a single blessing!
3-5
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
LOOK
Number the 6 Blessings in the Psalm.
Draw a picture of yourself – beside the picture of YOURSELF, label how each Blessing would look on you.
LEARN
What do these 6 Blessings mean to you?
What do we learn about God?
What do we learn about our relationship with God?
LIFE
How about you? Think about what these 6 Blessings mean to you
Thank God for Forgiving YOUR sins, EVERY ONE.
Ask God to heal your diseases, EVERY ONE.
Thank God for redeeming and saving your life from hell.
Ask God to help you walk in His Love and Mercy.
Thank God for wrapping you up in His Goodness and Eternal Beauty.
Ask God to renew you in His Presence.
PRAY – Think about what you just wrote down in each section.
Ask God’s Spirit to help you live out His TRUTH in your life.
Trending Parent Cue
WEEK 1
EPHESIANS 2:10;
EPHESIANS 4:29
God created us as His masterpiece.
WEEK 2
ROMANS 12:4-5;
JOHN 13:34b
God created us for connection.
THINK ABOUT THIS:
WEEK 1:
Your middle schooler may hesitate to speak up when it comes to bullying. In this phase, reporting bullying to an adult is viewed as a form of tattling rather than standing up for themselves or someone else.
WEEK 2:
When you approach conversations about bullying in less direct ways, your kid may be more willing to open up. Questions like, “Did you run into anyone who was hard to get along with today?” may give you the answers you’re looking for.
DO THIS:
MORNING TIME
Reach out to your kid’s school to learn about the programs or policies they have related to bullying. Get involved in any anti-bullying initiatives in your community. Simple things like this let your kid see that you’re taking an interest in an important topic.
DRIVE TIME
Take time to reach out to the important adults in your kid’s life—their teachers, coaches, Small Group Leaders, and more. Ask them how your kid is doing and how they’re interacting with others to get an idea of what’s happening in your student’s life when you’re not around.
MEAL TIME
Share a story from your own life (preferably in middle school!) of a time you played a specific role in a bullying scenario. Whether you were the bully, the bullied, or the bystander, tell your kid how it made you feel and how you handled it. Don’t ask them to share their own story; just be open to the possibility of the conversation from there!
BED TIME
If your student has social media accounts, make sure you’re following them. Pay attention to the comments made on their pages and read the comments they’re making on the pages of others. This will give you a glimpse into how they’re interacting with the people around them.
For more parenting resources visit www.ParentCue.org
Rooted Series: Parent Cue
Hey parents! This week we’re starting a new series called Rooted. In this three-week series, we’ll talk about how we can stand firm and welcome whatever change life brings us when we’re rooted in an unchanging God.
MORNING TIME
This week, leave your kid a note somewhere they’ll see it (on the bathroom mirror, in their lunch, in a text message, etc.) reminding them that God is with them. He never changes.
DRIVE TIME
Share with your student a time you went through a challenging change in your own life. Tell them how your perspective on change was different after that experience.
MEAL TIME
This week, as you gather around the table for a meal together, ask your kids this question: If you could change our meal into anything you wanted to eat, what would it be?
BED TIME
It’s movie night! Pick an evening to watch the film Inside Out together as a family this week. Talk with your kids about the different emotions the characters experience when they face big changes in their lives.
For more parenting resources visit www.ParentCue.org
Fusion Wednesday Rescue Series – YOUR RESCUE STORY
Hey Parents! Has your kid shared their RESCUE STORY with you???
We encouraged our students to read the steps in preparing their story and share it with family, friends, and eventually someone that might need to hear it in their circle of influence. Here is our RESCUE STORY GUIDE from Sept 19.
Here is our Wednesday Schedule:
Sept 26) Sacrifice: Why did Jesus have to die? This lesson dives into the idea that Christ’s sacrifice is
necessary to bridge the gap between humanity and God. Bible Passage: John 3:1–21 Oct 3) Adoption: How do I fit into God’s family? This lesson will underscore the fact that followers of Christ are adopted by God. When we accept Jesus as Lord, our sins are washed away. But we’re also accepted into the family of God. Bible Passages: John 1:1–18 and Ephesians 2:1–10
Oct 10) BELIEVE WEEKEND LAUNCH PARTY – The Middle School and High School will be combined in the Student Pavilion for some FUN FOOD and a SPECIAL FLASH SALE to Kick Off our BELIEVE WEEKEND sign ups!!!!
Oct 17) Salvation: How does being saved make a difference in my life today? Being saved and following Christ means that we have a mission to fulfill here on earth. In this lesson students be challenged to make the mission of Christ a part of their life on a daily basis. Bible Passage: John 9
Q What is Fusion? Fusion offers a loving and accepting environment geared for Middle School Students Grades 6-8. We have events, weekly meetings, and exist to Intentionally Engage Middle School Students by leading them to the heart of the Father.
Q What happens on Fusion Wednesdays? 5:30 is hang out and Pizza, 6:00pm Bible Study Begins in the STUDENT PAVILION. We begin with Worship, move to Talk Time, then Students move to break out rooms for real life discussion. 7:30pm is dismissal time
What can my Middle Schooler do for dinner? Two Options :
1. Join us in the Student Pavilion for Papa John’s Pizza at 5:30pm.
2. Eat as a family at the Oakwood Wednesday Night Dinner for a nice hot meal.
Can my Middle Schooler play on the playground? Parents, please let your Middle Schooler know that the playground is for CHILDREN and that they will be asked to leave the playground.
Vital Parent Cue
MORNING TIME
Your kids are talking all about vitals, so what better time to teach them how to check their own? This week, practice checking your vitals by taking each other’s pulse.
DRIVE TIME
Go out of your way to do just one nice thing you don’t have to do for someone else. Showing just a little kindness to others when you don’t have to is a great way to live out the greatest commandment as a family this week.
MEAL TIME
This week, talk about what’s vital to your family. Make a list of the things that are most important to you as a family and post it somewhere you all can see as a reminder of the vitals in your home.
BED TIME
To practice what they’ve been taught this week, encourage your student to say one thing they love about themselves, one thing they love about someone else, and one thing they love about God. Then, share your own answers as well!
For more parenting resources visit www.ParentCue.org
Fusion Wednesday Rescue Series Parent Guide
September 5 Begins our Regular Fusion Wednesday Format:
Q What is Fusion? Fusion offers a loving and accepting environment geared for Middle School Students Grades 6-8. We have events, weekly meetings, and exist to Intentionally Engage Middle School Students by leading them to the heart of the Father.
Q What happens on Fusion Wednesdays? 5:30 is hang out and Pizza, 6:00pm Bible Study Begins in the STUDENT PAVILION. We begin with Worship, move to Talk Time, then Students move to break out rooms for real life discussion. 7:30pm is dismissal time
What can my Middle Schooler do for dinner? Two Options :
1. Join us in the Student Pavilion for Papa John’s Pizza at 5:30pm.
2. Eat as a family at the Oakwood Wednesday Night Dinner for a nice hot meal.
Can my Middle Schooler play on the playground? Parents, please let your Middle Schooler know that the playground is for CHILDREN and that they will be asked to leave the playground.
1) Rescue Intro Lesson: This lesson helps students gain a framework for the salvation story of
Jesus: the consequences of sin, his sacrifice on the cross, the need for a rescue mission, and
our adoption into God’s family.
2) Sin: Why do we need grace? This lesson emphasizes the fact that every person chooses to
worship themselves instead of God. This introduces guilt, shame, and pain into the world. But
thankfully, God has created a plan to save and heal us. Bible Passage: Luke 16:19–30
3) Sacrifice: Why did Jesus have to die? This lesson dives into the idea that Christ’s sacrifice is
necessary to bridge the gap between humanity and God. Bible Passage: John 3:1–21 4) Adoption: How do I fit into God’s family? This lesson will underscore the fact that followers of Christ are adopted by God. When we accept Jesus as Lord, our sins are washed away. But we’re also accepted into the family of God. Bible Passages: John 1:1–18 and Ephesians 2:1–10
5) Salvation: How does being saved make a difference in my life today? Being saved and following Christ means that we have a mission to fulfill here on earth. In this lesson students be challenged to make the mission of Christ a part of their life on a daily basis. Bible Passage: John 9
QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK YOUR CHILD:
1) If someone asked you how or when you became a Christian, how would you respond? If you had to give your testimony, what would you say?
Note: Having your child tell you their salvation story is a powerful way to get a deep understanding of your child’s faith. It is also great evangelism training and a way to coach them in how they would share their testimony with others.
2) Do you feel adopted into the family of God? What does that mean to you?
Note: Because orphan adoption is a familiar concept to many people, they will likely connect with the fact that they are adopted by God and are his children through Jesus’ work on the cross. If you’re an adoptive family or are close to adopted children, you can talk through the struggles, the beauty, and the similarities between earthly adoption and God’s adoption of us.
3) How do you and your friends talk about sin? Does it come up much? Why or why not?
Note: Sin is not a popular subject today, especially for young people. But it’s important to know and understand our sin and how we are to repent from it and claim Christ’s rescue of us. Talking about sin with your teenage child might not sound like fun, but you may be surprised by how they open up and want to share all that is going on in their world. Sometimes as parents, we just need to ask and listen. Only after really listening will we know how to guide, coach, disciple, and pray.
7 Undeniable Characteristics Of (Most) Middle Schoolers
Check out more great articles HERE
By Ashley Bohinc, the Director of Middle School Strategy at Orange (The reThink Group, Inc.), and USA Executive Director of Carry 117- Ethiopia.
I have worked with middle school students in educational, athletic, and ministry settings for more than 14 years now. Although each context was uniquely different, there were still a few basic things about (most) middle schoolers that remained the same no matter what.
- They will be intensely interested in you. Do you have a boyfriend? Where do you buy your makeup? What are you eating? Where did you get those shoes? What position did you play in soccer? They may not show it at first, but the moment you let them in (even just a little), they want to be in a lot. They are stacking up questions in their minds, and if they aren’t courageous enough to ask, they are waiting for just a hint of permission from you to let them know they can ask. Of course this only counts for some of the time with middle schoolers. Other times, you could walk into the room in a clown suit and they wouldn’t even notice. #middleschool
- They exaggerate (and sometimes lie). Something happens at the 8th grade dance, and you find the girls huddled in a circle crying in the bathroom. If it’s trending, they are talking about it… non-stop. Friend drama is basically an all out brawl (with words or rumors). It thunders outside, and they act like they’ve never been in a storm before in their lives. They see a snake outside, and it’s most certainly trying to eat them. Their teacher is obviously the most unfair person on the whole planet. Oh, and they didn’t copy that homework or cheat on that test; they were just scratching their head! You get the point. It’s a phase full of all out exaggeration.
- YouTube is Gucci. According to many research studies, 80%-95% of Generation Z seeks advice through YouTube channels and videos. The most searched videos are about real stories, day-in-the-life videos, behind-the-scenes videos, or how-to videos. They want to know about relationships and dating, teen trends, advice on how to do new skills, and more. If they don’t know how, they go to YouTube. If they don’t know what it is, they go to YouTube. If they want to become famous, they go to YouTube. So basically, you should be on YouTube, too.
- What their friends think matters more than anything else. This is difficult, because as puberty begins to change them from the inside out, middle schoolers are desperately trying to fit in. Peer approval will always trump advice from adults. They can’t be seen wearing those pants, hanging with those boys, or walking around in public without makeup. The point is, students at this phase care more about what their peers say than anyone else. That’s why finding an influential student to lead the charge on a new initiative or event you are having will give you more success. Because if Sadie thinks it’s cool, everyone will think it’s cool.
- They push their parents away. Middle schoolers want freedom. They aren’t kids anymore, and when they are treated that way, they revolt. They pushback on everything from bedtime to chores to going places by themselves to social media. They want to make their own choices. The tricky part about this as a student leader is balancing earning their trust while still being for the parent. It is an art. Youth leaders have the privilege of standing in the gap between the middle schooler and the parent. But no matter what, always remember to let it be known that you are on the parent’s team.
- They are incredibly insecure about what is happening to their bodies. They feel like they are the only ones going through this thing called middle school. Normalizing what’s happening to and around them is imperative. If you are trying to get a middle school student to do something in front of their peers and they resist, there is probably a physical explanation for it. Sweat stains. Period leakage. Wrong bra. Gas. Food in their braces. Acne. Though it’s all normal, it feels isolating to them. So don’t push them.
- They want to have fun, but they want to be taken seriously. You can’t be boring, or they won’t want to be with you. They don’t want you to just allow them to have fun; they want you to have fun with them. At the same time, they want you to be real with them. They want to be taken seriously. They don’t want surface answers. They want direct, real explanations. When they tell you something that seems silly to you but real to them, you can’t laugh. You can’t dismiss it. You have to engage it with a matched level of seriousness to show them you care.
No matter where you’re working with middle schoolers, I think these seven things will stay true. It’s who they are in this phase, and it’s why they need people like you cheering them on and loving them as they figure it out.
Posted in Ministry Resource
LOVECOLLIDE – Behind the Music
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Who Sounds Like Who
Taylor Swift Selena Gomez
In today’s culture, to be “basic” is to be someone who is driven by mainstream behaviors and attractions. It’s the essence of fitting in, living from the baseline of acceptability.
Lauren and Brooke DeLeary aren’t having it.
The sisters, known collectively as the faith-forward pop duo LOVECOLLIDE, have spent their young lives bucking trends, shattering expectations, and defying norms – in essence, being anything but basic.
“We like to think outside the box and challenge others not to live the basic life,” Lauren said, “but to step out into the unknown and live out the life that God has called them to.” “That’s the theme, that’s the mission – an extraordinary life,” Brooke added. “Living in a way where you can never be labeled, like Jesus. Starting revival by being the light, being different, showing who Jesus is through us.”
Having started a band together when they were just tweens, Brooke and Lauren have watched God take something that began as a sibling side project and turned it into a poignant ministry. They’ve released several independent recordings together, toured across the U.S., done modeling and film gigs, and have shared the stage with some of Christian music’s biggest names. They’ve also been able to minister in Canada, something that’s particularly meaningful as tribal members of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in Muncey, Ontario.
It’s been a solid run so far. But with the release of their first major, nationally distributed album, Tired of Basic (The Fuel Music), LOVECOLLIDE is formally making their introduction to the larger music world and is poised to vastly expand their sphere of influence.
With their 10 new tracks, the DeLearys have crafted a soundtrack for the revolution–a revolution against boredom, mediocrity and status quo living. It’s a message that isn’t just for the band’s audience; it’s for the band, too.
Sonically, Tired of Basic finds LOVECOLLIDE at their musical peak, experimenting with new, cutting edge sounds that stand up to the best Top 40 radio has to offer. Armed with the prowess of new producers Riley Friesen (Family Force 5, Group 1 Crew) and Matt Dally (Superchick, Jamie Grace), LOVECOLLIDE has found its perfect match to achieve the sound they want to accompany their lyrics.
“We’ve always wanted to be current,” Lauren said. “It’s always been a journey for us, and always will be. I think our biggest goal with this new music and this new album was to create something that truly sounded like what we listen to on a daily basis, and what gets us going, and that’s dancy pop.”
Lyrically, the themes of Tired of Basic pull from some seismic ups and downs of the past two years.
Lauren, for one, dealt with the devastation of having to break off an engagement.
“I thought I was supposed to settle for that mediocre love, that my dreams for marrying my best friend and the love of my life were for someone else,” she said. “I’d just given up in a sense, but God radically changed my life when I broke off that relationship. Then God gave me Adam.”
That’s Adam Budnick, LOVECOLLIDE’s drummer, and Lauren’s fiancee.
Meanwhile, as hatred, racism and division have been at the forefront of public consciousness, the negativity took a very personal toll on Brooke, sending her into a suffocating depression.
“I lost myself for a long time,” she recalled. “I lost my connection with the world because I couldn’t handle all the negativity. I spent a lot of time in bed, detached.”
Tired, out of options and feeling the pit of despair getting deeper, Brooke decided to fast for the first time in her life. In that process, God began to speak.
“He said to me, ‘I can’t begin a new thing in your life when you still have old things,’” Brooke remembered. “‘I can’t fill you up when you’re still full with what was left over.’ That kind of turned things around.”
New music emerged. New partners surfaced. A new sound rose up. And the name LOVECOLLIDE took on a whole new dimension.
“We want to unite, love people, love each other, giving without expectation,” Brooke added. “With how we live our life, with our music, with everything–we want to slap people in the face with love!”
And LOVECOLLIDE primarily seeks to do that through their songwriting, which has grown and deepened on TIRED OF BASIC.
Powerhouse album opener “Awake” uses earworm hooks to address the concept that many people are alive in Christ, but are, as the DeLearys say, essentially sleepwalking through life. Fun crowd-pleaser “I Believe In Loud” is a declaration of boldly declaring the hope of Jesus to a hopeless world.
One song, “Breaking My Heart,” is a love song written about humanity from God’s perspective. Lauren and Brooke were able to draw emotions and language from their broken past relationships to bring language to the longing expressed in this downtempo pop jam.
On another, the emotional “I Don’t Want It,” LOVECOLLIDE shares about the things they learned as they questioned the band’s future.
“We were debating, kind of at the point of do or don’t with LOVECOLLIDE,” Brooke said. “We were calling out to God, saying, ‘I don’t want this if it’s without you.’ That song is about holding our dreams up to God.”
And the ethereal and introspective “Maybe” is perhaps the most vulnerable track on the new record, Lauren said, as it presents a raw, yet hopeful cry out to God about difficult times.
Parent Resources 