Pastor B Oakwood, Parent Cue, Students, Winter

Peace – Philippians 4:7

Have you ever had to stand guard? It may have been when you babysat a neighbor or even when someone asked you to hold their phone. Standing guard is serious business. It means you promise to protect that treasured person or possession. Paul writes that in the same way, God promises to guard our hearts and minds in Jesus. We are His treasured possessions, and He wants to protect us with all He has. This week, try to memorize this verse so that you can remember God’s promises of protection and peace.

Pastor B Oakwood, Parent Cue, Students, Winter

Peace – 1 Peter 3:11

God could’ve done all kinds of things to help turn our hearts from evil and back towards good. He could’ve taken any path to seek peace and pursue a relationship with us. But God chose to turn our hearts to good and bring us peace by entering in to a relationship with us. Through Jesus, God made a way for us to be as close to Him as possible. When you think about seeking peace with others this Christmas season, do any relationships come to mind? This week, choose peace and reach out to anyone who comes to mind. Remind them that you care for them and are praying for peace in your relationship.

Pastor B Oakwood, Parent Cue, Students, Winter

Peace – Colossians 3:15

As we move further away from Thanksgiving and inch closer to Christmas, thoughts of thankfulness and peace can sometimes be replaced with lists of wants and needs. Instead of being grateful for what we have, we can fall into the trap of comparing and focusing on what we don’t have. When thanksgiving is replaced with thoughts of what we are getting, it can build walls in our hearts in our relationships with God and others. This week, brainstorm with your small group some ways you can come togethe

Pastor B Oakwood, Parent Cue, Students, Winter

Peace

Relationships, especially the peaceful ones, take work. This is why the writer of Hebrews tells us to make every effort to live in peace with others. Don’t worry if it doesn’t seem to work the way you’d hoped it would right away. God promises that the effort you take to live in peace will not be wasted. Today, think through how you will respond to others in order to live in peace. Ask God to help you take a step towards peace in even your most difficult relationships.

Pastor B Oakwood, Parent Cue, Students, Winter

Tis the Season Devo

Christmas is a season often overflowing from the start. From big dinners and class parties to church services and over-packed schedules, it’s often the busiest season of the year! While this season can be filled with good things, it can also be a time full of so much busyness that it threatens to steal our hope and peace. This week, instead of over-filling your plate and schedule, take the time to fill your heart with God’s Word. Start by memorizing this verse so you don’t miss the peace and hope the Christmas season has to offer.

Pastor B Oakwood, Parent Cue, Winter

Tis The Season Parent Cue

WEEK 1

 LUKE 1:26b-35, 37-38

Hope means trusting in a bigger picture.

WEEK 2

LUKE 2:14, ISAIAH 9:6,
MATTHEW 5:9

Peace is found through God.

WEEK 3

JOHN 1:14, JOHN 3:16

Love requires action.

REMEMBER THIS:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

ISAIAH 9:6 NIV

DO THIS:

 MORNING TIME

Have a conversation about one thing that you’re excited about and one thing that stresses you out during the Christmas season. Ask your students for their answers first, and then share your responses as well.

 DRIVE TIME

One night, have your family all get in their pajamas with hot chocolate in hand and jump in the car. Turn the Christmas music up and drive around looking at Christmas lights. If you’re feeling competitive, judge the Christmas lights and displays you find and pick the winner at the end.

 MEAL TIME

As a family, find a few places you can serve together this season—maybe a local nonprofit, soup kitchen, or charity in your community. Let your kid choose which place they’d like to serve, and set up a time to go together. Letting your kid choose gives them a little ownership and will help them be more excited to serve.

 BED TIME

Have a family Christmas contest before bed. It could be a coloring contest, a gingerbread contest, an ornament making contest, or a Christmas caroling contest. Be sure to have a fun prize for the winner!

 

Pastor B Culture, Oakwood, Parent Cue, Students, Winter

Advent Calendar for Your Family!

Every good and perfect gift comes from God. In fact, His most perfect gift was His only Son, Jesus.

Gather your family and continue reading the story of Christmas one day at a time using the Advent Calendar.

The Scripture and prompts will take your family on a journey to generosity, leading you to appreciate the season together in a whole new way.

Click on the Downloads Below.

AdventCalendar_8_5x11_2017

AdventCalendar_11x17_2017

AdventCalendar_Multi_2017

Pastor B Fall, Parent Cue

52 Dinner Discussions

Fun
1.If we could have any celebrity over for dinner whom would you want us to have over? Why
them? What do you think we would serve them? Why that?
2.If you could plan a dinner for our family at any location in the world, where would you plan it
and why?
3.If our family had our own cooking show on TV, what would be our specialties and style of
food?
4.What is one restaurant that we have never been to as a family that you would like to try
sometime?
5.If you could be any food item, what food item would be and why?
Pastor B Fall, Oakwood, Parent Cue

Parent Cue: Playing With Fire

REMEMBER THIS:

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 

PROVERBS 15:1 NIV

 MORNING TIME

It’s easy to forget the power of our words—no matter how old we are! As your kids leave for school today, remind them to use their words to build someone else up. Tell them that you’re going to try and do the same thing, too!

 DRIVE TIME

Play song wars with your kids in the car this week! You pick the first song to play. Then, have your student pick the next one. Keep taking turns picking songs throughout your drive time, trying to top one another’s song choices as you go.

 MEAL TIME

When’s the last time your family intentionally encouraged each other? During a meal this week, make the time to do just that! Go around the table and have each person say one positive thing about the person sitting to their right.

 BED TIME

Share a story about a time that someone used their words either to wreck you or build you up. It’s important that your kids hear your stories so that they believe you can understand the way they feel right now.

Pastor B Fall, Parent Cue

Measure Up Parent Cue

 MORNING TIME

Part of avoiding the comparison trap is celebrating the abilities and things that others have. One day this week, choose with your student someone that each of you will make a point of celebrating by paying that person a compliment, writing them a thank you note, or posting about their awesomeness on social media.

 DRIVE TIME

Sometimes the feeling of not measuring up can be so isolating. This week, take a few moments to tell your student about someone who you didn’t feel like you measured up to when you were in middle school—maybe it was a sibling, a classmate, or even a friend. Share a way that, looking back on it, you can see unique strengths and abilities in each of you.

 MEAL TIME

Comparison doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. At one meal this week, ask these Would You Rather questions (or make up some of your own!): Would you rather . . . Live in a place that’s always hot or always cold? Be able to run really fast or jump very high? Wear clown shoes or a clown wig every day for the rest of your life? Be able to play any musical instrument or be fluent in all languages?

 BED TIME

Your student has unique gifts, talents, and abilities, and they need you to tell them about the ways you see them excelling. One evening this week, tell your student something about them you’re proud of. Try to attach your statement to something that’s true of them every day, like “I’m proud of you for being kind,” or “I’m proud of how you make a point of speaking up for others.”

For more parenting resources visit www.ParentCue.org