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- Airdate: July 07, 2012
- Program ID: 171
- Past Discussion Guides
THEME
God is our refuge.
MEMORY VERSE
Saying the memory verse together at suppertime will imprint it on the hearts of your children forever.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
NOTES
My father is a war veteran. As an 18-year-old he served on a ship in the Pacific during World War II. When he and his shipmates were in their 70s they started getting together for reunions. Every year they would reminisce and share stories of their times in battle. They were young, they were brave, but they were also in great danger. My dad experience the truth of the words of our memory verse-God was his refuge and strength; God was his ever-present help in trouble.
As a young girl I remember hearing the news of the "cold war." I would not be able to sleep. So I would slip downstairs and find my father's lap. I would always feel safe in my father's arms, hearing his assuring words that everything would be okay.
This verse is a reminder to us all that God is our refuge and strength. When we are afraid, when we can't sleep, when evil seems too strong, and when the world seems so fragile, God, our heavenly Father, is as close as a father's lap and as secure as a father's arms. These words are His reassurance that everything will be okay.
What do you tell your children when they are afraid? Do you tell them that God is your refuge and strength and theirs too? These words are ones to impress on their hearts so that they will not be afraid and they will have the strength to persevere in times of trouble.
JUST THE FACTS
How well did you listen to the story?
Q. What was Lucille writing about for the paper?
A. She is asking how people feel about war.
Q. What does Chamy think?
A. She is against war because there are more rational ways to resolve conflict.
Q. Who does Morrie think about when Lucille asks him about war?
A. His grandfather who died in the war, and who his family considers a great hero.
Q. Why does Liz no longer like war games?
A. Because his cousin Herbert is in the Army and missing in action.
Q. What is the name of the enemy soldier Grandpa Anole meets when he was fighting in the war?
A. Horace.
GOOD QUESTION
This question is meant to help the children develop a biblical understanding of God, who He is and what He does. The "answer" is not meant for parents to read to their children. Rather its purpose is to assist parents in guiding the conversation to this biblical understanding. We encourage you to use an open Bible in this conversation, building biblical literacy and well as a biblical theology.
My thesaurus gives these words as synonyms for refuge: safe haven, sanctuary, shelter, protection, place of safety. Each of these evokes a place where there is freedom from fear, where there is peace, and where there is rest. The following verses show us a few ways that God is a refuge. 1 John 4:18, "Perfect love drives out fear." John 14: 27-28, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts by troubled and do not be afraid." Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gently and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
There are many verses in the Bible that tell more about God as a refuge. Challenge your family to look for these and to share them during family devotions.