Refuge For Kids

03/11/2023

Read Psalms 139: 1-18
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

Big Idea: God is with you and God is for you.
I work around teens all day long watching them navigate relationships, try out for sports and activities, make or not make the grade, apply for college, and the list just keeps on going. The common thread I see is PRESSURE. Pressure on every side. Pressure from their parents. Pressure from their peers. Pressure from their coaches. Pressure from their own expectations. Will they measure up? Will they get picked? Will they be noticed? Will they be ridiculed? Will they matter?

Oh how I wish I could adequately express God’s heart for you today. Read these verses from Psalms 139 over and over and let them wash over you and overtake your heart.

Remember these truths:

God sees YOU!

God knows YOU!

God formed YOU!

God hears YOU!

God is with YOU!

God is for YOU!

God delights in YOU!

God has plans for YOU!

These truths above are not dependent on your performance or if you get the grade, the date, the outcome, or the touchdown. Rest in Him today and feel released from the pressures you carry. You are loved!

30/10/2023

Read Mark 14: 1-9
Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the L***r, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Big Idea: These blessings are not mine.
We may never be Billy Graham and preach to millions of people or a billionaire able to donate millions to charity. God does not compare my capacity to give, whether financially or with my talents to the person beside me. Jesus said that this woman, “did what she could.” (v8)

We see another woman a few chapters back with a similar story. “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on’.” (Mark 12: 43-44)

In our relationship with God, He asks us to bring our time, talents, resources, and entire life as an offering to Him. We hold on tight to these things because we view them as mine…it’s my money, my time, my life, my future. Sometimes we can be like those seagulls on Nemo…mine, mine, mine. But did we form ourselves with these talents and gifts? Did we bless ourselves with financial resources? The Bible says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

Everything we have and everything we are came from God our Father. In turn, He asks that we take these blessings that He gave us and present them back with an open hand for Him to use as He chooses. The Christian walk is just that…an open hand.

26/10/2023

Read Proverbs 2: 2-11
Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
3 Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
4 Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
8 He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.

9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
11 Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.

Big Idea: God grants wisdom to make life’s choices.
Life is full of decisions especially in the teen and young adult years. Which college should I attend? What major should I study? Should I date or one day marry this person? Faced with a decision, how do we know which way to go? How can we know God’s will in a situation? Most people don’t hear an audible voice telling you to go to a specific university. God often speaks to us through a few ways:

1- Prayer: Verse 3 says to, “cry out for insight and ask for understanding.” Instead of polling social media or asking Alexa, bring those questions and life choices to God in prayer asking Him for wisdom. Don’t stop praying but keep seeking God’s wisdom and direction “as you would silver.” (v4)

2- Bible: Verse 6 say, “from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” The Bible is God’s word and His will and plan is never going to contradict what is written in the Bible. So if you’re wondering if you should rob a store, you will probably get a pretty clear answer by reading His word. 🙂

3- Common Sense: I love this translation that says that God, “grants a treasure of common sense.” We downplay common sense, but it can be your best friend when making a decision. Seek God in prayer and search the Bible. If no specific answer is visible, begin making your decision based on the choices before you and the common sense that God has granted you. God will also use the common sense of parents, youth pastors, and leaders that surround you to help you make these decisions.

4- Joy: Verse 10 says, ” knowledge will fill you with joy.” As you move forward in the direction you believe God is leading you, peace and joy will follow. If you still feel uneasy or unsettled, take a step back and go back to prayer. It is better to wait a little longer on God for His direction and peace.

25/10/2023

25/10/2023

Read Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Big Idea: Jesus is the constant.
Maybe today in your life, you find yourself full of faith like Peter walking on top of the waves. Or maybe you are surrounded by life’s storms and feel like you’re barely keeping your head above the water. The good news is… no matter if you feel like Peter on the water or Peter in the water, there is one constant in this story that doesn’t change.

In science, the “constant” is the variable or item that remains the same in the experiment. It remains unchangeable no matter what happens around it. What is the constant here? The constant is Jesus. Whether Peter was walking in faith or Peter was sinking in doubt, Jesus was ALWAYS walking towards him. Jesus never left him, moved, or gave up. Jesus continued to reach towards Peter inviting him to Himself.

The longer we live, the more we all realize that life never stays the same. Life includes times of triumphs where it might seem easy to praise God, but also moments of weakness where we might feel like giving up. Even though we feel the rollercoaster of life, thankfully Jesus is not like us. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He remains unmovable, unshakable and unchangeable in His constant pursuit of you no matter your past or present.

Jesus sees you. Instead of pretending you’re fine while the waves roar around you, call out to Him like Peter, “Lord, save me.” When we do, we will realize that Jesus has never left our side and is right there with His hand extended out towards us ready to draw us close to Himself. And as we see His faithfulness time and time again, we too will worship with a greater faith saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

24/10/2023

“I believe that children's ministry should be a priority in every church. The highest percentage of church-going adult believers grew up in a Christian home and were part of the church and children's ministry. Teaching children the Bible is a serious job as children readily take what their leaders say as gospel truth.

23/10/2023

Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
20 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.

2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar. 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.

14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah to this day.

27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.

29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

Big Idea: Battles are fought on our knees
Battles are going to come in our lives. Loved ones will get sick. Marriages and relationships get hard. College will seem impossible at times. Jobs will come and go. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” That’s not a verse we stitch on a pillow or hang on our wall. Nobody wants to have trouble. In today’s world, our first instinct when trouble comes is to head to social media, to text a friend, to complain, or to give up.

When Israel was faced with an impossible battle ahead of them with an army they could not defeat, they did a couple simple things.

1-They “Inquired of the Lord.” They didn’t poll social media or text a friend but they took their concerns directly to the God of Heaven. Spend time in your circumstances not only talking to God about your need, but listening to what He wants to speak to you in prayer and in His word.

2- They surrounded themselves with like-minded people who also prayed. Not everyone in your circle is a person to take advice from. When you find yourself in the middle of a hard place, confide in people who follow Jesus. Satan wants us alone, but strength is found in community when you surround yourself with people who take their direction not from their feelings or emotions but from God’s word.

3- They “bowed down” in surrender to God. Troubles have a way of reminding us that we can’t control everything. When we feel the weight of our circumstances on our shoulders, surrender those burdens to God. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” As we surrender our fears, unbelief, and struggle to God, the weight of those burden are transferred from our shoulders to the shoulders of the One who can carry the weight.

4- They worshiped God for the victory before it happened. We serve a God who specializes in the impossible. When discouragement comes, lift your eyes from your circumstance and begin praising God for the victory. Psalm 121:1 says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” You are not responsible for your miracle…God alone is the miracle working God!

When Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trouble,“ He thankfully didn’t stop there. He went on to say, “but take heart, I have overcome the world.” God has not left you in this battle but is walking right beside you. Look up today!

17/10/2023

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. – John 1:1 (NIV)
One of the most foundational truths for your faith is the reason you’re here. Every worldview and religion has to answer this question. Why are we here? How did we get here?

Today’s verse is the Christian’s response to that question. According to the Bible, we’re here because of God. God was in the beginning and He created us to fellowship with Him.

So when friends and family ask you why you believe in Jesus, you can answer and say, it’s because of God. God was in the beginning. Because of Him, you have life. He is the reason we’re here and the reason why we stand up for our beliefs and the Bible. It’s all because of Him.

So today, take some time to reflect. Are you thankful for all that God has provided in your life? Are you thankful for a place to live? Are you thankful for family, friends, and the people in your life? If so, spend some time thanking God. You’re here because in the beginning He was. That’s an important truth and good to be reminded of today.

16/10/2023

But I thank God, who always leads us in victory because of Christ. Wherever we go, God uses us to make clear what it means to know Christ. It’s like a fragrance that fills the air. – 2 Corinthians 2:14 (GW)
Have you ever felt like you weren’t that good at something? Maybe you didn’t make the basketball team and you feel like you’re nothing.

Perhaps someone has said or done something to you that made you feel less than God’s best. We all face situations where we begin to doubt our worth. We begin to believe the lie that we’re insufficient and worthless.

Today’s Truth: I Am A Winner
The truth is, God doesn’t see you like that. When He looks at you, He sees your value. He doesn’t see the hurts, shortcomings, and failures. God looks at you and sees a winner.

So this week, if thoughts of inadequacy and failure try to creep in, tell them no.

Believe and see yourself as God sees you. He looks at you and sees that you’re a winner. He sees your potential and value to Him. Begin to see yourself as God does and you’ll find that you’re a lot happier as a result!