Christ, My Righteousness

November 15, 2019November 12, 2019 ~ alicia.ruth.yoder

What does it mean for Christ to be my righteousness? It means that each morning when I wake up, the Father is smiling down at me. He hands me a Math test with an A+ written on the top, next to my name. All the circumstances of my day are the “problems” on the test, and whether I make a mistake or even get so frustrated with the problem I’m trying to figure out on my own that it takes me lots of scribbling and erasing before I look over at Him, He whispers in my ear, “I love you. Never forget this test is meant to be done together, so keep confessing the pride that makes you want to try to do it on your own. You aren’t here to prove your love to Me but to receive My love with thankfulness, because even though I’m your Teacher, I’m also your Father, and your only identity is that you’re my daughter. That’s the kind of love you can whisper to others who are working on their own tests with Me.” (See 2 Cor. 5:21, Eph. 1:4, Lam. 3:22-24)

Episode 92: 1 Kings 10-11 Solomon Turns From the Lord

November 8, 2019November 7, 2019 ~ alicia.ruth.yoder

In this episode, we see the sad end to Solomon’s reign as he turns to the gods his wives worshipped and leads the Israelites to do the same. Our actions flow out of what’s in our hearts, and God loves to give us humble hearts as we turn from our sins and remember who He is.

With your kids: Tell God about someone you’ve been struggling to love. Ask Him to give you and that person humble hearts that love God and understand His love for you.

He’s Holding the Dollies

November 1, 2019November 1, 2019 ~ alicia.ruth.yoder ~ 1 Comment

I woke up recently, feeling burdened with the needs someone had shared with me, wanting to help. Not knowing how. Feeling my own limitations of weariness and caring for three little kids and whatever I do not being enough. Soon another friend came to mind, obviously still blind to the truth of the gospel. . . Then Daddy reminded me that I’m His little girl, and I don’t have to understand. Not right now. He holds out His hands for me to hand Him each dolly I’ve been so worried about. Because when I try to hold them all, they keep slipping out of my arms. I can’t fix any of their rips and stains. So, one by one, I place each dolly in His hands–the grown-up dollies, the dollies that are my children, the sister-dolly, my husband-dolly. He never drops one. And He still has room to lift me onto His lap and hold me. When I crawl down again, He offers the hand of one of the dollies He wants me to hold for the moment and shows me that He’s holding the dolly’s other hand. And then He leads us where we need to go. (See Psalm 68:19, Ps. 55:22)

Episode 91: 1 Kings 8-9 Solomon Dedicates the Temple

October 25, 2019October 16, 2019 ~ alicia.ruth.yoder

In this episode, we look at what kinds of things Solomon prayed for when he dedicated the temple and that God heard Solomon’s prayer and told him to obey and trust Him alone. It’s the same call for us, as we also celebrate Jesus as our Great High Priest.

With your kids: Choose one attribute (a thing that’s true) about who God is. Then praise Him for it and ask for His help to trust Him no matter what happens today.

He is Strong

October 18, 2019October 16, 2019 ~ alicia.ruth.yoder

In my weakness He is strong. My life motto has been, “Be perfect.” It’s a great way to feel like a failure most of the time. As I sat against the washing machine, crying because I couldn’t control my feelings of worry, couldn’t trust God, couldn’t remember who He is, He whispered, “I’m using this.” Later, He showed me how much more clearly I could see His amazing grace when I came face-to-face with my own failures. How unconditional His love is. How glad He is to offer mercy. Not because I’d proved my devotion to Him, but because He proved His love for me. (See 2 Corinthians 12:9-11)

Episode 90: 1 Kings 4-7 Solomon Builds the Temple

October 11, 2019October 4, 2019 ~ alicia.ruth.yoder

In this episode, God gives Solomon peace and rest from enemies so that he can build God’s temple, but he spends even longer building his own palace. God loves to open our eyes to His kingdom priorities as we read His Word and talk with Him about it.

With your kids: Name one thing you know God wants you to do. Then ask for Him to bear the fruit of the Spirit in your life as you do it.

The Lord is My Portion

October 4, 2019October 3, 2019 ~ alicia.ruth.yoder ~ 4 Comments

I got to the end of the day frustrated by how many times I’d failed and fallen into anxiety, wanting things to go my way, according to my plans, and being discouraged in all I couldn’t control. And God brought to mind the phrase, “The Lord is my portion” (Lamentations 3:24). He reminded me that His presence is my portion every second of every day, and that there is always a plate in front of me, heaping with His grace and mercy.

Like when I was a teenager on a trip to Romania with my dad. The sweet church ladies who set our places at the table with multiple bowls and plates, told me I wasn’t eating enough and was way too skinny. That’s what God does. When I get to the end of the day, my plate is still full of His grace and mercy, and the next morning, He heaps on more. His mercies are new every morning, and never run out before then.

Episode 89: 1 Kings 2-3 Solomon Asks For Wisdom

September 27, 2019September 25, 2019 ~ alicia.ruth.yoder

In this episode, Solomon sees how much he needs God’s help and asks for wisdom to rule. We have it even better when we join our lives to Jesus, because He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us to do what’s right.

With your kids: Pick one person you’d like to treat with more kindness and love. Then ask for the Holy Spirit’s ideas, help, and power!

Episode 88: 1 Kings 1 Solomon is Anointed King

September 20, 2019September 14, 2019 ~ alicia.ruth.yoder

In this episode, God uses Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan to prompt David to anoint Solomon king after Solomon’s brother secretly tries to take the throne. Even when we fail, we can trust God’s plans and promises to always come true for our good and to make us more like Jesus.

With your kids: Tell each other something you’re worried about. Talk to God about it and ask Him to remind you of a promise He wants you to remember.

Episode 87: God’s Big Story Part 6

September 6, 2019September 6, 2019 ~ alicia.ruth.yoder

In this last episode of the series, Finn and I talk about Jesus’ death and resurrection and that God has sent His Spirit to live in and through us as we tell others the good news and look forward to a life of eternal joy with Him.