Tag: Family Devotions (Page 1 of 11)

Focus: Birthday celebrations

Before You Begin:

Start this new creative prayer tradition on the next birthday of a family member.

The Prayer Time!

When you’re ready to sing “Happy Birthday” and have the birthday boy or girl (or mom, dad, grandparent or whomever!) blow out the candles, stop for a moment and ask each person to think silently of something they’re thankful for about the person celebrating today. Then, as you light each candle, have people take turns praying out loud a short, one-sentence prayer of thanks about the birthday person.

For example, if Gigi is turning six, family members might say,

• “God, thanks that Gigi has lots of energy.”
• “Thank you for Gigi’s happy smile.”
• “Lord, I’m glad for Gigi’s helpful attitude.”
• “I’m thankful that Gigi gives great hugs.”
• “God, thank you for helping Gigi learn to tie his own shoes.”
• “Thanks for sending Gigi to our family!”

When six prayers (one for each candle) have been offered, go ahead and sing “Happy Birthday” and have the child blow out the candles.

This tradition can be carried on for every family member, no matter how old or young. However, once you get into the teen years and above you may find it safer to pray before lighting the candles–unless you’re fast prayers or have tall candles!

Option: This prayer adventure may also be used to celebrate Baptism anniversaries. Light a Baptismal candle to remember and rejoice at new birth.

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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

Focus: Sum-sum-Summer-time!

Before You Begin:

Use this adventure the next time your family is on a road trip or driving vacation in summer.

The Prayer Time!

When you’re all in the car for a summer road trip, try this creative prayer activity:

• Every time you see cattle, thank God for a different person in the car, and tell one reason you’re glad this person is along on the journey.
• When you see a sign for a rest stop, sing a hymn or chorus of a praise song. (In some cases, “The Hallelujah Chorus” may be appropriate!)
• Each time you pass a mile-marker ending in 00 (such as 100, 200 and so on), pray for the driver of your car. Ask God to keep this person alert and to give guidance as he or she drives the car.
• Be on the lookout for one fast food restaurant chain. When that restaurant is seen, thank God for the friends or family you’ll be seeing       on this trip.

You can add to these suggestions to fit the needs and interests of your family. For example:

• Every time you see a license plate from (specific state) pray for (specific request).
• Or each time you see a sign with (color) on it, thank God for (specific person or item).

Use this prayer adventure as often as you like during your trip, letting family members change the items to look for the and prayers to go with them.

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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

Focus: Independence Day (Fourth of July)

Before You Begin:

This creative prayer time can be used any time of year, but we it goes well with July 4 (Independence Day). You’ll need an American flag for this adventure. If you can’t find the real thing, a picture of a flag will work, too.

The Prayer Time!

As your family comes together for creative prayer time, ask if anyone knows the meaning of the stars and stripes on the flag. If not, explain that each star represents one of the 50 states in the Union, and each of the stripes represents one of the original 13 colonies. The colors of the flag also have meaning. Red symbolizes courage, white is for purity, and blue represents justice.

As you examine and discuss the flag, explain to your family that you’d like to use the flag and its symbolism as a guide to prayer. Join together in talking and praying as follows.

• For every star on the flag, think of something your family is thankful for. As you think of each reason to give thanks, have different family members offer a one-sentence prayer of thanksgiving. For example, “Thank you that we are free to worship you in our country,” or “Thanks, God, for giving us food each day,” and so on. Continue until you’ve thanked God 50 times. (You may want to use this part of the adventure over the course of several days or a week.)
• As the blue field behind the stars represents justice, pray for people who are oppressed and in need of justice. This could be people in America who don’t receive justice such as hungry children or people who are treated unfairly. You may want to include people in other countries who don’t enjoy the freedoms we do in America. You could also pray that we would continue to be allowed to exercise these freedoms.
• For each of the six white stripes on the flag, ask God to bring purity to a different area of your lives. This might include purity of speech toward each other, purity in actions to each other and so on.
• Pray for courage as guided by the seven red stripes of the flag. A family member may need courage to stand up for his or her beliefs at school or work, or you may all need courage to share about God’s love to an unfriendly neighbor.

Close your time together by thanking God for Independence Day and praying for America, asking Jesus to bring guidance and show his love to all who live under this flag.

Variation: If you live in a country other than the United States of America, use your flag and a national holiday to create a prayer adventure similar to this one. Research the symbols and colors used in your national flag and together determine ways to use these as a guide for prayer. Consider the specific needs of your country as well as reasons you are thankful for your country.

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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

Focus: Good Friday or Easter

Before You Begin:

No prep is required this time!

The Prayer Time!

On Good Friday or Easter Sunday, have your family squeeze together into the smallest and darkest space your home has to offer. If you can fit, a closet is the best. Or if you family is larger, a dark bathroom will work.

When you’re all together, tell about Jesus’ death on the cross and how he was buried in a dark tomb. (If you want a refresher on the details of the Easter story, read the account given in Mark 15:21-47 before gathering your family.) Explain that just as the tomb was without light, our hearts are without light when Jesus isn’t there. Ask family member to think of things that make our hearts dark and without light. Then pray together that God would remove these things from your lives.

Then remind your family that Jesus conquered death on that first Easter Sunday, and he rose from the dead! (Find the details in Mark 16.) Let the youngest family member open the door and release you all from the dark!

After you’ve untangled yourselves from the cramped darkness, tell about how Jesus returned to life and brought light into our lives. Then spend a few minutes thanking God for sending Jesus, for bringing him back to life, and for giving us life because of his love!

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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

Focus: Remembering friends after Christmas

Before You Begin:

This Christmas, when you’re taking down the decorations, set aside all the Christmas cards and newsletters your family received. Place these in a basket, napkin-holder, or even a bright box. Set the container on or near your dining room table.

The Prayer Time!

Each evening during dinner, take the top card from the stack and tell your family who sent the card. As a family, talk about the person or family who sent the card and let family members share current information about what is happening with this individual or family.

For example, you might know now that the person no longer is looking for a job as had been indicated in a newsletter. Or a child might know that the friend who gave her this Christmas card is sick this week. You could also take time to let family members tell of special memories they have of this person or family.

When you’re ready, pray for the individual or family that sent the card or newsletter. Mention specific praises or needs depending or your knowledge of what they are. Then return the card to the bottom of the stack.

In your own Christmas cards and letters, let people know your family will be remembering and praying for others during the next year. It might just increase the number of cards you receive!

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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