Category: Amy Nappa (Page 6 of 11)

Creative Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer … in Motion

/ Amy Nappa

Focus: The Lord’s Prayer

Before You Begin:

No prep is required for this one! But don’t forget your Bible.

The Prayer Time!

Read Luke 11:1-4 with your family. Talk about what the words and phrases of The Lord’s Prayer mean. Then have your family members work together to create motions that express the meaning of this gift from Jesus.

For example:

Your family might express the word “hallowed” in The Lord’s Prayer by making motions like the washing of hands, as this word means holy or pure.
At “lead us not into temptation” you might hold your hands beside your eyes as if they were blinders.

The younger your children are, the more concrete or realistic your actions will need to be. Older children may enjoy creating more abstract actions to express the words and phrases of this prayer.

When you’ve created actions to express the entire prayer, say the prayer aloud together, making the appropriate motions as you pray! As you practice this prayer, you’ll soon be able to use only to motions to express to God (and each other) the holy thoughts in The Lord’s Prayer.

Looking for More?

Find Amy Nappa on Amazon.com

Check out a few of Amy’s YouTube videos

Discover more about Amy’s memoir, Hard Way Home

Creative Prayer: Flowers Of Blessings

/ Amy Nappa

Focus: Flowers as symbols of prayer

Before You Begin:

Visit your local florist and collect a variety of flowers, such as those indicated below.

The Prayer Time!

Tell your children that, traditionally, different plant and flowers symbolized a variety of emotions and messages. Share the following list with meanings that have been given in the past to some popular flowers:

rose – love
white chrysanthemum – truth
white daisy – innocence
gladiolus – strength of character
iris – message
ivy – friendship
lily of the valley – happiness
marigold – grief
violet – faithfulness
zinnia – thoughts of absent friends

Give each person in your family one or more of the flowers you’ve brought. Share the meanings of the flowers, then ask each person to pray according to the meaning of their flower.

For example,

a person with a iris could thank God for the message of love he sent through Jesus, or God’s message that we read in the Bible.
if someone has a marigold, they could pray for others who are experiencing grief because of sickness, loss of a loved one, or other difficult times.
the holder of a rose could thank God for his love, thank God for the love of family members, or ask God to help family members to show love to each other and those outside the family.

Let family members think of different ways to use the symbolism of their flower to express thoughts of thanks, praise, and need to God. When your time of prayer is over, gather the flowers into a bouquet to be placed in your dining room or living room as a reminder of the prayers you have offered. Or give the bouquet as a gift to someone for whom you have prayed.

If your family enjoys this adventure, ask your florist or librarian for a book explaining the meaning of more plants. The ones for this adventure were taken from The Language of Flowers, a small booklet often available at florists and bookstores. It even lists meanings of fruits, vegetables, and herbs! Use these as a guide to choosing new “flowers of blessing!”

Looking for More?

Find Amy Nappa on Amazon.com

Check out a few of Amy’s YouTube videos

Discover more about Amy’s memoir, Hard Way Home

Creative Prayer: Prayer Calendar

/ Amy Nappa

Focus: A month of guided prayer

Before You Begin:

You’ll need a family calendar that everyone can see each day.

The Prayer Time!

This adventure will guide your family through a month of prayer. For each day of the following month, refer to the appropriate date given here, and pray as directed. If you like, copy the directions onto a large, blank wall calendar and use this to help your family remember to pray each day.

Family members may wish to refer to the prayer calendar on their own, or you might share the topic of prayer at a specified time (such as breakfast or dinner) and pray together each day for the month.

Ready? Here goes!

Thank God for each person living in your house.
Pray for your teacher, supervisor, or another person of authority.
Pray for an elderly person who lives alone.
Thank God for a special friend.
Ask God’s forgiveness for things you have done wrong.
Sing a song (alone or as a family) that tells God how great he is.
Pray for the President of our country.
Thank God for an extended family member (grandparent, cousin, etc.)
Read Psalm 66:1-4 together, then shout to God, “How awesome are your deeds!”
Thank God for a person who makes your life difficult.
Pray for your neighbors.
Thank God for the comforts of your life such as food, a home and clothing.
Ask God to show each person in your family his love in a special way today.
Tell God you’re sorry for not always obeying him, and thank him for loving you still.
Pray for someone you’ve read about in the newspaper or heard about on the news.
Thank God for his creation and tell him one way you’ll take care of it.
Pray for the leaders of your church such as Sunday school teachers, pastors and youth leaders.
Tell God how much you appreciate his love.
Thank God for giving us the Bible.
Pray for the missionaries that you or your church supports. Also pray for the people they are reaching in their ministry.
Ask God to help you show love to each person you talk to today.
Pray for people who are living in an area torn by war. Ask God to restore peace to this land.
Pray for someone who is sick or sad.
Praise God for sending his Holy Spirit.
Pray for your co-workers, school-mates and/or others you come into contact with daily.
Thank God for your parents.
Ask God to help you grow closer to him.
Pray for the staff at your church, such as secretaries, custodians and so on.
Tell God how much you appreciate his forgiveness.
Ask God to help you show kindness to others today.
Thank God for the wonderful gift of Jesus.

Looking for More?

Find Amy Nappa on Amazon.com

Check out a few of Amy’s YouTube videos

Discover more about Amy’s memoir, Hard Way Home

Creative Prayer: Anywhere Prayer

/ Amy Nappa

Focus: God hears us anywhere and everywhere

Before You Begin:

This creative prayer time is fun for families with young children. Don’t forget your Bible!

The Prayer Time!

With your children, read Psalm 139:1-4. Talk together about the meaning of this passage: God knows everything about us, including our thoughts. Then read verses 7-12. These verses say there is no place we can go where God is not there.

As you discuss this with your family, ask, “Can you think of any place we could go where God would not be there and would not hear our prayers?”

Take your family into a closet or other cramped and dark space. Ask, “Do you think God can hear us here?” Assure them that the Bible says God will hear us anywhere, then pray right there, thanking God for hearing you.

Then ask your kids to think of another place to go. This might be under a bed, the car, the basement, or in the backyard shed. Go to as many places as your children want, squish in together, and pray!

This adventure is especially reassuring to young children who are afraid of being alone, of being in the dark, or other normal childhood fears. God can always hear them, and they can talk to him wherever they are!

Looking for More?

Find Amy Nappa on Amazon.com

Check out a few of Amy’s YouTube videos

Discover more about Amy’s memoir, Hard Way Home

Creative Prayer: Pray For Me When This You See

/ Amy Nappa

Focus: Remembering needs of family members

Before You Begin:

No prep required!

The Prayer Time!

The next time your family is gathered for a creative prayer time, ask each person to think of an item that could regularly be used to represent him or her. This should be an item that can be used again and again, and that other family members would associate with its owner.

For example, a younger family member might have a special teddy bear or other stuffed animal that could be used to represent that child. A sports fan might use a team hat or pennant. A book lover might use a library card. A chocoholic might use an empty candy wrapper. Or the family musician might choose a favorite CD or musical instrument.

When each person has chosen an item, have everyone show their items and explain why each item was chosen to represent him or her. Then determine together a spot that everyone sees daily. This could be a coffee or end table, fireplace mantle, kitchen counter, or other similar spot. Name this space the “Prayer Spot.”

Then tell your family, “For the next month, whenever you feel like you need us to pray for you, put your representative item in the Prayer Spot to remind the rest of us that you need prayer.” Thus, if Anthony is headed to the doctor for an annual shot, he might put his stuffed camel in the Prayer Spot. Or if Mom is making a special presentation at work, she might put her coffee mug in the Prayer Spot.

As the days of the month progress, be sure to pray for those who put their representative items in the Prayer Spot. If you like, leave a small note pad at the Prayer Spot so people can specify why they need prayer. Or ask family members to explain their need for prayer during a meal or other time you regularly gather. This will help others to pray more specifically.

On your own, or during times when the family is together, encourage family members to share how God has used the prayers of your family.