Hi Family,
It is always a pleasure to come to your inbox every week with yet another dose of goodies. As I write this to you, my mind is racing out on different tangents: this is the last week of May, just where did all the time go? If you are like me, you are already beginning to strategize and re-strategize for the next half of the year. As I look forward to the future with all its uncertainties, I am very optimistic! I know that even though I have no clue what tomorrow holds, I know the God who knows tomorrow - and you know the good news? He holds my hand too.
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Isaiah 43:2 KJV
In our world today, we have Kings and Queens and they wield so much power. They're like stars whose sparkle rubs off on their children, granting them exclusive privileges that others can only dream of. For instance, they might be accompanied by a royal escort as they go about their daily activities. Now, just think about this: You are not just any child, but a child of the Most High God, the ultimate King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How amazing is that?
You, dear friend, are the apple of God's eye and joint heirs with Christ. God is completely invested in your life, and guess what? The Holy Spirit is right by your side, day in and day out. Imagine having a royal escort accompanying you on your daily journey—well, the Holy Spirit is even better than that! No matter what you face, good or not-so-good times, the Holy Spirit is right there, cheering you on and providing heavenly support.
So, as you go about your week, remember this: God is not just by your side, He's been there from the start, and He's going to stay with you all the way through. Isn't that exciting? Embrace this truth, beautiful family, and let it fuel your confidence and joy. With God as your constant companion, there's nothing you can't achieve. You are loved, cherished, and destined for greatness. Keep shining and conquering the world, knowing that the King of Kings is cheering you on every step of the way!
Curated Resources
Weekly Bible lessons for the kids
Our lesson for this week is such a special one and presents a perfect opportunity for us to remind our kids how special they are to us - and to God. The title is ‘A Real Prince/Princess’. In our world of today where, if one is not careful, society can project different identities on our little ones and make them believe things that do not necessarily align with our faith, it is imperative that we (as parents) are more proactive in raising children who are acutely aware of who they are! As the word of God says, though we are IN this world, we are not OF this world. There is no better time to start ringing this truth in the ears of our kids than now!
You can find the PowerPoint file I used to create this video here and use it as a teaching guide for your little ones. If you have been using these lessons with your kids, I would like to know if this approach has been helpful.
Book recommendation for the kids
The book for the week, in sync with this week’s lesson, is ‘You’re my little legend’ by Bay Clarkson. This book presents the parent-child relationship beautifully, as it should be, and would make your child feel very special - like the prince/princess that he/she is. As you read this book, I encourage you to coin out your own words to celebrate your child’s uniqueness and to help your child appreciate how wonderfully made they are and how priceless they are to you.
Book recommendation for you
In just a few days/weeks, we would be halfway through the year. How are you faring in terms of your goals for the year?
I am currently reading Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy’s book, ‘The Gap and the Gain: The High Achiever’s Guide to Happiness, Confidence and Success’ and I would like to share one of the important takeaways from the book with you. I really hope you find it helpful.
It might seem like you are very far away from the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year despite how hard you have worked. If you focus on how far you are from the goal (that is, the gap), you would end up feeling unhappy, overwhelmed and maybe even unmotivated to pursue further. Admittedly, goals are important to help us stretch ourselves to achieve more. However, if we are too fixated on the goal, we might miss out on how far we have come. It is important to periodically take a moment to look back at where we started and where we are now. If we are real with ourselves, we will realize that a lot of growth and learning has occurred (that is, the gain). We can celebrate our progress and wins - even the little ones - and use those victories as the propellant that drives us further in the direction of our goals.
This lesson is beautifully illustrated in this graphic by the talented Liz Fosslien.
As you reflect on the question I asked you at the beginning of this segment, I implore you to be happy with where you are now and where you are inevitably heading - if you remain focused, trust God and put in the work required. As we push forward, we proceed with joy, peace and hope because we know that our victory is sure!
As always, I am rooting for you!