Our Saving God

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Light two candles.

Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.
Dear Jesus,
thank you for wanting us
even when we disobey.

Read this Bible thought from Matthew 18:12-14.
Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.
When we get lost,
God looks for us.
When we are found,
God is VERY happy!

Ask your child:
Do you like to play? What do you like to play?
Let them answer however they like.

Do you like "hide and seek"? What do you like/not like about it? Do you like to be the seeker or the hider? What is a good place to hide?
Some kids really like "hide and seek" but others don't. Just get them talking and thinking about that game.

Have you ever really been lost? If they say "yes" ask them to tell you the story. If not tell them about a time you or someone you know was lost as a child.

How did you get lost? They might not know... you might suggest that they weren't paying attention to where you were going, or there was a big crowd, or they were with friends without an adult. If your child has never been lost, tell them how you or someone you know got lost.

Who found you and how did they find you? As in the questions above, let them talk, or, if they've never been lost, talk about how you or someone you know got found. (Stick with an example of being lost physically rather than talking about being lost spiritually. Little children don't understand being "spiritually" lost.)

How did it feel to get found? Sometimes we adults forget to be joyful when our kids are found and instead focus on disciplining them right away. Our children's experience of getting found might be good or bad for them. Just let them talk about how they felt without judging those feelings or judging yourself. If they've never been lost, say how it felt for you to get found, being honest about your feelings, or about how the other person felt...

When we are lost, God wants us to be found! And when we are found, God is very glad. In the Bible there is a story about a man who has lots of sheep. When one is lost, he goes and looks for that one. Every one is important. The man looks and looks and, when he finds, he is very happy! God is like that too.

Pray this prayer. Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.
Dear Jesus,
thank you for wanting us
even when we disobey.
Add other thoughts and prayers, especially prayers for those who need help.

Read this Bible thought from Matthew 18:12-14.
Have your child repeat phrase by phrase.
When we get lost,
God looks for us.
When we are found,
God is VERY happy!

Put out the candles.