It's worth it!

Hi everyone! I thought I'd share my family's experience with the Faith 5 effort.

We do our Faith 5 time right after supper, with the three who attend Underground, but also the older two, if they're with us that evening. Everyone shares their Hi's and Lo's, and then I do my best to try to apply the passage to whatever we've heard. Sometimes it's a bit of a struggle, but usually you can find something to tie into. After that, we pray. We go around the table, and everyone offers their prayers, either connected to their Hi's and Lo's (usually), or often for something else that is on their mind that they want to talk to God about. The last person to pray around the table adds "in Jesus' name, Amen."

This is our way of doing the Faith 5 in our family, and we have been truly blessed since we started it. Not only does it give us a chance to connect each day, we also get to discuss how God's Word applies to our day. But the highlight, to me, is the prayer time. It is so moving to have each member of our family speak a prayer as a part of a group prayer. The words don't have to be special or formal. It's just speaking from the heart. And I believe it makes all of us more comfortable in speaking to our Lord in prayer, and that's a wonderful thing!

One last thing: my personal prayer is that every family in our Underground program makes an effort to try this and stick with it, even if it's a little uncomfortable at first. I know for sure that the blessings are worth it!

Faith 5 for Couples

Carolann and I just started doing the Faith 5 for ourselves.

After the kids are tucked in we spend a few minutes sharing our highs and lows that maybe are too deep for us to share during the family Faith 5 time. Then we read a section of the Bible together. Not necessarily the same section as what we do as a family. Then we take turns praying.

It's an awesome experience. Carolann usually always has an insight from reading God's Word that I've never thought of. The discussion and process of thinking through God's message and applying it to our life is very powerful.

Sometimes it's really hard to do

While our children overall really like doing the Faith 5 sometimes it's really hard.
Like when an older child keeps wanting to look at a different comic book during prayer.
Like when a young child refuses to join the family and wants to keep playing.
Like when a really young child wants to marker all over and soak the pages with ink instead of using colored pencils or crayons.
Like when they refuse to sit and listen to the other family members share highs and lows or pray.

So what do you do.
For the young and really young, we have the advantage.
We can hold them in our lap gently while they wine and refuse to participate.
For the older we correct them and make them put the other comic book away.
Carolann and I lovingly guide and correct the kids but are firm that the family participates and respects one another.
It's tough some nights. But it's worth the effort.

The same child who wants to play instead Faith 5, one day is the one who says (for the first time that I can remember), "I love you Daddy."

Most Precious

One of the most precious moments of doing the Faith Five is tucking the kids in bed.

I personally go to each of my children and
- hug them
- by name, tell them I love
- kiss them on the cheek
- bless them, with a simple "God bless you" while putting my hand on their head

Our kids love this and will not go to sleep until it happens.
The precious moment came this week when, one of our children who is usually very reserved and sometimes doesn't want to do the Faith 5, says, "I love you daddy"

Most Difficult Things, Part 1: Keeping it Fresh

I've realized 2 most difficult things about doing the Faith 5 at home with our kids.
1) How to keep the passage or story of the week fresh each day
2) How to tie the passage or story of the week to the highs and lows of the day

This post will focus on part 1, how to keep the passage fresh.
There are 12 days for one passage / story so it's challenging.
(Mon-Sat week 1 and Mon-Sat week 2)

Here's what we've done, in no particular order:
1. Read the key passage
2. Read the comic
3. Read the song
4. Sing the song
5. Read the comic with kids saying different parts
6. Listen to the 6-8 grade kids say their parts of the readers theater

Fire Trucks

Our kids are really excited about the Faith Five. It was cute to have James (PreK) stop us. We needed to do the Faith Five hand signs. It's interesting hearing the kids perspective of highs and lows as well as prayer request. James usually can only think back a couple minutes for his best and worst part of the day. His prayers are consistent, a fire truck with peddles.

Starting the Faith 5

We started the Faith Five at home last night after supper. Kids loved it. We read the comic of the story together, each kid speaking a different character. Even James (our preschooler) got into it. It was great listening to the kids highs and lows of the day. Since it was Tuesday, they even wanted to do Monday's. We forgot to do the Faith Five on Monday. Later we prayed and blessed them when they were tucked in bed. It's an awesome experience.

What is the Faith Five?

The Faith Five is the home devotion tool we are using in the Underground.
The 5 steps are:
1. Share Highs & Lows of the day
2. Read, or sing a Bible verse
3. Talk about how the verse relates your Highs & Lows
4. Pray for your Highs & Lows, for your family for the world
5. Bless one another