HomeFront Family Night: Words of Identity

This month's HomeFront magazine explores the environment of Identity.  

This week our CARE group tried out the
"Resting on the Truth" activity on page 12.

Each child got a pillow case and a marker.  

After inserting cardboard in between the layers, 

we filled the surface with words of identity.

Some of those words of identity in Christ were chosen by the kids, 

others were chosen by their parents.

In the end, beautiful truth covered each child's pillow case.  

As they lay their heads down each night, our kids will rest on a reminder 

of who they really are in Christ.

They are loved.  They are chosen.  They are special.  

Courageous.  Strong.  Anointed.  Saved.  Redeemed.  

This was a meaningful and fun activity that would make a wonderful family night this month!  Try it out with your family.  You can find the free HomeFront magazine here.  The kids in our group ranged from 3 to 13 but I think older teenagers would enjoy this too.  Some people even got quite artistic, decorating with pictures and fancy lettering.  

Can you imagine how special such a keepsake would have become to you as a child?

We want these words of truth to sink deep into our kids. 

Knowing who you really are in Christ can make ALL the difference 

when facing the many labels the world tries to give.

HomeFront Magazine

HomeFront Magazine is an incredible resource full of crafts, games, recipes, stories, conversations and ideas to help you start a monthly (or weekly) family night in your home.

Each month the magazine focuses on one of ten spiritual environments.  Think of these as 10 essential Biblical truths that you can build your family's spiritual life upon.

We've been using this resource for the last 2 years in our CARE group.  I wanted to give you a peak into a couple of the cool things we've done.

For the environment of Service we made Thanksgiving garlands with "Acts of Service" written onto our leaf cut-outs:

For the environment of Responsibility we made "Blessing Bags": gift bags filled with treats and essentials to give to some of the homeless people we drive by in our cars.

You can get the monthly HomeFront magazine on your smart phone.  Search "HomeFront" in your app store.  You can also sign up here to receive it free each month right to your email inbox.  And we will even have some printed copies at the VCC Families table in the courtyard.

November 2014: The Environment of Identity

Who are you?  Do you know?  Did you know that you are Chosen?  Holy?  God's Special Possession?  It's all true.  You are highly favored!

This month we focus on the Environment of Identity which invites to us to hold tightly to the truth that "I belong to God and He loves me!" so that it can come alive in our families.  Every month of the year we will focus on one of Ten Environments.  Each of these ten captures an essential Biblical Truth that all work together to provide our children with an intentional faith foundation.

How will you weave these environments into the atmosphere of your home? This blog will be here to help you figure that out.

The Environment of Identity highlights who we are in Christ.  According to Ephesians 1, we have been chosen, adopted, redeemed, sealed and given an inheritance in Christ... all of which we did nothing to earn.  This conviction allows children to stand firm against the destructive counter identities the world will offer.

We can start adorning our homes with the Environment of Identity using this month's Family Verse.  At our house, we write the monthly verse on a chalkboard in the dining room.  That way we can read it a few nights a week at dinner and, by the end of the month, we usually have it memorized.  Our friends like to write it on their bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker or a taped note.  However you do it, display the verse, read it aloud and talk about it once in a while.  

Ask your kids: "Do you know who you are?"  "Did you know that you are chosen?  Holy?  God's Special Possession?"  It's all true.  You are highly favored!