PHOTO CAPTION: God is good. He loves the little ones and their parents … They are precious in His sight.
Are you hungry? Are you really hungry? Not many people in the USA go hungry very often. Yes, there are some people who don’t have enough to eat and some who certainly don’t have the kind of food to eat that will really nourish their bodies, but many people in America have the opposite problem in that we are overweight. Hunger is not the issue, rather learning to eat healthy is. I know I’m working on learning to eat healthy. I have made some changes in my eating habits and am working on making more changes. It’s so easy when we’re hungry to grab a quick snack or if we’re out and about to stop for fast food when what our body really needs is good nutrition. I’m struggling now because we currently have a lot of people in our house and not everyone has the same dietary needs. I am so good at just going along with the flow and not doing what’s best for me. Summertime is not making it any easier for me to eat healthy. Who doesn’t like to indulge when on vacation or doing things with the family? A latte with a pastry or an ice-cream cone on a hot day, hot dogs at the ball park – Yum!
I wonder though, how many of us are spiritually hungry? How long has it been since you have sat down and really dined on God’s Word or spent time communing with Jesus in prayer? Just like we find it so easy when we’re hungry and especially when we’re busy to grab what is not good for us nutritionally; when we’re spiritually hungry, we often grab for whatever we can find. We fill our spiritual void with games, what our friends or others say on social media, our phones or many, many other things. These things are not bad, but when we fill our spiritual void with things other than God’s Word, we become spiritually malnourished which leaves us weak and unable to complete our journey.
When God’s people, Israel, were in the wilderness traveling to the land God promised to give them, God fed them. They had to rely on Him, but they never went hungry because He provided. He provided the food they needed day by day. The food He provided was exactly what they needed for the journey they were on. Do you need strength and courage for your journey? How about asking God to give you food for your journey? Then look into His Word to see what He has for you. You will be well-nourished and you will be able to have the strength to go where He wants you to go and do what He wants you to do.
Are you hungry? What is it that God has for you? He has delicious, nutritious fare. Read your Bible. God will give you food for your journey.
God is so good. He always has exactly what we need and He is always with us loving and caring for us, even when life is not quite going our way. He is good, you can depend on that.
PARENT PRAYER:
God,
So often when I feel hungry and tired, I find myself dining on all kinds of things that are not good for me such as fast food, the first handy thing to snack on such as chips or cookies and when I’m spiritually hungry. What then? I find it easy to turn to games, looking at my e-mails, working harder – everything except what I truly need and that is to spend time with you. I do spend time in your Word and yet I also recognize how easy it is to get distracted and look to everything else to fill my hunger other than what is best for me. Remind me, Lord, that you have what is truly good for me. You have what I need to be well-nourished both spiritually and physically. I look to you God, I look to you to be filled, to be healthy and whole. Give me food for the journey. Teach me to sit at your feet and learn from you, because you are good and you love and care for me everyday. Thank you for caring for little ones too. I know that you love them and that they are precious in your sight. You are so good. You are always with us and you do amazing things. Thank you for your great love and care. Amen
HELPING OUR KIDS EAT WELL PHYSICALLY & SPIRITUALLY
- Eat healthy yourself. It helps to have healthy choices on hand and easily accessible both for yourself and your child.
- Make eating healthy fun. Make the food you prepare for your child look good. Cut carrots into coin shapes or make a rainbow of colors on your child’s plate.
- For spiritual nutrition – pray together – pray about everything. Make it fun – sing your prayers or try to make a rhyme or dance as you pray.One sentence prayers for little ones are also good. Grab moments throughout the day to simply stop and pray.
- Watch for ways to bring God into your conversations with your children. When you see a rainbow or stars at night or a beautiful waterfall, marvel at God’s creation.
- Read the Bible together and make it fun. There are many good children’s Bibles to choose from and because we live in a techie world, try the Bible Ap For Kids on your I-Phone.
- Watch for ways to bring God into your conversations with your children. When you see a rainbow or stars at night or a beautiful waterfall, marvel at God’s creation.
- For spiritual nutrition – pray together – pray about everything. Make it fun – sing your prayers or try to make a rhyme or dance as you pray.One sentence prayers for little ones are also good. Grab moments throughout the day to simply stop and pray.
- Take your kids to church, even if you do end up in the Nursery with your little one. They are learning simply by coming that spiritual nourishment is important to you.
- One more idea for eating healthy with your little ones is to let them help prepare what you are fixing. They can scrub potatoes and carrots or tear lettuce into pieces for a salad. If you have space, grow a patio or window seat garden. Your kids can help you plant and harvest your garden and they are learning more about the world God created too.
- Make eating healthy fun. Make the food you prepare for your child look good. Cut carrots into coin shapes or make a rainbow of colors on your child’s plate.
Faith Steps and More 