{"id":2755,"date":"2015-10-15T04:00:46","date_gmt":"2015-10-15T09:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/weavefamily.org\/?p=2755"},"modified":"2015-09-30T15:34:02","modified_gmt":"2015-09-30T20:34:02","slug":"is-my-name-in-there","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weavefamily.org\/pt\/is-my-name-in-there\/","title":{"rendered":"Is My Name In There?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I invited six-year-old Maria to assist me with a Sunday school lesson. As she came to the front of the room, she pointed to my Bible and asked, \u201cIs my name in there?\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeling the Holy Spirit\u2019s prompting, I replaced the activity with a much-needed moment of affirmation for all those Maria\u2019s out there. OK, maybe the Luke\u2019s, Jonah\u2019s, Ruth\u2019s, and Esther\u2019s of this world enjoy pointing out the Bible books sporting their names. What about all those Maria\u2019s, Jasmine\u2019s, Blake\u2019s, and Dant\u00e9\u2019s?<\/p>\n

Our kids read and learn about Bible characters all the time, but many do not understand that they are<\/em> Bible characters, boys and girls that God longs to use in His big story? As parents, how can we help them grasp this concept? Here are some suggestions.<\/p>\n

Watch Your Language <\/em><\/p>\n

The Bible is God\u2019s story, not David\u2019s, Paul\u2019s, or Mary\u2019s. God is the main character, but He graciously chooses to use people in His plans. We can convey this idea through a subtle shift in our words. The next time you cuddle up with your child for a Bible bedtime story, don\u2019t say, \u201cLet\u2019s read about Daniel.\u201d Instead say, \u201cLet\u2019s read part of God\u2019s story. In this part, God will use a man named Daniel.\u201d Put the focus on God and His ability to use anyone, including your child, as a supporting character in His story.<\/p>\n

Put Things in Perspective <\/em><\/p>\n

Many children view the Bible as a collection of true stories that happened a long time ago when men wore bathrobes in public and donkeys were the main mode of transportation. This view leads to the faulty idea that God\u2019s story is finished. To help your kids understand that God\u2019s story continues today, literally show them where the modern time in which we live fits in.<\/p>\n

Open your Bible and flip to the section where the last page of Jude and the first page of Revelation meet. Have your child put his finger in that spot. Explain that all the Bible events up through Jude have already taken place, but that most the book of Revelation describes future events. We are living in the part of God\u2019s story in-between. God is still at work and He still uses people in our day, even young ones.<\/p>\n

Share Stories about Children<\/em><\/p>\n

Give examples of young supporting characters in God\u2019s story and talk about how God used them. Begin with these children from Old and New Testament times:<\/p>\n